Chapter 318: with translation of chapter title

Hearing Ru Meng say she wanted to go to Korea, I felt uncomfortable inside, but during the New Year I couldn't criticize Ru Meng anymore, letting her pout and get angry.

I just smiled,

"Ru Meng, Dad promises you first; you must understand that we are now in a period of change, and if Dad can't do it when the time comes, don't be angry."

"Dad, just promising is enough. I'm happy, Dad, I know the family situation, Aunt Feng told me. Don't worry, I won't get angry." Ru Meng said with a smile.

At this moment Shen Honghong came over, looking at Ru Meng,

"Zhao Jianqiang, this is your daughter."

"Yes, my daughter Ru Meng, quickly call her Aunt Shen." I introduced Shen Honghong to Ru Meng.

Ru Meng looked at Shen Honghong,

Then she said, "I shouldn't call you aunt; I'll call you sister instead. You're much younger than Aunt Feng."

Hearing Ru Meng say that,

Shen Honghong laughed happily, hahaha,

stroking Ru Meng's head,

"This little girl really knows how to talk, and she's really grown pretty. Ru Meng, do you want to go to Sijiucheng to play? I'll take you around Sijiucheng then—how about that?" Shen Honghong said.

"I want to go to Korea. Do you like Kim Hee-ae?" Ru Meng asked, looking at Shen Honghong.

"Yes, I like Koreans the most. They're all pretty and love makeup. Ru Meng, later sister will take you to Korea."

"How about that?"

"Sure, anyway my dad just lies to me; he wouldn't take me anyway."

"Sister, how about we pinky promise?" Ru Meng deliberately put on an innocent look.

"Okay, pinky promise then." Shen Honghong laughed and stretched out her hand,

and hooked pinkies with Ru Meng.

Shi Yong came over, seeing Ru Meng,

then smiled and said, "Ru Meng, let me hug you.

you still know Uncle Yong, right?"

"Uncle Yong, hug Aunt Ya Ling first; she's been missing you." Ru Meng looked at Shi Yong and said.

Shi Yong laughed loudly,

"I can't hold Aunt Ya Ling; she could hold me just fine."

Just as Shi Yong finished speaking, Ya Ling came over and punched him,

"Shi Yong, if you keep talking nonsense, I won't be polite."

Shi Yong glared,

"What's wrong? What nonsense did I spout? You're just heavier than me."

After saying that, Shi Yong also raised his fist,

Ya Ling saw Shi Yong getting fired up,

grabbed his arm,

"Little guy, still want to practice with me,

come on, let's go back and practice."

Hearing Ya Ling say that, Shi Yong's legs went a bit weak.

Looking at me,

"Brother, tell Ya Ling for me—I just arrived, there are so many people, let me save face."

Seeing Shi Yong's pitiful look, I just wanted to laugh,

"Alright, Shi Yong, Ya Ling hasn't seen you in ages—absence makes the heart grow fonder.

spend some good time with Ya Ling. You miss her too."

"I really didn't think—hey, Ya Ling, can we wait until after dinner?" Shi Yong said quietly.

Ya Ling didn't care about the crowd, she grabbed Shi Yong and walked off.

Shen Honghong looked at Ya Ling and asked me, "Zhao Jianqiang, who is this woman who's like a black tower? Why is Shi Yong so afraid of her?"

"Shi Yong's wife Ya Ling. She's also a fitness enthusiast."

"What a perfect match." Shen Honghong sighed.

Shi Yong and Ya Ling left,

The rest of us remained in the hall, starting to drink freely.

Du Zhaocai raised his wine glass to toast Shangguan Zhuren and me.

I happily clinked glasses with Du Zhaocai,

"Du County, welcome to Qi He Kuang. With you at Qi He Kuang, I feel much more at ease."

"Jianqiang, if you keep calling me Du County I'll get angry—I'm no longer that damned county official; now I'm just a common civilian, and you've given me a way out."

I need to thank you.

That Kong-surnamed bastard not only dismissed me, but also canceled my retirement benefits. When I'm old I'll have nothing; all those decades of work were for nothing.

