Chapter 103: 2/2

“Did you buy hamburgers for us to eat?” someone asked curiously.

“No,” Lu Haijun replied.

“Then how are you treating us to hamburgers?” the person inquired.

Lu Haijun smiled. “We bought the ingredients to make hamburgers on the spot! You guys don’t know; my hamburger-making skills are excellent!”

He bought everything for hamburgers, including chicken cutlets coated in fried chicken powder, bread, ketchup, lettuce, etc. He even brought back a jug of oil!

As the oil heated in the pan, Lu Haijun and Shao Chengdong began making fried chicken cutlets, while others took out the ingredients Jiang Liyun had given them.

Among the ingredients Jiang Liyun provided were chicken and duck, and a large piece of pork belly… When these students saw so much meat, their mouths started watering!

But what they looked forward to the most were the hamburgers.

Hamburgers cost several yuan each, and they had never tried them before. Now they finally have the chance!

The ingredients that Lu Haijun and Shao Chengdong purchased were just enough to make one hamburger per student present.

After they made them, they distributed the hamburgers to their classmates.

“This hamburger is so delicious!”

“I’ve never tasted anything so good!”

“The fried chicken inside is incredibly tasty.”

…

Lu Haijun was overjoyed, enjoying his hamburger.

Even though they worked at Charles Hamburgers, they didn’t actually eat hamburgers often. The staff meals provided by the hamburger shop were boxed meals, and if they wanted to eat hamburgers, they had to spend their own money to buy them.

They occasionally bought them, but not very often.

Today, being able to eat hamburgers made them very happy.

“Is it hard working at the hamburger shop?” someone asked.

“It’s hard, but I quite like it,” Lu Haijun said.

The person talking to Lu Haijun thought he was just talking nonsense—how could you like something that’s hard?

However, at that moment, someone else said, “Working at the hamburger shop is really good. We’ve only been there for about ten days, but the manager gave us two hundred yuan!”

“Just in those ten days, and they gave you two hundred yuan?” someone exclaimed.

“Yes, the amount given today is a total of two hundred,” the person said, taking out a red envelope to show to a classmate. “The hamburger shop opens at ten tomorrow morning. I plan to buy a bike in the morning.”

Another person said, “Tomorrow is the first day of the lunar new year. Even if the hamburger shop opens at ten, do you think other shops will open early? The bike shops might not open at all tomorrow.”

The person wanting to buy a bike suddenly felt disappointed. “True.”

Lu Haijun heard this and said, “I also want to buy a bike. Shall we wait until this busy period is over and go buy one together?”

Having a bike would make things much more convenient for them, and they could even ride to the hamburger shop for part-time work.

Lu Haijun had already decided to continue part-time work after the new semester started.

Their academic workload was not light, but with a bit of effort, they could manage it. Working part-time on weekends wouldn’t have much impact.

Whenever they became too busy, they could quit the job.

Upon hearing Lu Haijun’s words, Shao Chengdong also wanted a bike.

Having a bike would be so convenient! On weekends, they could ride together for leisure!

Those who didn’t take part-time jobs looked on with envy at those who did.

Looking at the abundant ingredients in front of them and thinking about how each of them had enough money to buy a bike… Who wouldn’t be envious?

Those who initially didn’t know about part-time opportunities were fine, feeling a bit regretful at most.

But those who knew about the chance to work part-time and chose not to go were left dumbfounded.

They missed an opportunity to earn money!

However, regardless, they spent this year very happily.

They ate a lot of delicious food!

This year, Jiang Liyun and Feng Yi also had a joyful time.

The shop closed at two in the afternoon, and the two left at two thirty.

The weather was a bit cold. Jiang Liyun wrapped herself in a large red knitted scarf, walking besides Feng Yi. She said to him, “Feng Yi, do you know that February 14th, today, is actually Valentine’s Day in the West?”

In the future, Valentine’s Day would be quite lively, but at this time, it was different. Even in Shanghai, only a few very fashionable people celebrated Valentine’s Day.

Most people didn’t even know about this holiday.

“I know, Sister Liyun, I’ve prepared a gift for you,” Feng Yi said.

“How did you know?” Jiang Liyun asked.

