I couldn't take it anymore; when I went home for Chinese New Year, the family genealogy book ha

On the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, with the Lunar New Year's Eve drawing ever closer, the festive atmosphere in the village grew stronger.

Under the eaves of every house, cured meats and salted fish were hung, and the air was filled with a unique aroma that mixed with the smell of gunpowder.

Jiang Chen moved a small stool and sat in the yard, basking in the sun while thinking of an excuse to go to his grandfather's house.

The [Health and Longevity Talisman] he had stored in his system inventory was like a red-hot branding iron, making him itch with desire.

This is a truly effective way to extend healthy lifespan.

Should I just tell my grandfather that this is a consecrated talisman I got from the temple?

No, that's too feudal and superstitious. The old man is a veteran member of the Communist Party and doesn't believe in this.

Or is this a high-tech life energy patch that I bought from some overseas scientist?

That's even more absurd; the old man was convinced he'd been scammed.

Just as Jiang Chen was racking his brains for an "excuse for giving a gift".

His cell phone, which was on the stone table, suddenly started buzzing.

The caller ID showed an unfamiliar local number.

Jiang Chen casually swiped to answer the call, but before he could even speak, an overly enthusiastic, even slightly obsequious, male voice came from the other end.

"Hey? Hey hey hey? Is this Jiang Chen? I'm your high school class monitor, Zhou Qiang! Remember me? You can't even recognize my voice?"

Zhou Qiang?

Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow slightly and rummaged through the corners of his memory for a long time.

Finally, an image emerged of someone wearing thick glasses, with a face covered in acne, who loved to show off in school and always followed the teacher around tattling.

He remembered that Zhou Qiang later got into a third-tier university, but after graduation he couldn't find a decent job. A few years ago he heard that Zhou Qiang had gone to sell insurance.

"Oh, class monitor." Jiang Chen's tone was indifferent, revealing no emotion. "What is it?"

"Oh dear! You really have a bad memory!"

On the other end of the phone, Zhou Qiang burst into exaggerated laughter, as if he and Jiang Chen were long-lost brothers.

"Jiang Chen, I've heard you've really made something of yourself! You've returned from Shanghai in triumph!"

"So, to strengthen the bonds between us old classmates, I specially organized a high school reunion before the new year! We can all get together, have a good time, reminisce about the past, and look forward to the future!"

Zhou Qiang cleared his throat and announced in an unquestionable leadership tone:

"The time is set for six o'clock tonight, at the newly opened 'Golden Splendor' Hotel in the county town, the Emperor's Suite on the third floor! I went to great lengths to book it!"

He paused, then changed the subject, emphasizing one point.

"By the way, we agreed on a split bill for this gathering! Even close brothers should keep clear accounts; we won't make exceptions, we're all equal brothers and sisters!"

"You're a highly successful individual who just returned from Shanghai, you've seen it all, you absolutely must come tonight and share your experiences of success working out there!"

Jiang Chen almost burst out laughing when he heard these words.

What kind of bullshit is this "sharing experience"? Isn't he just trying to see how well he's doing now, and whether he's as rich as the rumors in the village say?

The idea of ​​"going Dutch" is just a blatant attempt to cover up the truth.

These gatherings often end up as a stage for a few successful people to vie for the bill and flaunt their wealth.

Jiang Chen had absolutely no interest in such utterly boring and competitive occasions.

He would rather stay home with his mother, eat sunflower seeds, or go and tease his younger sister than have to pretend to be friendly with this group of people he hadn't seen for years and whose relationship with him had long since faded.

But then he thought about it again.

I'm just idling around anyway.

These past few days at home have been filled with matches against players of Liu Cuifen's caliber, which has become somewhat tedious.

Go and see these self-righteous "socialites" putting on a "monkey in new clothes" show, it seems quite interesting to spice up your life.

"Okay, no problem." Jiang Chen's reply was crisp and decisive.

"I'm here on time."

"Alright! It's a deal then! See you tonight!" Zhou Qiang hung up the phone excitedly, as if he had already closed a big deal.

Who is it?

Jiang Chen's mother, Wang Xiuying, was carrying a plate of freshly washed strawberries out of the house when she saw him on the phone and curiously came over.

"It was organized by my high school classmates, the class monitor said we'd have a get-together tonight," Jiang Chen replied casually.

"A class reunion?"

Wang Xiuying's eyes lit up instantly, then she became extremely nervous, her face filled with seriousness.

She placed the fruit plate on the table, pulled Jiang Chen along, and looked him up and down as if examining a precious work of art about to be submitted for an exhibition.

"Then you'd better dress decently! Put on that...that bird-and-bird outfit you bought in Shanghai! Yes, the most expensive one!"

"And the car! We absolutely have to bring our big Audi! Park it in the most conspicuous spot right in front of the hotel!"

"Son, listen to me, class reunions aren't just simple meals, they're battlefields! It's all about who's doing well and who has the most influence! We can't let them look down on us, you know?"

Seeing his mother's expression of dread, as if she wanted to personally intervene and fight on his behalf, Jiang Chen didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

He waved his hand, as if to soothe an overly anxious child.

"Mom, it's nothing, it's just a simple meal, not as complicated as you think."

"I'll just take a taxi tonight, I'm too lazy to drive. It's Chinese New Year, and we'll definitely be drinking at the gatherings. If I drink, I can't drive, it's so inconvenient."

He didn't want to drive that A6L.

That's too deliberate.

It was 5:30 p.m., and it was already getting dark.

Jiang Chen refused his mother's insistence that he change into his "battle uniform" and remained dressed in the casual clothes he wore during the day while sunbathing.

It was a niche Italian brand with no visible logo, but the fabric and tailoring were extremely sophisticated, and the quality was far superior to those mainstream trendy brands.

He didn't take the car keys, nor did he ask his parents to bring them.

At the intersection, I hailed a regular Didi Express taxi.

Empty-handed, like an ordinary young man from next door rushing to a dinner party after get off work, he leisurely set off for the "battlefield" of the county town.