I hate him to death.

What the hell,

"I never dreamed he'd turn out like this." Du Zhaocai cursed angrily.

Just canceling the retirement benefit, this Du Zhaocai keeps cursing nonstop,

If I had billions in assets like me, Kong Shi would have seized them all.

Then Du Zhaocai wouldn't have gone crazy.

I laughed and said, "Old Du, a loss may be a blessing in disguise—who knows if it's fortune or misfortune? Your little pension can't even compare to the dividends from Qi He Kuang."

"That's natural, it was Jianqiang who thought long-term for me back then. Sigh, Shangguan Zhuren, to be frank, if I didn't have this dividend money now,"

"I estimate even if I died, no one would ask about me."

"What are you saying, Old Du, talking like that during the New Year?" Shangguan Zhuren criticized Du Zhaocai.

"I'm telling the truth, my two sons, my eldest son is just an ordinary clerk, his wife has no job, the whole family relies on me for meals."

"My younger son just got engaged this year; an apartment costs several hundred thousand, and he still needs a 200,000 bride price."

"Fortunately, Jianqiang gave me that money; otherwise, I really couldn't make ends meet."

"Damn, what kind of society is this, where finding a wife costs so much? Back when I married my wife, I only spent a dozen or so dollars."

"We didn't even have a house, just living in a small storage room in the winery."

"Think about it—if I can't afford a house and my son can't afford a wife, will he hate me then? When I'm old and dead, who will care about this useless father?"

"In this society, money makes you a father; without money, you're nothing." Du Zhaocai said.

"Actually, Du Zhaocai should have been telling the truth,"

"He, such a prominent figure in Lanling before, worries about his son's marriage, let alone ordinary folks."

"Shangguan Zhuren said: 'Old Du, you're all set now; Jianqiang has found you a place for retirement.'"

"You don't have to worry about anything; from now on, just take good care of your responsibilities at Qi He Kuang."

"Otherwise, how would I thank Jianqiang? If it weren't for this, I would definitely have to dip into my savings."

"These years I've saved up some money; that's my coffin fund."

"Don't worry, Shangguan Zhuren; with me at Qi He Kuang, you won't have to ask about anything."

"As long as that surnamed Kong comes over, I'll fight him to the death." Du Zhaocai shouted.

"What fight? They won't fight us. As long as I have Jianqiang to eat, you, Old Du, will have something to drink." I said happily.

"At this moment, Xiao Feng came over holding a wine cup; Xiao Feng looked very exhausted."

"These days, she's been worrying herself sick over Qi He Kuang and our affairs."

"I felt a bit heartbroken,"

"I said to Xiao Feng, 'Xiao Feng, you've worked hard these days.'"

"'Jianqiang, look at what you're saying. Sigh, you've suffered more than me. How dare you return to Qi He Kuang—isn't that Kong Shi coming to cause trouble?' Xiao Feng asked."

"'Xiao Feng, a few words here and there—I can't explain it clearly now; later I'll specially explain it to you.'"

"Xiao Feng immediately understood what I meant—that there are many people here, and I don't want too many to know this place's secret."

"Xiao Feng said: 'Okay, Jianqiang.'"

"'Have you been in contact with Ye Jianming lately?' I asked."

"'What's the point of contacting him? Between us, we just need to finish one procedure; I've already decided to cut ties with him completely.'"

"'Really, at the crucial moment he just packed up his pole and left—what kind of man is that?' Xiao Feng said angrily."

"I looked at Xiao Feng, thinking to say, leaving Ye Jianming is right—you're still young, he's over sixty, you have a better future ahead, he's reached that age and is good for nothing."

"But we have a saying here: better to demolish ten temples than to break a marriage."

"That is, the sin of demolishing ten temples still doesn't compare to the sin of breaking up someone's marriage."

"I just looked at Xiao Feng and smiled."

"'Xiao Feng, between a couple, if you can get by, just get by. Think about it again—maybe Old Ye will come back later.'"