Chapter 215: Chapter 182: Check on Little a
"I’ll ask him before school ends this afternoon. He happens to want a more interesting National Day too," Lin Li said.
Involving Bai Bufan would indeed make things much more interesting.
At least if Bufan comes, my status won’t be the lowest, and if I’m in a bad mood, I can relieve stress by teasing him a few times.
"How much will it cost approximately?" Lin Li then asked.
Renting these homestays isn’t cheap, typically starting at a thousand per day; for more luxurious ones, it could go over ten thousand a day. Not to mention it’s the National Day holiday, if you don’t book at least half a month in advance, there would be a significant premium.
Lin Li wasn’t too concerned. After all, he had made himself a ten-thousand-yuan person. He didn’t mind spending money on such things.
People have to live for themselves.
"You don’t need to worry too much about the money. My mom knows someone who runs these homestays, which is why, even though the exact location isn’t decided yet, we’ll choose among a few places. No need to hurry.
It’s because those places have their homestay, which can be reserved for us. We can even stay for the entire National Day, for free."
When Chen Yu Ying said the last two words, her eyes sparkled with a bit of excitement and pride as she looked at Lin Li.
"Impressive," Lin Li praised briefly before smiling and asking, "But isn’t free the most expensive?"
"We don’t have to worry about adults’ favors. Repaying this favor is their business. We’ll just consider the accommodation free," Chen Yu Ying stuck out her tongue, smiling, revealing she’s a filial daughter, and said:
"So, we only need to consider the cost of food, drinks, and entertainment later. It won’t cost much, and if we spend most of the time enjoying ourselves in the homestay, it will be even cheaper."
Chen Yu Ying intended to give a specific number but then thought for a while and realized it was hard to say. After pressing her forefinger against her lips momentarily, she said:
"The budget... let’s cap it at three hundred. If we end up spending more, I’ll let my parents cover the excess."
"Class Rep, do you usually like to use steel wool? Like playing with fire? Please, do tell me. It’s crucial for my future career planning!" Lin Li immediately said aloud.
Lin Li is actually a noble character who does not bend for mere gains.
In the Eastern Jin era, five dou of rice were equivalent to about eight kilograms today. These cost less than a hundred bucks in a supermarket.
However, it’s clear that the Class Rep can offer more than a hundred bucks’ worth.
That’s not just about rice; to not bend here needs a big thumbs up.
Chen Yu Ying: "?"
She certainly understood about steel wool and fire.
"What exactly are your career plans?" Chen Yu Ying laughed and said, "Actually, I could treat everyone, but Wanqiu and the others might feel embarrassed."
"Class Rep, you know me, I have always been thick-skinned. Please be sure to treat me completely. I certainly won’t feel embarrassed," Lin Li said righteously.
"Nope." Chen Yu Ying blinked her eyes and responded as soon as Lin Li finished speaking.
"Hmm?"
"I won’t treat you. I would rather treat Bai Bufan than you. You pay your own way."
Chen Yu Ying turned her head away ’indifferently’ and even hummed softly.
"Class Rep, you’ve changed. You used to give me money right away when I asked, even asking if it was enough. But now, to my surprise, you refuse without hesitation, even targeting specifically. You’d rather throw the money to the dogs than give it to me.
Our relationship is apparently not what it used to be."
Lin Li was disappointed, lost, and hurt.
"Yes, yes, exactly." Chen Yu Ying still nodded, her tone very dismissive.
Wang Yuezhi turned his head, his eyes radiating a strange light.
Indeed, it’s really not what it used to be, bro.
Seeing Chen Yu Ying’s faint smile with her back to Lin Li, Wang Yuezhi’s strange light faded, and he turned back.
It’s true it’s not what it used to be, bro.
"In this case, with this price for the National Day holidays, Bai Bufan should find it hard to refuse," Lin Li concluded.
...
"Didn’t you ask me this morning if there’s any chance to take you out for National Day? Bufan, now we have it." When lunch break ended, and Bai Bufan returned to the classroom, Lin Li said to him.
