Chapter 1474: Memories of Mengyan
Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
Chapter 1723: T07 New Year’s Special Chapter – Memories of Mengyan (1)
Yang Ming felt both nostalgia and regret upon remembering the past.
It had been more than two years since Su Ya had left him. He had received no news from her in these two years. This made Yang Ming’s initial hope turn into the slight discouragement he felt now.
Perhaps, he was just a brief passerby in Su Ya’s life. If they were to meet again, things would no longer be the same.
Yang Ming sighed. He got up from the bed, shook his head a little, and shouted to the door, “I got it, mom. I’ll get up now!”
“So much dillydallying. Be careful later. Your father’s in a bad mood, so don’t trigger him!” Mother Yang reminded him.
“Oh…” Yang Ming sighed. It was reasonable for his father to be unhappy. When Su Ya left, he had become depressed and no longer had the heart to study. He stumbled into high school in a daze, ended up failing all his subjects in the final exam of his first semester, and ranked last in his class. How could his father possibly be in a good mood?
This year, it was still his uncle who was hosting. His uncle’s family was no longer how they used to be! In comparison to the small boss he was three years ago, Uncle Yang Dashan had now undertaken a huge sandpit and began to provide construction materials to construction sites. He had leaped to become one of Song Jiang’s prominent figures.
As for his father, the situation at the Song Jiang bus factory where he worked was only getting worse. There were no more incentives, and even the wages were often in arrears. This made Yang Ming’s family that was already not that wealthy to become even more frugal.
In the past, a one-sided situation usually would not happen at the banquet because of Yang Ming’s good grades. Uncle Yang Dashan was also too shy to say much. However, Yang Ming had become the laughing stock at the new year’s table ever since he started his second year of junior high.
His uncle would pick on his father’s incompetence, and cousin Yang Li would talk about his learning problems. This made Yang Ming and his family extremely uncomfortable. The hardest part of every year was the day before new years.
Yang Ming got dressed, pushed the door and walked out of the room. He immediately saw his father sitting on the sofa, smoking silently. “Father…”
“You’re up? Clean up a little. We’re going to your uncle’s banquet,” said Yang Dahai while glancing at Yang Ming.
“Oh…” Yang Ming was reluctant, but his father was a stubborn person. He believed that relatives must be together during the Chinese New Year. So, even if it always ended up unpleasant, he would still attend the banquet every year.
Yang Ming went to the bathroom, washed his face, and looked at himself in the mirror. In comparison to the quiet and gentle person he was three years ago, he had become buff and strong.
His parents did not know how Yang Ming had spent the past three years. He was muddleheaded, getting into fights and skipping classes. It had caused his initial outstanding results to degrade.
Yang Ming smiled in the mirror… Perhaps, it’s time to start a new life. Isn’t it?
Let the past fallen days be in the past. There’s not much future for hooligans… Yang Ming had come to this decision more than once. However, it would just fizzle out every time.
The long and scattered days had caused Yang Ming to lose his desire to learn. He had no ambitions, no pursuits, and no goals.
When Su Ya was there, Yang Ming used his wish to end up in the same high school as her as his goal and worked hard for it.
But now, Yang Ming had no pursuits and no goals. He didn’t know which path he would take in the future.
Should I graduate from high school and start some small business? Just like my junior high school buddy, Xu Peng, I’ll open up a billiard center, make some money, and live honestly.
Although Yang Ming was helpless, he was not satisfied. This was not the life he wanted.
Yang Ming had scolded God for His injustice more than once. If He didn’t change Yang Ming’s initial life trajectory, Yang Ming would have finished junior high, high school, and college with Su Ya. They might have even gotten married and had children in the future, living happily ever after.
However, it was all ruined by his class teacher, Wu Chiren.
Some people say that God is always fair. When you lose something, you will gain much more in the future.
Yang Ming had also imagined that someday in the future, God would remember him and would grant him a huge gift to get back all that he had lost.
Yang Ming washed his face and exited the bathroom. His mother had already packed up and was wearing her coat. Yang Ming quickly wore his coat, and the family of three went downstairs.
