Return to the 1982 Staff Compound

Chapter 89 Drunk

It was as if he had met the grandma with glasses again after a long period of time, and he could finally give her something in return.

Just like she always treats herself well.

Qiu Huoming cleaned the chair and was about to get up when Gu Xiaoran squatted down beside him. She took off her gloves and touched the surface of the bamboo chair. "This is my grandma's favorite chair."

"When I was a kid I didn't like coming here because there was nothing here, but..."

She paused for a few seconds and then said, "I didn't expect that the only place that would accept me would be this place..."

The corners of her eyes were slightly red. "No more talking, let's go, let's go boating."

Ding Yu dragged the garbage and piled it on the open space under the wall at the entrance of the courtyard, with sweat on his forehead.

The yard became much more empty after all this commotion. There was nothing else in it except the small bamboo chair in front of him and a bamboo broom and dustpan in the corner.

Ding Yu walked in quickly. "I'm right, there's no yard I can't clean up."

Gu Xiaoran laughed, "Yes, yes, you are very good."

Qiu Huoming stood up, pointed at the garbage and asked, "Do we need to deal with these?"

"No need, the street sweeper will clean it up and take it away tomorrow morning."

Gu Xiaoran put down his gloves and asked, "Do you still want to go boating?"

"If you don't want to go boating, I'll treat you to a cup of coffee. I'll put a small round table in the yard and put a few chairs there."

Coffee is a rare commodity these days.

Ding Yu was delighted when he heard this. "What is this? I want to drink it. Huozi, why don't we stop rowing? I'm sweating all over my forehead and can't stand the wind."

Qiu Huoming glanced at the fat man who suddenly became weak and was speechless for a moment.

"I'll get you towels." Gu Xiaoran noticed it then and immediately jumped up and ran back to the room to get towels.

There was running water and a sink covered with flower tiles in the yard. He turned on the faucet and washed his hands. Ding Yu next to him followed suit and washed his hands. A towel was just delivered to him. Ding Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead and neck and immediately felt refreshed all over.

"Who of you come in? Come in and help me move the round table." Gu Xiaoran's voice sounded in the room.

"I'm here." Qiu Huoming was close by, so he walked in upon hearing that. There was a living room right at the entrance, which didn't look big from the outside, but was quite spacious inside. It was decorated in old-fashioned wood styles, giving off an air of decadence.

The round table to be moved is not high and is more like a coffee table. It has three wooden legs and the top is made of crushed glass. The edges are wrapped with wood, which looks very textured.

It was still a bit heavy to lift. Qiu Huoming had just moved the table out when Gu Xiaoran followed with two wooden chairs.

"Okay, take a seat, I'll make some coffee."

Qiu Huoming sat comfortably on the wooden chair, looking up at the sky in the yard.

Just as he was daydreaming, Ding Yu came over and asked quietly, "Have you ever had coffee?"

Qiu Huoming was stunned for a moment. Of course he had drunk it before. As a corporate slave, coffee was almost something he had to drink every day. However, after only a few months here, he seemed to have gotten rid of his dependence on coffee and even forgot about this thing.

"Let me put it this way. I've never drunk anything in this body of mine. But I can't say I haven't drunk anything..."

Ding Yu touched his chin and looked at Qiu Huoming in surprise, "Sure, Huozi, you can't speak human language anymore..."

"Who can't speak human language?" Gu Xiaoran's crisp voice sounded from behind him, and a long-lost aroma of coffee wafted out. Qiu Huoming turned his head to look.

Gu Xiaoran was walking out quickly, holding a coffee pot in one hand.

Qiu Huoming quickly stood up and took the coffee pot.

She turned back to the living room, took three empty cups and a can of brown sugar, and placed them on the round table.

"Okay, we're all here. If you think it's bitter, add sugar." Gu Xiaoran sat directly on the bamboo chair that Qiu Huoming had just repaired.

The cup was filled with coffee, Ding Yu smelled it and said, "It smells so good." He picked up the cup and took a sip, almost spitting it out. He held it back and swallowed it back in one gulp.

"I think we should add some sugar." Ding Yu unscrewed the lid, scooped a spoonful of brown sugar into the cup, thought for a while, and added another spoonful.

"Huozi, do you want some?" he asked, pointing at the brown sugar.

Qiu Huoming shook his head. He picked up the cup and took a sip. The familiar bitter feeling quickly filled his mouth.

"Is it bitter?" Gu Xiaoran asked.

"Not bad." Qiu Huoming took another sip.

"My grandma can make cookies, but I can't. Coffee tastes better with cookies."

"Just drink one glass. You won't be able to sleep if you drink too much of this stuff." Gu Xiaoran reminded.

Ding Yu drank the coffee with sugar in it, which tasted much better this time. He glanced at Gu Xiaoran and asked, "Why did you buy this thing when it has so many shortcomings?"

"I don't like to drink it either, but I don't know why I suddenly want to drink it. This is what my uncle left behind..." Gu Xiaoran said calmly.

"Who is your uncle? Do I know him?" Ding Yu asked.

"You probably don't recognize him. He's very busy. I've been here for so long, but I haven't seen him many times..."

Qiu Huoming put down his coffee cup and asked, "You haven't told me yet, why did you come to a small place like ours? Of course, if you don't want to answer, don't answer."

Gu Xiaoran smiled and said, "There's nothing wrong with that. I was abandoned by my family..."

"So, you want to take the exam back?"

"I will go back with my own ability, and no one can say anything to me..."

"Yes, I am ambitious."

Ding Yu was completely confused. "What you said is human language, why can't I understand it?"

“Perhaps not understanding is happiness.” Qiu Huoming said leisurely.

The wind at the turn of spring and summer was already a little hot, but the yard was cool. After Qiu Huoming finished his coffee, he stood up and said, "Let's go, Fatty, you have to take a shower when you get home."

"Do we need to move this round table back?" Qiu Huoming asked, pointing at the table.

"No, I'll put it in the yard from now on. Summer is coming, and I can sit here and drink tea and watch the stars..."

"That's right. The stars in our Wucheng are definitely brighter than those in your big cities. If you haven't left in the summer, I'll take you to catch fireflies."

Qiu Huoming put one hand on Ding Yu's shoulder and dragged the fat boy who was somewhat reluctant to leave out. "Let's go. Remember to come back to school on Saturday to check the list."

Ding Yu turned around and greeted Gu Xiaoran, "Thank you for the treat, this candy is really sweet..."

"Puchi" Gu Xiaoran laughed so hard that his stomach hurt. It turned out that this guy was not drinking coffee, but eating a lot of brown sugar.

"I'll be at school around eight on Saturday morning," she said, standing up and walking them to the gate to the yard.

Ding Yu immediately responded, "Okay, let's go to the park to row a boat after reading the list. I'll treat you."

"Then, see you on Saturday." Gu Xiaoran smiled brightly.

Ding Yu's heart suddenly started beating wildly.

It was not until he reached the Cultural Center that he came to his senses. "Huozi, I think I've fallen in love... I'm still a little dizzy, please ride slower."

Qiu Huoming turned his head and glanced at Ding Yu's flushed face. "You are in love, you are drunk. I have seen people drunk, but I am lucky enough to see someone drunk on coffee! You are worthy of it! Fatty..."

It was the first time that Ding Yu drank coffee, and he drank too much. Then he came to his senses. He touched his chest which was still beating wildly, and felt a little depressed for a moment.

"Huozi, why aren't you drunk..." The fat man frowned, becoming even more unhappy.