Urban Martial Saint

”By the way, I also heard from Gao Shibao that you seemed to have gone into the military right after graduation,” Zhou Yong looked at Ye Qing in surprise and said, ”Oh my, what were you thinking back then? Being a top graduate from Northern University, companies and enterprises would surely line up for you! Why did you choose to join the military? What kind of success and future could there be in that? Apart from having enough to eat, what else could there be? How much would you get from the five-year severance pay, anyway?”

Ye Qing smiled faintly and didn’t answer Zhou Yong’s questions. To him, these things weren’t crucial because the things he cared about were no longer on the same level as Zhou Yong’s concerns.

Zhou Yong’s current situation was similar to many others: stable living and smooth work, thinking about how to live better, how to stand out among peers, how to make others envious. But for Ye Qing, these things didn’t matter. After all, Ye Qing had experienced too much life and death, had felt the sensation of brushing past the Death God. Therefore, for Ye Qing now, the focus was on ensuring he and those around him could survive. Whether the life was good or bad was actually not important.

Moreover, Ye Qing wasn’t short on money. His businesses in Shenchuan City together were worth about three hundred million. Money, to Ye Qing now, was merely a number. Buying a house or a car, was it really that hard? Ye Qing even left a Jeep in the Miao Borderlands on a trip. Buying a house or a car was really not something Ye Qing needed to think about.

Seeing Ye Qing remain silent, Zhou Yong thought his words had made Ye Qing awkwardly speechless, and smiled slightly, saying, ”But it’s okay, you can start anew now. After all, you’re a top graduate from Northern University, and with a diploma, everything is easier. However, the hardest thing is to be down-to-earth and start from scratch. You served as a soldier for five years, so your starting point is probably even lower than some freshly graduated students now. But as long as you can remain calm and endure, there will surely be developments in the future, wouldn’t you agree?”

Ye Qing smiled faintly and nodded. Zhou Yong, seeing this, thought his words had touched Ye Qing and continued giving advice from an elder’s perspective, saying, ”By the way, I’d advise you not to think too much about your family’s relocation compensation house. Isn’t your home in a small county in Pingnan Province? Oh, you’re a college student; you surely can’t stay in that small mountain village. You still need to mingle in big cities. The house at home isn’t of much use to you, so it’s necessary to quickly find a way to buy a house outside. By the way, what have you been doing since you retired? Where are you working now?”

”In Shenchuan City, doing some small business,” Ye Qing said.

”Shenchuan City?” Zhou Yong laughed and said, ”You know, I also have a lot of business connections over there. What kind of business are you doing? Maybe I can help you out sometime.”

”Really?” Ye Qing smiled faintly and said, ”Then I’ll thank you in advance.”

”We’re all old classmates, no need to be polite,” Zhou Yong said. ”Since you’re in Shenchuan City, you must have heard of the Lin Corporation, right? It’s the biggest conglomerate there, considered an enterprise empire in the Southern Six Provinces. I have a lot of business dealings with Lin Corporation and often go over to discuss business with them. Recently, Lin Corporation has a big project, and their project manager has just arrived in the Capital. I’m preparing to meet up and expand some business there. By the way, you haven’t told me what business you’re in over there, have you? Without that, how can an old classmate help?”

Ye Qing thought for a moment and said, ”Wine sales.”

Wasn’t it the case? All the venues Ye Qing had under him needed alcohol. Saying he was in the wine sales business wasn’t untrue. However, to Zhou Yong, this sounded not much different from just being a wine salesman.

”Why did you choose to do this?” Zhou Yong said, ”These years, the domestic white wine market is quite sluggish. Foreign wines sell well, but with so many counterfeit products, it’s hard to sell them well. You’re doing this; it’s really not suitable, and old classmates can’t really help much. If you were selling some building materials, that’d be much easier. Lin Corporation requires a lot of building materials in their business; with one word from an old classmate, it could help sell some things. But you’re in wine sales, and I can’t help with that!”

Ye Qing smiled and said, ”It’s the thought that counts; we’re all old classmates, whether you help or not isn’t crucial.”

”Those words are nice to hear, it’s good to be with old classmates, nothing compares,” Zhou Yong said, patting Ye Qing’s shoulder, ”But no matter what you do, you have to be grounded, right? Shenchuan City is nice, not as grand as the Capital, but it’s a first-tier city with development potential. Work hard, and maybe in a few years, you can buy a house in Shenchuan City. Don’t say you have nowhere to stay when old classmates visit!”

