I really didn't intend to make a living based on my looks.

Donglaishun Restaurant is located in the former Xindongan Market on Wangfujing Street, Dongcheng District.

This restaurant was founded in 1903 and is a century-old brand specializing in hot pot with mutton.

Jiang Chen walked and jogged over.

From Beijing Film Academy to Wangfujing, it's about ten kilometers. Go east along Chang'an Avenue, pass Tiananmen Square, and then Dongdan.

In 2010, getting around Beijing was not as convenient as it is now.

There are no shared bikes; neither ofo nor Mobike are present.

Public bicycles are only piloted in a very few areas such as Chaoyangmen Street. You have to go to the neighborhood committee to get a "credit card" first. The number of service points is pitifully small, which is practically the same as none.

Taking a taxi is an option, but Jiang Chen isn't in a hurry. He'd rather go for a run and eat more later.

The restaurant's exterior is an antique-style building with gray bricks and blue tiles, and a golden plaque with the words "Donglaishun Restaurant" hangs above the door, exuding the grandeur of a time-honored brand.

There were two large red lanterns at the entrance, and the waiters were dressed in dark red Chinese-style jackets with knotted buttons and slanted lapels, looking neat and efficient.

As soon as you enter, you can smell the aroma of charcoal and mutton, mixed with the rich flavor of sesame sauce, making your stomach rumble.

Jiang Chen went up to the second floor and pushed open the door to the private room.

Zhang Yisan had already arrived, wearing a gray hoodie, and was flipping through the menu with his legs crossed.

Seeing Jiang Chen come in, he didn't even get up to greet him: "Oh, Chen'er's here! I thought you couldn't find your way."

"I'm not bad at directions."

"That's hard to say. You Shandong people rely on pancakes rolled with scallions to find your way. Once you leave Shandong, you'll get lost."

Before Jiang Chen could retort, a crisp voice rang out from the side: "Little Chen, you're here!"

Yang Zi stood up from her chair. She was wearing a pink hooded sweatshirt, and her face looked rounder than during military training...

Jiang Chen glanced at her and sighed, "Zi-mei, could you please use a different way of addressing me? It's like I'm in the palace."

"What should I call you then?"

"Just call me by my name."

"Jiang Chen is too formal," Yang Zi tilted her head and thought for a moment, "Xiao Chenzi is better, it sounds more intimate."

Zhang Yisan sighed from the side, "Xiao Chenzi, just accept it. It's better than her calling me a shorty."

Yang Zi: "Grow taller before you talk to me!"

Jiang Chen pulled out a chair and sat down, pouring himself a cup of tea. "Alright, Little Chen it is. From now on, shall I call you Granny Zi?"

Yang Zi rolled her eyes at him.

Today is the first official gathering of the Yuanhun Gang, organized by Zhang Yisan. He said that we can't just say it's established; we have to have a good meal to celebrate.

No one was going to treat us, so we split the bill.

It's not that Zhang Yisan is stingy; these kinds of gatherings are easygoing because everyone splits the bill, no one has to worry about repaying favors, and everyone can eat with peace of mind.

A few more people are coming soon.

"Chen'er, let me tell you, this Donglaishun hot pot restaurant is one of the best in Beijing."

"The pot is a purple copper pot, the charcoal fire is red-hot, the soup base is clear, and there are only a few slices of ginger, a few pieces of scallion, and a few red dates."

"The mutton is sliced ​​as thin as paper, dipped in boiling water three times, and taken out as soon as the color changes. Dipped in sesame sauce, chive blossom sauce, and fermented bean curd sauce, it is tender and fresh, without any gamey taste."

Jiang Chen: "Then I'll have to eat a lot later."

"Of course, many restaurants there are just ripping off out-of-towners. Just ask me where to find good food in Beijing."

