Chapter 15

Looking at the slogan, Lu Zheng could only sigh deeply.

At the dining table, four dishes were quickly served: stir-fried shredded potatoes, vinegar-braised cabbage, meat stir-fried with celery, and tomato and egg stir-fry. The plates were rather large, and these four large dishes seemed sufficient for Lu Zheng and the others to have a full meal.

Before coming, the dorm leader Meng Xianwei had said that he would pay for the meal today, treating the brothers to a feast, and also welcoming Lao San (Bi Xiaoguang)'s long-unseen good friend.

Bi Xiaoguang's family was not well-off. He had originally wanted to treat everyone, but after calculating his pocket money, he swallowed his words.

At the dining table, Meng Xianwei displayed the demeanor of an elder brother, taking care of everything comprehensively. However, Lu Zheng could see that Meng Xianwei was very protective of Tian Shaohua, and his words subtly criticized Bi Xiaoguang for his bad habits of乱放衣服 (messily placing clothes) and poor personal hygiene.

Bi Xiaoguang felt somewhat unhappy. In the end, Meng Xianwei and Tian Shaohua were of the same kind. In the dorm, Meng Xianwei often favored Tian Shaohua.

In the past, it didn't matter much to Bi Xiaoguang, and he didn't pay much attention to these things. But today, with his good friend Lu Zheng present, Meng Xianwei still spoke in the tone of an elder brother, hinting at things. Seeing Lu Zheng's slightly unnatural expression, Bi Xiaoguang knew that Lu Zheng understood. Therefore, he felt even more depressed, as everyone wants to save face in front of their childhood friends.

Originally, Bi Xiaoguang had enough money to treat Lu Zheng alone, but Meng Xianwei insisted on treating the whole dorm. Bi Xiaoguang had no status in the dorm and always listened to the elder brother Meng Xianwei. In the past, he thought Meng Xianwei always spoke reasonably and was a kind elder brother, but today, for the first time, he felt somewhat stifled, realizing that he might have been too naive before.

Bi Xiaoguang and his classmates were studying social journalism and would graduate next summer. During the meal, they inevitably discussed the domestic and international situation and political climate. It would be abnormal for Peking University students not to talk about politics.

Lu Zheng just smiled and listened without expressing any opinions.

When Bi Xiaoguang and Tian Shaohua started arguing again, Meng Xianwei smiled at Lu Zheng and said, "You're not bored, right? We are just bookish and useless." In his mind, a junior high school graduate from the countryside, a public security officer, how could he understand what they were talking about? Could he understand the impact of Brunei's independence from the UK and joining ASEAN on China? Could he understand the impact of Apple launching a new generation of computers on the world? Could he understand what it meant for the Soviet Union to boycott the Los Angeles Olympics? Clearly, that was impossible.

Lu Zheng could sense the condescending attitude Meng Xianwei inadvertently revealed, but he just smiled and said, "You guys chat."

The argument between Bi Xiaoguang and Tian Shaohua grew louder. The topic of their debate arose from the State Council's announcement on May 10th to further increase the autonomy of state-owned enterprises. Tian Shaohua believed that the state was moving too slowly, and all loss-making state-owned enterprises should be fully contracted out. Only then could they turn losses into profits and fully liberate the enthusiasm and initiative of the workers.

Bi Xiaoguang, however, believed that if the review system was not perfect, fully contracted state-owned enterprises would lead to comprehensive losses. He argued that one could not assume that every contractor was of high moral character and that their morals were higher than ordinary people. Without institutional constraints, these contractors would falsify accounts, deplete the state treasury, and fill their own pockets.

Listening to this debate, Lu Zheng's eyes brightened, and he glanced at Bi Xiaoguang, realizing that his good friend had his own set of ideas.

Tian Shaohua clearly could not debate against Bi Xiaoguang and finally sneered, "Lao San, you should go to the State Council. You should talk to Ma Shengli." Ma Shengli had contracted a paper mill in a provincial capital in the north in the spring and was called the first contractor in China, widely reported by central media, and some provinces even launched a "Learn from Comrade Ma Shengli" movement.

Bi Xiaoguang,不服气 (unwilling to admit defeat), said, "My ideal is to be a journalist. Besides, not every factory manager is Ma Shengli, and Ma Shengli is not a savior."

