Sail across the sea

Chapter 379 I have a question for you
This was definitely not a suitable place to chat. Gao Fan didn't waste any more words and followed Yin Xiaobiao out of the station with Xu Dan. Sure enough, a car was parked on the roadside outside the station—just a typical canvas-topped jeep.

Yin Xiaobiao walked over, greeted the driver, and then opened the passenger door for Xu Dan to sit in. In those days, everyone assumed the passenger seat was the most prestigious position in a car. Since the three were classmates, it wasn't appropriate to deliberately establish a hierarchy. Letting Xu Dan sit there was a gesture of "ladies first."

The Municipal Bureau of Commerce's guesthouse was indeed not far away; the car arrived in just five minutes. Everyone got out of the car, and Yin Xiaobiao went to the driver, slipped him a five-yuan note, and tossed him a pack of cigarettes. The driver said, "You're too kind, Mr. Yin," then chuckled, accepted the money and cigarettes, put the car in gear, and drove off.

Gao Fan witnessed this scene and knew that the driver must have been out doing a private job. Of course, Yin Xiaobiao's ability to know a driver like this meant he had some connections.

Upon entering the guesthouse, Yin Xiaobiao jogged over to book two single rooms for the two of them. In those days, guesthouse rooms were mostly four-person or even eight-person rooms, and ordinary cadres on business trips generally wouldn't book single rooms. Gao Fan was about to take out his money to pay the room fee when he saw Yin Xiaobiao hand a ten-yuan note to the waiter.

"Old Yin, how can I let you pay for this? Xu Dan and I came to Zeshan on a business trip, and we can get reimbursed by the department when we get back," Gao Fan said.

Yin Xiaobiao laughed and said, "Gao Fan, don't lie to me. You can only book a four-person room for business trips, right? If you want a single room, you'll definitely have to pay for it yourself, won't you?"

“Even if we have to pay for it ourselves, it should be our turn. I know you, Lao Yin, have made a fortune, but I’m not exactly poor either,” Gao Fan said half-jokingly, without any intention of vying to pay.

In a typical guesthouse in a prefecture-level city like this, a bed in a four-person room costs about 8 cents per night, while a single room without a bathroom costs 2.5 yuan per night.

For ordinary cadres, their work unit can only reimburse for a four-person dormitory bed; no one would pay an extra 1.7 yuan to upgrade to a single room. 1.7 yuan can buy more than a pound of pork on the black market; who would waste that money just to sleep more comfortably for one night?

But Gao Fan didn't care about spending the money. As a time traveler, he valued his privacy and felt awkward sharing a room with strangers while on a business trip.

Yin Xiaobiao insisted on paying his room and board, which he didn't seem to mind too much. A few dollars wasn't a significant amount for either him or Yin Xiaobiao. If Yin Xiaobiao wanted to show enthusiasm, then so be it.

Gao Fan and Xu Dan went back to their respective rooms to put down their luggage, then took out towels to wash their faces in the public restroom in the hallway. Afterwards, they went downstairs together to meet Yin Xiaobiao and went out to eat.

The meal was uneventful, consisting mainly of chatting about everyone's recent situation and exchanging gossip about classmates. Xu Dan undoubtedly knew the most gossip, but the trivial matters were utterly uninteresting to the two boys.

After dinner, Xu Dan went back to sleep; she was exhausted from the long and bumpy journey.

Yin Xiaobiao asked Gao Fan if he wanted to rest too, and after receiving a negative answer, he suggested going to a newly opened night market in the city for a late-night snack. Gao Fan had a feeling that Yin Xiaobiao probably had something private to discuss with him, so he readily agreed.

Located in the south, Zeshan is not cold outdoors even though it is late autumn; in fact, it feels quite cool. The night market is situated in a small open space with several large banyan trees, their canopies spreading wide. Vendors have set up bamboo chairs and tables under the banyan trees, selling snacks and appetizers. The drinks are mainly homemade rice wine, but bottled spirits or beer are also available upon request.

Yin Xiaobiao is quite familiar with the night market. According to him, he has been staying in Zeshan recently and there is not much entertainment at night, so he often comes here to drink and relax.

The two found a small table and sat down. Yin Xiaobiao asked the stall owner to bring out two large enamel mugs of rice wine, as well as boiled peanuts, fried small fish, and other snacks to go with the wine. Then he started chatting with Gao Fan. "Gao Fan, I have a question for you."

After taking a few sips of wine and rambling on, Yin Xiaobiao put on a relaxed demeanor and said to Gao Fan:

"During the summer vacation two years ago, Brother Long from Renqiao lent me 200 yuan. Did you pay for that?"

Gao Fan was taken aback and asked, "Why would you ask that?"

Yin Xiaobiao smiled slightly and said, "Last month I went to Renqiao to have drinks with Brother Long. I met your sister at his company."

Gao Fan chuckled to himself. Yin Xiaobiao's rather abrupt enthusiasm today suddenly made sense.

The "Brother Long" that Yin Xiaobiao mentioned is Ke Shuilong from Xinglong Coatings Company. He is Chen Xingquan's cousin and one of the partners of Xinglong Coatings Company. The name "Xinglong" is a combination of one character from the names of Chen Xingquan and Ke Shuilong.

When Yin Xiaobiao went to Xinglong Company, he inevitably ran into Gao Min. After all, since others knew he came from Maolin Cangtang, why wouldn't they introduce him to the company's vice president, who was also from Cangtang?

Upon seeing Gao Min, Yin Xiaobiao naturally realized that Gao Fan and Ke Shuilong knew each other. Recalling the scene two years ago when Ke Shuilong inexplicably lent him money, a complete stranger, how could he not figure out the key to this?

Gao Fan had long known that this matter couldn't be kept secret for long. If Yin Xiaobiao hadn't been so sentimental and hadn't had further contact with Ke Shuilong, perhaps he wouldn't have discovered the secret. But Yin Xiaobiao considered Ke Shuilong his benefactor and frequently went to Renqiao to drink and play with him, so naturally, the matter couldn't be kept hidden any longer.

“Actually, Xiaolong is a very loyal person. If he encountered something like this, he would definitely lend a hand.” Gao Fan did not directly answer Yin Xiaobiao’s question, but instead talked about Ke Shuilong.

Yin Xiaobiao then understood Gao Fan's meaning and said:

“I will never forget Brother Long’s kindness to me. That time, Brother Long personally took me to purchase goods and taught me all sorts of rules. Later, when I switched to purchasing goods in Guangzhou, it was Brother Long who helped me make connections there, I heard he went through several intermediaries. Without Brother Long, I wouldn’t be where I am today. But, Gao Fan, I still want to say thank you.”

At this point, he raised the wine bowl in his hand to Gao Fan, and then downed it in one gulp.

Seeing this, Gao Fan also picked up his wine bowl, gestured to Yin Xiaobiao, and downed it in one gulp as well.

Friendship between men doesn't need many words. Friendships that are constantly spoken are unreliable. A simple "thank you," like Yin Xiaobiao's, is often more sincere and lasting.

(End of this chapter)