Chapter 1793: A Youthful Gathering

Men and women working together makes the labor feel lighter.

A room full of teenage boys and girls gathered together had endless topics to discuss; having been classmates for two years, they were very familiar with each other, feeling neither like strangers nor inhibited, and the room was filled with laughter and chatter.

Looking back on it years later, it was a rare and relaxing memory.

By this time, the kitchen and the dining table were already a scene of lively activity.

Lin Wei, the class monitor who usually kept her ponytail perfectly neat, was currently frowning slightly, confronting a stubborn live fish; wearing black-rimmed glasses, she glared fixedly at the fish on the cutting board, the kitchen knife appearing somewhat clumsy in her hand, while the fish tail was still "slapping" the board in a final struggle.

Shao Xinghuai, standing nearby, couldn't bear to watch and said with a smile, "Monitor, let me do it. Your hands are meant for holding pens; leave this rough work to a poor student like me."

"Hahaha..."

"The monitor must have never killed a fish at home."

Lin Wei's face turned red all the way to her neck and behind her ears. "I'll go wash the vegetables..."

Suddenly, a crisp "Sizzle—" sound drowned out everything else.

Zheng Shuya was manning the wok, and as the plate of washed fresh shrimp was poured into the hot oil, a burst of white steam carrying a charred aroma instantly rose up, enveloping her completely for a moment.

She jumped backward dramatically, still holding the spatula like some formidable weapon, which drew a burst of laughter.

"Oh my god, you scared me. Zheng Shuya, do you know what you're doing? Otherwise, let Ye Chenghu come help," Shao Xinghuai teased while scraping fish scales.

"Stop nagging. If you nag any more, don't eat my shrimp later!"

These sounds, these aromas, and these voices blended and fermented in the warm midday light, brewing a relaxing atmosphere that belonged only to this moment, making one feel slightly intoxicated.

Everyone had already reached the second semester of their second year of high school and would soon be in their third year; facing the college entrance exam next year, their current studies were quite heavy, and today's rare get-together made everyone feel relaxed.

At this moment, in everyone's eyes, there were no poor students or top students, only two years of classmate camaraderie and a constantly fermenting friendship.

Four girls took turns cooking, while the boys stood by, praising them vigorously or cracking jokes; the atmosphere in the room was relaxed and lively, turning into a scene of laughter and play.

After the meal was cooked, the kitchen was a mess and unwatchable, but the dining table was full of color, aroma, and taste; the entire table was filled with dishes they had prepared themselves, and everyone was extremely excited.

"You guys are too virtuous; the whole table of dishes was cooked by you."

"We only have a table like this during the New Year. Haha, it's too sumptuous."

"Haha, this is the most relaxing weekend I've ever had. When is Ye Chenghu coming to your house to cook again? Hahaha."

"Sure, easy to say. Remember to clean up after eating later, otherwise, there won't be a next time once my mother sees it."

"Must do. With so many of us, everyone just needs to lend a hand and we can clean your kitchen until it's spotless."

"Your kitchen is the cleanest and brightest kitchen I've ever seen."

Ye Chenghu looked at the drinks on the table, his eyes rolled, and he stood up and ran to the refrigerator to get a few bottles of beer.

"Come, come, come. It's rare to be happy today, let's drink a little."

Zheng Shuya looked at him with sparkling eyes. "We are still in school, is it okay to drink? There are drinks on the table..."

"One glass per person, you won't get drunk, it can liven things up. Some of you are already 18, you're all adults, what are you afraid of?"

Shao Xinghuai chimed in, "It's rare to be happy, try it. Everyone just has one glass, you girls just have half a glass. There are only two bottles of wine in total, drink them and then drink the beverages, you won't get drunk."

Ye Chenghu added, "It's fine, you girls decide for yourselves, if you don't want to drink, drink the beverages, we boys will just drink."

The boys all egged them on, each raising their glasses; it was rare to be able to drink openly.

Why else would they say alcohol livens things up? Once the wine appeared, the atmosphere at the table reached its peak.

