Uncle Shazhu, a simple-minded man in a courtyard house, persuades people with reason.

In the backyard of the Public Security Bureau, Wan Fulin, accompanied by his old friend... Lou Zhenhua, paid a visit!

Seeing Lou Bancheng's embarrassed expression, He Ping'an really wanted to say, "What are we going to do about today's events?"

Unfortunately, Lou Bancheng was not Chen Gong, nor did he possess the integrity of Chen Gongtai. He Ping'an also... did not really want to be Cao Cao, so he could only offer people seats and tea with a forced smile.

Lou Bancheng's composed smile froze as he looked at the teacup He Ping'an offered. He coughed lightly, stood up, and took the teacup.

He Ping'an had never been a magnanimous person, and even though Lou Bancheng had shown weakness, he would still stab him in the back. "Mr. Lou, it's been a long time! How is everything at home?"

It wasn't yet the 66 major storm, and Lou Bancheng still retained his arrogance. Seeing He Ping'an relentlessly pursuing him, he bowed and offered a knife:

"This old man is blind; he has eyes but cannot recognize Mount Tai, he has eyes but cannot recognize gold inlaid with jade, he has dog eyes..."

"You..." He Ping'an certainly couldn't afford to be labeled as someone who bullied national capitalists, but fortunately, he had multiple identities. He drew out the sound and made a Hongmen gesture.

"You really have no tact! Since we parted ways at the Six Nations Hotel, I hope you've been well, Brother Zhenhua?"

Lou Bancheng froze in his bent-over position, slowly stood up, and pointed at He Ping'an with a very impolite finger:

"You...you!"

He truly never expected that the person who sold him the medicine, after taking all the risks and going to great lengths to buy medicine for the Communist Party, would also be a Communist Party member!

Lou Bancheng, who is usually very shrewd and diplomatic, didn't know how to deal with the situation at this moment. He gave He Ping'an a look that seemed to be looking at someone who was not human, and then sat down and drank tea obediently.

He Ping'an understood perfectly how Lou Bancheng felt, like he'd swallowed a fly. What should have been a great achievement had turned into a dispensable accessory. Anyone in his shoes would have to wait!

He Ping'an wasn't so kind to Wan Fulin.

"Wan Fulin, get back to your job. I'm giving you 24 hours. By this time tomorrow, I want grain prices in Beiping to be reduced to 70% of their New Year's levels. And remember... don't say what you shouldn't say, and don't do what you shouldn't do!"

"Yes...yes..."

At the police station entrance, He Ping'an smiled and saw Lou Bancheng off to his car. Before leaving, he said…

"Mr. Lou, I've been very busy lately and haven't had time. Please tell my classmate that I will definitely visit him when I have time to renew our friendship!"

"Bang!" Lou Bancheng slammed the car door shut with a dark expression.

"How rude...they didn't even say goodbye!"

He Ping'an clicked his tongue twice, then turned around to meet Bai Ling's probing gaze... Her eyes were red-rimmed, giving off an air of "If you dare nod, I'll cry." "You're going to the Lou family to rekindle your romance with Lou Xiaohui!"

Women only ever listen to what they believe. Although He Ping'an did indeed have ulterior motives towards Lou Xiaohui, he didn't reveal any such intention in his words.

"It's not about rekindling old flames, it's just old classmates catching up! You can go too..."

"Really? That's so embarrassing..." Every woman is a good actress...

Bai Ling, who was on the verge of tears just a moment ago, is now pulling He Ping'an aside to tell him about the funny things she and Lou Xiaohui did back then. She's trying to prove how close they were during college, and that her sudden visit wasn't impolite.

At the Lou Mansion, Lou Xiaohui was unusually well-behaved today, staying in the main building to chat with her mother, which was quite unusual for her. She just kept fiddling with her watch every now and then!

"Father, you're back? How did things go? Did it go smoothly? Did you see He Ping'an?"

"Hmph..." Lou Bancheng let Lou Xiaohui fawn over him, but kept a dark face and didn't say a word.

