From humble beginnings to the pinnacle of life

As he ate with gusto, Luo Peng was covered in sweat, but his mouth never stopped:

"Anyway, I'm determined to follow Brother Ye from now on! When your company is up and running, don't forget your brother. Just give me a manager position, and I'll get to experience what it's like to be an official."

A-Qiu laughed and tossed a piece of potato into his bowl: "You little rascal, you've got quite the dream."

"So what if I'm dreaming?" Luo Peng retorted, "Following Brother Ye, dreams can come true! I've decided on Lin Ye for life, and no one can change my mind."

Chen Yunqing, who was standing to the side, couldn't stand it anymore. She put a large piece of tender beef into his bowl and said softly, "Hurry up and eat yours. The food can't shut you up."

Seeing Chen Yunqing serve him food, Luo Peng beamed with joy, his eyes glued to her.

"Qing'er still loves me the most, knowing I love beef. Thank you, Qing'er."

We exchanged glances and all made disgusted faces.

Luo Peng didn't care at all, staring at Chen Yunqing the whole time, his eyes practically sparkling.

Chen Yunqing was already introverted, and when he said it so bluntly in public, the tips of her ears turned red instantly. She lowered her head and picked at the food in her bowl, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Fortunately, the burst of laughter that filled the room gently covered up the slight embarrassment.

The red broth bubbled and boiled in the pot, the steam carrying the aroma of numbing spiciness rising upwards, warming one's eyes.

Outside the window, the road is bustling with traffic, and the headlights of cars form a continuous river.

Inside the private room, we were making a lot of noise; life was peaceful yet vibrant.

Amidst this lively and bustling atmosphere, I suddenly understood.

I climbed up with all my might, desperately trying to tear down that invisible barrier between social classes.

It's not about saving face, nor is it about slapping anyone in the face.

I just want the people I love and the brothers who stand shoulder to shoulder with me to be like this in the future.

Let's sit around a table, enjoying a lively and peaceful meal.

You don't need to worry about anyone's attitude or anyone trying to trip you up.

……

After several rounds of drinks and five courses of food,

I can't remember how many glasses I drank, I just felt my head was lightheaded and the alcohol was rushing up my head through my veins.

Luo Peng was even more drunk than me; his tongue was slurred and his speech was becoming incoherent.

Under the table, Su Qing quietly reached out and gently took my hand, asking softly, "Are you alright? Don't force yourself if you're not."

I turned my head, leaned close to her ear, and said, "A man can't say no."

She immediately pinched my thigh lightly, rolled her eyes at me, and said:

"Really? Then when we get back, I'll see just how capable you are."

"Let's give it a try. Last time I wasn't in good form. Tonight... tonight I'll show you what I'm made of."

I got a little tipsy and started talking nonsense.

Su Qing chuckled, then quickly pinched me and whispered, "Keep your voice down!"

Luo Peng, with his sharp ears, still caught a few fragmented words. He groggily raised his head, his eyes unfocused:

"What? What have you seen? Who...who's better? I, Luo...I, Luo, refuse to accept this!"

A-Qiu handed him a cup of warm tea, both amused and annoyed: "Hurry up and drink some tea to sober up, don't embarrass yourself here."

Luo Peng waved his hand so forcefully it made him stagger: "This...this is nothing! My drinking capacity, Brother Ye...Brother Ye knows best!"

A Qiu shook her head helplessly and pushed the teacup towards him again: "Yes, yes, you have the best alcohol tolerance in the world. Drink some tea to moisten your throat first, or you'll just fall flat on your face and make a fool of yourself."

"No...it can't be that bad!"

Luo Peng stiffened his neck and tried to stand up to prove that he wasn't drunk.

As soon as he got up, he swayed three times and his body tilted to the side, almost falling over.

Chen Yunqing reacted quickly and reached out to support his arm.

"Sit down quickly, don't try to be brave," she said softly.

Upon hearing Chen Yunqing's voice, Luo Peng immediately softened, grinning foolishly as he moved closer to her, his tongue practically curling up:

"Qing'er... I really didn't drink much, I'm just... just happy, really happy..."

No one stopped him, and fueled by alcohol, he continued muttering:

"You...you have no idea how difficult it has been for Brother Ye all this time..."

"I've known him the longest, I... I know him best. He has a sick mother, and he lost his father when he was young. He has to shoulder everything on his own."

"Before... before, when we were delivering food, we would work eleven or twelve hours a day and we would be exhausted like dogs... But Brother Lin, he worked fourteen or fifteen hours a day, and he wouldn't stop even when it was pouring rain."

"We all tried to persuade him, but he said... he couldn't stop. If he stopped, his mother... wouldn't have any money for medical treatment."

He sighed heavily at this point, his head drooping.

Strangely, no one interrupted him.

The private room suddenly fell silent, with only the soft bubbling of the hot pot broth.

He seemed to have been holding it in for too long and had to get it off his chest, so he continued, mumbling:

"Actually, Brother Lin is very... very smart. We all like to work with him. He can use his brain and solve problems."

"What a pity... All of us friends feel sorry for him. If he could have gone to university, he would definitely be much better than he is now."

"Really... I, Luo Peng, have never admired many people in my life, but... Lin Ye is one, the only one."

After saying that, he seemed completely deflated.

His head slumped onto the edge of the table with a thud, and he kept humming and mumbling, the sound becoming increasingly indistinct.

He was completely drunk.

Under the table, Su Qing's hand was tightly holding mine.

It was as if she wanted to transfer her strength to me little by little in this way.

Seeing that the atmosphere was getting a bit heavy, I quickly chuckled and waved my hand around the room:

"Don't listen to this kid's drunken nonsense. I'm doing just fine. With you guys as my brothers, I'm living the good life."

Ah Qiu immediately chimed in, laughing and trying to smooth things over: "Exactly! Let's live for today, why think so much? Let's drink!"

The atmosphere gradually relaxed again, but without Luo Peng, the chatterbox, it felt like something was missing in the private room.

Fortunately, Ah Qiu was there to keep the conversation going, so it wasn't awkward.

My head felt heavy, and the effects of the alcohol were building up.

But I was genuinely happy.

This kind of lively and reassuring feeling is something I never dared to imagine before.

Before, after work, there was only cold wind and empty streets, and not even a single person to sit down and share a bowl of hot noodles with.

The meal lasted until 10:30 p.m., and it was about time to call it a night.

I called the waiter in and paid the bill. Looking at Luo Peng, who was fast asleep on the table, A Qiu came over and said to me:

"Lin Ye, do you know where this kid lives? I'll take him home later."

Before I could speak, Chen Yunqing interjected, "Just help me get him into the car, I'll take him home. You've all had quite a bit to drink, and it's getting late."

We all knew what Luo Peng was thinking, so since Chen Yunqing took the initiative to speak, A Qiu didn't argue anymore.

So Qiu and I each grabbed one of his arms and carried the completely drunk Luo Peng out of the hot pot restaurant.