Chapter 312: Wen Guohua

In the blink of an eye, the 1983 Spring Festival was approaching, and the Economics Department ushered in its final exams.

The fountain pen brushed across the thin paper, making a "rustling" sound.

Lines of handwriting, resembling dragons and snakes or perhaps dog scratches, fell onto the exam paper, turning into imprints of knowledge, ultimately serving as evidence for judging "excellent, good, or poor students."

Don't underestimate this judgment; the amount of next year's scholarship and the ultimate destination of graduation assignments might just depend on whether you scored three points more or two points less than others.

Li Ye carefully finished the first three pages of the exam and flipped to the last page, discovering an essay question that was somewhat beyond the syllabus, asking for a discussion on the pros and cons of Western and domestic economic systems.

【How should I do this question? Should I be more reserved? Or more bold?】

Li Ye certainly knew how to answer this, because in the decades to come, the two economic systems had collided and competed countless times, revealing each other's strengths and weaknesses vividly.

It's just that in this era of 1983, which hadn't been verified by facts, writing too far ahead of the curve wouldn't convince many people.

Li Ye glanced at the other "learning monsters" in the class, who had clearly reached this final question. Seeing the solemn expressions on their faces, it was clear they were also being very cautious.

【Forget it, better to be conservative!】

Li Ye ultimately decided to perform with limitations, utilizing the power of his biological hard drive to synthesize content from various materials and journals in the library to write an answer with a slight highlight.

However, just as he was halfway through writing, Associate Professor Wang, who was in charge of invigilation, stood behind Li Ye and began to examine his answer.

Li Ye turned his head to look at him, and the other party smiled, signaling him to answer the question with peace of mind.

Associate Professor Wang had once been a graduate student of Zhang Qiyan, so if you really wanted to count it, he could be considered Li Ye's "senior fellow apprentice."

Li Ye had a firm direction in his heart, so he wrote very smoothly, writing several hundred words in one breath, taking only a dozen minutes.

And Associate Professor Wang stood behind Li Ye for those dozen minutes.

When Li Ye finished writing, he reached out and picked up the exam paper, read it carefully again, and then patted Li Ye on the shoulder.

"Modify it slightly, and it should be ready for submission."

"..."

Everyone in the class looked over, their eyes filled with different expressions.

He Dazhuang, the top student in the class, looked at Li Ye, feeling both annoyed and powerless.

Li Ye's grades in professional courses in class weren't actually that good, usually hovering around tenth place.

Students like Zhen Rongrong and Chen Xiaoling were usually at the top of the class in every subject, much better than Li Ye, the perennial "top-ten goalkeeper."

But Li Ye was always loafing around, and after class, he was either writing or strolling with his girlfriend, yet he had already published three articles in national economic journals.

As for Zhen Rongrong and Chen Xiaoling, it had been a year and a half since they enrolled, and they had only published one article each, and that was only after receiving "guidance" from Li Ye.

He Dazhuang had heard through the grapevine that Mr. Zhang Qiyan had great prestige in economic journals, and he had taken Li Ye as a disciple; the tricks involved were very profound.

He Dazhuang knew he couldn't catch Zhang Qiyan's eye, and he had no complaints, but this year's first-class scholarship would definitely have Li Ye's share, and that made things uncertain for He Dazhuang.

There was a lot of money difference between a first-class and a second-class scholarship!

Li Ye was clearly so rich; it would be one thing if he didn't donate it to help everyone, but he had to take more than his share of public resources. Tell me, isn't that infuriating?

There was something even more infuriating.

Last semester, the beautiful class teacher Mu Yunning was so warm and caring toward everyone, meeting with the class committee members several times a week to care about everyone's life and studies.

But starting this semester, Mu Yunning had almost "disappeared." It was only later that they found out she had gone to "work and earn money" for Li Ye.

What kind of behavior is this?

This is the behavior of the "White Dogs" riding on the heads of the people again.

Li Ye, waving his dirty banknotes, had occupied their lovely Teacher Mu.