Yang Dahai went downstairs and looked at the weather. There were still snowflakes falling from the sky, so he said, “Call a taxi. Let’s not crowd the bus today.”
“Anything you want.” Although Mother Yang was usually reluctant to spend money, it was reasonable to spend extravagantly today as it was the new year.
The three of them walked to the gate of the community. Yang Ming stopped a taxi and sat in the front seat. His parents sat in the backseat.
“Where are you guys going?” The taxi driver asked enthusiastically.
“To the Tavern Heaven on Earth Hotel,” said Father Yang while glancing at the text message on his phone.
“Okay.” The taxi driver started the car and drove toward the Tavern Heaven on Earth.
Yang Ming glanced at the taxi driver’s nameplate that was placed on the front seat. He found that he was a driver from the Dade Elegant Taxi Company, and his name was Sun Kun.
The Tavern Heaven on Earth Hotel was Song Jiang’s first luxurious three-star hotel that had just finished construction earlier this year. It was invested and built by the Wang’s Century Xiongfeng Group, and was said to have cost hundreds of millions of yuan.
Speaking of the Wang’s Century Xiongfeng Group, Yang Ming could not help but lament that the world was so small! Because the young master of the Wang’s Century Xiongfeng Group was actually his classmate!
Coincidentally, this person was actually Yang Ming’s old acquaintance.
When he first met Wang Zhitao, Yang Ming had felt that he seemed familiar. However, he didn’t remember where he had seen him before.
However, Yang Ming finally remembered where he had seen him before when he saw Wang Zhitao’s father, Wang Xifan, at the parent-teacher meeting!
It was three years ago, at the parking lot in front of the Nightless Club Hotel. It was this father and son who were sitting in that Mercedes-Benz that had the license plate Pine BXX888.
Due to what happened previously, Yang Ming did not have any positive feelings toward Wang Zhitao. However, a student with an excellent academic performance like Wang Zhitao also didn’t seem to think positively of Yang Ming. The two had never spoken much.
Wang Zhitao’s being elected as the class monitor was reasonable in Yang Ming’s opinion. His academic performance was good and had already determined his destiny. Plus, he was rich. He was not stingy and had bought a bag of snacks for every student in the class before the class monitor elections. Every so often, he would even form groups and gangs to buy them meals.
Wang Zhitao also had a little pet named Chen Afu under him who would go around talking of his strengths. So, Wang Zhitao was elected as the class monitor with no doubts.
Of course, Yang Ming did not vote for him, but this did not hinder the final result of the selection. A single person’s strength was small.
Just as Yang Ming was watching the class committee election with full boredom, a figure caught Yang Ming’s attention! A throbbing enthusiasm that had been buried in his heart for many years poured out of his heart once again.
It was a feeling that he had only felt when he first met Su Ya.
This kind of emotion made Yang Ming remember the name of this figure in detail. She was the class’s learning committee member, Chen Mengyan.
However, Yang Ming knew that there was a vast gap between Chen Mengyan and himself because of his longing for Su Ya and his current inferior situation.
After so many years of neglecting his studies, it was incredibly hard for Yang Ming to pick up a textbook again.
As a result, Yang Ming could only admire Chen Mengyan in his heart and did not dare to express it. In comparison to the blurriness when he met Su Ya, Yang Ming was extremely certain that he liked Chen Mengyan very much.
Originally, Yang Ming thought that he would not have any intersection with Chen Mengyan in the future. However, there are always accidents in life! Just a month ago on Christmas day, he strolled on the field with Chen Mengyan and went home together with her. He even accidentally brought Chen Mengyan’s school bag back home.
This forced Chen Mengyan to take her bag back from him shamefully the next morning. Although Yang Ming didn’t know how Chen Mengyan explained the school bag incident to her family, he knew that it wouldn’t have been easy.
“You didn’t peek inside of my bag, did you?” Although Chen Mengyan wanted to hurry away after taking the bag, she still couldn’t help but ask.
“No! I swear,” Yang Ming said solemnly.
