CHAPTER 757: CHAPTER 588: THE FREELOADER’S WAY OF EATING AND DRINKING

"Chi Shi, Chi Shi!!"

Li Hua grumbled in the class group chat, "My uncle just took me to see his Benz and talked about it for ages."

"He even asked if I liked it, and when I nodded and said I did,"

"He said, ’Make sure you remember this. When you see the emblem on a car like this, never crash into it.’"

The group chat erupted with laughter.

It’s just that, for some, the new year is joyful. Like Huang Caicai, who posted a big table full of food and a little puppy.

For others, it’s like being in prison, like for Zeng You.

"Damn, I got scolded for playing on my phone. Dumb relatives said wearing a hat during the day makes me look like a hooligan."

Wu Jungu: "(Dazed) So, why are you wearing a hat during the day?"

Jiang Nian: "Didn’t wash my hair."

Lin Dong: "Didn’t wash my hair."

Repeat x7.

Zeng You: "Yeah, why the hell do they care about that?"

Dong Que chimed in with an emoji.

"After my grandfather passed away, there are hardly any relatives to visit. Used to visit relatives for three days, now it’s just one day."

This message resonated with many in the group.

Soon, the messages hit over 99+.

To be fair, the third class group chat has always been the most active among seniors, mainly due to the class atmosphere.

In this, Lao Liu has made an indelible contribution.

Even though, he’s not in the group chat.

But, it’s related to him.

Jiang Nian skimmed through the chat without joining in, understanding that young people don’t enjoy visiting relatives.

In the past, there was no choice, but now grown-up, it’s just laziness.

He idled from noon till night, had dinner, and prepared to return to Zhen Nan, once again caught in the tug-of-war of sending gifts.

"Hey, take these fish jerky with you!"

"Just some countryside stuff, can’t finish it, and it’s not worth much."

"No need, really no need."

Li Hongmei persistently refused, pushing away the sausages, but eventually took some dried sweet potatoes and fish jerky.

She closed the car door and said calmly,

"Let’s go."

Jiang Nian admired this, adults really know how to put on a show, soon mom would gossip on the road.

One face in public, another in private.

Quite distinctive.

Back home, it was already late at night.

Jiang Nian quickly washed up and glanced at his phone. As the first day was about to end, the messages weren’t as many as the night before.

"What are you doing?"

"Watching TV dramas." Xu Qianqian sent him a picture, "[Picture], Xiyun’s on my bed."

"Aluminum copper."

"Get lost!"

Jiang Nian: "Aluminum and copper won’t react."

Xu Qianqian: "..."

"(Points to person emoji) Don’t think I don’t know what you mean!"

"What?"

"Aluminum and copper won’t directly react in the air. It’s because... still playing dumb? You pervert."

Jiang Nian laughed but intended to keep teasing.

"Did you shower before sleeping?"

"Yes."

"Why does it look like your neck isn’t clean, is there some dirt?"

Xu Qianqian: "..."

After chatting for a while, he learned that the two girls planned to return to Zhen Nan on the morning of the fifth, so they tentatively agreed on a pickup time.

Lying in bed, Jiang Nian mumbled to himself.

"Another three days."

The next day, the second day of the year.

He woke up groggy, casually turned off the alarm. His parents still had to visit more relatives, to the eldest uncle’s place.

"Mom, can I not go?"

"Alright then." Li Hongmei relented, mainly because the relationship with the uncle’s family is just so-so, "Then stay home."

"Do you want me to make you some food to heat up for lunch?"

"Mom, you might as well hang a pancake around my neck." Jiang Nian, as usual, spoke in his nonchalant manner.

"Brat!" Li Hongmei tossed her head and left.

She had only one son, who often got on her nerves. But sometimes she felt proud since Jiang Nian was very independent.

Even if it were the end of the world, Jiang Nian would live just fine.

...

At noon.

Only Jiang Nian was left at home. He rummaged through the fridge, finding leftovers from New Year’s Eve, but wasn’t really hungry.

Few shops were open outside, and the taste wasn’t great.

He intended to find some cooking videos but ended up scrolling through TikTok for half an hour, forgetting his original plan.

Cooking... too late for that.

"Forget it, I’ll eat out." Jiang Nian grabbed the key to his electric bike, phone in pocket, and headed downstairs, taking a loop around.

Not many shops open, byd.

Starving.

He stopped by the roadside, preparing to scroll through the class chat.

Grumble a bit.

He turned his head and saw someone having a banquet at Qinghua Hotel. On one of the tables sat someone familiar, that person looked at Jiang Nian as well.

"How come it’s her?"

Coincidentally, the one eating inside was Zhou Yuting, who Jiang Nian had joked with yesterday, sending a "1" and quickly retracting it.

A minute later, Zhou Yuting stepped out.

"What are you doing here?"

Jiang Nian didn’t want to admit he was looking for a place to eat but found none. It was way past lunchtime, and he was a bit lightheaded from hunger.

"Can you bring me a piece of that pork knuckle?"

Zhou Yuting: "???"

She couldn’t understand but went back in, found a box, and packed some food for him.

She came out hurriedly, appearing somewhat reserved.

"Yesterday, you..."

"The portion’s a bit small, huh."

Zhou Yuting: "...."

In her life, she’d never met anyone so desperate for food. But after a moment’s hesitation, she went back in and packed another portion.

"This is the last one; my mom’s going to give me an earful."

"Oh, thanks a lot." Jiang Nian ate while watching the sparse traffic, "By the way, what excuse did you use?"

Zhou Yuting pursed her lips and glanced at the sky.

"Nothing much."

The purest hunger makes you forget all grudges.

Zhou Yuting originally wanted to ask something, but couldn’t get a word in edgewise. Unable to leave for a bit, she started talking to herself.

"Today, my middle school friends asked me to hang out."

"But I didn’t go."

"It’s full of people showing off, what’s the point?" Jiang Nian, having benefited from her hospitality, wasn’t as sarcastic as he usually was.

"No, I never felt people showed off at our gatherings... it was just casual chat." Zhou Yuting said.

Thinking for a moment, Jiang Nian replied, "At any gathering, there are always people showing off."

"Hmm?"

"If you don’t notice anyone showing off, that means you’re the one doing it."

Zhou Yuting: ".... you."

After finishing, Jiang Nian wiped his mouth. He checked his pockets but had no tissues, then saw a piece of paper handed to him from the side.

"Here, take it."

"Uh... thanks." Jiang Nian said.

Zhou Yuting stood by the road, glanced at him, and asked.

"What did you retract yesterday?"

Jiang Nian confessed, "1."

"Be honest," she pressed.

"It was 1, really just 1." Jiang Nian held up a finger, "I sent the number 1 and then retracted it."

Zhou Yuting frowned, turned away, and left.

"Fine, don’t say anything."

Jiang Nian didn’t care either, clapping his hands and leaving. Unexpectedly, even a random outing could bring new gains.

In terms of scrounging food and drink, he’s truly top-notch.

Afternoon.

Li Qingrong sent him a message, asking,

"Where are you?"

"At home, doing homework." Jiang Nian lay on the desk, responding with boredom, "Qingqing, what’s up?"

Li Qingrong: "There’s a dinner party tonight."