Lou's mother was also quite curious; her husband hadn't been this angry in a long time. "Zhenhua, is something not going well?"

"Well...it went relatively smoothly!"

Lou Zhenhua was really unlucky. He Ping'an was originally looking for trouble with Wan Fulin... The family heirloom being recovered should have been a good thing, but the person who delivered it was a street killer, and a soldier at that. That made things difficult!

Wan Fulin had extensive connections and quickly discovered the connection between He Ping'an and the Lou family. Only then did he spend a large sum of money to hire Lou Bancheng to accompany him and mediate.

Lou Bancheng was also greedy. The He family of the Kuomintang was declining, but He Ping'an of the Communist Party was rising. Moreover, his daughter had feelings for him, and his trip might have been motivated by that. Who knew…

Lou Xiaohui exclaimed with delight, "Father, you mean Ping An will come to the Lou family in a few days? Then we must treat him to a good time!"

"What kind of hospitality?" Lou Zhenhua said with a dark face. "Do you really expect this old man to serve him tea and apologize, or are you suggesting I give him my eldest daughter as a concubine?!"

"Father..." Lou Xiaohui blushed, "Ping An isn't that kind of person. He was just joking!"

"You!" Lou Bancheng pointed at Lou Xiaohui a few times, gritting his teeth in exasperation, "I just got on the bus, and he was already flirting with a very pretty female People's Liberation Army soldier. That little rascal is no good..."

"If I had known, I would have preferred you to marry that man surnamed He and leave Beiping with him!" Lou Zhenhua, who was always weighing the pros and cons, said such a irrational thing, which shows how much he disliked He Ping'an.

"I'm ignoring you..." Lou Xiaohui blushed and ran away after learning about her lover's whereabouts.

Lou Bancheng pointed at Lou Xiaohui's departing figure, so angry he could hardly breathe. Just then, Lou Tanshi entered and quickly offered him tea. Lou Bancheng looked at Lou Tanshi, a sudden inspiration flashing through his mind, and he immediately had an idea.

Sunday, at the Public Security Bureau building...

"Ling'er, are you really not allowed to come to the banquet with me? It's just to let Lou Xiaohui know about our relationship and make her give up on us completely. It won't take much time!"

Seeing He Ping'an's hopeful eyes gradually dim, Bai Ling blushed and made many promises before hurriedly leaving to investigate new clues.

Stepping out of the headquarters building, He Ping'an, who had just been looking as dejected as a stray dog, suddenly became a bachelor. Heaven knows how much effort he had put into that new lead.

If the two of them had to go to the banquet hand in hand, Lou Xiaohui would be heartbroken. If they didn't hold hands, Bai Ling would definitely be unhappy. By taking Bai Ling's path, leaving her with nowhere to go, and also getting the benefits that Bai Ling offered herself up, it's killing two birds with one stone—pretty good!

At the Lou Mansion, He Ping'an arrived without any hindrance; his Cadillac came to a smooth stop in front of the main building. Besides the young woman, the entire Lou family greeted him at the entrance, and He Ping'an flashed an innocent smile.

"Actually, I still prefer the way I entered last time; it was a good workout while also allowing me to enjoy the view!"

"Ahem..." Lou Bancheng, thinking about the surprise he had secretly prepared, wasn't angry. He coughed lightly to cover up his embarrassment and invited He Ping'an into the house.

The dining table was enormous, even larger than the heated kang (a traditional brick bed) where an entire family of ordinary people slept. He Ping'an, however, showed some consideration for Lou Bancheng by not taking the seat of honor. Mainly, he was worried about how he would explain things when he saw the pretty young woman later!

Braised shark fin, clear bird's nest soup, braised abalone… As the “Eight Treasures of the Sea” were served one after another, He Ping'an raised an eyebrow, meeting Lou Bancheng's slightly provocative gaze. He smiled faintly and cursed Lou Bancheng's ancestors for eight generations…

"Tan Family Cuisine is a signature dish; not many people in Beijing can cook it all. Mr. Lou, you've put in a lot of effort!"