After working in the emergency department of pediatrics for more than ten days, Zhou Chen finally got two days of rest as he wished. These two days happened to be the days when he and Zhao Yingnan were engaged.
Parents from both sides gathered together, but there was only one table. On Zhou Chen's side, there were just three of him and his parents, while on Zhao Yingnan's side, there were a little more. There were seven people in total, which added up to exactly ten people at one table.
Just sit down.
An engagement is different from a marriage. There is no need to make a big fuss. It is enough for both the man and the woman and their parents to arrive. Other relatives can also come if they are willing.
But generally speaking, not too many relatives will come, and at most only some very close relatives will come.
Zhou Chen and Zhao Yingnan have been dating for nearly six years. Their parents have known about it for a long time and they have met more than once. It can be said that this engagement is a matter of course.
Although they had been talking to each other for many years and were already very familiar with each other, Zhou Zhiming and Li Congping were still very polite and did everything they should. They gave the woman enough respect, which made Zhao Yingnan's parents very satisfied.
Especially Zhao Yingnan's grandma kept praising Zhou Chen, saying that her granddaughter was so lucky to have found such a good fiancé in Zhou Chen.
This kind of praise makes Zhou Chen feel a little embarrassed. Although Zhao Yingnan's grandma is old, she is really good at talking and praising people. She is a very kind and kind old man.
Several female relatives on Zhao Yingnan's side were full of surprise when they saw the diamond ring and bracelet on Zhao Yingnan's hand.
At this time, China was still lagging behind compared to Xiangjiang. These jewelry were all bought in Xiangjiang, and they were all big brands. Naturally, they were very eye-catching for women.
The women kept chatting with Zhao Yingnan about jewelry and interesting things about Hong Kong, while the two fathers clinked their wine glasses and drank non-stop.
Since they were engaged, it was natural to discuss marriage. In the end, the parents of both parties reached a consensus that Zhou Chen and Zhao Yingnan would get married after they graduated with Ph.D.
After the dinner, Zhou Chen was pulled aside by Lao Zhao.
"Zhou Chen, you kid, please listen to me. My daughter is almost handed over to you. If you dare to treat her badly, I will shoot you with a gun."
Zhou Zhiming's drinking capacity is not bad, so Lao Zhao, who was drinking with him today, also drank a lot and warned Zhou Chen drunkenly.
Zhou Chen naturally answered in the affirmative: "Uncle, don't worry, I promise that I will not let Yingnan be wronged, and I will definitely make her live a better life than others."
Lao Zhao: "I hope you remember what you said."
Although Lao Zhao was a little drunk, he still acted like a soldier and left with his family after the incident.
"Son, you take Yingnan for a walk, and I'll take your dad back to rest."
The restaurant is not far from the house, so Zhou Chen is not worried about his mother helping his drunken father back alone.
"Well, Mom, please pay attention."
Although Zhou Zhiming can drink, he usually drinks only two or three liang at most at home and rarely gets drunk. The reason why he drank so much today was mainly because he was happy.
Zhao Yingnan held Zhou Chen's arm and walked down the street with a cheerful face.
She was very happy today. Being engaged meant that her relationship with Zhou Chen had taken a further step and moved towards becoming a real family. This was something she had always longed for, so of course she was happy.
"Where are we going to play?"
"Where do you want to play?"
The afternoon was very long, and naturally the two of them could not wander around on the street all the time. Zhao Yingnan was a relatively old-fashioned type and had very few entertainment activities. Even if there were, Zhou Chen would take her with him. She usually
During class and work, the rest of the time is spent around Zhou Chen.
All in all, Zhao Yingnan is a girl who doesn't know how to play. There may be very few women like this twenty years later, but in this era, there are still many women with this kind of personality.
"Then let's go to the mall. The weather is getting colder. I'll buy you some clothes."
After living in Yanjing for so many years, Zhao Yingnan felt that as long as he could stay with Zhou Chen, he would be the same wherever he went.
"Okay, you are the biggest today. Wherever you say we will go, we will go."
There are not many entertainment activities in this era, and Zhao Yingnan doesn't like to go to lively places. Zhou Chen doesn't force her. She can go wherever she wants, and there's nothing wrong with it.
