Back to the teenage years

Chapter 607 is not very good.
Zhang Yunqi's arrest is big news.

The question is, what happens if they're arrested and taken to the police station?

He drank good tea and smoked good cigarettes. In less than an hour, Liao Zhiguo personally saw him off in a kind and courteous manner.

Before leaving, Liao Zhiguo felt very apologetic and kept holding Zhang Yunqi's hand, saying, "Mr. Zhang, I'm really sorry for today. I know you're busy, so I won't keep you any longer. You're welcome to come again anytime."

Zhang Yunqi took a taxi home.

The car was playing a talk show and song request program on Hunan Traffic Radio FM91.8.

The host was the later-famous Ms. Chai Jing.

On the radio, she was connecting with a listener who said, "Host, I just found a wallet with more than 500 yuan in it outside McDonald's."

Chai Jing immediately said, "This kind listener's act of returning the lost money is truly touching. Please leave your contact information. Rest assured, we will help you find the owner as soon as possible."

The listener quickly said, "No, no, no, I just want to request a song, Xie Xiaodong's 'I'm Happy Today,' to express my current mood."

We ordinary people are really, really happy today.

We ordinary people are really, really happy today.

We ordinary people are really, really happy today.

We ordinary people are really, really happy today.

……

Amid the cheerful atmosphere of this song, which had been featured on the 1995 CCTV Spring Festival Gala, Zhang Yunqi returned to the South Gate Villa.

As he entered, he smelled the rich aroma of food.

It was cooked by Zhao Yihan.

The two girls, Ji Ling and Zhao Yihan, were still busy in the kitchen. Ji Ling was tiptoeing to take a plate from the cabinet, her neat short hair swaying. Zhao Yihan was wearing an apron, holding the pot handle with her left hand, and with a flick of her right wrist, the food in the pot drew a half-arc in the air and then fell steadily into the pot with a "whoosh".

Zhang Yunqi leaned against the door frame: "Not bad, Master Zhao."

Zhao Yihan didn't even turn his head: "That's right, we're going home now. Remember to eat more later."

Ji Ling turned her head, her nose covered in flour, her bright black and white eyes sparkling: "She insisted on showing off her skills, and started preparing the dishes as soon as she arrived this morning."

The food was placed in the gazebo in the front courtyard.

The meal consisted of four dishes and a soup: Kung Pao Chicken, Boiled Beef, Taro Stewed with Pork Ribs, Steamed Sea Bass, and a Loofah and Pork Soup.

Three sets of bowls and chopsticks, a very generous spread.

The rain hadn't stopped yet, but it had eased.

Fine, dense rain slanted into the eaves of the pavilion, splashing like shattered jade on the stone steps. In the distance, the woods rustled, and nearby, raindrops dripped in strings from the eaves. The clear, melodious laughter of two girls drifted on the wind.

Peaceful and cozy, life is wonderful.

＊＊＊＊＊＊
Xu Kai is probably the one who isn't feeling great right now.

The previous report in Xiaoxiang Evening News had already sparked continuous discussion on the streets, and the city quickly established a joint investigation team to address the concerns.

Now, the Qingwu Commercial Pedestrian Street on Huangxing South Road, the largest key project in Lijin City, has been rocked by another bombshell: a street brawl between two shareholders, a court ruling and a lock-changing dispute, the inside story of the sale of prime shops on Qingwu Street at a 90% discount, and the reasons why Hong Kong businessman Liu Mingde is cutting his losses and leaving the company. All sorts of rumors, true and false, are like adding gasoline to a bonfire, or giving someone with diarrhea croton oil—the situation is getting out of control and can't be contained at all.

Under these circumstances, the issue of whether or not the Qingwu Commercial Pedestrian Street on Huangxing South Road should be opened is no longer one of whether or not it should be opened, but rather how to quell public opinion, give a satisfactory explanation to the higher authorities, and give a satisfactory result to the citizens of Lijin.

Yang Jiarong reacted extremely quickly.

First, he informed the Publicity Department, requesting that, under the premise of complying with laws and regulations, information should be kept flowing smoothly and that they should actively cooperate with legitimate interviews by provincial and higher-level media, setting the tone and not covering up or creating obstacles!
This matter drew a response from Lu Feng.

But it didn't work.

Because the publicity was originally under Yang Jiarong's jurisdiction.

Secondly, he convened an emergency expanded meeting of the Leading Group for Financial and Economic Work late that night.

At the meeting, Xu Kai was the first to speak out, demanding that the joint investigation team thoroughly investigate Zhang Yunqi and his United Times Group's acquisition of Jinzhao Industrial's shares, and whether there were any illegal or irregular activities in this operation. At the same time, citing the need to safeguard key projects, he characterized the lock-changing incident as disrupting production and operations, demanding that the disciplinary committee seriously investigate and punish it.

