Chapter 63: Driving Ambitions
by xennovelFather and son stepped out of the restaurant and headed toward Xu Zhiquan’s elegant sedan.
Xu Zhiquan started the car and drove off toward First High School.
“I’ll pick you up after school tomorrow!”
Xu Chen thought for a moment.
“The mock exams these past two days have been brutal. I want to unwind at the internet café tomorrow night and play some games.
Dad, I’ll take the bus home on Saturday.
No need to pick me up.”
Xu Zhiquan was a liberal father. Besides, Xu Chen’s grades had always been outstanding, and he took a relaxed approach to his son’s gaming habits.
“All right, have fun! Do you have enough pocket money?”
“Plenty… Dad, you give me thousands at a time. How could a high schooler spend that much?”
Xu Zhiquan laughed heartily.
“With your talents, you need a fat wallet!”
He glanced at Xu Chen.
“Money is a man’s courage.”
Xu Zhiquan delivered the line with swagger.
Indeed, it held a timeless truth.
……
Xu Chen looked back at the bottle of Moutai on the rear seat and asked,
“Dad, are you going drinking tonight?”
Xu Zhiquan: “I’ve got a dinner appointment.
No worries. Fourth Uncle will pick me up later.”
Xu Chen half-joked,
“Boss Xu, you’d better hire a driver soon!”
Xu Zhiquan laughed twice and added,
“I’m thinking of renting an apartment near your school.”
“Why?”
“Running the Seedling Nursery business is more taxing than a factory.
There are frequent dinners and late-night meetings in the city.
If things run late, I still want some sleep.
But I don’t like sleeping in hotels…”
He looked at his son.
“Is it noisy in your dorm? You’ve got the college entrance exam coming up.
Maybe I should rent a bigger place for you to stay in. I’d only drop by to sleep.”
Xu Chen’s dorm was decent, but his studious roommates often stayed up with the lights on, disturbing his rest.
Xu Chen considered and said,
“Sure…”
Xu Zhiquan gripped the wheel and said,
“Pick up some books for me to study…”
Xu Chen paused.
“What books, Dad?”
Xu Zhiquan forced a sheepish smile.
“Listening to you in class makes me feel my education needs a boost!
Get me some business and management books so I can brush up.”
“Sure thing, Mr. Xu!”
Xu Chen couldn’t help admiring his dad’s adaptability.
He’d volunteered to hit the books—promising for the future!
……
……
Xu Chen returned to school before two o’clock.
With the three o’clock math exam still hours away, he napped in the dorm before strolling to the exam room.
After all, as a trust-fund kid, he didn’t need to overexert himself.
*shrugs*
The math exam went smoothly; there were no overly challenging questions.
One sequence problem mirrored a college entrance question Xu Chen had drilled on for weeks—it was a breeze.
But another geometry problem stumped him, revealing a gap he’d need to fill later.
……
At five, Xu Chen exited the exam room and walked to the back door of the adjacent classroom.
Soon, Chen Dahai emerged looking glum.
“What’s up? Why the long face?”
“What else… math was brutal! I couldn’t finish the last few big problems!”
Chen Dahai complained.
Xu Chen smiled, pulled two packs of Hua Zi cigarettes from his backpack, and handed them over.
“Here you go, buddy.”
Chen Dahai’s face lit up as he took them.
“Why are you so generous, Xu?”
“Thanks! Let’s grab a bite together!”
Xu Chen chuckled.
“I’ve got other plans…”
……
Evening air felt warm and heavy.
On the athletic field, in a corner of the bleachers,
Xu Chen lounged lazily as two boys approached from afar.
“Brother Chen.”
It was Zhao Feng and Fang Tao, both working for Bing Ge.
Xu Chen smiled, retrieved two packs of Red Double Happiness from his pocket, and handed them over.
They were extras the shopkeeper had thrown in when he bought the cigarettes for Chen Dahai at lunch.
“Thanks, Brother Chen.”
Zhao Feng accepted the packs and gave one to Fang Tao.
He pulled out a tiny flip phone bedazzled with pink rhinestones.
Xu Chen glanced down but said nothing.
Zhao Feng leaned in and whispered,
“We’ll return it later…
Her sworn brothers have been warned. From now on that girl won’t bother you again.
She knows better than to pull any more stunts…”
Xu Chen didn’t want to talk about Zhao Linlin and asked,
“Where’s Li Rui?”
Li Rui had been expelled over Xu Chen’s scandal, just like Xie Bingran. Xu Chen still felt a twinge of guilt.
……
……
Nightfall. The train station plaza.
A dense crowd, laden with bags, streamed from the platform exit.
Li Rui, a cigarette dangling from his lips, hailed everyone.
“Where you headed? Need a ride?”
But no one paid him any mind.
Some who wanted a taxi saw Li Rui’s rough “thug” look and quietly moved on…
After a long while,
Li Rui sat on some steps with a boxed meal and dug in.
Suddenly a voice came from behind:
“All veg? No chicken leg…”
Li Rui turned and quickly stood up.
He swallowed a mouthful of rice and called out,
“Brother Chen!”
Xu Chen smiled and joined him on the steps.
Li Rui looked awkward as he settled down with the meal.
“Brother Chen… what are you doing at the station?”
Xu Chen: “You got expelled because of me. Couldn’t I at least come see you?”
Li Rui blinked, then sheepishly smiled.
“Don’t say that. I never planned to keep going to school.
Expulsion was a relief.
Bing Ge wants to expand our operations. Since it involves you, I had to help. And you’re such a good friend…”
Xu Chen: “So what are you doing here? Soliciting fares?”
Li Rui: “I’m no expert. I got my license and drive taxis with my dad.
He works day shifts; I pick up passengers for him.
Later he goes home and I work the night shift.”
Xu Chen: “How much do you make a month?”
Li Rui looked embarrassed.
“Not much. I just started.
Maybe one or two thousand. Enough to eat and smoke.”
Xu Chen: “Did you hear about Xie Bingran?”
Li Rui smiled.
“I heard! Who knew Bing Ge had that skill!
Even better, I heard she’s going to college now!
She was going south to work, and I offered to drive her.
Now I get to drive her to university!
That’s so honorable…”
He grinned like going to college himself.
Xu Chen was silent a moment, then pulled out a business card.
“Here’s my dad’s card. He needs a driver.
I’ve told him about you. If you’re interested, go see him…”