sbdcsierra Chapter 1763 A Meaningful Day
Chapter 1763 A Meaningful Day
Chapter 1763 A Meaningful Day
Men and women are matched, so work is not tiring.
A room full of young men and women had endless topics to talk about. Having been classmates for two years, they knew each other very well, so there was no awkwardness or restraint. The room was filled with laughter and joy.
Looking back on it years later, it will be a rare and easy memory.
The kitchen and dining table were already bustling with activity.
Lin Wei, the class monitor who usually had a neat ponytail, was now frowning slightly, confronting a stubborn live fish. Wearing black-rimmed glasses, she stared intently at the fish on the cutting board. The cleaver seemed a bit clumsy in her hand, and the fish's tail was still making a final struggle on the cutting board with a "thud".
Shao Xinghuai, who was standing next to him, couldn't stand it and said with a smile, "Class monitor, let me do it. Your hands are more suited to holding a pen. This kind of rough work is better left to me, a slacker."
"Hahaha……"
"The squad leader has definitely never killed a fish at home."
Lin Wei's face turned bright red all the way to her neck and behind her ears. "I'll go wash the vegetables..."
Suddenly, a sharp "rip" sound drowned out all other sounds.
Zheng Shuya took charge of the cooking. The plate of cleaned fresh shrimp was poured into the hot oil, and instantly a cloud of white steam carrying a caramelized aroma rose up, enveloping her for a moment.
She jumped back dramatically, still holding the spatula in her hand as if she were holding some incredible weapon, which drew a burst of laughter.
"Oh my god, you scared me! Zheng Shuya, do you even know how to do this? Maybe we should ask Ye Chenghu to help?" Shao Xinghuai joked as he scraped the fish scales.
"Stop nagging, or you won't get to eat my shrimp!"
The sounds, the aromas, the voices—all blended and fermented in the warm midday light, creating a relaxed, slightly intoxicating atmosphere unique to this moment.
Everyone is already in the second semester of their junior year of high school, and they will soon be in their senior year, facing the college entrance examination next year. Their studies are quite demanding right now, and today's rare get-together has made everyone feel relaxed.
At this moment, no one saw academic underachievers or top students; all they cared about was the two years of friendship they had shared as classmates and the ever-growing bond of camaraderie.
The four girls took turns cooking, while the boys praised them enthusiastically or joked around, creating a relaxed and lively atmosphere filled with laughter.
After the food was cooked, the kitchen was a complete mess, but the dining table was full of delicious-looking dishes, all prepared by them. Everyone was extremely excited.
"You guys are so virtuous! You cooked all the dishes on the table."
"We only get to have a table like this during Chinese New Year, haha, it's so lavish."
"Haha, this is the most relaxing weekend I've ever had. When will Ye Chenghu come to your house to cook again? Hahaha."
"Sure, no problem. Just remember to clean up after you finish eating, otherwise there won't be a next time when my mom comes back and sees it."
"Absolutely. With so many of us, everyone can easily lend a hand and clean your kitchen spotless."
"Your kitchen is the cleanest and brightest kitchen I've ever seen."
Ye Chenghu glanced at the drinks on the table, his eyes darting around, then stood up and ran to the refrigerator to grab a few bottles of beer.
"Come on, come on, it's rare to be so happy today, let's have a little drink."
Zheng Shuya looked at him with sparkling eyes, "We're still in school, isn't it inappropriate to drink? There are drinks on the table..."
"One drink per person, you won't get drunk, it's just to liven things up. Some of you are all 18 years old, adults, what are you afraid of?"
Shao Xinghuai chimed in, “It’s rare to be in such a good mood, let’s give it a try. Everyone can have one glass, and you girls can have half a glass. There are only two bottles of wine in total. After that, you can drink soft drinks. You won’t get drunk.”
Ye Chenghu added, "It's alright, you girls can decide for yourselves. If you don't want to drink, just have a beverage. We boys can drink."
The boys cheered and raised their glasses, enjoying a rare opportunity to drink openly.
That's why they say alcohol enhances the atmosphere. The moment the alcohol was introduced, the atmosphere at the table reached its peak.
