On Tianran's birthday, Guo Huai planned for the three of them to have a meal together to celebrate his birthday.
"Dabianluo" is the name in Cantonese, which actually means eating hot pot.
In the cold winter in this port city, this is indeed the first choice for friends to gather for dinner.
Maybe it's because He Tianran and Wen Liang have been together for a long time in the past two years. When he goes out to meet up with friends, he hears the word "eat hot pot", and every time he hears the word "eating hot pot", he always thinks of eating Chongqing hot pot, which makes his taste in food gradually become heavier. , but when it comes to the eating habits he has developed since childhood, He Tianran still prefers the Cantonese hot pot called "Dabian Lu", which allows you to drink a sip of the soup base.
Guo Huaiding's store is not easy to find. It is located on the side of the road on the Xueyuan branch. The name is "Xingyun Dabian Lu". The store is just a lobby and has no private rooms. If you pass by here during the day, you probably won't notice it. arrive.
Before He Tianran came, he originally wanted to check the ratings on the food app, but he didn't expect that there was no information about this store.
Since all three of them had one-day classes, it was already evening by the time He Tianran arrived. At this moment, looking in through the plastic transparent curtains hanging at the door of the store, the store was already overcrowded, and every table was filled with casseroles. The Gulu is steaming, there is a constant flow of people pushing cups and changing cups, and some seats have been placed on the sidewalk.
There seem to be very few student customers in this store. Most of them are middle-aged people. Most of the words they speak are in Cantonese, which is normal. This kind of old restaurant with simple decoration has a poor environment. It is neither Internet famous nor There is no publicity, so the only people who know about this place are not gourmets, but locals nearby.
On a winter night, there is a small restaurant on the street, a table set up casually on the curb, a charcoal stove and a casserole the size of a half basin. The rising white smoke is not only the fragrance, but also a kind of food. Can withstand the cold smoke of fireworks.
He Tianran liked this kind of strong market atmosphere. Seeing this scene, he was already gushing. Looking around, he finally found Guo Huai who had arrived early in a corner of the street.
He walked up and found that Guo Huai seemed to be talking to the waiter in the store.
"Auntie, there really are no private rooms here? What about the lobby? Is there any room in the lobby?"
Guo Huai looked a little anxious, as if he didn't expect that business here would be so good.
"No, we don't have private rooms here. You can't eat anything."
It is estimated that there are too many guests now and the aunt is not very good-tempered. She replied in Cantonese. Guo Huai looked confused. He could roughly understand the meaning of the first few words, but he obviously didn't hear the last few words. clear.
He Tianran stepped forward and came to the rescue:
"Eat, Auntie, we are just sitting here, we shouldn't worry about the table."
Guo Huai found out that his birthday boy had arrived today and looked embarrassed at the current situation.
The waitress turned to look at him and asked:
"Do you want the bottom of the pot?"
"Fish maw chicken."
The aunt quickly set up a table next to it and moved a few plastic chairs. He Tianran said if they had a friend. They would order the side dishes later and put the bottom of the pot on first. The aunt nodded and left. go.
He Tianran looked at Guo Huai who was still in a daze and said with a smile:
"Sit down, President, this is the place you found. Why are you so reserved?"
After saying that, he took the lead and sat down.
Guo Huai scratched his head. This was his first meeting since he kicked He Tianran in the hotel last time. It was also his birthday. He originally wanted to arrange it better this time, but he didn't expect that He Tianran would just sit there like this. Eating hot pot on the side of the road, and it was still in the cold winter...
"Of course... why don't we change places? I don't know that even the lobby is full right now."
Guo Huai suggested sheepishly.
"What are you going to change? I've ordered all the bottom of the pot. Where's the fish maw chicken? Dabu. If you sit in the lobby, you might be so hot while eating that you'll be sweating. It's just right here now, and others are still using the charcoal stove. , it won’t be cold.”
He Tianran didn't mind this. He couldn't eat it while eating the side stove. Besides, it was lively and lively here. He really liked it.
Just looking at Guo Huai's expression, he guessed:
"Are you afraid that Ai Qing will come later? It's not suitable for a girl to sit on the street, right?"
Guo Huai nodded, paused for a while, and then shook his head, wondering:
"I'm a little worried when you say that...but...this is the place she recommended..."
"Ah...what did I say? No wonder, it's very good here. Don't bother. Ai Qing's recommendation is correct."
Only then did He Tianran suddenly realize that he felt something was wrong. This place was not a place that Guo Huai could find. Even if he wanted to find what he liked, it couldn't be this kind of small street restaurant full of regional colors. Only a local girl like Cao Aiqing would pay attention to this kind of place.