Ye Xiaoxi held her glass and cheekily approached Ye Chenghu. "Big brother..."

Ye Chenghu was originally going to pour without even looking, but hearing her call him big brother, he quickly covered the bottle mouth.

"You can't drink."

"Why?"

"You're still young, drinking will make you stupid and you won't grow tall."

"Then you all have to take the college entrance exam, aren't you afraid of getting stupid from drinking? Don't try to fool me, I steal the bayberries from the bayberry wine at home from time to time, there's wine on them, and I haven't gotten stupid."

"Anyway, you can't drink, go, go, go drink your cola."

Ye Xiaoxi looked at the cola filled in her glass, took a sip, let out a "Ha~", and was satisfied.

"Come, cheers~ to celebrate our first get-together."

"Cheers!"

The teenage boys and girls all stood up to toast and celebrate; at this moment, there was light in everyone's eyes, and they were all filled with expectations and fantasies about the future.

Ye Chenghu waved his big hand, "Dig in!"

He was the first to attack the bowl of braised shrimp cooked by Zheng Shuya; this was cooked by his crush, so he had to take the first bite.

Shao Xinghuai winked, "Is the shrimp cooked by Zheng Shuya delicious?"

"Delicious, must be delicious, the shrimp shells are shiny and the color is tempting! First-class chef!"

"Hahaha~"

Several pairs of chopsticks immediately reached for the target with precision, and the subtle sounds of shrimp shells being peeled off rose one after another.

"Not bad, Zheng Shuya, I thought you couldn't do it, didn't expect you to be hiding your skills!"

Zheng Shuya's mouth was almost split to her ears, but she still pretended to be humble and waved her hands: "Average, average, third in the world."

"Hahaha..."

Ye Xiaoxi only remembered after she started eating the meat, "Hey? Forgot to call the younger sister!"

"It's okay, leave a piece of cake for them later."

"When are we going to get the cake?"

"Go after eating, anyway, there's no rush. After eating, everyone can play cards, watch TV, and then I'll go get the cake."

Ye Xiaoxi said with a giggle, "Let Sister Xiaoya go with you, otherwise you won't have a companion alone, and it's not easy to carry it while riding a bicycle."

The boys immediately egged them on.

"Right, let Zheng Shuya go with you."

"You two go get the cake, we'll wait for you while watching TV."

Zheng Shuya's face was flushed red, not knowing if it was from the half glass of beer or from being shy because everyone was teasing them.

She nodded with a smile, "Okay, I'll go get the cake with Ye Chenghu, and play with you all when I come back."

Ye Chenghu felt his heart like a plum candy dropped into warm water, quietly and sweetly melting away.

He smiled and dug into his pocket, took out a one-yuan coin, and passed it to Ye Xiaoxi under the table.

Ye Xiaoxi looked at the hand in front of her with surprise, quickly took it and stuffed it into her pocket, then gave Ye Chenghu a wink.

The table full of chicken, duck, fish, and seafood was something they could only enjoy during the New Year and holidays; everyone ate with extra gusto, their bellies round, and only reluctantly put down their chopsticks when they really couldn't eat anymore, but they didn't want to leave the table, still sitting and chatting, continuing to eat slowly, and then imagining the future.

"We'll be taking the college entrance exam next year, have you thought about what university to go to?"

"It's presumptuous of you to ask that, I definitely won't get in, haha, after graduation I'll go into business, I heard business in the south is very profitable." Shao Xinghuai said with great interest.

Ye Chenghu said with a smile, "So you're going to be a boss in one step?"

"Right, right, exactly, you're the one who can talk."

Zheng Shuya advised with a smile, "If you can get into university, you should still get into university, university graduates can be assigned jobs."

"Oh, I'm not the material for studying, I barely made it into high school."

"I heard business seems quite profitable? Ye Chenghu's family is in business, right?"

Ye Chenghu scratched his head, a bit uncertain, "Is my family in business? Is it? I don't know if it counts? My dad used to fish, does that count as business?"

"If you're not in business, can you build such a big house? Can you have so many boats?"

"Then I guess so?"

