Flip the table and divide the family property! Take his wife and daughter into the mountains and eat

The main room was steaming hot.

Lin Xiu worked quickly and soon brought the food to the table.

A large pot of stewed pork ribs and potatoes, cooked until tender and falling off the bone, is placed in the center, and the rich aroma of the sauce wafts into your nose with the steam.

Next to it was a plate of stir-fried shredded pork with wood ear mushrooms, along with a basket of soft, steaming white steamed buns.

"Dinner's ready!"

Niu Niu cheered and struggled to climb onto the long bench.

Black Dragon had already rushed in impatiently, its big tail wagging like a windmill, its two front paws gripping the edge of the bench, and it was making urgent humming noises in its throat.

Niu Niu used her chopsticks to poke a piece of pork rib with thick meat on it. Not caring that it was hot, she tore off a large strip of fatty and lean meat with her little hands and stuffed it directly into the black dragon's mouth. Only then did she throw the remaining bones on the ground.

"Eat slowly, I'll give you more if you're not full!" the little girl said, giggling as she spoke.

Black Dragon swallowed the meat in one gulp, chewed the bone twice and swallowed it, then immediately rubbed his wet nose against Niu Niu's trouser leg, his mouth watering.

In contrast, the Azure Dragon is much more composed.

It leisurely stepped across the threshold and strolled into the house, without even glancing at the black dragon circling around Niu Niu.

It walked straight to Zhao Shanhe's feet, squatted down quietly, swept its big tail on the ground twice, and stared at Zhao Shanhe with its shrewd eyes, revealing an aloofness and arrogance in its bones.

Zhao Shanhe smiled, picked up the largest piece of pork rib, and casually tossed it over.

The Azure Dragon caught it steadily in mid-air and then lay down on the ground to slowly gnaw on it.

Zhao Shanhe pulled out an unopened bottle of Beidahuang liquor from under the cabinet.

He used his teeth to crack open the bottle cap and poured the contents of the rough porcelain bowl in front of Old Sun all over his head.

The clear liquid splashed onto the bottom of the bowl, a few drops landing on the wooden table, and the spicy aroma of the wine mixed with the smell of meat instantly filled the room.

"Uncle Sun, try this, it's strong."

Zhao Shanhe slammed the wine bottle on the table and filled his own large bowl as well.

Old Sun didn't stand on ceremony. He picked up the bowl and took a big gulp, the fiery liquor rolling down his throat and into his stomach.

The old man shivered comfortably, picked up a piece of pork rib and stuffed it into his mouth. The meat and bone separated easily, and his mouth was filled with a rich, oily aroma.

After several rounds of drinks, most of the dishes had been eaten.

Old Sun put down his chopsticks, took out his pipe from his pocket, and skillfully stuffed in a pinch of bright yellow tobacco shreds.

Zhao Shanhe reacted quickly, pulling out the windproof lighter from his pocket.

"Click".

With a flick of the grinding wheel, a cluster of orange flames instantly shot out. Zhao Shanhe leaned forward, shielding the flames with both hands, and steadily approached Old Sun's pipe.

Old Sun took a couple of puffs by the flame, exhaling a puff of bluish-white smoke.

Through the swirling smoke, he narrowed his shrewd, cloudy old eyes and stared at the lighter in Zhao Shanhe's hand for a while.

"That bastard Ivanov has given you a lot of good stuff, you know. Food, drinks, supplies, even the kindling he uses is all foreign stuff." Old Sun tapped the edge of the table with his pipe, his tone laced with sour anger. "I've been dealing with that guy for years, and that bastard has drunk so much of my wine and taken so many favors, but I've never seen him get me anything good."

Zhao Shanhe put away the lighter, picked up the wine bowl on the table, and with a very humble posture, smiled and toasted the old man.

"Look at what you're saying. Isn't it all thanks to your introduction? Otherwise, how could a peasant like me from Kaoshantun have the connections to know a big-time speculator like him?"

Old Sun didn't drink after hearing this.

He snorted coldly and slammed the pipe in his hand heavily on the table.

Don't try to sweet-talk me.

Old Sun put the pipe mouthpiece back into his mouth, took two deep drags, and exhaled a large cloud of bluish-white smoke.

Through the smoke, his cloudy old eyes stared fixedly at Zhao Shanhe, his tone hard: "That old fox Ivanov is so stingy he could pluck feathers from a miser. The fact that he can give you so many precious things is something you earned with your own life, it has nothing to do with this old man."

Upon hearing this, the smile on Zhao Shanhe's face gradually disappeared completely.

He steadily put down the large, rough porcelain bowl in his hand, without spilling a single drop of wine.

