The younger generation, starting from where the wind blows...

Chapter 349 Is this what you mean by having good character?

Do we have to wait until next year?

Chu Xiaoyu's hopes were shattered like a hot air balloon.

Just then, Xia Fenghua came out of the house with the money.

"Brother Xiaoyu, here's the money for two tickets."

The moment Chu Xiaoyu took the money, she sensed something was wrong and began counting it in front of everyone.

Sun Xin shoved Chu Xiaoyu, frowning and saying unhappily:
"What are you doing?"

"The amount of money is incorrect."

To prove his point, Chu Xiaoyu gambled away the entire stack of money in front of Sun Xin.

The agreed amount was one thousand yuan, but Xia Fenghua gave her one thousand five hundred.

Seeing this, Xia Fenghua explained:

“Brother Xiaoyu, we’ve already inquired. If we get two tickets from scalpers, they’ll cost at least two thousand. We’ve already gotten a great deal by getting them from you. Consider the extra five hundred as a tip for your hard work.”

Chu Xiaoyu, as if she had been greatly insulted, immediately counted out five hundred yuan and stuffed it into Xia Fenghua's hand.

"I said a thousand, so I mean a thousand. What kind of person do you take me for? If I take your money, how am I any different from those scalpers outside?"

Xia Fenghua held the five hundred yuan and looked at Sun Xin with a troubled expression.

“Take it. He doesn’t make money from this. Besides, he got a good commission when he sold this courtyard house. Don’t be polite with him,” Sun Xin said.

"Alright, I have something to do, I'll be going now."

Worried that Xia Fenghua would put the five hundred yuan back into his hands, Chu Xiaoyu waved to the two of them and turned to walk outside.

Afterwards, they even thoughtfully closed the courtyard gate.

Xia Fenghua withdrew her gaze: "Sister Sun Xin, why don't you give this five hundred yuan to Brother Xiaoyu for us?"

Sun Xin smiled and sighed.

"That's just Chu Xiaoyu's personality. Even if I give it to him, he won't accept it."

"But Xiaoyu only helped us because of you; after all, the ticket originally belonged to him—"

Before he could finish speaking, Sun Xin interrupted him.

“I never planned to go to the New Year’s Eve party with him. I just told him that next year, when Sun Xiang gets into university, I’ll invite everyone to go together. He can keep those two tickets, but he’ll eventually give them to someone else anyway, so it’s all the same.”

Xia Fenghua then remained silent.

After watching Xia Fenghua return to her room, Sun Xin went back to room number 3 to say goodbye to Sun Xiang and Lin Kesong, and then left Youfeng Courtyard.

After leaving the house, Sun Xin did not rush home, but instead took out her phone and dialed Chu Xiaoyu's number.

"Sun Xin, is something the matter?"

“I’m standing by the big locust tree at the entrance. I’ve come out for a bit. I have something to tell you.”

Just as I hung up the phone, I saw Chu Xiaoyu from next door rushing out with her phone in hand.

"Why do you have to call me out like this? Why don't you just come to my house and tell me?"

Sun Xin lowered her head, took out her wallet from her handbag, counted out a thousand yuan, and handed it over.

Chu Xiaoyu looked shocked and bewildered.

"What is this for?"

"This is the difference in ticket price I'll make up for for you."

"What price difference? I—"

"Alright, stop acting. I called Wang Niulang this afternoon and he told me everything... Don't blame him, I guessed it myself. Of course, Wang Niulang meant well and didn't want you to waste your money."

"Sun Xin, don't listen to Wang Niulang's nonsense. What do you mean by wasting money? I'm happy to spend this money!"

"Keep it."

Sun Xin handed the money to Chu Xiaoyu:
"If you don't want to accept it, then I'll go back and explain the situation to Fenghua and the others, and ask them to refund the ticket to you."

While Chu Xiaoyu was still in a daze, Sun Xin stuffed the money into his hand and turned to leave without looking back.

Looking at the long shadow cast by the dim streetlights, Chu Xiaoyu's mouth moved.

The words "I'll take you back" were never spoken.

What's going on!
Room 2, Youfeng Courtyard.

Xia Fenghua is calling Shao Xingchi.

"I'll fly there at noon the day before New Year's Day and come back the next morning. It won't take much time. Can't you switch shifts with your colleagues?"

"You guys go ahead, I really won't go. I just promised my colleague at noon today that I would cover for him on New Year's Day."

"But we've already bought our tickets."

"Aren't there still Wang and Haikuo? Why don't you invite them both? I really won't go."

Without giving Xia Fenghua a chance to speak again, Shao Xingchi hung up the phone.

Xia Fenghua put down her phone and sat on the edge of the bed, fuming.

"Siyi, what should we do? Xingchi said he's busy, but I think he just doesn't want to go."

While doing her homework, Ma Siyi answered in a distracted manner, "Don't worry about it, he just doesn't want to go."

