Chapter 387

Xi Gong's night was exceptionally lively tonight, as Li Xin's close aides returned from all corners of Gangdao and gathered together.

Inside the Red Letter Restaurant, the place was buzzing with voices, and laughter and chatter never ceased.

Everyone clinked cups and exchanged glasses, the atmosphere warm and harmonious.

Li Xin sat at the head table, smiling, chatting with everyone about everyday matters, his mood especially relaxed.

Liu Bo brought the members of the retirement group to the restaurant to join the fun.

Long Shu, Di Qiu, Hu Ge, and Ding Ye sat at the head table, reminiscing about the past.

They were once big shots in the jianghu whose every stomp made the walled city shake; now retired, they enjoy a leisurely retirement life in Xi Gong.

Sitting together, they began to talk about the past of the walled city.

Long Shu recalled the days he struggled to make a living in the walled city.

Ding Ye then described their business in the walled city, relying on the city's arena, and they really made a lot of dirty money.

Members of the jianghu retirement group also spoke up, recounting their past glories and reminiscing about those wonderful times.

Well, they only talk about the glory, never mentioning the bloody storms behind it; these old guys have thick skins!

While chatting and drinking, the atmosphere was very lively.

Li Xin asked with a smile: "Long Shu, how's your barbershop business?"

Long Shu pointed to Xiao Si and Xiao Hui not far away, smiling: "The flower shop isn't busy either, with those two helping, I even added an extra chair to my barbershop."

"Business is quite good; my barbershop still gets plenty of celebrities coming for haircuts. Though the shop is small, it's a celebrity hotspot in Xi Gong, very popular."

Ge Taizi couldn't stand seeing Long Shu so smug.

He interjected: "Ah Long, don't just say nice things—what about the age range of your customers?"

Long Shu glared at Ge Taizi and snapped: "What's it to you? Those middle-aged and elderly beauties come to me for a haircut, ignoring you this old sidekick—are you jealous?"

Li Xin's eyes lit up; sensing something going on, he quietly asked Tiger Brother beside him: "Tell me, what's happening? I love hearing this!"

Tiger Brother glanced at the two bickering old men and whispered: "Not long ago, a film crew came to shoot; there was a female star in her forties who looked good, and Ge Taizi took a liking to her."

"But she wasn't interested in him; instead, she took a liking to Long Ge, even treating him to meals a few times."

"And because of this, the two have been at odds for several days."

Li Xin tried not to laugh; these retirees were really living it up!

That old saying about old children really holds true—at this age, they're still acting like youngsters, vying for affection and getting jealous.

He added: "So, did Long Shu and that middle-aged beauty become an item?"

Tiger Brother thought a moment, then whispered to Li Xin: "I live across from Long Ge; one morning I got up early and saw that beauty come out of his place—this is probably true, they likely got together."

Li Xin took a close look at Long Shu and had to admit: though the old man isn't young, his bearing and those eyes that have seen the world still give him a certain charm.

Li Xin then turned to Lu Bin Sun at the same table and asked: "Old man, how's your situation? When will we drink your wedding wine?"

Today Lu Bin Sun didn't dodge the question, smiling: "A Xin, come back in a few days; at our age we won't hold a big ceremony—just come have a drink."

Li Xin quickly replied: "No way! This definitely needs a big celebration, right here in Xi Gong, our own turf—we won't hold back."

"This is a major joy—not just a wedding, but you also gained a grown son; it's double happiness, so it must be lively."

Seeing Lu Bin Sun still wanting to refuse, Li Xin said directly: "You don't need to worry about this; I'll arrange people to handle it—you just wait for the big day."

Li Xin turned and waved at Jimi; when he came closer, he said: "Jimi, I have an important task for you—do you have the confidence to finish it?"

Jimi, grinning foolishly and still not knowing what it was, readily agreed.

"Boss, no problem; if I don't know how, I'll look up the information—I won't delay your affairs."

Li Xin was quite pleased with Jimi's attitude—he learns when he doesn't know, never slacking on his self-improvement, making him quite likable.

After all, as boss Li Xin, having such a thoughtful, heaven-chosen worker gives him no reason not to be happy.

Li Xin pointed at Lu Bin Sun and said with a smile: "Your stepfather and mother's happy event is approaching; I'm putting you in charge of it."

"After all, you know best what your mother likes; don't worry about the cost—I'll cover all expenses. Put aside your other matters and treat this as a top priority."

Jimi understood the boss's meaning: he wanted to give his mother and stepfather a perfect wedding.

He said gratefully: "Boss, I—"

Li Xin waved his hand: "Go back and drink; we'll start handling this tomorrow. No need for many words—if you really want to thank me, just earn more money for the group."

"Understood!"

Lu Bin Sun's eyes were full of smiles; he raised his cup, clinked it with Li Xin's, said nothing, and drained it in one gulp.

Li Xin drank a cup with him, then after setting down his cup asked: "Anything else you need? Just speak up."

Lu Bin Sun waved his hand, smiling: "A Xin, I'm truly not lacking; the pay you gave me at Heng Lai Hotel is so high I could never spend it all in my lifetime."

"In Gangdao, as long as you have money you can solve most problems; if you can't, I'll come to you."

This drink really made Li Xin happy—not because of the wine's price, but because of the camaraderie with those he drank with; the saying "a thousand cups are few when meeting a true friend" is absolutely true.

Li Xin doesn't observe any particular etiquette when drinking; he just chats as he feels like.

He chatted with Tian Hong and the others about the past, those smooth and stormy days they'd shared, as if they were just yesterday.

Well, these people under Li Xin's command have really never suffered any grievances.

Li Xin's good point is that if they make a mistake, he can beat them.

If anyone dares to so much as lift a finger against them, Li Xin will definitely not stand for it!

Unnoticed, the liquor in the restaurant was visibly decreasing at a steady pace, yet their hands raising cups grew ever more frequent.

The topics also drifted further, from life ideals to daily trifles, from major negotiations to personal feelings.

After all, everyone knows that when one drinks happily, pointing out the rivers and mountains becomes ordinary, and waving a hand to turn clouds and rain is easy.

"Come, let's finish this cup!"

Li Xin raised his cup, saying to Huo Ba, the one with the greatest capacity for drink:

"Big Brother! A toast to you."

Huo Ba raised his cup, drank it all in one go, picked up the bottle and filled Big Brother's cup.

They kept drinking this wine until late at night. Li Xin was getting tipsy, but his mood was exceptionally relaxed.

Line: Qiuti helped him upstairs, Li Xin still muttered, "Huo Ba this brat definitely cheated and played tricks; otherwise, how could he have made me drink so much?"

Line: Qiuti rolled her eyes, ignoring Li Xin's nonsense.