Then, he sat up straight and looked at the withered, thin old hunter opposite him with utmost seriousness.

"Uncle Sun, you can't say that."

"Half a month ago in the old forest, if it weren't for you and Uncle Li going into the mountains in the dark to find me and carrying me all the way back to the village, I, Zhao Shanhe, would have died in the mountains long ago and been eaten to pieces by other wild animals."

He picked up the bowl of strong liquor again and raised it to mid-air.

"I can't thank you enough, Uncle Sun. Thank you so much. I, Zhao Shanhe, will remember this life-saving kindness for the rest of my life!"

After saying that, he tilted his head back.

With a "thud".

He sipped a large bowl of fiery Beidahuang liquor in one gulp without even blinking.

The strong liquor burned down his throat and into his stomach. Zhao Shanhe slammed the empty bowl heavily on the table and casually wiped the liquor stains from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand.

Seeing him like this, Old Sun finally managed a smile from the corners of his withered lips.

The old man didn't hold back any longer. He picked up the large bowl in front of him, gulped down a mouthful of wine, smacked his lips, and cursed, "You little bastard, you're getting all sentimental after a couple of sips of horse piss. I saved you because you're a tough guy, a real man!"

He tapped the edge of the table with his pipe, then changed the subject, his eyes instantly becoming sharp.

Now that you've recovered, think carefully about what you plan to do next.

Zhao Shanhe paused slightly in his hand holding the wine bottle, and was momentarily stunned.

Old Sun exhaled a puff of thick, bluish-white smoke, staring intently at him through the smoke: "Look at you, you almost lost your life in the mountains this time, nearly losing your wife and kids. What, you still want to stay and waste your time in that damn Red Star Machinery Factory?"

Hearing this, Lin Xiu, who was standing next to her, dropped the potato she had just picked up back into the bowl with a "plop".

She didn't say anything, but gripped her chopsticks tightly, her eyes filled with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation as she stared intently at Zhao Shanhe's profile.

The room fell silent immediately.

Only the black dragon by the threshold was still licking the bottom of the basin.

Zhao Shanhe remained silent.

He didn't look into Lin Xiu's eyes. Instead, he pulled out half a pack of Pegasus cigarettes from his pocket, which were slightly damp with sweat, took one out, and put it in his mouth. He didn't light it; he just chewed on the cigarette, his brows furrowing into a tight knot.

A full half minute passed.

"Uncle Sun... I can't leave."

"At least for now, I can't take that step."

"Back then, we had nothing. I patted my chest and gathered them together one by one. Everyone risked everything and followed me into this mess at Hongxing Machinery Factory because they trusted me, Zhao Shanhe."

Zhao Shanhe gave a wry smile, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the cigarette roll.

"Think about it, to get this done, Dazhuang, Lao Xu, Ergazi, and so many brothers in the factory, how much hardship and humiliation did they endure following me? And Director Li and Boss Jin, why would they help us? It's because they trust me."

He let out a heavy sigh and pinched the crumpled tobacco into his palm.

"Things are at a critical juncture now. What will happen to them if I just walk away?"

Zhao Shanhe raised his head and looked at Old Sun.

"At the very least, I have to help them completely transform the Red Star Machinery Factory. Help them secure their precarious jobs and replace them with a secure position that no one can take away, and then I'll talk about leaving."

After listening, Old Sun puffed on his cigarette without saying a word.

Through the bluish-white smoke, his cloudy old eyes quietly scrutinized Zhao Shanhe for a long while.

After a while, the old man snorted and shook his head.

"Whatever, kid."

Just then.

Suddenly, a series of extremely hurried footsteps came from outside the yard, making a "plop plop" sound as they stepped on the muddy puddles.

"Brother Shanhe!"

A trembling shout pierced through the half-open courtyard gate.

Zhao Shanhe's expression shifted, and he casually tossed the shredded tobacco in his hand onto the table and stood up.

The thick curtain of the main room was suddenly lifted, and a cold wind, carrying the dampness from outside, rushed into the room.

Ergazi rushed in, covered in sweat.

He wasn't even wearing a raincoat; his whole body was covered in splattered mud, his chest heaving violently, and he was evenly panting.

Zhao Shanhe was somewhat surprised to see him in such a disheveled state: "Why are you back?"

Erga Zi didn't even bother to wipe the mud off his face.

He stared blankly at Zhao Shanhe, who was standing right in front of him, through the heat of the room.

The anxiety and fear of the past two weeks, all those stifling days and nights, burst forth at this moment.

This usually fearless teenager suddenly had tears welling up in his eyes.

"elder brother……"

Ergaizi's tears, mixed with muddy water, streamed down his face, his voice hoarse: "You're finally back!"