My Taoist nun girlfriend is from the Republic of China era, 1942.

Chapter 82 Baby kiss

Back in Jiangcheng, life hasn't changed much.

The only change is that Lu Yuan needs to set aside 2-3 hours every day.

Half the time was spent listening to Lu Lei's team give online work reports, ranging from the quarterly returns of a certain trust fund to the equity changes of a technology company, and the maintenance expenses of several overseas estates...

The other half of the time was spent learning remotely from teachers arranged by Lü Lei, on how to be a "rich person".

On this day, the first heavy snow of the winter fell in Jiangcheng.

At first, the snowflakes were fine and scattered, but soon they began to fall heavily, covering the entire city in a pure white blanket.

After the video conference ended, Lu Yuan rubbed his throbbing temples as Lü Lei's voice came through the receiver, giving his final report.

"Boss, there's one more thing. My brother, Lü Xin, will be coming to Jiangcheng in the next couple of days. What do you think..."

What is he doing in Jiangcheng?

"Your safety must be taken into consideration."

Lu Lei adopted a businesslike attitude: "His team will take over the property management of your community, and everything will be handled according to standard business procedures. It will not disturb your normal life."

"Okay! Thank you both, uncles."

Lu Yuan did not resist the arrangement.

Lu Lei replied respectfully, "Boss, you're too kind. It's just my job."

After the call ended, the study door was gently pushed open, and Chen Xiaomiao poked her little head in, blinking her bright black eyes: "Lu Yuan, are you done talking to that person? What should we eat for dinner tonight?"

"Zhao Qiang just messaged me, inviting us to have mutton hot pot."

Lu Yuan got up and stretched his limbs a little: "It's cold outside, so let's warm ourselves up. Get ready, and we'll head out."

"It's working!"

……

Zhao Qiang's mutton restaurant is located at the entrance of an old residential area. The store is small, but the business is booming.

Pushing open the door, a wave of heat, a mixture of the fresh aroma of mutton and the warmth of charcoal, hits you, dispelling the chill from your body.

"Here! Yuanzi!"

Zhao Qiang shouted at the top of his lungs; he had already taken a four-seater by the window.

A copper hot pot was bubbling and steaming in the center of the table, with a few pieces of snow-white radish floating in the bubbling milky white mutton soup.

Zhao Qiang was using long chopsticks to put a plate of freshly sliced ​​lamb leg meat into the pot.

Qi Lili, who was standing next to him, was already showing her pregnancy. She was wearing loose maternity clothes and had a gentle smile on her face.

The former rebellious and sharp spirit of hers has been softened considerably, replaced by the gentle demeanor of an expectant mother.

"Zhao Qiang, sister-in-law."

Lu Yuan pulled Chen Xiaomiao to sit down.

"Please sit down, please sit down!"

Zhao Qiang greeted them warmly: "Today is the first day of the twelfth lunar month. There's an old saying, 'Eat radishes in winter and ginger in summer.' These radishes are grown in our own soil, and they taste amazing. Come and try them!"

Lu Yuan served himself and Chen Xiaomiao a bowl of soup and casually asked, "Sister-in-law, how have you been lately?"

"It's okay."

Qi Lili held a cup of hot tea, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "I just went for a check-up the day before yesterday, and the doctor said your goddaughter is very healthy... You and Xiao Miao should hurry up too."

Chen Xiaomiao was slurping her soup with her head down when she heard this, her face flushed slightly, and she pretended not to have heard anything.

"I will definitely try my best, I will definitely try my best!"

Lu Yuan laughed it off and then asked, "Zhao Qiang, is there some happy occasion today that compels you to invite me to a restaurant?"

"What a wonderful occasion!"

Zhao Qiang grinned, carefully pulled two red books out of the inside pocket of his down jacket, and slammed them on the table.

"Lily and I have discussed it and decided to postpone the wedding. We'll hold the baby's one-month celebration and wedding banquet together after the baby is born, which will save us a lot of trouble!"

"Hey, that's great news!"

Lu Yuan's eyes lit up, and he immediately picked up the bottle of baijiu on the table: "Come on, let's have a drink! Congratulations on getting your license!"

"Fuck off!"

Zhao Qiang laughed and cursed, then raised his glass and clinked it heavily with Lu Yuan's. He tilted his head back and took a big gulp, then picked up a large chopstick of freshly cooked mutton and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing until his mouth was full of oil.

"Comfortable!"

He put down his chopsticks, exhaled a puff of hot air, and rubbed his hands together: "Yuanzi, there's something else... I want to discuss it with you."

