Chapter 126: The Organization's Gathering

The arrival of Lei Zhanjun made the dinner at Zhang Wenhao’s home much livelier. Zhang Xingping was deeply touched by his close brother’s thoughtfulness. After all, Zhang Wenhao had just finished the college entrance exam that day, and not a single relative from either side of the family had called to check on him. Yet, Lei Zhanjun was the first to arrive, bringing four jin of fine liquor. The contrast was striking and somewhat moving.

Once seated, Lei Zhanjun opened a bottle of baijiu. Song Huafang quickly brought a set of utensils and cups. Pouring the wine, Lei Zhanjun asked Zhang Wenhao, “Wenhao, how do you think you did on the exam?”

Zhang Wenhao smiled slightly and replied, “I think scoring over 700 points shouldn’t be a problem.”

Zhang Xingping chuckled and teased, “You little rascal, just a moment ago you were boasting to your mom and me that you’d score above 735. Why did you instantly lower your expectations when Uncle Lei arrived?”

Zhang Wenhao scratched his head awkwardly and laughed, “I’m just leaving some room for myself. What if I don’t reach that score?”

Lei Zhanjun laughed heartily. “You’re a genius kid. I don’t think 735 is far-fetched. Even if you just get 700, you can pick any university in the country.”

Zhang Xingping asked with concern, “How did Lei Lei do this time?”

Lei Zhanjun waved his hand and smiled. “My girl, her grades are average. She usually prefers wielding swords and guns—like a tomboy. But it doesn’t really matter. She’s taking the exam locally in Yanjing, and with some military policies in place, scoring around 500 points pretty much guarantees admission anywhere. But she’s a bit indecisive and still hasn’t figured out which school she wants to attend.”

Looking at Zhang Wenhao, Lei Zhanjun asked, “What school are you planning to apply to?”

“Yanda,” Zhang Wenhao smiled. “After all, it’s the top university nationwide. I’ve admired it for a long time.”

Lei Zhanjun nodded. “Yanda’s academic strength is unmatched, but I have to warn you—the reality is a bit awkward.”

Song Huafang asked with concern, “What do you mean, Zhanjun?”

Lei Zhanjun explained, “Yanda is academically rigorous, but career prospects after graduation are complicated. Tsinghua focuses on science and engineering; graduates often enter national research institutes. Renmin University is unmatched for politics. For finance, schools under Zhonghai are better. So Yanda students sometimes find themselves in a tough spot.”

Song Huafang nodded and suggested to Zhang Wenhao, “Wenhao, maybe consider Tsinghua University?”

Zhang Wenhao smiled. “Mom, I’m not planning to work for anyone. Going to Yanda is about experiencing the atmosphere, honing myself for four years. After that, I’ll have to figure out how to make my own way.”

Song Huafang worried slightly, “Making your own way can’t compare to a steady, guaranteed job.”

Lei Zhanjun laughed, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry for him. Let the kids choose their own paths. My girl—I’ve always wanted her to go to military school since our family has a military background, but she’s dead set against it. I’ve seen through it and decided to let her choose freely.”

He smiled, “No matter what, my girl won’t stray far from Yanjing. My parents spoil her terribly. She doesn’t want to leave home. Once Wenhao’s there, he should visit often and have a meal at my parents’ place. They’ve been wanting to meet him for a long time. My girl practically idolizes him.”

Zhang Xingping laughed, “Looks like the old commander and auntie still care a lot.”

Lei Zhanjun nodded, “My dad talks about you the most. Your place in his heart is irreplaceable.”

Zhang Xingping smiled faintly but didn’t respond further, his mind drifting into thought, feeling a bit unsettled.

Both Zhang Xingping and Lei Zhanjun could drink heavily—each easily downed more than a liter. Zhang Wenhao had inherited much of his father’s genes and, importantly, had increased physical strength, making his alcohol tolerance even better than the two elders. At first, Zhang Xingping hesitated to let his son drink much, but seeing he handled it well, he gradually relaxed.

Before the meal was even finished, the four jin of liquor were all gone. The three then eagerly finished the bottle of Wuliangye Zhang Xingping had previously bought, yet it still wasn’t enough. Lei Zhanjun wanted to go out and buy more, but Song Huafang stopped him. The three were drinking too hard—it frightened her. After some persuasion, she managed to hold him back.

Lei Zhanjun had driven himself over and couldn’t drive back after drinking, so Song Huafang insisted he stay and rest at their home. The June weather was hot too, so Zhang Wenhao laid out a mat in the living room and placed Lei Zhanjun in his own bedroom.

The next morning, Lei Zhanjun got up early and left for the military district. After lunch at home, Li Nan called Zhang Wenhao.

“Wenhao, you need to come out quickly. There’s a party tonight. We have to book the restaurant and KTV in advance. Once the college entrance exam ends, these places will be packed.”