"What?"
"Class Rep invited me out for National Day. Although the place and time aren’t set yet, it definitely won’t be boring, so I’m inviting you too. Are you in or not?" Lin Li explained briefly.
"I’m surprised you thought of me for something like this," Bai Bufan was quite interested.
"I want to shop with you, go to movies, have some milk tea, and eat delicious food. To me, everything has meaning only if it’s done with you, because I don’t have money myself," Lin Li said emotionally.
Bai Bufan moved back a meter with his chair, covering his rear, but when he heard the last twist, he moved back with a grim look.
Almost thought Lin Li was going to lose it again.
With that final sentence, it indeed has meaning only with him.
"Damn it, almost forgot to ask. How much will this trip cost? Can it be as cost-effective as autumn outings during National Day?" Bai Bufan asked.
"The cap is three hundred per person. Any extra, the rich Class Rep will cover for us. If you cover my share, it will only need six hundred," Lin Li explained.
"Ha, six hundred yuan also counts as money to me?" Bai Bufan breathed a sigh of relief and spread out his hands confidently, smiling.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Lin Li shook his head. The guy who snagged eight hundred bucks from the Demon Suppression Bureau is really—
"—my life, Lin Li! Six hundred is life for me! You’re friggin’ asking me for six hundred!" Lin Li’s inner thoughts weren’t even finished when his collar was grabbed by Bai Bufan.
Lin Li: "..."
"If it were three bucks, I’d do some psychological work for a few days, grit my teeth, and cover you, but you’re asking for three hundred?" Bai Bufan shook Lin Li’s collar, "Besides, didn’t you get way more money last week than me? Where’s your money?"
"My money has a purpose," Lin Li admitted sheepishly.
"What’s the purpose?"
"I don’t know, but it surely has a purpose," Lin Li thought for a moment, then answered, "I’ve got it! I want to deposit it in the bank for interest."
Bai Bufan: "?"
"You damn!"
"Just cover your part yourself. The Class Rep’s plan is... basically, so it’s like autumn outings; you’ll need to stay overnight outside. Will your family be okay with that? Don’t change your mind at the last minute," Lin Li, not actually planning to have Bai Bufan cover him, said after smoothing his collar.
"It’s OK. My family is lax with me. If I tell them, they’ll definitely agree, and they might even give me some budget, maybe even covering all expenses with some left, so I won’t have to use my military funding," Bai Bufan nodded.
If the ultimate purpose of spending money is for some R&R, how can this not be considered military funding?
"You are indeed raised laxly; I can tell by your character. After all, those raised in a more conventional environment are usually reserved and hide under the sofa wagging tails fearfully when guests come," Lin Li recognized, analyzing seriously.
Bai Bufan: "?"
You fucker.
In the afternoon, the school still hadn’t released the full school rankings.
This efficiency, truly worthy of a public school.
When the last class ended and the school’s dismissal bell rang, the holiday safety commitment letter along with a few exam papers were handed out, signifying the official start of the National Day holiday.
Putting on a raincoat, Lin Li rode his bike home and opened the door.
Wu Min was already sitting on the sofa looking at her phone.
"Oh wow, isn’t this the Sister Min who throws her own son at the school gate, leaving him to fend for himself? You actually remembered to come back? You actually have feelings for this family?"
The wound of betrayal never heals, so Lin Li naturally wouldn’t miss this sarcastic opportunity.
Wu Min didn’t say anything at first, pulled out a brand new feather duster from under the coffee table, seemingly tempered with oil.
This spanking might actually hurt a bit.
"I don’t have a son," Wu Min said.
"Oh, sorry Auntie, I must have come in the wrong door." Lin Li immediately shut the door with a ’bang’.
Standing outside, he sighed.
People shouldn’t be sarcastic at will, now he’s gone and made himself an orphan.
...
This Auntie still has a kind heart; after seeing Lin Li, the orphan, she ultimately chose to adopt him.
