Home Appliance Sales

Once most of the people had arrived, Old Mom started cooking. Li Yang and six or seven childhood friends bragged as they poured the drinks.

Before long, Old Mom had Li Yang carry out the four hot dishes she had finished cooking. Once she was done, she greeted everyone and went out for a stroll, leaving them to start drinking.

As the drinking reached its peak, Li Yang and He Junjun began bickering.

He Junjun shouted arrogantly, "Dare to have a drinking contest with me?" His girlfriend, Zhang Meimei, sat beside him. He was the only one at the table who wasn't single.

Zhang Meimei teased with a smile, "If you've got the guts, don't pick on Li Yang. You only bully him because he can't drink."

"Go rest somewhere else," He Junjun replied to Zhang Meimei dismissively.

"Don't mind him, Meimei. I'm not afraid of him. Come on, kid," Li Yang answered confidently.

Li Yang knew exactly how much He Junjun could drink. The two of them were about evenly matched.

The other guys joined in the cheering. A drinking table was never peaceful, especially among close friends. Everyone loved seeing who would make a fool of themselves after getting drunk.

In the end, they each filled a cup of baijiu. They were using the disposable cups sold in stores, and a full cup held quite a lot. They had already drunk some before this.

"How are we drinking this?" Li Yang asked first.

Looking at the two brimming cups, He Junjun felt a little nervous. His alcohol tolerance wasn't great either.

"Finish it in two gulps. Dare?" He Junjun smiled casually, as if he had it all under control.

He lit a cigarette, took a drag, and smiled as he watched Li Yang remain unhurried.

"Fine. Let's start with one," Li Yang said, raising his cup to clink it against his. Gritting his teeth, he downed half the cup in one breath. A line of fire shot through his throat and into his stomach, leaving him in indescribable discomfort.

Forcing down the turmoil in his throat, Li Yang quickly stuffed a big mouthful of food into his mouth and chewed fast, then urged Junjun on with his eyes.

"Good man. You've got guts," He Junjun said. Too embarrassed to back out, he braced himself and drank half the cup in one go, immediately coughing from the burn.

Zhang Meimei quickly patted his back while He Junjun hurriedly picked up some food and shoved it into his mouth to suppress the alcohol fumes.

Less than two minutes later, the two of them finished the rest of their drinks in one breath.

Li Yang had reached the point where he could no longer keep pretending. The alcohol in his stomach was reacting violently, and he could not help but rush outside first.

When he reached the open area outside his brother's front gate, he began vomiting like a fountain, miserable beyond words.

He Junjun was no better off and put on the exact same performance beside him.

The guys were shocked by what the two had just done. Who drank like they wanted to die? They had thought it was all just for fun, but these two had gotten serious.

In the end, both of them got so drunk they lost consciousness, ending the night's drinking session early.

He Junjun was carried home by everyone, while Li Yang was helped into a room at his brother's house to rest.

Then everyone went home, and the drinking party came to an early end.

It was nearly eleven the next morning when Li Yang finally woke up with a splitting headache.

Because he had drunk too fiercely, he had even gotten a nosebleed the night before. Zhang Meimei had carefully wiped away the blood for him. Thinking of that made Li Yang rather happy.

Back then, because of one impulsive thought, Li Yang had nearly gotten together with Zhang Meimei's younger sister. In the end, her mother had been unwilling to accept Li Yang's family circumstances, so the matter fizzled out. Zhang Meimei had wanted the two of them to become a couple too. What a pity.

After lying there and resting for a while, Li Yang finally got out of bed and put on his coat and pants. He had not even taken off the clothes underneath before sleeping through the night.

After getting up, Li Yang learned that he had slept at his brother's house the night before, so he headed home.

The moment he entered the kitchen, Old Mom gave him a thorough scolding. If he drank like that again, he was not to invite those people over to play anymore. Old Mom laid down the law; otherwise, Li Yang would never learn his lesson. After eating some lunch, he returned to his room.

When he turned on the television, Anhui TV happened to be airing Young Justice Bao. Li Yang immediately perked up. He loved detective stories like that.

After watching for a while, a girl pushed open the door and came in. It was Zhang Huihui from the same village. She and Li Yang had worked at the same factory a few years ago, and they got along very well.

Hui Hui also liked coming to see Li Yang. Though neither had ever said they liked the other, there had been one time when they were working the Night Shift together.

They got off work at two or three in the morning, and Li Yang walked her home. Suddenly, it began pouring rain. With no way to leave, Li Yang stood beneath the eaves of her house to shelter from the rain.

Maybe they had been standing too close. Smelling Hui Hui's delicate fragrance, ripples slowly stirred in Li Yang's heart. Seeing that it was pitch-black all around them, he gathered his courage, pulled Hui Hui into his arms, and kissed her passionately.

