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墨書 Inktalez
Chapter 169: I Won't Eat This Dog Food
Following the sound, Zhang Qiu looked over to see a boy of similar age wearing a white shirt and a black vest, holding a wine glass and smiling as he approached. He stopped in front of Zhang Qiu and said, "I didn't expect to run into you here."
Zhang Qiu looked at the newcomer and stood up. "What a coincidence! Why aren't you in class?"
"My dad is nearby on business, and I was bored, so I came here to eat. By the way, has Jiang Xue come out?" Song Weidong looked at Jiang Xue sitting next to Zhang Qiu with an incredulous expression. Although Song Weidong's family wasn't in politics, they had friends in that circle. He was very familiar with the nature of Jiang Xue's case, and it was impressive that Zhang Qiu managed to rescue her.
Song Weidong couldn't help but marvel internally, while Zhang Qiu remained unaware of his thoughts. Noticing Song Weidong's formal attire, he smiled and said, "Why are you dressed so formally? So you came here for business? Did you come alone?"
Song Weidong pointed to a table by the window. "There are a few friends over there. I'll go over later for a drink and introduce you."
"Sounds good," Zhang Qiu nodded with a smile, then asked curiously, "Can you really reserve a table directly?"
"Haha, this commercial area was built by my dad. If I'm here for a meal, how could there not be a table for me?"
Zhang Qiu was left speechless.
"If you decide to buy a house here, I'll give you the best location at the lowest price," Song Weidong added while glancing at Jiang Xue and giving Zhang Qiu a knowing look.
Zhang Qiu laughed and replied, "Thanks for that! I'll come find you later."
"Alright, I'll head back now." After saying that, Song Weidong nodded to Zhang Zhi Hua and the others at the table before leaving slowly.
Once Song Weidong was gone, Zhang Zhi Hua asked, "Is he your classmate?"
"We're in the same grade; we get along pretty well. He's a nice guy," Zhang Qiu replied.
Zhang Zhi Hua nodded without much thought but began calculating in his mind about housing options. It wasn't just about getting a discount; he wanted someone trustworthy to help find a suitable place.
Auntie’s eyes lit up as she hurriedly asked Zhang Qiu, “Is it true that your classmate bought the best spot for the least amount of money?”
“He really does come from a real estate family, but it’s probably just a formality since it’s his dad’s property,” Qiu Wan said, picking up two pieces of meat and chewing, no longer looking at Auntie.
Auntie pressed on, “My child, your brother, will need to buy a place in the city when he grows up. Do you think your classmate could help him get a discount?” Second Uncle quietly tugged at Auntie under the table, but she swatted his hand away.
Zhang Qiu smiled, “So Auntie, when do you plan to buy?”
“No buying, no buying,” Second Uncle quickly waved his hands.
“Why not buy? Doesn’t your son need a house when he gets married?” Auntie glared with wide eyes, her cheeks trembling.
Second Uncle rubbed his hands together, sounding aggrieved as he said softly, “We don’t have the money to buy a house. Let’s wait a few more years until the kids are older and we’ve saved up more.”
“Can your earnings keep up with rising housing prices?” Auntie shot an angry look at Second Uncle, ignoring him as she turned to Zhang Qiu. “Have your classmate help find out when they’ll open for sales and what good floors are available.”
“Sure,” Zhang Qiu agreed.
“If there’s something going on, you should head over first. Don’t keep them waiting too long,” Jiang Xue urged Zhang Qiu from the side. With Song Weidong helping out at the Ancient City Battle, it was a significant favor. Today he even invited Zhang Qiu and wanted to introduce him to friends; Jiang Xue thought it was important for Zhang Qiu to make this connection. Moreover, she didn’t want Zhang Qiu to be put in a difficult position by Auntie.
“Then I’ll go over and take a look first.” Zhang Qiu stood up to say goodbye to his family before heading to Song Weidong’s table.
Song Weidong had reserved a spot by the window where two students were sitting. Zhang Qiu recognized them as participants in the Ancient City Battle. Next to Song Weidong sat a very cute girl with short hair covering her ears; her eyelashes fluttered as she smiled, revealing two dimples.
Zhang Qiu raised his glass and said, “Thank you all for the Ancient City Battle; I’ll drink first as a toast.” As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Qiu downed three glasses in quick succession without turning red or gasping for breath before sitting down with a smile.
“Good drinking capacity,” Song Weidong praised and refilled Zhang Qiu's glass while saying with a grin, “They all know your name; I won’t repeat it. Let me introduce them to you. This is Du He Guang, who also comes from a business family; his father has shares in our county hospital.”
A thin young man with slightly yellowish hair smiled at him and nodded, saying, "Brother Qiu."
"This is Qi Pengyi, his family is also in business. They are both my good brothers," he continued.
Zhang Qiu looked at the slender man and smiled, "Nice to meet you."
"And this one," Song Weidong laughed as he wrapped his arm around the girl beside him and lightly kissed her forehead, "is my wife, Sun Siyu."
Zhang Qiu smiled faintly; he wasn't bothered by the display of affection. With a beauty like Jiang Xue by his side, he felt no envy towards others.
Having not eaten much and after a few rounds of drinks, the four of them began to bond like brothers. After a while, Zhang Qiu bid farewell to everyone and returned to his own table.
