Super Soldier in the City-Chapter 1951 - 2014: The Helplessness of Ordinary People

"Is there any danger? I think it’s all the same!" Meng Qingyou said: "I’ve heard of that elementary school, it’s pretty decent, approved by the city, quality wise, it’s okay. It’s far, but the teaching staff isn’t that different. Besides, you can’t tell much from an elementary school. If you transfer to this district, you’ll have to pay high tuition fees and various other costs are substantial too, which could be stressful."

Wen Dagang quickly said: "It’s different. Spending a bit more here is acceptable. Both her mother and I are young and we can work hard to earn money. We can’t let our child go to a bad school."

Meng Qingyou chuckled: "That’s fine. I’ve noted this, will ask around for you later. I can’t promise anything now as the government’s being strict on this issue. This phenomenon exists in all cities, but now there are more and more children, good schools are full to capacity, even overloaded. Your kid getting into one of the good elementary schools in this district is tough."

Wen Dagang nodded vigorously, wanting to pour more drinks, and said: "Thank you, Qingyou, for helping me this time. If you need anything in the future, just let me know."

"It’s nothing. Alright, Dagang, I’m in a hurry, need to go first. You and Old Li take your time drinking. I’ve noted the matter, don’t fret too much." Qin Qingyou said as he began to stand up. Wen Dagang quickly stood up to see him off. But Li Yifei remained seated; he hadn’t engaged with grassroots people for a long time. The last time he drank was more than a month ago with migrant workers, and it was joyful and relaxing. He hadn’t had to please any officials for a while. Unexpectedly, even a section chief dared to act so haughtily. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

It’s just a reflection, Li Yifei sighed internally, so he didn’t go to see Meng Qingyou off. Such people aren’t worth seeing off.

Wen Dagang couldn’t say much, glanced at Li Yifei, but the latter didn’t respond. So, Wen Dagang had to see him off alone and soon returned. As soon as he entered the private room, he cursed angrily, sat down, drank a big gulp, slowly swallowing it.

Li Yifei said: "Drink slowly, have some food."

"Sigh, I’ve embarrassed myself, Old Li. This issue’s a mess!" Wen Dagang said angrily: "Qingyou had urgent matters, left first, asked me to apologize to you. Let’s drink more!"

Urgent matters, yet didn’t tell me personally, instead asked you to apologize, Li Yifei looked at Wen Dagang, slightly shook his head, didn’t expose him, and said: "Going to see his girl is indeed urgent."

Wen Dagang’s eyes widened, and he heavily sighed: "Why are officials like this nowadays!"

"It’s normal. Once you’ve seen enough, it’s not surprising."

"No, darn it...getting power and forgetting roots. Just because I didn’t give him any money. But when he got married, I gave five thousand as a gift, I earn how much a month, isn’t five thousand enough? That’s also showing goodwill, growing up together in the same village, yet asking him for such a small favor, he pushes it off, even claims to know Li Yifei, Richest man Li, bah!" Wen Dagang vented after a sip of liquor.

"He really doesn’t know that Richest man Li!" Li Yifei said.

"I figured, he wouldn’t know him, boasting. Now that the matter hasn’t been resolved this time, my wife will probably be quite upset. Sigh, I only know one big official, seems not reliable."

"Take it slow, there’ll be a way when the time comes!" Li Yifei also picked up his glass and took a sip.

Wen Dagang ate a few bites to suppress the liquor, then said: "This can’t be delayed, it’s already a month into the semester. If delayed further, the semester will end, the child’s foundational learning needs to be strong, or else will fall behind later!"

"How about I ask someone for you." Li Yifei saw Wen Dagang so distressed and offered.

"You?" Wen Dagang glanced at Li Yifei, a trace of hope in his eyes, but quickly shook his head, sighed: "Forget it, you’re doing about the same as me, who’s there to ask? Besides, if you go asking favors, you’d be owing favors, and it’s hard to repay favors these days, a debt once accumulated."

"Ha-ha, it’s fine. Tomorrow, I’ll ask around and then let you know. It won’t make much difference for a day." Li Yifei said.

"Alright...that’s good, thank you. Regardless of the outcome, thanks!" Wen Dagang said: "Spending some money is okay, five thousand...no, ten thousand, I’ll go all out, just not to bother Meng Qingyou, to avoid causing trouble."