The two went to a large shopping mall in Yanjing and spent several hours shopping there. They bought a lot of clothes and Zhou Chen also bought a lot of small gifts for Zhao Yingnan.
In the evening, all the 92-level clinical medicine students were called out by Zhou Chen. Except for a few who were unavailable, there were a total of seventeen people, and there was another big gathering.
"Everyone first pays tribute to Zhou Chen and the squad leader, congratulations to them."
Everyone was lifted up and toasted to Zhou Chen and the others.
Zhou Chen still said to everyone: "It's the same sentence. We have known each other for so many years. We don't have to pay so much attention. Eat and drink when you should. You must have fun. Don't think about saving money for me."
"Who doesn't know how a rich man like you can save you money? You think too much."
"Haha, yes, you think too much."
"A big event like an engagement will definitely require a lot of blood."
…………
Faced with everyone's teasing, Zhou Chen said with a smile: "You can tell me now that if the gift money is less when I get married to Yingnan, I will not easily bypass you."
"Tsk, tsk, we just got engaged, and we already want to get married. We are also thinking about gift money. We are all poor doctors, how much money can we have?" Eucommia looked worried.
Zhao Yingnan retorted: "We are all top Ph.D. students, how can we have no money? I have remembered it. Each of you counts, and none of you can escape. If the gift money is less, we will not attend your wedding in the future."
.”
Qiu Shui asked loudly: "Monitor, Zhou Chen, when you get married, shall we give you one gift or two gifts?"
Houpu immediately shouted: "Of course it's one share. We are one family, how can we give out two shares?"
"Squad leader, look at how cool you are, can you be of some use?"
"If you are promising, you should pay twice."
"Two servings is two servings, don't let others look down upon you."
Everyone started to tease each other, and the atmosphere at the dinner table was very good.
Qiu Shui also took the opportunity to sit next to Xiao Hong, and said to Xiao Hong with a playful smile: "Xiao Hong, don't be angry, I was wrong, I was wrong, can you forgive me? Don't ignore me, you see I've been doing this lately
I've lost weight, Xiaohong, please forgive me..."
Xiao Hong was sullen at first, but in the end she couldn't stand Qiu Shui's shamelessness and forgave Qiu Shui.
This scene was seen by Gu Ming, who was at the same table, and his face suddenly darkened a lot. He had liked Xiao Hong for so many years, but in the end he got nothing.
It was clear that Qiu Shui had already done such an excessive thing, but Xiao Hong still chose to forgive Qiu Shui rather than give him a chance, which made him feel frustrated.
It's true that he and Qiu Shui are brothers, but sometimes I really don't understand why Xiao Hong is still willing to follow him when Qiu Shui is so messed up. He is so loyal, why Xiao Hong doesn't want to choose him.
The frustrated Gu Ming no longer thought about continuing. He planned to study hard, take the doctoral examination for his mother, and leave Renhe Medical College.
"After dinner, do you have any good suggestions?"
Because everyone was a medical student and had already done internships, they were relatively restrained, did not drink too much, and were still very conscious.
So when the dinner was about to end, Zhou Chen asked everyone.
Houpu said loudly: "It's okay to go out to play, but Zhou Chen, you don't need to treat us. If we want to do some expensive activities, how about we all raise funds together?"
"I have no opinion."
Immediately some people raised their hands to express their agreement, and then everyone expressed their agreement one after another.
Over the years, Zhou Chen also invited everyone to dinner several times. Although they did so intermittently later on, it was definitely not as grand as others, so although everyone didn't say it, they remembered it in their hearts.
Seeing that everyone had the same opinion, Zhou Chen did not force it. He just said: "Since everyone has said so, I won't make big claims. I just want everyone to come up with ideas about where to play next and what to play."
The question of what to play puzzled everyone.
These people are now interns. They usually have to intern in the hospital and study. They are occupied most of the time, and very few of them can go out to play regularly.
All in all, I just don’t want to play, can’t play, and can’t afford to play.
"There are more of us, how about we go to the skating rink?"
