The restaurant's serving efficiency was quite good.
Before long, all the drinks and dishes everyone ordered were served.
As they ate and drank, they chatted about amusing stories from their university campuses or reminisced about their high school days.
Compared to the dull and monotonous high school life, university life was, of course, much more vibrant and colorful.
Yet, for some inexplicable reason, despite only half a year having passed, they already found themselves yearning for the time before the college entrance examination.
Several boys who weren't good drinkers were already showing signs of intoxication, their speech becoming more rambling and their faces flushed. Some even confessed secrets they had kept hidden in their hearts.
For instance, one boy recounted his bitter experience of pursuing a senior student in university and being rejected.
From time to time, someone would raise a glass and toast to Li Yanwang.
While Li Yanwang cautioned everyone to drink less, he himself did not hold back.
Fortunately, Old Li had a decent tolerance for alcohol and did not, like those already tipsy boys, start spewing nonsense and ruin his image as a strict teacher.
With additional dishes and drinks served, the gathering, which started around five in the evening, concluded a very pleasant reunion for everyone after graduation, lasting until eight o'clock.
Having entered university not long ago, everyone had yet to experience the corrupting influence of society and hadn't changed significantly.
In a few more years, when some people started becoming more pragmatic and less straightforward, such class reunions might not be as joyful.
The class monitor, Mu Nan, was responsible for settling the bill, and everyone would share the cost later.
Li Yanwang had initially wanted to pay, but his classmates firmly refused, with several boys stopping him from going to the cashier.
Although the restaurant's prices weren't high, for such a large group, the bill came to over a thousand yuan, equivalent to more than half a month's salary for Li Yanwang.
As the group of people filed out of the restaurant, the boys who had drunk too much and were walking unsteadily were supported by their friends.
The cold night wind blew, and the effects of the alcohol seemed to dissipate quickly.
"Everyone head home together, don't linger on the way. If you're going in the same direction, send the girls home. For those further away, take a taxi."
Li Xueping commanded loudly.
"Alright!!"
Everyone responded in unison.
Afterward, the classmates bid each other farewell and headed home in small groups.
"Tian Ge, Zhang Peng, I'm off. Let's go to the internet cafe to play games another day."
Qian Sheng glanced at Li Yanwang from a distance and quietly said goodbye to the two of them.
Qin Tian chuckled and nodded.
"You're too noob, who would play with you!"
Zhang Peng said with a look of disdain.
"Scram, I'm a great mid-laner now. I'll 1v1 you another day and crush you."
Qian Sheng retorted defiantly.
"You? Give me a break!"
"Then see you at the internet cafe tomorrow, I'll show you the might of my mid-lane killing spree."
"Are you scared of me?"
"Heh, I'm leaving!"
Qian Sheng sneered, turned, and walked away quickly.
"Teacher Li!"
Zhang Peng suddenly shouted.
Qian Sheng stopped in his tracks, a premonition of something ominous filling him.
Li Yanwang, who had just finished arranging for a boy to escort two girls home, turned his head at the sound.
"Qian Sheng said he wants to go to the internet cafe to play games and doesn't want tutoring from you."
Zhang Peng loudly reported.
Beside them, Qin Tian and Xia Nuannuan stared in disbelief.
Li Yanwang frowned and glared at Qian Sheng expressionlessly.
Qian Sheng turned his head with a stiff smile, chuckling, "Teacher Li, don't listen to his nonsense. Tomorrow is the minor New Year; I'll come find you after that."
"You said it, if you don't come, I'll visit your house."
Li Xueping nodded.
Hearing this, Qian Sheng's smile became even more forced, and he nodded heavily, "Definitely, definitely!"
Li Yanwang waved his hand, signaling him to go.
Qian Sheng turned and strode away. After walking a short distance, his voice drifted back.
"Zhang Peng, you scumbag. It's against the natural order that any girl would fancy you."
"You idiot, go study properly!"
Zhang Peng retorted loudly.
Without looking back, Qian Sheng raised his right arm high and gave him the middle finger.
"Truly a couple of idiots!"
Qin Tian shook his head and muttered.
"Agreed!"
Liao Juan nodded in agreement.
Xia Nuannuan, standing beside him, couldn't help but laugh at their banter.
...
...
The next morning, Qin Tian was still dreaming sweetly in his warm bed when he was jolted awake by urgent knocking and his mother's shouting.
"Knock, knock, knock!!"
"Still sleeping? What time is it? Get up quickly!"
"Mom, what are you doing? It's a holiday, can't I even sleep in?" Qin Tian complained, feeling speechless.
"It's past nine, and you're still sleeping? Don't you know what day it is today? Hurry up and help clean the house; the whole house needs a thorough cleaning. Do you want me to do it all by myself?" Tang Xiuxia scolded impatiently.
"It's only a little past nine, let me sleep a bit longer. Wake me up at half-past ten."
Qin Tian rolled over, facing away from the door, and made as if to go back to sleep.
"Sleep your head off. If you don't get up, I'm coming in to pull off the covers!"
"No, no, no, I'm getting up, alright!"
"Hurry up, don't fall asleep again after I leave."
"Got it, got it, I'm getting up."
Qin Tian sighed helplessly, sitting up with a yawn.
In reality, he had slept enough, but in the depths of winter, the warm duvet possessed an irresistible magic.
Of course, if there was a Nuannuan inside, it would be even harder to get up.
He slowly put on his clothes, got up, and went to wash his face and brush his teeth.
Today was the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, the minor New Year, traditionally considered the start of the busy New Year period. On this day, people would go buy New Year goods, clean their houses, offer sacrifices to the stove, and prepare for a clean and prosperous New Year.
In most northern regions, the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month is celebrated as the minor New Year.
"Hurry up, you're a grown man, does it take half an hour to wash your face? Stop dawdling, hurry up!"
Tang Xiuxia's urging voice was heard again.
"Mmm..."
Qin Tian rubbed his face with a warm towel, responding listlessly.
In the first few days after returning home, he was still a treasure. Not only was no one urging him to get up in the morning, but he also had breakfast waiting for him.
After a few days, the treasure had turned into a blade of grass, and was now gradually developing into a puddle of mud.
However, this was a common situation for most university students returning home during winter and summer breaks.
Before returning home, parents would affectionately call them their treasure on the phone and urge them to come home.
Once they were actually home and had been lounging around for a few days, parents might even pack their bags for them and urge them to return to school quickly, lest they be an eyesore at home.
"Breakfast is on the table in the main hall. Eat quickly and come help out."
Tang Xiuxia, holding a rag to wipe the dust off the wall, gave her son a look of disdain as he walked out.
"Okay!"
Qin Tian nodded helplessly and headed to the main hall.
"Don't be so lazy, hurry up!"
"Yes!!"
After breakfast, Qin Tian began to thoroughly clean the house with his mother.