Chapter 9, Telephone

Faced with his friend's repeated understanding, Zhang Long did not refuse but instead kept this concern in his heart, nodding with a smile

A few minutes later, just as they were about to step onto the campus path, suddenly Zhang Longchu's newly purchased phone emitted a piercing "Hehehe..." ringtone.

After lunch, he accompanied Obano to the 'Federal Communications Company' to buy a cheap new mobile phone for Zhang Longchu, and they also topped up the phone card. Noticing that it was getting late, the three hurried towards Andun Middle School

Hohar, standing nearby, displayed a look of disdain and, feeling uncomfortable, shook his shoulders and said: "Long Chu, do you have any idea how bizarre your ringtone is? Sometimes when we go out at night to have fun, whenever you call, every hair on my body stands on end. Why do you insist on using that annoying maniacal laughter as your ringtone?"

Upon hearing this, Obano was so excited that his eyes sparkled, but Zhang Longchu merely smiled faintly without making a definitive comment. Although he was young, he had experienced hardships and was mature for his age, possessing a clear understanding of the disparity between his own situation and that of his friends

Reflecting on Zhang Longchu himself, after losing his parents at an early age, he was taken in by a social welfare institution and escaped from several foster families. It was only after being adopted by the Baker couple on Orange Street that he felt the warmth of a family again and finally settled down. However, from that point on, he was labeled as a small-time hoodlum from the slums.

If he had heard such provocative content in everyday life, Zhang Longchu would have long since shed the dull expression that usually hung on his face, eagerly asking questions without end to satisfy his curiosity and the yearning of a solitary youth for the opposite sex

Upon hearing these words, Obanot's eyes immediately lit up. He carefully stroked the wooden chessboard with his hand, gazing at the mountains, rivers, forests, and deserts depicted on it, and excitedly said: "Really? The treasure map revealed by the British Museum, endless wealth, wow, no wonder this box looks so ancient and mysterious..."

Because it has high recognition, it won't "ring the same bell" as others. A mobile ringtone should be something that others find annoying; that way, it is the most convenient to use, right?" Zhang Longchu shrugged, took out his phone to take a look, saw it was an unfamiliar number, and casually answered, "Hello, who are you? May I ask who you are looking for?"

Having long anticipated that someone might pose such a question to him, Zhang Longchu feigned indifference and said, "That gray backpack was broken, so I had a sudden inspiration and used the 'remains' of that backpack to craft this box, using it as a backpack. How does it look? Not bad, right"

Perhaps it is this persistence in differing responses that has finally earned him the favor of fate after enduring countless hardships, allowing him to receive that mysterious gift, a world constructed from extraordinary things

It was precisely because of the support from this territory that Zhang Longchu, when thinking of his future, couldn't help but smile with self-satisfaction, instinctively reaching to touch the wooden backpack slung across his shoulder, a gesture that inadvertently caught Howard's attention

Indeed, you Jewish fellow, you are not unaware that our dear yellow-skinned monkeys, aside from those peculiar square Chinese characters, have a fondness for such ancient and mysterious things. Do not dampen the mood." Obano also expressed his dissatisfaction from the side

Obano comes from a somewhat modest background, but he has an apartment left by his grandfather, who worked as a painter and struggled throughout his life in an emerging community

The character of the Jewish people is often perceived as weak, and it is rare for them to appear so impressive in front of close friends. After receiving a few compliments from Obano, he readily agreed to let a newly acquainted girl organize a social gathering, hoping to assist his two friends in quickly shedding their single status.

However, today most of his thoughts were occupied by strange objects and chess pieces. After expressing a slightly excited attitude that outwardly showed disdain but secretly revealed envy, he did not say much more.

Howard comes from a Jewish merchant family. Although his family cannot be considered a prominent aristocracy, they are nonetheless established within the upper echelons of Los Angeles society.

Hearing this, Zhang Long couldn't help but think to himself: "I really do feel a bit like the protagonist in a hero movie right now..." However, he said, "Howard, you always know how to kill the mood. The Jewish people are truly a nation without dreams, incredibly realistic."

As soon as he finished speaking, a grim voice came from the phone, saying: "This is the West District Division of the Los Angeles Major Crimes Unit. Are you Zhang Longchu?" This caused Zhang Longchu to freeze, and all the blood rushed to his head.

In stark contrast to Zhang Longchu's calm demeanor, Hohuar was inexplicably excited, incessantly asking about the details of Obano's intimate moments with the girl from last night, drooling and displaying an expression that suggested he wished he could take her place. He also shouted that he must have Hohuar's girlfriend introduce him to women.

As for why he did not take the school bus today and instead appeared at school so early, it is because he encountered a voluptuous high school girl at a festival last night. The two fell in love at first sight, and thus they secretly went to a motel to experience a collision of spirit and flesh. This morning, it was that girl who drove him to school.

To this day, he not only has to rely on selling drugs at school to make money to pay the rent and support his long-unemployed stepfather, who has exhausted all his savings for his seriously ill wife, but he also needs to save up for college tuition for his future. Where is there any genuine intention to pursue a girlfriend?

No need for that, according to the plan I had in mind earlier, Zhang Longchu shook his head, spread the wood on the dining table, transforming it into the appearance of a map and a chessboard, and said mysteriously: "This wooden backpack is a treasure I found at the flea market in the park opposite the Carnegie Museum. The vendor who sold it to me said it is a 'treasure map' that has been passed down from the British Museum. If one can unravel the mysteries within and find the treasure, endless wealth is within reach. That is why I decided to transform it into a backpack, carrying it with me to study at all times."

Although the living environment has always been extremely difficult, Zhang Longchu has never succumbed to a sense of self-pity or given up on life. Instead, he firmly believes that as long as he continues to strive and challenge his fate, he will eventually carve out a broad path to success.

The father is once again working at the dock as a freight dispatcher. Although he is a blue-collar worker, his income is quite substantial. It can be said that both generations of the family are on the right track in their efforts to elevate their social class. Naturally, in the generation of Obano, he attended the best public middle school in Los Angeles and has the financial resources to pay for tuition at prestigious universities, making his future very bright

Howard clearly did not believe Zhang Longchu's nonsense, "Do you really think it's possible to find a treasure map from the British Museum at a flea market, buddy? Do you think you're the hero in an action movie?"

During the pizza feast, Zhang Longchu and Obano pressured Howard, partly out of coercion and partly to show off, to recount the scene of his first "Rainy Festival" in his life

Thus, the three close friends walked out of the campus, chatting and laughing, turned right along the street, and leisurely strolled into the corner pizzeria, 'Luo City Pizza'.

"Alright, Obano, I will definitely arrange for Xianduo to organize a social event for you and the girls from Aibesha Girls' School in the shortest time possible." While dealing with Obano, the Jew curiously asked, "Long Chu, what happened to your favorite gray backpack? Why has it been replaced with a wooden box?"

It has quite a character, but it looks much bulkier than an ordinary backpack. Will it be useful?" Howard shrugged and said, "My dad's shoe store started making leather bags last year. Should I sneak one out for you that fits?

Surrounded by two close friends, Howard pouted and did not speak until he finished eating the pizza