Chapter 47 Huazi Goes Wild, Siyi Gets Shy

“Zimo, when’s the BBQ getting here?”

“Hold on, Huazi, Siyi, don’t go too far!”

“Relax, nothing’s gonna happen. Isn’t that the archaeological site up ahead?”

Rumor has it that artifacts from several dynasties have been unearthed here—Even a sunken ship has been discovered and excavated!

A shipwreck from the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty, with its skeletal remains and planks. Seven years ago, Bai Zimo dived and recovered treasure—just the items on the ship.

Without equipment, the ones buried deep in the silt were left untouched. Plus, years of river current had scattered the items far and wide, even downstream!

Because this old canal route sometimes turns up valuables, people often come during the day. So much so that the excavation site was now guarded 24/7 by police. Bai Zimo still gets to fish here at night.

But if the dig expands, ordinary folks won’t have a chance anymore. Just as he was still riding the high of his previous catch—Bai Zimo saw the fishing rod twitch again!

[Ding! You’ve caught a Mandarin fish today. You’ve earned 5000 yuan in cash!]

Whoa!

A big haul!

Tonight, Lady Luck is on his side!

He cast out the line again—and spotted four goofballs pedaling over on bicycles!

“Zimo! Huazi, Siyi!”

“I’m here!”

“BBQ’s here, and we got drinks too! Zimo, can you reimburse us?”

“Haha, I’m gonna starve the rest of this month for this BBQ!”

Pfft!

Laughter erupted!

Huazi laughed mercilessly. So hard that Xie Wanghe’s face froze.

“He deserved it!”

If it weren’t for the dim light, Xie Wanghe’s already dark face would’ve turned darker.

“Fine! Fine! I’ll cover all the drinks! Too bad it’s not beer!”

Everyone knew Bai Zimo was the most well-off. Over the years, the group had mooched plenty of food and drinks off him!

———

“Cut the crap, if we had beer, how would we explain it at home?”

“Hey! Even Chen Rui came. Aren’t you afraid your mom will kill you?”

Chen Rui chuckled.

“It’s not that bad.”

“Come on, tell us—hasn’t your mom been super strict with you all these years?”

“Well, I still made it into No. 1 High. Hard work pays off.”

They all knew about Director Gu’s strict household. Chen Rui was basically raised under extreme discipline—borderline depressed.

Bai Zimo snorted.

“Still talking tough, huh? We at No. 7 High get weekends off—even in senior year!”

“For real!”

“We have PE class. Not just PE, we still have music and art too!”

“No way!”

“No morning self-study, evening study is optional. And no parent signatures on test papers!”

“I wanna transfer schools!”

Hahahaha!

They laughed like crazy!

Even the model student from No. 1 High was getting tempted by the “slacker lifestyle.”

“Haven’t been in the water in a while!” Xie Wanghe was itching to jump in.

“Wanghe, wanna drop a shrimp cage under the willow tree?”

“Damn! You even brought a shrimp trap, you hardcore fishing guy.”

“Bought it from Old Man Huang last year. Setting shrimp traps doesn’t interfere with my fishing.”

“Then let’s try it! Wonder if we’ll catch any river crabs or shrimp!”

With a splash, Xie Wanghe jumped into the water.

“Come on! Let’s eat BBQ, feel the river breeze, and enjoy the night view. This is the life!”

Maybe, years later, they’d still remember this scene. It was just too beautiful. But then, the mood shifted dramatically.

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my personal concert!”

Huazi waved a flashlight over the water like a spotlight.

Bai Zimo yelled, “Seriously, Huazi! You’re gonna scare all my fish away!”

———

“Hey there, audience! How are you all doing tonight?”

“Let me see your hands in the air! Come on, move with me!”

“Scream my name—what? I can’t hear you!”

Shao Xingchi shouted, “Huazi, what the hell? My toes are curling from secondhand embarrassment!”

“It’s a concert!”

“You even know how to sing?”

“Hey, what do you mean do I know how to sing? Siyi, back me up!”

Ma Siyi called out, “Huazi, are you drunk on AD calcium milk or what?”

Pfft!

Hahahaha!

“Siyi, come be my backup dancer.”

“Do it! Do it!”

Ma Siyi shyly waved her hand.

“You’re crazy, I’m not dancing!”

“Then sing with me, come on, I know you know this one—”

“The second hand ticks tick-tock, little jet lag tick-tock, my early tea and moonlight shining on your hair…”

Sometimes, craziness comes from passion. Shyness is how we embrace life.

Laughing together, going wild together—Telling stories of youth and time, of spring blossoms, autumn winds, and winter sunsets, of melancholy teenage years and our once-naive dreams.

In the verses of four seasons and windmills—We grow, year after year…