331 Eight Years of University (2/2)

”Oh.”

Guan Tong's reaction was calm, and he didn't seem to find it strange or pursue the matter.

Xiao Luo changed the topic. ”Have you gotten your graduation certificate and degree?”

Guan Tong gave his chopsticks a rest and said, ”No, I don't even remember how many subjects I failed. I feel like I can't even count them with my ten fingers, and it's hard to pass even the trial exams. In my opinion, the graduation certificate and degree are just pieces of paper—academic qualifications are not important, but what is important is one's talent. I have long given up on the idea of getting a graduation certificate and a degree.”

Given up on the graduation certificate and degree?

Although having these two certificates did not guarantee one of success, still, when seeking for a job, it gave the bearer an added advantage over those that did not have it. These days, one really couldn't do without them, and it made perfect sense to obtain them.

Xiao Luo didn't agree with Guan Tong's point of view. ”So, you're working now?”

”No, no, I'm at home most of the time, but I bike to the school library every day to read books, increase my knowledge, and become a talented person.” Guan Tong had by now started on his third bowl of bouncy noodles.

”How are you going to support yourself if you don't work?” Xiao Luo asked.

”By relying on my family, of course. My father and my mother both work in public institutions, and now the two of them have a combined salary of almost 20,000 dollars, even if they retire later, they could receive seven or eight thousand dollars just by sitting at home. I'm their only son, so their money is my money. I'm spending it in advance, and later after I become a talented person, I could easily earn back tens of millions to honor them.”

Xiao Luo couldn't help wondering what was going through Guan Tong's mind, but if it were him, he would not be at peace with himself living this way. He was curious to know what Guan Tong meant by talent. Would he be able to accept it when he was 27 or 28 and doing nothing but stay home and live off his parents?

He couldn't understand the talent that Guan Tong was referring to, but of course, it was none of his business, and as an outsider, he wasn't qualified to judge.

”Guan Tong!”

A voice called out.

Guan Tong and Xiao Luo both turned to the direction of the voice—it was a kindly, middle-aged man wearing a black suit and a pair of glasses. He had very little hair and a receding hairline that made him look a bit bald.

”It's Old Yu!” Guan Tong said, finally putting down his chopsticks.

Xiao Luo knew who Old Yu was, of course. His full name was Yu Jiangu, and he was their homeroom teacher in college.

He hurriedly got up and greeted Yu Jiangu, who had just walked over. ”How are you, Mr. Yu.”

”Xiao Luo? What are you doing here?”

Yu Jiangu was quite surprised to see Xiao Luo, who was a student from the last batch he had taught. He had a rather bad impression of that rascal, Zhang Dashan, and as Xiao Luo spent a considerable amount of time together with him, he naturally remembered Xiao Luo as well.

”Old Yu, you needn't be surprised, he's planning to work in Xiahai. He's just returning to his alma mater for a visit.”

Guan Tong said as he tilted his head, drank the soup from the last bowl of the bouncy noodles, and then burped. It had been so many years, Yu Jiangu was both like a mentor and a friend to Guan Tong, and they spoke very casually to each other.

”So that's how it is, welcome back then, hahaha...”

Yu Jiangu smiled and patted Xiao Luo's shoulder, then gave him a piece of advice. ”Don't get too close with this b*stard for the sake of your own future, he doesn't care about progress, wasting his life away all day. The second batch of students under me is about to enter the workforce, yet this b*stard is still in the same place. Other people go to college for four years, but he has been studying for eight years. You can win a war in eight years, yet he can't even get two certificates.”

He looked pained when he spoke of Guan Tong. As his teacher, he couldn't remember the number of times he had been teased by his colleagues because of Guan Tong's poor performance. He was a disgrace and a blight to Yu Jiangu's reputation.

...