Chapter 2208: Qiao Kuan

Zhang Zuo sat slumped in his chair, looking lifeless, as if he had lost all vitality, while Zhou Andong and Gu Bing on the side were laughing happily.

Tang Lin just opened his mouth to continue speaking when the mobile phone on the table rang.

"He's here!"

Tang Lin quickly reached out and grabbed the mobile phone, pressing the answer button. Immediately after, a man's voice came from the receiver.

"I've arrived at the entrance of Datang Barbecue. Where are you?"

Tang Lin stood up and looked toward the entrance: "Come in directly, keep walking forward, and you'll see me when you get to the beverage area."

Not long after, a young man about twenty-three or twenty-four years old, holding a mobile phone, walked over.

This guy had thick eyebrows and big eyes, with deep and exquisite features, and skin as delicate and smooth as a little girl's. His hair was combed neatly and tidily, without a single strand out of place.

He was wearing a white short-sleeved shirt on his upper body, paired with straight-cut suit trousers on his lower body, and a pair of shiny black leather shoes on his feet.

Such a fair face and red lips would be called a "powdered youth" in ancient times. If it were modern terms, he was an out-and-out typical "pretty boy."

It was no wonder this guy could put a green hat on Zhang Zuo; with his looks, in any era, he could make many young girls' hearts flutter and their hearts ripple.

"Old Tang!"

This guy walked over quickly, first greeted Tang Lin enthusiastically, then turned his gaze to Zhou Andong, walked to him in three or two steps, and reached out his hand busily.

"Chairman Zhou, I've long admired your name. It's a great honor to meet you today!"

Zhou Andong also stood up and shook hands with the other party with a smile: "Hello, hello, you flatter me!"

"Let me introduce you to each other again." Tang Lin inserted with a smile: "Qiao Kuan, he's like our little brother."

Then, he pointed his hand to Gu Bing on the side and continued to introduce: "This is Gu Bing, the famous Fifth Brother Gu."

A flash of surprise crossed Qiao Kuan's eyes, then a brighter smile appeared on his face. He reached out his hand to Gu Bing again and shouted enthusiastically at the same time.

"Fifth Brother Gu, little brother pays his respects. Although we haven't met before, your name, Fifth Brother Gu, is truly like thunder in my ears. Especially your divorce from that woman from the Yan family last year—oh my, after I heard about it at the time, I admired you so much that I couldn't help but give you a thumbs up."

While speaking, Qiao Kuan also raised his thumb: "For people born in families like ours, how many have unhappy marriages but don't have the courage to divorce?"

"But you, Fifth Brother Gu, are different. Being so decisive and daring to break through the shackles to pursue your own true happiness is truly amazing. You are the role model for our generation."

"To tell you the truth, I still haven't married to this day because I don't want to accept the arranged marriage of the family. I don't lack women around me, so why should I sacrifice my lifelong happiness for those so-called family interests to fulfill others?"

This guy definitely had "social arrogance syndrome"; his mouth was like a machine gun, talking incessantly.

He showed extraordinary enthusiasm toward Zhou Andong and Gu Bing, but this enthusiasm was grasped just right.

It didn't make people feel annoyed by excessive intimacy, yet it made people feel incomparably comfortable and relaxed.

"Eh?"

Just at this moment, Qiao Kuan seemed to have just noticed Zhang Zuo, and an expression of extreme surprise and ecstasy appeared on his face.

"Oh my, isn't this Zhang Erniu? We haven't seen each other for a long time. Today, no matter what, we brothers must have a good drink."

"Zhang Erniu?" Not to mention Zhou Andong and Gu Bing, even Tang Lin on the side was full of surprise, because he didn't know Zhang Zuo had such a charming nickname.

And Zhang Zuo at this time was like a lit powder keg, instantly exploding. He bounced off his seat, his two hands reached out like lightning, and he tightly grabbed Qiao Kuan's collar. At the same time, he glared and roared through gritted teeth.

"Qiao Dashan, I greet your ancestors for eighteen generations. Are you tired of living? Do you believe I'll kill you?"

"I believe, I believe, I believe!"

Qiao Kuan panicked, waving his arms desperately to slap Zhang Zuo's hands while begging for mercy stutteringly.

"I was wrong, I was really wrong. Big brother, let go quickly, my clothes are going to be wrinkled..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw a "ferocious smile" that made one's hair stand on end appear on Zhang Zuo's face. Immediately after, he reached out again like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey, firmly grabbed Qiao Kuan's hair, and with full resentment, rubbed it desperately and forcefully.

"Oh my, damn it!" Qiao Kuan was startled by this sudden move and hurriedly retreated two big steps in a panic, finally narrowly avoiding Zhang Zuo's hands, which were like devil's claws.

At this moment, the anger in his heart was ignited to the extreme, and he cursed uncontrollably: "Zhang Erniu, I'll screw your grandmother."

After saying that, this guy very suddenly took out a small, exquisite wooden comb and a small, delicate mirror from his pocket.

Then, as if no one else was there, he began to comb his hair, which had been ravaged by Zhang Zuo, seriously and slowly in front of the mirror.

