My IQ has been increasing year by year.

Chen Zhuo opened the door.

Outside the door, Zhang Qiang stood in the hallway, his brow beaded with sweat.

Upon seeing Chen Zhuo, Zhang Qiang grinned, revealing a set of white teeth.

"Brother Zhuo!"

Zhang Qiang took a step forward and squeezed through the door.

He slammed the crumpled piece of paper on the shoe cabinet and pointed to the few lines of black text on it.

"I passed! 515 points! The cutoff score for the city's No. 1 High School is 512, and I exceeded it by three points!"

Zhang Qiang's voice grew louder and louder as he spoke, gesturing wildly to indicate his name.

"That last physics problem was so difficult that only a handful of people in the whole school could solve it. My mind was filled with that 'line-coloring method' you taught me during the Chinese New Year. I just followed that line of thought and applied the formulas, and I managed to solve the last two parts. I even got into the top 50 in the city for physics!"

Chen Zhuo looked at the excited boy in front of him, who was somewhat at a loss for what to do.

Chen Zhuo smiled slightly and patted Zhang Qiang's shoulder twice.

"You did well on the exam."

"You've really put in a lot of hard work over the past six months, thank you for your hard work."

Hearing Chen Zhuo's praise, Zhang Qiang felt a little embarrassed.

He scratched the back of his head and chuckled twice.

"Those six months really killed me. I did practice problems as fast as I could every night, but the moment I received the acceptance letter, I felt it was all worth it." Chen Zhuo turned and walked towards the kitchen.

He opened the refrigerator, took out a glass bottle of chilled cola, and pried it open with his thumb against the edge of the cap.

With a hiss, the bottle cap popped open, and white, cold air escaped.

Chen Zhuo walked back to the living room and handed the Coke to Zhang Qiang.

"Have some water and take a break."

Zhang Qiang took the Coke, tilted his head back, gulped down half the bottle, and let out a loud burp.

The cool soda calmed his feverish body. He wiped his mouth and stared at Chen Zhuo with bright eyes.

"Brother Zhuo, you can't go back on your word."

Zhang Qiang pointed to the cheap jersey of an unknown team he was wearing.

"I've finally received the acceptance letter. It's the same as promised, Kobe's number 8 jersey."

Chen Zhuo walked to the sofa and sat down, looking at Zhang Qiang.

"I haven't forgotten," Chen Zhuo said.

"Where are the things?"

Zhang Qiang stretched out his hand, his eyes shining as he scanned the living room, seemingly looking for a package.

Chen Zhuo leaned back on the sofa, his expression calm.

"I'm not flying to New York until the end of next month."

Chen Zhuo presented a simple timeline.

"If you want to wear it now, I'll go out this afternoon and go to the small commodity wholesale market in the city center to buy you one. I can also bargain for you while I'm at it. You can buy a high-quality replica for just a few dozen yuan." Zhang Qiang was stunned.

He blinked, trying to process the meaning behind Chen Zhuo's words.

"Do you want it?"

Chen Zhuo asked him.

"don't want!"

Zhang Qiang shook his head vigorously, refusing without hesitation.

He grabbed a Coke bottle and plopped down next to Chen Zhuo.

"I won't wear the fakes from the wholesale market. They fade as soon as you wash them, and the number on the back is printed crookedly."

Zhang Qiang leaned closer, his face full of anticipation.

"I want the original version."

Chen Zhuo nodded.

"Then you'll have to wait. Once I arrive in the US at the end of next month and settle in for the semester, I'll go to a store there and buy you an authentic Los Angeles Lakers jersey. Then I'll go to the post office and have it sent back to Zeyang via international express."

Chen Zhuo looked at him.

"It might take a while; you probably won't be able to wear it until October. Can you wait?"

"able!"

Zhang Qiang didn't hesitate at all.

"Don't even mention October, I'll wait for it to be sent back during the Chinese New Year. It's an authentic Kobe jersey. When I wear it to the school basketball court, I'll definitely be the coolest person there." Zhang Qiang was already imagining himself showing off on the court in an authentic jersey after school started.

Zhang Zhicheng walked in from outside.

He was holding a white plate filled with slices of chilled watermelon straight from the freezer, with a few toothpicks stuck in it. "Qiangzi, your brother Zhuo just got off the train, don't bother him."

