276 Xiao Qiudong (2/2)
The young man's name was Xiao Qiudong, and they were both from Luo Village. Growing up together, they could be considered childhood friends.
They were both very close, from the time they attended primary school all the way to lower secondary school. They were accepted into different upper secondary schools but still kept in close touch. But after Xiao Luo attended university, they contacted each other less frequently. Xiao Qiudong had entered the workforce by then, and every time they reached each other, he would end the call after a brief conversation saying that he was busy at work or was pressed for time.
After Xiao Luo graduated from university and joined the workforce, they effectively lost contact with each other. He tried to call Xiao Qiudong several times before that, but the latter had changed his phone number and didn't provide Xiao Luo with the new one. Then the previous year, when Xiao Luo had returned to celebrate the new year, they met again at a gathering. For no apparent reason, he made fun of Xiao Luo in the presence of everyone, and Xiao Luo could still remember those words vividly.
”So you've gone to university, what's the big deal? At the end of the day, you still have to work for others once you graduate, and maybe receive a fixed salary of four to five thousand dollars per month. That can't even afford you a house or a car. It's better to join the workforce earlier on, job experience is more important than any degree.”
Xiao Qiudong had already bought himself a car back then, and having just graduated, Xiao Luo couldn't compare to him. He seemed fixated on questioning the real value of an education in terms of material gains, but it was apparent that he was indirectly belittling Xiao Luo to raise his own esteem.
Xiao Luo had always thought that Xiao Qiudong was someone he could form a deep connection with, but after the incident last year, he realized that their friendship would never be the same again.
For a brief moment, Xiao Qiudong was startled when he saw Xiao Luo again, but he promptly hid it with a warm smile. ”So, you are the one hitching the ride! Well, it's such a coincidence. Have you just returned from some other city?” he said.
”Yeah.”
Xiao Luo said, forcing a smile and responding with a nod. The relationship between them had cooled, but he still wanted to keep it friendly enough.
He glanced at the passenger's seat, which was occupied by a woman. She was rather comely, and in her arms, she held a child three to four months old.
Xiao Qiudong made the introductions in a forthright manner. ”This is my wife, Li Honglian. Darling, this is my childhood friend, Xiao Luo. We grew up together, and we are very close,” he said.
”Hello!”
Li Honglian greeted Xiao Luo politely.
”Hello.”
Xiao Luo nodded and glanced at her quizzically because Li Honglian's accent was unique, and she sounded somewhat coquettish.
Seeing his expression, Xiao Qiudong laughed and said, ”My wife is from Taiwan, such is their accent, you'll get used to it after a while, Haha.”
”Oh, I see.”
”Don't just stand there, get in,” Xiao Qiudong said, ”eh, you brought a lot of stuff for your family, how filial. Okay, just put them all in the trunk.” He bent forward, reaching for the latch to unlock the trunk.
Xiao Luo opened the trunk and starting stowing the gifts one by one.
”Can it fit?” Xiao Qiudong asked.
”It should be alright, I just need to rearrangement some of the items here.”
Xiao Luo rearranged the items that had already been in the trunk, placing them to one side, and finally managed to fit everything in.
Then he pulled open the door to the backseat and got in the car.
Other than checking if Xiao Luo was done stowing his things, Xiao Qiudong remained in his car the whole time, whistling and playing with his child.
Footnote:
[1] Journey to the West: a Chinese novel published in the 16th century based on the legendary pilgrimage of the Tang dynasty Buddhist monk Xuanzang who traveled to the ”Western Regions” to obtain Buddhist sūtras and returned after many trials and much suffering.