He read quietly on the way back.
When he looked at his cell phone two hours later, there was a barrage of messages.
Liu Li, Lin Weiwei, Lu Yuanyuan, Wang Xue, Reyi Nawu, and Han Luzhou had already been added in his WeChat, and a group chat named [The Beautiful Memories of the Capital] had been created.
Lu Yuanyuan: “Have a safe trip home, Wangwang!”
Reyi Nawu: “Come out and chat! You there? (bared teeth) (knock knock) (sad face)”
Two sentences, three emojis.
Both Wang Xuehan and Han Luzhou sent the waving emoji. It was probably the same person who had done them.
Lin Weiwei: “Remember your driving license next time. I’m not going to be a chauffeur for you both again.”
Liu Li didn’t say anything but had changed her WeChat status to: “August 1st Dream Journey (fighting) Lili, go for it!”
He replied, “Sis San Wang, fighting! Don’t just stick to the classics, learn some special genres!
I’m waiting for you! (excited)”
After teasing Liu Li, Wang Yan continued chatting with the rest for a while longer before opening his class group chat.
He Meng’s graduation party was that afternoon. There were at least thirty to forty attendees from their class, with the exception for a few who had to prepare for exam retakes. Wang Yan was the only person who had intentionally declined.
Everyone was sharing photos in the group chat; some of them were selfies, and others were group photos. Most of the photos featured He Meng.
He Meng was dressed in an off-shoulder dress and a pair of heeled sandals.
With her hair braided like an elven princess, she emanated an otherworldly aura that set her apart from the rest.
This girl really knew how to dress up. Even college seniors might not have been on par. Liu Li would totally look like a little girl next to her.
But so what?
He liked the way Liu Li looked.
After giving it a few more glances, he opened his private messages.
Wang Yonglei: “What are you doing, Wang-er? Later we’ll be going to the cybercafé, and someone’s paying for karaoke tonight. You coming?”
Playing games was fine. He might even receive secret rewards while having fun.
Unfortunately, it would be after five by the time he reached Gujiao, and he would definitely have to go home first. There wouldn’t be enough time for him to join them at the cybercafé.
The private messages from his other classmates were all pretty similar. Everyone was asking if he wanted to hang out.
After replying to all the messages, teasing Liu Li yet again, and reading for a while more, he finally reached home.
The moment Wang Yan got off the train, he felt a sense of suffocation.
Having lived in Gujiao for so many years, too many people were familiar with his background and knew that he wasn’t one to spend much money or sport designer clothes. He wouldn’t be able to explain himself if he ran into someone he knew.
Maybe he should start college earlier?
College would be a fresh beginning for him, him knowing nobody and nobody knowing him. It was a perfect time for a glorious transformation.
He should be able to explain his newfound wealth after a semester at college. It would become much more convenient then.
Deep in thought, he pushed open the door to his home, startling Wang Xiufang, who was currently picking some vegetables in the courtyard.
“What happened to you, son?”
“What do you mean? Nothing’s happened? I’m doing perfectly fine?” Wang Yan replied in bewilderment.
“You seem different… You look much sharper than your usual self.”
Wang Xiufang stood up and looked at Wang Yan in astonishment.
He came to a sudden realization.
His manners and actions were totally different from before, and the refreshing changes had definitely enhanced his charm.
There weren’t any actual changes to his physical appearance—the only thing that had changed was how he was being perceived by others.
“I signed up for an etiquette class. It teaches me how to correct my posture and improve the way I carry myself. I’m going to college soon, so I need to get my act together!”
Wang Yan tried to come up with a plausible explanation so that his parents wouldn’t be too puzzled by the sudden transformation.
Wang Xiufang was elated and could barely stop grinning from ear to ear. “That’s great! It’s great that you’re working on bettering yourself! First impressions count, and it really matters how you carry yourself. The fact that you’ve taken the initiative to work on improving yourself proves that you’ve really grown up…”
Laowang came out of the house with a fan in his hand. “Do you need new clothes, son? How about money? Dad’s been winning recently. I can offer you some support.”
Wang Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but he was feeling very touched by the kind offer.