Ye Xiaoxi, holding the cup, shamelessly brought it to Ye Chenghu, "Big Brother..."
Ye Chenghu had originally intended to pour it out without even looking at it, but upon hearing her call him "Big Brother," he quickly covered the bottle opening.
You can't drink it.
"What?"
"You're still young. Drinking will make you stupid and stunt your growth."
"So you all want to go to college, and you drink alcohol without worrying about getting stupid? Don't try to fool me. I sneak some bayberries from the bayberry wine at home from time to time. There's alcohol on them, and I haven't gotten stupid."
"Anyway, you can't drink it, go away, go drink your Coke."
Ye Xiaoxi looked at the glass full of cola, took a sip, and let out a satisfied "Ah~".
"Come on, cheers! Let's celebrate our first dinner together."
"cheers!"
The young men and women all stood up and raised their glasses in celebration. At that moment, everyone's eyes shone with light, filled with anticipation and dreams for the future.
Ye Chenghu waved his hand and shouted, "Let's get started!"
He went straight for the braised shrimp that Zheng Shuya had cooked; it was cooked by his sweetheart, so he had to be the first to eat it.
Shao Xinghuai winked and asked, "Was Zheng Shuya's shrimp delicious?"
"Delicious, absolutely delicious! The shrimp shells are glossy and the color is incredibly appealing! A top-notch chef!"
"Hahaha~"
Several pairs of chopsticks immediately and precisely reached for their target, and the subtle sound of shrimp shells peeling off rose and fell.
"Wow, Zheng Shuya, I thought you weren't capable. I didn't expect you to be so talented!"
Zheng Shuya's smile was almost reaching her ears, but she still waved her hand modestly: "So-so, third in the world."
"Hahaha……"
Ye Xiaoxi and the others only remembered after they started eating the meat, "Oh? I forgot to call my little sister!"
"It's okay, we'll save a piece of cake for them later."
When are we going to pick up the cake?
"Let's go after dinner. There's no rush. After dinner, we can play cards and watch TV, and then I'll go get the cake."
Ye Xiaoxi chuckled and said, "Let Sister Xiaoya go with you, otherwise it'll be awkward to ride a bicycle alone without company."
The boys immediately started to cheer.
"Yes, let Zheng Shuya go with you."
"You two go get the cake, we'll watch TV and wait for you."
Zheng Shuya's face was flushed, whether from the half-glass of beer or from being shy because of everyone's teasing.
She smiled and nodded, "Okay, I'll go with Ye Chenghu to get the cake, and then we'll play together again when we get back."
Ye Chenghu felt as if his heart was a plum candy being poured into warm water, melting away silently and sweetly.
He smiled and reached into his pocket, pulling out a one-yuan coin and handing it to Ye Xiaoxi from under the table.
Ye Xiaoxi looked at the hand in front of her with surprise and delight, quickly took it and put it in her pocket, then winked at Ye Chenghu.
The table was laden with chicken, duck, fish, meat, and seafood—a feast they could only enjoy during holidays. Everyone ate with great relish, their bellies round and full. They only reluctantly put down their chopsticks when they could no longer eat, but they didn't want to leave the table. They continued to sit and chat, slowly eating and then dreaming about the future.
"We'll be taking the college entrance exam next year. Have you thought about which university you want to go to?"
"You're being presumptuous by asking that. I definitely won't pass the exam, haha. After graduation, I'll go into business. I've heard business is very profitable in the south," Shao Xinghuai said enthusiastically.
Ye Chenghu laughed and said, "So you're aiming to become a boss right away?"
"Yes, yes, that's right, you really know how to talk."
Zheng Shuya smiled and advised, "If you can go to university, you should. You can get a job after you graduate from university."
"Oh dear, I'm not cut out for studying. I barely made it into high school."
"I heard that doing business is quite profitable? Ye Chenghu's family is in business, right?"
Ye Chenghu scratched his head, somewhat uncertain, "Is my family in business? Is that right? I don't know if it counts. My dad used to be a fisherman, does that count as running a business?"
"Could you build such a big house and have so many boats if you didn't do business?"
"I guess so?"
