Zhou Yuwen lay on the small bed in the bedroom.
His head was a bit fuzzy.
Yesterday, he unexpectedly met this group of brats, and they drank quite heartily.
Using his thirty-year-old perspective, Zhou Yuwen earnestly advised them, urging them to buy a house as soon as possible. Don't aim for immediate success; if you can afford a big city, never settle for a small one. If you can buy in the city center, never settle for the suburbs. Even if you have to scrape together every last penny, buy a house. Better to suffer a little loss than be deceived.
Today, invest in shops; tomorrow, secure the future for three generations.
Today, you might be struggling, but tomorrow, you'll be the second generation of wealth.
Zhou Yuwen really spoke with heartfelt sincerity, but these rascals surprisingly thought he was crazy, joking that he must be drunk from being rejected by Su Qianqian. They mocked him, saying, "Old Zhou, you're definitely drunk."
"It's okay, bro, I understand you. In this world, there are plenty of fish in the sea. Besides, Su Qianqian didn't exactly deny you a chance. Worst-case scenario, you can repeat this year and try again next year."
"This Old Zhou must be drunk. With housing prices so high, how could they possibly rise again!"
Last night, in a daze, Zhou Yuwen heard someone say something like that.
Angered, Zhou Yuwen couldn't help but curse out loud, "Idiot!"
"Eww~!"
He spat everything out into the room, instantly feeling relieved! Zhou Yuwen quickly wiped his mouth and opened his eyes to find himself in his mom's two-bedroom apartment.
On the wall hung stickers of Dragon Ball Z that he bought for two bucks.
Such fond memories.
"Mom! Get me a bottle of Coke from the fridge!" Zhou Yuwen naturally called out.
After calling out, Zhou Yuwen found it amusing again. His mom was playing mahjong back home; there's no way she could be here.
"Don't you have hands yourself! Always act like you're some kind of ancestor—when will you grow up?" came a sharp and impatient voice from outside the door.
Zhou Yuwen was stunned, and his groggy mind suddenly woke up.
Another look?
Well, goodness, isn't this how he looked at eighteen?
Looking around at the environment, the small room was indeed real.
A rickety wooden bed, a shabby table covered with dirty textbooks, and a bulky computer.
Am I dreaming?
Zhou Yuwen slapped himself.
But in the end, he didn't.
Well, goodness, this isn't a dream, huh?
He got up, and there was still a puddle of vomit on the floor.
So real, and the smell of Niulanshan (a cheap liquor) too, it seems it's not a dream.
Zhou Yuwen wore a white vest, large shorts, and big slippers, walking out of the small bedroom.
Next door, there was a loud sound of mahjong.
Four middle-aged women with permed hair were chatting noisily.
"The daughter next door from the old Su family is really sensible, not only beautiful but also studies so well. I heard she got into a top university."
Zhou Yuwen dragged his flip-flops, surrounded by the sound of mahjong and his mother and her friends chatting, paying no attention at all. He walked to the fridge, took out a can of Coca-Cola.
"Pop!"
He burped, feeling refreshed as if reborn. It felt really good!
"Ayun, what is your son Yuwen planning to do? Repeat the year or aim for a regular university? Ayun, honestly, I don't think going to a regular university is necessary. It's just upgrading from a vocational college. Neither are 985 nor 211 schools. What's the point of going?"
"Yeah, my neighbor's kid went to a regular university last year but got expelled this year because of a fight. I heard regular universities are even more chaotic than vocational schools!"
"That's right. Just look at what the news is reporting nowadays."
Zhou Yuwen entered with a cola in hand.
He saw three very familiar aunties, whom he hadn't seen since university. Along with his mother, each had curly hair. When Zhou Yuwen entered, their conversation abruptly stopped, and they warmly greeted him with smiles.
"Yuwen is becoming more and more handsome."
"Yeah, he's grown into a young man!"
"Yuwen, it's okay if your grades aren't good. You can always repeat the year if needed."
"Just, my son said, you and Xiaosu confessed and were rejected?"
"??? "
Zhou Yuwen was speechless. He was over forty years old. How could he still be so nosy? Who said that.
"You confessed to Xiaosu? Why didn't I know?" His mother immediately turned her head, looking curious.
He had just returned to his hometown last week to see his mother. Now seeing his mother looking ten or more years younger, Zhou Yuwen couldn't help but feel a pang of emotion. How did he not notice before that his mother had also been young?
In his memory, his mother had always been the same.
"Mom." Zhou Yuwen didn't know why, but he called out.
"Mom," Zhou Yuwen called out, leaving his mother somewhat puzzled. "What, what's the matter?"
The three aunties, his mother's mahjong friends, also looked surprised. Why did it feel like a tear-jerking moment? Confessing and getting rejected? Coming to mom for comfort? They stared at Zhou Yuwen, wide-eyed.
"I, I'm out of money," Zhou Yuwen stuttered, searching for an excuse.
The four middle-aged women were all taken aback. Seriously?
"You've spent all the 200 yuan I gave you just yesterday? I told you to drink less, but you never listen. Even after graduation, you can't indulge like this." Zhou's mother lectured, pulling out two 100 yuan bills from her small drawer and handing them to Zhou Yuwen.
Zhou Yuwen grinned and took them.
"This is the last 200 yuan I'll give you. If you have nothing to do during summer vacation, earn your own money!"
"Okay! I'll earn enough to buy you a house this summer!" Zhou Yuwen took the money and said.
Zhou's mother glanced at Zhou Yuwen reproachfully but didn't say anything.
Counting the money, Zhou Yuwen left. To be honest, meeting his mother again didn't feel as warm as he had expected. There was some sentimentality, though. His mother hadn't seen him in over a decade, but she was still playing mahjong, urging him to marry, saying his job was unreliable, and suggesting he return to their hometown to take the civil service exam or go on blind dates. That, she believed, was the path of a normal person's life.
Thinking about his mother's predictable lectures, Zhou Yuwen sighed inwardly. It seemed he would have to endure listening to them all over again in this lifetime.
As Zhou Yuwen left, his mother and her mahjong friends continued playing their game.
One of the aunties spoke up, "Ayun, what do you think? You really want your child to go to a regular university? I've heard that those regular universities are quite chaotic. My cousin's wife's cousin's child went to a regular university last year. Not only are the tuition fees expensive, but the schools are also particularly disorderly. I heard there are even young girls working as escorts inside."
"I've heard about that too. Regular universities are indeed chaotic. They call it undergraduate education, but it's essentially vocational. If you go to a regular university, how will you find a job in the future?"
"Exactly! If you don't aim for the top-tier universities like the 985 or 211, how will you find a job in the future? Ayun, you spoil your child too much!"
Facing the inquiries from her mahjong friends, Zhou's mother just smiled and said, "Children grow up and have their own plans. As long as they are healthy, that's all that matters. We're not expecting him to become the president of the country."