Chapter Ten: The Youths of This Place

Li Dongfeng slept until midday. When he woke up the next day, he felt a severe headache and couldn't even remember how he got home the previous night. The only thing he did was call out, "Sis~"

"Sis?" After calling twice, Li Caiyu entered, carrying a cup of honey water.

"I'm here, I'm here! Honestly, I’m serving you like a venerable ancestor every day!" she said as she handed him the honey water, which Li Dongfeng gulped down in one go.

Li Caiyu was rather displeased with her brother's behavior. She scolded him for drinking so much last night, saying that at such a young age, he should cherish his health instead of gallivanting around indulging himself every day.

"With you like this, how can I feel at ease letting you go out!"

After finishing the honey water, Li Dongfeng asked, "Sis, how did I get home last night?"

"You still ask? You really owe Zhou Ziyang a big thanks!"

"That guy carried you home like you were a pig, with that physique of his!"

"You really need to thank Zhou Ziyang properly!"

Li Caiyu spoke warmly of Zhou Ziyang, clearly holding a good impression of him. Upon hearing that Zhou Ziyang had personally escorted him home, Li Dongfeng felt deeply touched. Although they had known each other for six years, it was mostly Li Dongfeng who had been trying to win Zhou Ziyang’s favor. For Zhou Ziyang to voluntarily help him like that was a sign—he had finally become a true friend.

Despite feeling moved, Li Dongfeng nonchalantly said, "Alright, I get it. We’re brothers. When I make it big someday, I won’t forget him! Hey, sis, what time is it? Damn, it’s already one o’clock! Why didn’t you wake me earlier? My train’s going to be late!"

His train was at three in the afternoon, but it was already one. Hastily, he got up to pack his belongings and took out his counterfeit King phone to message his friends.

This trip south involved five of them—classmates and friends met outside school, all long out of school now. They shared one dream: to go out and make something of themselves.

Seeing her brother so anxious to leave, Li Caiyu was genuinely worried. It was two thousand kilometers to the south—a day and a night on the train. Once there, they would be in unfamiliar territory. If anything went wrong, how could she face their parents?

As Li Dongfeng packed, she asked anxiously, "Are you really sure you want to go?"

"Of course! The tickets are bought. How could I not go?" Li Dongfeng grinned, his mind already soaring to the bustling metropolis he longed for. He couldn’t understand his sister’s worries. To him, everything in the big city was better. If only he could get there, he could rise above his current life.

Li Caiyu hesitated, then said, "Actually, the family isn’t that short on money. If you go out, you have to buy everything yourself. It’s not convenient."

"What’s inconvenient? The company provides everything!" Li Dongfeng replied while packing.

Li Caiyu continued, "Last night, your friend Zhou Ziyang told me that if you don’t go out, he could use his connections to help you find a temporary job. The pay isn’t high, but it’s five or six thousand..."

Hearing Zhou Ziyang’s name, Li Dongfeng paused for a moment. Since middle school, he knew Zhou Ziyang was capable. He remembered the black Audi A6 parked in the alley by the school, always waiting to pick Zhou Ziyang up after class. Although Zhou rarely spoke about his family in high school, some classmates vaguely knew his father was a high-ranking official somewhere.

Li Dongfeng trusted that Zhou Ziyang could find him a good job. He was grateful for this kindness.

But it wasn’t necessary.

He had already arranged a job. Besides, it paid eight thousand a month. Why would he take a five-thousand-a-month temporary job?

More importantly, a young man’s ambition should be boundless!

Li Dongfeng really wanted to venture out. Like every seventeen- or eighteen-year-old, he believed the world outside was full of gold.

"Zhou Ziyang’s dad seems to be an official. He should really be able to find me a job," Li Dongfeng said.

Li Caiyu was even happier. "Then you..."

"But it’s unnecessary," he interrupted firmly as he slung his snake-skin travel bag over his shoulder. "Zhou and his dad don’t get along. I won’t ask him to go begging. It’s enough that he’s willing to help. But the future depends on myself!"

Seeing her brother’s resolve, Li Caiyu sighed quietly.