Auntie caught Zhang Qiu and asked, "So, did you talk to him about the house?"
"I did. He promised to keep an eye out for me."
Upon hearing this, Auntie immediately brightened up, her gaze towards Jiang Xue filled with joy. The family's first gathering ended on a pleasant note.
After leaving the hot pot restaurant, it was already past eight o'clock. Zhang Zhi Hua stood by the roadside and hailed a taxi to take Second Uncle and Auntie home. He handed the driver a hundred yuan bill. The driver accepted it with a smile, but Second Uncle looked embarrassed and rubbed his hands, insisting it wasn't necessary. After several rounds of refusal, he finally accepted Zhang Zhi Hua's kindness, and the taxi quickly disappeared into the night.
Zhang Qiu looked at his parents and said, "Dad, Mom. You two go home first; it's still early. Jiang Xue and I will stroll around for a bit."
Zhang Zhi Hua nodded, "That's fine. Give me the keys to the electric vehicle; your mom and I will ride back."
Zhang Qiu handed the keys to his father while Zhang Zhi Hua went aside to unlock it. He Mei reminded them, "Be careful out there."
"Don't worry," Zhang Qiu replied.
After Zhang Zhi Hua took He Mei away, Jiang Xue smiled sweetly at Zhang Qiu and said, "You scared me today by suddenly asking me to stay at your house."
Zhang Qiu chuckled and cupped Jiang Xue's face, "I decided without consulting you. Are you mad at me?"
Jiang Xue shook her head.
Zhang Qiu hugged Jiang Xue tightly, "I know you won't be mad at me. I also know you long to escape Auntie, so I'm here to help you fulfill that wish."
"Having you is wonderful." Jiang Xue gently kissed the left side of Zhang Qiu's cheek.
"Oh, what a romantic scene." Song Weidong and his group came out after settling the bill and burst into laughter at the sight outside the hotpot restaurant.
Jiang Xue tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and stepped aside. Zhang Qiu smiled and said, "Years may pass, but beautiful moments are often fleeting. Even if there are countless charms, who will share them with?"
"What a charming sentiment." Song Weidong clapped his hands in delight and suggested, "How about the two of you and us go for a walk together?"
"I was just thinking that," Zhang Qiu said, turning to Jiang Xue. "What do you think?"
"Sounds great." Jiang Xue smiled sweetly as she glanced at the girl next to Song Weidong, silently comparing herself to her.
"Then please lead the way." Zhang Qiu gestured for Song Weidong to go first. Song Weidong smiled and invited Du He Guang and Qi Pengyi along. However, when they saw the two couples going shopping together, they felt out of place and declined with a polite excuse that they had things to do, leaving them behind.
Song Weidong watched the two walk away and laughed, "Those two are quite the characters. They eat faster than anyone else and leave right after finishing."
"They're just afraid of being fed dog food."
Qiu Wan laughed along. Sun Siyu linked her arm with Song Weidong's while Jiang Xue happily nestled beside Zhang Qiu. The four walked side by side, chatting as their figures gradually elongated under the streetlights.
“Zhang Qiu, may I ask how you managed to rescue your wife? I heard that the county has made a decision regarding this matter. Is there some secret about you?”
While they were chatting, Song Weidong suddenly asked this question. Zhang Qiu was taken aback, but seeing that Jiang Xue didn’t react, he replied, “You seem to be quite well-informed. Yes, the county made a decision in a meeting. My uncle is dragging his feet on filing a case; the only way is for Liu Xiaofei to drop the investigation.”
“He won’t give up that easily, will he?” Song Weidong knew the brothers Liu Xiaolong and Liu Xiaofei well; given their personalities, they would never back down easily, especially with the former Beilan County Police Chief Wang Guodong strategizing behind them.
“Of course, it’s not that simple. To get Liu Xiaofei to agree, I had to stab myself. He didn’t relent…” Zhang Qiu suddenly stopped, realizing he had let something slip. Looking at Jiang Xue, he saw tears welling up in her eyes as she cried, “So that’s how you got hurt, sob sob…”
Zhang Qiu pulled Jiang Xue into his arms, gently stroking her hair and softly saying, “It’s okay, it’s okay. Look, I’m fine now; don’t worry, I’ve recovered long ago.” He couldn’t help but touch the white tiger pendant he wore.
“How touching,” Sun Siyu said enviously as she looked at Zhang Qiu and Jiang Xue. A girl who receives such love from a boy must be incredibly happy.
Song Weidong mimicked Zhang Qiu, holding Sun Siyu in his arms and softly saying, “I would do the same for you.”
The two couples began kissing in the street, drawing glances from passersby. Elderly people out for a stroll saw this scene and quickly turned away, sighing, “Ah, today’s youth; the world is going downhill.”
Once the four resumed their journey, Song Weidong pressed on with his questions: “Come on, tell me what happened next. How did they agree to your terms?”
Just as Zhang Qiu was about to respond, his phone rang. Thinking it was his parents calling, he hurriedly took it out to check the number and saw it was Liu Fangfei. Why was she calling him at this hour? Zhang Qiu quickly answered and said with a smile, “Sister, what made you think of calling me at this time?”
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