Chapter 252: Having a meal with Hou Laoban

I quickly came to the ninth floor and entered the room,

The room had already been cleaned by the attendant, Zhou Fuhai's things were all thrown messily on the floor.

Also, Kang Yali's bag and those small items were still thrown on the table.

I saw that the camera inside the bag hadn't moved at all.

At that moment my phone vibrated in my pocket,

I took out my phone and saw it was another message from Shen Honghong,

Shen Honghong wrote in the message: "Zhou Fuhai, if you don't answer my calls again, I'll come to Zaocheng to find you. I will never let you go. Wait for me. I'd rather die with you."

It seems this woman has gone crazy thinking about Zhou Fuhai.

If you come to Zaocheng, you'll probably really die, I thought to myself.

I couldn't be bothered to deal with this woman,

Damn, what a cheap slut, a decent hostess can't find any excellent man, she insists on clinging to Zhou Fuhai.

What if this woman really comes to Zaocheng, what then,

Hmph, let her do whatever she wants in Zaocheng; when I get to Zaocheng, I'm not afraid of her. I thought to myself.

I tidied up the things in the room a bit,

Then I prepared to wash my face and rest.

Suddenly I thought of Hou Laoban's flattering smile,

This Hou Laoban is strange, following behind me and deliberately saying irrelevant things; what does he mean?

Is he probing me?

Hou Laoban has a good relationship with Kong Shi,

It seems Kong Shi also wants to use Hou Laoban to sound out my true situation.

That is, whether I am really or falsely Zhou Fuhai.

This leaves Kong Shi full of doubts.

Since Kong Shi can use Hou Laoban to inquire about my authenticity,

then I can also use Hou Laoban to convey false information to Kong Shi.

Exactly, today Hou Laoban invited me to a meal.

I want to take this opportunity to talk with Hou Laoban about matters in Sijiucheng, so he believes I am the genuine Zhou Fuhai.

If I dare not meet and talk with Hou Laoban more and more,

then Hou Laoban will suspect my authenticity even more, and Kong Shi will also find out.

Thinking this, I increasingly feel it's necessary to have a meal with Hou Laoban.

But I already turned down Hou Laoban earlier; how could I proactively seek him out,

if I proactively seek Hou Laoban, I would lose face too much.

Not having a meal with Hou Laoban would waste this opportunity again.

I sat in the room thinking.

Since Hou Laoban previously wanted to treat guests, as long as he sees my figure, he'll surely bring it up again.

Anyway, he's a shameless person.

Thinking this, I washed my face, went to the toilet to relax a bit,

then changed into a fresh set of clothes.

I smoked another cigarette in the room, watching the outside sky gradually darken.

I then stood up, left the room, and went to the hotel lobby to wait for Hou Laoban.

I took the elevator and quickly arrived at the lobby,

I didn't expect Hou Laoban not to be in the lobby.

Damn, where did this Hou Laoban go? I came back specially to have a meal with you, and you're not here.

Really annoying.

I took out a cigarette in the lobby and started smoking.

I'll just wait here for Hou Laoban,

About the time it takes to smoke a cigarette, Hou Laoban came in from outside.

He still held prayer beads in his hand, chanting some unknown sutra.

As soon as he entered the lobby, he saw me, and I saw him.

But I didn't take the initiative to greet him,

I immediately turned my face to the side, looking at the various decorations displayed in the lobby.

After Hou Laoban saw me, he immediately ran over,

with a beaming smile he said: "Mr. Zhou, why are you so idle? Are you waiting for someone here?"

I thought to myself, this Hou Laoban is truly shameless.

I looked at Hou Laoban and said: "Hou Laoban, right?"

Hou Laoban stretched out his hand,

"Yes, I'm Hou Laoban of the Zaocheng Grand Hotel. Compared to Mr. Zhou, I'm utterly insignificant. Mr. Zhou, would it be convenient tonight to have a meal together?"

I said: "Hou Laoban, it's rare that you show such enthusiasm; if I don't give you face again, it shows I, Zhou, don't know etiquette.

Zaocheng is after all close to the hometown of Confucius and Mencius; here one must observe propriety.

Then please trouble Hou Laoban."

Hou Laoban, hearing my agreement to eat together with him, was so happy he almost jumped up.

Mr. Zhou, it's wonderful; being able to dine with someone like you is my fortune, Mr. Hou. Please, Mr. Zhou, come to the room for a small gathering, have a light drink, to express my respect.

Following Hou Laoban's gesture, I nodded and followed him into a private room in the hotel.

This private room is very small, just a place where four or five people can have a small gathering.

Hou Laoban politely brought over the menu.

"Mr. Zhou, take a look, order whatever dishes you like."

I didn't look at the menu at all,

Then I said, "As the guest follows the host, Hou Laoban, you're treating me; I'll eat whatever you order, I'm quite easygoing."

"Good, Mr. Zhou, you don't have any dietary restrictions, do you?"

I said, "No."

"What would you like to drink, Mr. Zhou? Red wine, white wine, foreign liquor, beer, or a beverage?" Hou Laoban asked politely.

"White liquor. I came to Zaocheng just to relax; in Sijiucheng I was too tense." I said.

"Yes, Mr. Zhou, being in a high position, you naturally have to be careful. Since you've come to Zaocheng, just relax properly." After saying that, Hou Laoban gave the menu and drink list to the waiter.

The waiter quickly brought our food and drinks.

All are high-end ingredients; Hou Laoban really isn't sparing expense.

Hou Laoban then took the wine bottle and filled my glass.

"Today being able to sit and eat with Mr. Zhou is truly an honor for me, Mr. Hou; I'll first raise a glass to Mr. Zhou."

After saying that, Hou Laoban raised his glass and downed a glass of white liquor.

Damn, this guy can really pretend; that time when I ate with Niu Ju, he absolutely refused to drink. He'd rather lie on the ground pretending to be dead than drink.

Shit, I didn't even urge you, but this old guy actually drank on his own.

I looked at Hou Laoban,

After he finished it, I raised my glass, took a small sip, then set it down,

"Thank you for your generous hospitality, Hou Laoban; I can't hold my liquor, so I'll just express my feelings a little."

Hou Laoban laughed and said, "Mr. Zhou, as a guest, you're free to do as you like. Upon seeing Mr. Zhou, I feel very close, just like an old friend."

"May I ask, Mr. Zhou, could you kindly tell me your age?"

I said, "I'm forty-seven; how about you, Hou Laoban?"

"We're the same age, what a coincidence! It's so joyful to meet someone my age. Let's have another drink." After saying that, Hou Laoban poured another glass of white liquor.

"In Sijiucheng, we don't have the term 'down deep' when drinking; we usually say 'brothers close' or 'everything goes well.' Your Zaocheng drinking habits are different from ours." I said deliberately.

Fortunately, I've read many books about Sijiucheng.

Hou Laoban, hearing me finish, laughed and said, "Mr. Zhou, Zaocheng used to be a mining area,"

There were many miners underground; whenever a miner came up from the pit, he had to drink.

When they drank, they always used customary terms; this phrase 'down deep' is a specialized term for miners digging coal.

Over time, the people of Zaocheng like to use the term 'down deep' or 'add deep' when drinking.

"It turns out there are so many stories here. Today, dining with Hou Laoban, I've learned something new. Hou Laoban, I just heard you're planning to go to Sijiucheng recently; I don't know what business you have there." I asked.