It was truly shameful.

If it were back in high school or freshman year, He Dazhuang would definitely have had a serious talk with Li Ye to pull him back from the deep quagmire.

But now, everyone around him had become Li Ye's supporters and "henchmen," and He Dazhuang had helplessly learned to endure.

"Li Ye, this is a short essay I wrote. Could you help me look at it and offer some opinions?"

He Dazhuang handed an article to Li Ye, a simple and honest smile appearing on his square, Chinese-character face.

"Sure, I'll look at it when I have time, but it might be tough this year; I'm going home in a day or two."

"No rush, no rush, I'm not in a rush at all, hehe~"

One has to say that the environment changes people. He Dazhuang had not only learned to endure but also learned that "the wise man submits to circumstances."

If someone can lead you to fly, do you still complain that he's riding on your head?

Come, come, my neck is thick, choose me.

According to the traditions of the Middle Kingdom, a son-in-law generally goes to his father-in-law's house before the New Year; this is called "sending the New Year."

Although Li Ye didn't yet have the title of "son-in-law," he couldn't be ignorant of the customs, could he? So on the last day before returning home, he drove to the Zhongliang Compound.

He first parked the Volga at the compound entrance, took a bag out of the trunk, and walked toward the guardroom.

Inside was authentic Luxi yellow beef, sent over by Li Zhongfa from his hometown.

Old Lu, who was watching the gate, laughed heartily when he saw Li Ye: "I say, Xiao Ye! Are you here to send the New Year to me? Why is there no wine?"

Li Ye put the bag into the guardroom and said with a smile, "Grandma the health worker said that you should try not to drink alcohol in the future, so the things my grandfather sent you don't have any wine."

"Eh, don't listen to her," Old Lu laughed. "Your Grandma Gao is holding a grudge! Back then, your grandfather and I stole her medical alcohol to drink, and she always got angry with us. Now that there's no shortage of wine, she still won't let us drink..."

"Drinking a little has benefits, but not drinking doesn't have any harm either..."

Li Ye chatted idly with Old Lu for a bit and turned to leave, but was grabbed by Old Lu.

He dragged a bundle of Xifeng wine from under the table and stuffed it into Li Ye's hands.

"I guessed you would come. This old Xifeng wine has been prepared for several days. Take it back to your grandfather and tell him that Old Lu is in good health!"

"..."

What is the camaraderie of comrades-in-arms? It's that even though you are thousands of miles apart, you still think of each other and want to report that you are safe during the New Year.

Li Ye knocked on Teacher Ke's door, and Wen Leyu grabbed him and headed straight for the kitchen.

"I said I'd cook at home today, but I overslept during my nap. Hurry up and help me; my parents will be back soon."

Li Ye glanced at the ingredients in the kitchen. Fortunately, the vegetables and radishes were washed, and the seafood and meat were prepared. He only needed to be responsible for chopping and preparing the dishes, serving the great Chef Wen.

Li Ye rolled up his sleeves and asked with a smile, "If your mother gets promoted one more level, can she be assigned a chef? Then you'll be free, just waiting to be fed."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Wen Leyu hit Li Ye and corrected him, "Setting aside the level, even if she's assigned a chef, it's to serve my mother. I'm not a spoiled young lady; can't I cook?"

"Mm-hmm, Xiao Yu, you really have a talent for cooking."

Li Ye praised Wen Leyu for being capable while skillfully chopping away.

Wen Leyu put on an apron and started cooking dish by dish, looking like she really knew what she was doing.

Actually, when it comes to home cooking, girls are generally stronger than boys because boys are "rough"—boil it, add salt, and it's ready to eat—while girls are a bit more "meticulous," sprinkling all kinds of seasonings.

Besides, for the past half year, Wen Leyu had been following Li Ye to Zaojunmiao to eat special meals, and she had seen enough. Although the heat control of the dishes she cooked was still a bit lacking, she had long reached the point of being "edible," even better than her sister Li Yue.