One reason is the inferiority complex stemming from the job itself; being a doorman is, after all, not a respectable job.

Secondly, having only recently learned about her past, she doesn't want to meet her friends on the red-light district, nor does she want to be pitied or sympathized with.

"Now what?"

"Why don't you ask Wanghe again?"

Xia Fenghua said defiantly, "Go ahead and ask. I don't want to call him."

Ma Siyi didn't want to play either, and while doing her homework, she replied, "If it really doesn't work out, the two of us will go, and you can return the tickets to Brother Xiaoyu."

Seeing that Ma Siyi was focused on her studies, Xia Fenghua decided not to disturb her any further.

After thinking for a moment, Xia Fenghua called Zhou Haikuo.

"Dahua, what's wrong? Is something the matter?"

Zhou Haikuo's voice came through the microphone, and at the same time, a girl's voice could also be heard.

"Hai Kuo, who is that?"

"I'll tell you about my childhood friend from Flower Street later."

Xia Fenghua hesitated before speaking, "Hai Kuo, you—"

"I'm shopping with my girlfriend."

"You have a girlfriend?"

"Yes, we're from the same school. I was just saying I'd like to find an opportunity to get you all together and formally introduce you."

"That's great! Hurry up, I can't wait to see what your girlfriend is like."

As soon as Xia Fenghua finished speaking, Ma Siyi, who was sitting at the desk, coughed softly.

It wasn't that he was annoyed that Xia Fenghua's phone call was interfering with his studies, but rather that he was reminding Xia Fenghua not to forget the purpose of her call to Zhou Haikuo.

"Hai Kuo, it's like this, Si Yi and I are planning to go to Shenzhen during the New Year's Day holiday to watch Hunan TV's New Year's Eve Gala. It's organized by our company, and we bought two extra tickets. Do you want to come with us?"

"Didn't you ask about Xingchi and Wanghe?"

"We asked, but Xingchi refused to go. Xie Wang and I haven't called him yet. Isn't he busy starting his business? I don't think he'll have time to go."

"So you now have two more tickets, right?"

"Correct."

"That's perfect, can I bring my girlfriend?"

Xia Fenghua happily replied, "Sure, of course!"

"Okay, I'll take those two tickets. I'll pay you back later."

After putting down her phone, Xia Fenghua finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, buying these two tickets wasn't a waste of money.

Just as I was thinking this, Ma Siyi's voice suddenly rang out.

"Are you really not going to tell Wang He?"

Xia Fenghua shrugged: "The tickets have already been promised to Haikuo, what else is there to say? Actually, I'm more worried about Xingchi right now." Ma Siyi stopped writing and turned to look at Xia Fenghua.

Before she could speak, Xia Fenghua's voice rang out first.

“When I called him just now, I felt that Xingchi was acting strangely. He must be hiding something from me.”

-

Fairfield Inn basement staff dormitory.

Wang Niulang lay on the bed, holding a copy of last year's "Men's Health" magazine, engrossed in reading it.

Zhang Guangzheng pushed open the dormitory door and walked in.

Wang Niulang put down the magazine in his hand and glanced at Zhang Guangzheng.

This guy worked the night shift yesterday, and went straight to the internet cafe after get off work today without even getting any sleep.

They ostensibly search for travel guides and hotel information online.

Before Zhang Guangzheng could speak, Wang Niulang picked up the magazine in his hand.

He didn't want to listen to Zhang Guangzheng nagging in his ear; the guy was obsessed.

The other person only agreed to go to the New Year's Eve party with me, and we haven't even met yet, but they've already started to fawn over me.

Who knows how much they'll fawn over each other when they actually meet.

To be honest, Wang Niulang is now almost reluctant to acknowledge Zhang Guangzheng as his apprentice.

Unfortunately, Zhang Guangzheng himself was oblivious to the situation and took the initiative to come closer.

"Master, guess who I saw when I came back?"

Wang Niulang snorted irritably, "It couldn't be that you saw your goddess, could it?"

Zhang Guangzheng said mysteriously, "I saw Xingchi and that new girl in the guest room department named Douzi secretly meeting. There must be something going on between them."

Wang Niulang grunted in acknowledgment, indicating that he had heard it.

This reaction greatly surprised Zhang Guangzheng.

"No, Master, Xingchi is dating someone, aren't you worried at all?"

Wang Niulang put down the magazine and glared at Zhang Guangzheng with annoyance.

“Xingchi and Douzi had already made some progress before, and you only just found out now, and you still have the nerve to criticize me.”

what?
Zhang Guangzheng was completely stunned.

When did this happen? How come he didn't notice at all?

Wang Niulang sneered repeatedly: "You run to the park as soon as you take a break, to dance square dance with your goddess's mother. You're completely out of your mind, no wonder you don't notice."

