The First Lesson of the Semester (Two-in-One)

Qin Zhiqiang walked towards the dormitory, while Liu Chang'an walked towards the outside of the school. Although it was a little strange that Liu Chang'an didn't even go to Zhu Juntang's dinner party, Wei Xuanyi and Sun Shutong didn't care much and just followed behind Zhu Juntang.

Zhu Juntang is of medium height, even somewhat tall for a girl from the south. After all, apart from one girl who is 1.7 meters tall, none of the other girls in her class are as tall as Zhu Juntang.

The way she walked was different from most girls; she appeared remarkably composed and elegant. There was no slouching or flailing of her body or limbs due to her usual sitting or standing posture. Especially striking was her white stockings and wedge heels. The stockings, made of some unknown material, seemed to radiate a delicate, smooth, and skin-like quality. The hem of her skirt swayed with her movements, making it seem as if the wind itself was drawn to her, playing around her, and always bringing to mind the saying, "Beneath a fairy's skirt lies the universe."

Humanity's curiosity about the universe is an age-old passion that has never faded.

University is indeed a place that can change one's life. Both Wei Xuanyi and Sun Shutong knew very well that they would never have met a rich young lady like Zhu Juntang in any other social environment.

Not to mention dining at each other's private restaurants right after meeting... Everyone's restaurant is private, but Zhu Juntang's definition must be a little different, right?

Is it the kind of restaurant with facilities like a top-tier restaurant, a head chef, servants, and a huge dining room just for Zhu Juntang?

It's absolutely dreamlike.

Wei Xuanyi and Sun Shutong followed Zhu Juntang, and before they had gone far, they saw a mature woman who made the young man's heart race and his face blush. She exuded an intellectual and sexy aura, and the pink toes of her open-toed high heels were as tempting as white chocolate.

"Qin Zhiqiang is such an idiot! He actually wants to go back to playing video games," Wei Xuanyi said to Sun Shutong in a low voice.

"Who cares? He's just a couch potato! It's a bit surprising that Liu Chang'an didn't go. I feel like his relationship with Zhu Juntang isn't that great. He just left without saying he wasn't going, and Zhu Juntang didn't even call him." Sun Shutong was very good at observing.

Wei Xuanyi readily agreed with Sun Shutong's observation: a girl like Zhu Juntang must be arrogant, but he was tall and good at basketball, so it wasn't impossible to build some goodwill with her first.

"Who are these two?" Zhu Juntang stopped beside Zhong Qing looked at Wei Xuanyi and Sun Shutong who were walking behind him with some confusion.

Both young men smiled warmly, though slightly nervously. After all, this mature and sexy woman exuded an aura that stirred their hormones.

"My classmates are going to a get-together." Zhu Juntang continued walking forward.

Zhong Qing was slightly puzzled and couldn't help but look back at Wei Xuanyi and Sun Shutong. At the same time, he showed a professional smile, nodded slightly, and gestured for them to go forward.

Wei Xuanyi and Sun Shutong exchanged a glance. This was probably someone from Zhu Juntang's side. At first, they thought she was some kind of female CEO or female director, and they didn't know how to address her. Zhu Juntang didn't seem to care about introducing her at all.

After taking the observation elevator up to the building ahead, Wei Xuanyi and Sun Shutong finally saw a helicopter parked on the roof.

Zhu Juntang gave an order, and Zhong Qing went over and had the crew lower the hoisting rope.

"Look, see that? That's the helicopter's sling." Zhu Juntang said, pointing to a tangled mess of slings.

"I see it! This helicopter is huge!" Wei Xuanyi said excitedly. Although helicopters are not rare anymore, it is not very convenient to take a ride in one in China. Usually, only scenic spots or some flight training schools offer this experience. Not only are the experiences expensive, but the models are also very ordinary. Zhu Juntang's helicopter looks very luxurious, probably equivalent to the Rolls-Royce of helicopters.

"This must be imported; domestically produced helicopters can't reach this level of quality," Sun Shutong commented knowledgeably.

"Just hold onto the ropes, I'll give you a ride," Zhu Juntang said casually. "The wind isn't strong today, it'll be safe, we'll be there soon."

Wei Xuanyi and Sun Shutong exchanged another glance, standing there dumbfounded, wondering if they had misheard.

"That's fine then. I'm not comfortable with other people sitting on my private jet." Zhu Juntang said, preparing to board the plane.

"Wait... Zhu Juntang... you mean we have to hold onto the rope and hang there?" Wei Xuanyi called out to Zhu Juntang, pointing incredulously at the rope.

"Otherwise what?" Zhu Juntang said impatiently. How could she let strangers into her private space? This was a basic courtesy of the young lady.