"I want to go to university, and my goal is Fudan University!" Lin Wei raised her Coke cup, taking the rare opportunity to talk loudly about her ideals with everyone.
"Wow~ The class monitor is definitely going to win!"
With the class monitor starting, everyone shared their ideal schools and began to dream about the future, still full of hope.
After they had finished chatting, everyone started cleaning up the mess on the table.
The battleground after the meal shifted from the kitchen to the sink.
Working together as a team makes the work easier. Some people tidy up the tables, some clean the kitchen, some wash the dishes, and some mop the floor. The division of labor is clear.
By the time we finished cleaning up, we'd had enough of the commotion and were exhausted.
Everyone was sprawled out on the sofa and carpet in all sorts of haphazard ways.
Someone started humming "Sailor" first, the tune a little off-key, but immediately others joined in.
He said, "What's a little pain in the face of wind and rain? Wipe away your tears, don't be afraid, at least we still have dreams..."
Dissonant harmonies floated in the air, filled with the lingering aroma of food.
Ye Chenghu pulled Zheng Shuya out quietly, saying, "Let them play at home, we're going to get the cake."
Zheng Shuya felt a little uncomfortable with her hand being held, and simply hummed softly.
Ye Chenghu's mouth was practically splitting open to his ears, and his palms were sweating profusely with nervousness. His face was flushed, the redness extending to his ears and neck.
"I'll go get my bicycle." He reluctantly let go.
Zheng Shuya sat on the back of his bicycle, holding onto the hem of his shirt. Her fingertips were slightly sweaty, but she had a bright smile and looked relaxed and happy.
Ye Chenghu pedaled with all his might, his muscles tense, his back straight, trying his best to maintain the stability of the vehicle, not daring to go too fast, for fear of disturbing this moment of ambiguity.
He racked his brains trying to find something lighthearted to say, but all the words stuck in his throat, and he was worried about ruining the atmosphere.
The two remained silent the entire way, but an ambiguous atmosphere lingered between them. Both of them had smiles on their faces and their eyes were shining.
The cake shop isn't far away; it only takes about ten minutes by bicycle.
On the way back, the two began to chat more easily.
Zheng Shuya asked softly, "Ye Chenghu, is there a university you'd like to attend?"
"No, if I can get into university, my family will set off firecrackers for three days and three nights. What do I have to complain about? What about you?"
"I want to go to Fudan University!"
"Awesome! Keep it up! I'll just go to that lousy university next to Fudan University then, you can help me choose one with a low score."
"How could I possibly choose for you? Your family will definitely arrange it."
“My dad will definitely let me do whatever I want. He said if I manage to get into a lousy university, he'll immediately go and worship his ancestors.”
Zheng Shuya couldn't help but chuckle, "Your dad is quite open-minded."
"They're quite open-minded. My dad is great, and my mom is great too. You'll see when you meet them."
"We've gone off on a tangent..."
"do you happy today?"
"I'm so happy! Today has been the most meaningful weekend I've ever had. It's the first time I've had such a fun get-together with my classmates. Thank you so much for providing such a big venue at your house. You've really gone to a lot of trouble. That table of food and this cake must have cost a fortune. Your parents must have spent so much..."
"It's okay, it wasn't them who paid for it. They made me do all the work myself. I paid for it myself, and it wasn't much. I still have some left. Next time, we can arrange another get-together and move to a new house, closer to the city center. After dinner, you can all go sightseeing..."
Zheng Shuya knew he was well-off and wasn't bragging. "Let's talk about it next time. Don't do it too often. It costs you a lot of money to get together each time. You work hard to earn money."
"It's alright, it won't cost much, and these are all memories. It would be even better if so many of us could get together again in 10 years."
"After graduating from high school, everyone will go their separate ways. Some will go to university, some will go to work, and it's hard to say what will happen in the future."
"So we should enjoy life while we can, so that when we look back, it will all be memories..."
The two chatted casually all the way home.
Everyone has already formed a group; some are playing cards, and others are watching TV.
"Ye Chenghu and Zheng Shuya are back."
"Ye Chenghu, your TV is so big! It must be so cool to watch. My TV is still black and white."