Even if he was winning regularly, at the rate of ten to twenty dollars a day, it would still take him about a month to accumulate 500 dollars. What good would that be?
“That’s alright, I have plenty. I might go to Xingcheng later to help out a former classmate.”
Wang Yan was laying the groundwork again.
“Ah? What are you doing there?”
“That buddy of mine made some money with his uncle. They have a new project and need someone trustworthy to help out. The work itself isn’t too laborious. It’s just difficult to find someone they could trust. Nothing’s firmed up yet, so I don’t have the details.”
“Alright, you decide for yourself then. Provided it doesn’t affect your classes.
“Studying is still your number one priority.”
Laowang and Wang Xiufang had no objections as long as Wang Yan prioritized his studies.
This was the way the Wang family had brought up their child; as long as it wasn’t anything bad, his was allowed to make his own decisions.
Times were changing rapidly, and knowing that they wouldn’t be able to keep up with the changes, they would rather stand aside and offer him support quietly than try and dictate the way things should be done.
If one were to look at it from the perspective of education and training, what Laowang and Wang Xiufang were doing was barely adequate. At that moment, however, Wang Yan was feeling moved by their all-encompassing love.
‘I will live a life so remarkable that it’ll be beyond your wildest dreams. Just a while more, Mom and Dad, you won’t have to wait much longer!’
…
After dinner, Wang Yan went over to Brother Xizi’s place.
After hearing about Wang Yan’s achievements and looking at Wang Yan’s new outfit, he couldn’t help but give him a word of advice. “Xiaoyan, it wasn’t easy for you to earn this money, so don’t spend it all on eating, drinking, and making merry. Use some for investments, saving for the future…”
Blah, blah, blah.
It was a bit boring and long-winded, but it was sound advice.
Wang Yan nodded. “Don’t worry, bro. I know what I’m doing. Let’s work on something together if there’s an opportunity in the future.”
After he made it home, he received another message bragging about He Meng’s party.
Zhang Ying: “Damn! Why didn’t you come for He Meng’s graduation party? The dishes were amazing!”
He attached a photo of a huge crab.
“See this? King crab that costs 498 per pound and every table had one. It was f*cking good!”
Wang Yan wanted to pay no heed to it, but looking at the photo of the huge crab, he was suddenly in the mood for some crab.
He still had that Crab King Card lying in his inventory, and he had been wondering when and how he should use it!
For every crab eaten during the meal, he would receive a cash reward equivalent to ten to fifty times the price. It was a deal too good to miss.
“Dong Yuan International has king crab? You’re sure it’s 498 per pound, and not per kilogram?
Zhang Ying replied quickly: “Duh! I saw them alive and jumping around in the tank! Liu Weilong was clear about it, a pound for 498!”
Wang Yan found it hard to believe, and a wave of excitement overcame him.
They actually had such expensive crabs in Gujiao?
When he was having a casual chat with Lin Weiwiei that morning, he had asked her where he could find the best crabs in the Capital.
Lin Weiwei told Wang Yan that it wasn’t the season for hairy crabs, so king crabs were the best available. There was a Japanese restaurant that specialized in crab dishes, and their live crabs were 298 per pound.
Wang Yan was a little disappointed.
Why?
They were too cheap!
A big king crab weighed about ten pounds and would barely cost 2,500. Besides, it would be more than enough for the girls!
Given their appetite (or lack thereof), Wang Yan would suffer a loss if he were to treat them to a meal with the Crab King Card, so the plan was shelved.
Wang Yan knew that king crabs were probably available in Gujiao as well, but he had never expected them to be so much more expensive than the Capital.
Shouldn’t things have been more expensive in the Capital?
1
Apparently, that wasn’t the case.
Seafood was more expensive inland or in smaller cities because of the shipping costs entailed. It was also harder to sell, so they were usually priced exorbitantly so as to cover the costs.
Wang Yan wasn’t familiar with the ins and outs, but it didn’t matter. What was most important was how expensive it was!
A king crab weighing ten and a half pounds would cost 4,000 or more; if they were able consume eight of them, that would be 32,000.
Multiplying that by thirty would give him 90,000! Fantastic!
4
The only problem now was…
Who would be able to help him tackle eight king crabs?
