Chapter 523: Song of Mortals (asking for monthly ticket subscription)
This class reunion was held at Yuxianli Night Market.

Zhang Yunqi chatted with Tian Zhuangzhuang for a while, and then hung up the phone when he saw that it was almost time. He thought that he would definitely drink in the evening, so he didn't drive the Mercedes-Benz, but rode his bicycle to take Chu Jian to the Shan Gongguan Restaurant in Yuxianli.

The two of them had not been sitting in the lobby of Shan Mansion for long when groups of three or four of them arrived.

The stragglers and brave men gathered together. There were about 20 to 30 people in the mixed group of men and women. They slapped each other and were very affectionate. Several female classmates screamed like girls and then hugged each other.

Zhang Yunqi took a look at this group of classmates. The boys had not changed much. They still looked weird as before. But the girls were different. Only half a year had passed, but compared to the immaturity in high school, they had a bit more indescribable charm, just like the tips of bamboo shoots that had already broken through the ground and were eager to be bathed in spring rain.

It is true that girls change a lot when they grow up.

Wang Xiaokai, Yang Wei and Yan Shi all came to this party.

Wang Xiaokai's appearance was as chic and flamboyant as Tian Zhuangzhuang said. He came to the class reunion wearing a windbreaker and sunglasses. After he unbuttoned his windbreaker, a black, huge grenade-like mobile phone was revealed around his waist. It was very eye-catching and immediately attracted everyone's attention.

Liu Zicheng carefully took it down and examined it for a while, then said, "It looks old."

Kaizi didn't comment, just smiled, as if this was an ordinary object and not worth mentioning.

Liu Zicheng asked: "Is it expensive?"

Kaizi smiled and said, "When it comes to money, most people can't afford it. The company gave it to me."

Liu Zicheng became more envious: "Awesome! Kaizi."

Kaizi smiled and said it was okay. His nonchalant look captured the essence of pretentiousness just right and stunned these old classmates who had not seen much of the world.

Kaizi looked up at the lobby of Yishan Mansion, probably trying to find his former lover Yu Qingqing, but Yu Qingqing didn't see him. Instead, he saw Zhang Yunqi sitting at the side of the lobby. His expression was awkward for a moment, but only for a moment. This guy never knew what it meant to save face. He walked over directly and said, "Boss Zhang, Happy New Year."

"Why didn't you contact me after you came back?" In fact, Zhang Yunqi hadn't seen this guy for more than half a year. At the beginning, Wang Guibing transferred him from the assembly line of Aiwa Electronics to the Lijin Operation Center as a salesman. He was on business trips every day, but his business was still good. This guy was born to do this job. In more than half a year, he has been promoted from junior to senior business manager. Now he is in charge of the distribution network market in several prefecture-level cities in southern Hunan.

"I heard from Fatty that you went back to your hometown." Kaizi could no longer pretend in front of Zhang Yunqi. After all, his salary was paid by Zhang Yunqi now. He pulled a chair and sat down, then greeted Chu Jian who was next to him.

It had been a long time since I last saw this old classmate. I pursed my red lips, smiled, and talked to him for a long time with a caring tone. Finally, I whispered, "Kaizi, Qingqing is here tonight too, she's in the bathroom."

Kaizi looked indifferent and nodded.

After everyone arrived, the cheap squad leader Lin Xueqing asked the restaurant waiter to serve the food.

There are two tables in total, one for men and one for women.

The atmosphere at the men's table was very lively.

We are all still students, and there is not much difference between us. This is also the first time we meet after graduation, so the atmosphere is not that strong. We are just drinking, talking about past memories and complaining about the weird things we have seen in college.

Zhao Dong, the former class hunk of class 156, drank his wine and said with emotion, "After entering university, I realized that our group was the most unlucky. Last year, the country issued a policy that we would not be guaranteed jobs when we graduated, especially in the capital. The number of people who could stay in Beijing was limited."

Liu Zicheng took a puff of his cigarette: "So exaggerated?"

Zhao Dong raised four fingers and said, "I'm not kidding. Only 40% of the entire class was retained! Damn it, if my grades are not good enough and I can't get a place, I will have to pack up and go back to my hometown to find a job."

Bespectacled Zhang Bin continued, "Actually, after studying at Beijing Normal University for one semester, I finally understood that the purpose of studying hard for ten years to get into a prestigious university is to get a nice diploma so that you can make a living in the future. Talking about other things is meaningless."