With their commotion, the guests who were originally sitting quietly around dining began to cast curious glances. And when everyone saw Qiao Kuan holding a small mirror and a wooden comb, focusing entirely on grooming his hair, they were all dumbfounded.

Zhou Andong and Gu Bing were also shocked by this scene for a long time, only two people remained exceptionally calm and composed.

One was Tang Lin, who always maintained a heart like still water, and the other was Zhang Zuo, whose face was full of revenge and whose smile was extremely lewd. For this kind of scene, they seemed to have long been accustomed to it and didn't care at all.

"Hoo!"

Qiao Kuan finally combed his hair neatly again, and after tidying up his wrinkled collar, he let out a long breath.

"Zhang Er—"

Qiao Kuan swallowed the "niu" hard, which made him feel a bit uncomfortable, but if he had his hair messed up by this fool Zhang Zuo again, he would be even more uncomfortable.

"You wait, I'm not finished with you."

"So what if you're not finished?" Zhang Zuo smiled disdainfully and pointed at Qiao Kuan provocatively: "Look at your pretty-boy look. I'll let you use one arm; can you beat us?"

"A gentleman uses his mouth, not his hands!" Qiao Kuan said without showing weakness: "If I were to fight with a rough person like you, that would be too lacking in stature."

Zhou Andong saw that more and more people were paying attention to this side, and even people in the distance stood up and stretched their necks to look over, so he hurriedly said.

"Stop messing around, hurry up and order food, let's eat and chat."

Zhang Zuo didn't want to be watched by others and become a "monkey" in other people's mouths, so he snorted coldly at Qiao Kuan and sat down arrogantly.

Zhou Andong shook his head helplessly and waved to call the waiter to order food.

Soon, everything was served, and several people chatted while eating.

"Chairman Zhou!" Qiao Kuan picked up his wine glass with a full face of smiles, his tone carrying a trace of reverence: "What I admire most about you is not your commercial achievements, but your wisdom and knowledge."

"Fart wisdom, fart knowledge."

Zhang Zuo, sitting on the side, snorted coldly, disdainfully picked up the chopsticks in his hand, put a piece of barbecue into the dipping sauce bowl, and then opened his big mouth to put the barbecue into his mouth, muttering vaguely.

"Only people with simple minds and shallow knowledge like you would flatter him like this."

Qiao Kuan wished he could bite Zhang Zuo on the neck; this bastard not only tore down his stage but also put him on the fire, putting himself in an awkward situation.

If he chose to remain silent or tried to change the subject, then undoubtedly it would mean he didn't believe in Zhou Andong's so-called wisdom and knowledge at all, and what he just said was just flattery and bootlicking.

But if he expressed that he firmly believed in Zhou Andong's intelligence and erudition, what if Zhou Andong couldn't answer the question Zhang Zuo asked later? Wouldn't he have thoroughly offended Zhou Andong?

And he could be 100% sure that Zhang Zuo's mouth couldn't spit out ivory, and Zhou Andong would 100% not be able to answer.

Zhou Andong glanced at Zhang Zuo; it seemed this guy's skin was itchy again, but he had a very good impression of Qiao Kuan, so naturally, he couldn't let him be so awkward.

"Let's make a bet. If I answer it, you take a megaphone and shout three times at the entrance of Datang Barbecue: 'My name is Zhang Erniu'."

Zhang Zuo laughed, his smile looking lewd no matter how you looked at it: "What if you can't answer it?"

"The conditions are up to you." Zhou Andong wiped his mouth with a napkin: "How about it, is this condition generous enough?"

"Deal!" Zhang Zuo's face was covered with a layer of light, looking very confident.

Zhou Andong smiled and said: "Ask!"

"You've read Journey to the West, right." Zhang Zuo couldn't help but chuckle: "Let me ask you, what is Sun Wukong's zodiac sign?"

Hearing his question, Qiao Kuan's face turned black, while Tang Lin remained calm, not even raising his head and eating on his own.

But Gu Bing had a face full of schadenfreude and also joined the bet: "Add me. If you can answer it, I'll also take a megaphone, stand at the entrance of Datang Barbecue with Zhang Zuo, and shout three times: 'My name is Gu Banjin'. If you can't answer it, you also agree to one condition of mine."

"No problem!" Zhou Andong nodded and agreed very readily: "Sun Wukong's zodiac sign is the Horse."

"Pfft!" Zhang Zuo snorted disdainfully: "Who can't talk nonsense."

Zhou Andong put the wrapped shrimp into his mouth: "I'm not talking nonsense; I have data support."

"Alright!" Gu Bing didn't believe in any data at all, thinking Zhou Andong was bluffing: "Let's hear it. As long as you convince us, we will definitely fulfill the bet."

"Listen well!" Zhou Andong swallowed what was in his mouth: "Sun Wukong was born in 578 BC, because in the third chapter of Journey to the West, Sun Wukong saw that it was written in the Book of Life and Death that the Stone Monkey should live for 342 years."

