In the 90s, you could acquire max-level skills every 14 days.

The living room of room 808 was packed full.

The room is only twelve square meters in total. It contains a dining table, four chairs, an old cabinet, and five people. It's so small that it's difficult to even turn around.

Wei Dabiao sat opposite Zhang Defa, the two big men's knees almost touching.

Wei Shuyun sat on a small stool next to Zhang Yong, holding a glass of cool boiled water that Li Guilan had specially added sugar to.

Li Guilan came out of the kitchen carrying an enamel tea tray and placed a cup in front of Wei Dabiao as well.

"Director Wei, this is all the tea we have at home. Please don't mind it."

Wei Dabiao picked up the glass and gulped down half of it.

"Sister-in-law, don't be so polite. I'm so busy at the factory that I don't even have time to drink tap water. I'd be happy to have a cup of hot tea."

He wiped his mouth and glanced around the small living room.

Yellowed maps were pasted on the wall, Zhang Defa's military medals and a family photo were displayed on the cabinet, and two pairs of faded rubber shoes were drying on the windowsill.

His eyes welled up with tears, and he quickly lowered his head to take a sip of water.

Li Guilan sat down and began to speak.

"Director Wei, please don't take what happened downstairs to heart. My husband, Old Zhang, is just like that. It's not that he dislikes you, he's just worried about people gossiping if he accepts gifts."

As Li Guilan spoke, she stepped on his foot under the table.

Zhang Defa held the teacup in his hand, but ultimately didn't dare to argue.

Wei Dabiao quickly put down his teacup and straightened his posture.

"Sister-in-law, Brother Zhang."

He cleared his throat.

"I didn't just give this car away randomly. I, Wei Dabiao, have been in business for ten years. I don't do anything dishonest, nor do I become a sucker for favors."

"You two should listen to my reasoning first before you speak."

"First of all."

"Yongzi is a student at Kyoto University now. Kyoto University is the best university in the country."

"Our Tongxian Winery is sponsoring a student from Peking University, which is a good thing. By the way, I'd also like to cover his tuition as well."

"The county holds annual awards and commendations, and every year they say they will support education. My sponsorship of Yongzi is written into the factory newspaper and then into the district newsletter, which is good for the reputation of my winery."

He then raised his second finger.

"Secondly, Yongzi helped me repair three Dongfeng trucks and also helped me uncover the source of the counterfeit oil."

"I want to entrust the maintenance and repair of all vehicles at my distillery to Yongzi from now on. This is not a one-off deal, but a long-term partnership."

"Yongzi needs a means of transportation to get his bike repaired, right? We can't expect him to cycle all the way from Jinsong to Tongxian every time, can we?"

He paused for a moment, raised his third finger, and glanced at Wei Shuyun.

"third."

"My wife and I only have this one daughter, and she got into Tsinghua University. Where is Tsinghua University? It's right next to Peking University."

His voice softened.

"I'm out doing business every day, and my wife is timid; she's never even left the county town."

"I'm really worried about Shuyun studying in the capital. Yongzi and Shuyun are classmates and learned to drive together, so they know each other very well."

"If anything happens around the school in the future, I'll feel at ease knowing you can lend a hand and look after things."

After he finished speaking, he picked up his teacup and took another sip.

"This car is a token of my gratitude to him, and it will also make it easier for him to help me with my work in the future."

"How could you bring up bribery, Lao Zhang!"

Although Zhang Defa was called out, he kept his head down and remained silent.

The living room was quiet for a while.

Li Guilan stepped on Zhang Defa's foot again under the table.

This time the step was heavy.

Zhang Defa took a breath, opened and closed his mouth, and stared at the teacup on the table.

He's not unreasonable.

Wei Dabiao's words were all reasonable.

Sponsoring college students, long-term cooperation, taking care of her daughter—each of these points is valid.

But he still felt uneasy.

"Director Wei," Zhang Defa finally spoke.

I understand everything you're saying.

He looked up and glanced at Wei Dabiao.

"But... in the entire Jinsong residential area, not a single person rides a motorcycle. Even our factory doesn't have many. I'm a truck driver, and suddenly I have a motorcycle. What am I supposed to say when people ask?"

He frowned.

"It's not that I'm being pretentious. It's just that I'm afraid of attracting too much attention. It's fine for Yongzi to make money by writing articles; it's based on his own ability, and no one is envious."

"After this, people will think that I, Zhang Defa, have embezzled the factory's goods."

Hearing this, Zhang Yong sighed inwardly.

His father, though stubborn, actually knew what was going on.

It's not that I don't want to accept it, it's that I'm afraid people will talk behind my back if I do.

In the early 1990s, the average monthly income in the entire neighborhood was no more than 300 yuan. What did it mean to have a Jialing 125 motorcycle parked downstairs?

It would take an average person two years of not eating or drinking to afford it.

Zhang Yong spoke up.

"Uncle Wei".

"My dad has a point about the car. Taking it directly would definitely make people gossip."

"I appreciate your kindness, but I'll use this car for now. It will be very convenient for me to help you with vehicle maintenance in Tongzhou in the future."

He paused for a moment.

"But there are two things I need to make clear."

"First, don't worry about the tuition. I have royalties from my writings at 'October,' so I can manage the tuition myself. It's more worthwhile for you to keep this money for the winery's operations than to spend it on me."

Wei Dabiao frowned, about to speak, when Zhang Yong raised his hand to stop him.

"Secondly, Shuyun is more capable than me, Uncle, you don't need to worry at all."

Wei Shuyun was slightly taken aback and looked up at him.

"She learned faster than others when she was in driving school. When the car was being repaired, she was the first to find someone to help, preserve evidence, and argue with Liu Decai."

Zhang Yong gave Wei Shuyun a serious look.

"If I'm ever unsure about anything in the future, I'll have to consult her."

Wei Shuyun lowered her head, circled her fingers around the rim of the teacup, and smiled secretly.

Wei Dabiao paused for two seconds, then burst into laughter and clapped his hands repeatedly.

"Alright! You're a straightforward kid!"

He patted Zhang Defa on the shoulder.

"Old Zhang! I'm truly impressed by your son's brain!"

Zhang Defa, being stared at by his wife and patted by Wei Dabiao, finally let out a long sigh.

"Let's leave the car here for now."

He raised his head, his eyes still fixed on Wei Dabiao.

"It's settled then! This car belongs to your winery. We can use it, but it has to be registered under your winery's name."

"If anyone asks, I'll just say I borrowed it from your winery."

I still need to talk to him when I see him.

Li Guilan kicked Zhang Defa under the table, stopping him instantly.

"Alright, alright! It's settled then!"

She stood up and patted her apron.

"Director Wei, please stay for lunch. We don't have anything fancy, just some home-cooked food."

Wei Dabiao quickly stood up and waved his hand.

"No, no, no, sister-in-law, I won't stay any longer. I have to get back to Tongxian this afternoon—"

"You think you can just stay like that? You were just discharged from the hospital. How will you drive home if you don't eat your fill? What if you get dizzy later?"

Li Guilan's tone left no room for refusal.

Wei Dabiao glanced at Zhang Defa.

Zhang Defa spoke up in a muffled voice.

"Brother, sit down and eat."

Wei Dabiao grinned and sat down.

While Li Guilan was in the kitchen chopping vegetables and Wei Dabiao was smoking with Zhang Defa, Wei Shuyun turned her head to look at Zhang Yong beside her.

The little girl's eyes sparkled.

"Zhang Yong, may I come into your room? I have something to ask you."

......