see you in spring

Chapter 215 Men's Friendship

After calling Liu Quanhai, Liu Quantao found a small pack of cigarettes left in the room.He had been quitting smoking for several months, but at this moment, he was extremely irritated and anxious and wanted to smoke one.

He closed the door, opened the window, leaned against the window, and tried hard several times to light the lighter.The hand holding the cigarette was shaking a little. He lit it for a while before lighting it up.

After not smoking for a long time, he took two sharp puffs, choked and coughed.

Every time he coughed, the vibration in his chest caused his body to twitch, making his wounds throb with pain.He couldn't bear the pain and quickly put out the cigarette.

After a while, the feeling of suppressed anger did not diminish.He slowly moved to the bathroom, turned on the tap water, and washed his face with cold water.

When he looked up, he saw himself in the mirror.Although he is only in his 30s, his mental state looks like he is 60 or [-] years old.His face was dripping with water, his head was drooping, and there were two dark circles around his eyes caused by long-term insomnia on his swollen face. His eyes were full of confusion and frustration.

Back in the room, Liu Quantao sat in silence for a while, and finally picked up his phone and borrowed money from Liu Quanhai.

He knew that Sun Yan had spent all the money on her child's medical treatment last time and had no money at all.Among the thousands of phone numbers on his phone, only two or three were able to lend him money and were willing to lend him money.

Dongqing and Zhou You, these two classmates from the same university as him, are the only people he can borrow money from now.

Liu Quantao has experienced Zhou You spending money lavishly. He still remembers the pair of basketball shoes that Zhou You wore when playing basketball in college.At that time, Liu Quantao thought the shoes were pretty, so he asked how much it cost and where he bought them, and could he take him to buy them?

The jialai shoes that Liu Quantao had worn for several years had long since come unglued. He had saved nearly 100 yuan and wanted to buy a pair of basketball shoes that were as good-looking as Zhou You's.

It wasn't like Liu Quantao didn't know that the classmates around him wore better clothes than him, so he only had the confidence to ask after he had saved a hundred.At that time, his pair of Jai Alai cost more than 20 yuan. He felt that no matter how expensive the shoes of other male classmates were, they would only be a few dozen yuan more expensive at most.He has saved a hundred now and bought two pairs, which is more than enough.

Zhou You heard that he wanted to buy shoes, and introduced him enthusiastically. Finally, he told Zhou You a figure that almost shocked him: one thousand, five hundred yuan.

This was in an era when you could eat two dishes and one soup in the school cafeteria for two and a half dollars. The cost of buying a pair of shoes for traveling was more than Liu Quantao's three-month food expenses.

That was the first time Liu Quantao, who was in college, had a strong experience of the difference in consumption levels.It was also that time that he learned about the brand "Jordan" for the first time.Before this, the most expensive shoes he had ever seen were from a brand called "Red Dragonfly" opened in the town closest to their village.He remembers that when he was still in junior high school, he looked at the two to three hundred pairs of shoes in the window through the glass, and he thought that everyone who bought these shoes was crazy.Now that he has come to Jincheng, he has met classmates from all over the world, and has seen the colorful world here, only to realize that there are mountains outside the mountains, and there are people outside the people.

At that time, Liu Quantao was glad that he did not tell anyone about the 100 yuan. It was at that moment that he decided to stay in Jincheng and catch up after falling behind for more than ten years.

After getting acquainted with Zhou You, Liu Quantao knew that he was not a rich second generation, but he was very willing to spend money on things he liked.Like him, Zhou You often dismisses himself with instant noodles.The difference is that Liu Quantao really has no money, and Zhou You can only eat instant noodles because he has spent all his money.

Based on Liu Quantao's knowledge of Zhou You over the years, the chances of him being able to borrow money from Zhou You are very slim.It’s not that he refused, it’s that he simply didn’t.Thinking about it this way, Holly is the only one left now.

In fact, Liu Quantao was not sure at all. After all, Dongqing had only been working for two months. He had heard from Sun Yan that Jia Lie had taken out a loan to buy a house in a school district and had to pay back a lot of money every month.He knew that it was not easy for Dongqing himself, and he didn't know if he could lend him money, but for the sake of his brother, he could only bear this old face, and with the mentality of giving it a try, he sent a message to Dongqing and asked He borrowed 2 yuan and truthfully told Dongqing that his brother had borrowed an online loan.

It took 10 minutes since Liu Quantao's message was sent, but Dongqing still hadn't replied.

The hope in his eyes slowly extinguished, and he sighed heavily.It's not easy for anyone, this matter is Liu Quanhai's own death, and he can't blame anyone.

Liu Quantao stood up and walked slowly to the bed. He thought about what would happen if Liu Quanhai was unscrupulously collecting debts?He is only in his twenties and is not even married. If something happens...

Liu Quantao didn't dare to think about it anymore. As Liu Quanhai's eldest brother, he could do nothing to help. This sense of helpless frustration made his heart shrink into a ball.He clenched his fists and his eyes turned red.

At this moment, the phone rang suddenly.

Liu Quantao paused and turned around to see that it was Dongqing calling.

