Da Fei woke up laughing the next morning at 9 a.m., suddenly remembering it was the day his little sister, Little Li, was coming home for the holiday. There wasn't much time left, he hurried to the station to see her off, her train seemed to be around noon.
Da Fei didn't even have time for breakfast and went straight to the station by subway. Although the Spring Festival travel rush hadn't started yet, the station was still as crowded as ever. After asking around, he quickly found out which train it was and searched for her in the sea of people in the waiting hall.
Then, something caught his eye—a pair of curvy, sensuous, warmly clad black silk stocking-clad legs, a pair of high-heeled white leather boots, and a black wool mini skirt. Nice legs, nice skirt! Glancing up, a white down jacket with a pink scarf bundled around it, topped with a ponytail of pure modesty—one look and there she was! No doubt about it, my sis can turn street knockoffs into supermodel looks! Whether it's her studies or her appearance, she loses to no one. The saying goes, freshman year humble, sophomore year pretty, junior year proud, by senior year rich bosses are vying to get them!
At that moment, she was laughing and chatting with a tall boy beside her, who was wearing only a shirt and a wool sweater.
Da Fei's face darkened, sure enough it was that poor pretty-boy! Skilled in sweet talk and flattery, if you have the skills and means, go seduce a rich lady or a beauty, don't hold back my Little Li's future! Brother rarely intervenes, but today I have to make things clear.
Da Fei, with a stern face, squeezed through the crowd and called out, "Little Li!"
The girl turned around in surprise: "Bro! Didn't I tell you not to come?"
The tall, handsome boy quickly bowed and greeted, "Hello, big brother!"
Da Fei scowled, "Who's your big brother!" Anyone else calling Da Fei 'big brother' would make him ridiculously happy, except for this guy!
Little Li glared: "What are you saying, bro? Da Wei is just a friend! He specifically came to help me with my luggage today. By the way, why are your eyes so dark? Did you stay up late?"
Humph! Just you wait, I'll deal with you later!
Da Fei offered a faint smile, "Been working night shifts for two days, not feeling the best, intended to have you bring some stuff back home, but it's inconvenient for you as a girl to carry stuff, so never mind." Actually, he had rushed over and forgotten. As for mentioning being a professional gamer, Da Fei dared not mention it; the disapproval he faced from his family back when he was crazy about gaming was unbearable.
Little Li sighed, "Bro, take care, don't work yourself too hard."
Damn! When is she ever this gentle to me? Clearly, she's trying to show this Da Wei she's a good wife and mother! The relationship has progressed this far! I won't let you two get together over my dead body!
Da Fei shook his head, meaningfully saying, "To be a man, you have to struggle hard and earn a lot, otherwise not only will women look down on you, even dogs won't spare you a glance." After saying this, Da Fei glanced sideways, sure enough, the pretty boy looked disheartened. Damn it, even you know you're broke? As a tall but poor pretty boy, do you need me to teach you what to do?
Of course, Little Li caught the drift in Da Fei's words and immediately retorted, "Money is endless, not all women just look at money! Big brother, you need to change your mindset and win people over with sincerity. What mom and dad worry about most is your marriage."
Crap! The cheek of this little girl to lecture me in front of others! Damn, women don't look at money? There are such good women only in our house with Little Li! I definitely won't let such a poor guy benefit!
Da Fei chuckled, "Don't worry, bro's luck is turning around, it won't be long before I strike it rich."
Little Li questioned, "Really? Just don't tell me you're going into pyramid schemes!"
Da Fei quickly shook his head, "Absolutely not! Totally lawful! I've joined a big boss now, my salary could increase to at least twenty thousand a month!" Humph, the big boss is actually the Chinese representative of Heroic Creation Era. Bro fears if I said 200,000 a month, you'd pee your pants thinking I've joined some shady business.
Little Li laughed, "That's great then, big bro, you must work hard."
Damn it! What I hate most is hearing a woman say you must work hard! Like men don't want to?
So, Da Fei and Little Li chitchatted about various relatives like the auntie-in-law, the second uncle, the third aunt, and the fourth great-uncle—family members they seldom discussed before, all the while deliberately leaving Da Wei out.
Finally, the station's loudspeaker rang, it was time to board.
Da Wei finally found his chance and hastily moved to lift the luggage.
Pssh, who do you think you are to me? Da Fei immediately stepped forward and grabbed the luggage, "No need for you, I got this!"
Da Wei protested, "No, no, let me do it!"
Da Fei forcibly snatched it back: "I said I'll handle it!" Goddamn! It's quite heavy and hard, is it books? Bringing books for the holidays, that's just torturing me who hasn't had breakfast...
As the train departed, Da Fei and Da Wei waved goodbye to Little Li from the platform. Although they couldn't hear what she was saying from behind the window, her mouth shape didn't seem to say "goodbye." Maybe it was "don't fight"? Damn, I skipped breakfast, was tired from carrying the backpack in line earlier, my waist and legs sore, let's give him a pass this time.
Da Fei pulled out a cigarette and offered one, Da Wei hurriedly gestured, "Big brother, I don't smoke."
Pssh! How does a man survive in this world without smoking? No ambition!
Da Fei tilted his head, lit the cigarette with an air of indifference, took a deep drag, then moved his hand holding the cigarette aside, striking a classic Zhou Runfa pose and exhaled a sharp puff of smoke like a sword—it was a move Da Fei had perfected! Kid, ever seen this? This is how you pose, a man must show off or else he gets bullied outside!