To his surprise, Hui Hui responded with equal passion. There they were, kissing obliviously amid the torrential rain.

No one knew how long it lasted, but the shy Hui Hui finally could not help gently pushing herself out of Li Yang's embrace.

"Wait here. I'll get you an umbrella." Her little face red, Hui Hui ran inside to fetch Li Yang her own umbrella. She watched him disappear into the darkness before returning to her room. That night, Hui Hui had a sweet dream.

From then on, their relationship took another step forward. It went beyond ordinary friendship between a man and a woman, yet did not cross the line between lovers. It was truly strange.

"Come here," Li Yang said, pulling Hui Hui onto his lap. Then he wrapped an arm around her Small Waist, and the two watched television together.

At that moment, Hui Hui sniffed around, then turned and leaned closer to Li Yang's face.

"You drank," Hui Hui said with a serious expression.

"Of course. Who doesn't drink during the New Year?" Li Yang replied carelessly, continuing to hold Hui Hui as they watched television.

Hui Hui did not press him any further. Instead, she slipped her little hand inside Li Yang's shirt to warm it. He did not like wearing clothes that were too thick, and in winter his hands and feet were always freezing.

"Where do you plan to work after the New Year?" Hui Hui asked with her eyes closed, leaning against Li Yang's shoulder. She was actually a little scared of Young Justice Bao; some of the plotlines were practically ghost stories.

"I haven't looked yet. Who knows?" Li Yang said casually, breathing in the scent of Hui Hui's hair.

"If nothing else, come to our factory. We can stay together," Hui Hui said, raising her head and looking at Li Yang with wide eyes.

"Forget it. I don't want to keep working as a grinder. I'd rather find a different position."

"Suit yourself. The pay where I work isn't very high either. You'll need to earn money to marry a wife someday," Hui Hui reminded him thoughtfully.

"Then how about I marry you?" Li Yang asked tentatively, tightening his hold around the Temptress in his arms.

"I don't think that'll happen. I told you about my dad a long time ago. He's a snob. He definitely won't agree to a family without money. I'm saying this for your own good. If our families really end up fighting until things become irreparable, I don't want that day to come."

Hui Hui spoke of the worry in her heart with a dejected expression.

"Ugh, this is annoying." Li Yang immediately lost interest in watching television and fell silent.

"What's wrong? Haven't I reminded you not to waste your feelings on me? We're fated to meet but not meant to be together in this life. Once you find a good girlfriend and settle down, I'll feel much more at ease."

Hui Hui tried to comfort Li Yang, her heart aching for him.

Everyone in the same village knew each other's circumstances. Li Yang's family did not allow him to be willful when it came to marriage. Hui Hui made sense. If things truly turned ugly later, it would be better to kill the idea now.

After a while, seeing Li Yang's pitiful expression, Hui Hui suddenly took the initiative to kiss him, wanting to use her tenderness to comfort Li Yang's cold heart...

Before long, the two embraced...

An hour later, Hui Hui lay naked in Li Yang's bed, sleeping soundly...

Li Yang got dressed and got out of bed without disturbing her. Then he left the room. By then, it was already past three in the afternoon.

Li Yang picked up his phone and called He Junjun.

"What is it, Li Yang?" He Junjun said weakly.

"Aren't we going to your place tonight? Is it still on?" Li Yang asked energetically.

"You're not afraid I'll drink with you again?" He Junjun replied in a teasing tone.

"Who's afraid of who? I'll go all the way anytime," Li Yang answered boldly.

"Okay, okay, I'm afraid of you. Just come over together at six tonight. This is the final stop tonight, don't forget. I'm hanging up first. I'm going to sleep a little longer."

Li Yang then hung up as well.

With nothing to do, Li Yang went to the little shop at the Village Entrance. Hui Hui would definitely not wake up until five. Li Yang knew her routine inside out.

Every time they got passionate, she would always go to sleep afterward, without exception. Once, Li Yang had gotten in the mood and planned to go for a second round, but not long after they started, Hui Hui had actually fallen asleep from exhaustion. It had left Li Yang utterly dumbfounded.

Two mahjong tables were packed full. When the Boss Lady saw Li Yang come in, she quickly and warmly brought him a stool.

"Why are you here so late today?" the Boss Lady asked with a beaming smile. Businesspeople were always smooth and sociable, and she was no exception.

"I drank too much yesterday. Get me a bottle of Fanta Soda," Li Yang said, sitting beside some acquaintances to watch them play cards.

The Boss Lady handed him a bottle of soda. Li Yang opened it and drank more than half of it, immediately feeling refreshed. Ice-cold and so satisfying.

