Year 1983: I was a carpenter in Northeast China

Chapter 151 Sophistry

Song Guomei's breath hitched when she was questioned. She opened her mouth and deliberately argued, "But Xiao Bei likes you! You know I like him, but he likes you. Shouldn't we keep our distance as good friends? Otherwise, what kind of good friends are we?"

Just like how many classmates distanced themselves from you because of your family background, I still hung out with you without hesitation. Isn't that what good friends should do? I did my best! So why can't you do the same for me?

C

Zhou Qingwan hadn't expected that when the two were talking about Xu Bei, he would steer the conversation toward her bad family background. She felt both heartbroken and ridiculous.

She interrupted Song Guomei without any politeness, saying, "First of all, Brother Xu has never told me that he likes me. These are all just your guesses."

Secondly, even good friends should be reasonable. Don't say that you're not boyfriend and girlfriend yet. Even if you are someday, it's not too late to exercise your girlfriend rights in front of me!

Also, because of my family background in the past, people shunned me, so I'm very grateful that you're willing to hang out with me. But I don't think it was my fault for having a bad family background, and now the country has even rehabilitated some of my elders!

Song Guomei blushed with anger and couldn't say anything to refute him. She could only soften her tone and try to be gentle again, "Qingwan, don't take it personally. I'm just so insecure because I like Brother Xiaobei so much."

"Could you please give me a break out of our previous gratitude? Even if Xiao Bei tells you he likes you and wants to pursue you someday, would you firmly reject him?"

Zhou Qingwan slowly shook her head. "I can't agree to such an unreasonable request. That would be unfair to—"

Before she could finish speaking, Song Guomei's face darkened. "No matter what, you've fallen for Xiao Bei too! I knew it! We've been classmates for so long, and I've never seen you act like this towards any other guy!"

Zhou Qingwan neither admitted nor denied it. She simply glanced at her watch and then decided not to waste her precious time on unworthy people anymore. Instead, she went to class.

Song Guomei, however, felt she had seized the high ground and shouted at Zhou Qingwan's retreating figure, "It's no use if you like her! Your aunt is so strict with you, there's no way she'd agree to your relationship!"

Zhou Qingwan gripped the bag in her schoolbag tightly, but didn't turn around.

Because she knows that sometimes ignoring or ignoring the issue is a better way to retaliate.

Moreover, having deliberately acted well-behaved since childhood, she didn't believe that who she wanted to be with in the future was something her aunt, Anya Ping, could not interfere with.

Song Guomei stomped her feet in anger, but at the same time, she deeply understood that she could neither stop Xu Bei's feelings nor control Zhou Qingwan.

Xu Bei had no idea what had happened in the girls' dormitory. After leaving the vicinity of the school, he went straight to the city's guesthouse.

The guesthouse was rather deserted after the New Year.

The staff were probably still enjoying the festive atmosphere of the Lunar New Year, sitting at the front desk eating sunflower seeds and listening to the radio.

When Xu Bei asked if the guests who regularly lived in room 208 were there, he lazily shook his head.

"It's only the tenth of the month today, so most of the people from the south haven't come yet. It'll probably be after the fifteenth."

"Okay, thank you."

"You are welcome."

Xu Bei had actually guessed it before he came.

After all, it's not easy for Fan Baoli to go back home, so he'll definitely stay there for a while. Besides, the trains are all slow these days, and it takes a long time to get to the forest area from there.

But since we're already here, we'll definitely come and check it out. What if we come back early? It's anyone's guess.

After leaving the guesthouse, Xu Bei went to the nearby government building.

The city's government building is now a multi-story brick-and-concrete structure with a sense of history.

On the front exterior wall, several large, powerful slogans were painted in red.

The corridor is paved with terrazzo flooring, and you can hear clear footsteps when you step on it.

A faint smell of coal smoke and ink wafted in the air.

Following the detailed address Wei Xuelin had given him, Xu Bei easily found his way to the third floor and located the department where Wei worked.

Seeing that the door was open, Xu Bei first looked inside.

In the spacious office, there were several old-fashioned wooden tables pieced together, and sunlight streamed in at an angle through the glass windows.

Wei Xuelin was sitting by the window, with a tin thermos with the words "Serve the People" printed on it and a slightly chipped enamel mug next to him.

He was engrossed in reading a newspaper, and even took a sip of hot tea from his teacup, looking quite content.

Compared to the staff at the guesthouse, those sitting in offices, drinking tea and reading newspapers, seemed much more relaxed and comfortable.

Xu Bei's appearance outside the door immediately attracted the attention of five or six people in the office.

Wei Xuelin also subconsciously looked towards the doorway.

When he realized it was someone he knew, he immediately put down the newspaper in his hand, stood up with a smile to greet him, "Brother Xu, you've finally come to see me, come in quickly."

"Brother Wei, let's go to—" Xu Bei pointed to the side.

After all, Wei Xuelin wasn't the only one in this large office, and it wouldn't be good if too many people knew about it.

Wei Xuelin understood that Xu Bei had come to see him and there were some things he couldn't say in front of his colleagues, so he immediately agreed.

Then, they went one after the other to the window at the end of the corridor to talk.

A cold wind was blowing outside the window, but the heating in the corridor was working well. Thick frost flowers had formed on the edges of the glass, but you could still see clearly outside from the middle.

After Wei Xuelin stopped, he said with a smile, "I was telling your sister-in-law this morning before I went to work that you haven't come to see us since we came back from drinking at your forestry bureau that day. Are you busy with something, or are you not in a hurry to open the shop and will come over to check on us when you have time?"

Xu Bei knew that the drinking session that day hadn't been in vain, and the two had become even closer. "Brother Wei, to be honest, the day after we drank, I went to the provincial capital with my mother to buy goods, and we only got back yesterday. That's why I rushed over to see you today."

"So you went to buy supplies. No wonder you didn't come." Wei Xuelin now genuinely considered Xu Bei one of his own, so he didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "I've been asking around these past few days, and there are two places that can be rented out for business. Since I'm here today, why don't we go take a look?"

"Great!" Xu Bei said with delight, adding, "Brother Wei, I really didn't expect you to be so efficient. Thank you so much!"

"Why are you being so polite with me! You helped me out of kindness when we were complete strangers, and then you treated us so well. It's only right that I help you out a little."

As Wei Xuelin spoke, he rolled up his sleeve and glanced at the time on his watch. "Wait here for me for a while. I'll go back and tell someone, and then we'll set off."

"Okay, Brother Wei, no rush." ​​Xu Bei said this, but in his heart he was already filled with curiosity and anticipation for those two places.

Then, Wei Xuelin didn't keep Xu Bei waiting for long before putting on his coat, hat, and leather gloves and coming out.

The two quickly went down to the second floor and found a staff member in charge of the property management.

Wei Xuelin clearly had a good relationship with the other party; the two chatted and laughed for a bit, and Wei Xuelin even gave Xu Bei and the others a detailed introduction.

Then, led by the other person, the three of them went together to the two street-facing houses that could be rented out.