As Zhang Zhicheng walked inside, he chuckled and scolded his son.

He placed the fruit platter on the coffee table in the living room and turned to look at Chen Zhuo.

Zhang Zhicheng had a familiar smile on his face.

"Xiao Zhuo, you must be exhausted from the train ride, right? Come on, have a piece of watermelon to cool down."

Chen Zhuo stood up from the sofa and called out.

Uncle Zhang.

Chen Zhuo picked up a watermelon with a toothpick stuck in it and took a bite.

"This watermelon is sweet."

The kitchen sliding door opened, and Liu Xiuying came out wiping her hands, with Chen Jianguo following behind.

"Old Zhang, Qiangzi has really made something of himself this time."

Chen Jianguo smiled and sat down on the other sofa.

"This kid has the potential to be a good student."

Zhang Zhicheng waved his hand, unable to hide the smile on his face.

"What kind of academic talent is this? This kid only really got it in the last two or three months. In the end, we have to thank Xiaozhuo."

Zhang Zhicheng looked at Chen Zhuo with gratitude in his eyes.

"During the Lunar New Year period, if Xiao Zhuo hadn't called him over every night to highlight the key points and explain that line-coloring method, he'd probably be searching all over town for a school to go to." "Uncle Zhang, you're too kind."

Chen Zhuo threw the watermelon rind in his hand into the trash can.

"Zhang Qiang is quite smart; he understood it after just a little guidance."

Zhang Qiang nodded repeatedly beside him, looking smug.

"Alright, stop praising each other."

Zhang Zhicheng slapped his thigh.

"Old Chen, sister-in-law, you don't need to cook dinner tonight."

After wiping her hands, Liu Xiuying draped the towel over the back of the chair.

"Where else are we going to eat if not at home? Xiao Zhuo just got back, and I was planning to go to the market this afternoon to buy a fish so I can make him a steamed fish tonight to help him recover." "What market?"

Zhang Zhicheng stood up.

"I've already called and reserved a private room at the Grand Fortune Hotel."

Chen Jianguo was stunned for a moment, then quickly waved his hand.

"Old Zhang, this is too extravagant. How much does a meal cost for a tycoon? Our two families can just grab a bite at a small restaurant downstairs." "No way."

Zhang Zhicheng's attitude was firm and left no room for refusal.

"Firstly, our Qiangzi got into the top high school, which is a great joy. As his father, I'm happy and we should celebrate."

Zhang Zhicheng pointed at Chen Zhuo.

"Secondly, Xiao Zhuo just came home for summer vacation, and Xiao Zhuo is also Qiangzi's half-teacher. This meal can be considered as our two families welcoming Xiao Zhuo back together." Zhang Zhicheng looked at Chen Jianguo.

"Old Chen, don't argue with me. It's tonight. Nobody can back out. We'll head over at 5:30."

Liu Xiuying looked at Chen Jianguo, and Chen Jianguo smiled.

"Alright, since Old Zhang has put it this way, let's go."

Chen Jianguo nodded in agreement.

"You've gone to so much trouble."

"There's no need to spend money on this."

Zhang Zhicheng laughed heartily.

He slapped Zhang Qiang on the back of the head.

"Come on, let's go home, take a shower, and change into some clean clothes. You're all sweaty and sitting on someone else's sofa."

Zhang Qiang scratched the back of his head and jumped up from the sofa.

"See you later, Brother Zhuo."

The father and son went out the door and returned to the house across the street.

The room fell silent.

Chen Jianguo leaned back on the sofa and lit a cigarette.

"Go take a shower."

Chen Jianguo took a drag of his cigarette and looked at Chen Zhuo.

"After you take a shower and change your clothes, I'll take you to the entrance of the community to get your hair cut. After that, we can go to Dafuhao for dinner."

Chen Zhuo nodded and went back to his bedroom.

It was a little after 4 p.m.

The sun was setting slightly westward, but the temperature outside was still very high.

Chen Jianguo led Chen Zhuo out of the south gate of the residential area.

Walk east along the road for a few dozen meters, and you'll find a small barbershop with the words "Popular Barbershop" in red on its glass door.

Pushing open the door, there were only two barber chairs inside.

An old-fashioned ceiling fan was slowly turning overhead.

The barber was an old man in his fifties, sitting in a chair listening to a storyteller on the radio.

Seeing someone come in, the old man stood up.