He read quietly on the way back.
When he looked at his cell phone two hours later, there was a barrage of messages.
Liu Li, Lin Weiwei, Lu Yuanyuan, Wang Xue, Reyi Nawu, and Han Luzhou had already been added in his WeChat, and a group chat named [The Beautiful Memories of the Capital] had been created.
Lu Yuanyuan: “Have a safe trip home, Wangwang!”
Reyi Nawu: “Come out and chat! You there? (bared teeth) (knock knock) (sad face)”
Two sentences, three emojis.
Both Wang Xuehan and Han Luzhou sent the waving emoji. It was probably the same person who had done them.
Lin Weiwei: “Remember your driving license next time. I’m not going to be a chauffeur for you both again.”
Liu Li didn’t say anything but had changed her WeChat status to: “August 1st Dream Journey (fighting) Lili, go for it!”
He replied, “Sis San Wang, fighting! Don’t just stick to the classics, learn some special genres!
I’m waiting for you! (excited)”
After teasing Liu Li, Wang Yan continued chatting with the rest for a while longer before opening his class group chat.
He Meng’s graduation party was that afternoon. There were at least thirty to forty attendees from their class, with the exception for a few who had to prepare for exam retakes. Wang Yan was the only person who had intentionally declined.
Everyone was sharing photos in the group chat; some of them were selfies, and others were group photos. Most of the photos featured He Meng.
He Meng was dressed in an off-shoulder dress and a pair of heeled sandals.
With her hair braided like an elven princess, she emanated an otherworldly aura that set her apart from the rest.
This girl really knew how to dress up. Even college seniors might not have been on par. Liu Li would totally look like a little girl next to her.
But so what?
He liked the way Liu Li looked.
After giving it a few more glances, he opened his private messages.
Wang Yonglei: “What are you doing, Wang-er? Later we’ll be going to the cybercafé, and someone’s paying for karaoke tonight. You coming?”
Playing games was fine. He might even receive secret rewards while having fun.
Unfortunately, it would be after five by the time he reached Gujiao, and he would definitely have to go home first. There wouldn’t be enough time for him to join them at the cybercafé.
The private messages from his other classmates were all pretty similar. Everyone was asking if he wanted to hang out.
After replying to all the messages, teasing Liu Li yet again, and reading for a while more, he finally reached home.
The moment Wang Yan got off the train, he felt a sense of suffocation.
Having lived in Gujiao for so many years, too many people were familiar with his background and knew that he wasn’t one to spend much money or sport designer clothes. He wouldn’t be able to explain himself if he ran into someone he knew.
Maybe he should start college earlier?
College would be a fresh beginning for him, him knowing nobody and nobody knowing him. It was a perfect time for a glorious transformation.
He should be able to explain his newfound wealth after a semester at college. It would become much more convenient then.
Deep in thought, he pushed open the door to his home, startling Wang Xiufang, who was currently picking some vegetables in the courtyard.
“What happened to you, son?”
“What do you mean? Nothing’s happened? I’m doing perfectly fine?” Wang Yan replied in bewilderment.
“You seem different… You look much sharper than your usual self.”
Wang Xiufang stood up and looked at Wang Yan in astonishment.
He came to a sudden realization.
His manners and actions were totally different from before, and the refreshing changes had definitely enhanced his charm.
There weren’t any actual changes to his physical appearance—the only thing that had changed was how he was being perceived by others.
“I signed up for an etiquette class. It teaches me how to correct my posture and improve the way I carry myself. I’m going to college soon, so I need to get my act together!”
Wang Yan tried to come up with a plausible explanation so that his parents wouldn’t be too puzzled by the sudden transformation.
Wang Xiufang was elated and could barely stop grinning from ear to ear. “That’s great! It’s great that you’re working on bettering yourself! First impressions count, and it really matters how you carry yourself. The fact that you’ve taken the initiative to work on improving yourself proves that you’ve really grown up…”
Laowang came out of the house with a fan in his hand. “Do you need new clothes, son? How about money? Dad’s been winning recently. I can offer you some support.”
Wang Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but he was feeling very touched by the kind offer.
