Chapter 18 Two Roads
Late at night on the streets of Beijing, members of the Qingya Literary Society staggered forward in groups. From time to time, someone would loudly recite a puzzling poem, attracting the attention of passers-by.
The poet is unrestrained and free after drinking, and doesn't care what others think!
Lu Jingyao also drank today, and her head was dizzy and her legs were unsteady when she walked, but she didn't feel the least bit happy in her heart.
In the end it wasn't her turn to pay the bill for today's dinner, but it still felt worse than if she had to pay herself.
Originally, she planned to borrow money from He Xue and other classmates who she had a good relationship with, and pool the money together to pay for the meal, but He Xue "accidentally" leaked the news.
Qian Shun from the Literature Club immediately and generously paid the bill, held Lu Jingyao's hand, and said many comforting words.
"We are all sisters. If you have any difficulties in the future, just speak up. Money is just a thing outside of the body. Only friendship and affection can last forever."
Qian Shun's words were sincere and emotional, but at that time, Lu Jingyao only felt the caress on his palm, saw the heat in Qian Shun's eyes, and smelled the unpleasant smell of alcohol on his mouth.
Disgusted Lu Jingyao made it clear on the spot that the money was borrowed and she would definitely pay it back in the future.
However, He Xue and others took the opportunity to make a fuss, and asked Lu Jingyao with a smile, "What are you going to give back?", and suggested that she just give herself to him.
Later, Lu Jingyao almost left on the spot, and everyone calmed down and said that it was just a "joke."
But Lu Jingyao has secretly decided to pay Qian Shun back as soon as possible and not have anything more to do with him.
But what you fear will come true. When everyone returned to the Foreign Languages College and were about to go back to their dormitories, Qian Shun stopped Lu Jingyao.
"Jingyao, please take a walk with me!"
“.”
In the 1980s, if a man and a woman were walking outside late at night, it was basically equivalent to being in love.
You have to know that there was a term called "Yamalu" at that time, which specifically referred to the intimate behavior between lovers.
Of course Lu Jingyao wouldn't fall for it. She was sure that if she just "walked around" with Qian Shun tonight, rumors that they were a couple would spread all over the school tomorrow.
In this age where people's words are feared, what is false may soon become true.
"No, Brother Qian. It's very late now. It's not very convenient."
Lu Jingyao rejected Qian Shun calmly and turned around and walked towards the girls' dormitory.
But Qian Shun followed closely and said, "Jingyao, don't think too much. I just have a lot of inspiration right now and hope to find someone to discuss it with.
And you are the most gifted among us, and only you are qualified to have spiritual resonance with me."
Lu Jingyao walked very fast, and Qian Shun chased her very quickly. The two of them walked one after the other until they arrived at the downstairs of the girls' dormitory, and Qian Shun did not give up.
Are you kidding? It’s only thirty dollars!
He spent a worker's monthly salary, but he couldn't even hold her hand, and that was it for a while? Is Qian Shun a fool?
Qian Shun is not a fool, but Lu Jingyao is even less of a fool.
Every girl who has been beautiful since childhood will be harassed several times during her growth. For someone like Qian Shun who is so straightforward and eager, Lu Jingyao can see through his lustful intentions at a glance.
She said sternly, "I'm really sorry, Senior Qian, I have no interest in being alone with you. As for the money I owe you, I will pay it back next month."
“.”
Qian Shun stood there in a daze. He could never have imagined that Lu Jingyao, who seemed weak and vulnerable on ordinary days, would be so heartless.
Judging from her current attitude, she is just short of shouting "Get away from me, you rascal".
Qian Shun's face turned from red to black, gradually becoming ferocious.
"Pay it off next month? How are you going to pay it off? Go hungry for a month?"
"Do you really think you are valuable? Do you know that it was me who helped the school magazine get your work published?"
"You are a country girl, do you know how precious the kindness of a Beijing person is? Do you know how inviolable the self-esteem of a Beijing person is?"
Under the influence of alcohol, Qian Shun finally couldn't help but pour out the anger in his heart, and it got out of control.
Lu Jingyao was frightened and took a few steps back, then turned around and fled to the girls' dormitory building in a panic.
She was afraid that if she ran away a little slower, the drunk man would pounce on her like a hungry wolf.
Lu Jingyao ran all the way into the dormitory, and the fear in her heart gradually disappeared, replaced by increasingly strong resentment and grievance.
"Money, money, money, money. Why is it always about money? Will my whole life be bound by money and lose my freedom?"
Lu Jingyao burst into tears out of grievance.
Ever since she could remember, her family had been troubled by the issue of "money".
My father is just a private teacher who graduated from high school. His monthly salary is barely enough to support a family of five.
If it weren't for his father's tenacious dedication to education, Lu Jingyao, a "money-loser", would have dropped out of school after junior high school.
No matter how frugal a high school student is, the annual expenses are still dozens of dollars, which is a huge burden for the poor Lu family.
But last winter, my house collapsed under the weight of heavy snow, and my mother's lung disease relapsed. I felt that I really couldn't get through that difficult time. If it weren't for Li Ye
Thinking of this, Lu Jingyao suddenly swayed and almost fell down.
Li Ye at that time was very similar to Qian Shun.
He also came from a wealthy family, had plenty of pocket money, and also expressed admiration for Lu Jingyao.
But Li Ye is not Lu Jingyao's ideal prince charming.
He didn't understand poetry or literature, wasn't good at studying, and always gave her a silly smile. The youthfulness of this young boy always made Lu Jingyao feel embarrassed.
It can be said that apart from being tall and handsome, Li Ye has no other good points.
But when the Li family came to propose marriage with 120 yuan and half a car of betrothal gifts, Lu Jingyao had no choice but to accept the reality.
The roof of the house was replaced, and his mother's lung disease was cured. The pocket money in Li Ye's pocket made the poor Lu family get rid of the haze of many years and filled it with laughter and joy.
During that period, Lu Jingyao felt both happy and depressed. She didn't know what kind of family status she would fall into in the future as she "owed a huge debt".
Am I like the vine in the poem, which can only grow by relying on a big tree and become its vassal for the rest of its life?
But a turning point did appear.
During that year or so, Lu Jingyao no longer had to skip classes frequently to go home and help her mother with housework. She also hired an English teacher to give her extra-curricular tutoring. Her academic performance improved by leaps and bounds, and she was finally admitted to university.
And Li Ye is still that handsome guy with a silly smile and average academic performance.
On the night when she received the university admission letter, Lu Jingyao's father pointed out two paths for her.
No one knows a daughter better than her father. He didn't want to restrict his daughter's free-spirited thoughts, so he gave the choice to Lu Jingyao.
One is to return to his hometown to work after graduating from university and live a stable life with Li Ye.
The other is that the eagle soars into the sky, breaks out of the cage, flies freely in the sky, and never comes back.
Lu Jingyao, who already felt inferior and depressed because of her mismatched social status, chose the latter.
My father silently agreed, went to cancel the engagement, and took on everything.
When Lu Jingyao left Qinghe County, she felt that she had finally escaped from the sea of suffering.
But why is it that when we go to university, it’s just another cycle?
And compared with Li Ye, Qian Shun is so disgusting?
(End of this chapter)
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