"Old Chen's here, getting his son a haircut?"

The old man recognized Chen Jianguo and greeted him.

"Hmm, his hair's gotten long, let's shave it flat."

Chen Jianguo found a stool, sat down, and took out a cigarette case.

Chen Zhuo sat down in the barber's chair.

The old man took a white apron, unfolded it, wrapped it around Chen Zhuo's neck, and secured it with a black clip.

"What kind of haircut should we get?"

The old man picked up the electric hair clipper and pressed the switch in mid-air.

A buzzing sound began.

"Push up both sides, and cut the top a little shorter, just make sure it looks neat."

Chen Jianguo gave instructions from the side.

"Okay."

The old man took the clippers and shaved Chen Zhuo's temples upwards.

Fine strands of hair fell down the white apron and landed on the floor tiles.

The barbershop was quiet, with only the buzzing of electric clippers and the hoarse voice of a storyteller coming from the radio.

Chen Zhuo walked to the pool behind him, lowered his head, and the old man turned on the water heater to rinse the stray hairs off Chen Zhuo's head with warm water, then casually dried them with a towel. He looked at himself in the mirror.

After cutting my hair short, I definitely looked much more neat and tidy.

Chen Jianguo paid the bill, and the father and son walked out of the barbershop.

It's 5:30 in the evening.

Da Fu Hao Seafood Restaurant.

This is a relatively high-end restaurant that opened in Zeyang City in the last two years. There were many cars parked in front, and money trees were placed on both sides to welcome guests. Chen Jianguo and his family of three met Zhang Zhicheng and his family of three in the restaurant lobby.

Zhang Qiang's mother wore a newly bought floral dress, her face beaming with an undisguised smile.

"Let's go to the private room on the second floor."

Zhang Zhicheng led the way.

Once inside the private room, the air conditioning was on full blast.

In the very center is a large round table covered with a red tablecloth, on which a transparent glass turntable is spinning.

Everyone pulled out chairs and sat down.

The waiter came in with the menu.

Zhang Zhicheng pushed the menu in front of Chen Jianguo.

"Old Chen, order whatever you want."

Chen Jianguo declined a few times, then ordered a steamed sea bass and a braised pork belly. Liu Xiuying ordered a boiled shrimp and a dry-pot cauliflower. Zhang Zhicheng added a few more signature dishes and a pork rib soup.

After ordering, Zhang Zhicheng took out two beautifully packaged bottles of liquor from the plastic bag he had brought.

"Let's have something nice to drink today."

Zhang Zhicheng unscrewed the bottle cap.

He took the glass of baijiu (Chinese liquor) from in front of Chen Jianguo and poured it to the brim. Then he filled his own glass as well.

The dishes were served one after another.

Steaming hot, the food filled the entire table.

Zhang Zhicheng picked up his wine glass and stood up.

"Come."

Zhang Zhicheng held up his glass, looking at everyone at the table.

"For the first drink, I have a suggestion."

He glanced at Zhang Qiang, then at Chen Zhuo.

"Let's celebrate Qiangzi finally getting into No. 1 Middle School, and also celebrate Xiaozhu coming home for vacation. It's fate that our two families can be neighbors across the street." Chen Jianguo raised his wine glass, Liu Xiuying and Wang Li raised their teacups, Zhang Qiang held a can of Sprite, and Chen Zhu held a cup of coconut juice.

The six cups clinked together in the middle of the table, making a crisp sound.

Zhang Zhicheng tilted his head back, downed half a glass of baijiu in one gulp, and smacked his lips because of the spiciness.

Chen Jianguo also took a big gulp.

Everyone sat down and began to eat.

"Xiao Zhuo's haircut looks great, he looks so energetic."

Wang Li picked up a shrimp and looked at Chen Zhuo.

"Xiao Zhuo has always been steady and reliable, unlike my mischievous little monkey who's always jumping around."

"Qiangzi is more sensible now."

Liu Xiuying responded with a smile.

"If you can get into No. 1 High School, and study hard in high school, you'll have no problem getting into a good university."

Zhang Qiang, with a piece of braised pork stuffed in his mouth, mumbled incoherently.

"I'll definitely study hard in high school; I'm looking forward to studying abroad in the United States."

"Stop bragging."

Zhang Zhicheng tapped the edge of Zhang Qiang's bowl with his chopsticks.

