I am not useless 2
1335 Words
"By the way, Aunt, where is Xinxin studying?" Qin Sheng asked, concerned about his aunt and uncle's only daughter, Xinxin, who was a few years younger than him. He had always treated her as a younger sister.
"She's studying in Shanghai, just like you," Wang Li said with a wry smile.
Qin Sheng was delighted. "Shanghai? That's great. I'm going to Shanghai tomorrow. I can look after Xinxin then."
"You're leaving tomorrow?" Wang Li was surprised.
Qin Sheng felt a pang of guilt. Although they weren't his biological parents, he had become part of this family. As a member of this family and the only other man besides Uncle Lin, he should have been the one to bear the burden at that time. But...
"Aunt, it's okay. Just think of it as a loss to avoid a greater misfortune. Grandpa had said long ago that Uncle Lin would face a difficult time in middle age. He probably knew it himself. But as long as he's alive, there's still hope," Qin Sheng comforted her.
"Your uncle is fine. He's taken it all in stride," Wang Li wiped away her tears and shook her head.
Qin Sheng continued, "Besides, I'm back now. I'll find a way to help Uncle Lin."
"Sheng'er, there's nothing you can do to help your uncle. Don't tire yourself out. As long as you and Xinxin are okay, I'll be relieved," Wang Li dismissed Qin Sheng's offer. Qin Sheng was just a young man, while the problems his uncle faced were too big for him to handle.
"By the way, Aunt, where is Xinxin studying?" Qin Sheng asked, concerned about his aunt and uncle's only daughter, Xinxin, who was a few years younger than him. He had always treated her as a younger sister.
"She's studying in Shanghai, just like you," Wang Li said with a wry smile.
Qin Sheng was delighted. "Shanghai? That's great. I'm going to Shanghai tomorrow. I can look after Xinxin then."
"You're leaving tomorrow?" Wang Li was surprised.
At dinner, Qin Sheng kept Wang Li company. The food tasted just like it always had. When he took a bite of the eight-treasure spicy meat sandwich, Qin Sheng's eyes welled up. He only had his grandfather and no parents. Others called him an orphan, but only here did he feel like he belonged.
His grandfather had said, "If someone does something good for you, you don't need to say it out loud. Just remember it in your heart. When they need you, be there for them."
So, if anyone had wronged Uncle Lin and his family, Qin Sheng would make them pay.
After dinner, Qin Sheng left the Lins' house and went to a barbecue place on Yanta North Road. There was a Sichuan bamboo skewer barbecue restaurant there that was particularly delicious. Whenever he came back, he would come here with his friends.
Qin Sheng arrived early. He called his four friends, and they were all surprised to hear from him. Only two of them could make it, but Qin Sheng didn't say anything about it.
He knew that as people grew older, they would drift apart. Many things would never be the same.
"Qin, d*mn it, we thought you had disappeared. Where the hell have you been for the past two years?" Two of his friends arrived at the same time. The one who spoke was Mengzhe, a handsome guy who used to be called Pretty Boy.
"F*ck, I thought you were a scammer when you called. I never thought it was actually you," Hao Lei cursed, spitting out the words. He had been in the military and had only recently been discharged. He was tall and a bit thin.
"Sit down and let's talk. There's a lot I need to tell you," Qin Sheng said, putting his arms around his two friends.
After they sat down, Hao Lei shouted, "Waiter, three cases of 9-degree beer, 20 yuan worth of meat, 20 yuan worth of tendon, 20 yuan worth of kidney, three baked oil cakes, a plate of baked eggplant, and a mixed vegetable platter."
"Let's get drunk tonight," Mengzhe said happily.
Drinking was a part of life, but it was only enjoyable when you drank with the right people. Drinking with boring people was just drinking for the sake of drinking.
So Qin Sheng happily replied, "D*mn right, I'm not afraid of you guys. Let's get drunk."
The three of them clinked their glasses three times before starting to chat.
"What have you guys been up to for the past two years?" Qin Sheng asked.
"I just got discharged from the military and haven't found a job yet. Lao Meng is getting engaged. He's probably getting married next year. Don't disappear then," Hao Lei said with a laugh.
"What about the others?" Qin Sheng asked.
Lao Meng sighed. "Lao Xu and Wu Yong aren't on the same page as us anymore. I guess you called them too. We've barely seen each other in the past year. I don't know how to say this..."
Qin Sheng sighed. "Let's not talk about it. Let's just drink."
"Come on, come on, let's drink."
It was early October, so the weather was still a bit hot. The barbecue plaza was bustling with activity. Everyone was eating and drinking heartily, laughing and cursing. It was a familiar place, with a familiar feeling.
Qin Sheng felt good.
"You know, drinking is best when you're with the right people. It makes it so much more enjoyable. Drinking with boring people is just drinking for the sake of it, it's pointless," Qin Sheng said, grinning.
"D*mn right, I'm not scared of you guys. Let's get wasted," he replied, raising his glass.
The three of them clinked glasses three times before starting to chat.
"How've you guys been doing these past two years?" Qin Sheng asked.
"I just got discharged from the military and I haven't found a job yet. Lao Meng is getting engaged, probably next year. Don't you dare disappear then," Hao Lei laughed.
"What about the others?" Qin Sheng continued.
Lao Meng sighed, "Lao Xu and Wu Yong aren't really on the same page as us anymore. I guess you called them too. We barely see each other once a year. You know what I mean..."
Qin Sheng nodded, a bit wistful. "Let's not talk about it. Let's just drink."
"Come on, let's drink!"
It was early October, so the weather was still a bit warm. The barbecue plaza was buzzing with activity.
Everyone was eating and drinking heartily, laughing and cursing. It was a familiar place, with a familiar feeling.
Qin Sheng felt good.
"Qin, what the hell have you been up to for the past two years? Spill it," one of his friends asked.
"We'll talk about it later. Everything's fine," Qin Sheng replied.
"You little sh*t, so what are you going to do next?"
"My train leaves at one. After we finish drinking, I'm going to Shanghai. I'm going to start a new life there," Qin Sheng explained, not hiding anything from his best friends.
"Shanghai? Isn't Suqin there too?"
"Lao Meng, shut up," Hao Lei quickly interrupted, and Mengzhe realized he had said something wrong.
Qin Sheng shook his head and chuckled. "It's okay, say whatever you want. It's all in the past."
"Let's drink, let's drink, stop talking nonsense."
Before they finished the three cases of beer, the three friends parted ways. After all, Qin Sheng had a train to catch, and the others had things to do the next day.
Qin Sheng took a taxi to the train station. With little luggage, he sat in the taxi and looked out the window at the city's night view. The mottled city walls told stories of the past, and the familiar street names seemed worlds away. The city was like an aging old man, coldly watching the changes of time.
As the train started to move, Qin Sheng knew he was about to embark on a new journey...
- Writer