A boy suddenly suggested.
In this era, most of the skates were four-wheeled and two-row skates. Although they were just simple skating, they were still very popular at this time. Many young men and women liked to go skating in groups.
"I won't go, I can't skate, it's too scary." A girl immediately expressed her opinion.
"I don't want to go there either. It's a bit too chaotic there, and there are too many of us, so it doesn't feel right."
"I think it's good. I have excellent skating skills and can teach you."
"I'm afraid of pain and falling, but I don't want to go either."
"There's nothing to be afraid of when skating. You can wear protective gear."
…………
Everyone started a discussion about skating. Most of the boys had no objections, but many girls were reluctant to go.
For girls, skating is a relatively dangerous game.
"Then what do you girls want to do?"
"Watching a movie? It's no problem if there are a lot of people or a small amount of people, and the consumption is still low. The most you can do is buy some food and drink."
"Watching a movie? What's so good about a movie? It's better to go skating."
"Who said it? The previous movie Titanic was very, very good. If we watch it now, maybe there will be good movies released."
"Which of you wants to go? Anyway, I don't want to go."
"I don't want to go either. Going to the movies is too boring. People go there in pairs. What movie should I go to as a single person?"
"You're right, watching movies is really boring."
There is indeed a huge difference in how boys and girls play.
The main reason is that there are not many places to play now, and there are even fewer places where men and women can play together. What's more, there are more than a dozen people at a time, so it must be a large entertainment venue.
Neither side could convince the other, so they fell into a stalemate.
Finally, Xiao Hong suddenly stood up and said to everyone: "How about I tell you a place?"
"Xiao Hong, tell me."
"bar."
"bar?"
When they heard that Xiao Hong said that she was going to the bar, many people's expressions changed slightly, and then they started talking.
"A place like a bar is too messy, wouldn't it be a good idea to go there?"
"I also think it's too chaotic there, and it's all visited by young people from society."
"I think it's okay. The bar is not as bad as you think. It's a place to relax."
"Yeah, what age are we in, don't be so feudal, okay?"
"Anyway, I agree. Xiao Hong is not afraid of girls. What are we boys afraid of? I just haven't been to that kind of place, so I can take the opportunity to see it tonight."
Hou Pu frowned and said: "We are top students at Renhe Medical College, future Ph.D.s, so why don't we go to a place like a bar where gangsters hang out?"
For a student like him who came from a rural area, studying hard and working hard is what he has to do. Places like bars are really far away from him.
Naturally, Qiu Shui would not discredit his girlfriend. He suggested, "I don't go there very often. It's okay to go there once in a while. Zhou Chen, Zhao Yingnan, what do you think?"
Ever since, everyone's eyes turned to the two protagonists at today's dinner.
Zhao Yingnan originally wanted to refuse directly, but then he changed his mind and asked Zhou Chen: "Zhou Chen, what do you think of Xiaohong's proposal?"
Zhou Chen said: "In my opinion, the bar is indeed a bit chaotic, but it is not as chaotic as everyone imagines. Since the country allows it to exist, there is still a certain reason; if you go there once in a while, it is actually nothing.
What I want to remind everyone is that the consumption in bars is very high, and a glass of beer may cost several yuan or more. If you go, you must be mentally prepared to bleed."
Xiao Hong raised her head proudly, patted her chest and said, "Don't worry about this. I know you at the bar I mentioned, so I can give you a discount when the time comes."
Qiu Shui asked in surprise: "Do you still know the people in the bar?"
Xiao Hong rolled her eyes at him and said, "Can't you? When you made me angry before, I always went to the bar to calm down. The more times you did it, the more naturally you got to know the people there."
Being stared at by everyone, Qiu Shui smiled awkwardly, and being exposed by his girlfriend in public was really not a good feeling.
"What do you think?" Zhou Chen asked again.
He actually doesn't have any aversion to going to bars. Although he rarely goes to bars, it's absolutely fine to go to bars occasionally.
Many people regard bars as illegal places and feel that they are harboring filth and evil and are not a good place. But objectively speaking, this is not mainly a problem of bars, but a problem of people.
