Chapter 102: Returning to School to Treat Everyone

Back at school, Jiang Zheng pushed the door open and shouted, "Sons, Daddy is home!"

"Get lost!"
"Scram!"
"You're the son!"

The guys in Jiang Zheng’s dormitory laughed, and he added, "I actually ended up being the last one here."

He had originally planned to arrive early; classes didn't officially begin until tomorrow. He thought he was ahead of schedule, but everyone else had already arrived, making him the last to show up.

"Now that everyone’s here, let’s go out for a meal," Zhou Quanyi suggested.

"Sounds good, I’m starving," Liu Hua said.

At that moment, Yang Po spoke up, "You guys go ahead; I’ll just eat at the cafeteria."

"Let's go. It’s my treat today. I haven’t seen you all in so long, so this one's on me," Jiang Zheng insisted.

As soon as Yang Po spoke, Jiang Zheng knew why he declined. He had been scammed recently and lost almost all his money. Now, Yang Po was struggling to pay off his debts. Still, a dormitory gathering wouldn't be complete if someone was missing.

"Whoa! Fourth, since when did you become so generous? Treating us to a meal?" Wang Bing asked.

Jiang Zheng wasn't necessarily stingy, but due to his financial situation, he hadn't been able to be generous. Things were different now; treating everyone to a meal was quite easy for him.

"Fifth, don't say that. Fourth isn't stingy on a daily basis," Zhou Quanyi frowned.

"That's not what I meant. I was just surprised," Wang Bing quickly explained.

Jiang Zheng smiled, not taking it to heart. It was natural for them to be surprised; in this dorm, besides Zhou Quanyi, the others rarely treated the group. They usually only did so on important occasions, like birthdays. On regular days, they never treated. Zhou Quanyi, however, treated every now and then, regardless of the occasion. Since it wasn't Jiang Zheng’s birthday, and he was single—so no girlfriend-related celebrations—they were understandably stunned. Even Zhou Quanyi gave Jiang Zheng a few extra looks, though he kept his thoughts to himself.

"Anyway, are you guys coming or not?" Jiang Zheng asked.

"Coming, of course! Why wouldn't I go if someone is treating?" Liu Hua said with a grin.

The others soon chimed in, agreeing to go. Before they left, Yang Po pulled Jiang Zheng a few steps behind the others and whispered, "Fourth, you really don't have to treat us. I..."

"What are you thinking? I'm not doing this just for you, don't overthink it," Jiang Zheng said with a smile.

"Oh, I see," Yang Po replied, visibly relieved, his smile becoming more genuine.

On the way, the group walked past the freshmen undergoing military training. "Remember when we were just like them?" Zhou Quanyi remarked.

"Time flies. In the blink of an eye, we're juniors," Liu Hua sighed.

"This is our last year together. We'll be out for internships in our senior year, and we won't get to see each other as often," Wang Bing added.

The group fell silent at his words. Jiang Zheng spoke up, "Don't think about that yet. We still have a whole year left. Let's just make the most of it."

"He's right. Let's cherish these days and not worry about the future," Yang Po agreed.

"Actually, I think our dorm is pretty great. Unlike some others, we don't have to deal with backstabbing or petty drama," Yu Qingkui said.

"Alright, alright, enough of that. Let's think about what to eat," Jiang Zheng said.

"It's up to you. We're just freeloading, so the one paying gets to decide," Wang Bing said.

"It's fine, suggest whatever you want. Anything is fine," Jiang Zheng replied. He could afford it now; even if they chose somewhere upscale, he could handle the bill.

"Let's go for barbecue and have some beer. It’ll be lively," Zhou Quanyi suggested.

"I know a great barbecue spot," Liu Hua offered.

"Lead the way, Third," Jiang Zheng said.

The barbecue spot Liu Hua mentioned was about two kilometers away—a short distance for them. Since they still hit the gym occasionally at school, their physical condition was still quite good. They decided against taking a taxi and just walked.

Along the way, they chatted and laughed, sharing stories from their summer breaks. When they arrived, it was still early, and the place wasn't too crowded. They found a table, and Jiang Zheng took the menu and ordered almost everything on it.

"Fourth, don't order so much. We won't be able to finish it," Yang Po said.

"We can't finish this? You guys have bigger appetites than that. Don't worry, just eat up," Jiang Zheng laughed. He also ordered a crate of 24 beers, meaning four bottles for each of the six of them. "Drink up, and we'll order more if we need to."

He didn't force anyone to drink a specific amount; they all had different tolerances. The main point was just to have a good time. Since Jiang Zheng had ordered so much, the owner came over specifically to say, "Some items might take a while to serve."

"No problem, take your time, we're in no rush," Jiang Zheng replied.

"Great, great! I'll throw in four extra beers on the house. Enjoy your meal," the owner said before walking away.

Drinking on an empty stomach makes one drunk quickly, so they waited until a few skewers arrived before they started drinking. Summer nights stay bright until late; it wouldn't be dark until seven or eight o'clock. They started eating at six and continued past eight, eating from daylight until dusk.

They took a long time not just because the kitchen was busy, but because they had huge appetites. Jiang Zheng even added more orders later on. He had to admit the barbecue was excellent and reasonably priced.

As it grew dark, the restaurant filled up, and the owner became overwhelmed. The remaining dishes were served even slower. The owner came over again, offering even more free beer. Jiang Zheng and the others didn't mind; they were nearly full and in no hurry. They understood how busy the place was. As the crowd grew, so did the sound of clinking glasses, and the air filled with the scent of beer. Jiang Zheng and his friends kept drinking, completely at ease.