Chapter 422: University Life is Great

"Long time no see, General Manager Zhang. I presume you must be the older brother of General Manager Zhang Weidong?"

"Uh, I am his father."

"……"

Zhao Lichun looked surprised; Zhang Ping'an's appearance looked only about ten years older than Zhang Weidong and the others, so how could they be father and son?

Zhao Lichun was thirty-seven this year, yet he looked over forty. He suddenly remembered that Zhang Weidong was thirty but looked only twenty-five or twenty-six, so it was normal for his father to look a bit younger.

"Ahem, so it is General Manager Zhang." Zhao Lichun quickly adjusted his mindset and gave a light cough to cover his embarrassment.

The two shook hands. Zhang Ping'an roughly guessed Zhao Lichun's intent; if Zhao Lichun really was the "good mayor of the people" that Qian Dahu spoke of, he naturally wouldn't mind investing.

This was a public place, so Zhao Lichun only chatted for a moment before returning to the school, but this scene of the two chatting happily was coincidentally seen by Chen Yanshi.

Chen Yanshi was fifty-one this year and was currently also a Deputy Mayor, mainly in charge of the Political and Legal Affairs sector, half a rank lower than Zhao Lichun.

"Little Zhou, who is that chatting with Mayor Zhao?"

"Leader, looking at that license plate, I reckon that person is a foreign businessman?" Secretary Little Zhou said.

"Hm? It's actually a Jingzhou plate? Forget it, let's head to the school first."

Only then did Chen Yanshi notice the license plate. Thinking that Zhao Lichun was likely soliciting investment again, he didn't pay any more attention.

"Very well, Leader."

Zhang Ping'an had wanted to ask Zhao Lichun to help look after Qi Tongwei, but thinking the occasion wasn't right and the timing was poor, he didn't bring it up.

At this time, Liang Lu was likely only a teacher for a short while and perhaps still in the midst of a passionate romance.

Qi Tongwei was eighteen this year, and Liang Lu was ten years his senior, meaning she was twenty-eight—the most beautiful age for a woman. He didn't know if she was just playing around or had been abandoned, but later on, when she couldn't conceive, she latched onto Qi Tongwei.

Zhang Ping'an had the urge to dig to the bottom of it, but thinking of Zhong Laotou's warning, he gave up.

At present, Liang Qunfeng was about the same age as him, and his rank wasn't low either. Even if he hadn't reached the position of Deputy Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Commission, he was likely not far off; his rank should be equivalent to or half a level higher than Zhao Lichun's.

He could investigate ordinary people, but this was the family of a High-level Worker, which was a bit against the rules.

While Zhang Ping'an was still deep in thought, the family of five of Qi Qinghai came out.

"Brother Zhang."

"Godfather."

"Mm, Tongwei, your roommates have probably all arrived. Build good relationships with your classmates; in the future, these might all be your colleagues."

"Very well, Godfather, I will remember that."

"Mm, then you go back. Qinghai, I still have some matters here, so I won't go back to Yantai with you. Hong Tao, take them back."

"Alright."

"Very well, General Manager Zhang."

Qi Tongwei returned to the dormitory, and his roommates had also arrived one after another and were introducing themselves to each other.

"Tongwei, you've come just in time. You just went to see your family off, and everyone in our dormitory has arrived. We've just finished ranking by age."

"You are still Lao Liu, and I am the eldest." The one speaking was Qin Wenzhang, twenty-five years old this year, a local of Jingzhou.

"This is Lao Er Zhang Jianshe, from Luzhou, twenty-four this year; Lao San Wu Haifeng, from Lincheng, twenty-three this year."

"Lao Si He Yingxiong, same as you, both from Yantai, twenty-two this year; Lao Wu Yan Wei, a brother from Shandong Province, twenty-one this year."

"This is Lao Liu, Qi Tongwei, eighteen years old, from Yantai."

"You are our city's Top Scholar?" Lao Si He Yingxiong asked in surprise; he had just felt the name Tongwei sounded very familiar.

"It is me. As for being a Top Scholar or whatever, that's all in the past. Once we start university, we turn the page."

