Chapter 92: 092 Brothers Gathering
During the meal and conversation, no one brought up the incident from last night, as if it had never happened by tacit agreement.
After eating and staying at home for an hour or two, Du Heng and Wang Shuqiu departed.
The family tried their utmost to persuade Du Heng to stay another day, but he still declined.
One reason was that he had already made plans to have dinner with Wei Kaida and a few others that day; another was that staying felt a bit awkward.
On the way back, Du Heng was more familiar with the roads, and his speed increased considerably.
Passing the spot where the motorcycle had tumbled down the day before, he surprisingly encountered another motorcyclist who had fallen—this time a female rider, with three large bags loaded on her bike.
However, since people were already helping push the motorcycle out, Du Heng didn't stop to assist.
Looking at the woman covered in dirt, Du Heng couldn't help but think that while everyone works hard to make a living, they should also cherish themselves. If an accident were to happen, they would suffer, and their families would worry. Saving a few minutes simply wasn't worth the risk. Therefore, when driving, everyone should be a bit slower and a bit steadier; this is being responsible for oneself and for one's family.
Du Heng drove Wang Shuqiu directly to her apartment building and helped her carry the things her family had given her upstairs.
Seeing Wang Shuqiu fling herself onto the bed like a dead log, Du Heng felt a little helpless.
Since the incident last night, this woman had become increasingly careless about her image during the journey back.
"I'll ask one more time, are you really not going? They're all my college dormitory roommates."
"I'm not going. I just want to sleep right now." Wang Shuqiu buried her face in the bed, lying there motionless.
"They said they wanted to meet you. Are you sure you're not going?"
"No. It would be awkward for me, a lone woman, with a bunch of guys eating meat and drinking."
"If you don't want to go, then don't. Get some rest. I'll bring you something delicious when I get back tonight."
Since she didn't want to go, Du Heng didn't want to force her. Just as he was about to turn and leave, Wang Shuqiu called out to him again.
At that moment, Wang Shuqiu lifted her head, looking pitiful. Her large eyes blinked as she gazed at Du Heng, "Du, are you really not angry?"
Du Heng looked at Wang Shuqiu, exasperated. "You're taking this too far, Wang Shuqiu. You've asked me at least eight times on this trip. I'll say it again, for the last time: I. Am. Not. Angry. I'm dating you, not your family, OK?"
"OK." Wang Shuqiu suddenly giggled.
"'You have neurological disorders.' Du Heng walked over and kissed Wang Shuqiu. 'This is the last time we discuss this. If you ask again, I'll really get angry. It's too annoying.'"
"MWAH." Wang Shuqiu responded with a kiss of her own. "I won't. You hurry up and go find your gang of scoundrels."
SLAP.
"AHH~~"
Du Heng reached out and slapped Wang Shuqiu's backside; it was fleshy and quite elastic.
"Watch your words! Those are my good brothers. How are they a gang of scoundrels? I'm leaving!"
The first thing Du Heng did after leaving was drive to a car wash. Then, he found a gas station, filled the tank, and only then drove to the restaurant where they were supposed to eat.
"Look at our classmate Ma Ti'er, beaming like a spring breeze, face flushed like a peach blossom! Looking well-nourished. Seems the meeting with the Mother-in-law went smoothly, eh?" The moment Wei Kaida saw Du Heng, he laughed and threw an arm around his shoulder.
Du Heng laughed along and casually placed the car keys into Wei Kaida's hand. "Thanks for the new car; it was a huge help."
"Why be so polite between brothers?"
There was one other person in the small private room. He looked to be about Du Heng's age, but his attire and demeanor made him appear much more mature and staid.
"Look, our Chief Dong Yuezhang has been waiting for you for a long time. You'll have to penalize yourself with three drinks."
The man called Chief Dong didn't rise but smiled at Du Heng. "Come, come. Making a leader of my stature wait for you—don't you think you deserve to penalize yourself with three drinks?"
"Get lost. Who are you a leader to? Careful, or I'll report you to your workplace, tell them you snuck into the girls' toilet back in school." Du Heng walked over, smiling, and the two lightly bumped fists.
Dong Yuezhang was a bona fide second generation of officials; his entire family consisted of government Staff. It was said that the most accomplished member of his family was currently a top leader in a provincial department.
He himself was then working at the Municipal Health Bureau, as the section chief of a relatively unimportant Department.
At 28, he was a Section Chief level cadre. Word was that his operation would soon be adjusted, and he would be transferred to another workplace; he was a man with a boundless future.
You couldn't see in him any of the negative traits of the "second generation" often portrayed on the internet and television. What he showed was the demeanor of an elite individual from an elite family, nurtured by an elite education.
Du Heng had been dirt poor during his school days, but Dong Yuezhang had never looked down on him. In fact, Dong Yuezhang had helped him secure his current job. Otherwise, given Du Heng's family background, getting into the Health Clinic and obtaining a secure authorized job with a guaranteed income would have been a joke.
After graduation, he was the one who actively maintained the bond between the brothers from their dormitory.
He was also the first among their group of four to get married and was now the father of two children. His partner was his college sweetheart, also their Classmate.
So, Dong Yuezhang and Wei Kaida were two extremes: one traditional and conservative, the other wild and unrestrained.
Whenever the two met, they always traded sarcastic barbs, each disapproving of the other's ways. However, this didn't affect their brotherly bond. They drank when it was time to drink and ate when it was time to eat.
Just as the three of them had settled in, the door to the private room was pushed open again, and a young man with a slightly receding hairline entered. He was the only one of the four who worked at a Big Hospital—Jin Zan, a rising star in Trauma Orthopedics at the Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.
"I heard your laughter from outside the door! What are you talking about?" Jin Zan was the most robust-looking of the four. If he wasn't wearing a white gown, you'd think he was an athlete, definitely not a doctor.
"My god, Jin Zan, your forehead is getting shinier and shinier! We just saw each other at New Year, didn't we? That was only two or three months ago. This balding is a bit sudden, isn't it?"
Wei Kaida immediately reached out to touch Jin Zan's forehead.
Du Heng and Dong Yuezhang also looked astonished. Balding at 28 was a bit too much.
Those who knew he was a Doctor might understand, but those who didn't might think he was a programmer.
Jin Zan slapped Wei Kaida's hand away and rubbed his own gleaming forehead. "You underachiever, don't touch my head. Don't make me dumber; I'm still preparing to succeed our Director."
Wei Kaida didn't give up, managing to pat Jin Zan's forehead, thus satisfying his urge. "With a forehead like yours, Flies would slip if they landed on it!"
"Get lost, you scumbag! Watch out for kidney deficiency!"
"Still better than being bald on top!"
Dong Yuezhang ignored their ruckus and loudly called for the waitress, asking her to start serving the dishes and drinks so the brothers could have a good get-together.
Among them, only Du Heng and Wei Kaida were relatively relaxed. Jin Zan and Dong Yuezhang were genuinely busy.
Jin Zan was young, a fast learner, and his surgical skills improved rapidly. His department Director also valued him, including him in surgeries both large and small. When he was busy, he often couldn't even return home, and his Wife had grievances about it.
Dong Yuezhang was much the same, bogged down with numerous miscellaneous tasks. Plus, being a man of ambition and aspiration, he was also a workaholic.
So, for the four of them to gather, it truly wasn't an easy feat.