Chapter 9

 

Ming Xi… hurry up.

We’re here to pick you up.

The motorcycle horns blared in unison — a challenge, a declaration, a show of solidarity: they were all Ming Xi’s people today.

With such a scene, even if someone held a knife to her throat, she would still walk away safely.

Ming Xi looked at the two people blocking her way and said politely, “Excuse me.”

They instinctively turned to look at Liu Xinjun.

Liu Xinjun himself had come up from the streets. He never thought a day would come when a gang of street punks would threaten him. It was both funny and exhilarating. He grinned, bent down to meet Ming Xi’s gaze, and said arrogantly, “Ming Xi, you’ve got more guts than your old man. I really like you. I’ll wait for you — until the day you willingly marry me!”

In recent years, those sappy love dramas from Hong Kong and Taiwan had become popular on the mainland, and even small-time thugs were talking about love. However, love was something that only these people could truly appreciate. Ordinary people live peaceful lives, while only those who dare to love, hate, and fight to the death had a chance of ending up in jail, right?

Ming Xi raised her head slightly and responded, “Sure. Then you wait.”

Dragging her suitcase straight ahead, she walked toward her classmates. A boy from the neighboring class immediately got off his motorbike and deftly placed her suitcase on the back seat. Cai Ni, sitting behind Dezi, reached out a hand toward her. Ming Xi took it, climbed on, and settled behind Cai Ni.

She wrapped her arms around Cai Ni’s waist.

The engines roared to life. Her classmates, on motorcycles and bicycles alike, sped off down Yicheng’s main road, full of fire and energy.

The wind whipped Ming Xi’s face until it went numb with cold, and she clung tightly to Cai Ni’s waist.

Cai Ni, in turn, held on to Dezi in front of her.

Dezi’s driving was both fast and steady.

The neighboring class leader, Han Junjun, followed closely behind.

They had charged on with fire and fury, and now they left in a proud, thunderous procession. Along the way, their horns blared again and again — a triumphant cry of youthful joy.

Today’s bravery and passion made these boys from the TVU feel unprecedented excitement and passion.

The heat wave of youth was like the sandstorm sweeping across the times. Even if each of them was just one grain in the Ganges, together they carried the power to build a tower that could shake the heavens.

The wind begins at the tip of a blade of grass; the waves rise from the smallest ripples.

They had graduated. Exams were over. Tomorrow — the first day of the year 2000 — each of them would step into society, hearts pounding with hope and expectation. They all believe that as long as they dare to work hard and persevere, they could create a brilliant life…

No one could look down on them. No one could dismiss them. In this age of rushing tides, no one would betray dreams or passion.

The wind howled past her ears, and Ming Xi squinted her eyes, wishing she could bury her face in the high collar of her sweater. At this moment, every breath she exhaled could warm her cold face for a second.

Her face was cold.

But at this moment, her heart was not cold at all.

…

New Year’s Eve was approaching, and Yicheng was bustling with vehicles and people.

Most vehicles were motorcycles, bicycles, and freight trucks; small cars were still rare. Those on the road were mostly Volkswagen Santanas, Toyota Camrys, and Tianjin Xialis. Mercedes-Benz was still very rare.

The Jiang’an Bridge leading to Yicheng’s main urban area was unusually jammed. As night fell, the riverbank lit up with scattered neon lights, and the constant clamor of horns echoed across the bridge, as if celebrating the millennium’s eve in advance.

Liang Jiancheng held the steering wheel patiently and glanced at the passenger seat calmly. He saw that Old Liang in the passenger seat had completely lost his composure — brows furrowed, glaring at the stalled traffic, visibly irritated.

“If you hadn’t insisted on staying in Yicheng to keep me company, I’d already be eating my New Year’s Eve dinner!” Professor Liang said unreasonably.

“Yes,” Liang Jiancheng replied mildly, without explaining further. To ease his father’s temper, he quietly turned on the car radio and played a song by Teresa Teng.

“What are we even eating that we have to go out for?” Professor Liang asked again, suppressing his anger.

“Don’t you like roast duck? Jinxin Winery is the only one in Yicheng that serves roast duck,” Liang Jiancheng answered, then added after a pause, “It’s pretty authentic. The owner’s from Beijing.”

“You know Yicheng almost better than I do now.”

“I’ve been here four times this year and have gotten to know several factory owners. They’re warm and friendly, and I’ve been hosted a few times, so I’ve gotten to know a few restaurants and hotels in Yicheng.”

Professor Liang shook his head. Ever since his son had entered the workforce, he’d grown increasingly worldly. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but the professor—a strict, fastidious man—had always despised the kind of behavior people called ‘joining in the fun’, let alone other matters.