"Later, Sun Wukong was the Bi Ma Wen for 15 days, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven for about 180 days, and stayed in Laozi's alchemy furnace for another 49 days. One day in heaven is one year on earth, totaling 224 years. At this time, Sun Wukong was 566 years old."

"Chapter 14 of Journey to the West also says that Sun Wukong was pressed under the Five Elements Mountain during Wang Mang's usurpation of the Han, which is 8 AD. Tang Seng rescued Sun Wukong in the 13th year of Zhenguan, which is 640 AD."

"During this period, there were 632 years, which means Sun Wukong was already 1,218 years old when he was rescued. 640 AD, pushing back 1,218 years, is 578 BC, the Year of the Horse, so Sun Wukong's zodiac sign is the Horse."

Their voices were not small, and the guests at several tables around them heard it, so they all pricked up their ears to listen.

When Zhou Andong finished speaking, they all raised their heads to look over, their faces full of shock; this guy really answered it.

At this time, they noticed that the person answering the question looked so much like Zhou Andong.

"Clatter!"

The chopsticks in Gu Bing's hand fell onto the table, and Qiao Kuan opened his big mouth, looking at Zhou Andong in disbelief.

Zhang Zuo had a face of disbelief and said stubbornly: "Who knows if what you said is true or false."

Zhou Andong picked up a piece of meat and put it into the dipping sauce bowl: "You can buy a set of Journey to the West to verify it. After you verify it, then fulfill the bet."

Zhang Zuo rolled his eyes: "Isn't what you're saying nonsense? Of course, I have to verify it; I can't just believe whatever you say."

This guy just stuck his butt out, and Zhou Andong knew what kind of shit he was going to pull: "Second Young Master Zhang, if you dare not fulfill the bet, the consequences will be very serious, you must think twice."

"Who said I wouldn't fulfill the bet?" Zhang Zuo's eyes flashed: "Don't worry, I, Zhang Zuo, have always been as good as my word."

Zhou Andong looked at Gu Bing again and said with a smile: "Brother-in-law, you'd better not let me down either."

"Everyone has eaten enough, right? I'll go pay the bill!" Gu Bing gave a dry laugh and got up to leave.

Because there was something to do in the afternoon, Zhou Andong didn't delay for too long. Since everyone had eaten enough, if Gu Bing wanted to pay the bill, let him.

They didn't drink much alcohol, two bottles of beer each, but they ate plenty of meat. After Gu Bing paid the bill, several people got up and left, and immediately after, whispers came from behind.

"That person just now didn't just look like him, it really was Zhou Andong."

"I said so, and no one said Zhou Andong had a twin brother."

"I'm going home to buy a set of Journey to the West. I want to see if what Zhou Andong said is right, and if Sun Wukong is really the Horse."

"..."

Zhou Andong smiled as he listened to the discussion behind him. Several people left the barbecue restaurant, and after making an appointment with Qiao Kuan to drink next time, they got into their respective cars.

In the car, Zhou Andong lit a cigarette and said with a smile: "I didn't expect that Young Master Qiao is also an interesting person."

Gu Bing also laughed: "That guy looks like a talent. If he can be pulled to his side, he will definitely be a good helper."

Zhou Andong nodded: "You can have more contact with him in the future."

Gu Bing said with regret: "It's just that I don't know how he cuckolded Zhang Zuo."

"Wait until there's a chance to ask Tang Lin later." Zhou Andong shook his head with a smile: "However, Qiao Kuan is oily and powdered. I guess that besides Zhang Zuo, there must be many others who have been cuckolded by him."

The two chatted, and the car arrived at Courtyard No. 6. Zhou Andong and Gu Bing got out of the car.

Immediately after, Tang Lin and Zhang Zuo also got out of their car.

Zhou Andong asked: "Are you going in?"

Tang Lin said: "Since we're at the door, we definitely have to go in and visit the old man."

Wang Wentian opened the trunk and took out four large black bags.

"Since you are also going in, then each of you carry a bag, counting it as a gift you bought for the old man."

"What is it?" Zhang Zuo took the bag and opened it curiously: "What is this? A lunch box?"

"This is a good thing." Zhou Andong bent down and took out a box: "This lunch box, as long as you add ordinary water, it can automatically heat up."

Zhang Zuo took the lunch box and looked at it left and right. Except for the exquisite lunch box and the beautiful cover pattern, it didn't seem to have anything special, so he curled his lips when he heard Zhou Andong's words.

"Bragging, you Zhou Dongzi really don't even make a draft."

"Don't believe it?" Zhou Andong tilted his head and looked at Zhang Zuo: "Wanna bet?"

Zhang Zuo was about to agree, but then he had an emergency avoidance and shook his head vigorously.

"I am a young man of the new era who talks about civilization and the four beauties. How can I gamble?"

At this time, Gu Bing and Tang Lin had already registered at the guard post, and Zhang Zuo didn't delay, walked over quickly, and registered honestly.

Zhou Andong greeted the soldiers on duty, and the four of them entered the courtyard. ===== CHAPTER 2209 =====