“Sister Liyun, you mentioned it before,” Feng Yi replied.

So that’s how… She enjoyed chatting with Feng Yi, and they must have talked about it casually before.

“What gift did you prepare for me?” Jiang Liyun asked again.”

“Feng Yi said, ‘You’ll know when we get home.’

Feng Yi had prepared many gifts for Jiang Liyun over time, and the large red scarf around her neck was one of them.

Feng Yi really liked the colour red.

Of course, she liked it too. As she grew older, her preferences slowly changed, favouring bright colours.

‘I want to know now,’ Jiang Liyun held onto Feng Yi’s arm, speaking in a different tone than usual. ‘Feng Yi, tell me! ‘

Jiang Liyun’s voice was soft, with a hint of coyness, and Feng Yi couldn’t resist. ‘Sister Liyun, I bought a pair of rings.’

Sometimes, their school would show movies in the evening. Feng Yi saw in a movie that people exchange rings during weddings.

Although they weren’t married, he wanted to buy a pair of rings and wear them separately with Jiang Liyun.

Considering Feng Yi’s preferences, Jiang Liyun asked, ‘Are they gold rings? ‘

Feng Yi said, ‘Yes, they are gold rings.’

Jiang Liyun smiled; she knew that straightforward guys like Feng Yi would probably choose gold rings. She quite liked them, too.

She had actually prepared a gift for Feng Yi as well, although they couldn’t exactly be called gifts, just some clothes.

When they returned home, Feng Yi took out the gold rings he had bought.

They were a pair of simple rings, one large and one small, with the larger one for Feng Yi and the smaller one for Jiang Liyun.

Jiang Liyun put the ring on her ring finger, and it fit just right.

‘Feng Yi, you’re quite clever. I bought a ring that I can only wear on my ring finger. This way, others will think I’m already married.’

Feng Yi carefully observed Jiang Liyun, knowing she wasn’t angry. He hugged her and kissed her. ‘Sister Liyun, will you wear it? ‘

Jiang Liyun laughed. ‘I’ll reluctantly wear it.’

Feng Yi kissed her again.

They nearly got carried away, but in the end, Jiang Liyun stopped Feng Yi and said, ‘Alright, let’s go make the New Year’s Eve dinner.’

Jiang Liyun had given ingredients to others and kept some for herself.

She stewed the free-range rooster she raised in a pot, bought some braised eels, stir-fried river shrimp, and several vegetarian dishes.

There were five dishes and one soup on the table—far more than the two of them could finish.

But for the New Year, it should be a bit extravagant. If they couldn’t finish it today, they could eat it again tomorrow.

Because they had lunch early, they had dinner around four o’clock and then had some fun.

At eight in the evening, they sat together to watch the New Year’s Gala on TV.

They kept watching until midnight.

In between, they had another late-night snack.

Even though only the two of them celebrated the New Year together, they didn’t feel lonely at all. Instead, they felt full of warmth.”

“After New Year’s Eve, the arrival of the new year ushered in the rural New Year, mainly filled with endless family visits.

City dwellers also visit relatives, but their circle of relatives is not as extensive as that in rural areas.

In the countryside, even distant relatives will come and go, which is not the case for city people.

They gather with those they have good relationships with or those who are close to them, chatting together.

This year, many people chose to gather at the Charles Hamburger Shop. They enjoyed milk tea and hamburgers while chatting.

Milk tea was a new product at Charles Hamburger Shop, steaming hot and priced at three yuan per cup, especially suitable for winter.

Now, some people enter the shop and only buy a cup of milk tea, then stroll around holding it—a very trendy thing to do!

Additionally, the shop’s popcorn chicken, french fries, and egg tarts were perfect for chatting and gathering.

Some people, after entering the shop, would sit for the entire afternoon, to the point that later arrivals couldn’t find a seat.

And for Jiang Liyun, all of this meant she could earn a lot of money relying on these two shops.

Making money was truly great; she enjoyed it!

On the sixth day of the first lunar month, Jiang Liyun and Feng Yi, as usual, woke up early and went to the shop.

On the same day, Zhou Si Gu, Zhou Chong Cheng’s elder brother, came to Shanghai.