Zhang Guangzheng felt a little embarrassed by what was said.

Although Wang Niulang was absolutely right, this did not diminish Zhang Guangzheng's curiosity about the matter in the slightest.

"Master, how far have things progressed between Xingchi and Douzi?"

"Why do you ask?"

"I'm the senior brother, can't I at least show some concern for my junior brother?"

Wang Niulang bluntly exposed him: "Is that what you call concern? You're just worried that Xingchi's progress will surpass yours, and you'll lose face as the senior brother, right?"

Zhang Guangzheng chuckled, which was taken as tacit agreement with Wang Niulang's statement.

"Don't worry, Xingchi has much better taste than you."

After Wang Niulang finished speaking, he was about to continue reading the magazine, but Zhang Guangzheng objected.

“Master, I don’t like what you’re saying. What do you mean Xingchi’s vision is better than mine? Isn’t En’s condition much better than Douzi’s?”

Wang Niulang sat up and looked down at Zhang Guangzheng.

"What, do you think your goddess was offended? But I really didn't mean that. You're right, your goddess is better than Douzi in every way—looks, job, family background. Do you think a flight attendant is a housekeeping girl who can stage an accident?"

Zhang Guangzheng was blinded by love, but he wasn't stupid. He could naturally hear the strong sarcasm in Wang Niulang's words.

Before he could speak, Wang Niulang's voice continued.

"You and Xingchi are both doormen. You've taken a liking to a flight attendant, and Xingchi has taken a liking to a housekeeping staff member. Logically, you should have higher standards, but I just can't bring myself to praise you. Do you know why?"

"know."

The light in Zhang Guangzheng's eyes visibly dimmed: "You think Xingchi and Douzi have a chance, but I have no chance with the goddess."

They understand the道理 (principles/reasons), but they still bury their heads in the sand like ostriches.

Wang Niulang had long since given up on trying to persuade him.

After all, you can never wake someone who is pretending to be asleep.

Just as Wang Niulang lay down again, picked up the magazine, and prepared to continue reading, Zhang Guangzheng's voice suddenly rang out.

"Master, I would like to ask you for a favor."

"You're switching shifts on New Year's Day, right? Didn't you already switch with Xingchi?"

"No, I added Youen on QQ today and discussed going to the New Year's Eve gala with her."

"and then?"

"She said she would cover the round-trip airfare, and we would split the hotel and food costs equally."

"Isn't this great? You're not planning to pay for the whole thing, are you?"

"But this is our first date after all. Wouldn't it be a bit much to let the girl pay?"

Wang Niulang put down the magazine in his hand and decided to teach Zhang Guangzheng a lesson.

"You treat this like a date, does the other person feel the same way?"

Zhang Guangzheng was taken aback.

"Is not it?"

Wang Niulang laughed on the spot.

"If she really considered this a date, she wouldn't have mentioned splitting the airfare and accommodation costs. Even if she's not the kind of woman who takes advantage of men, she would have let you pay this time and then pay next time. But she didn't do that. Do you know what that means?"

Zhang Guangzheng shook his head, looking bewildered.

"This shows that she never intended to have a next time with you! At most, she just saw you as a buddy to go to the New Year's Eve party with."

Wang Niulang's words revealed the truth.

Even after all that, Zhang Guangzheng still wouldn't give up.

“Master, after all, Youen and I haven’t officially met yet. For a stranger like me, Youen’s suggestion to split the bill is a good sign that she is a girl with good character.”

Wang Niulang retorted, "And what about you?"

Without hesitation, Zhang Guangzheng replied, "Master, don't you know me? My character is absolutely reliable!"

"Really? Then why did you lie to her mother?"

Zhang Guangzheng looked completely bewildered.

"I do not have it!"

"impossible!"

Wang Niulang looked at Zhang Guangzheng and said with certainty, "Have you ever seen anyone recommend a boyfriend who works as a hotel doorman to their daughter who is a flight attendant?"

What do they want from you?
Would you join her in square dancing?
Zhang Guangzheng was completely speechless.

Wang Niulang was absolutely right; he had indeed lied to Liu Meili about her profession.

"Master, I must say you're amazing. You figured out what I wanted to ask you for right away."

Wang Niulang wasn't buying it at all:
"Stop flattering me. What exactly did you tell them?"

Zhang Guangzheng took a deep breath, as if he were going all out.

“I told them I was the hotel’s lobby manager.”

what?
Wang Niulang didn't even bother to put down the magazine; he immediately sat up in bed.

you?
Lobby Manager?

Wang Niulang really wanted to spit Zhang Guangzheng to death.

You really dare to lie!
“Master, you know General Manager Yang, and General Manager Yang is very familiar with Manager Yang. Could you please ask Manager Yang to put in a good word for me? In case Aunt Liu comes to the hotel to investigate, please try to cover it up for me.”

(End of this chapter)