"The food smells too strong. Let's open the window to let some fresh air in."
Ye Xiaoxi rushed up to him, and was extremely excited when she saw the two-tiered cake he was carrying.
"I haven't had such a big cake in ages, shall we eat it now, bro?"
"Let's eat a little later, we just finished eating not long ago," Ye Chenghu glanced at his watch and realized it was already 3 o'clock. "Let's eat in another hour, and we can finish at 4 o'clock so we can all go home."
"Ok."
"A cake this big must cost several tens of dollars, right?"
"Just eat it, don't worry about the price."
Ye Chenghu first put the cake in the refrigerator and then checked how the kitchen was cleaned.
In order to make sure there's a next time, the kitchen has to be cleaned up.
Fortunately, everyone knew the rules, and the pots and pans were all neatly arranged. He just needed to put everything back in its place.
At that moment, the TV was showing "The Legend of the White Snake," and everyone was completely engrossed in it. If he hadn't opened the door and disturbed them, the girls would still have been absorbed in it.
The boys would occasionally glance up at the TV show while playing cards. Although the TV show was also attractive to them, they couldn't bear to put down their cards either, so they could only watch while playing.
After tidying up the kitchen, Ye Chenghu quickly jumped onto the sofa, sat down next to Zheng Shuya, and started watching TV intently.
Zheng Shuya's eyes hadn't left the TV since she came in; she was completely captivated by it and was discussing with her classmate what time it aired. She certainly didn't feel awkward at all.
"It's so much more enjoyable to watch a color TV. My family only has a black and white one. Now, I don't even want to watch black and white TVs when I get home."
"Haha, let your parents buy you a color TV."
"I can't afford it, it's too expensive, it must cost one or two thousand, right? I'm already satisfied that I can see something today."
"I heard that Xu Xian in the story is a woman."
"Really? I can't tell! It's fake, right? You're just making this up, aren't you?"
"It must be fake!"
……
Everyone watched TV, ate snacks, and chatted about the plot. It was a leisurely and enjoyable time, and they didn't have to think about their 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 glanced at his watch. "It's exactly 4 o'clock. Are you keeping track of the time?"
"Of course, I want to eat cake. I've been wanting to for so long. Let's go, let's go!"
Everyone snapped out of their immersion in the TV series and started cheering happily.
"Wow, time to cut the cake!"
"Ye Chenghu, I will remember your hospitality today for the rest of my life, hahaha."
"Me too, me too, I've never been treated like this before, haha, a big meal and a big cake, I've never been so happy."
"I'm so happy, I'm so happy today..."
Ye Chenghu was surrounded by everyone as he went to get the cake, with a group of people gathered around the table watching with smiles on their faces.
"It's a pity my parents have to get off work at five or six o'clock, otherwise it would be best to save it for cutting the cake in the evening."
"It's already great that I can spend the whole day here with you."
Just as they were cutting the cake, Ye Huimei pushed open the door and came in.
Everyone turned to look at the doorway, and for a moment they all became a little reserved.
Someone whispered, "Ye Chenghu, is your mother back?"
"Are we staying too late?"
"No, it's my aunt."
Ye Huimei smiled and said, "Haven't you greeted your classmates yet? All these things on the table, are they birthday presents?"
Pei Yu and the twins were already running towards them, calling out "Cousin" as they ran.
Ye Chenghu offered a reassuring remark and then greeted Ye Huimei.
"Almost done, let's cut the cake, they need to go back early soon."
"It's okay, stay a little longer and watch some TV. I saw it was getting late, so I had to come over to cook and tidy up for you guys."
"No need, we've cleaned everything up. Auntie, have a piece of cake too. I bought a big two-tiered cake."
Ye Huimei walked to the side, looked at the beautiful two-tiered cake, and smiled broadly, "It's so big! You're quite the shopper, and you know how to plan things. Did you have fun today?"
"Be happy, you absolutely have to be happy! Aren't you all happy?"
Everyone said, "Of course we're happy."
"Today is the happiest day of my life."
Ye Huimei added, "After celebrating my birthday today, I can celebrate another one later this year."
"what?"
"What do you mean?"
"Celebrating two birthdays?"