Zhang Wenhao asked, “Have you notified every classmate?”

“Of course,” Li Nan laughed. “Don’t worry, I’ve checked everyone’s budget. We’re capping the contribution at 300 yuan per person.”

Zhang Wenhao nodded. He didn’t want to be like Mo Sinan with deep pockets, so the party was a joint effort, with everyone chipping in. Three hundred yuan each was a good deal for recent high school graduates.

He said, “I’ll try to bring extra money in case it’s not enough. The 300 yuan per person is the limit, but if it falls short, I’ll figure something out.”

He added, “You should understand everyone’s situation better. Those truly struggling can pay less or skip it. Don’t be stingy; carry some extra cash yourself.”

“Don’t worry,” Li Nan said with a smile. “This semester, because of you, I’ve been focusing on studying and saved three to four thousand yuan. I’ll bring it all.”

Zhang Wenhao said, “I probably have two to three thousand yuan in red envelopes saved up. Together, we have about five thousand yuan, which should be enough.”

Looking at the clock—it was already two in the afternoon—he said, “Wait for me at home. I’ll come get you, and we’ll book the venue this afternoon.”

After hanging up, Zhang Wenhao changed clothes to go out. Before leaving, he told his mother, “Mom, I’m not coming home for dinner tonight. We have a class reunion.”

Song Huafang nodded and called him back, then went to her room and returned with ten thousand yuan in cash. She handed it to Zhang Wenhao and said, “Go open a bank card first. Now that school’s out, you should relax properly. Consider this your spending money. If it’s not enough, ask me.”

Zhang Wenhao was surprised. He’d usually only ask for fifty or a hundred yuan as pocket money, so his mother suddenly giving him ten thousand yuan was unexpected. He joked, “Mom, when did you become so generous?”

“Go away,” Song Huafang laughed. “When have I ever been stingy? It’s just that we had limited means before. The money you earned as rewards is all yours. Spend it however you want, no objections.”

Zhang Wenhao smiled, “Then you and Dad should find a new house and invest the money there. We’ll move to a new home.”

Song Huafang had long thought of buying a property in Jiangcheng for Zhang Wenhao and nodded with a smile. “Your dad and I have been thinking about it, but when would we have time? Work’s busy every day. The factory had a big meeting this afternoon. The workers are demanding more cooling allowances, and the bosses are quite upset.”

Zhang Wenhao was surprised. “Isn’t it not that hot yet?”

She said, “The factory is hot—several degrees hotter than outside. It’s like a steam oven.”

Zhang Wenhao hurriedly said, “Mom, why don’t you just quit? We don’t really need the money.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Song Huafang patted his head. “This job was passed down from your grandmother. I get a pension when I retire. You can’t just quit. No matter how much money you have, you can’t just live off your savings.”

Zhang Wenhao didn’t argue but silently planned to find a way to free his parents from the mold factory. They’d worked hard all their lives; they didn’t deserve to toil for a meager two or three thousand yuan a month. But for now, there was no suitable opportunity.

He left home, went to the nearby residential area to pick up a car, and first drove to a bank. Using the ten thousand yuan cash from his mother, he opened a bank card and withdrew about two thousand yuan from his savings before heading to Li Nan’s house.

Calling him, Li Nan soon ran downstairs but didn’t see Zhang Wenhao at first. He looked around, unaware that Zhang Wenhao was sitting inside the nearby Scirocco.

Zhang Wenhao rolled down the window and waved. “Here, hurry up and get in.”

Li Nan was stunned but excitedly hurried over, opened the door, and got in. “Wenhao, where did you get this little rocket?”

Li Nan was a car enthusiast and knew all kinds of luxury and sports cars, especially German ones—from ordinary Santanas and Jettas to Mercedes AMG, BMW M-series, Volkswagen Phaeton, and Porsche. Naturally, he recognized the Scirocco immediately and called it by its nickname, his surprise clear.

Zhang Wenhao casually said, “It’s a friend’s. I’m borrowing it for the summer. I’ll return it later.”

Li Nan gave a thumbs-up. “Your social skills are way better than mine. I’d probably only manage to borrow a scooter.”

He then asked, “Do you have a license? Can you drive?”

Zhang Wenhao rolled his eyes. “Relax and sit tight. No problem at all.”

Starting the car, he drove out of Li Nan’s neighborhood and asked, “Have you decided where to eat tonight?”

Li Nan replied, “Not really. City restaurants are too expensive; cheaper places have poor environments. We have over fifty people, so that’s at least five tables. Sitting in a big hall would be boring, but we can’t split into five separate rooms either. We can’t afford a fancy place like Jiangcheng Hotel. What do we do?”

