Section 3

On the surface, Ye Zhen appeared to be smiling and composed. When someone offered him a drink, he would drink it. As he watched the boys in the class get drunk one round after another, he remained refined and clean, showing no signs of embarrassment. Two mischievous boys knelt down with three chopsticks in hand, pretending they were three incense sticks, and shouted: "So you are the legendary Wuliang Tianzun, please accept us as your disciples!"

Zhang Mian patted his thigh and said: "I acknowledge this sister of yours, Guoguo. From now on, you can treat Brother Zhang Mian as your own brother."

Then he sat there obediently like a child, saying nothing, which was quite intimidating

In the end, Ye Zhen still drank too much, and our troops experienced internal division and retaliatory strikes, resulting in being jointly intoxicated by the comrades of the instructors

After breakfast, the bus that would take us back arrived. The classmates bid farewell for quite some time. I sat by the window watching Ye Zhen. He was sending off the classmates with his signature smile. I rested my chin on the window edge, drooping my ears in self-comfort, believing that a brief separation is meant to make the reunion even sweeter

A girl as reserved as I am can only be reserved for one night; I will charge forward bravely, staring wide-eyed at the instructor who is laughing at hetushu.com.

At that time, I was unwaveringly determined that I would be happy

A drill instructor laughed heartily while patting his thigh, saying: "Guoguo, your retaliatory measures are rather extensive."

Everyone is joyful, yet I am feeling downcast, sigh, the sorrow of parting, oh the sorrow of parting

Last night, I experienced an unprecedented bout of insomnia, stirred by romantic feelings.

Because Ye Zhen wishes me happiness, I will also make him happy

As the car sped along, Ye Zhen walked over and gently ruffled the top of my head. I was startled, and he smiled, saying: "Tang Guo, you must study hard from now on. You are still young, and in the future, there will be many boys who will like you. I wish you happiness"

I harbored resentment towards the paper tiger for half a day, and finally lost my spirit, muttering complaints: "Forget it, I deserve this. But that day, Ye Zhen taught me, do you really have to be so happy?"

Zhang Mian patted my shoulder heartily, almost breaking the flower of our motherland, and laughed: "Of course it counts, you can always come to find me under the pretext of chasing after Xiao Ye Zhen." I scratched my head awkwardly; Comrade Zhang Mian truly does not even pretend to be foolish.

I gazed at the sky with a sorrowful heart at a forty-five degree angle, and in just a moment, my classmate Tang Guo transformed into Guo Guo; even stir-fried dishes do not change this quickly

I looked at him, and under the golden light, he appeared to glow, a soft and kind light

I walked over, wanting to sit with him for a while while he was inebriated. I swear I just wanted to sit beside him, without saying anything, as he wouldn't remember anything I said in his drunken state

If you really want to pursue him, Brother Zhang Mian will act as your inside man; I've found that kid displeasing for a long time.

Thinking of our parting tomorrow, Ye Zhen is at the military academy while I am in high school. To find him, I have to cross more than half the city, and Instructor Ye is often deployed to the field. I can't help but resent Miss Tian for not being born a few years earlier. I sit at the door watching my Instructor Ye surrounded by girls, in a scene reminiscent of a harem, smiling like a blooming flower, pretending to be a chaste and virtuous husband to me.

The next morning, this young lady was promoted to a national first-class protected animal, sporting two dark circles under her eyes as she went to the cafeteria for breakfast. Yesterday, Ye Zhen's extraordinary display of drunkenness was likely reported to my brother by him. At this moment, he was having breakfast face to face with my brother. As I stood at the entrance of the cafeteria, our eyes met in a moment of mutual understanding. Instructor Ye's body trembled, and he tilted his neck to gulp down the porridge, wiped his mouth, and ran away.

Seeing them so joyful, I still feel very sad

The surroundings are so quiet that there is not even a breath to be heard, nothing at all, and I am no more!

I pointed at their faces one by one: "Who was it that laughed at him just now? I will remember you all. You better keep an eye on your respective girlfriends, for I am not a good person."

What joy! I am so excited! You have no idea how Ye Zhan bullies us with his sharp tongue. His mouth is like a machine gun, firing 'bang bang bang' without pause; I've never seen anyone who can still catch their breath. You are his nemesis; you have no idea how we feel when we see him scurrying around like a rat in the street. It truly feels like we are singing songs of liberation as former serfs. Instructor Xiao Zhang pulled the stool a little closer, saliva flying everywhere, "I say, Guoguo..."

"You... have become smaller..." He looked at me in confusion

However, Instructor Ye suddenly turned his head and stared at me intently, his pitch-black pupils large and bright, glistening with moisture, and a satisfied smile reminiscent of gluttony at the corners of his mouth, like an African wildcat poised to pounce that I had seen in the animal kingdom. My heart raced violently, stirred by just a casual glance, yet I did not expect Instructor Ye to do something that left everyone in shock.

I immediately flatteredly hugged the paper tiger's arm, with tears in my eyes: "You are my dear brother! Brother, no more words, let us toast with tea instead of wine!"

Comrade Zhang Mian squinted his eyes and said, "Guo Guo, who has upset you?"

I do not know how long it took, but I finally came to my senses, shouting and pushing him away as I ran out. This person possesses sorcery, and I have been completely subdued! I'm doomed! I'm finished! I'm utterly finished! Damn Ye Zhen! Stinky Ye Zhen! Bastard Ye Zhen! Who the hell do you think my Tang Guo is!

On the night before leaving, an additional meal was provided in the cafeteria, with a bowl of ribs and a roasted chicken placed on each dining table. The boys clamored for drinks, and the instructors, putting on a stern face, initially refused, but ultimately could not resist bringing the prepared beer to the cafeteria. The instructors, who usually appeared quite strict, were actually students from a military academy, interning in the army during the summer. Conducting military training for high school students was one of their tasks. Once they shed their instructor roles, they too were students and could be quite wild when having fun.

He placed his hand on the top of my head and rubbed it gently, smiling as he pressed his forehead against mine, our eyes locked. I caught a whiff of the scent of alcohol mixed with fresh bamboo leaves on his skin, and my mind instantly exploded.

The students have all gone mad, pouring into one and then another.

I just learned that the name of the instructor known as "Black-faced Xiao Zhang" is Zhang Mian. My godfather and godmother are truly cultured; the character next to the "eye" radical is "min," which means to watch over the people. He is naturally suited to be a soldier in the People's Liberation Army. After three rounds of tea, Comrade Zhang Mian squinted his eyes into a narrow slit. Seizing the opportunity, I asked, "Brother, does this mean I will be a military family member from now on? Can I come to your school to see you in the future?"

Classmate Tang Guo, take it easy. Although it is said that porcelain teeth are now made to look better than real teeth, the original ones are still more functional, right? Don't bite down so hard; you might break them. Instructor Xiao Zhang grinned and said, "Don't look at me like that; haven't I made you do a hundred sit-ups over the past half month?"