Chapter 87

If possible, please put the book on the shelf. It will be convenient for you and supportive of me. Thank you very much!

The happier the days, the shorter they seem. It felt like a blink of an eye, and it was already the 20th, leaving Feng Yiping with only ten days left of his summer vacation.

Students returning to school gradually increased, and his parents' business slowly improved. However, they had to wake up even earlier in the morning because they needed to steam more buns and grind more soy milk.

On this noon, after delivering lunch to his parents, Feng Yiping carried two pounds of stir-fried chestnuts and went to the University of Finance and Economics to find Li Jia and the others.

He first went to the dormitory building to look for Gao Zhiyi. Looking at the stairs and the new bicycles around him, he shouted from the bottom of the building, "Gao Zhiyi!"

He was in his voice-changing period, and his loud voice was quite powerful. After just three shouts, Gao Zhiyi poked his head out from the fourth-floor corridor, holding a deck of cards and with a few stickers on his face.

Seeing Feng Yiping below, he said, "I'm on a good streak right now, come up!"

Feng Yiping didn't say anything but shook the paper bag in his hand. Seeing this, the chubby guy nimbly darted into the dormitory. Soon, the sound of "bang, bang, bang" echoed from the hallway, indicating that a fat guy was running.

Although he was fat, his physical condition was good. In the blink of an eye, he ran down from the fourth floor, but he was sweating a lot.

"I've been waiting for you to come and show your respect, but you're too polite. One bag is enough."

While saying this, he took one bag and reached for the other. "Fat Brother, this bag is for Sister Li Jia."

"Oh, you don't know where she lives, right? I can deliver it for you." As he spoke, he had already started eating.

"No need, let's go together. Last time, Sister Li Jia said she would treat me to a meal. I'm here to collect my debt."

"What about those two books?"

"I've read up to the third chapter, 'Derivative Financial Instruments.'"

"Really?" Gao Zhiyi looked at him suspiciously. "So fast?"

"Can't help it, I'm a quick learner!"

During these few times with Gao Zhiyi, Feng Yiping found some rapport. The things he said, Gao Zhiyi understood, and the way he spoke, Gao Zhiyi could accept. It felt like they were evenly matched and got along well.

The girls' dormitory was always more lively than the boys' dormitory. At the bottom of the building, by the flower beds and under the big trees, a few boys were standing around. After the start of the semester, there would probably be more.

Gao Zhiyi, with ill intent, asked Feng Yiping to shout from the bottom of the building, but Feng Yiping refused. In college, the girls' dormitory was always a place of high attention. He was young and didn't want to draw attention to himself.

They waited for a while, and Gao Zhiyi met an acquaintance. He gave the girl a handful of chestnuts and asked her to tell Li Jia, "She promised to treat someone to a meal, and now the person has come to collect. Tell her to come down quickly!"

Not long after the girl went up, Li Jia appeared on the third floor, looking down. Seeing them, she waved and smiled, "Wait a moment."

It wasn't long, maybe ten minutes, and Li Jia came down, still in jeans and a T-shirt.

"You haven't gone back yet. I thought I would save this meal."

"Impossible! It's the first time a girl has treated me to a meal. I remember it well!"

The three of them chatted and laughed as they walked to the small canteen. Li Jia didn't consult them and went straight to the window, ordering a portion of each meat dish, and then added a vegetable and a string bean dish for variety.

Feng Yiping and Gao Zhiyi were very satisfied. They didn't hold back with the meat, competing to get more. The enthusiastic atmosphere easily spread to the people around them. Li Jia also picked up several times and said, "Oh no, I can't eat with you guys. You make me eat so much."

"No problem, you need to eat to have the energy to lose weight!" Feng Yiping said.

Sure enough, the other two burst out laughing.

"Classic!" Gao Zhiyi gave him a thumbs up.

Li Jia said, "No wonder you can write articles to make money. Where do you get all these creative ideas?"

"Too smart, can't help it!" Feng Yiping said boastfully.

"Hey, Gao Zhiyi, you're so fat, how can you keep eating like this? Do you really believe his nonsense? And you, Feng Yiping, if you keep eating like this, Gao Zhiyi's today will be your tomorrow."

"No problem, being fat makes a man more reliable. Feng Yiping, just try to be like me!"

"Really, you're so full of yourself. Just keep bragging." Li Jia hit him without mercy.

Feng Yiping said, "Don't worry, I won't end up like Brother Gao no matter how much I eat."

"Don't be too happy. Even if you don't gain weight now, you will in a few years. By then, even eating vegetables won't help, and you'll end up with a big belly like Gao Zhiyi, looking like you're always nine months pregnant."

"It won't happen. I have a secret technique!" Feng Yiping said with a mysterious look.

"Ha!" The other two were dismissive.

"Don't doubt me. I created this technique, which I originally planned to pass down as a family treasure, only to the men. But seeing you two, especially Fat Brother, with your unique physiques, I'll make an exception and pass it on to you. If you practice every day, I guarantee you'll become a strong man, and the women will become as beautiful as Diaochan."

"I feel like I've met a street performer!" Gao Zhiyi laughed.

"You'll be convinced once you try it. Trust me."

Feng Yiping then explained the key points of the plank exercise to them. Gao Zhiyi looked at his prominent belly, a bit hesitant, while Li Jia thought for a moment and said, "It makes sense. Let's give it a try."

They laughed and chatted as they finished all the dishes. Gao Zhiyi told Feng Yiping that the two books would definitely be challenging for him. If there were parts he couldn't understand, he could write to him.

After saying goodbye to these two rare friends who shared a common language, Feng Yiping didn't waste any time. He told his parents and went to the furniture factory to say goodbye to his uncle and the others.

Whenever Cai Hong saw Feng Yiping now, she would immediately run out of the workshop, clearly not enjoying her work there.

Old Cai was busy and came out a while later. He chatted with Feng Yiping for a bit, gave him a business card, and told him to call if he needed anything.

His uncle said he would send him off early the next morning.

That night, Feng Yiping hardly slept. Mei Qiuping pulled him aside and talked for half the night, repeatedly reminding him to be careful living alone and to visit his grandparents to avoid worrying them.

Feng Zhenchang only said one thing: "Study hard," and then gave him a digital watch with an alarm, though he didn't know when they had bought it.

The next morning at around seven, Mei Yiliang rushed to the small house and joined them for breakfast.

He was going to start working in home renovation next month. He was both excited and uncertain, as it was a new field, and this matter was very important.

So he kept asking questions, though he was actually hoping Feng Yiping would answer.

Feng Yiping understood. Because this matter was so important, it was about whether he could successfully marry Cai Hong and earn money. His uncle was worried and uncertain, but he had made up his mind and just needed others' affirmation.

Ha, just like when he decided to go solo later.

Watching Feng Yiping and Mei Yiliang ride away, Mei Qiuping's eyes turned red. Feng Zhenchang held the handle of the tricycle and comforted her, "What's there to worry about? Boss Cai said that even if he were left alone in the provincial capital, he would be fine, and he might even do better than us. How much more so at home?"

Mei Qiuping knew in her heart that they didn't need to worry about their son now, but as a mother, with her son hundreds of miles away, how could she not worry?