Ji Zhong only replied with one sentence: "When did Comrade Xu Kai become authorized to make direct decisions on such important issues?"

Xu Kai was so angry that his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys felt like they were about to explode.

He slammed his fist on the table and demanded, "Comrade Ji Zhong, I have a question for you. Why did you release Zhang Yunqi in less than an hour?"

Ji Zhong stubbed out his cigarette and said, "Comrade Xu Kai, please speak with facts and evidence! First, Zhang Yunqi cooperated with the investigation voluntarily and left normally after the investigation was completed. This is not because anyone let him go; besides the law, no one can or dares to let him go."

Ji Zhong continued, "Secondly, based on the preliminary investigation, we will definitely deal with the individuals involved in the fight on Qingwu Street seriously in accordance with the law. However, there is currently no actual evidence pointing to Zhang Yunqi's personal involvement in the crime of provoking trouble, so it does not meet the conditions for filing a case, and we cannot continue to restrict his personal freedom. When handling cases, our public security organs must not only resolutely crack down on illegal acts, but also protect the legitimate rights of every citizen. This is a basic requirement of the Criminal Procedure Law."

He paused, then delivered a fatal blow to Xu Kai: "On the contrary, Comrade Xu Kai, before the joint investigation team had reached a conclusion and before the complete legal procedures had been completed, presumably defined the nature of the matter and even bypassed the investigating authorities to directly demand coercive measures against the entrepreneurs involved. Is this in accordance with procedures? Does it reflect the principles of seeking truth from facts and being prudent and impartial?"

Xu Kai was so speechless by these words that his face turned pale.

Silence fell in the meeting room, but this was what Yang Jiarong wanted.

He didn't even look at Lu Feng, who was resting with his eyes closed, and went straight to making his final summary.

Though brief, his words carried immense weight: "Comrades, I reiterate, attracting investment is not a dinner party. A key project involving hundreds of millions in investment and vital to people's livelihoods has now deteriorated into a situation where shareholders are fighting in the street and assets are suspected of being siphoned off. This has a very negative impact. Before the street opens, the problems exposed here must be thoroughly investigated and rectified! Otherwise, if Qingwu Street collapses today, Lijin's business reputation will be ruined tomorrow!"

This meeting essentially set the tone for the Qingwu Commercial Pedestrian Street on Huangxing South Road. Its opening will be postponed until the facts are investigated and an explanation is given to the residents of Lijin.
This was expected, according to Zhang Yunqi.

Isn't this the reason he made such a big fuss?
It wasn't him who was in a rush to open the street; it was Xu Kai and Lu Yuanzhou. Needless to say, Zhang Yunqi knew very well that if Lu Yuanzhou couldn't quickly resell the exorbitantly priced shops he held, he would definitely face corresponding cash flow pressure in the Xiangtai Pharmaceutical restructuring and acquisition case. Lu Yuanzhou was now unable to stop.

He holds a significant stake in Xiangtai Pharmaceutical, and restructuring is imminent. Compared to Qingwu Commercial Pedestrian Street, this is a capital game that requires continuous, substantial investment to drive up prices! But now, time is on his side.

Life returned to normal.

Life is mostly filled with mundane, trivial matters.

In the blink of an eye, it's exam season again.

The students at Xiangtan University, who had been fattening up for more than three months, now had to work as hard as vendors at the market. Zhang Yunqi, who had barely attended any classes this semester, also had to put in the effort.

He didn't want to fail all his exams later; not only would it be embarrassing, but he'd also let Jiang Ruqin down. Besides, he still had Professor Li Weimin's research project to complete, followed by a presentation defense. Giving up so much in just one month was a bit much, but thankfully his expectations weren't high—60 points would be enough.

One night, after studying until midnight, a group of us from the dormitory went to a street known for its decadent atmosphere for a late-night snack.

In the 90s, the Fallen Street in summer was the most vibrant and down-to-earth place in the entire Yuelu area. The long, narrow alley was crowded with food stalls, video arcades, karaoke bars, skating rinks, and open-air barbecue stands. The overhead wires were crisscrossed like a spider web, and the streets were bustling with people. Girls wore brightly colored dresses, and boys wore plastic sandals.

On his way to Yang Pangzi's food stall, Zhang Yunqi saw a small open-air stage surrounded by a crowd of people. Baisha Beer was having a summer promotion on Fallen Street that night.

There were several young girls on stage, barely clothed, heavily made up, and wearing high heels. They were striking poses to Richie Jen's "Too Softhearted" and throwing cheesy kisses at the students and migrant workers who were cheering in the audience.

Ma Rulong was particularly fond of this and watched it with great interest.

He Lin couldn't stand the smell of cheap perfume mixed with roasted chili peppers in the air, so he dragged Ma Rulong away quickly. Ma Rulong kept looking back reluctantly, which made Jin Shengze a little confused: "Careless Ma, there are plenty of pretty girls at school, are these things really that attractive?"