This guy was also a top student in Class 156. Chu Jian was always ranked first, Zhang Yunqi was second, and Zhang Bin was third. Beijing Normal University was also one of the most famous universities in the country, but at this moment his tone was filled with deep disappointment.

He complained, "Speaking of which, when we were in high school, we were so yearning for college. Take the Chinese department I studied for example. When I first entered, I thought all the teachers in the school were like Lu Xun, with two cynical beards, eating and exhaling free thoughts, pointing out the way forward, and making strategic plans. At the very least, they were like Xu Zhimo, writing poems while becoming famous and picking up girls, and influencing us, a group of little idiots from all over the world. Wow! We all became awesome! But what is the reality? We can't even smell a fart from Lu Xun! The temple of thought is filled with slaves of life, vulgar people are in power, and those who live in the world have become the mainstream!"

Tian Zhuangzhuang said: "From what you said, it's not objective to slam all universities with one stick, right?"

Zhang Bin took a sip of wine and said, "That's true. Of course there are teachers with aspirations. Otherwise, wouldn't universities become paid public toilets? But these teachers with aspirations have been drowned in academic papers. If they want to get a professional title, they have to go through a lot of difficulties. It's much harder than for us to pass the exam as students. So they don't have time to teach us properly. They just read from the textbook all day long. Without thought-provoking insights and truths, it's hard for students to perceive. So if we want to really learn something in school, you can't count on those teachers who are just playing around. The only way is to learn by yourself."

Zhang Bin continued, "Let's put it this way. Our school is like a mirage. From the outside, it looks like the birthplace of thought, sacred and inviolable. Once you enter, you realize that it is a place to train eunuchs, specifically to cut off the little penis in your mind. Do you want to get an erection? I'll give you a knife first."

These words really touched everyone's heart.

Zhao Dong said, "It's still the fucking Kaizi who is wise. He didn't study or take the college entrance examination, but just followed Boss Zhang and got rich in less than half a year! Look at this big brother, it's awesome."

Kaizi waved his hands and said modestly: "It's nothing."

Liu Zicheng said: "From what you said, going to college is just to get a meal ticket. If that's the case, I want to drop out and follow Boss Zhang."

Zhang Yunqi was not interested in commenting on such matters, but he felt that Zhang Bin's views on the university were quite insightful. Regardless of whether he was right or wrong, at least he had his own unique views. He smiled and said to Liu Zicheng, "The assembly line of Aihua Electronics Production Base welcomes you."

Everyone laughed.

Today's college students no longer have the respect for the socialist workers of the 70s and 80s. Under the vast market economy, the workers' distinguished status is long gone. What they yearn for are high-end office buildings and white-collar jobs.

The social stratification has already taken shape, and college students are always the first to perceive it. For example, Yang Wei, who attended the class reunion, was very taciturn. In fact, no one looked down on him verbally. Instead, they were concerned about whether he was tired and exhausted from working all night selling barbecue. This made this old classmate who was the first to enter society even more silent.

It was most likely that Yan Shi invited him to this party.

After three rounds of drinks, everyone started talking about love again.

In this regard, every male student present was very interested. However, after asking around, it was found that among the boys at the table, only Zhang Yunqi, Yang Wei and Zhao Dong had partners.

Zhang Yunqi and Yang Wei were high school classmates and knew each other very well. Zhao Dong's new girlfriend was someone he just met in college, and all the bachelors surrounded him to find out what was going on.

Zhao Dong, as the class hunk of class 156, was indeed quite handsome and well-built, so it was normal that he was the first to pick up girls. He took out a photo from his wallet, and everyone came over to take a look. They were immediately jealous because the girl in the photo was as beautiful as a young model.

Liu Zicheng was so envious that he wanted to commit suicide: "Where is this girl from? She is too beautiful, isn't she?"

Zhao Dong said, "She's from Sansha, the most beautiful girl in our department."

Zhang Yunqi knew that Sansha had a strong business atmosphere. It started to develop at the same time as Shenzhen in the 1980s. Later, due to local policies that did not allow the establishment of red-light districts, it was left far behind by Shenzhen.

Zhao Dong said, "I took her to Beidaihe for a week in October." Then he sighed sadly, "This trip cost me a thousand yuan for food, accommodation and entertainment, and this was money I cheated from my family by finding various excuses!"