Chapter 1724: T08 New Year’s Special Chapter – Memories of Mengyan (2)
In all honesty, Yang Ming was not a gentleman. However, he was also not a wretched and lowly person. Although last night, Yang Ming really wanted to know what a girl would have in her bag… Could there be undergarments or something like that?
However, Yang Ming resisted the curiosity in his heart and did not open her school bag.
Chen Mengyan did not dare to decide whether Yang Ming was telling the truth, but she also understood that she asked just to seek psychological comfort. Chen Mengyan was not so nervous because there were undergarments in her bag or anything like that. It was because there was a sanitary pad and a few safety pads.
Yang Ming sighed secretly as he watched Chen Mengyan leave with her schoolbag. It would be great if I had x-ray vision. That way, I can see what secrets there are in Chen Mengyan’s little school bag… That wouldn’t be considered as peeking, right?
Thinking of this, Yang Ming had a sudden realization. He smacked his forehead. If I had x-ray vision, why would I look into a bag? I could just look at real people!
Just as his fantasies intoxicated him, he didn’t realize that a cold gaze was staring at him.
This person was the Wang Family’s big young master, Wang Zhitao. Due to Chen Afu’s incident yesterday, Wang Zhitao already hated Yang Ming. Now that he saw Yang Ming and Chen Mengyan talking, and that Chen Mengyan’s bag was actually with Yang Ming, he couldn’t help but think of certain things.
However, he didn’t think that Chen Mengyan liked Yang Ming. The gap between the two was indeed too wide. His main competitor was Chen Xiaolong and not Yang Ming.
So, he only hated Yang Ming a little, and not too much. After glaring at Yang Ming coldly, he shifted his gaze onto Chen Mengyan. Wang Zhitao swore that this girl was his girlfriend by default, and no one could snatch her away from him!
That incident had become a sweet and warm memory in Yang Ming’s mind. Perhaps, Chen Mengyan wouldn’t have any special feelings nor remember the trivial things that happened between them on that Christmas Night.
However, it was fresh in Yang Ming’s memory.
Yang Ming naturally knew about Chen Xiaolong and Wang Zhitao’s thoughts. However, Wang Zhitao was not as obvious as Chen Xiaolong. So, Yang Ming also held an unprovoking attitude.
After all, regardless of Wang Zhitao’s position in class or his family background, they were something that Yang Ming dared not provoke. However, Yang Ming didn’t care much about Chen Xiaolong. Yang Ming knew Chen Xiaolong’s father, Chen Zhiye, had fled to the south because he had offended a big hooligan.
“Passengers, we have reached Tavern Heaven on Earth,” said the taxi driver, Sun Kun.
Looking at the magnificent building in front of him, Yang Ming lamented the wealth of Wang Zhitao’s family. After Yang Dahai paid the fare, the family of three got off and walked to the hotel entrance.
Why is this Wang Zhitao kid’s life so good? Yang Ming’s heart was defamatory. It would be great if this hotel was his. That way, he wouldn’t have to take his uncle and his family’s crap.
Yang Ming laughed at himself at this unrealistic thought.
How could a hotel of this size be his? If Wang Zhitao and his father were all dead, it would then be somewhat possible. Otherwise, there was no possibility at all.
The waiters here were obviously more professional than those at the Nightless Club. As soon as they entered the hotel lobby, Yang Ming saw that his uncle’s family was waiting on the lobby’s sofa! There was even a younger-looking man sitting next to his uncle, and the two were talking.
“Dahai, you’re here? Over here!” Yang Dashan waved at Yang Ming’s family and motioned for them to go over and sit. “Lao San’s family is not here yet. Let’s wait for a while.”
Yang Dashan waited for Yang Ming and his family to come close, before introducing the man next to him. “This is the Executive Vice President of Tavern Heaven on Earth, Guo Jianchao. President Guo!”
“Hello, President Guo!” Yang Dahai heard and shook hands with him quickly.
Guo Jianchao touched Yang Dahai’s hand arrogantly and pulled his hand back. He had a look of contempt.