Lu Yuan smiled and said, "I also have something to tell you."

The two spoke almost simultaneously, then smiled at each other.

"Yuanzi, you go first."

“I recently officially inherited my maternal grandfather’s estate.”

Zhao Qiang paused in his chopping motion, stunned for a full two seconds, and then punched Lu Yuan in the arm.

"Holy crap! You've finally come to your senses?"

Lu Yuan smiled and nodded, then took the opportunity to ask about Zhao Qiang's job.

"How have you been lately? Is being Yu Hongkai's driver tiring?"

"Hey, why are you worrying about me?"

Zhao Qiang waved his hand, still nonchalant: "Old Yu has been quite considerate of me. The contract was for a year, so I have to finish it no matter what."

A man's word is his bond!

Lu Yuan knew Zhao Qiang's temper, so he nodded and didn't try to persuade him any further.

"So what did you want to discuss with me just now?"

"Uh... well... hehe..."

Zhao Qiang, who had been so full of bravado just moments before, suddenly became hesitant, chuckling awkwardly but refusing to speak.

Qi Lili, who was standing to the side, was not as concerned about saving face as he was, and said directly, "He wants to ask you when you plan to have children, so that our two families can arrange a marriage between our children."

Lu Yuan was both amused and exasperated upon hearing this: "Sister-in-law, this is still far from certain."

"No rush, no rush, it's fine to wait two or three years."

Qi Lili happily counted on her fingers: "I have a daughter. If you have a big, healthy boy, then it will be perfect for a girl to be three years older than you, like holding a gold brick in your hand."

Lu Yuan smiled and nodded: "Okay, I'll listen to my sister-in-law."

Zhao Qiang suddenly interrupted, his cheeks flushed red from the alcohol and some inexplicable emotion: "We adults can joke around all we want, but from now on, the kids will have to make their own decisions!"

Qi Lili rolled her eyes in anger.

Are men who are so concerned about saving face really that unwilling for their daughters to marry into wealthy families?
Ignoring his wife's eye roll, Zhao Qiang raised his glass again: "Come on, Yuanzi, let's have another one."

This time, however, his gesture of raising the glass was noticeably more restrained than before.

As everyone was eating, the restaurant's curtain was lifted again, and five or six people, enveloped in the cold wind, entered the restaurant one after another.

The man and woman at the head of the group were both wearing shiny mink coats, which dazzled people under the lights.

The woman, wearing heavy makeup and pinching her nose, complained in a coquettish voice, "Honey, this shop looks so shabby, is it clean?"

"Hey, you don't understand. The more unassuming the restaurant, the more authentic the food!"

The man put his arm around her waist and laughed, "I've been eating at this restaurant since I was eight, for over twenty years now. Whether it's clean or not, it hasn't made me sick." After saying that, he glanced around the restaurant and suddenly looked at Lu Yuan's table.

"Holy crap! Lu Yuan? Zhao Qiang?"

He shouted and walked over with a big smile on his face.

Lu Yuan turned around and searched his memory for a long time before vaguely remembering it.

Ding Zeyu grew up in the same courtyard and often fought with Zhao Qiang when they were kids.

Judging from his nouveau riche attire, he's probably struck it rich.

Ding Zeyu walked over with a smile: "Not bad, you two, having a get-together here."

Lu Yuan and Zhao Qiang both stood up and politely responded.

Ding Zeyu, however, did not leave and continued exchanging pleasantries.

"Lu Yuan, are you still in school?"

"I'm graduating soon."

"Oh dear, look..."

Ding Zeyu turned to the woman beside him and introduced her: "Honey, see this? He used to be the best student in our department, now he's a top student at Jiangcheng University!"

After saying that, he gently patted Lu Yuan's shoulder, acting like an older brother.

"If you need to find a job after graduation, feel free to contact me anytime. My company is expanding into Jiangcheng and we're short-staffed!"

His tone was full of superiority, as if to say, "Now that I've made it big, I can boss you educated people around."

Lu Yuan just smiled and didn't reply.

Ding Zeyu then turned his gaze to Zhao Qiang, feigning surprise, and said, "Qiangzi, I heard you're driving for a big boss now? You're doing pretty well!"

Zhao Qiang already disliked him, so he just gave a soft "hmm" and ignored him.

Ding Zeyu didn't mind at all, and instead laughed even more happily. He turned around and called out to the door, "Xiao Liu, don't freeze outside. Come in and have something to eat. You must be tired after driving all day!"

The implication couldn't be more obvious.

You, Zhao Qiang, are someone else's driver, but I, Ding Zeyu, am now the one who orders drivers around.

