Chapter 201: Recalling Old Events

The fire in the stove burned brighter.

I again took two sweet potatoes from the kitchen and placed them beside the stove.

Shangguan Zhuren laughed and said, "Exactly, roasted sweet potatoes taste best this way. You aren't drinking your medicinal tea now. Let's have some wine at noon."

I laughed and said, "Don't let Xiao Fang come back; if she sees us drinking together again, she'll get angry. How's your blood pressure?"

Shangguan Zhuren waved his hand,

"My blood pressure is still the same; don't worry about her. Living too cautiously is meaningless. Eat when you should, drink when you should; in a few years you won't be able to eat or drink, and by then regret will be too late. At noon, what do you want to eat?"

Shangguan Zhuren was again finding excuses for his drinking.

I said, "Taking advantage of this stove fire, let's stir-fry some spicy chicken."

"I had the same idea—great minds think alike. Okay, I'll go buy chicken now."

After saying that, Shangguan Zhuren stood up, put on his cotton jacket, and went to buy chicken.

I started washing the chili peppers at home. Then I fried some peanuts, smashed a cucumber, and stir-fried shredded potatoes. Two people, four dishes—enough to eat. While waiting for Shangguan Zhuren to return with the chicken,

I had already prepared three dishes.

Shangguan Zhuren washed and cut the chicken, placing it in a plate.

Seeing the three dishes I prepared, Shangguan Zhuren laughed and said, "Jianqiang, your cooking skills are not bad; I could whip up three dishes just by stepping out for a moment."

I quickly took the plate,

"Shangguan Zhuren, take a break; today let you taste my cooking and see how my spicy chicken turns out."

"It's an honor to eat a dish cooked by Chairman Zhao." Shangguan Zhuren laughed.

"Shangguan Zhuren, just tease me; Chairman Zhao—it's been ages, we can't bring it up again." I also laughed.

"Sooner or later, I'll let you become chairman again; otherwise, I'd be sorry for the hardships we've endured these days." Shangguan Zhuren then picked up a piece of sweet potato and started eating.

"Sigh, I feel more relaxed not being chairman; there's no longer that great pressure." I began scrubbing the pot.

"Everyone is born with their own responsibilities; otherwise life has no meaning. Only by completing the task heaven entrusted to you can your life be considered complete. You are someone who ought to bear responsibility; heaven itself wouldn't want you to take it easy." Shangguan Zhuren said slowly.

"Alright, then I'll take it on—who made me a person who has experienced something out of the ordinary?"

I began pouring oil into the pot, making sure the pot was hot and the oil cold.

Once the oil heated, I added the chicken to the pot and stir-fried it over high heat.

The chicken must be fried until dark golden, making a crackling sound in the pot, before it's ready.

Then I added scallions, ginger slices, and other seasonings.

Shangguan Zhuren, seeing my cooking motions, said, "Jianqiang, your dishes are stir-fried well; this skill could totally open a restaurant."

"The Da Heng Group's restaurant has the best spicy chicken chef in Zaocheng; I learned this stir-fried chicken from him. It's all about a strong fire, hot oil, golden chicken, plus chili peppers."

I began shaking the spoon in the pot.

After adding the chili peppers, I flipped and stirred, added salt, and then took it straight out of the pot.

At that moment the spicy chicken was still sizzling, the green chili peppers oily and shining, giving off fragrance.

I scooped the chicken onto a plate; Shangguan Zhuren reached out, pinched a piece, and put it into his mouth,

"So fragrant! Today we must have half a catty of wine."

Having said that, he took out a bottle of wine from the house.

I brought two cups,

filled Shangguan Zhuren's wine cup to the brim,

Shangguan Zhuren held up his cup and said, "Jianqiang, bottoms up."

I also raised my cup and clinked it lightly against Shangguan Zhuren's,

then downed the wine.

The wine was slightly spicy upon entry, but quickly turned into a sweet flavor.

Once in the stomach, it became a surge of warm energy, making my blood flow rapidly.