Guo Huai struggled mentally for a while, but finally sat down and wiped the greasy table with a napkin.
Speaking of which, Guo Huai has the worst family environment among the three, but now he has become the most particular person.
He Tianran knew very well that this was definitely not Guo Huai's transition from frugality to luxury after he became the president of the student union, but that he wanted to arrange today's dinner party so much that he felt a little nervous.
The waiter brought a piece of beer, and then another piece of edamame and peanuts. The former was ordered by He Tianran just now, and the latter was a regular gift from this store, and the bottom of the pot had to be cooked for a while.
He Tianran opened two bottles of wine and asked:
"Why don't you see Ai Qing? I thought she would come with you since my class ended late."
Guo Huai separated the plastic wine glasses that were tied together, took the bottle, and poured the wine:
"No, she seems to have bought you a cake."
"That's it...come on, let's have a drink first."
He Tianran raised his wine glass and the two of them drank the wine in one gulp.
"Happy birthday, naturally, before I..."
As soon as Guo Huai said his congratulations, He Tianran waved his hands in time and said carelessly:
"Thank you, thank you, don't do it. I know what you are going to say. It's okay. Ai Qing hasn't come yet. It's just me and the two men talking about these weird things. Just drink."
Guo Huai had always been afraid that He Tianran would have trouble with the misunderstanding of him before. Seeing him in such a joking state, he immediately relaxed a lot, so he smiled and said:
"I'm not saying you're a natural. You, a second-generation rich man, are too careless."
"How to say?"
He Tianran squeezed a few edamame beans and threw them into his mouth.
After drinking the yellow soup, Guo Huai gradually relaxed:
"In other families, the second generation of rich people have parties on their birthdays, and the more luxurious ones fly to places like Sanya. I'm afraid it won't be a lively event, but you can just have a hot pot on the street."
"Hey, you're still talking about me. Isn't this just to show off to you, the student council? I'll live my life as you arrange my little brother."
Guo Huai was so beaten that he immediately said: "Okay, I will arrange the second game today. I will definitely let you have a good time today."
After saying that, this guy was about to book a place with his mobile phone. He Tianran quickly held his hand and said:
"It's very pleasant here. I told you not to do it. Why do you, Lao Guo, get so excited at once? You were not like this before. What do you ask Ai Qing to do when you have a second date? We have finished eating. She is Can you come or can't you? I really don't mind this, it's just nice to have a birthday, eat and chat with friends."
"Then... go and sing later?"
"Let's talk about it again, oops."
He Tianran brought another glass of wine, and after Guo Huai finished drinking it, he suppressed his desire to consume.
After all, Lao Guo has already become the president of the student council. He has a few thimbles to keep numb, and he still has the skills to observe people's emotions. In the conversation just now, He Tianran has mentioned Cao Aiqing several times. If Guo Huai notices it again No, then his job as student council president was in vain. He made a remark:
"Of course, Ai Qing seems to have been away from school recently. Do you know why?"
He Tianran shook his head: "I didn't pay attention, you know?"
"It seems that I heard that their teacher arranged a design job for her privately, and she has been busy with this recently."
He Tianran smiled: "Don't you know this and ask me?"
Seeing that the other party didn't take it seriously, Guo Huai simply said it directly: "But that was done with the graduate students, that is, with that senior Shen. This was what a classmate from the School of Architecture in our student union told me."
"This shows that Ai Qing studied hard and was highly regarded by the teacher. He is now at the same level as a graduate student doing the same subject. That's a good thing."
He Tianran answered tepidly, and the waiter brought the cooked pot bottom to the table.
As the smoke filled the air, Guo Huai looked around and saw no sign of the girl. Then he plucked up the courage to ask:
"Naturally, what's going on between you and Ai Qing now? I know a little bit about it through the internal affairs of the student union. Sun Qianzhi usually has no interaction with Ai Qing at all. What happened between your brother and you that time... I can probably understand. Now you After helping Ai Qing settle things, your relationship has not progressed at all?"
He Tianran patiently poured chicken soup into the bowl and said calmly:
"Didn't I make it clear to you last time? I won't chase her. Now that my friend is in trouble, I can't help her even once? What's wrong? You helped Ai Qing before, not because we were friends, but because you wanted to chase someone else. , if others don’t love you, you won’t help?”
Guo Huai was worried by these words: "Help! It's not natural...Are you really not anxious now that she and Senior Shen are getting closer?"
