In Anping County in 2000, the economy was backward and taxis were rare. There were mostly rickshaws shuttling back and forth. Gu Qiu waved his hand, stopped a rickshaw and jumped on.
"East Bund!"
The East Bund was a nice open-air restaurant by the Lianshui River. At this season, there were a large number of people going there to have a meal and escape the summer heat. Gu Qiu also went there to have a meal once after being introduced.
Having nothing to do this evening, he decided to have a meal at the East Bund and then take a slow stroll back.
The rickshaw puller was a peasant man in his forties, wearing a faded light blue vest and a half-worn towel on his shoulder. When Gu Qiu got on, for no reason, he thought of Camel Xiangzi written by Lao She.
Every time he took such a vehicle and when it was going uphill, Gu Qiu always felt a bit sorry.
Especially during the summer days, under the scorching sun, the rickshaw puller was sweating profusely while the men and women in the vehicle were being affectionate behind, which always made Gu Qiu have some feelings.
The rickshaw puller this evening had good leg strength and arrived at the East Bund in about ten minutes.
For some unknown reason, Gu Qiu gave the rickshaw puller an extra two yuan. The other showed a set of not-so-neat teeth, smiled naively and then pulled the vehicle and ran away.
A gust of evening wind blew, bringing a cool breeze to this hot summer.
Gu Qiu held a cigarette in his mouth and glanced at the empty seats by the riverbank.
The East Bund was not the name of a single restaurant but the name of this place. There were large and small open-air restaurants here, adding a lot of popularity to the riverside at night.
Gu Qiu walked over and the restaurant owner greeted him enthusiastically. Gu Qiu was just about to sit down when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar figure.
By the riverside, Chen Yan was sitting at that table with her back to the road.
Gu Qiu's gaze was immediately fixed on the cup in Chen Yan's hand. At Chen Yan's feet, there was a case of beer. There were two empty bottles on the table.
"Sir, what would you like?"
The restaurant owner handed a cigarette to Gu Qiu and asked. Gu Qiu waved his hand and walked towards Chen Yan.
Chen Yan was completely unaware and seemed to be preoccupied. Her tattooed eyebrows were knitted together.
Gu Qiu called out, "Director Chen! What a coincidence?"
Only then did Chen Yan look up and, seeing it was Gu Qiu, a smile flashed across her face.
Gu Qiu could tell that her smile was very forced.
It might be because of the unpleasant things that happened this afternoon that made her a bit unhappy.
"Why are you here too?" Chen Yan asked.
Gu Qiu looked at this charming young woman who was his immediate superior and said politely, "May I sit down?"
Chen Yan burst out laughing, then shook her head helplessly and muttered to herself, "What a bookworm."
Gu Qiu knew she was laughing at him and could only smile sheepishly.
Chen Yan said, "Sit down. What are you waiting for? You came just in time. I'll treat you tonight."
Gu Qiu said, "How can I let the leader treat? Let me treat. Besides, you are a lady. It's very impolite to let you treat."
Chen Yan rolled her eyes, which was surprisingly charming. Maybe it was because of the alcohol. There was a trace of coquettishness in her words, "There are so many rules. Since you admit that I'm the leader, I have the final say. Don't fight with me over the bill tonight."
Gu Qiu replied, "In that case, I'll gratefully accept. I'll follow Director Chen's arrangement."
Chen Yan frowned, "Gu Qiu, there's no one else here now. You don't need to keep calling me Director Chen. Just call me Sister Chen or Sister Chen Yan."
A woman's mind is as changeable as the weather in June.
Chen Yan also wondered secretly that her mood had suddenly improved a lot.
Gu Qiu could also sense this, but he wasn't too sure.
Gu Qiu poured wine for Chen Yan, "Okay. When there's no one around, I'll call you Sister Chen Yan."
Chen Yan picked up the cup, "That's more like it. Come on! Gu Qiu, I toast you. Thank you for helping me out today."
Gu Qiu was really a bit embarrassed. Previously, he heard people say that Chen Yan was a wanton woman who liked to flirt with the leaders. Now he realized that it wasn't the case.
Those who said Chen Yan was flirtatious were just jealous.
Besides, the other women in the Investment Promotion Office were really not good-looking. They were jealous of Chen Yan and naturally spoke ill of her.
After what happened this evening, Gu Qiu could basically confirm that Chen Yan was not as they said. Sometimes she might just show a little favor and give the leader some face in certain special occasions.
Gu Qiu said politely, "Sister Chen Yan, don't say that. What happened today was just an accident."
Chen Yan was about to drink when, hearing Gu Qiu's reply, she put down the cup again, "You're wrong. It wasn't an accident. Can't you see? Xie Bisheng is a wine-loving, lustful and henpecked man. He has made advances towards me many times. Today he came back drunk from outside and asked me to go to his office. I knew it was nothing good."
Gu Qiu didn't say anything because he didn't know many of the inside stories.
Chen Yan said, "Actually, I'm also sorry to you. I shouldn't have used you as a shield. While thanking you, I also apologize for my selfishness. So you must drink this cup!"
Gu Qiu thought to himself that Chen Yan was really honest and admitted using him. But on second thought, she was also desperate and had no choice but to do this. Although he might have offended Xie Bisheng because of this, as a man, Gu Qiu didn't think there was anything wrong with what he did today. So he picked up the cup, "Don't say that, Sister Chen Yan. Come on, let's drink."
The two clinked glasses and Chen Yan was also very straightforward and drank it all in one gulp.
A few drops of beer spilled from the corner of her mouth, dripped down her chin onto her chest.
On her snow-white skin, it flowed slowly and finally disappeared into her clothes along that smoothness.
Before Gu Qiu came, Chen Yan had already drunk two bottles. After another cup, her face became even more flushed. She put down the cup and, seeing her like this, Gu Qiu couldn't help asking, "Sister Chen Yan, you've already drunk two bottles. Let's stop, okay?"
Chen Yan raised her eyebrows and looked at Gu Qiu with a flushed face. She burst out laughing again.
Gu Qiu was twenty-two years old but still a virgin. When it came to such things between men and women, he could only be said to be just beginning to have a crush. He couldn't figure out the meaning behind Chen Yan's smile.
Maybe it was this seemingly naive look that made Chen Yan feel especially at ease. She looked at Gu Qiu and said, "You're so stupid and cute!"
Gu Qiu said a bit shyly, "What's wrong? I'm just afraid you'll get drunk."
Chen Yan suddenly sighed, "Alas——!"
A long sigh aroused her countless thoughts.
Chen Yan reached out and tidied her hair and said boldly, "Come on, drink! Let's get drunk tonight and not go home!"
Gu Qiu felt a bit panicked. What if she got drunk? What should he do? But Chen Yan seemed to understand his thoughts and smiled, "Don't worry about me. I'm a local in Anping."
Gu Qiu said, "Oh. Then I toast you. Thank you, Sister Chen Yan, for taking care of me. I'll drink it all. You can drink as you like."
Chen Yan looked at Gu Qiu, who was raising his neck with great bravado, with a smile.