Qi Tongwei at the start: Not relying on Liang Lu, but winning by a single move against Heaven.

We drank until 2 a.m.

Qi Tongwei and Sun Liancheng talked for a long time.

As the conversation deepened, Qi Tongwei discovered that Sun Liancheng was not lazy in his duties at all.

He is also a good Party member and a good cadre with ideals, ambitions, and abilities.

Sun Liancheng also came from a rural area and had no background or resources.

He earned his position as principal of Guangming Middle School through hard work, writing his way up step by step.

Upon learning of Qi Tongwei's ordeal, Sun Liancheng remained silent for a long time.

He gently put down his wine glass and began to recount his experience of being choked back then.

"My spot was taken by someone else, so I stayed in the countryside for three years..."

He looked up at Qi Tongwei and gave a bitter smile.

"I'm luckier than you; I didn't have to leave my hometown. It was tough, but at least I made it through..."

Sun Liancheng's smile was bitter, but his eyes were burning with passion and gleaming.

He raised his glass to Qi Tongwei, his voice trembling slightly.

"Tongwei, may your future be bright after overcoming all the thorns."

Qi Tongwei clinked glasses with him and replied.

May our path be clear and bright after overcoming all obstacles!

He paused slightly, then added another sentence.

May you never be captivated by the stars and the sea...

Sun Liancheng didn't understand the second half of the sentence, but he still finished his drink.

In one afternoon, the two drank four bottles of Laojiao liquor and became close friends who could talk about anything.

After leaving Sun Liancheng's house, Qi Tongwei went straight back to the Little Red Building.

He was truly drunk today, partly from the alcohol, but even more so because he had encountered Sun Liancheng.

He knocked on the door, stumbled into the bedroom, and fell into a deep sleep on the bed.

When he woke up, it was already dark.

He discovered that he was covered with a blanket.

Her clothes, shoes, and even socks had been taken off and neatly placed at the head of the bed.

On the bedside table, there was a glass of cold water.

Qi Tongwei rubbed his throbbing temples and reached for some water, but a hand stopped him.

"Brother Qi, you're awake... The water's cold, let me get you a hot cup..."

The speaker was Gao Xiaoqin, who had actually been watching over Qi Tongwei all afternoon.

Watching Gao Xiaoqin's retreating figure, Qi Tongwei muttered something under his breath with a wry smile.

"I can't drink so much next time...it's too uncomfortable..."

After drinking some water, his headache subsided slightly, and Qi Tongwei began to consider what else he hadn't done.

Zhong Xiaoai saw that the Gao sisters were settled, they had returned to Qijia Village, and they had bought a house in Yu Garden...

Yes, he also got to know Sun Liancheng beforehand... After some consideration, it seems there's nothing wrong with that.

He's already in his final year of junior high, so he only has three days of vacation left.

After much deliberation, Qi Tongwei decided that he should set off back to Bianxi tomorrow.

Thinking of this, he went to the living room and called the Gao sisters over.

Qi Tongwei sat on the sofa, took out the transfer documents, and handed them to the Gao sisters.

"These are your transfer papers. Pick them up on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month and report to Guangming Middle School."

"Go to the school and find Principal Sun. I've made all the arrangements..."

The Gao sisters took the paperwork, exchanged a glance, and beamed with joy.

Gao Xiaofeng jumped up with joy and cheered.

"Sis, we can go to school now! And it's Guangming Middle School..."

Gao Xiaoqin, on the other hand, was much calmer. After carefully reviewing the documents, she looked at Qi Tongwei.

"Brother Qi, is this Guangming Middle School downstairs?"

Qi Tongwei nodded without saying anything.

He then took out a brown paper envelope and handed it to Gao Xiaoqin.

"I'm going back to Bianxi tomorrow, so I can't go with you to register."

"Here's three thousand yuan. You two need to take good care of yourselves from now on..."

"You need to excel in your studies, and you also need to eat and use the best things... understand?"

Gao Xiaoqin was taken aback and quickly put her hands behind her back.

"No, we've already taken too much money from you... we can't take any more of your money."

"Besides... this is too much, we can't possibly spend it all..."

Seeing this, Qi Tongwei didn't bother with any more words, grabbed her hand, and stuffed the money into it.

"Take it! How will you live without money? How will you go to school?"

He paused slightly, then added another instruction.

"Call or write to me if you're short of money. Make sure to tell me in advance, don't wait until you've run out of money."

In this era, everything is slow, and Qi Tongwei worries that distant water cannot quench immediate thirst.

Seeing Gao Xiaoqin's furrowed brows, Qi Tongwei reached out and patted her head, offering words of comfort.