“Roast duck can be eaten any time. No need to join the crowd today,” Professor Liang said dryly. To him, the so-called “turn of the century” celebration was nothing but a publicity gimmick.

Liang Jiancheng only smiled and said nothing more. He was a calm person and did not like to argue with others, but he was not without temper. He had always been patient with his father, largely because it was Professor Liang who had raised him single-handedly.

He waited calmly for the cars ahead to move.

When the old man’s irritation finally subsided, he began to lecture again:
“You’re getting quite comfortable in Yicheng now — driving a Mercedes, talking like a foreigner. Tell me, how is that any different from those Hong Kong and Taiwan bosses?”

Liang Jiancheng thought for a moment and replied, “No difference.”

Professor Liang pressed on, “You think you’re so capable, yet being the procurement manager at Shuangyang isn’t enough for you?”

Again, Liang Jiancheng paused, then replied truthfully, “No, it isn’t.”

The professor snorted but then suddenly seemed to remember something. His tone softened as he looked out the window, then turned back to ask, “Shuangyang Electronics… can you spare a position suitable for a young woman? An internship would be fine too…”

For someone as proud as Professor Liang, having to ask for a favor — and from his own son, no less — felt awkward.

Without hesitation, Liang Jiancheng refused. “I no longer work at Shuangyang. Even if there’s a position, I can’t assign it.”

“What about your company? Do you have a suitable position there?”

“Yes. But mine is not a big company.”

“…”

Professor Liang really wanted to smash Liang Jiancheng’s head. His son always spoke so calmly, never raising his voice — but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be infuriating. On the contrary, that composure only made people angrier; once he had the upper hand, others were left helpless.

“Fine, I won’t bother you anymore. I’ll figure it out myself.” Professor Liang refused to be vexed further and stopped asking for help.

Liang Jiancheng suddenly smiled and asked directly: “Are you trying to find a job for that female student named Ming Xi?”

Professor Liang: …

Liang Jiancheng asked again: “Didn’t you already kick her out?”

Professor Liang: …

Taking advantage of the moment, Liang Jiancheng offered his honest advice:
“I don’t think that’s a good way to handle things. You already told her you wouldn’t help, and now you’re going back on your word. If I were that girl, I wouldn’t be grateful — I’d just think your sudden change of heart was suspicious.”

Professor Liang didn’t want to listen a lecture from his son and said, “Just give me a straight answer — can you arrange something or not?”

Liang Jiancheng: “…I can.”

Professor Liang: “Good!”

Liang Jiancheng was speechless.

Professor Liang then added: “Tonight, give me a list of suitable positions and the salary. I’ll review it before contacting her.”

Liang Jiancheng shook his head helplessly. Was Professor Liang still worried that he would wrong his student?

Sure enough, Professor Liang’s next words were: “…I don’t know if your fly-by-night company is reliable.”

“…” What could he even say to that? Clearly, that Ming Xi girl had made quite an impression on the old man. If he didn’t genuinely regret what had happened, he wouldn’t still be talking about her now.

When he first joined Shuangyang Electronics, Liang Jiancheng was forced to work as an HR for a period of time. He interviewed many job applicants. Although he might not have had the seasoned eye of a veteran recruiter, he had his own way of judging people.

According to his principles, even if his father hadn’t asked, he would’ve eventually offered that girl an opportunity — when the time was right.

“I’m going to have a smoke.” Professor Liang took out a cigarette from his pocket and said to his son.

Liang Jiancheng rolled down the car window.

The biting river wind instantly rushed into the car, nearly making Professor Liang shivered. He lit the cigarette tremblingly, and suddenly, amidst the sound of the wind, a boiling sound reached his ears.

A pack of motorcycles roared past them. The young riders looked strangely familiar. When Professor Liang squinted for a closer look, he realized one of them was none other than Ming Xi herself.

She was seen hugging the person in front of her tightly, her head slightly bent, her short hair swaying in the wind. Behind her trailed a whole gang of rowdy young men — one of them riding close behind her like a guard.

The sight was almost absurd: like a queen bee leading her swarm.

Professor Liang’s expression darkened.

Liang Jiancheng was also a little surprised by the scene ahead. He had been to Yicheng four times, but this was the first time he felt the vitality of this small city. Not the vitality of economic growth, but of life itself, bright and unrestrained.

“Hanging around with a bunch of street punks like that — she’d be better off getting married early.” Professor Liang uttered another prejudiced remark.

Liang Jiancheng was blunt and retorted to his father: “Who doesn’t play around when they’re young? I partied harder than they do when I studied in the US. Why didn’t you tell me to get married early?”