After spending New Year’s Eve in Lutongxiang, Zhou Chong Cheng cried his heart out, stayed there for a few more days, and even arranged for Shen Dahe and his cousin to be brought to his residence, chatting with them for a long time.

Those elders remembered by Zhou Chong Cheng were already gone, and there were few of his own generation left, many of whom had also passed away.

The only people he could chat with were Shen Dahe and his cousin.

And both of these individuals had already been won over by Zhou Si Gu.

Zhou Chong Cheng stayed in his hometown until the fourth day of the lunar new year, completely unaware that he had been deceived.

On the fifth day, he set off to return to Shanghai.

Zhou Si Gu followed him back to Shanghai.

Zhou Si Gu had no good feelings for his father’s hometown.

Having to spend the New Year in his father’s hometown was something he disliked, even if he stayed in the county town. He found that place to be quite unpleasant.

Back in Shanghai, Zhou Si Gu felt like he had finally come alive again.

But the thought of that young man named Feng Yi also being in Shanghai made him unhappy.

Thinking about Feng Yi just annoyed him.

This person had gotten into college and was still in Shanghai. Zhou Si Gu wondered if he might encounter his father…”

Zhou Sigu was very tempted to investigate Feng Yi and meet the person in question. However, he thought that doing so might alert Feng Yi or his father to something, so he decided not to do anything at all.

He heard that Feng Yi took the initiative and married into another family… This person actually lacks backbone; he probably won’t achieve much.

Zhou Sigu pretended to have just landed and went to see his father.

Zhou Chongcheng smiled when he saw Zhou Sigu.

He was somewhat traditional and believed that the company should be passed down to the eldest son. He had always focused on grooming his eldest son.

Now that the eldest son had finished celebrating the New Year and came to see him, he immediately took him around to discuss business and impart his experience.

During this time, Zhou Chongcheng also noticed the vacant convenience food market on the mainland.

Tasty instant noodles would likely be well-received in the mainland.

Zhou Sigu, nearing forty, had average abilities, but handling something steady was no problem.

Zhou Chongcheng, at seventy, had many peers who had already passed away. Visiting Lutongxiang and seeing Shen Dahe aging further made him realize that he was quite old.

He had been wholeheartedly cultivating his son. After finalizing some critical projects, he let go and handed over the remaining work to his son.

As for himself… On the tenth day of the first lunar month, Zhou Chongcheng, accompanied by his bodyguard and driver, went shopping in the city of Shanghai.

As they strolled, he once again saw Charles Hamburger Shop.

Zhou Chongcheng paid attention to his health, avoiding fried foods that could cause inflammation. He wasn’t interested in the hamburgers, but the advertisement at the shop’s entrance caught his attention.

“Cold winter season, have a steaming cup of hot milk tea!” The simple words, paired with a large photo of handsome men and beautiful women holding milk tea, made people suddenly crave a cup.

Zhou Chongcheng stopped in front of the advertisement, looking at the young man on the billboard.

“Mr. Zhou, would you like to have some?” the bodyguard asked.

Zhou Chongcheng thought of refusing.

He wasn’t interested in Western fast food, and he stopped in front of the billboard mainly because he found the young man in the advertisement somewhat familiar.

But at that moment, Zhou Chongcheng saw several seventeen or eighteen-year-old girls coming out of the shop, holding milk tea. They walked out while saying, “So handsome!”

“He looks exactly like the guy in the ad!”

“This milk tea is so delicious!”

…

Zhou Chongcheng felt a spark of interest and said to the bodyguard, “Let’s go in and take a look. We’ve been walking outside for quite a while, and I’m a bit cold. Having something warm would be nice.”

Zhou Chongcheng stepped into Charles Hamburger Shop and saw the same young man from the advertisement standing behind the cash register, collecting payments.

It turns out the outside advertisement was photographed by one of the staff members.

Speaking of it, this staff member had a handsome appearance and outstanding temperament, not at all like a service worker.

Even compared to his two sons, in terms of looks and temperament, he was superior.

Most importantly… Zhou Chongcheng felt an inexplicable warmth when he saw this person, subconsciously wanting to get closer.

Is this what they call a good first impression? Zhou Chongcheng looked at him a few more times, rejected the bodyguard’s proposal to buy something for him, and personally stood in line behind.