"You're kidding, right?" Sun Shutong chuckled awkwardly, sensing that she couldn't possibly be really going to arrange it like that. "We're not Jackie Chan, nor Tom Cruise. This... this is like filming a movie."

"Who's joking with you?" They'd only just met; how could he possibly joke around like that? Zhu Juntang felt a surge of anger at the thought of the jokes, because Liu Chang'an always joked with her and never paid her any real attention. Liu Chang'an and Zhou Dongdong were always more serious when they spoke. Zhu Juntang sneered, "You think you're Liu Chang'an, singing your own tune!"

After saying that, Zhu Juntang boarded the plane. Zhong Qing was already used to it. It was only natural that the young lady would act one way in front of Liu Chang'an and another way in front of others.

"Will you two be hoisted over, or take a taxi?" Zhong Qing asked gently.

"I'll hang you... I'll hang you..."

Wei Xuanyi so angry he almost jumped up, but Sun Shutong pulled him back.

Zhong Qing didn't care that the other party didn't blurt out any profanities, and boarded the helicopter himself.

The ground crew pulled Wei Xuanyi and Sun Shutong apart. The strong wind from the helicopter stung their faces. Watching Zhu Juntang leave, Wei Xuanyi and Sun Shutong stood there, looking at each other, their faces flushed with anger. Most importantly, the boys' self-esteem and sense of shame were trampled on by this young lady who was completely different before and after.

How could she do this?

"Heh, that's just how these people are. They actually look down on us ordinary people."

"Pah, does she think she's superior?"

"I should have just gone back to the dorm with Qin Zhiqiang to play games."

"She pretends to be cute in class; we have to expose her true colors!"

"Are you stupid? Wouldn't we lose face too?"

Both of them fell silent. They had already learned a lesson on their first day of university. When they returned to their dorm and saw Qin Zhiqiang looking smug with his phone, they suddenly sensed a feeling of happiness and contentment emanating from him.

"Why are you back?" Qin Zhiqiang asked curiously.

Wei Xuanyi and Sun Shutong didn't say anything. They each went back to their own beds, lay down, and started playing on their phones.

At this moment, Liu Chang'an had just stepped onto the Juzhou Bridge.

As usual, Liu Chang'an strolled leisurely along the narrow sidewalk, constantly being bumped by shared bicycles, e-bikes, and electric scooters. However, he didn't think he was obstructing traffic; walking was a mode of transportation, after all.

The bridge was built a long time ago, starting in September 1971, but it was completed and opened to traffic in October 1972. The construction was mainly carried out by local residents on a voluntary basis.

Such speed and pattern are hard to imagine in modern times. Thinking about it now, one can't help but feel a mix of emotions that are hard to put into words.

This bridge remains the largest hyperbolic arch bridge in the country. Next to it is a 10:1 scale experimental bridge used to verify new technologies, which has not yet been demolished.

Liu Chang'an recalled that the experimental requirements at the time were that construction would only begin if the load exceeded the design bearing capacity by four times without any problems.

"What a beautiful bridge! What a beautiful bridge!" Liu Chang'an affectionately touched the bridge.

The autumn wind is rising, the annual autumn wind is strong, unlike the spring scenery, yet surpassing the spring scenery, the vast river and sky are covered with frost.

Liu Chang'an thought it best to take advantage of this autumn season to dry a few pounds of fermented black beans.

The fermented black beans that Liu Chang'an makes are different from the common Lao Gan Ma fermented black beans. They don't have an oil-soaking process, and they're also different from those fermented black beans made from just black or yellow soybeans in individual packets. His fermented black beans have dried green beans, chili peppers, and garlic added. He stores them in jars, and they're perfect for stir-frying with meat.

Simply pan-fry the pork, then add fermented black beans and stir-fry. You'll have an irresistible, fragrant dish of stir-fried pork with fermented black beans. During the Korean War, this dish was so delicious and nutritious that it was widely distributed to soldiers on the front lines.

Of course, the soldiers back then didn't have the means to make stir-fried pork with fermented black beans... but stir-fried pork with fermented black beans is the most homely and delicious dish among all the uses and preparations of fermented black beans.

Liu Chang'an went to buy black beans first.

Back in the neighborhood, I ran into Zhou Shuling picking up Zhou Dongdong. The neighborhood wasn't far from the school, and Zhou Shuling planned to show Zhou Dongdong around a few more times before letting her go to and from school by herself.

"This school is really good. The teachers and principal are very polite and keep asking me if I have any opinions or requests." Zhou Shuling felt a sense of fulfillment in her life. You know, getting your child into a good school these days is such a difficult thing. Many people have to mobilize their whole family and leverage all their relatives and friends' connections.

