Chapter 43 Intimate Person

Zhang Yunqi was not very familiar with Jiangchuan City. After being admitted to a technical secondary school in the provincial capital in his previous life, he jumped directly from the valley of Yunxi Village to Lijin City in the provincial capital, where he studied, worked, got married, had children and settled down. He would only pass by Jiangchuan City every time he went back to his hometown to visit his parents.

In order to better market the handheld game player, he went to the book city and bought a local map. Then he marked the places he wanted to go with a red pen and got up early every morning to go from store to store along the route map. When the sun was strong, he took the bus. When the weather was cool, he rode his 28-bar bicycle that was about to break down at any time and traveled through the streets and alleys of Jiangchuan City.

In a few days, Zhang Yunqi visited all the convenience stores near all the middle schools in Jiangchuan City. Most of the store owners were easy to talk to. Even if the two parties could not reach an agreement, there was still a friendship. When he met some unreasonable owners, he would put on a smile and try his best to get the orders. However, even so, he was still shooed away like a fly several times.

That feeling must be uncomfortable, but Zhang Yunqi has gotten used to it. After all, life is not a novel. Life is like a slap in the face one after another, telling you: You are not the protagonist, you are not irreplaceable, no one will pamper you or protect you. If you don’t act well, there are thousands of people behind you waiting to take your place. You can only have a better life than others if you work harder than others.

The same goes for life, career, and love. Those who don’t work hard don’t deserve miracles.

It's depressing, but this is reality.

One day, Zhang Yunqi met an old man who was collecting garbage on the road. It was also an accident that the old man's tricycle scraped against his bicycle. Both of them were fine. But when Zhang Yunqi was about to leave, he saw a mobile phone on the tricycle. He immediately got off the tricycle, took out the mobile phone from the tricycle, and said to the old man: "How much is this thing?"

The old man who collected the garbage was a little puzzled: "This mobile phone is broken and completely unusable. I found it in the trash can."

Zhang Yunqi asked, "Just tell me how much money?"

“Five…five dollars!”

Zhang Yunqi stuffed five dollars into his pocket and left with his cell phone.

When he got back to the dormitory, he cleaned off the dirt and grease on it, and it immediately became a semi-new product. Although it was broken, he didn't need it to be practical, he just wanted it to look classy.

From then on, every time Zhang Yunqi went door-to-door to sell products, he would tie his mobile phone around his waist and show it intentionally or unintentionally. When the bosses saw it, they no longer used dirty words or had a rude attitude. Of course, Zhang Yunqi was never scolded again.

What is this called?

Every afternoon, Ji Ling comes to Jiangchuan No. 1 Middle School.

Sometimes she played badminton with Zhang Yunqi, and sometimes they wandered around the campus.

On the last day of the National Day, Zhang Yunqi thought about the classes the next day, so he went to a few more convenience stores. He went out early in the morning and didn't come back until after 8 pm. He was so tired that he was like an idiot. When he returned to school, he thought Ji Ling would not come tonight, but when he walked not far from the boys' dormitory, he suddenly heard Ji Ling's voice: "Student Zhang, here."

Zhang Yunqi turned his head and saw Ji Ling leaning on the railing and waving at him.

Ji Ling was wearing navy blue jeans, a black sweater and a black baseball cap, revealing her delicate face and a few wisps of bangs. The wind blew, and the leaves of the camphor trees behind her rustled.

Zhang Yunqi walked over and asked, "Isn't it cold standing here?"

Ji Ling stuffed a glass of juice into Zhang Yunqi's hand and said, "Why did you make me wait so long?"

Zhang Yunqi smiled and said, "It's been very busy today. Have you had dinner?"

"No." "I'll treat you, what do you want to eat?"

"I want to have a big meal!" Ji Ling smiled with squinted eyes.

"Eating is not a problem. Comrade Zhang lacks everything except money." This is the only time in his life that Zhang Yunqi has said such confident words.

"Yo yo yo, you are rich."

"I can't say I'm a wealthy man, but I can definitely treat my comrade, Xiao Ji, to delicious food and drinks."

"Then let's go eat something delicious."

Ji Ling turned around and walked in front, Zhang Yunqi followed behind her, and the two walked through the campus together. It was already late at night, and the only sound in the campus was the chirping of cicadas. It was extremely quiet. Street lights were on on both sides of the road, and the light was very warm. Ji Ling held a piece of juice in her hand, and her steps were as light as a deer.

After leaving the school, the two came to the street. There were many small restaurants on both sides. Zhang Yunqi had eaten at most of them. The taste was not very good. He remembered the Zui Xiangnan restaurant where Wang Xiaokai had his birthday last time. Although the price was expensive, the taste was not bad, especially the two signature dishes, spicy lobster and tea oil spring river fish, which were very delicious. He knew that Ji Ling liked to eat fish, so he said, "How about we go to Zui Xiangnan? It tastes good."

Ji Ling ignored Zhang Yunqi and took his hand and ran to a rice dumpling shop behind the No. 1 Middle School. The rice dumpling shop was not big, about 20 square meters, not decorated much, and quite simple. The owner was a white-haired grandmother with wrinkles on her face. When she saw Ji Ling, a kind smile appeared in her eyes: "Little girl, bring your friends to eat rice dumplings."

Ji Ling hummed and said, "Grandma, I want two servings of rice dumplings. His soup should have a lot of chili in it, but mine won't."

The old lady said yes with a smile and turned to cook rice dumplings for them.

Zhang Yunqi and Ji Ling found a seat and sat down. Ji Ling looked at him and said, "How come you look darker after the National Day?"

Zhang Yunqi laughed and said, "It can't be helped. I run outside every day, so how can I not get tanned?"

Although Zhang Yunqi never mentioned that he was selling Tetris handheld games, Ji Ling knew it in her heart: "You must be very tired every day, right?"

Zhang Yunqi said: "It's okay to be tired, but sometimes I feel a little unhappy because I am always not understood. Of course, most of the time I don't think it's a big deal."

Ji Ling said: "It's normal. I don't understand why you do this, but I think everyone has different ideas. Everyone hates being misunderstood by others. But the real way to make yourself strong is not to agree with others to make them happy, but to draw help from them in life. Comrade Xiao Zhang, as long as you like it, just do it."

Zhang Yunqi smiled at Ji Ling, feeling warm in his heart. This girl who had grown up with him was the one who understood him the most. He said, "Listening to your words is worth ten years of reading. You are a philosopher!"

"That's right. From now on, you must tell me when you are unhappy, and even more when you are happy." Ji Ling smiled with narrowed eyes, then reached out and ruffled his hair.

While chatting, two servings of rice dumplings came up soon, steaming hot. Ji Ling handed a pair of chopsticks to Zhang Yunqi and said, "Eat, eat. I often eat here after school. It tastes good."

Zhang Yunqi had been hungry for a long time, and he ate with his chopsticks with relish. He ate very quickly, and after he finished, he leaned back in his chair and looked at Ji Ling.

Ji Ling ate very slowly and didn't like to talk while eating. The light from the wall fell down, and her long eyelashes left two shadows on her little face.

******
(End of this chapter)