“…”

Professor Liang rolled up the car window. Out of sight, out of mind.

Liang Jiancheng looked straight ahead. The cluttered urban construction, the gloomy sky and the congested bridge all took on a concrete and vivid feel because of the bright and bold young figure in front of him.

Inside the car, Teresa Teng’s song was playing: “Small town has many stories, full of joy and happiness. If you come to the small town, you will gain something special…” (from the song Xiao Cheng Gu Shi)

…

Ming Xi, Cai Ni, and the classmates who had joined them today for the “Rescue Plan” all gathered at the Jinxin Winery.

Ming Xi suggested that she should treat everyone, but Cai Ni insisted that the boys would split the bill today.

Among them was the one who once tried to pursued Ming Xi.

“Thank you…Han Junjun.” Ming Xi called out the other person’s name.

Han Junjun’s face was clearly filled with excitement, and he blushed as he asked, “Ming Xi, when did you remember my name?”

The way he asked—so awkward and earnest—made the other boys burst out laughing. They used the term “lovesick fool” to describe Han Junjun’s reaction.

Ming Xi didn’t think much about it and said with a smile, “Maybe in the first half of the year.”

In the first half of the year, he had stopped her to confess three separate times—she couldn’t have forgotten him even if she’d tried.

It turned out that she had always remembered him… Han Junjun’s face turned even redder. His lips pressed into a thin line, then curled upward—no matter what, he couldn’t stop smiling. He tried to pick up some peanuts with his chopsticks, but couldn’t grasp a single one; when he finally did, the peanut slipped and sprang off the tips—

—bouncing straight onto Ming Xi.

How could something so funny happen?

Everyone burst out laughing, pounding the table. Cai Ni was laughing so hard she couldn’t even sit upright; she leaned against Ming Xi’s shoulder, trembling with laughter.

“This is Brother Junjun’s heart, it fell out so quickly!” Dezi joked.

Dezi’s full name was Yang Kangde. He was Cai Ni’s childhood friend, but there had never been anything romantic between them. Mainly because Cai Ni didn’t care for Dezi’s face, especially after he developed acne during puberty. Dezi also didn’t like Cai Ni’s eccentricity, but the two have been friends since childhood, and were quite close. Whenever Cai Ni asked for help, Dezi was always there.

At lunch in the cafeteria today, Ming Xi told Cai Ni about what had happened at home. If she hadn’t been prepared, she might not have had time to pack up and run away. After hearing everything, Cai Ni called Dezi; the two discussed it and arranged for Ming Xi to turn in her test ten minutes early and head home, while they and the others came over right after their exams.

There were fifteen of them in total, crowded around a large round table by the window in the restaurant’s main hall. They were all broke students, so they ordered mostly cheap vegetarian dishes. The only meat dish was the restaurant’s signature, Peking duck.

“When I make my own money, I will eat a roast duck every day.” Cai Ni declared, biting into a crisp, oily slice, her face shining with bliss.

Ming Xi smiled and quietly got up to settle the bill. She knew Uncle Jin, the owner at the front desk—he’d once been a friend of Ming Decheng. Back then, he’d been the stingiest of her father’s friends, yet after the trouble, he turned out to be the most reliable.

As Ming Xi stood at the front desk, Uncle Jin took out an envelope from the drawer and handed it to her.

“He left this for you.”

Ming Xi opened it and found a stack of money in the envelope.

“He also left a message for me to convey to you… It was quite long-winded, but the gist is: you’ve graduated now and can make a living on your own. Take good care of yourself. When he’s made something of himself again, father and daughter will reunite.” Uncle Jin said with a sigh.

Ming Xi didn’t reply. She took out the money in the envelope and counted it. There were ten bills in total.

“How much is it for table nine?” she asked Uncle Jin.

Boss Jin waved his hands, unusually generous: “Forget it, I’ve known your dad for so many years. He rarely asked me for anything, so I promised I’d make sure you got a meal here.”

Then he glanced toward the round table by the window. “…Though you did bring quite a crowd today, Uncle Jin will let it slide for you.”

Ming Xi held back the words that were about to come out of her mouth and replaced them with: “Thank you, Uncle Jin.”

Just then, Uncle Jin craned his neck and broke into a huge grin, calling out warmly to the guests who had just entered: “Mr. Liang—please, right this way. The private room is already prepared for you!”

Mr. Liang…

Ming Xi only knew one Mr. Liang in Yicheng. She turned to look—and indeed, there were two people entering, both surnamed Liang, both familiar to her.

One with a touch of charm, the other with a touch of temper.

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