"Do you have any opinions or requests?" Liu Chang'an asked casually.

Zhou Shuling quickly waved her hand. Of course, she had no objections or requests. She vaguely felt that the principal couldn't possibly be so free as to meet with every parent individually. It was probably because Qin Yanan had made the arrangements. Qin Yanan was somewhat charming and naive, but she wasn't stupid or ignorant of social etiquette.

"I told her I didn't want to go to primary school and wanted to go back to kindergarten, but the teachers and principal just laughed." Zhou Dongdong's impression of Zhou Shuling was completely different.

Liu Chang'an also burst into laughter. There was nothing funny about it, but seeing Zhou Dongdong suffer such a heavy blow and look like she had no hope for the future, Liu Chang'an wanted to comfort her with laughter.

Zhou Dongdong's mouth opened slightly as she glared angrily at Liu Chang'an. "Look," she thought, "That's the kind of smile everyone has. What's so funny? Shouldn't children always be playing in kindergarten?"

"You can't play with my watch," Zhou Dongdong said softly, walking into the neighborhood by herself. She had originally wanted to show off her children's watch to her brother Chang'an and play with him, but now she changed her mind.

"Are you planning to make fermented black beans?" Zhou Shuling and Liu Chang'an followed them back. People here usually buy black beans to make fermented black beans.

"Yes, stir-fried pork with fermented black beans and fried rice with fermented black beans are both simple to make and delicious."

"Oh, right, I bought her a children's smartwatch to make things more convenient, but the watch requires at least two emergency contact numbers to be entered when setting it up. I thought that in Junsha, you were the only reliable person who wouldn't mind bothering others, so I entered your number into her watch... Usually, it's just a matter of entering it, entering it..."

"You lost, so what? Why are you spying on my face now?"

"I'm not afraid you won't agree..."

"So you're saying you're not afraid of bothering me?"

"I just..."

"Stop nagging."

"Oh..." Zhou Shuling found that Liu Chang'an could be quite fierce. She clearly thought that it was wrong to be polite.

Back home, Liu Chang'an tossed some beans under the sycamore tree, thinking that seeds were said to be incredibly resilient, and perhaps he could harvest a field of bean sprouts.

Wash the remaining beans and soak them in water until they are soft before steaming or boiling.

Liu Chang'an sat by the basin of water where the beans were soaking, reading a book while eating some beans from the basin.

After reading for a while, the beans in his mouth became increasingly soft. Feeling that it was about time, Liu Chang'an put down his book, flipped through the beans, and began to set up the large stove for burning firewood.

Zhou Dongdong, who saw Liu Chang'an preparing to start a fire upstairs, hurriedly ran downstairs, after all, she was Liu Chang'an's designated active fire starter.

"I haven't even lit the fire yet!" Liu Chang'an slapped Zhou Dongdong's hand. As soon as she ran down the stairs, she picked up a wooden stick and threw it into the stove.

"Anyway, it's going to be lit!" Zhou Dongdong certainly had her own reasons.

"Have you finished your homework?" Liu Chang'an tried to shoo Zhou Dongdong away.

"Today's homework is to watch TV." Zhou Dongdong jumped up and down happily.

"Oh, what are you watching, 'The First Lesson of the New School Year'?"

"I don't want to watch TV, I want to start a fire."

"Go ahead and burn it, but don't burn your eyebrows again."

"I'm not that stupid."

Liu Chang'an set up the pot, lit the fire, and handed the task of tending the fire over to Zhou Dongdong.

"Brother Chang'an, did you cook so many beans because my sister wants some too?"

"Which sister?" Liu Chang'an was thinking about what to eat for dinner. Zhou Dongdong called everyone "sister," Liu Chang'an had repeatedly taught her to call them "auntie," but she just couldn't learn it. Stupid kids are hard to teach... Well, not entirely. She had called Qin Yanan "auntie" before.

"Sister Egg."

"Who is Sister Egg?" Liu Chang'an didn't know this person. Anyone who could be called "Sister Egg" must be quite remarkable, and that courage itself was remarkable.

"It's Sister Egg."

"How did you meet?" Liu Chang'an changed his question.

"One morning, I happily came down to play and saw Sister Egg sitting in the tree. I talked to her, and later we became good friends," Zhou Dongdong said, pointing to the tree.

Who is this? Liu Chang'an and Zhou Dongdong looked up at the tree together, even though there was no Egg Sister on the tree at this moment.

This chapter is part of a three-in-one compilation with the one I posted last night. I originally planned to finish it at 2:30 AM, but it dragged on until 4:30 AM. I'm exhausted, going to sleep now. Before I go to sleep, I'm asking for your monthly votes.