Chapter 35

When Old Ye heard that Tang Zhendong agreed, he was very happy. He picked up his cup, clinked it with Tang Zhendong's, and they both finished their drinks. "Tang, don't worry. With our combination, it's simply perfect. I have experience, and you have ability. Do we have to fear a lack of business?"

Tang Zhendong thought it over and agreed.

After Tang Zhendong was released from prison, he faced many obstacles in finding a job and encountered numerous setbacks. He almost turned to the underworld with his superb skills, but thinking of his elderly parents, he couldn't bear to do it. He had already spent eight years in prison; did he want to spend another eight? How many eights can one waste in a lifetime?

Later, he met his prison mate Wang Meng, who wanted to give his position as the boss to Tang Zhendong and have him lead him. However, Tang Zhendong firmly refused; the underworld was not the path he wanted to take.

But how much could he achieve with a small business? Although this life was much more comfortable than being in prison, could he struggle for ten or twenty years and then let his parents enjoy it?

Although Tang Zhendong had drunk a lot today, what he said was not just drunken talk; he had thought it through carefully. Men should avoid being indecisive; once a decision is made, it must be firm.

When Tang Zhendong left Old Ye's house, it was already past ten o'clock. There were fewer people on the street cooling off or playing poker. He touched the seven-colored kylin stone bracelet on his wrist. Whether it was a psychological effect or the stone's actual power, he felt his mind clear up instantly.

"Ring, ring, ring." Tang Zhendong's antique phone rang. Seeing an unfamiliar number, he answered it.

"Hey, Dongzi?" The voice on the phone was nervous and excited.

"Who is this?" Tang Zhendong couldn't immediately recognize the voice, but suddenly it clicked, "Xiaoqiang, are you Yuan Xiaoqiang?"

The voice on the phone laughed, "I'm Xiaoqiang. I thought you had forgotten me!"

"How did you find my number?"

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have been upset. You're out, but you didn't tell me. You only gave your number to the major, and you forgot about your old friend. You really are a man who forgets his friends for a woman!"

Yuan Xiaoqiang was still as talkative as ever, just like in school. Tang Zhendong couldn't help but feel a deep sense of friendship. In high school, although they had only been desk partners for a few months, their friendship was very strong. Some people can interact for a lifetime and still be just acquaintances, but some people become lifelong friends from the first meeting.

It was hard for others to imagine how Tang Zhendong, the top student, and Yuan Xiaoqiang, the worst student who had paid a lot to get into school, could become such good friends. Not only the homeroom teacher but also the classmates were clueless.

If there was a common point between Tang Zhendong and Yuan Xiaoqiang, it was that they both loved to play. Yuan Xiaoqiang's poor grades were a result of his love for play, and surprisingly, Tang Zhendong, who excelled in studies, also loved to play. The homeroom teacher was very angry and, without fully understanding Tang Zhendong, made them desk partners.

To the homeroom teacher's surprise, after a few small tests and in-class quizzes, Tang Zhendong's and Yuan Xiaoqiang's grades were outstanding, leaving all the teachers, including the homeroom teacher, speechless.

"Dongzi, why aren't you saying anything? Where are you? I'll come find you!" Yuan Xiaoqiang, hearing that Tang Zhendong hadn't spoken for a long time, became anxious.

Tang Zhendong told him his current location, and Yuan Xiaoqiang said, "I'll be there right away, wait for me!" and hung up.

Tang Zhendong remembered clearly the day he was taken away, when Yuan Xiaoqiang tried to rush forward in anger. He was held back by the classmates as Tang Zhendong was taken to the police car. The scenes flooded his mind.

Tang Zhendong also knew that Yuan Xiaoqiang's family was relatively wealthy in high school. His father was the boss of a small construction company, or more accurately, a contractor. Back then, Yuan Xiaoqiang often treated Tang Zhendong to meals, but high school meals were much simpler than now.

Not long after, a BMW X5 screeched to a stop next to Tang Zhendong. Yuan Xiaoqiang jumped out, "Hey, Dongzi, here!"

Tang Zhendong saw Yuan Xiaoqiang in a Caradelle brand outfit, looking radiant and well-groomed, but even the best attire couldn't change his lively single-lidded eyes.

"Xiaoqiang, ha ha."

Yuan Xiaoqiang gave Tang Zhendong a bear hug, "Ha ha, Brother Dong! Long time no see!"

"Let's go, let's have a drink!" Without waiting for a response, Yuan Xiaoqiang pulled Tang Zhendong into the car. Tang Zhendong didn't refuse; although he was already quite drunk, he needed to have this drink with his old friend.

"Brother Dong, why didn't you tell me you were out?"

"Getting out of prison isn't something to be proud of, so I didn't want to make it known. By the way, how did you get my number?" Tang Zhendong suddenly remembered that only Yu Qingying knew this number.

"Well, guess? Ha ha," Yuan Xiaoqiang, while driving, recounted how he went to the newspaper office, met Yu Qingying, and through her, invited the newspaper's advertising department manager to dinner to get a discount on ads. During the dinner, Yuan Xiaoqiang mentioned Tang Zhendong, and Yu Qingying, knowing they were good friends, gave him the number. That's how Yuan Xiaoqiang called Tang Zhendong.

"Your business is doing well, even reaching the newspaper office?" Tang Zhendong asked, looking at the somewhat smug Yuan Xiaoqiang.

"Not really. Now, with the economic crisis, the global economy is not doing well, and the domestic real estate market is experiencing a decline in both volume and price. Houses are hard to sell, so everyone is advertising in the newspaper. In the past, when houses sold well, there was no need to advertise. They would sell half on opening day, and the other half would be sold slowly, waiting for the price to rise. But now, houses are hard to sell, so everyone wants to advertise. Everyone wants to advertise, so it's a mad rush. Even to pay for ads, you have to queue and face their attitudes. If it were three years ago, the newspaper's advertising department would beg us to advertise. Now, the tables have turned. Sigh!"

Tang Zhendong could see that Yuan Xiaoqiang wasn't complaining to him but was genuinely in a difficult situation, with a lot of grievances.

And such grievances can only be fully expressed to a good friend.