He Tianran raised his eyes and joked: "It seems that you are more anxious than me."
"I..." Guo Huai sighed and said melancholy: "Well, to tell you the truth, I confessed to Ai Qing last time at the hotel where your brother made an appointment with me. You can imagine the result. These things that have happened in the past two months have made me gradually understand that the gap between Ai Qing and I can be filled not only through hard work..."
He Tianran listened quietly, blowing chicken soup in his mouth. When the other party finished speaking, he placed the chicken soup in front of Guo Huai and comforted:
"Lao Guo, you can't say this is a gap. It's just that everyone's way of life is different. When it comes to finding a partner, it's better to match each other's frequency. It's like Ai Qing is a literary channel at dusk, and You are the financial news at noon, and they are completely unrelated to each other. If you put them all together, they will appear to be nondescript, but this does not mean that you are not good, and you also have your own audience."
"So, your punch last time was enough to wake me up..."
He Tianran was very pleased that Guo Huai could understand this truth during college and avoid tragedies in their respective futures.
In this era where men and women can live a self-sufficient life based on their abilities, it is no longer appropriate to say that they would rather demolish a temple than ruin a marriage. When survival can be guaranteed, happiness should be the first priority. .
"We are not allowed to touch one of them? Lao Guo, your kick was not light!"
He Tianran was joking, Guo Huai was stunned for a moment, and then looked at each other for a moment. They both laughed and raised their glasses together.
"Why is this pulling on me again and again? Of course I tell you, I don't regret confessing to Ai Qing. At least I said it and the tone in my chest feels smoother, you know?! You said you, we agreed at the beginning that each of us would pursue Ai Qing on his own merits, but I didn’t expect you to give up halfway. On this point, I am better than you, you know!”
"What's going on? You were rejected by Ai Qing, and you feel unhappy. You're just playing provocative game with me to stimulate me to confess. After being rejected, will I join you? You confessed, you're awesome, bro, I'm a coward, so just I won’t be with you anymore. As long as I don’t confess, I won’t be rejected. This is the truth, understand, brother!”
Things were really changing. He Tianran didn't expect that he would be lectured by Guo Huai, but the contrast was quite interesting.
Unknowingly, after drinking the wine, the two of them became more emotional. Guo Huai complained:
"No, naturally, you said we have known Ai Qing since high school, at least almost six years, right! How long has Senior Shen known her? Less than a year! Less than a year! You said that Ai Qing and I are not on the same frequency. You deserve it if you refuse, but your frequency is right, you have to rush forward! Why did you shrink back halfway! I really think you two can make it happen, but you can't take advantage of an outsider!"
He Tianran burst out laughing. He gasped and said:
"What does it mean to be a cheap outsider? Lao Guo, you are wrong to say that. When love comes, it doesn't matter who comes first."
"But when it comes to love, you must be a little selfish!"
Guo Huai unconsciously said a wise saying. He continued:
"No matter what, I have to sum up the secret love over the past few years, otherwise it will be quite frustrating. I originally planned to wait until next year, after graduation, to reveal my feelings to Ai Qing, but these things that happened can be regarded as disappointing. I had a better opportunity, and I didn’t waste time procrastinating. It also allowed me to see myself clearly in advance, and I had no regrets.
Naturally, I don’t have much communication with Senior Shen, so I don’t dare to make any judgments about his personality. But naturally, we have come together with Ai Qing, so even if we have to wait in line for an appointment, you have to go first no matter what. Bar? If you and Ai Qing are together, as your friend, I will feel better, but if it is her and Senior Shen, then I will be really depressed..."
Guo Huai drank a drink by himself while he was talking. It seemed that the rejection really made him grow a lot. Although these remarks still seemed a little naive to He Tianran, and even a little familiar, but maybe this kind of thinking, Is it more in line with the mentality that contemporary college students and young people should have?
Seeing that He Tianran was silent, Guo Huai thought he had an opportunity. Anyway, it was a good day today, so he pursued the victory and added:
"Of course you know, Ai Qing is not at school these days. I said a few days ago that I wanted to celebrate your birthday with you, but she came back all the way..."
As he was talking, he suddenly heard a familiar and pleasant voice in his ears——
"What are you two talking about? I seemed to hear my name."
He Tianran and Guo Huai followed the sound and saw a girl walking through the thick smoke on the street and entering their field of vision.
She stood in the hustle and bustle, beautiful and gentle, like a female Bodhisattva who had entered the mortal world, tainted with a little smoke and smoke.