"Not bad, not bad. Lao Liu, you have a great mindset. If this were me, I'd have to show off for a few years, hahaha." The eldest, Qin Wenzhang, laughed heartily.

"After the opening ceremony ends, I'll treat you all to skewers to see the specialties of our Jingzhou. After all, the next half month will be military training time."

"Alright!" The group responded in unison.

From their attire, it was obvious that Qi Tongwei and Lao Si He Yingxiong were a bit worse off, while the other four likely had some money at home.

The afternoon graduation ceremony was just like in his previous life; after a crowd of leaders gave speeches, the Student Union President, the Student Representative—in short, it was very time-consuming.

"Phew~ It's finally over. Let's go back, tidy up, and then go eat."

"Alright."

The group of six returned to the dormitory, tidied up briefly, and set off to eat skewers by the roadside outside the school.

"Don't look at this as a roadside stall; the taste is surprisingly good. Boss, bring us thirty of each specialty skewer first, and a crate of beer to moisten our throats."

"Coming right up! Be ready in a moment, please sit for a while."

"Eldest, this place looks quite clean, not like a typical hole-in-the-wall."

"Right, I saw that the moment I walked in, and there's a fragrance wafting over just as they started grilling."

"Hahaha, I'm a local, so it's only natural that I know where it's clean, hygienic, and delicious. Plus, this boss is a retired soldier, so the character is guaranteed."

"Impressive. Eldest, I'll definitely have to toast you a couple of times later."

"Hahaha, alright!"

Those who could get into the Political and Law Department all knew the path they would take in the future. Qin Wenzhang was a local, and looking at his demeanor, his family was likely either wealthy or powerful.

The skewers were served quickly, and the group ate and drank heartily, truly possessing a bit of the high-spiritedness of youth.

"Delicious! Eldest, this place is great. We can come often on our days off in the future."

"No problem, we'll come gather here whenever we have free time from our studies."

An hour later, the group was slightly tipsy, and Qin Wenzhang was also quite drunk. Qi Tongwei took the opportunity while going to the restroom to settle the bill. This meal really cost quite a bit—more than half a month's salary for an ordinary person was gone.

"Fifth Brother, let's help them back."

"Sure."

Lao Wu Yan Wei, like most people from Shandong Province, was tall and sturdy. He had been the one to eat and drink the most, but now he looked like nothing had happened.

Each of them supported two people and returned to the dormitory.

"Lao Liu, you really are hiding your true depth; this drinking capacity is not bad either."

"Fifth Brother, I just earned some money working part-time over the summer break. My parents are both ordinary Workers, and this beer doesn't make me drunk, it just bloats my stomach."

Qi Tongwei naturally knew what Yan Wei meant, so he explained it offhandedly, and what he said was also the absolute truth.

"Hehe."

Yan Wei smiled without saying anything; although his grades were also good in Quancheng, Handong Province, he was not the Top Scholar, but the Top Scholar was in their class, and he knew that the scholarship alone was twenty thousand.

Qi Tongwei was also a Top Scholar, so Handong definitely gave him quite a bit as well; at the very least, it was completely enough for his expenses during his university years.

Seeing that he did not believe him, Qi Tongwei shrugged and did not continue to explain, settling the others in before going to wash up.

"Thanks, Lao Liu. How much was it yesterday? I'll give it to you in a moment." Qin Wenzhang asked about Qi Tongwei's expenses from yesterday as soon as he finished washing up in the morning.

"No need, Boss. Just treat me back next time."

"Hahaha, good. I acknowledge you as my younger brother."

Qi Tongwei did not care and did not dwell on it; in any case, there was still a four-year university career ahead, and there was plenty of time.

After changing into their school uniforms, the group went to the cafeteria, ate breakfast in a hurry, and ran to the classroom; camouflage uniforms were not yet widespread, so everyone wore school uniforms for military training.

"I wonder if there are many girls in our class, hehe."

"About half and half. I saw quite a few new students were female at the freshman registration office yesterday; otherwise, why do you think I arrived so late?"

"Damn, Lao San, no wonder you looked familiar to me yesterday. So you had already infiltrated the ranks of the seniors. Tell us quickly, how is the quality?"