Liu Zicheng consoled her, "Your girlfriend looks like a young model. It's worth it. What's her current situation?"

Zhao Dong said dissatisfiedly: "Damn! We only touched hands."

Zhang Bin said that the grapes were sour because he couldn't eat them, "That's not worth it."

Zhao Dong felt the same way: "It's not worth it. I'm heartbroken. It's only one thousand yuan."

After a pause, he continued, "Zhang Bin, since you are in the capital anyway, it's convenient. Do you want this girl? If you want her, pay me one thousand yuan and I will give her to you."

Zhang Bin was very dissatisfied with this philandering old classmate and said, "How can a girlfriend be transferred? Even if I have money, I can't transfer it. How can love be transferred? She likes you."

Zhao Dong said firmly: "Yes, as long as you are willing to take her out to play, it is definitely possible to transfer her. If you can't transfer her, I will give you a thousand yuan!"

Seeing Zhang Bin hesitate, Zhao Dong said, "A 20% discount is fine. I really don't have the financial ability to play with her anymore!"

Zhang Bin's heart moved.

I guess all the boys here are moved.

Yes, as long as you have money, your girlfriend can be transferred, even if she looks like a young model, even if you look like Zhang Mazi, as long as you provide her with blue sky and blue sea, star-rated hotels, and seafood dinners, your shortcomings will become so bright and eye-catching, so unique, in her eyes, even the pockmarks on your face are the sea of ​​stars you light up for her in the dark night. But, dear dad!

Why are you called Zhang Mazi and not Zhang Yunqi?

*******
Everyone was drinking and talking about women, but as the conversation went on they seemed to lose interest.

Then, the woman came.

The cheap class monitor Lin Xueqing and a few cheerful female classmates came over with drinks and said, "You guys are just having fun by yourselves, why don't you come and drink with the female classmates?"

Tian Zhuangzhuang asked: "How do we drink? Do we have to toast each other?"

Lin Xueqing said, "You can't spit out ivory from a dog's mouth. You can only dream without taking action? There are a lot of female classmates over there. Whether you can toast to each other depends on your charm."

Everybody got excited and walked over with their glasses in hand. Men and women sat cross-legged, toasting each other and the atmosphere was warm and the feelings were very deep, which planted a small seed for having an affair at some future class reunion.

Zhang Yunqi saw Wang Xiaokai sitting next to him without moving, with his windbreaker off, his mobile phone still on the table, and a cigarette in his mouth, puffing away. He said, "Why don't you go over and have a drink with the girls?"

Kaizi hesitated for a moment, finally put out the cigarette butt in the ashtray, picked up the wine glass and walked over.

His ex-girlfriend Yu Qingqing was sitting next to Chu Jian, looking very embarrassed. She didn't seem to realize Kaizi would come over today.

Kaizi was not embarrassed at all, at least there was no embarrassment on his face. He drank with all the girls at the table. The girls drank juice, but he drank white wine.

The last one is Yu Qingqing.

When Kaizi toasted, Yu Qingqing hesitated for a long time holding the glass. Finally, she poured out the juice in the glass, filled the glass with white wine, drank it all in one breath, and then lay on the table without getting up again during the entire meal.

This dinner took an unusually long time.

Everyone drank and talked, reminisced about the past, and after some laughter and scolding, they realized that the time was almost up, so they followed international practice and went to sing karaoke with their arms around each other.

Arriving at the karaoke room, Zhang Yunqi and Chu Jian, who was wearing a dark blue dress, sat on the quiet sofa on the left. Looking at her old classmates howling with the microphone, she had a quiet smile on her pretty face. This girl is like this, not so fond of joining in the fun, but always enjoying the noise of her old friends with a quiet mind.

At the senior year farewell dinner, Zhang Yunqi sang a song that was widely recognized by his old classmates. Lin Xueqing might have been a little bored, so she ran over and handed him the microphone: "Come on, Boss Zhang, sing a nice song for me."

Zhang Yunqi said, "There are so many people vying to sing at the two microphones, I'll just wait a while."

At this time, Chu Jian smiled and whispered, "I haven't heard you sing for a long time."

Zhang Yunqi said, "Then let's sing 'Song of Mortals'."

Lin Xueqing was dissatisfied: "Okay, okay, Zhang Yunqi, although I just met your wife, there is no need to be so partial in public!"

When she first saw him, her face turned slightly red.