Meng Xianwei frowned and said, "Lao San, that's too much. Ma Shengli is a role model of our era. You're smearing him."

Seeing Meng Xianwei intervene when Tian Shaohua was losing, Bi Xiaoguang felt stifled and muttered, "That's the truth. In this world, there is no savior."

Meng Xianwei poked at his rice with his chopsticks and said slowly, "No one says Ma Shengli is a savior. However, our productivity has been restrained for so many years. To achieve a great liberation and awaken the majority, we cannot be afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind, nor can we be afraid of making mistakes. We can only use radical reforms to stir this stagnant water. Otherwise, nothing can be accomplished. The issues you mentioned can be gradually resolved, feeling our way across the river, right?"

Meng Xianwei not only had better eloquence than Tian Shaohua but also used the arguments of prominent figures to put himself in an unbeatable position.

Bi Xiaoguang's mouth moved, wanting to say something but not knowing how to refute.

At this moment, Lu Zheng smiled and said, "Actually, it's not that simple. Feeling our way across the river means we should look around to see how others cross the river faster and more safely. We should learn from good experiences and feel the stones others have felt. We can't simply say that we are feeling our way and use that as an excuse to make mistakes."

Lu Zheng's words stunned the six college students. Meng Xianwei's face changed, looking at Lu Zheng, thinking, "Do you even understand what we are talking about?" But Lu Zheng's words were hard to refute.

Bi Xiaoguang tugged at Lu Zheng's sleeve and said, "Don't talk nonsense." Under the table, he secretly gave Lu Zheng a thumbs up and then said to Meng Xianwei, "Lao Da, let me pay for this meal." He really didn't want to eat for free.

Meng Xianwei's eyes flickered, and he slowly nodded, saying, "As you wish."

Thus, the dining table gradually fell silent. Everyone started eating quietly without saying much.

Suddenly, the sixth dorm member, Lian Zhijun, who was stuffing a steamed bun into his mouth, exclaimed, "Hey," then buried his head and pointed outside, whispering excitedly and mysteriously, "Look, who's coming? Is that Cui Dan?"

Outside the small restaurant, three or four young women dressed as students walked over. Although they were walking together, it was easy to see that the pretty young woman with a ponytail in the middle was their leader, similar to the dorm leader Meng Xianwei.

The difference was that among her classmates, the pretty young woman had a higher status. The other girls around her were like stars surrounding the moon, and even when talking to her, they seemed somewhat restrained.

Bi Xiaoguang turned his head and saw the pretty girl looking over, his face immediately turning red.

Cui Dan was the campus beauty of Peking University's School of Social Sciences. According to rumors, she had a mysterious background and was a red princess, known for her arrogance and superiority. Male students in the journalism department were proud to be able to speak to her, but they usually ended up being embarrassed by her attitude.

Cui Dan was also Bi Xiaoguang's goddess and dream lover, but he could only think about her in his dreams and never dared to speak to her.

Meng Xianwei also saw Cui Dan, and his eyes changed. Although he was highly self-regarded and always appeared calm and collected in front of his classmates, and as a class officer, student council member, and active participant in various activities, he was quite popular and well-known at Peking University. However, coming from an ordinary worker's family, he had a natural desire and respect for power. He also wanted to get closer to Cui Dan, not necessarily to pursue her, as he didn't dare to have such high aspirations, but if they could become friends, it would greatly benefit his future.

However, he had never dared to take action because he knew that while others might think he was a charming and outstanding senior, in Cui Dan's eyes, he was probably nothing. He didn't dare to speak to Cui Dan because he could predict the awkwardness and ridicule he would face.

But today, Meng Xianwei was surprised to see Cui Dan walking towards their table. He was momentarily stunned, not believing that Cui Dan would come to greet him. He glanced at Tian Shaohua, who was sitting next to him, knowing that Lao Er Tian Shaohua had a good family background. Could it be that Lao Er's parents had some connection with Cui Dan?

But Meng Xianwei quickly thought it was impossible. After all, Tian Shaohua's family background, while good, was only relatively so compared to ordinary families. Compared to Cui Dan? Forget it. At the very least, he had seen military cars drop off Cui Dan, and Tian Shaohua was clearly several levels below.