"I want to go to university, my goal is Fudan!" Lin Wei raised her cola glass, it was rare to have a chance to talk loudly about her ideals with everyone.

"Wow~ The monitor will definitely get in!"

With the monitor taking the lead, everyone talked about their ideal schools one after another, starting to imagine the future; at this time, everyone was still full of hope for the future.

After chatting enough, everyone started to clean up the mess on the table.

The battlefield after the meal moved from the kitchen to the sink.

Men and women working together makes the labor feel lighter; everyone had a clear division of labor, with some cleaning the table, some cleaning the kitchen, some washing dishes, and some mopping the floor.

After cleaning up and having enough fun, they were also tired.

Everyone lay sprawled on the sofa and the carpet.

Don't know who started humming "Sailor" first, the tune was a bit off, but someone immediately followed along.

"He said in the wind and rain, what is this little pain, wipe away the tears, don't be afraid, at least we still have dreams..."

The off-key harmony floated in the air filled with the lingering aroma of the meal.

Ye Chenghu quietly took Zheng Shuya out, "Let them play at home, we'll go get the cake."

Zheng Shuya's hand was held, and she felt a bit uncomfortable all over, just softly said "En".

Ye Chenghu's mouth was almost split to his ears, he was also nervous with his palms sweating, his face was flushed red, already red to his ears and neck.

"I'll go push the bicycle." He let go reluctantly.

Zheng Shuya sat behind his bicycle, holding the hem of his shirt, her fingertips slightly sweaty, her smile bright, her face relaxed and happy.

Ye Chenghu pedaled, his muscles tense, his waist and back straight, trying hard to maintain the stability of the bike, not daring to go too fast, afraid of disturbing the ambiguity of this moment.

He racked his brains to find something relaxing to say, but all the words were stuck in his throat, he was worried about ruining the atmosphere of the moment.

The two were silent all the way, but the ambiguous atmosphere lingered between them, both of their mouths were upturned, and their eyes were full of light.

The cake shop was not far away, it only took ten minutes by bicycle.

On the way back, the two started to communicate easily.

Zheng Shuya asked softly, "Ye Chenghu, do you have a university you want to go to?"

"No, if I can get into university, my family can set off firecrackers for three days and three nights, what do I have to pick? How about you?"

"I want to go to Fudan!"

"Awesome! Come on! Then I'll just go to a crappy university next to Fudan, you help me pick one with a low score."

"How is it my turn to pick for you? Your family will definitely arrange it."

"My dad will definitely follow me, my dad said if I can barely get into a crappy university, he will go worship the ancestors immediately."

Zheng Shuya couldn't help but laugh, "Your dad is quite enlightened."

"He is quite enlightened, my dad is quite good, my mom is too, you'll know when you see my dad and mom."

"Getting off track..."

"Are you happy today?"

"Happy, today is the most meaningful weekend I've ever had, the first time having such a happy get-together with classmates, have to thank you for providing such a big venue at your house, and making you spend money, that table of dishes and this cake cost a lot of money, making your dad and mom spend money..."

"It's okay, it's not their money, they let me mess around, I'm spending my own money, and it didn't cost much, I still have some, I'll arrange another get-together next time, change to a house, closer to the city, then you can walk around after eating..."

Zheng Shuya knew his conditions were superior, not bragging, "Talk about next time, don't be too frequent, you have to spend a lot of money for one get-together, you work hard to earn money too."

"It's okay, it doesn't cost much, these are all memories. Ten years later, if so many of us can still get together, that would be even better."

"After high school graduation, everyone will go their separate ways, some go to university, some go to work, it's hard to say about the future."

"So we must have fun in time, so that when we think about it later, it's all memories..."

The two chatted all the way and arrived home.

Everyone had already started a game, a bunch playing cards, a bunch watching TV.

"Ye Chenghu and Zheng Shuya are back."

"Ye Chenghu, your TV is so big, it's so cool to watch, my house still has a black and white TV."

"The smell of the food is very strong, open the window to ventilate."

Ye Xiaoxi rushed to him, looking at the two-layer big cake he was carrying, extremely excited.