"You should figure out high school math and physics first."

Zhang Qiang shrank his neck and swallowed the meat in his mouth.

The adults started talking about prices in Zeyang City, which teacher at the city's No. 1 Middle School was good, and the resettlement of laid-off workers. The topics were scattered and fragmented.

This is the most ordinary life in the city.

Chen Zhuo ate his meal quietly.

He picked up a piece of meat from the belly of a steamed fish, carefully removed a small bone, and put it in his mouth.

The fish was very tender, with a hint of scallion oil aroma.

"Old Chen, come on, let's have a drink."

Zhang Zhicheng raised his glass and clinked it with Chen Jianguo's.

The two middle-aged men's cheeks were flushed from drinking.

"Qiangzi will need your son Xiaozhuo to guide him on his future path."

Zhang Zhicheng put down his wine glass and sighed.

"My wife and I are both uneducated people, and we can't read much. We can't help with his studies at all."

"What you're saying."

Chen Jianguo waved his hand.

"A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative. Qiangzi calls Xiaozhuo 'brother,' so how could Xiaozhuo not keep an eye on him?"

Liu Xiuying and Wang Li chatted about high school tuition and living expenses on the other side.

"I heard that the accommodation fee at No. 1 Middle School has gone up again."

Wang Li lowered her voice and said.

"Let the prices go up. As long as the children can study well, we'll sell everything we own to support them."

Liu Xiuying picked up a piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks.

Chen Zhuo took a sip of coconut juice.

In the corridor outside the private room, the footsteps of waiters carrying dishes could be heard from time to time, along with the loud sounds of drinking games coming from the next private room. Zhang Qiang, holding a Sprite can, moved closer to Chen Zhuo.

"Brother Zhuo, is Princeton, the place you're going to, fun?"

Zhang Qiang asked in a low voice.

Chen Zhuo turned his head and looked at him.

"I don't know, I've never been there," Chen Zhuo said.

"I heard that school is the best university in the world. Do they all read books every day, even while eating and sleeping?" Zhang Qiang asked with a face full of curiosity.

"I don't think so."

Chen Zhuo put down his chopsticks and thought for a moment.

"Some of them probably play video games, and others go to the playground to play basketball, after all, they are still college students."

"If I get into Princeton, can I come visit you?"

Zhang Qiang's eyes lit up.

Chen Zhuo looked at him and smiled.

"By the time you get accepted, I'll have already graduated."

Chen Zhuo picked up a napkin from the table and wiped his mouth.

"Old Zhao told me that the first mock exam for first-year students at the No. 1 High School in the city is very difficult. You'd better preview the first-year textbooks in advance." Zhang Qiang's face immediately fell.

"Seriously? We have to start studying before school even begins?"

"Otherwise what?"

Chen Zhuo looked at him.

"Do you think high school is like middle school, where you can cram for a few months before the exam and pass?"

Zhang Qiang scratched his head and sighed.

"Okay, I'll go to the bookstore to buy books in a couple of days."

The meal lasted until after 8 p.m.

The dishes on the table were almost finished, and both bottles of liquor were empty.

Zhang Zhicheng and Chen Jianguo were both a bit drunk, and they staggered out of the private room, supporting each other.

We left the Grand Fortune Restaurant.

It was completely dark outside.

The streetlights on both sides of the road were on, and the summer night breeze carried a bit of sultry heat.

"Old Chen, let's go back and have some more tea."

Zhang Zhicheng, speaking with a slurred speech, patted Chen Jianguo on the shoulder.

"I'm not drinking anymore, I can't drink anymore."

Chen Jianguo waved his hand.

The group walked slowly along the sidewalk toward the Brocade Garden.

Zhang Qiang walked at the front, humming an unknown pop song, and occasionally jumping up to touch the leaves of the trees on the roadside.

Liu Xiuying and Wang Li walked in the middle, chatting about everyday things.

Chen Zhuo walked last.

He had his hands in his pockets and walked steadily.

The dim yellow light from the streetlights stretched his shadow long.

Passing the corner grocery store, the owner sat at the door, fanning himself with a palm leaf fan while watching TV. Passing the roadside barbecue stall, several tables were filled with shirtless people drinking beer. People only cared about tomorrow's weather, their children's grades, and the price of pork.

It's just ordinary.

This is good.