Zhang Yunqi said, "I can't help it. I don't want to go home and kneel on the washboard."

Lin Xueqing burst into laughter, then sighed and said, "I'm so happy to meet you for the first time. I'm so happy."

Zhang Yunqi picked up the microphone and clicked on the song "Ordinary Man's Song", which was Li Zongsheng's favorite among his many songs. The more you listen to it, the more you will feel that this ordinary voice tells the epitome of his ordinary life.

I was originally a mountain dweller, but occasionally I became a guest in the front hall. I danced drunkenly in the Sutra Pavilion with a half-rolled book, and talked about the vastness of the world while sitting in a well! I have toiled for half my life, and when I look back at the bleak place, I suddenly realize that suffering is constant, and everything is determined by fate, and I have no control over it!

At this time, the prelude of "Song of Mortals" had already sounded, and in the beautiful melody, Zhang Yunqi's voice rang out:
You and I are all mortals, born in this world

Hard work all day long, no idle moment
Since I am not a fairy, I am bound to have distracting thoughts.

Put morality on both sides and profit in the middle

How many men, get angry for the beauty
How many birds in the same forest have become flying swallows

Life is too short to love bitterly

……

After the song was finished, applause broke out.

Zhang Yunqi passed the microphone to other students, and while rolling dice, drinking, eating barbecue and chatting with them, he talked about the lives of the people back then, one by one, cute, funny, shameful and pitiful ordinary anecdotes, and ordinary scenes emerged. Under the vast sky, on the loess, who is extraordinary?
Just conceited!

The party ended at 11 o'clock in the evening, and everyone went home to see their mothers.

On the way home, Chu Jian said with emotion that time flies so fast, another half a year has passed, and it feels like all the old classmates are different.

Zhang Yunqi smiled and said, "What's the difference?"

Chu Jian said: "I can't explain it, it's just the mentality."

Zhang Yunqi said: "In fact, after entering university, everyone will inevitably integrate with society, and will gradually see the other side of the world, and then understand many things, and find that life is far from as simple and pure as described in books."

Chu Jian nodded, and after a while, he said, "By the way. When we were having dinner just now, I heard what the boys at your table said, and I felt that what Zhao Dong said about his girlfriend was not appropriate."

Zhang Yunqi asked: "Why is it inappropriate?"

Chu Jian pursed his lips and said, "Since he likes her, how can he describe her like that? He actually sold his girlfriend like a commodity and marked the price at one thousand yuan."

Zhang Yunqi smiled and said, "Love is built on an economic foundation. This is especially true for marriage. This is not obvious now, but it will become more and more serious under the continuous catalysis of the market economy. An obvious feature is that as material wealth continues to increase and minds become more open, women in the new era are also beginning to pursue self-reliance and independence. However, the premise of spiritual independence is economic independence. In a broad sense, women's ability to create wealth is generally weaker than that of men, so they are more dependent on men economically. There is a huge contradiction in this."

She was a little surprised when she first met him. She never thought that Zhang Yunqi would look at women in this way. In life, he always respected and understood the girls around him.

I suddenly felt a little disappointed when I first saw her: "I think I understand what you mean. Do you also think that most girls are commodities?"

Zhang Yunqi said: "I don't think so."

But he did not explain why he felt otherwise.

He drove away from Chunjiang Bridge with Chujian. The street lights on both sides flickered on and off. He was walking on the same road as half a year ago and carrying the same girl, but his mood was completely different from the night of the high school graduation dinner.

Chu Jian asked, "Yunqi, why are you silent?"

Zhang Yunqi smiled and said, "I feel that we have different opinions on this issue. I respect your opinion because you are looking at this issue from your own perspective. You are excellent in every aspect. Now you can even support yourself financially and even send a lot of royalties home. But how many girls like you are there in this world? So I will not change my opinion. In this case, if I continue to talk, it will be a quarrel. It is someone else's business. Why bother arguing with my wife over someone else's business?"

When I first saw her, I pursed my lips, then slowly smiled.

She reached out and hugged Zhang Yunqi's waist tightly, resting her head on his shoulder: "Then, if we quarrel, what will my husband do?"

"You must have the last word."

“Is this your secret to love?”

"It's the secret to loving you."

******
PS: Brothers, I updated more than 5300 words to make up for yesterday's leave. Please subscribe to the monthly ticket and recommend the ticket!