"I haven't eaten such a big cake for a long time, are we eating now, big brother?"

"Eat a little later, we just finished eating not long ago," Ye Chenghu looked at his watch, it was already 3 o'clock, "Eat in another hour, finish eating at 4 o'clock just in time to disperse, everyone go home."

"Okay."

"Such a big cake must cost several tens, right?"

"You guys just eat, don't worry about how much money."

Ye Chenghu first put the cake in the refrigerator, and checked how the kitchen was cleaned up by the way.

In order to have a next time, the kitchen must be cleaned up.

Fortunately, everyone knew the rules, the pots and pans were all neatly arranged, he just needed to put things back in place.

At this time, "The Legend of the New White Snake" was playing on the TV, everyone was fascinated, if he hadn't opened the door and disturbed them, the girls would still be immersed in it.

The boys also looked up a few times while playing cards, although the TV series also attracted them, they couldn't bear to put down the cards, so they could only watch while playing.

After Ye Chenghu tidied up the things in the kitchen, he also quickly jumped onto the sofa, sat next to Zheng Shuya, and watched TV intently.

Since Zheng Shuya came in, her eyes had not moved away from the TV, she had long been attracted by the TV, and was discussing with the classmates next to her what time it was broadcast, how could she feel embarrassed at this time.

"It's still cool to watch a color TV, my house only has black and white, now it's good, I don't want to watch black and white when I go home."

"Haha, ask your dad and mom to buy a color TV."

"Can't afford it, it's very expensive, it costs one or two thousand, right? I'm satisfied to have something to watch today."

"I heard that Xu Xian inside is a woman."

"Really or fake? Can't tell? Fake, right? Talking nonsense, right?"

"Should be fake!"

Everyone ate snacks while watching TV, and discussed the plot by the way, leisurely and happily, without having to think about homework.

Around 4 o'clock, Ye Xiaoxi immediately ran over to remind Ye Chenghu.

"Big brother, it's 4 o'clock, time to cut the cake."

Ye Chenghu looked at his watch, "Just 4 o'clock, are you staring at the time?"

"Of course, I want to eat cake, I've been thinking about it for a long time, go, go, go."

Everyone also came back to their senses from the immersed TV series, happily egging them on.

"Wow, time to cut the cake."

"Ye Chenghu, I can remember your hospitality today for a lifetime, hahaha."

"Me too, me too, I've never been treated like this, haha, big meal and big cake, I've never been so happy."

"Too happy, today is really too happy..."

Ye Chenghu was surrounded by everyone to get the cake, a bunch of people surrounded the table with smiles on their faces watching.

"It's a pity that my dad and mom will come back after five or six o'clock, otherwise it would be best to keep it for cutting the cake at night."

"It's already very good to be able to play at your place for a day today."

Just as they were cutting the cake, Ye Huimei pushed the door and came in.

Everyone looked at the door in unison, and for a moment they were a bit cautious.

Someone whispered: "Ye Chenghu, is your mom back?"

"Are we staying too late?"

"No, it's my aunt."

Ye Huimei said with a smile: "Haven't greeted the classmates well yet? So many things on the table, birthday gifts?"

Pei Yu and the twins had already flown towards them, shouting cousin while running.

Ye Chenghu comforted her and greeted Ye Huimei.

"Soon, we'll cut a cake, they'll have to go back early later."

"It's okay, stay a little longer, watch some TV, I saw it was this time, so I had to come over to cook, and clean up for you by the way."

"No need, we've already cleaned it up, aunt, you come and eat a piece of cake too, I bought a two-layer big cake."

Ye Huimei walked to the side, looking at the beautiful two-layer cake, full of smiles, "So big, you really know how to buy, really know how to arrange, are you happy playing today?"

"Happy, must be happy! Are you guys happy?"

Everyone expressed one after another, "Of course happy."

"Today is the happiest day."

Ye Huimei added: "After the birthday today, you can have another one in the second half of the year."

"Ah?"

"What does that mean?"

"Have two birthdays?"