It filled my heart with strength. Why do men drink wine? Because wine brings men passion and joy.

After Shangguan Zhuren and I drank three cups of wine in succession,

the two of us began heartily eating the spicy chicken. After eating our fill, Shangguan Zhuren put down his chopsticks,

looking at me,

and asked me, "There's something I've never figured out. Back then, how did that White Wolf get into a car accident.

His older brother, White Tiger, investigated for half a day with no result. Also, how did Wei Dongqing suddenly go mad?

I've wanted to ask you about it, but never had the chance. Today I happen to be free, so tell me how you subdued the White Wolf back then."

Upon hearing Shangguan Zhuren ask about events from twenty years ago,

I at that moment poured a cup of wine,

then drank it,

and said, "Shangguan Zhuren, I originally wanted to keep these matters buried in my stomach, never tell anyone, anyway the White Wolf is dead.

Today you asked, so I'll tell you everything.

I gave the White Wolf the drug, which caused his car accident."

"What drug, what kind of drug?" Shangguan Zhuren asked.

"Mimi incense." I said.

"Mimi incense, what is that? I've never heard of it." Shangguan Zhuren then took out a cigarette.

I took it,

"It was given to me by a person called Lao Wai from before; this Lao Wai is not an outsider, he was my sworn brother from back when I was in Qi He.

"Back then, to deal with Fan Shazi, I used a drug to knock Xia Yuan unconscious and took a photo."

Then taking advantage of the opportunity, I toppled Fan Shazi. In this matter, Zhang Zong gave orders, and Wu Xiezi helped as an assistant. I was the one who personally carried it out.

Oh, I get it now. Liu Xian's wife had someone take nude photos of her, causing a scandal throughout the city—turns out it was you, brat, who did this.

Even Huang Shi specifically had me investigate this matter, but I couldn't find anything. Haha, it's really interesting.

You gave Xia Yuan the confusion incense, then took photos. Later Xia Yuan followed you—does she know about this? Shangguan Zhuren asked happily.

It seems Shangguan Zhuren also likes gossip.

I said: "Later, I explained things to Xia Yuan, and she forgave me. Actually, the mastermind behind the scenes is Liu Xian; he wanted to take down Fan Shazi. This Liu Xian is no good either—he even went after his own wife."

Wasn't Liu Xian arrested? This brat caused plenty of trouble back in Lanling. Shangguan Zhuren took a puff of smoke.

Because of Liu Xian, I became enemies with Bai Lang. To get rid of Bai Lang, I thought of using the confusion incense. At that time, Bai Lang was about to marry into the Liu family of the Provincial Capital.

As long as he married into the Liu family of the Provincial Capital, we wouldn't be able to beat him.

Huang Shi knows about this.

I know about this too. Tell me properly—how did you drug Bai Lang? Shangguan Zhuren asked.

Bai Lang likes to drink a certain imported purified water; I bought two cases from the Provincial Capital and diluted the confusion incense in it.

Then I injected it into the purified water using a syringe.

I had Wei Dongqing deliver it to Bai Lang.

Wei Dongqing and Bai Lang have a close private relationship, and Bai Lang trusts him greatly.

The next day, Bai Lang took that water out with him; halfway along the road, he drank it.

Then Bai Lang began to feel dizzy, and he drove his car into a ditch.

I followed Bai Lang from behind, and after seeing his car accident,

I then went to the scene,

I replaced all the water at the scene that contained the confusion incense, so afterward people couldn't find anything at all. Because I threw away all the water with the drug.

But Wei Dongqing this guy has poor psychological resilience; at the slightest trouble he gets scared to death.

Bai Hu only asked him a few questions, and he couldn't take it. In order to protect him,

I had Wei Dongqing drink the confusion incense, so he could fall into a drowsy sleep and know nothing.

After a long time, Wei Dongqing actually developed a dependence.

I then stopped giving him the drug—who could have imagined he would later go mad?