"Ye Chenghu, you have two birthdays?"
Ye Chenghu laughed heartily, "That's right, I have two birthdays. Today is my first birthday, and I'll invite you all to my second birthday later this year."
"Wow, you have two birthdays?"
"Why do you have two birthdays?" The class monitor asked innocently, his face full of curiosity.
Ye Xiaoxi said loudly, "It's because my older brother wanted to invite his classmates over to play, so he said it was his birthday. He's never celebrated his birthday before, so he wanted to make up for it."
The dollar wasn't wasted.
Ye Chenghu nodded, "That's right, I've never had a proper birthday celebration before, so I thought I'd invite everyone to get together and celebrate my birthday as well. I'll invite you all to my house for my birthday later this year."
"Wow, that's awesome! You get to celebrate two birthdays."
"I think we're actually benefiting from this, hahaha..."
"Shhhhhh..."
Knowing that it wasn't Ye Chenghu's parents coming back, everyone relaxed and started chatting and laughing freely.
"Come on, come on, I've lit the candles, you all hurry up and sing me a birthday song..." Ye Chenghu shouted, and everyone immediately cheered.
"Happy birthday to you……"
Ye Xiaoxi clapped the most enthusiastically, and the twins next to her, not to be outdone, clapped even harder and sang even louder.
Of the four people in the room, they were the youngest and had the loudest voices.
"Hurry up and blow out the candles, make a wish, and cut the cake..."
Watching them make a ruckus, Ye Huimei smiled and went to the kitchen first, intending to tidy up. To her surprise, it was spotless, and the floor was already mopped.
She had no choice but to tidy up in the living room. With so many people around, it wasn't appropriate for her to mop the floor. After tidying up, she went to the kitchen to cook some rice.
"Auntie, have a piece of cake too." After Ye Chenghu finished distributing the cake to everyone, he cut a piece for her and brought it over.
"I have some too? You guys can have them."
"It's okay, the cake I bought is two-tiered, it's big enough, there's still half left, so everyone can have a share, I even kept a portion for my parents."
"Row."
Everyone sat around the table, eating cake and chatting. They asked him where he bought it, and some of the well-off families said they would save up money to have a meaningful birthday like his.
"I'll buy a cake and invite you all for my birthday, but I need to save up some money first, haha..."
"I want to save all my pocket money."
Ye Xiaoxi also exclaimed, "When it's my birthday next year, I want to invite my classmates over to celebrate at home, just like my older brother did."
"Are you willing to spend the money?" Ye Chenghu asked her in return.
"Dad's rich, and Mom's rich too!"
"Cut~"
After everyone finished eating the cake, they dispersed. After all, they had been out all day, and it was almost 5 o'clock by the time they finished eating the cake. It would be time for them to have dinner when they got home.
Everyone was quite reluctant to leave, as it was a rare and enjoyable gathering.
"We'll be leaving now, Ye Chenghu. Thank you for your hospitality today."
"We've put your birthday presents on your sofa. Remember to open them later. We boys will give one together, and we girls will give one together."
"Thanks! Next time, let's have a get-together at my house!"
Ye Chenghu saw them off at the door, feeling quite reluctant to part with them; the day had passed so quickly.
"I'll invite you over to play again next time."
"Let's go~"
Everyone's bicycles were parked in the corner outside the courtyard gate.
When they got on their bicycles, Ye Chenghu unexpectedly pushed out his own bicycle as well.
"Hehe, you guys go back, I'll take Zheng Shuya back."
"Oh~"
Everyone was giving them ambiguous looks, their expressions shifting and turning.
"Then we'll be going now. Please take good care of Zheng Shuya and get her home safely."
Zheng Shuya, holding onto her bicycle, blushed and smiled as she looked at him. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on her face, making her shine.
“I can go back by myself. If you take me back, I’ll have to ride my bike back later.”
"It's okay, I'm free anyway, let's go."
Two bicycles were riding side by side on the road, and the young man and woman were chatting and laughing as they rode.
P.S.: The update has been added; today's update is now complete.
It's rare for me to write a chapter about a youthful campus story. I wonder if any of your youthful memories are like this.