"Ye Chenghu, do you have two birthdays?"

Ye Chenghu laughed, "Right, I have two birthdays, today is my first birthday, wait for the second half of the year to have the second birthday, I'll invite you then."

"Go, you have two birthdays?"

"Why do you have two birthdays?" The monitor was pure, her face full of curiosity.

Ye Xiaoxi said loudly: "Because big brother wants to invite classmates to play at home, so he said he wants to have a birthday, and he has never had a birthday, so he wants to make up a birthday for himself."

The one yuan was not spent in vain.

Ye Chenghu nodded, "Right, I have never had a decent birthday, so I thought about inviting everyone to get together, and just treat it as a birthday. Wait for my birthday in the second half of the year, I'll invite you to play at home then."

"Okay, you are too cool, you can have two birthdays."

"I think we are taking advantage, hahaha..."

"Shh shh shh..."

Knowing that it wasn't Ye Chenghu's dad and mom who came back, everyone was not so cautious, and talked and laughed openly again.

"Come, come, come, I've lit the candles, you guys hurry up and sing the birthday song for me..." Ye Chenghu shouted, and everyone immediately egged him on.

"Wish you a happy birthday..."

Ye Xiaoxi clapped the hardest, the twins next to her were not to be outdone, clapped harder, and sang louder.

The four of them were the youngest in the whole room, and their voices were the loudest.

"Roar~ hurry up and blow out the candles and make a wish, cut the cake..."

Ye Huimei watched them making a fuss, smiled and went to the kitchen first, wanting to clean up, but didn't expect it to be clean, and the floor was also mopped clean.

She had to go to the living room to clean up, now that there were so many people, it was not good for her to mop the floor, after cleaning up, she went to the kitchen to cook the rice first.

"Aunt, you eat a piece of cake too." Ye Chenghu finished distributing the cake to everyone, and cut a piece for her and brought it over.

"I have it too? You guys just eat."

"It's okay, the cake I bought is two layers, it's big, enough to eat, there's still half left, everyone who sees it has a share, I also left a portion for my dad and mom."

"Okay."

Everyone sat at the table eating cake and chatting, asking him where he bought it, and some who were well-off at home also said they wanted to save money, like him, to have a meaningful birthday.

"Wait for my birthday, I'll buy a cake then, invite you, but I have to save some money now haha..."

"I want to save all my pocket money."

Ye Xiaoxi also shouted, "Wait for my birthday next year, I also want to be like big brother, invite classmates to have a birthday at home."

"Are you willing to take out money?" Ye Chenghu asked her back.

"Dad has money, mom has money!"

"Cut~"

After everyone finished eating the cake, they dispersed first, after all, they had been out for a whole day, just for the cake, it was almost 5 o'clock, they would almost have dinner when they got home.

When they left, everyone was quite reluctant, it was rare to have such a happy get-together.

"We're leaving first, Ye Chenghu, thank you for your hospitality today."

"We put the birthday gifts on your sofa, remember to unpack them later, we boys sent one together, girls sent one together."

"Thank you, change to my house for a get-together next time!"

Ye Chenghu sent them to the door, also quite reluctant, the day passed so quickly.

"Wait for next time, I'll invite you over to play again."

"Leaving~"

Everyone's bicycles were parked at the corner of the wall outside the courtyard gate.

When they got on their bicycles, they didn't expect Ye Chenghu to push his own bicycle out too.

"Hehe, you guys go back, I'll send Zheng Shuya back."

"Oh~"

Everyone's words were full of twists and turns, looking at them with ambiguous eyes.

"Then we'll leave first, you send Zheng Shuya home well."

Zheng Shuya held the bicycle, blushing and smiling, looking at him sideways, the sunset glow hit her face, making her whole person shine.

"I'll just go back by myself, you send me back, you'll have to ride back later."

"It's okay, anyway I have nothing to do, let's go."

Two bicycles rode side by side on the road, the teenage boys and girls talked and laughed while riding.

Ps: The update has been added, today's update is completed.

It's rare to write a youth campus story, don't know if your youth memories have something like this.