Then, Meng Xianwei suddenly remembered that the student council president, Guo, had told him a few days ago that she shared a photography hobby with Cui Dan and had chatted with her a few times. She offered to help him deliver a love letter. At the time, he thought she was joking, but could it be?

Meng Xianwei's thoughts raced. He didn't dare to believe it, but the more he thought about it, the more it seemed that Cui Dan could only be coming for him.

So when Cui Dan smiled and approached their table, Meng Xianwei hurriedly stood up, smiling and extending his hand, "Cui Dan, hello, hello..." His smile froze when he suddenly realized that Cui Dan's smile was directed at Bi Xiaoguang's friend from the countryside, and she didn't even look at him. Meng Xianwei then realized his awkward situation, standing there, unsure whether to put his hand down or not.

Cui Dan giggled and said to Lu Zheng, "Brother Zheng, I thought I was mistaken, but it really is you. What brings you to our school?"

Lu Zheng looked at the freckled girl in front of him, feeling a bit strange. She looked familiar, but he couldn't remember who she was.

Cui Dan seemed to know that Lu Zheng didn't recognize her and smiled playfully, saying, "You forgot? We had dinner together yesterday. Think harder, I'm Xiaona's cousin."

Everyone around was stunned. The always arrogant Cui Dan was smiling and introducing herself even though Lu Zheng didn't remember her, and she even had a coquettish expression. Was this the same queen who was always full of herself?

How could they have had dinner together yesterday? What was going on?

Lu Zheng suddenly remembered. She was his aunt's niece. Last night, during the family gathering, she happened to be at his aunt's house, and his uncle and aunt brought her along. However, she was sitting in the corner, and he hadn't paid much attention to her.

Although he was now trying to integrate into the Lu family's life and no longer ignore his cousins, this wasn't something that could be achieved overnight. It needed time, and he was just starting to recognize them.

As for Cui Dan, she was just more exposed to new things due to her family background and knew how to dress up. While she was considered beautiful in the beauty-scarce School of Social Sciences and in the eyes of students like Meng Xianwei and Bi Xiaoguang, she was far from being as beautiful as Lu Zheng's older sisters or his cousins. Therefore, Lu Zheng didn't have a deep impression of her.

"Ah, Xiaodan, hello, hello," Lu Zheng finally stood up and shook hands with Cui Dan, unaware that in Meng Xianwei's eyes, seeing Cui Dan's delicate hand being casually touched by Lu Zheng was shocking and depressing.

"Brother Zheng, are these all your friends?" Clearly, Cui Dan didn't recognize even the famous Meng Xianwei, which made Meng Xianwei feel deflated. He had already awkwardly sat back down.

Lu Zheng nodded and patted Bi Xiaoguang's shoulder, saying, "Xiaoguang is my childhood friend. We're like brothers."

Cui Dan smiled and extended her hand to Bi Xiaoguang. Bi Xiaoguang's face turned as red as a watermelon, wiping his hands on his shorts several times before hesitantly extending his hand. When he touched Cui Dan's smooth hand, he felt as if his soul had flown away. He didn't even hear what Cui Dan said, only thinking that he wouldn't wash his hands for a month.

Bi Xiaoguang glanced at Lu Zheng, feeling excited but also increasingly puzzled. How did his childhood friend, Zheng, know Cui Dan? And it was clear that the usually arrogant Cui Dan was somewhat fawning towards him.

At this moment, his childhood friend seemed so unfamiliar.

Cui Dan chatted with Lu Zheng for a while and even invited him for another meal. Only after Lu Zheng agreed to go out with her and Xiaona, his cousin, the next day did Cui Dan leave with her companions, still seeming unsatisfied.

Meng Xianwei and Tian Shaohua's faces were somewhat gloomy. They hurriedly ate a few bites and then excused themselves, saying they had to go.

In the small restaurant, Bi Xiaoguang slowly stuffed a steamed bun into his mouth and laughed at Lu Zheng, "Zheng, you really gave me face. No one will look down on me in the dorm anymore." Although he was from the countryside, he didn't care about these things and wasn't insecure.