```
"It seems both of you older brothers have stories to tell," Gu Tao said, his legs crossed and leaning against the large framework behind him. "So how did you end up like this?"
"The money for my college tuition was provided by my high school Chinese teacher, who sold his motorcycle to send me to school." Cao Jie's head rested against the barrier. "I studied desperately in college, earned scholarships every year, and got selected for a master's program without having to take exams. My girlfriend at the time was Gao Meili, whom I met while she was doing her graduate studies."
"That's a very era-evocative name," Gu Tao said as he pinched a fried small river fish and stuffed it into his mouth. "And then what happened?"