Ma Rulong scoffed, "Your level of understanding is too low, isn't it?"

Zhang Yunqi said, "How does this have to do with cultivation level?"

Ma Rulong stated logically, "First of all, these girls are putting so much effort into showing me this, trying to please me. They don't cheat me out of money, they don't deceive me emotionally, and they don't look down on me because I'm poor. Isn't that a noble act? No one in school is willing to show us this! But these strangers are willing to show us this. What is this called? Bringing warmth to the underprivileged, a light of redemption in the darkness! It's like the spring breeze sending away passersby, and the stars gifting the Milky Way!"

At this point, Ma Rulong didn't forget to turn back and wave to the group of girls on stage, saying loudly, "Girls, don't worry, I won't just watch for nothing! I wish you good health and regular periods."

The people in dormitory 213 scattered and fled.

Ma Rulong, that big idiot, was left alone, his heart fluttering in the night breeze.

Zhang Yunqi already sensed that Ma Rulong's mind was becoming a bit off due to his obsession with women. Good heavens! If you don't send a nun to take this guy away soon, world peace will be a long way off.

The six brothers went to Yang Pangzi's food stall for a late-night snack.

They set up a plastic shed by the roadside, ordered a bunch of late-night snacks, enjoyed the warm summer breeze, drank and chatted, and every three sentences of their conversation inevitably involved women, but this was the essence of youth.

Zhang Yunqi chatted with them, still feeling comfortable with this carefree college life. He didn't know how much time had passed, but he was already slightly tipsy when he suddenly heard someone calling his name. His gaze unconsciously swept over the swaying curtain of the plastic tent, and then he froze.

Ma Rulong and the others followed Zhang Yunqi's gaze.

Beneath the night market, colorful lights intertwine, pedestrians surge, and a girl stands in a warm halo of light.

The girl had distinct features and long, cloud-like hair with a silver hair clip hanging from the ends. Beneath her pale purple pleated skirt were a pair of slender, long legs. Her delicate and soft body seemed to carry the scent of sunshine and the moisture of dew.

In fact, compared to Chu Jian and Ji Ling, Li Yufei and Zhang Yunqi's roommates rarely interacted. The only time they met was during military training last year when Li Yufei came to Xiangtan University to find Zhang Yunqi. However, at that time, this girl with top-notch looks and temperament directly called Zhang Yunqi away without saying hello to them.

Later, when the girl's advertisements were displayed all over the streets and alleys of Rijin City, they learned who she was.

There's a saying that goes, "The flowers of Normal University, the grass of Hunan University, and the monks of the University of Technology are everywhere." And this girl is precisely the most dazzling flower among all the blooms at Normal University.

Jin Shengze sat next to Zhang Yunqi, subtly shifting half a body distance away.

Li Yufei sat down next to Zhang Yunqi: "Aren't you going to introduce us?"

Zhang Yun nodded: "Li Yufei is a classmate I've known since high school. These are all my college roommates."

Li Yufei smiled and said, "Hello everyone, it's nice to meet you all."

The guys present nodded quickly and said yes.

Zhou Dingchuan, always observant, clearly noticed that after Li Yufei arrived, the students eating barbecue at the surrounding tables became quieter, and their gazes were constantly drawn to her. The girl had an exceptional aura, a natural air of aloofness, but her smile was even more beautiful.

Zhang Yunqi asked, "Is there anything you'd like to eat?"

Li Yufei turned her head: "Don't you know?"

While Ma Rulong was still dumbfounded, Zhang Yunqi scratched his head and said to the boss, "Fatty Yang, give me a skewer of grilled green beans, less spicy. A sweet corn, don't put too much sauce on it. A can of herbal tea, warm."

Li Yufei smiled slightly and looked at the several boys opposite her who had obviously become reserved: "Your name is Jin Shengze, right?"

Jin Shengze nodded with a smile and casually said, "Yes, Mr. Zhang told you, right? Did he say anything bad about me?"

Li Yufei smiled and said, "I didn't say anything bad about you. I just said you're handsome, have a gentle personality, and are very generous to your friends. You're always willing to help your roommates with any problems they have. By the way, you're also his running buddy, and you run with him every day."

Jin Shengze was clearly taken aback for a moment, then waved his hand and laughed, "Boss Zhang, you're praising me so much that I'm embarrassed. He does run, but he's been slacking off lately."

The atmosphere at the table immediately relaxed. At first glance, the girl was stunningly beautiful, but after getting to know her, she spoke with grace and poise, which made her quite likable.

“Um, Yufei,” Song Junxian’s voice broke in. This usually quiet guy suddenly blurted out a rather abrupt question: “Um, your roommate… how’s she doing lately?”

Li Yufei glanced at Song Junxian: "Not very good."

Song Junxian nodded, and Zhang Yunqi added casually, "That's good."

******