Even if he was winning regularly, at the rate of ten to twenty dollars a day, it would still take him about a month to accumulate 500 dollars. What good would that be?
“That’s alright, I have plenty. I might go to Xingcheng later to help out a former classmate.”
Wang Yan was laying the groundwork again.
“Ah? What are you doing there?”
“That buddy of mine made some money with his uncle. They have a new project and need someone trustworthy to help out. The work itself isn’t too laborious. It’s just difficult to find someone they could trust. Nothing’s firmed up yet, so I don’t have the details.”
“Alright, you decide for yourself then. Provided it doesn’t affect your classes.
“Studying is still your number one priority.”
Laowang and Wang Xiufang had no objections as long as Wang Yan prioritized his studies.
This was the way the Wang family had brought up their child; as long as it wasn’t anything bad, his was allowed to make his own decisions.
Times were changing rapidly, and knowing that they wouldn’t be able to keep up with the changes, they would rather stand aside and offer him support quietly than try and dictate the way things should be done.
If one were to look at it from the perspective of education and training, what Laowang and Wang Xiufang were doing was barely adequate. At that moment, however, Wang Yan was feeling moved by their all-encompassing love.
‘I will live a life so remarkable that it’ll be beyond your wildest dreams. Just a while more, Mom and Dad, you won’t have to wait much longer!’
…
After dinner, Wang Yan went over to Brother Xizi’s place.
After hearing about Wang Yan’s achievements and looking at Wang Yan’s new outfit, he couldn’t help but give him a word of advice. “Xiaoyan, it wasn’t easy for you to earn this money, so don’t spend it all on eating, drinking, and making merry. Use some for investments, saving for the future…”
Blah, blah, blah.
It was a bit boring and long-winded, but it was sound advice.
Wang Yan nodded. “Don’t worry, bro. I know what I’m doing. Let’s work on something together if there’s an opportunity in the future.”
After he made it home, he received another message bragging about He Meng’s party.
Zhang Ying: “Damn! Why didn’t you come for He Meng’s graduation party? The dishes were amazing!”
He attached a photo of a huge crab.
“See this? King crab that costs 498 per pound and every table had one. It was f*cking good!”
Wang Yan wanted to pay no heed to it, but looking at the photo of the huge crab, he was suddenly in the mood for some crab.
He still had that Crab King Card lying in his inventory, and he had been wondering when and how he should use it!
For every crab eaten during the meal, he would receive a cash reward equivalent to ten to fifty times the price. It was a deal too good to miss.
“Dong Yuan International has king crab? You’re sure it’s 498 per pound, and not per kilogram?
Zhang Ying replied quickly: “Duh! I saw them alive and jumping around in the tank! Liu Weilong was clear about it, a pound for 498!”
Wang Yan found it hard to believe, and a wave of excitement overcame him.
They actually had such expensive crabs in Gujiao?
When he was having a casual chat with Lin Weiwiei that morning, he had asked her where he could find the best crabs in the Capital.
Lin Weiwei told Wang Yan that it wasn’t the season for hairy crabs, so king crabs were the best available. There was a Japanese restaurant that specialized in crab dishes, and their live crabs were 298 per pound.
Wang Yan was a little disappointed.
Why?
They were too cheap!
A big king crab weighed about ten pounds and would barely cost 2,500. Besides, it would be more than enough for the girls!
Given their appetite (or lack thereof), Wang Yan would suffer a loss if he were to treat them to a meal with the Crab King Card, so the plan was shelved.
Wang Yan knew that king crabs were probably available in Gujiao as well, but he had never expected them to be so much more expensive than the Capital.
Shouldn’t things have been more expensive in the Capital?
1
Apparently, that wasn’t the case.
Seafood was more expensive inland or in smaller cities because of the shipping costs entailed. It was also harder to sell, so they were usually priced exorbitantly so as to cover the costs.
Wang Yan wasn’t familiar with the ins and outs, but it didn’t matter. What was most important was how expensive it was!
A king crab weighing ten and a half pounds would cost 4,000 or more; if they were able consume eight of them, that would be 32,000.
Multiplying that by thirty would give him 90,000! Fantastic!
4
The only problem now was…
Who would be able to help him tackle eight king crabs?