"Take it, consider it a loan. You can pay me back after you graduate from university."

Qi Tongwei noticed that Gao Xiaoqin's shoulders trembled, and her face turned red all the way to the roots of her neck.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Although he knew that some things were destined to happen, it was just a matter of time.

But when faced with Gao Xiaoqin, who was only sixteen years old, he still felt it was somewhat absurd.

After giving a few more brief instructions, Qi Tongwei turned and left the room, leaving the two sisters to rejoice alone.

Qi Tongwei wasn't embarrassed; he just wanted to call Zhong Xiaoai.

Although he felt there was a high probability he wouldn't be able to get through, he still wanted to try, since he would be gone for a year.

Stepping out of the little red building, the night wind was cold and damp.

Qi Tongwei wrapped his clothes tighter around himself and went straight to the grocery store at the entrance of the residential area.

As he entered the grocery store, Qi Tongwei picked up the phone and spoke with a smile.

"I'll make a phone call..."

The proprietress was eating sunflower seeds and didn't even look up when she replied.

"50 cents per minute...1 dollar for long distance calls"

Qi Tongwei didn't answer; he started dialing.

He didn't have Zhong Xiaoai's home phone number, only her mobile phone number.

To Qi Tongwei's surprise, the phone was answered after only one ring, as if it had been waiting for him on purpose.

"Senior brother, is that you?"

Qi Tongwei was taken aback: "How did you know it was me?"

"This number is only known to your family and yourself..."

Qi Tongwei understood. He was about to speak when Zhong Xiaoai was interrupted.

"Senior, I'm back at school. Where are you?"

Qi Tongwei was taken aback. "You're in the dorm? I'll come find you..."

......

When he arrived at the girls' dormitory of the Department of Political Science and Law, Zhong Xiaoai was waiting for him at the door.

She spotted Qi Tongwei in the distance, skipped and hopped over, and threw herself into his arms.

"I knew it. You would call me on Valentine's Day."

Qi Tongwei was taken aback for a moment, then realized what was happening.

February 14th is Valentine's Day.

He patted Zhong Xiaoai on the back and asked softly.

"You came back from home early just to celebrate Valentine's Day? Was it really necessary?"

Zhong Xiaoai looked up at him, her face serious.

"Why wouldn't it be necessary? This is our first Valentine's Day together!"

Qi Tongwei smiled, but his smile was tinged with helplessness.

In the 90s, almost no one celebrated Valentine's Day.

Aside from some foreign guests or white-collar workers from foreign companies, it's mostly college students who celebrate this Western holiday.

Qi Tongwei looked at Xiao Ai, whose eyes were full of expectation, and asked with a smile.

"Alright! Director Zhong, please give your orders on how to proceed..."

"I want to eat hot pot with mutton... I want to eat hot pot with mutton from Bianxi."

"This is a bit difficult... the mutton from Bianxi can't be transported out..."

"Then let's eat baked buns and milk skin..."

Zhong Xiaoai said, skipping along, while Qi Tongwei answered from behind.

Inspired by Zhong Xiaoai, Qi Tongwei felt that his heart had returned to that of a 24-year-old.

They searched and searched, but they didn't get to eat hot pot or milk skin.

On the third day of the Lunar New Year, none of the restaurants on the streets of Jingzhou had opened yet.

Seeing Zhong Xiaoai's lips pouting higher and higher, Qi Tongwei pinched her cheek.

"Sigh, hot pot with mutton is definitely out... How about we go to the temple fair?"

Upon hearing this, Zhong Xiaoai immediately perked up, waving her hand with great enthusiasm.

"Commander Qi, lead the way!"

In 1990, at the Confucius Temple Fair, spiced beans cost five cents a spoonful.

Qi Tongwei stood on the street with Zhong Xiaoai on his arm, waving his hand with great gusto.

"Xiao Ai! Let's start eating from the first shop, and don't stop! We'll eat all the way to the end of the street..."

Zhong Xiaoai responded and jumped into the crowd.

Stacked glutinous rice balls, sweet taro sprouts, plum blossom cakes, and glutinous rice dumplings...

She ate in front, while Qi Tongwei paid the bill in the back.

After eating her way through the food, Zhong Xiaoai couldn't eat anymore when she got to the fried dough balls.

Not only could she not eat anymore, she also noticed Qi Tongwei's unusual behavior.

"Senior brother, are you leaving?"

Qi Tongwei didn't say anything, but gently tidied the stray hairs by her ear.

Zhong Xiaoai stared at him and asked again, "When?"

Her big, watery eyes were already starting to mist.

"tomorrow..."