"I’ll ask for you, best not to spend money if possible." Li Yifei said.

Now Meng Qingyou was relieved, his brows relaxed some. The two toasted each other and drank another bottle of wine. Wen Dagang grabbed the bottle and asked: "Old Li, can you still drink? If so, let’s have another bottle."

"Yes, open it." Li Yifei said.

"Okay!" Wen Dagang opened another bottle of white spirit, saying: "For heaven’s sake, over a hundred per bottle, and Meng Qingyou complains about it. I’m really speechless, but brother, this is my capability, all for my daughter’s schooling, have to find help everywhere..."

"Alright, don’t talk about him, helping is goodwill, not helping is normal, everyone thinks differently."

"That’s the truth, but still feels annoyed inside, how can a person change so much, this guy, just married a good wife, claiming he moved up by his own merit, wasn’t it because his wife’s father was a former deputy director of the People’s Congress, a bureau director before that, having connections, so he rose quickly. You see him driving, could he afford that? Isn’t it embezzling..."

"Too much drinking." Li Yifei didn’t appreciate gossiping behind others, preferring direct action, yet it’s typical of ordinary folks who don’t confront openly, venting after getting drunk instead. Direct confrontation might feel good but have endless repercussions, so it’s safer to vent after drinking.

Li Yifei understood and empathized, so didn’t follow the topic.

This help, I’ll do it, Li Yifei thought, collected details about Wen Dagang’s daughter, memorizing them.

The two drank for two hours, emptied two bottles of white spirit, and some beer. Wen Dagang was drunk beyond recovery, while Li Yifei pulled out his phone, found his wife’s number, called to ask for the address, then settled the bill at the bar, helped Wen Dagang out, hailed a taxi, gave the address and money. His wife was waiting on the other side, unfamiliar with Li Yifei, after he explained the situation, she quickly apologized, knowing what happened tonight, urgently asked who paid for dinner, insisting Wen Dagang repay Li Yifei tomorrow.

Li Yifei promptly said no need, waved his hand dismissively, and let the taxi drive away, watching it disappear into the distance. Li Yifei decided to walk a bit to sober up, he drank openly tonight, not pretending, naturally shared with an old classmate.

As he pondered, he found himself walking alongside Mile City Normal University, by this time, the campus had few people left, being already nine or ten at night. Those who needed to be in dorms were already there; the rest were rushing back, with some taxi drivers wheeling around hoping to catch a fare.

This job had various forms, some merely seeking passengers, others targeting individuals, enticed by rumors that many female college students exploited their identity, selling themselves rather than goods, for money.

In fact, the young model Meng Qingyou kept was from this university, an art student, how she attended this school wasn’t mentioned, but as a sophomore, Meng Qingyou compensated her one thousand a month, renting a good apartment for her, got a dog, and occasionally took her out for fun, gifting on holidays, was enough.

Such arrangements are more expensive ones, cheaper options include a few thousand a month, or even less, under the guise of love. Many older men lurk around campuses targeting pretty girls, under the pretense of romance, getting free intimacies, leaving abruptly when they’re done, causing fits as young students, inherently naive, realize they’re played when too late.

Not always naive, as some girls relish such experiences. Hence who’s to say who plays who? Sometimes could be mutual play.

Li Yifei intended to walk through the campus, entering from the front, exiting from the back. He never experienced college life, high school wasn’t completed before joining the army, losing that phase’s aura. Regretful somewhat, yet had military exposure, thus missing other life experiences.

Walking amidst expansive campus grounds at night, Li Yifei noticed couples in groves, grass patches, dimly lit corners, sensed the aroma of hormones, and heard nightingale sounds sporadically.

The youthful feeling was refreshing, Li Yifei glanced toward the large trees, vague sounds stilled instantly. He smiled toward there, continued walking, even heard that couple among trees utter ’lunatic’ before continuing their romp.

At the rear exit, as Li Yifei was about to hail a taxi home, noticed two vehicles speeding ahead, a taxi and an Audi A6. The taxi halted, a woman emerged, tossed a bill to the driver, shouted: "Keep the change."

Meanwhile, Audi A6 accelerated towards her, not hitting but cutting the path instead. The driver, Li Yifei recognized as Meng Qingyou, who left early from dinner to comfort his student. The girl too seemed young, dressed provocatively.

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