"Mom, during National Day I might go out for a few days..." As he ate the food Wu Min cooked, Lin Li informed her.
"Are there any girls going?"
Parents always prioritize asking about the presence of the opposite sex.
"Yeah, there are," Lin Li said frankly.
"Do you still have living expenses? I’ll give you some more, don’t be stingy when going out with girls," as expected, Wu Min was more generous at this point, saying, "How much do you need?"
Lin Li thought for a while, eagerly looking at Wu Min: "Mom, we’re planning to buy a homestay together, each person about three million and three hundred, I’m currently short about three million, help me out, thanks."
Wu Min: "..."
Only this son of hers could say something like needing three million.
Going out to play and collectively buying a building, huh?
Still says thanks, how polite.
"I’ll give you thirty million." Holding back the urge to dump the food on her son’s head, Wu Min sneered.
"Really, mom? After all these years, you’re finally telling me I’m actually a rich second generation?" Lin Li was a bit expectant.
"These thirty million are actually: must be happy, must be joyful, and must keep one eye open when you sleep." Wu Min also responded to Lin Li’s expectations.
"Does the last ten million mean you want to kill me? Even a fierce tiger won’t eat its cubs, Sister Min!" Lin Li’s expectation turned into horror.
"I’ll transfer you five hundred later; you have to find a way to make up the remaining three million yourself, mom can’t help you." Wu Min didn’t respond further but said, "Let me know the names of the classmates going with you; in case I can’t reach you, I can contact them."
Wu Min still trusts Lin Li’s independence, but she always has basic concern and worry.
"That’s enough, that’s enough, you’ve worked hard during this time, mom, eat more." The filial Lin Li started serving his mother food.
He only served the potatoes that Lin Li disliked.
No meat was served.
...
After being punished by Wu Min to finish the potatoes, Lin Li rubbed his bloated stomach and lay down on the bed.
He took out his phone, and Bai Bufan confirmed once again that he had no problem going out, his family had already agreed.
"Chen Yu Ying: Yu Yu is going to visit his grandparents, and Mu Yang’s family already has travel plans... so in the end, it’s just us again. @Lin Li, is Bai Bufan coming?"
"Lin Li: He’s coming; it seems I still have to drag him along."
"Lin Li invited Bai Bufan to join the group chat."
"Chen Yu Ying initiated a group call."
"Am I really in this group?" Bai Bufan’s first reaction upon joining the group call was to tease Lin Li.
"An emperor always needs eunuchs by his side, find a chance to castrate yourself, Bufan." Lin Li responded with regal laughter.
"Your Majesty, I have a small question: I see your group’s name is ’Three People and a Dog,’ may I ask what role His Majesty plays among them?" Bai Bufan immediately found a point of attack.
"They are the three; I am the one, the mighty one." Lin Li answered instantly.
Bai Bufan was silent for a moment.
Not many options left for himself.
"Fuck."
Everyone in the voice call immediately laughed out loud.
"Alright, let’s get down to business. It’s not fun to go out on a rainy day; I saw the weather forecast says it’ll rain tomorrow and the day after, so how about we leave on the third?" Chen Yu Ying said after stifling her laughter.
No one objected.
"Since we don’t know how long we’ll be out, it’s best everyone finishes their homework in the next two days. It’s not much anyway. Now, let’s discuss where to go; places with homestays include..."
The five of them began to discuss, with Lin Li and Bai Bufan mainly playing the role of echoing with ’oh yeah yeah yeah.’
Eventually, the three decided to go to Shanting Town, not too far away, adjacent to Nansang County, a coastal town with both mountains and water, offering more places to have fun than Xiling.
The group discussed the travel plans for a while longer before hanging up late at night.
After refusing Bai Bufan’s invitation to play games and harshly mocking him instead, Lin Li started studying for subject one and subject two.
This way, when they go out to play, he can find an opportunity to teach Chen Yu Ying this information.
[Strong Memory] remains consistently useful.
After studying until 10:30, Lin Li went to sleep feeling great.
September 30th, today is another ordinary day.