Chapter 366: Going All Out with No Shame

When Lu Cheng got up, the bed next to him was empty, not even a blanket roll left.

"Second, get up; the Boss is gone."

Lao Si Wei Shu doesn't need to be called; he wasn't in the dorm at all, probably ran to the playground to read before dawn.

Dragging Wei Shu into the Research Institute, Lu Cheng felt as if he had picked up a treasure; this guy's temperament and love of learning are perfect for research.

Having slept too late last night, Zheng Guoping groggily turned over and said, "The Boss is gone? He can't have lost his mind and jumped off a building, can he?"

Lu Cheng rolled out of bed, pulled Zheng Guoping up for a look, and seeing that everything on the bed was gone, Zheng Guoping immediately understood.

Yesterday Li Youfu's wife gave her husband a night to decide; judging by this, he was preparing to drop out and go home.

"After two years as classmates, how could this guy just leave without saying goodbye? He's really not treating us as brothers."

Li Youfu left without even a word of greeting; that was indeed a bit improper.

Lu Cheng at this moment noticed a folded piece of paper on the bed: "It's not exactly leaving without a word; at least he left a letter."

Zheng Guoping picked up the paper, opened it and read: "Dear Comrade Zheng Guoping, Comrade Lu Cheng, Comrade Wei Shu, my dearest revolutionary comrade…"

"Hey, this guy even uses 'dear' in a letter, but hearing it from his mouth sounds so awkward."

Lu Cheng felt the same; when Li Youfu first arrived, he caused plenty of jokes in the dorm, like the tooth‑brushing incident.

Everyone had developed the habit of brushing twice a day, but Li Youfu stubbornly refused, even mocking others as petty‑bourgeois; he wanted to be a steadfast proletarian.

While others brushed, he shouted slogans like "Workers of the world, unite, overthrow the capitalist class" and "Never be corrupted by capitalists, never brush teeth."

Because his slogans were so loud, the school almost launched a "No Tooth‑Brushing" movement.

Who would have thought that his firm ideological awakening would be so easily altered by another woman.

He learned to brush his teeth, and now also uses "dear" in letters.

Zheng Guoping continued: "... Please forgive my sudden departure; I didn't know how to face everyone, nor how to face myself. I admit I did something wrong, but I don't regret it.

During the time I spent with that girl, I learned many things, for example I realized that blossoms actually have sound, fallen leaves have shape, drifting clouds have weight—these are deep extensions of thought…"

Zheng Guoping, upon reaching this point, involuntarily looked up at Lu Cheng.

"Hey, you talk about the Boss; those years of study weren't in vain, but this little wording is all pretentious."

Lu Cheng began to understand why Li Youfu, risking betrayal of the proletariat, still wanted to be with that girl.

Li Youfu's thinking had fundamentally changed from that of a peasant, and his country girl could no longer be on the same wavelength.

"... Finally, I want to say that although I dropped out, for the sake of the child I have to accept this unreasonable demand, but please believe that I will still love learning, on the hilltops, in the fields... Finally, I wish everyone a bright future. Written by Li Youfu."

The letter wasn't long and was scribbled hastily, probably due to time pressure.

After reading the note, a faint melancholy filled the dorm.

The saddest of all was Zheng Guoping.

"Third, you should come stay in the dorm often from now on; the Boss is gone, and Lao Si is like air, I don't even have anyone to talk to."

Lu Cheng patted his shoulder, then the two went to the playground to call Wei Shu over, and headed to the Cafeteria for breakfast.

"Tell me what you want to eat; a full stomach works better."

Zheng Guoping was not modest at all: "I've sold my whole self to you at the Research Institute; having a meat bun isn't too much, right?"

"Not too much!"

Lu Cheng rummaged in his pocket and found only staple‑food tickets; to buy a meat bun he would need a meat‑dish ticket for the filling.

And the meat‑dish tickets were all used up yesterday.

"Fine, even the richest person at the school is limited by Ticket Certificates; let's just have plain buns then."

Later we'll need someone to put in extra effort, so Lu Cheng also had to accommodate; as he looked around to see which classmate to borrow from, suddenly…

"That's Professor Yang, right?"

Zheng Guoping looked over: "Seems like it, what's up?"

"You wanted a meat bun, right? Come on, let's hitch a meal off Professor Yang."

During the Great Turmoil, these professors had low status; intellectuals were called Stinky Old Nine and were widely despised.

Even if they stayed to teach, they left after the lecture and rarely interacted with anyone.

But after the Great Turmoil ended and the college entrance exam was restored, professors' status rose sharply, along with their benefits.

Professor Yang Kaiming is currently an academician of the Engineering Institute, deeply versed in engineering and a national‑level treasure.

Teaching at Qingbei as a specially appointed professor, he draws starving‑for‑knowledge students who love his lectures; every class is packed.

For someone of his caliber, Zheng Guoping felt a bit nervous about mooching a meal.

"Is it appropriate? What status do we have, and what about theirs?"

Lu Cheng looked and smiled, saying, "And when you wouldn't dare? You're usually pretty bold."

Zheng Guoping pursed his lips: "What does bravery have to do with it? I feel this is a bit shameless."

"That's exactly my strength."

Zheng Guoping muttered, "The point is, why would they even invite us for a meat bun?"

Lu Cheng patted his shoulder, said "I have my way," and walked toward Yang Kaiming.

"Professor Yang, good morning, you're also here for a meal?"

"Oh, it's you three. I have a class this morning, so I'm stopping by the Cafeteria to eat a bit. You three—have you already eaten, or not yet?"

Lu Cheng immediately smiled and said, "We haven't eaten yet, Professor Yang."

At this point, Zheng Guoping instantly understood; it's like an elder speaking to a junior—when it's mealtime, you enter the house, and the meal is prepared.

The junior says they haven't eaten, and the elder's first reaction is to pull the junior in to eat together.

Then Lu Cheng can shamelessly take advantage of the moment and join the meal.

But to their surprise, Yang Kaiming simply stepped aside: "Then hurry and line up for food; there aren't many people right now."

Zheng Guoping almost burst out laughing; indeed, they weren't pushing him up at all, so Lu Cheng's clever plan fell flat.

But Lu Cheng isn't someone others can easily manipulate; since you won't act, I'll act.

"Professor Yang, that's perfect; you don't need to buy it, I'll buy it for you."

Then Lu Cheng, regardless of whether Yang Kaiming agreed, immediately rushed to the window and shouted, "Auntie, bring me a few meat buns."