Just then, a station worker with a red armband rushed over furiously pointing at the non-smoking sign on the wall: "No smoking here! Can't you read the sign? There's a fine of 20 yuan!"
Damn it, ruining my buzz! You don't smoke, huh? Then have a drink!
Sending away the incessant old lady, Da Fei shook his head: "Let's go, time for lunch."
Da Wei hurriedly said: "Oh, yes, sure."
Psh, no class at all, the type who'd definitely get played by others if he went out. Sure, many students are like this, timid and reserved at school, but stepping into society is like a rookie entering a battlefield; one wrong step and you're done before you even know what's happening. You get trampled underfoot for ten, twenty years maybe, unable to turn things around! How could Little Li ever be with someone like you.
...
At the little tavern near the bus station. Da Fei ordered three small dishes and two small bottles of liquor.
Da Wei quickly waved his hands: "Big brother, I-I don't drink! Our track and field team isn't allowed to drink."
Psh, track and field? You think you can run like Liu Xiang? You don't drink either, what use are you! You really think this is some high society cocktail party? That's not what rookies like you should worry about! Barely understanding the culture of Chinese drinking gatherings and thinking of climbing up from the bottom? Brother Tian has marked you for death; a brother is as a father, and I will never let you be with Little Li.
Da Fei took a sip of whiskey, sighing deeply: "Actually, I think you are not bad, your character is decent, but what's the premise of your relationship with Little Li? Just for fun, and at graduation you go your separate ways? Or marriage?"
Da Wei hurriedly responded: "Of course, marriage! I am a local, I won't leave!"
Crap! Marriage! How dare you even say that? Do you know how much it costs to get married? But with Little Li's character, maybe she'd agree to a simple non-materialistic marriage? DAMN! That absolutely cannot happen!
Da Fei's eyelids twitched, his gaze sharp: "Our family is very poor, my parents' health isn't good either, and the financial burden is heavy. I'm not very capable as the eldest brother, have you considered these issues?"
Da Wei eagerly replied: "I know, Big Brother, you have it tough, and Little Li told me about it. No matter the hardship, I will definitely stand with Little Li—"
Dammit, Brother Tian hates those sappy romance dramas that poison the youth; watching more historic palace dramas would be better for your growth!
Da Fei, running out of patience, waved his hand cutting him off: "You'll graduate in a year, right? Tell me, what are your plans after graduation?"
Da Wei replied: "I am considering civil service."
Da Fei shook his head coldly: "Forget the civil service. An average clerk in our city might earn just barely over ten thousand a month, it's hardly better than me laboring in construction and water delivery. How will you buy a house with that kind of income? How will you support a family? You have parents too, right? How will you support them? Don't even mention promotions, newcomers can't hope for one for a decade! You're not expecting Little Li to wait for you for ten years, are you?"
Da Wei was taken aback: "I—I…"
Da Fei continued to interrupt: "I have many classmates and friends who are going through divorces, and the reason is simple: they don't get along! Bullshit 'don't get along'; they just despise their husbands for having no money and being incapable. They knew what they were getting into, so why bother in the first place?"
Da Wei quickly argued: "Little Li is not that kind of woman!"
Nonsense! My Little Li certainly isn't that type of woman! Brother is worried you'll embarrass yourself outside and come home to vent your frustrations on your wife! How could such a rare and good woman marry a useless man and suffer?
Da Fei stated sternly: "I'll just say it straight—You have one year, which is until you graduate, to make 300,000 yuan, just enough for a down payment on a house here, that's the bare minimum requirement. I'm not being difficult, remember other women would straight up demand a car, a house, and a bank savings; I'm only asking for a down payment! If you can't handle this, I don't want to see you. And don't even think about borrowing from relatives; I won't let Little Li marry some incapable debt-ridden fool."
Da Wei exclaimed: "Earn 300,000 in one year! But... I still have classes in my senior year..."
Da Fei disdainfully said: "What's the use of those Classes? The economy is down, you undergrads are less in demand than vocational school grads with a trade. Anyway, Brother's said his piece, it's up to you now!"
Have the guts to shout not to underestimate the poor? If Brother had your physique, even just moving bricks for a year would earn 100,000. If Brother had your looks, being a gigolo for a year would bring in a million! You think you can just win the beauty with just a mouthful of sweet nothings without facing real life challenges? Dream on!
For a while, Da Wei couldn't swallow his food, and Da Fei was drowning his sorrows with drink after drink, and thus the meal ended gloomily without joy.
On the way home, Da Fei also felt extremely uncomfortable. Little Li would definitely be furious when she learns of this, wouldn't she? Wouldn't this unloved elder brother become even more disliked?
Psh! Whether it's being a villain, or a gold-digger, Brother will accept it! Brother is just this realistic, just this opportunistic! Hasn't Brother seen enough, suffered enough, witnessed enough?
...
Da Wei absentmindedly returned to his dorm, and as he passed the school store, suddenly remembered something, turned back to buy a pack of cigarettes, and then sat in the dorm hacking and tearing up while smoking one cigarette after another. This was the first time he had smoked, chain-smoking one after another.
After a long while, the dorm room door opened. His roommate Da Bing burst in cheerfully carrying a big box, smelled the full room of smoke, and was shocked: "Wow, Brother Wei is smoking? Heartbroken?"
Da Wei irritably responded: "Beat it! What's that you've got?"
Da Bing laughed: "You wouldn't understand if I told you, it's the hottest thing globally! It can make you rich overnight! I'm not going back this winter break!"
Da Wei was taken aback: "Get rich overnight?"