dkrc Chapter 74 Barbecue Stall
Chapter 74 Barbecue Stall
Chen Zhiyuan smiled upon hearing this: "StarCraft, huh? I do know a little bit of it. When do you guys have some free time? I'd like to play a couple of rounds with you guys?"
Duan Bin, clearly still immersed in the thrill of the virtual battlefield, immediately chimed in, "Then why not seize the day and do it tonight?"
Chen Zhiyuan warned, "You two have already spent the whole day soaking in the water, are you going again tonight? Be careful not to get addicted."
He has seen too many freshmen who, after breaking free from their parents' control, completely "let loose" and plunged into the online world, only to end up failing their courses and having to retake them.
"Let's skip it today," Chen Zhiyuan said after thinking for a moment. "How about tomorrow?"
"Okay! It's settled then, I'll call you tomorrow!" Du Jiancheng readily agreed, his voice booming.
His loud voice is extremely penetrating; you could probably hear it clearly from the next dorm room.
The dormitory room suddenly became lively.
The four chatted about everything under the sun, from games to military training, from local specialties to interesting stories they had heard at school, in a relaxed and harmonious atmosphere.
Before we knew it, it was past five in the afternoon, and surprisingly, no one had mentioned dinner yet; they were still chatting enthusiastically.
Until the landline on the table rang.
Chen Zhiyuan sensed that the caller might be looking for him, so he walked over and picked up the receiver: "Hello, who is this?"
He Fei's cheerful voice came from the other end of the phone, tinged with a barely perceptible excitement: "Zhiyuan, you're back at school, right?"
"Yeah, I got back around three in the afternoon. How about you? It's your first day helping out at the library. Are you getting used to it?" Chen Zhiyuan asked casually, leaning against the table.
The two chatted on the phone in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
He Fei knew about the book signing event today, and she originally wanted to go too, but the library informed her that her application for a work-study position had been approved, and she was required to go to the library from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm today to familiarize herself with the work.
Although she missed the book signing event because of this, He Fei's tone showed no signs of fatigue or regret, but rather a hint of excitement.
"I think it's pretty good! The work isn't too busy, and sometimes after I've finished organizing the books, I can sit quietly for a while and read."
The librarians were very kind and taught me a lot..." She chattered like a happy little bird, sharing her experiences at the library that day, her voice full of excitement and satisfaction.
She herself probably didn't realize that she, who might be a little reserved or even "socially anxious" in front of others, became exceptionally cheerful and talkative when talking to Chen Zhiyuan, as if she had endless things to say.
After chatting for a few minutes, He Fei changed the subject, suggesting with a hint of anticipation, "Zhiyuan, let me treat you to dinner tonight to celebrate the successful book signing! How about six o'clock, shall we meet at the entrance of the first cafeteria?"
Chen Zhiyuan pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "Let's skip the cafeteria today and go to the shopping street. Let's try something different. How about some barbecue?"
On the other end of the phone, He Fei hesitated for two or three seconds.
Eating in the cafeteria, two people can have a decent meal for ten yuan; eating barbecue in the commercial street, even just ordering a few items, would probably cost thirty or fifty yuan... For her, this is considered a "luxury" expense.
But considering it was to celebrate Chen Zhiyuan's birthday, she quickly agreed, her voice clear and bright: "Okay! I'll do as you say!"
She secretly calculated in her heart: at worst, she could save a little more money in the next few days and "save" those few dozen yuan.
She never even considered letting Chen Zhiyuan pay the bill—in her simple mind, since she said she was treating, she should pay.
This is completely different from some girls who nowadays think it's a given that men should pay the bill.
The back gate of Jiangnan University is right next to a bustling commercial street.
At the entrance of the street, the words "Commercial Civilization Street" are very eye-catching under the evening lights.
This area prospered thanks to the university, primarily catering to students, with shops lining both sides of the street, making every inch of land extremely valuable.
During the day, it's already bustling with people, and as the lights come on at dusk, the crowds become even larger, brimming with youthful energy and vitality.
Students often jokingly refer to this place as "a street of decadence," which is quite apt.
Chen Zhiyuan and He Fei appeared on this bustling street.
He Fei was clearly visiting at night for the first time. Looking at the flashing neon lights and bustling crowds, her eyes widened slightly, and she murmured, "So many people...it's really lively!"
Chen Zhiyuan nodded and pointed to both sides of the street: "Look, there are so many food stalls and barbecue stands, and each one is doing better than the last."
In early September, the daytime heat had not completely subsided, and the night breeze still carried the lingering warmth of late summer.
At times like these, gathering with a few close friends, sitting at an open-air food stall, enjoying sizzling grilled skewers and ice-cold beer is undoubtedly a very pleasant experience.
Chen Zhiyuan, familiar with the area, found a barbecue stall that was particularly busy and looked clean and hygienic. He pulled out a plastic chair and said, "You sit here, I'll go order something. What would you like to eat?"
"No, no." He Fei quickly waved her hand, emphasizing very seriously, "I promised to treat you to a celebratory meal, I'll go order."
Seeing her insistence, Chen Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Alright then, let's go together."
The two walked together to the refrigerated display case in front of the stall and picked up a small plastic basket.
He Fei looked at the dazzling array of skewers in the cabinet and the price list next to them, her gaze lingering slightly on the prices of the meat skewers.
Beef skewers are 50 cents, lamb skewers are 60 cents, chicken wings are 1 yuan... I quickly calculated in my mind.
But she hesitated for only a moment. Remembering that today was a celebration for Chen Zhiyuan, and knowing that he loved meat, she mustered her courage and began putting meat skewers into the basket:
Pork belly, beef tendon, chicken feet, chicken wings, lamb skewers... she even blushed and quickly grabbed two skewers of pork kidney.
She had vaguely heard people say that this thing was good for boys.
After taking twenty or thirty skewers of meat, she symbolically picked out a few skewers of chives, potato slices, and eggplant for herself.
She roughly calculated in her mind that she should have just enough money in her pocket, so she went to the freezer next to her and took out a few bottles of chilled beer.
Soon, the sizzling, fragrant skewers were served, sprinkled with cumin and chili powder, steaming hot and mouthwatering.
Chen Zhiyuan's interest was piqued, and he picked up a skewer of crispy, juicy pork belly and took a big bite.
The aroma of oil, meat, and cumin exploded in his mouth, and he squinted his eyes in satisfaction: "Mmm! This place is really good! You should eat too, don't just look."
He Fei first filled the glass in front of Chen Zhiyuan with ice-cold beer, the clear liquid bubbling with fine bubbles.
Then she picked up a skewer of grilled chives and ate it in small, refined bites.
Chen Zhiyuan ate with great gusto, devouring meat and drinking wine, repeatedly praising, "Mmm, delicious! The spiciness is just right, no wonder the business is so good."
He Fei raised her glass, her cheeks slightly flushed under the lights and the glow of the wine, her eyes bright: "Zhiyuan, congratulations! The autograph session was a complete success!"
"Thank you!" Chen Zhiyuan smiled and raised his glass. The two glasses clinked together gently, making a crisp sound.