When Teacher Ke and Wen Qingsheng returned home, Wen Leyu had already served the dishes on the table, shouting boldly, "I made all of these," waiting for her parents' praise.

Wen Qingsheng was, of course, generous with his praise for his daughter, but after Teacher Ke tasted it, she smiled and said, "It's okay, just a little bit worse than what Li Ye makes."

"..."

Wen Leyu pouted, unhappy, and vented her anger at Li Ye: "You cook well, so you cook from now on."

Li Ye: "..."

【Teacher Ke, you really love your daughter. With one light sentence, you freed Wen Leyu from the suffering of the stove!】

After sitting down, Li Ye wanted to pour wine for Wen Qingsheng and Wen Guohua, but Wen Guohua snatched it away.

"Li Ye, I have to toast you today. Your vision regarding Xiushuijie was truly accurate."

Xiushuijie was now in a situation where storefronts were hard to come by, and there was an annual rental income of millions. As a member of the renovation team and the initiator of the renovation ideas, Wen Guohua could be considered to have achieved a successful conclusion.

"How is this my vision? This is the right time and place!" Li Ye laughed. "The demand for individual commerce in the market is strong, and Xiushuijie is located in the city center. No matter how you renovate it, you won't lose money."

"Brother, don't be humble with me," Wen Guohua said with a faint smile. "Anyone can say light words, but who could have imagined that a short little street could have such high returns? Vision is very important."

Li Ye smiled and said, "Vision is important, but courage is even more important. Big brother, you have courage."

"Alright, alright, stop blowing smoke at each other. It's just a glass of wine, why is it so difficult?"

Wen Qingsheng laughed and mocked them, then raised his glass and said, "We're one family, no need to talk about two families. Isn't it all in the wine?"

Li Ye quickly downed it in one gulp. Wen Qingsheng's "one family" was a heart-stirring signal!

This was only because Li Ye and Wen Leyu were still in school; otherwise, he would have found a matchmaker to propose tomorrow, get engaged in two months, and have children running all over the place in two years.

But as for now!

Sigh~

Wen Guohua wasn't married yet, and Wen Leyu was only twenty-one years old; neither met the age recommended by the state.

Li Ye drank quite happily tonight and accidentally got Wen Qingsheng drunk; Teacher Ke couldn't even stop him.

Seeing Teacher Ke's displeasure, Li Ye quickly said goodbye and left.

Wen Guohua was a bit more restrained today, only about eighty percent drunk, and finally saw Li Ye out the door.

After stepping out, Wen Guohua put his arm around Li Ye's shoulder and said with a smile, "Brother, you have to help your brother with one more thing."

Li Ye said with the help of the alcohol, "What do you mean help? Your business, big brother, is my business. Just give the order."

Wen Guohua lowered his voice and said sneakily, "Think of a way to get Ning Pingping into a movie crew and let her play a small role."

Li Ye looked at Wen Guohua in surprise and whispered, "I can help with this, but you..."

Wen Guohua immediately said, "Sigh, I was entrusted by someone. I have a friend who has a good relationship with her. See if you can handle it; if not..."

Li Ye immediately said, "I can handle it, I can handle it. Your friend, big brother, is my friend. I guarantee I can handle it."

Li Ye understood too well. In the future, whenever a close friend said, "I have a friend who recently ran into some trouble," everyone would understand in a second.

Li Ye knew Ning Pingping very well; she was the most beautiful girl in the model team and had signed a brand advertisement with Fenghua Clothing. Over the past year, she had already filmed many advertisements.

Now it seemed the stage of advertising was too small. Was she going to fly higher?

Only wrote two and a half chapters today, three chapters tomorrow.

Thanks to book friend "Ye Linran" for the tip, thanks to book friend "" for the 600-coin tip, thanks to book friend "Qiu Bin Ke" for the tip, thanks to book friend "Pili Leidian Shanguang Papa" for the 500-coin tip, thanks to book friend "Wo Zui Du" for the tip, thanks to book friend "" for the tip. Thanks to all you brothers!!!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 313 =====