Chapter 329 - 228: Departing for the Region (3)

Chapter 329: Chapter 228: Departing for the Region (3)

The Red Professional School for Workers, Farmers, and Soldiers was located deep in an alley in the district. It consisted of large, red-brick buildings with tile roofs, and the surrounding walls were painted with eye-catching slogans. When the two of them arrived at the school gate, the security staff saw Zhao Wendong’s attire and nearly jumped up to salute, thinking some high-ranking leader had arrived. After Zhao Wendong explained they were there to find someone, the security office had them sign a register and let them in.

After asking for directions, they found the building where Huang Xiaomei had her class and waited under a tree outside. After a while, a young man on a bicycle arrived. He was wearing cadre-style clothing and had an arrogant air about him. Straddling his bicycle, he first looked Zhao Wendong up and down, then his gaze shifted to Liangzi’s patched-up clothes, and he couldn’t help but let out a sneer.

"An outfit like yours is wasted walking around with someone so shabby!"

"I do as I please. What’s it to you?"

Liangzi’s expression changed instantly, while Zhao Wendong shot back a retort without any hesitation.

"You..."

Just as the young man was about to say something, the bell signaling the end of class rang. In those days, the bell was a bronze gong, and someone was assigned to strike it at the designated time.

Soon, a crowd of people poured out of the classroom. Among them, a girl in blue work clothes was walking out, talking and laughing with her classmates. When she saw the young man on the bicycle, her face lit up with joy, and she rushed straight over to him.

"Zhitian, what are you doing here?"

"I came to take you to dinner. Class is over, right?"

"Mhm."

"Let’s go!"

The young man tossed his head, his eyes full of superiority as he looked at Liangzi. But Liangzi was completely oblivious to his gaze, staring in disbelief at the girl who had just gotten on the back of the young man’s bicycle.

As the bicycle rode away, Liangzi finally snapped back to reality and chased after it, shouting, "Xiaomei, Xiaomei!"

Huang Xiaomei, on the back seat, turned her head in surprise. Seeing Liangzi chasing after them, her expression changed, and she instinctively tightened her grip on the young man’s waist.

"What’s wrong? Did someone call your name?"

The young man started to slow down as he spoke, but Huang Xiaomei quickly urged him on.

"No, you heard wrong. Let’s just go. I’m not feeling well. Can you take me to my aunt’s place first?"

"Alright. I can just come get you when it’s almost time for dinner. We’re eating at the guest house tonight, by the way. The food is supposed to be especially good today. You go on and get some rest."

Hearing that Huang Xiaomei wasn’t feeling well, the young man started pedaling even faster, wanting to get her home to rest as soon as possible.

THUD—!

Liangzi’s foot slipped, and he fell to the ground. By the time he scrambled back up, the bicycle was already getting farther and farther away. Seeing that it was impossible to catch up, he turned to Zhao Wendong, his face deathly pale, his voice hoarse and on the verge of tears.

"Dong- Dongzi, what does this mean? Xiaomei... did she not hear me calling her?"

Zhao Wendong sighed. ’His suspicions were confirmed. A Red Professional student with a boundless future, and a poor boy from the countryside... When a woman has seen the wider world and all its possibilities, how many would be like Lin Zhiyin, willing to settle for someone of a lower station?’ Of course, Zhao Wendong wasn’t like other men.

He walked over, helped Liangzi up, and then brushed the snow off his clothes.

"What does it mean? You still don’t get it?"

"You were shouting so loud, how could she possibly not have heard you?"

"Didn’t you see how close she was with that guy? Liangzi, are you going to keep lying to yourself?"

Zhao Wendong’s words mercilessly tore away Liangzi’s pretense. His eyes immediately turned red, and clenching his fists, he let out a beast-like roar.

"AHHHH—! Why?! We promised to be together forever! WHY?! WAAAAAH!"

Passing students subconsciously gave Liangzi a wide berth, watching him with a mixture of suspicion and pity. Zhao Wendong stood silently to the side, pulled out a cigarette, and slowly lit it. He waited for Liangzi to vent, confident that his brother would eventually pull himself together.

After a long while, Liangzi, his voice hoarse, reached a hand out toward Zhao Wendong. "Dongzi, give me one."

Zhao Wendong handed him a cigarette and took out his lighter to light it for him.

"SHHHHP—"

Liangzi took a harsh drag, and only after a long moment did he slowly speak.

"Dongzi, to be honest, I had a feeling this might happen before I even came. That she might have had a change of heart, that she’d forgotten the promises we made in the cornfield. But I just didn’t want to believe it. I kept making up reasons and excuses for her. Heh, I’m pretty stupid, aren’t I?"

"No. She’s the stupid one. You did nothing wrong."

"Mhm."

Liangzi fell silent. After finishing his cigarette, he took one last look at the classroom where Huang Xiaomei had her class.

"Let’s go, Dongzi. Let’s head back."

"Alright."

"I want to get a drink."

"Alright."

Zhao Wendong walked alongside Liangzi, who shuffled along like an eighty-year-old man, slowly making their way toward the guest house.

As soon as Zhao Zhitian dropped Huang Xiaomei off at her aunt’s house, she dashed into her room.

"Zhitian, what’s wrong with Xiaomei? Did you two have a fight?"

Huang Xiaomei’s second aunt, Huang Xiaohong, looked at Zhao Zhitian in confusion.

"Not at all. Xiaomei said she wasn’t feeling well, so I pedaled as fast as I could to get her back."

"Oh my, look how tired you are, Zhitian. Come, have some water and rest a bit. Your mother already told me you’re all going to the guest house for dinner tonight, right?"

"Mhm, that’s right. My dad is in charge of tomorrow’s conference affairs, and he said the food at the guest house is especially good tonight because a lot of the leaders are eating there. So he said to invite you, uncle, and Xiaomei to come along and have a nice meal."

"Alright, alright. You go home and rest for a bit. When Xiaomei’s uncle gets back, we’ll all go find your father together."

"Sounds good, Second Aunt. I’ll head back and get some rest then."

Zhao Zhitian stood up, glanced at Huang Xiaomei’s closed door, and then slowly departed.