”Of course,” Ye Qing said with a smile, ”When old classmates visit, even if I don’t have a place to stay, I’ll make sure they’re taken care of!”

”Hahaha...” Zhou Yong laughed loudly and said, ”By the way, are you here to see Professor Chen for anything?”

”Not much, just happened to be passing by, thought of visiting,” Ye Qing said.

”No problem, Professor Chen will be back in the evening,” Zhou Yong said, ”Just got engaged recently, preparing for an engagement party. I’ve contacted old classmates from the Capital and nearby; they’re all coming. You have to come, too. We’re all old classmates, a chance to gather after so many years.”

Originally, Ye Qing didn’t want to go. In fact, he didn’t have much in common with these old classmates. Sitting together, he wouldn’t know what to say or do.

But before he could refuse, Zhou Yong quickly said, ”By the way, Gao Shibao is also in the Capital. Have you seen him?”

”Really?” Ye Qing was surprised and said, ”He’s in the Capital too? What’s he doing?”

”Just passed the civil service exam, working in an office at a local street office. Life is quite frustrating now,” Zhou Yong sighed, ”I’ve talked to him before, you know. Without connections, status, or money for activities in the Capital, trying for civil service wasn’t suitable. Now look, he’s stuck in an office, six years without any promotion. When will he see hope? Plus, as civil servants, they can’t have any extra income. He’s really stuck, wanting to climb up with no chance, wanting to quit but reluctant to leave. I’m worried he won’t be able to take it anymore one day!”

Ye Qing frowned slightly. His relationship with Gao Shibao was quite good. When Ye Qing was studying here, Gao Shibao, also from Pingnan Province, had the closest relationship with him. Ye Qing still remembered how, when he had no clothes to wear, Gao Shibao lent him his own clothes, helping him quite a bit.

After graduating and serving five years in the military, Ye Qing basically lost contact with all classmates. Only Gao Shibao remained in his heart, and he wanted to find him again somehow. Unexpectedly, here in the Capital, he received news about Gao Shibao.

”Which street is he on?” Ye Qing asked.

”You want to see him?” Zhou Yong waved his hand, ”Forget it for today. He’s busy handling affairs for low-income residents; not in the office. Tonight, I’ll treat you to dinner, and he’ll come too. You should join us, old classmates together, catch up.”

Originally, Ye Qing didn’t want to go, but hearing Gao Shibao would come, he changed his mind.

”Alright,” Ye Qing nodded and said, ”Where’s it going to be tonight?”

”International Hotel.” Zhou Yong spoke with pride, knowing that the International Hotel was quite renowned in the Capital. Holding a banquet there showcased his financial strength.

However, Ye Qing didn’t understand these things, he simply nodded, memorized the location, so he could head there in the evening.

”Okay, I got it.” Ye Qing said with a smile, ”I’ll definitely go tonight. You get busy, I’ll go handle some business too.”

”Alright, we’ve got time to meet,” Zhou Yong laughed heartily, patting Ye Qing’s shoulder, ”Being in the Capital, if you need something, tell an old classmate. If there’s help needed, an old classmate won’t hesitate!”

Zhou Yong’s words warmed Ye Qing’s heart. Although the man was arrogant and liked comparisons, his heart was still good. At least, the things he said to Ye Qing weren’t false. Though spoken in a teachable manner, he genuinely considered Ye Qing’s situation. Whether good or bad, Ye Qing was undoubtedly aware of it.

Leaving the office building, Ye Qing directly called Huangfu Ziyu, who was still at the library. But she was just wandering around, while Liu Mubai was deeply engrossed in some books.

When Ye Qing arrived at the library, he saw Huangfu Ziyu idly standing at the entrance, while many students from afar were sneakily glancing at her. Huangfu Ziyu’s beauty attracted many gazes in the campus, enough to outshine any school beauty hundreds of times.

Seeing Ye Qing come over, Huangfu Ziyu immediately pouted and rushed up, saying, ”I told you that I don’t like school, I didn’t even graduate elementary, and here you are dragging me to this place, it’s really boring.”

Ye Qing was taken aback and looked at Huangfu Ziyu in astonishment, saying, ”You don’t look like someone who didn’t finish elementary school!”