That afternoon, she rode her bike to the station to see Li Dongfeng off. Four other boys about their age were already waiting there.

After a brief farewell to his sister, Li Dongfeng boarded the train.

On the hard seats of the green train sat five simple-looking, somewhat rustic boys. Their eyes shone with hope for the big city, dreaming that once there, they would earn money and gain respect.

Yet, the moment the train began to move, a feeling of emptiness crept in. Something was missing.

"Beer, drinks, mineral water, please lift your feet~" The train vendor pushed her cart along.

The passengers were weary, except for a brief noisy moment just after the station. The excitement of leaving home had faded.

What remained was uncertainty about the future.

Li Dongfeng took out his fake phone, found Zhou Ziyang’s QQ avatar, and sent a message: "I’m off, brother."

"Safe travels," came the reply.

"?"

"Aren’t you in class?"

Li Dongfeng was surprised. Zhou said, "I’m in class, but it doesn’t stop me from using my phone."

"You’re not taking the college entrance exam?"

Li Dongfeng’s heart lifted. Honestly, chances to chat with Zhou Ziyang were rare. Usually, Zhou was indifferent when Li Dongfeng tried to reach out. Understandably, with the exam coming, Zhou was focused.

But lately, something seemed different about him.

Zhou replied, "You have to balance work and rest even when preparing for exams."

Li Dongfeng couldn’t help but laugh, sending a cheeky emoji.

Then he solemnly added, "My sister told me to thank you for taking care of me last night."

Zhou said it was no trouble.

"Did your sister tell you what I said?"

"Yeah, I know. But it’s unnecessary. I know you and your dad don’t get along. Don’t ask him for help because of me."

...

Zhou was speechless. He said, "It doesn’t concern him. I just happen to have a relative in human resources. If you want, I can help you find temporary work, though it’s tough."

"I’m not afraid of hard work. I’ve already told my brothers. They’re all going. I can’t back down now."

"Then bring them all. We’re short on people here anyway. I was hoping you could find a few more."

"I’m already on the train."

"Then just come have a look. If it’s not right, come back. No need to keep up appearances."

After sending this message, Zhou’s phone was silent for a long time.

Finally, a new message popped up.

"Definitely! If I can’t make it, I’ll stick with you (grin)!"

Zhou chuckled softly, looking out the window.

It was April, and the weather was starting to warm. Outside, the lush phoenix trees swayed. A flock of sparrows chirped beneath the shade.

Though it was class time, two students—a boy and a girl—stood in the square in front of the northern teaching building, clutching exam papers. Both wore school uniforms: the boy in a white shirt and black pants, the girl in a white blouse and pleated skirt. Her slender legs were wrapped in white knee-high socks. When the breeze blew, her skirt fluttered gently.

April afternoons carried a certain languor. This was youth, the soon-to-be-thirty-year-old uncle in the classroom thought with a sigh.

Xia Wei, sneaking glances at Zhou Ziyang, saw him either looking down at his phone or gazing out the window calmly. She felt frustrated. How could he possibly pass the college entrance exam like this?

Zhou Ziyang was dragging her down. She was so annoyed! She couldn’t let him affect her. She had to study hard!

Xia Wei bit her lower lip fiercely. She had no choice. She must study well!

But Zhou’s words from last night haunted her. He said he liked her, that if he didn’t get into college, she would marry him. What nonsense was that? Their relationship was too complicated! Marriage was impossible! Besides, in this day and age, her mother would never agree!

She knew all of this. Last night, she even searched online to see if remarried families could marry. Still, she felt like crying without tears.

Her grades were excellent. She couldn’t let Zhou Ziyang hold her back. Even if he was her uncle’s son, her uncle didn’t care about him. Plus, his grades were terrible. She absolutely would not date a boy with poor grades!

No! Absolutely not!

No way could she be influenced by him! She had to study hard. Her immediate task was to focus on her studies.

"Given the function f(x) = x² - 2x, with x in [a, b], and the range of f(x) is [-1, 3], find the possible values of b - a..."

To calm herself, Xia Wei began reading the problem quietly.