Chapter 21

When Jiang Shan was at a loss about what to do, she happened to see Xiao Yuanhang and Wang Dahai walking over. She immediately remembered that Xiao Yuanhang had mentioned being a classmate of Zhang Mingwei, and subconsciously called out to him, hoping he could help her out of the situation, though she hadn't yet figured out how.

Upon hearing that it was Wang Dahai's brother who had been stabbed and hospitalized, Zhang Mingwei, who was most afraid of such bloody matters, immediately stopped talking and turned to Xiao Yuanhang, saying, "Xiao Yuanhang, I heard you took over a job at the train station when you were in high school. How is it going there? How much do you earn a month?"

Xiao Yuanhang replied, "It's not bad. I now work on the train from Guhe to Huanghai, working three days and resting five. I can work about three and a half shifts a month, earning around 60 to 70 yuan."

"Ah!" Zhang Mingwei sighed, "You're still better off. You can earn money for your family. I went to a lousy university and still need my family to support me. I should have listened to my father and taken over his job!"

Xiao Yuanhang started school early, and his classmates were one to two years older than him. Zhang Mingwei, who was two years older, was more independent. He had a younger brother, two years his junior. When the entire railway system was undergoing a large-scale job transfer in 1983, his father had him take over the job. At that time, he was a good student and thought he might be able to get into university, so he let his younger brother take the job. High school was a two-year program then, and in 1984, he indeed got into university. His father would boast to everyone about his eldest son's independence, saying he would surely make something of himself.

Wang Dahai had never liked Zhang Mingwei. Seeing him brag about his university, he felt annoyed and said to Xiao Yuanhang, "Second Brother, you chat. I'll go check if Xiaoqiang's injection is finished." Without even glancing at Zhang Mingwei, he turned and entered the ward.

With Xiao Yuanhang's wisdom from two lifetimes, he didn't take Zhang Mingwei's little tricks seriously. At that time, getting into university seemed like a leap from a fish to a dragon, but graduates from agricultural universities, except those with connections, were all assigned to rural areas. If one was lucky and capable, they might become a township chief after working in the countryside for a lifetime. This was indeed the case for Zhang Mingwei's parents, who were railway workers with no connections in the local area. It took them nearly 50 years to finally become a deputy township chief, and that was as far as they could go at that age.

Xiao Yuanhang could see Zhang Mingwei's strong interest in Jiang Shan. Jiang Shan was his first love from his previous life, and he couldn't let her be a flower in the dung. After a few words to Zhang Mingwei, he suddenly turned to Jiang Shan and said, "Jiang Shan, do you have time after work tonight? I'll take you out for dinner and then to a movie. 'The Flower Ring Under the High Mountain' is playing today, and it's very touching!"

He didn't know that Zhang Mingwei had also planned to take Jiang Shan out for dinner and a movie that night. If he had known, he wouldn't have followed his lead. In the Guhe of that era, there were no coffee shops or bars. Lovers had no other entertainment besides dining and watching movies. Dance halls were chaotic places, and dating couples generally avoided them.

"Ah!" Jiang Shan, from the conversation between Xiao Yuanhang and Zhang Mingwei, remembered the tall, handsome, and somewhat refined young man named Xiao Yuanhang. He wasn't the small-time thug she had imagined but a formal worker at the train station. His calm behavior the other night had improved her impression of him. However, Zhang Mingwei's lingering presence made her anxious. The doctor and head nurse had just gone to a meeting, and if they saw her, it would be awkward. She was thinking of how to quickly get rid of Zhang Mingwei when Xiao Yuanhang suddenly said this!

Jiang Shan's "Ah!" was a sound of surprise, but it could also be interpreted as an "Ah" of agreement. Xiao Yuanhang saw that she was annoyed with Zhang Mingwei and wanted to get rid of him quickly. Seizing the opportunity, he said, "It's settled then. I'll come to pick you up after work tonight!"

Regardless of Jiang Shan's reaction, Xiao Yuanhang wanted to give Zhang Mingwei the impression that he was Jiang Shan's boyfriend. Without waiting for her to speak, he grabbed Zhang Mingwei and said, "Mingwei, we haven't seen each other for almost two years. Since we met today, it's fate. Let's go out and have a drink, and chat properly."

Zhang Mingwei wasn't stupid. Jiang Shan's "Ah!" was clearly one of surprise, not agreement. But now that Jiang Shan wasn't speaking, he was puzzled. He couldn't let Xiao Yuanhang just take him away, so he struggled and turned to Jiang Shan, asking, "Jiang Shan, what's going on here?"

Jiang Shan, of course, saw that Xiao Yuanhang was trying to help her. His bold words had surprised her, but now she had recovered. If she had to choose between Xiao Yuanhang and Zhang Mingwei, she would choose Xiao Yuanhang. She couldn't accept dating Xiao Yuanhang right away, but having him as a shield was not bad. With Xiao Yuanhang and his thug friends around, Zhang Mingwei wouldn't dare to come back!

Thinking this, Jiang Shan said, "Zhang Mingwei, I've told you many times, I already have a boyfriend. Please don't come looking for me anymore!"

Jiang Shan's words were clever. She only told Zhang Mingwei that she had a boyfriend, without specifying that Xiao Yuanhang was her boyfriend.

Xiao Yuanhang saw through Jiang Shan's thoughts and smiled inwardly. He didn't care and instead said sternly to Zhang Mingwei, "Zhang Mingwei, you're really not being fair. You go after anyone's girlfriend. I won't hold it against you this time for the sake of our old classmate relationship, but if you keep bothering Jiang Shan, I won't be so nice!"

Xiao Yuanhang's words were skillfully crafted, making it sound like he and Jiang Shan were a couple, without any definite statements.

Zhang Mingwei, hearing Jiang Shan's words, was both angry and despairing. He couldn't tell from Xiao Yuanhang's words that they were just a couple. He angrily shook off Xiao Yuanhang and shouted, "Xiao Yuanhang, don't give me that! As long as you two aren't married, I have the right to pursue her!"

Xiaoqiang's ward was diagonally opposite the nurse's office. Wang Dahai entered the ward and saw that Xiaoqiang's IV would take a while to finish. He stood at the door and watched Xiao Yuanhang and Zhang Mingwei talk. Seeing Zhang Mingwei dare to be rude to Xiao Yuanhang, he was furious: "You damn fool, you're asking for it! You dare to be arrogant in front of Second Brother? Watch me break your legs!" He cursed and charged at Zhang Mingwei.

Zhang Mingwei knew Wang Dahai was ruthless and would beat him to death. In school, because he had reported Wang Dahai to the teacher, Wang Dahai caught him outside school and beat him until he bled from his nose and mouth, and he had to stay in the hospital for over half a month. Although the school almost expelled Wang Dahai, and his family paid a lot of money, Zhang Mingwei was still terrified of him. Seeing him charge over, he ran away...

Seeing Wang Dahai about to chase Zhang Mingwei, Xiao Yuanhang stopped him. Wang Dahai, seeing Xiao Yuanhang stop him, had to stop and angrily cursed, "Shit!"

Zhang Mingwei, seeing Wang Dahai not chasing him, stopped and shouted at Xiao Yuanhang, "A gentleman fights with words, not fists. Xiao Yuanhang, remember, I won't give up!"

"Damn, I'll make you shut up!" Wang Dahai shouted and charged at Zhang Mingwei like the wind, scaring him into turning and running out of the hospital...

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{Piaotian Literature}