Yang Ming cursed in his heart. What are you so arrogant for? My father shook hands with you, so what are you looking down on? If I become successful one day, I will make you my henchman. I’ll see if you can still be so cocky!
Guo Jianchao didn’t even look at Yang Ming and looked back to continue talking to Yang Dashan.
It was apparent that there was the intention to flatter in Yang Dashan and Guo Jianchao’s conversation. It could be that there was something in regards to his uncle’s business that he needed Guo Jianchao to take care of.
There wasn’t much extra space on the sofa. Yang Ming could only let his father sit next to Uncle Yang Dashan, and he and his mother stood at the side.
Fortunately, his mother had gotten used to standing from her temporary work at the community downstairs. As for Yang Ming, he was strong and fit, so he wouldn’t feel tired.
Undeniably, the hotel was top-rated. In such a short period of time, there were already four to five waves of guests.
Although Tavern Heaven on Earth was a high-end place, they launched a reunion dinner set service to avoid their business being deserted during the new year. This was just right for families to come for dinner.
The price was not expensive. It ranged from more than one thousand yuan to tens of thousands of yuan per table. This really made this place popular!
Several other hotels were nowhere near as busy as this place. Although they were not completely empty, they had much fewer guests than usual.
After all, most people would reunite during the new years. There would be very few treats at hotels, unless they were outsiders.
Uncle San and his family reached not too long after. Cousin Yang Xiaobo had quite a good relationship with Yang Ming. They immediately started chatting when they met, but Yang Li gazed at them in disdain.
Yang Ming and Yang Xiaobo had long gotten used to Yang Li’s attitude, so they did not care.
The whole family got on the elevator, and the vice president Guo Jianchao had also gone to do his own thing.
This time, Yang Dashan ordered a luxury New Year’s Eve set dinner that cost thirty thousand yuan. As he made more and more money, Yang Dashan had also become more and more proud. He spent a lot of money in front of his family and gained envy from others.
Yang Dashan was intoxicated.
The topic for this year’s New Year’s Eve dinner still revolved around how much money Uncle Yang Dashan made last year. “Last year, I started the sandpit and made five million dollars. Sigh, it’s tiring! However, making money is easy!”
“…” Both Father Yang and Uncle San’s faces were awkward. They didn’t know how to carry on the conversation.
Yang Dashan seemed to enjoy the feeling of making other people speechless. He continued to say, “When I have money in the future, I will also open up an entertainment city or a large hotel. It’s easy to make money in this industry!”
After listening to Uncle’s words, Yang Ming sneered. Do you think it’s so easy to open a hotel? Although Yang Ming had never opened up one, he had also mixed around in the streets. He knew the depths of this industry. Not just anyone could start up a hotel.
His uncle may be able to make money by mining sand, but he might be at a loss if he shifted to the entertainment line.
However, Yang Ming certainly wouldn’t say these words. It was not about whether his uncle would listen or not. Even if he said it, it would not benefit him at all.
Yang Xiaobo, on the other hand, didn’t have that many thoughts. When he heard that his uncle was going to open a hotel, he immediately rejoiced. “That’s great! Our family will have our own hotel then. I can bring my classmates there to play, right?”
“Of course!” Yang Dashan nodded and said, “Yang Ming, you can also bring your friends there to play… However, it will be better if you don’t play with your academic performance. You should buck up, lest you can’t get into college, and end up as a worker like your father with no success in life. We will lose all of our Yang Family’s face because of you…”
“Yeah, Yang Ming. How did you say you did in the test? Last rank! I was even embarrassed when I heard your results!” Yang Li also interjected. “Do you know what rank I got? In my class, I got first place! My friends all asked if Yang Ming was really my brother. Tell me, how is the gap between a brother and sister so huge?”
“Yang Ming, you see, your sister can’t afford to raise her head at school. Why don’t you work hard? Are you even a Yang Family member? Look at your uncle, me. I am also a prominent figure in Song Jiang. You are so embarrassing!” Yang Dashan said.
Yang Ming frowned. It was really irritating hearing this, and he finally couldn’t help but stand up. “I’m going to the bathroom!”