I have few friends, but many childhood sweethearts.

Chapter 140. Green Lychee (Bonus Chapter 14 for the author Qianranwuli)

The next day, Xu Qingfan, Xia Xiaoxiao, and Wu Lingyu waited early at the exit of Guangming Station. Zhong Wenqing and Guan Bianyue came out shortly afterward.

"Sister Qingqing!"

"Teacher Guan!"

Wu Lingyu and Xia Xiaoxiao rushed forward eagerly, while Xu Qingfan followed behind them at a leisurely pace.

"Did you miss your sister?" Zhong Wenqing smiled and ruffled their hair. "Xiao Fan, come here and give your sister a hug."

"No, you smell like smoke!" Xu Qingfan dodged away in disgust.

"You brat!" Zhong Wenqing gave him a light tap on the head, annoyed. Because they were traveling back by bus, there were many passengers smoking on board.

"Let's go, let's go to my house first to put our luggage away, then I'll take you to eat something delicious!" Guan Bianyue said with a smile as she hailed a taxi.

Xu Qingfan sat in the passenger seat, while the four women sat in the back seat, chatting and laughing all the way.

Guan Bianyue's home is a three-story self-built house. It is estimated that all her family members are at work, as there is no one inside.

After settling their belongings, the four of them acted as tour guides, leading Zhong Wenqing around.

"These are the Guagreen lychee trees inside. Back in 02, one of the lychees in there was auctioned for 55.5 yuan!" Guan Bianyue pointed to the lychee trees surrounded by the circular lake and introduced them.

"What? Lychees cost 550,000? Are they made of gold?" Zhong Wenqing asked in surprise.

“People here say that the largest lychee tree was built by He Xiangu after she became an immortal. She missed the lychees in her hometown of Xiyuan, so she hung a green silk thread on the treetop. That’s why there’s a green thread on the lychees. Then it was auctioned for 55 yuan,” Guan Bianyue said.

Wu Lingyu and Xia Xiaoxiao were hearing these stories passed down orally for the first time, and they listened attentively.

"Have you ever tried it? How does it taste? Is it particularly delicious?" Zhong Wenqing asked subconsciously. As soon as she asked, she knew she had asked a pointless question. If it really cost 55 yuan a piece, how could they possibly have tried it?

"Nothing special, not as good as Guiwei, and the pit isn't as small either," Xu Qingfan replied.

"Have you eaten?" The four women all looked at him.

“Yes, you two have eaten them too. You forgot the lychees I brought back from a shop last year?” Xu Qingfan said, looking at Wu Lingyu and Xia Xiaoxiao.

"Huh?" The two covered their mouths in surprise, realizing they had unknowingly eaten several million.

"Brother Fanfan, why didn't you say so sooner!" Thinking about how she had eaten several million yuan worth of food, Wu Lingyu was so nervous that she could hardly speak.

"Hey~ what's the big deal? There are nine lychee trees here, producing over a thousand kilograms of lychees every year. They're meant for eating anyway. Someone just gave Aunt Zhang some. The 55 yuan is just a gimmick!" Xu Qingfan chuckled and patted Wu Lingyu's head.

He even asked Zhang Chunxue about this. It was true that a lychee was auctioned for a sky-high price of 02 yuan in 55.5, but that money was used to build primary schools for charity. The people who participated in the auction were either for fame or for profit; otherwise, they wouldn't be stupid enough to spend such a high price to buy just one lychee.

In a normal auction, a single piece could fetch a thousand dollars, which would be considered an astronomical price.

"By the way, let me tell you a little secret. Do you know who bought this lychee for 55.5 yuan?" Xu Qingfan asked meaningfully.

"You know that?" Guan Bianyue chuckled and patted Xu Qingfan's head. She, a dignified homeroom teacher, never expected to be lectured by her student one day.

"Who?" Xia Xiaoxiao asked curiously. Xu Qingfan didn't keep her in suspense and revealed, "It was Aunt Zhang who bought it. Later, that money was used to build a primary school. It was auctioned off for such a high price because it was for charity. It wouldn't normally cost that much!"

Xu Qingfan also knew that in a few years, the local government would distribute Guailv lychees to the citizens of Licheng for free, but he couldn't tell them about it.

"Oh, oh!" Everyone nodded vigorously.

"Now that you mention it, I really want to see her soon!" Zhong Wenqing leaned on the railing, gazing at the McDonald's lamppost in the distance.

"I made an appointment with Auntie tomorrow, Qingqing, please remember to be ready."

"Still don't believe me? Before coming here, I worked part-time at a duck neck shop for two weeks. I know the process inside and out!" Zhong Wenqing said proudly. "By the way, take me to try the duck neck you mentioned first to see if it's as delicious as you say!"

“Come on, Xiaoyu’s mom made it for me yesterday, it’s in my fridge.” Xu Qingfan nodded to Wu Lingyu.

“Yes, it’ll taste even better if you leave it overnight,” Wu Lingyu added.

The three little ones led the way, bringing Zhong Wenqing and Guan Bianyue to the Lotus Courtyard.

Because someone familiar with the area was leading the way, the dogs in the yard only glanced at the dogs before going back to napping.

After everyone was seated in Xu Qingfan's living room, he took out some braised food and fruit that were packed in a food storage container from the kitchen refrigerator.

"Excellent student, school-level excellent student, district-level excellent student, first in the grade in the mid-term exam and first in the final exam in 02, first prize in the Mathematical Olympiad." Zhong Wenqing stood up and looked at the certificates of merit covering half a wall in Xu Qingfan's living room. "Xiao Fan is amazing! He's always first in every exam!"

Xu Qingfan came out of the kitchen and said with a smile, "They were both first place too. I have some certificates here, and so do they."

Wu Lingyu was embarrassed and wanted to say that she wasn't always number one, but Zhong Wenqing had already chimed in: "No wonder the three of you went to Beijing to participate in the Mathematical Olympiad, you're really amazing!"

"Of course, look who my student is!" Guan Bianyue said with pride.

Xia Xiaoxiao was also very happy, feeling that Xu Qingfan was making her look good in public. "By the way, Sister Qingqing, wait here for me, I'll go home and get you your gifts!"

"Go home?" Zhong Wenqing and Guan Bianyue looked at Xia Xiaoxiao, who was rushing out, with a puzzled expression.

"Her house is right next door," Xu Qingfan said, pointing in the direction of Xia Xiaoxiao's house.

"Wow~ No wonder you two get along so well, I'm so envious!" Zhong Wenqing and Guan Bianyue exchanged a glance, feeling like they were shipping them!
Xia Xiaoxiao returned shortly after, handing the two identical photo albums to them. "These are photos we took in Yanjing!"

The first page of the photo album is a group photo they took under Tiananmen Square. Xia Xiaoxiao arranged the photos in reverse chronological order, and each photo evoked a story.

"Thank you, Xiaoxiao, the teacher loves the gift!" Guan Bianyue turned the pages with great delight.

"Wow~ So delicious!" Zhong Wenqing picked up a small piece of duck neck and put it in her mouth. After a while, she exclaimed in surprise.

Wu Lingyu was initially feeling guilty for not preparing a gift, but after seeing how much Zhong Wenqing enjoyed the duck neck her mother made, she suddenly felt relieved.

Suddenly, she no longer felt that her mother's profession was shameful, and confidently introduced, "Sister Qingqing, my mother's fried skewers are also very delicious. I'll take you to eat them later!"

"Okay!"

(End of this chapter)