Just now Dongqing didn't reply to the message right away, and now she called again. Liu Quantao didn't know if there was hope or no hope.

As soon as the call was connected, Dongqing said directly: "After I saw your message just now, I called Jia Lie. I discussed it with her. Your brother owes [-] yuan. The [-] yuan must be paid back immediately, otherwise The interest is compounded, and if you delay it any longer, you may not be able to pay it back. Jia Lie and I have counted all the money at home, which is just enough for [-]. We will call you later, and you should ask your brother to pay the debt right away. The money was paid back.”

Liu Quantao was stunned. He didn't expect that Dongqing and his wife would spend all their money to help him.

"You...if you lend me all your money, what will happen to your mortgage?" Liu Quantao stuttered a little.

"Jia Lie went to the bank to apply for a two-month extension."

Liu Quantao showed embarrassment: "But...but after two months, I may, maybe I still can't return it to you."

He didn't even know if he could repay the money in his life.

"I know that in two months, I can start working to repay the loan. You don't have to worry, just settle your brother's affairs first."

After listening to Dongqing's words, Liu Quantao's eyes instantly became wet. He really didn't expect that Dongqing and his wife were willing to lend him money, and they even took the initiative to lend him so much.

"Thank you. At this time, you still dare to lend me money. I really don't know what to say except thank you. I will definitely keep this kindness in my heart. I can't make it so difficult for you. I Just borrow [-] yuan, and I’ll figure out a way for the rest.”

Holly asked, "What else can you do?"

Liu Quantao was a little shy: "I...I'll ask others."

Dongqing knew that Liu Quantao would never talk to him if he still had a way to borrow money from others.

"Just take it and don't say anything else. Give me your card number and I'll transfer it to you now."

Liu Quantao knew that it would be pretentious to refuse any more, so he said "thank you" again and tremblingly handed over the card number.

Within a few minutes, Dongqing transferred 5 yuan.

When Liu Quantao saw the bank reminder text message on his mobile phone, he felt that the feeling of being believed was so profound.

He said to Dongqing: "Don't worry, I, Liu Quantao, will definitely return the money to you with interest."

Dongqing wanted to refuse his interest, but then he thought about it, it was related to a man's self-esteem and self-reliance. He hoped that Liu Quantao could stand up again, so he replied with the word "ok".

After hanging up the phone, Liu Quantao covered his mouth and cried in his room.

When he was in college, because of his low self-esteem, he once felt that Zhou You, who had a good family background, and Dongqing, who was known as a top student, looked down on him, a stunned young man who came from the countryside.

Whenever he was with them, his nervousness and lack of confidence always followed him.Every time he made a fool of himself in front of everyone because of his knowledge and living habits, he would hide in the dormitory in a depressed mood. At that time, he would tell himself over and over again that one day, he would make them look at him with admiration. .One day, he will stand taller than them all and go farther than them all.He wanted them to know that they all underestimated him and that he would be the best among them.

Ten years after graduation, he did it.He became the regional manager of a large company, and the former top student became a dad; the former "King of People" became a ticket seller.Every time at a party, when he sees these college classmates who thought they were better than him, but in the end did not do as well as him, his arrogance will grow infinitely.Seeing their disgraced faces, his satisfaction was beyond words.

This is also an important reason why for so many years, even if he is a powerful person, he will definitely have dinner with a few of their college classmates who are not doing well at the end of the year.

He thought he would stay like this for the rest of his life, leaving them all far behind.Unexpectedly, an epidemic would reshuffle everything.

And he was beaten back to his original shape, becoming his original appearance, even worse than then.

But just when his life seemed hopeless even to himself, it was those old friends who he looked down upon before who came to help him.

At this moment, he admitted that he was indeed not as good as Holly.

But since he promised to pay back the money, he must do what he says, because it is about a man's self-esteem and commitment.

In the evening, Dongqing returned home and told Jia Lie about Liu Quantao's interest repayment while having dinner.

Jia Lie was hesitant to lend money to Liu Quantao at the beginning today.After all, Liu Quantao is now divorced from Sun Yan, and she didn't have a good feeling towards Liu Quantao before.But Dongqing's words touched her. He said that Liu Quantao was able to put aside his face and go to the construction site to make money for the sake of his children, which showed that he was a person worthy of helping and that he would definitely be able to pay back the money.

For so many years of friendship, Jia Lie is willing to trust Liu Quantao again.

After listening to Dongqing's words, Jia Lie asked, "You didn't ask him for interest, did you?"

Dongqing handed her the soup bowl: "I'll take it. Help me fill the bowl of soup."

Jia Lie took the bowl from him: "What? He's already like this, why do you still need the interest?"

Dongqing took the soup bowl back: "What do you know? Liu Quantao wants to save face and has strong self-esteem. If I reject him, it will hurt his dignity as a man. If I really do this, I will look down on him."

"Tch, you know it. You know everything. Why don't you know how to wash the dishes after dinner?" Jia Lie rolled his eyes at him, thinking that men can easily rise to the level of self-esteem.Looking after children at home hurts self-esteem, not being able to find a job hurts self-esteem, having others help hurts self-esteem, and women are said to be pretentious. In fact, the most pretentious people are men.

(End of this chapter)