Sent to the countryside, I turned the health center into a top-tier hospital.

Old Wang grabbed Chen Ping, pressed him into a chair, and handed him a bottle of beer with the cap already opened.

"I'm late, let's have a drink first," Old Wang said.

Chen Ping took it, didn't blow on it, took a sip, and put it down.

Old Wang didn't mind, he downed a bottle, burped, wiped his mouth, and began to say, "Chen Ping, Zhang Hao graduated and went to the provincial capital to work in engineering. He's made it big, now he's a big boss."

Zhang Hao smiled, raised his glass and clinked it against Chen Ping's, "What's the point of making money? I'm just trying to make a living."

Chen Ping drank it.

The group started chatting, reminiscing about their university days: who got caught cheating on exams, who was rejected by which girl they pursued, and who got drunk and sang all night downstairs in the dorm.

I've told these stories countless times, but I still laugh every time I bring them up, just like I did back then.

Old Liu told a joke about the counselor, who was the class monitor and therefore knew more than others.

Upon hearing this, Big Bear laughed so hard he collapsed onto the table, spilling beer all over his pants, but no one seemed to care.

Old Wang chugged another bottle, his face turned red, and his voice became even louder.

After a few rounds of drinks and two changes of the skewers on the table, the conversation gradually shifted from university to the present.

Old Liu said he was bored working at the district hospital, seeing patients with colds and fevers every day, and he wanted to switch departments but didn't know how.

Da Xiong said that it's not easy to run a pharmaceutical company anymore. Centralized procurement is driving down prices, profits are getting thinner and thinner, and he's running around doing business until his legs are about to give out.

Zhang Hao didn't talk much about himself, mostly listening to others talk, occasionally chiming in with a casual remark.

Old Wang opened another bottle of beer, poured one for Chen Ping, and one for himself.

He picked up his cup and looked at Chen Ping, his expression changing from a carefree laugh to a very serious look.

"Chen Ping, I have something to tell you."

Old Wang put down his cup, rubbed his hands together, and said, "You know, I've worked at that small company for several years, and I haven't made any progress."

I'm thinking of starting my own small medical device company this year, but I'm a little short on start-up capital—just 200,000 yuan. Could you help me out?

Chen Ping held his cup without saying a word, simply watching Lao Wang quietly.

Old Wang felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze, downed his drink in one gulp, and grinned.

Chen Ping put down his cup and asked, "Old Wang, you want to borrow money from me?"

"It's not a loan, it's a working capital arrangement," Old Wang quickly corrected, as if changing the word would make the whole thing different.

Chen Ping was deep in thought.

"Chen Ping, Lao Wang said you've found a girlfriend now. Her family is quite well-off. Her dad is a big boss who owns a company with assets of over 100 million. You asked your girlfriend for 200,000 yuan. That's not much to her family, is it?" Zhang Hao said.

Chen Ping looked at Lao Wang, but Lao Wang didn't dare to look at him. He poured himself another glass of wine, picked up the glass and drank it down. He drank too fast and choked, coughing twice.

"Old Wang, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Chen Ping frowned and raised his voice.

Old Wang put down his cup, wiped his mouth, and his expression changed several times before finally forcing a smile.

"I'm just happy for you. I wanted to share this with Zhang Hao: your girlfriend's family is really rich. Didn't you see them at the restaurant the other day? She was dressed in designer clothes, carrying an LV bag, and even her nanny drives a Mercedes."

Old Wang said with a smile.

Old Liu put down his wine glass, coughed, and continued the conversation.

"Chen Ping, I also have something to discuss. Could you give me some advice?"

My child will be starting elementary school next year, and I'd like to get into a better school, which requires paying a school selection fee.

My wife and I have been saving for over half a year, but we're still short 50,000 yuan. Could you lend me that amount first? It's not much, just 50,000 yuan.

Chen Ping turned to look at Lao Liu.

Old Liu felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze. He pushed up his glasses, smiled, and said, "Your girlfriend's family has a lot of connections. They can definitely talk to people in the Education Bureau. If it's inconvenient for you to lend me money, you can put in a good word for me."

Chen Ping looked at Lao Liu, but still didn't say anything, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Big Bear finished gnawing on the skewer of chicken wings, threw the bones onto the plate, wiped the grease from his mouth, and started eating.

His voice was muffled, as if it were coming from a bucket.

"Chen Ping, I also want to tell you something. My wife wants to open a beauty salon. She has found a shop, but she is short 100,000 yuan for the goods."

"Isn't your girlfriend's family in business? 100,000 yuan is just pocket change for them. Could you ask them for a favor? I'll treat you to drinks later."

Chen Ping then turned his gaze to the bear, his eyes filled with a hint of speechlessness.

Zhang Hao sat at the very back and didn't say much.

He twirled his phone in his hand several times before slowly speaking, "Chen Ping, I don't want to lend you money. My engineering company recently took on a project, and we're a bit short on cash.

"Isn't your girlfriend's dad the owner of a big company? Could you introduce me to him so he can invest some money in me? It doesn't have to be much, just a million or two, and we can split the profits."

Chen Ping sighed, leaned back in his chair, and looked at the people at the table.

Old Wang, Old Liu, Big Bear, Zhang Hao—four faces, four expressions, but what they see in their eyes is the same: the sense that "you have money, so you should help me."

Looking at the empty beer bottles and the mountain of skewers on the table, Chen Ping suddenly felt very tired.

It's not physical exhaustion, it's mental exhaustion.

He picked up his glass, took a sip of the wine, which was cold, but his throat felt a little burning as he drank it.

"You invited me for drinks just to borrow money?"

Chen Ping spoke, his expression revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Of course it's to catch up, but everyone has their own difficulties, and we can't compare to you," Old Wang said.

"Old Wang, we were bunk beds in college, and we were best friends."

"Do you remember when you spent all your money chasing after a girl, and you didn't even have money for food? In the end, I lent you 500 yuan, and you still haven't paid it back."

Chen Ping said calmly.

"Really? I'd forgotten. It was only five hundred yuan. You've remembered it for so many years?" Old Wang smiled awkwardly.

"Exactly, it's only five hundred yuan, why even mention it?" Old Liu chimed in.

"Old Liu, after graduation, when you got married, I couldn't be there in person, but I sent you a thousand yuan as a wedding gift, remember?"

Chen Ping looked at Lao Liu and asked.

"Really? I sent it to the whole class at the time, but I don't remember it very well," Lao Liu said, scratching his balding head.

"I'm getting married? I told you, but you completely ignored me. You didn't show up, and you didn't send any wedding money," Chen Ping said.

"Oh? Is that so? I forgot, I probably didn't notice. I can give you the money now."

As he spoke, Lao Liu picked up his phone, "But I'd really appreciate your help with my child's schooling. Whether it's money or connections, I'm not picky."

Chen Ping didn't take the phone, nor did he accept the thousand yuan wedding gift. Instead, he gave a wry smile and said, "I'm already divorced, why are you still giving me wedding gift money?"