Chapter 297 Tacit Understanding
Luo Yang was about to curse, but he swallowed it back when he saw the faint smile on Zhang Yong's lips .
"Haha, your understanding is wrong. What if you change boyfriend to partner? In this case, I have two words, and you have three words, and each word is different." After saying that, Luo Yang looked at Zhang Yong with the same gaze.
"That's boring. Only children play tricks on words." Zhang Yong waved his hand, as if he was dismissive. His reaction made Luo Yang very angry. This guy is too shameless. Who said it first? Now he is the one who is to blame?
The cigarette in his hand was almost finished, Zhang Yong threw away the cigarette butt and took out his Marlboro from his pocket to light up another one. It was not that Zhang Yong was impolite, because Luo Yang said before that he couldn't get used to the taste of Marlboro and it made him cough easily, so he only smoked his own Huazi, so this time he simply didn't bother to be polite, and lit up the lighter and took a deep puff.
"Actually, there is one thing you haven't considered. Xiaoyun is from Shanghai, and I am also from Shanghai. You can't make up for this advantage." Zhang Yong said lightly.
"Xiao Yun is my classmate. We both studied at Imperial University. It's no exaggeration to say that we spent every day together. Can you compare to her?" Luo Yang asked back sharply.
"So what if you're classmates? If it's really like what you said, what do I have to do with her now? Since you haven't won her over in two years of classmate life, it means you and her are not destined to be together. Brother, you can't catch the moon even though you're close to her. Don't you realize it yet?"
Luo Yang's face looked extremely ugly. Zhang Yong's words hit his soft spot directly. It was indeed as Zhang Yong said, he and Li Xiaoyun had been classmates for two years and had a very good relationship. They also often played together. But for some reason, although their relationship was very good, it never reached that level.
Now, Zhang Yong directly pointed out the matter. Luo Yang didn't know how to answer for a moment. He snorted coldly: "Do you understand romanticism and platonicism? Love is not as simple as you think."
"That's not right. Isn't love simple?" Zhang Yong laughed. "I don't understand what romance is, let alone what Plato is. If they didn't understand these, why didn't our parents date or get married? Brother, don't complicate simple things. Love is nothing more than liking each other, then getting married, having children, and living together until old age."
"I am an ordinary person. I have never been to college and my education level is not high, but so what? I like the people I like, and the people I like also like me. This is enough."
Seeing Zhang Yong's confident look, Luo Yang's expression became uncertain. He never expected that this opponent would be so difficult to deal with. He was originally prepared to use his identity and knowledge as a college student to suppress the opponent, but Zhang Yong did not play according to common sense at all and lightly pushed his fist aside.
Just as Luo Yang was racking his brains to refute Zhang Yong's words, intending to compete with him, Li Xiaoyun's voice came from downstairs.
"Zhang Yong! Luo Yang! Where are you? Where did you run off to?"
"Yes, yes, we are on the rooftop." Zhang Yong replied quickly and loudly.
"Why did you go to the rooftop?"
"What else can I do? Smoke!"
"Smoking again! Can you men eat by smoking? You two should smoke less! Come down quickly, come down, let's play cards together!"
"Weren't you watching cartoons? I went to the rooftop with Luo Yang just because I was afraid you'd get choked up."
"The cartoon is over. Only one episode is broadcast every day. The TV station is not owned by your family. Can it be broadcast all day long? Why do you have so many questions? Come down quickly and play cards!" Li Xiaoyun urged impatiently. Zhang Yong laughed and threw away the half-smoked cigarette in his hand. He reached out and put his arm around Luo Yang's shoulders.
"Okay, brother, there's no point in arguing. Let's compete fairly and see who has the ability to take her down first. No matter who wins, friends will still be friends and won't hurt each other's feelings. What do you think?"
Glancing at Zhang Yong, Luo Yang didn't know whether Zhang Yong was sincere or just bluffing. But no matter what, Zhang Yong's words made Luo Yang feel a little more at ease. At least Zhang Yong didn't do anything shameless. Luo Yang agreed that the competition between men should be fair.
Just like that, in order to prevent Li Xiaoyun from seeing their confrontation on the rooftop, Zhang Yong and Luo Yang reached an agreement in private. The two of them walked down the rooftop arm in arm, happier than brothers. When Li Xiaoyun saw them like this, she was very happy. In her opinion, both Luo Yang and Zhang Yong were her friends, and she sincerely hoped that the two friends could become good friends with each other like herself.
On the third day after returning to Shanghai, Song Yuanchao went to visit Principal Zhou and Master Ma.
Principal Zhou retired a few days ago. In order to see the graduating class graduate successfully, Principal Zhou, who was originally scheduled to retire in June, worked for an extra month. He only officially retired after seeing off the graduating class.
Principal Zhou felt extremely emotional when leaving his beloved teaching position. He had spent his entire life teaching and educating people, from youth to middle age, and from middle age to old age. School career had accompanied him for almost half of his life.
Before leaving, Principal Zhou cleaned his office thoroughly, even the desks and chairs were wiped spotlessly clean. Then, as usual after get off work, he picked up his black faux leather bag, stood up and walked out the door.
When he closed the door and looked back, Principal Zhou looked at the familiar display in the office with a mixture of emotions in his heart, and at the same time felt extremely melancholy.