After watching for a while, he saw that it was about time. He Junjun lived at his mother's house. His mother had divorced and remarried into a village a few kilometers away. They were drinking at her house that night, so they definitely had to leave early. Li Yang took his half-full bottle of Fanta Soda home.

When he entered the courtyard, Old Mom was about to go into the kitchen to cook. Seeing Li Yang return, she stepped forward and quietly asked, "Didn't Hui Hui come to see you at noon? Why did you go out alone?"

"Oh, she's watching television in my room. I went out to buy her a drink," Li Yang made up an excuse to brush her off.

"Oh, right. I'm not eating dinner at home tonight, so don't worry about me. You all eat," Li Yang said before returning to his room.

Hui Hui was still lying there asleep, her long hair scattered carelessly across the pillow.

Li Yang stepped forward and touched the smooth skin of Hui Hui's back. His hand came away with a little moisture. It seemed the girl had gotten sweaty from the heat.

Sensing movement, Hui Hui woke up. When she saw Li Yang through sleepy eyes, she relaxed, shifted into another position, and asked, "What time is it?"

"It's five. Are you still going to sleep?" Li Yang asked with a smile.

"No, I should go home for dinner." As she spoke, Hui Hui took out her bra and panties from beneath the covers and put them on.

Li Yang had been afraid she would get chilled while dressing after he went out, so he had placed her close-fitting clothes under the covers beforehand.

Hui Hui was dressed lightly as well: a black sweater on top, black thermal pants underneath, then a white Down Jacket and jeans. That completed her outfit.

Li Yang picked up her black leather boots from the floor and helped put them on her feet, then thoughtfully tied her shoelaces for her. The two walked out of the room together.

As they passed through the courtyard, Old Mom saw Hui Hui with her hair all messy and quickly came out of the kitchen to ask warmly, "Hui, the food's ready. Eat before you go."

"No, Auntie. My mom has already cooked at home, so I need to hurry back. Happy New Year to you and Uncle," Hui Hui said cheerfully to Old Mom.

"Ah, Happy New Year to you too." Old Mom smiled from ear to ear. What a good daughter-in-law. What a pity. Li Yang had told Old Mom about the situation between the two of them.

After seeing Hui Hui off, Li Yang said goodbye to Old Mom and was about to leave when she called him back.

"You should stop bothering Hui Hui in the future. What are the two of you doing? Don't hold up her happiness, understand?"

"Okay, I know, Mom." Li Yang walked out the door without looking back.

When he arrived at Xu Rui's house, the two of them went together to the roadside and took a bus to He Junjun's home.

That night, everything was peaceful. Maybe everyone had been hurt by drinking too much before. Six or seven people only finished two bottles of baijiu in total, then drank a little beer. The night ended smoothly enough.

On the way back, none of them took a ride. He Junjun walked with them back to their village as well.

Along the way, the guys discussed their hopes for the new year, and everyone shared what was on their minds. Li Yang and Xu Rui said that finding satisfactory jobs would be enough for them, but the moment the words left their mouths, everyone else mocked them.

The group bought some fireworks and set them off noisily by the deserted roadside.

Watching the dazzling fireworks soar into the night sky, Li Yang's heart surged with passion. He wondered whether any surprises would be waiting for him that year...

After enduring the wait until after the Lantern Festival, Li Yang and Xu Rui took a bus to the city's job market.

It was just after the New Year, so there were not many employers recruiting. They looked around but found nothing suitable and were about to leave.

A young woman in professional attire brushed past them.

"Are you two handsome guys looking for work?" the woman asked with a smile.

"Yes. And you are?"

Li Yang looked at the woman curiously.

"Hello, my name is Fan Xiaoyan. I'm from the Human Resources Department of Jiamei Appliances. Would you be interested in selling home appliances?"

Li Yang and Xu Rui exchanged a look, then immediately nodded. "Sure, we're willing to give it a try."

"That's great. Leave me your phone numbers. Go to the Shanghai Market store at one-thirty this afternoon to find me and complete the onboarding paperwork. Just bring your IDs."

After saying that, Fan Xiaoyan turned and left the job market. The two had arrived at just the right time. Had they been any later, they would not have met Fan Xiaoyan. At last, they breathed a sigh of relief.

That afternoon, they hurried to the Shanghai Market store. It was on the second floor of the Pedestrian Street, in a very good location.

Fan Xiaoyan quickly completed their onboarding procedures, then assigned them to departments.

Li Yang was assigned to the Refrigerator and Washing Machine Department on the third floor, while Xu Rui was assigned to the Air Conditioner Department on the second floor. They were both sales clerks. There were also salespeople from various home appliance brands working alongside them, and everyone cooperated to complete sales targets.