"For Peking duck, go to Quanjude, but the one at Hepingmen is better than the one at Qianmen. The one at Qianmen is a tourist trap. For braised pork offal, go to Menkuang Hutong, to Xiaochang Chen's place. The broth is rich and the intestines are cleaned thoroughly. For tripe, go to that small alley near Dongzhimen. The smaller the shop, the more authentic it is."

"Don't try douzhi (fermented mung bean juice), you Shandong people aren't used to it."

Jiang Chen laughed, "You seem to know everything. By the way, San'er, have you taken a liking to Bai Xue?"

Bai Xue was their classmate, and he was admitted with the highest score in his major nationwide.

This girl was later spotted by Zhang Yimou and played "Xianglan" in "The Flowers of War". She also played "Zhou Xiaohuan" in "The Legend of Chusen".

Zhang Yi and the other two were dumbfounded...

"Holy crap, how did you figure that out? It wasn't that obvious, was it?"

"You were drooling when you looked at her, wasn't that obvious?"

Yang Zi immediately ran from across the table to sit next to Jiang Chen, her eyes shining: "Tell me the details! When did you start eyeing her?"

"None of your business!"

"Tsk tsk tsk!" Yang Zi looked him up and down, then shook her head. "San'er, you're so short, you're not good enough for her."

Zhang Yisan got anxious. "Men are judged by their charisma, not their height! Napoleon was only 1.68 meters tall, yet he still conquered Europe!"

"You're Napoleon? You're more like a broken bowl."

"Yang Zi, are you looking for trouble?"

"So what if I'm picking a fight?"

Jiang Chen watched the two bickering, shook his head with a smile, picked up his teacup, and slowly took a sip: "Alright, alright, stop arguing. San'er, should this strategist lend a hand?"

Zhang Yisan turned his head, looked him up and down, his eyes full of suspicion: "You? Have you ever been in a relationship?"

"We haven't talked about it, but I have a lot of theoretical knowledge."

"Theory is useless."

"Theory guides practice, understand?" Jiang Chen leaned back in his chair, looking nonchalant. "Let me give you some advice: don't rush into dating, be friends with her first."

Yang Zi nodded in agreement: "Yes, Xiao Chenzi is right. Let's start as friends."

Zhang Yisan listened more attentively: "And then?"

"Then..." Jiang Chen paused, "you can see if her friends are prettier than her."

Yang Zi: "???"

Zhang Yisan: "..."

"Are you giving me advice or setting a trap for me? But I really need your help, Chen'er. Could you find out for me when you have time, and see if she has a boyfriend?"

Jiang Chen: "Actually, I don't think this has any impact."

Zhang Yi was taken aback: "Why?"

"Girls with boyfriends are the easiest to pursue, because you only have one competitor."

"Besides, you don't need to ask her if she's single. If she likes you, then she's single."

Zhang Yisan's eyes widened in astonishment.

This is pure beast... no... my ancestor...

"Pah, Xiao Chenzi, you scumbag!"

Yang Zi, who was listening nearby, couldn't stand it anymore and grabbed a peanut, throwing it at Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen caught the peanut, peeled it, and threw it into his mouth: "Just kidding, just trying to lighten the mood."

"By the way, Zimei, is He Peng from that crosstalk class still pursuing you? I see him driving a sports car waiting for you after school every day?"

Yang Zi was startled: "Who told you that?"

"Does anyone even need to tell? There are so many people watching at the school gate. An Audi TT is parked there every day; who doesn't know?"

Zhang Yisan chimed in, "Zimei doesn't like it? Then let's go beat him up after school. Chen'er looks like he can take him down."

Yang Zi blushed slightly, and her voice lowered a few decibels: "...I didn't say I didn't like it. Ugh, you guys are so annoying!"

Zhang Yisan and Jiang Chen exchanged a glance and laughed at the same time.

A knocking sound suddenly rang out.

The door opened, and a boy walked in.

He was tall and thin, with regular features, a kind of honest and heroic air about him, and dark skin. He was wearing a dark blue polo shirt and looked very down-to-earth and handsome.