After leaving his office, Principal Zhou strolled around the campus, inspecting every corner of the school for the last time as the principal.
Teachers' offices, classrooms, lounge, infirmary, ping-pong room, corridors, gardens, playgrounds , and the huge sycamore tree in a corner of the school playground.
Reaching out and touching the sycamore tree, Principal Zhou couldn't help but think of what the tree looked like when he first came to the school. In a blink of an eye, more than 30 years have passed. This already thick sycamore tree has grown much taller and thicker. It has been here for a hundred years, quietly watching the changes over the past century, watching the establishment of this school and the passing of time.
During this long period of time, Principal Zhou was just a passer-by, a hurried passer-by like his predecessors. After he leaves, there will be successors who will stick here like him, teaching and educating people, and producing successful students.
Patting the thick tree trunk, Principal Zhou said softly, "Goodbye, old friend. I'll come to see you again when I have time..."
A breeze blew, and the leaves made a rustling sound, as if saying goodbye to Principal Zhou.
Looking up at the dense tree canopy, the sunlight was shining through the gaps between the leaves and branches. Principal Zhou stared blankly, and after a long time he smiled with satisfaction.
When he arrived at the guard room, he was surprised to find that all the faculty and staff of the school were waiting for him at the school gate. They stood there, looking at him quietly. Although no one spoke, their actions showed their respect and love for the old principal.
"Okay, all good things must come to an end. I'm retiring, not saying goodbye forever. I will come back to visit you often in the future. It's getting late, and the kids are waiting for you at home. Don't you want to buy groceries and cook? Let's go." Although he was deeply moved, Principal Zhou appeared to be the same as usual. He even said this to everyone in a slightly serious tone, then waved his hand and walked through the crowd towards the gate.
As he stepped out of the door, a voice came from behind him: "Principal, have a safe trip. Remember to come visit us often!"
Principal Zhou couldn't help but stop. He wanted to look back, but reason stopped him from doing so. He raised his left hand and waved it backwards, then continued walking towards home. But when he took this step, tears couldn't be held back and fell.
When Song Yuanchao went to visit Principal Zhou, Principal Zhou had been retired and at home for a week . After retirement, he practiced boxing and took care of flowers and plants at home, or went to the market to buy vegetables in the morning with a basket like an ordinary old man, and also wrote something in the study at home.
When Song Yuanchao came, it was the teacher's wife who opened the door. She told him that Old Zhou was writing something in the study. Song Yuanchao asked in surprise what Principal Zhou was writing. The teacher's wife smiled and said that she didn't know what the old guy was writing, maybe it was a memoir. An ordinary principal really thought he was an old cadre and started to do this after retirement.
After putting down the gifts she brought, the teacher's wife asked Song Yuanchao to sit down first, and then went to the study to call Principal Zhou.
Principal Zhou lives in a former workers' village. This type of house is also called a "tube building" in the north. However, compared with the tube buildings in the north, the house where Principal Zhou lives is slightly different.
This is a three-story house. Principal Zhou's home is on the third floor. There are three households on the left corridor after going up the stairs, and there are also three households on the right side of the corridor. There are a total of six households on one floor.
The kitchen is outside, that is, the public kitchen is on the left side of the corridor, and the door is on the right side of the corridor. This kind of house has no bathroom. If you want to go to the toilet, you can only go to the public toilet nearby, or use the old-fashioned wooden toilet at home.
Principal Zhou's home is the first room in the corridor. There is no living room in the room. It is a large room of 14 square meters, which is the bedroom of Principal Zhou and his wife. There is a small door at the south end of the large room. This small door was originally a storage room of 6 square meters, which was later converted into a study by Principal Zhou. Principal Zhou stayed in it when Song Yuanchao came.
"Lao Zhou! Lao Zhou! The aid from North Korea is coming!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the door inside opened and Principal Zhou appeared in front of Song Yuanchao.
"Uncle Zhou, I'm here to see you." Song Yuanchao bowed respectfully to Principal Zhou. Seeing that it was Song Yuanchao who came, Principal Zhou was particularly happy. He walked up to Song Yuanchao with a smile, took his hand and asked him when he came back.
"I came back the day before yesterday, but I didn't come to see you right away..."
"What are you talking about? I just came back and of course I have to settle my family first. I am very happy that you are here. Come on, come on, sit down. Old woman, there is still ice watermelon in the well downstairs. Go and get it. Don't drink tea in such a hot day, eat watermelon instead."
"I'll go." Song Yuanchao stood up immediately after hearing this. Principal Zhou smiled and said that it would be fine if his wife went, but Song Yuanchao was not willing to do that. He immediately rushed out the door and ran downstairs to remove the cover of the well. When he saw it, he was stunned because there were several watermelons hanging in the well.
Fortunately, the master's wife followed him, otherwise Song Yuanchao would not know which one to take. He took the watermelon out of the well, carried it back upstairs, wiped it clean with a cloth, and then cut it with a knife.
The watermelon was very sweet, and it was also very cool after being chilled in the well. One bite of it would remove all the heat from my body. We ate the watermelon and chatted, and the laughter of Song Yuanchao and Principal Zhou could be heard from the room from time to time.