Just like those Qing Bars more than ten years later, there were quite a lot of them, but in this era, Qing Bars are almost impossible to see in China.
Seeing that everyone still couldn't give an answer, Xiao Hong became anxious.
"Hey, I said you are all too backward in your thinking. I am asking you to go to the bar, but I am not asking you to do bad things. Do you know why I went to the bar?"
"Didn't you just say that Qiushui made you angry, so you went to the bar to calm down."
"Ha ha……"
Suddenly there was a burst of laughter, and Qiu Shui, who was innocently lying in the gun, was hit hard again.
Xiao Hong also burst into laughter and explained: "That is only part of the reason, the more important reason is indulgence."
"indulgence?"
"Yes, it is indulgence. Think about it, as doctors, we have to study and see patients, and sometimes we have to experience birth, old age, illness and death. Are we under a lot of pressure? We always feel like something is pressing on our chests, which is extremely depressing.
It’s very uncomfortable to want to release but can’t. You must feel this way.”
Everyone looked at each other, and they did not refute Xiao Hong's words, the pressure of study, internship, exams, and the pressure of graduation.
It can be said that they are burdened with too much pressure, and sometimes they are indeed so depressed that they can't breathe.
But, isn’t this how everyone came here? Didn’t Renhe’s senior brothers come here this way too?
"Going to a bar is just for indulgence. No one there will care who you are, because everyone is here to indulge. There, you don't need to worry so much, you just need to release everything you want to release, and enjoy it
Sing and dance, drink to your heart’s content, and have fun.”
Watching Xiao Hong talking, I became excited, as if I had arrived at the bar and started to indulge myself.
Xiao Hong's words are quite contagious. At least some of the people who said they didn't want to go have begun to waver and are a little eager to give it a try.
"Xiao Hong, is the bar really as good as you say? I've heard people say that there are many gangsters in it and it's very dangerous." You Yue said worriedly.
Xiao Hong sneered and said: "What are you afraid of? There are more than a dozen of us, and we are all soldiers from the military camp. If we meet ordinary gangsters, can they beat our military fists?"
"That's true."
Only then did everyone realize that they all came from the military camp and seemed to be really not afraid of the gangsters.
Zhao Yingnan winked at Zhou Chen, and Zhou Chen understood what she meant, so he said, "It's up to everyone to decide whether to go or not. In this way, if you want to go, we can go together after dinner. If you don't want to go, we can go together after dinner."
I’m going, I’ll go back and rest by myself after dinner, what do you think?”
"That's okay. Anyway, I'm going to see something. I've grown up and haven't been to a bar yet." Eucommia said with great interest.
Gu Xiaoman immediately raised his hand: "If Eucommia goes, I will go too."
"Add me one." Of course Qiu Shui wanted to go.
Gu Ming also shouted: "And me, bars have been everywhere in America for a long time, it's really nothing to go there."
"I'm not going, I have an early shift tomorrow."
"Forget it, I don't want to go to that kind of place."
…………
Although a few people said they wouldn't go, the vast majority said they wanted to go.
"Xin Yi, are you going?" Zhou Chen asked Xin Yi.
Zhao Yingnan said worriedly: "Forget it about Xin Yi, he is not cured yet."
Xin Yi said, "I haven't been to a bar either, Yaodao, how about we go and have a look with everyone?"
"But your body?" Yang Yue asked worriedly.
Xin Yi smiled and said: "I'm fine. I'm already stable. As long as I don't do strenuous activities or drink, I'll be fine."
Zhou Chen also said: "Yes, we just don't let him drink. Besides, he has been in the hospital for such a long time, so he should go out and do some activities."
Qiu Shui and others also agreed: "Yes, Xin Yi, you haven't been active with all of us for a long time. It's okay to go out and play together."
Xin Yi looked at Yang Yue hopefully: "Demon Sword."
Yang Yue looked at Xin Yi's expectant eyes, but finally couldn't bear it and nodded in agreement.
"Then go ahead, but I will keep an eye on you, so don't try to mess around."
"Very good."
Dinner was over soon, and except for the three who didn't go, a group of fourteen people headed towards the bar Xiao Hong mentioned.