The high school monitor called for a gathering of 20 people with an average price of 500 per person. Do you think this price is expensive?

Time flies, and it has been twelve years since I graduated from high school. Over the years, I have attended many large and small class reunions, including college classmates, elementary school classmates, and even kindergarten class reunions. Basically, everyone is invited to attend. But in the past two years, I have grown to hate class reunions, and even any form of gathering. Because under the shadow of parties, comparisons between classmates or friends are always inevitable.

Although I have the contact information of many classmates, I rarely contact them and only limit myself to necessary social interactions. I even blocked their updates and friends.

I have a few high school classmates, and we were very close to each other when we were in school. Later, when I passed the college entrance examination and they failed the college entrance examination, they went out to work. Some of them opened small mines, some started logistics companies, and some opened supermarkets. They were well-dressed, wore thick gold chains around their wrists and necks, and drove luxury cars.

At the party, they looked down upon my classmate who relied on studying and neither got rich nor became an official, but only became an ordinary clerk. When I attend a class reunion, I just want to reminisce about old times and talk about the friendship between classmates. But they only talked about money, wine and women. We basically didn't have the same language. Every time after eating or drinking, they would sing or play cards, which I didn't like. After participating once, I never went again. They actually laughed at me because I read too many books and I was stupid.

This time I received an invitation from Liu Haitao to attend the ten-year reunion of my high school classmates. I originally wanted to refuse, but I felt that I couldn’t speak up. Because Liu Haitao and I were at the same table for three years in high school, and his father was my elementary school math teacher, we hadn’t seen each other for eight years after graduation.

Liu Haitao said on the phone that he misses me as a young boy and hopes to have a good chat with me. Liu Haitao asked me to attend the class reunion. I couldn't refuse, so I agreed. He told me that the fee for the party was 500 yuan per person, and I immediately transferred the money to him.

The meeting place was set at a hotel in the city, and a banner was hung over the door of the hotel. 20 people came to the general secretary and booked a very large private room. Everyone sat together and told each other the interesting things that happened during school and graduation after we parted.

I originally thought that for a party where I paid 500 yuan, the food and drinks would be high-end. Unexpectedly, our party was only in a mid-range hotel, and the dishes on the table were very ordinary. There were many dishes, but most of them were vegetables.

I couldn’t help but frown, thinking that time can really change a person. Liu Haitao, who I haven’t seen for eight years, turned out to be so materialistic, and even greedy for money from student gatherings. I turned to look at my classmates, and they were also muttering in a low voice. Some people said that there is no friendship between classmates now, and they only recognize money and not people.

Liu Haitao came in and motioned for everyone to be quiet. Then he opened his laptop and watched a video for everyone. He said: "Everyone has watched the video just now, and I guess you still don't know who this person is lying on the hospital bed. The skinny, pale man is our classmate Li Xiaogang. At this gathering, I think we haven't seen each other for many years, I am very concerned about it. In addition, I want to set up a classmate association and elect a classmate to be the president, so that we can help students in need. Who knows what will happen in the future at this class reunion? **I received 10,000 yuan and spent 3,500 yuan. I plan to give the extra 6,500 yuan to Li Xiaogang. He has leukemia. I think some classmates already know."

The classmates who were pouting just now clapped their hands and cheered, and everyone unanimously elected Liu Haitao as president. At the wine table, everyone began to talk, mostly about each other's bodies and caring for each other. During the entire class reunion, everyone did not drink. Instead, they drank tea instead of wine, which saved some money. This class reunion is the most meaningful class reunion I have attended in recent years.

When everyone was shaking hands and saying goodbye, some classmates suggested that Liu Haitao create a classmate group to facilitate communication. After I got home, I found that I had been pulled into the group. I clicked on it and saw that the atmosphere in the group was very high. Everyone started donating to Li Xiaogang in the group. I immediately transferred 500 and asked Liu Haitao to transfer it to Li Xiaogang on my behalf.

This class reunion completely changed my view of my classmates. I think such gatherings will still be very meaningful in the future. I should change my mind and not just look at the surface of things.