Zhang Wenhao was also troubled. Indeed, finding a venue for over fifty people was difficult. Ordinary places lacked suitable space. A large hall would be too public and awkward, limiting the fun. Jiangcheng Hotel had huge private rooms that could accommodate five tables comfortably, but each table cost at least five thousand yuan, making it five hundred yuan per person. Add singing and drinks afterward, and the cost would soar to seven or eight hundred yuan per person—a huge budget gap.

But Zhang Wenhao couldn’t think of a better place. He was just a high school student, sometimes visiting upscale hotels thanks to adults, but wasn’t familiar with the expenses. Finding a place with a good environment, reasonable price, and tasty food was challenging.

Seeing Zhang Wenhao pause near the neighborhood gate, Li Nan said, “Why don’t we just pick a cheap hotel with five separate rooms?”

“No way,” Zhang Wenhao firmly refused. “That would kill the atmosphere. Everyone just finished the exam and is excited. We don’t want to dampen the mood before even eating.”

Zhang Wenhao sighed, “Let’s just drive around and ask at any restaurant we see.”

“Good idea,” Li Nan nodded. “There’s still time, so we can take our time.”

They drove around, stopping at larger restaurants to inquire. By four in the afternoon, they had checked dozens of venues but found none suitable.

Either the place was acceptable but the price too high, or prices were reasonable but only had small rooms or just the hall. None matched Zhang Wenhao’s wish: a place where all could sit together without disturbance, allowing everyone to relax and enjoy their farewell meal.

Li Nan looked discouraged. “If we don’t book soon, there won’t be enough small rooms, and the hall won’t fit us.”

Zhang Wenhao nodded, thinking hard. Suddenly, he thought of Chen Feng and said, “Wait here. I’ll call a friend.”

Chen Feng was quite capable in Jiangcheng and knew the local venues better than Zhang Wenhao did. Zhang Wenhao called him.

Chen Feng answered, “Wenhao, what’s up?”

Zhang Wenhao smiled, “Chen, our class wants to have a reunion tonight, but we can’t find a good place. Can you recommend a spot for about fifty people?”

“Jiangcheng Hotel,” Chen Feng said immediately. “They have several huge private rooms that can easily hold fifty or sixty people.”

Zhang Wenhao smiled helplessly. “We’re poor students. We can’t afford Jiangcheng Hotel. Is there something more affordable?”

Chen Feng quickly said, “Just go there. I’ll arrange it now. Don’t worry about the cost. Just come and enjoy the food, drinks, and fun.”

Zhang Wenhao hurriedly said, “No way. It’s a class party. You can’t arrange it for us. Please don’t call them. I won’t go then.”

Chen Feng thought for a moment. “In that case, there’s no suitable place downtown for you.”

He added, “There’s an eco-park on the outskirts, covering over a thousand acres. It’s a great environment with dining, leisure, and accommodation. The owner is my friend. The outskirts have lower prices. I’ll see if he can give you a discount. It should be around 1,500 to 2,000 yuan per table. Per person, that’s about one or two hundred yuan. Does that work?”

Zhang Wenhao nodded. “Sounds good, but where exactly is it? Getting over there with fifty people might be difficult.”

Chen Feng laughed. “If he’s running a business in the suburbs, he’s prepared. There’s a ready-made bus that can pick you all up at one spot and bring you back after the meal.”

Zhang Wenhao was thrilled. “Thank you so much!”

Chen Feng laughed, “No need to be formal. You forgot I still owe you a life? Wait, I’ll call and arrange it now.”

Less than five minutes later, an unknown number called Zhang Wenhao. He answered, and the polite voice said, “Hello, is this Mr. Zhang Wenhao?”

“It’s me. Who’s this?”

“Hello, I’m Zhang Zhi, general manager of Hanlin Eco-Park. May I ask how many people will be attending tonight, and what time you plan to start dinner?”

Zhang Wenhao replied quickly, “Hello, there will be about fifty-two people. We’d like to start around seven o’clock.”

The manager said, “I heard from Feng that you’re holding a class reunion. Our eco-park has a beautiful environment by the river. It would be good to come a bit early to enjoy the area. We also have professional photographers who provide free services.”

Zhang Wenhao was overjoyed. He hadn’t thought of that. Since it was a senior farewell party, having photos for everyone as a memento was perfect. He thanked him warmly.

“No need,” the manager smiled. “Since you want photos and to enjoy the park, it’s best to come before dark. I suggest around four or five in the afternoon. The weather won’t be too hot, the lighting will be good, and it’s perfect for sightseeing and photos.”

Zhang Wenhao was almost moved to tears, wishing to hug the manager he’d never met. Such thoughtful service was heaven-sent for someone who had just been at a loss.

They agreed that all classmates would gather at the entrance of No. 1 High School at five o’clock. The eco-park would arrange a 53-seater bus to pick everyone up and bring them back afterward. Zhang Wenhao carefully inquired about the price and was delighted to hear the cost wouldn’t exceed two hundred yuan per person.

He was extremely satisfied.