After exchanging pleasantries, Ding Zeyu put his arm around the woman and walked into the private room that had been reserved in advance.

"What the hell!" Zhao Qiang spat on the ground: "I didn't beat him enough when he was a kid!"

Chen Xiaomiao, who had been silent until now, suddenly leaned close to Lu Yuan and whispered, "Judging from his face, his wealth is superficial. I'm afraid it won't last long."

Lu Yuan didn't take it seriously until he saw the driver, "Xiao Liu," walk into the store, at which point his expression faltered slightly.

The driver was wearing a blue down coat with four characters printed on the back: Xinlei Property.

Lu Yuan asked Zhao Qiang calmly, "How did Ding Zeyu make his fortune?"

"I heard from the old folks in the compound that he committed a crime a couple of years ago and spent some time in jail. While he was there, he met some big shot who became his benefactor. When he came out, he started acting all high and mighty. He probably made his fortune through some shady means."

Zhao Qiang curled his lip, looking disdainful.

"What a coincidence..."

Lu Yuan picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp.

The meal lasted until almost nine o'clock, and Zhao Qiang was so drunk that his tongue was slurred and he was staggering as he walked. Fortunately, his home was just inside the residential area, a short walk away.

Lu Yuan stood at the restaurant entrance, and a gust of cold wind sobered him up a bit.

He took out his phone and dialed the number that Lü Lei had just sent him that day.

The call was answered quickly, and a simple, honest voice came from the other end: "Hello?"

"Uncle Lü? I am Lu Yuan."

"Hey boss! What's up?"

"I've had a few drinks and it's not convenient for me to drive. Could you please come and pick me up?"

"Sure thing, where are you? I'll be right there!"

Lu Yuan gave the address and hung up the phone. A short while later, Ding Zeyu and his group came out of the store, ready to leave.

Ding Zeyu spotted Lu Yuan standing next to A8, swayed over, exhaled a strong smell of alcohol, and deliberately mocked him.

"Hey, Yuanzi, you're doing pretty well, driving an A8 now. That car's got some age, hasn't it? How many owners did it have?"

Lu Yuan replied calmly, "I'd say it's secondhand."

"Want me to call a driver to take you home?"

Ding Zeyu confidently declared, "My guys are all very steady drivers! They can even save you the chauffeur fee, so don't be shy!"

"No need, the driver I called is already on his way."

"is it?"

Ding Zeyu feigned concern, saying, "Then you'd better call an experienced driver. Most people probably can't drive your old A8 smoothly, lest it break down halfway!"

As soon as he finished speaking, his henchmen around him burst into laughter.

Listening to Ding Zeyu's incessant chatter, Chen Xiaomiao couldn't help but mutter under her breath.

"What a petty person who has gotten his way..."

Upon hearing this, Ding Zeyu's face darkened, and his eyes became gloomy.

One of his henchmen immediately understood and stepped forward, pointing at Chen Xiaomiao and shouting angrily, "You little brat, what did you say?!"

Lu Yuan had already drunk some alcohol, and he was feeling a bit irritable.

Seeing that the other party was coming towards Chen Xiaomiao, he raised his leg and kicked her, the movement was swift and clean.

The man let out a "whoop" and flew backward like a shrimp that had been kicked, his body arched, and he landed on the snow, unable to get up for a long time.

"Lu Yuan, what do you mean?!"

Just as Ding Zeyu was about to lash out, he suddenly heard a faint motor sound approaching from afar, and a small folding electric vehicle smoothly stopped in front of the restaurant.

The man riding the bicycle was a farmer who looked to be in his fifties, wearing ordinary cotton-padded clothes.

When Ding Zeyu saw the person's face clearly, his anger instantly vanished.

He shuddered and rushed forward, bending almost ninety degrees at the waist, with a fawning smile.

"Master Lü...Master Lü! What brings you here?"

"I'll drive for people."

After parking his car, Lü Xin wondered what Ding Zeyu was doing there.

"Master Lü, who is it... Thank you for coming in person..."

"Get lost, it's none of your business."

Lu Xin ignored Ding Zeyu and walked straight to Lu Yuan, taking the car keys to the old A8.

Behind him, Ding Zeyu stared in disbelief.

Lu Xin opened the car door, glanced back at the two of them, and asked in surprise, "Boss, do you know this kid?"

"Yes, we know each other. We grew up in the same neighborhood."

Lu Yuan exhaled a breath of alcohol and grinned, "He's actually quite nice; he said he'd introduce me to a job."

(End of this chapter)