After leaving the Political and Educational Department, Zhang Hengtai found himself with nothing to do that day. His mind, naturally, drifted toward Liu Meiyu.
It happened to be a Friday, and the school had begun arranging internships. Classes for the graduating students had been suspended, which made it a perfect time for a little date. After all, it was important to nurture his relationship with Meiyu.
He walked to a nearby public telephone booth, pulled out an IC card with only 0.1 yuan left on it, and slid it into the slot. Then he lifted the receiver and quickly pressed the card change button. After about ten seconds, there was a short beep...and the line was ready.
Haha, this was one of those old tricks for making free calls back in the day. For poor students like him, it was a real lifesaver—especially when you were in love.
He dialed Meiyu's dorm number, and within three seconds, someone picked up.
"Hello, who's calling?" came the soft voice on the other end.
Zhang Hengtai smiled as soon as he heard her voice. "I'm looking for you. What are you up to?"
"Hengtai? I just washed my hair. I was about to get some noodles by the school gate," she said.
"Have you forgotten already? You promised me last night that you'd be my girlfriend. How could you go out eating without your boyfriend?"
Meiyu chuckled shyly. "Oh, I just agreed to it. I'm still not used to the idea."
"Alright then, meet me at the school gate. I'll wait for you there."
She hesitated for a moment, then replied softly, "Okay… wait a bit, I'll be there soon."
Ten minutes later, they met by the gate.
The sight of Liu Meiyu made Zhang Hengtai grin like an idiot. He just couldn't get enough of looking at her.
"Meiyu, what do you feel like eating?" he asked, trying to take her hand.
Startled by the crowd, Meiyu quickly dodged and pinched his arm. "You're crazy! There are so many people around..oye...what are you doing? Trying to act like some hooligan?"
"Haha, didn't you agree to be my girlfriend yesterday? A relationship without marriage in mind is just hooliganism, right? So you're the hooligan!"
"Oh, please! I only agreed yesterday. How could you be this bold already? Who told you to grab my hand in front of everyone? Aren't you embarrassed?"
Hengtai laughed. "Who's watching? Come on, let me hold your hand. We could walk to the back mountain or by the river."
"I'm not going anywhere suspicious with you. Who knows what you're thinking? I want to go to Central Street and eat dumplings at Hungry Man Lane," she said, crossing her arms.
"Alright, alright, I'll listen to you. Let's take Bus No. 2."
"I don't want to take the bus," she replied quickly. "We can walk there and save a yuan. By the time we arrive, it'll be lunchtime anyway, haha!"
What a woman, he thought. Even now, she was thinking about saving money. She really had the makings of a good wife.
Years later, she would indeed dedicate herself to family life—quietly sacrificing without a word of complaint. Such women were rare now. Among the younger generations, how many were still willing to give up something for the people they loved?
Hengtai nodded seriously. "Okay, I'll listen to you. From now on, I'll do whatever you say."
"Wow, that obedient? Then give me your living expenses and meal card," she teased. "I heard you always run out of money before the end of the month. I'm not feeding you with my own allowance! Also, did you bring cash today? Don't tell me you spent everything on drinks yesterday. You're not going to let me pay on our first date, right?"
Hengtai scratched his head, a little embarrassed. "Don't worry, I brought enough. You're too thin anyway—I'll feed you until you're nice and round."
"You wish," she said, rolling her eyes. "You're the one who needs looking after, messy as ever."
They walked side by side, and this time, when he reached for her hand again, she didn't resist.
"Meiyu," he said softly, "let's hold hands like this forever."
"Oh, stop saying cheesy things. Do you tell all the girls this at school?" she asked, pretending to glare.
Truth was, her heart had softened. What girl doesn't like a little sweet talk? Still, modesty was the rule of her time, so she could only scold him to hide her smile.
"Come on," he said with mock seriousness, "am I that kind of guy? I only like you."
"Ha! You say that so easily. Should I remind you about that girl a grade below us? From the kindergarten class? What was her name again?"
Hengtai coughed awkwardly. "You mean her? That's over. Ages ago. Besides, it wasn't my fault—you wouldn't be with me, so what was I supposed to do?"
Meiyu pouted. "You're unbelievable. Who chases a girl like that? You just confessed to me one day and then vanished the next!"
"What? You're the one who rejected me! Said I was ugly and fat. What could I do?"
"Well, you were!" she said, half laughing. "When you first got to school, you were like 160 centimeters tall and weighed 160 kilograms! You were both short and fat! Who knew you'd change so much?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" he teased. "You like the new me?"
"Humph. Who told you to date someone else? You're too fickle. I bet you'll be unreliable in the future."
Hengtai squeezed her hand tighter. "Don't worry. I'll never lose you in this life."
Meiyu felt her heart flutter. She leaned closer, whispering, "I believe you. I'm betting on my own judgment. Otherwise, I wouldn't have said yes right before graduation." Then, lowering her voice even more, she said playfully, "And if you hadn't confessed, I was going to ask Xiaoyan to make you do it anyway. I just… like you, that's all."
Her face flushed as she slipped free of his hand and ran ahead, laughing.
"Hey! Where are you going? You can't escape from me!" Hengtai shouted, chasing after her.
Their laughter and footsteps filled the quiet streets—a sound that perfectly captured the sweetness of young love in that era.
It was about seven or eight stops from their school to Central Street. The couple walked hand in hand for more than an hour, not feeling tired at all.
Once they arrived at Hungry Man Lane, Meiyu headed straight for the dumpling shop. Funny enough, that place would be demolished five years later to make way for a shopping mall. Sometimes she still mentioned it, saying she wished she could taste those dumplings again..they had never found anything quite like them since.
Back then, a dumpling cost only one cent. Simpler times.
Knowing Meiyu always left the table unsatisfied when ordering the cheap two-yuan portion, Hengtai grinned and said to the shop owner, "Boss, seven-yuan dumplings and two bowls of sour soup."
"What? That's too much!" Meiyu said, shocked. "I can only eat twenty! You'll waste it!"
"Haha, sure you can. Let's see about that. Boss, make it two plates...one with twenty, one with fifty."
She pouted, glaring at him, but there was no real anger behind it.
Soon the dumplings arrived, steaming hot. They mixed their dipping sauces and started eating.
The filling was rich and flavorful....real meat, not the cheap stuff. Even years later, he could still remember that taste. If someone opened a dumpling shop like that today, it would be a hit. Too bad the owner disappeared after the street was torn down.
As they ate, Hengtai noticed Meiyu staring at his plate, her cheeks puffed slightly. She had already finished her twenty.
"Want to help me with these? I can't finish them all," he teased.
She hesitated, torn between pride and hunger, then gave in with a laugh. "Fine, I'll help you. Don't waste food!"
By the time they were done, seventy dumplings were gone. Both of them leaned back, laughing and burping in satisfaction.
Sometimes, happiness really was that simple.
"Meiyu," he said, pretending to count, "you ate thirty-six, and I only had thirty-four."
She gasped. "No way! You're lying! I didn't eat that many. Thirty at most!"
"Haha!"
After their meal, they wandered down Central Street, hand in hand.
Looking at the small boutiques and stalls, Zhang Hengtai wanted to tell her, Let me buy you a few outfits. But when he reached for his pocket, reality hit.....it was empty.
Poor students. He sighed inwardly. One day, he promised himself, he'd make sure she never had to worry about money again.
Meiyu caught his glance and smiled softly. "When we start working and earning, you can buy me clothes then, alright?"
"Alright," he said, his voice firm.