Chapter 2599: Hope · Despair

"Alright, I know you really missed me." Wu Huilin was very satisfied with Gu Bing's attitude: "Next month, I'm going to Beijing to inspect Yuxi Real Estate's projects there. We'll be able to see each other then, so don't come back and add to the chaos."

Gu Bing said dissatisfiedly: "What do you mean by adding to the chaos?"

Wu Huilin said with a smile: "Inspecting Yuxi Real Estate's projects in Beijing is just a side trip; the main purpose is to visit Uncle and Auntie at home."

Gu Bing was stunned, then reacted, saying excitedly: "Really?"

"Of course it's real." Wu Huilin thought for a moment and said: "The tentative time is the 10th of next month. If there are no sudden important matters, it won't be postponed."

"Good!" Gu Bing said excitedly: "I'll tell my parents when I get home tonight and prepare well to welcome their daughter-in-law."

"Then that's it. I have things to do here, so I won't chat with you anymore."

Wu Huilin hung up. Originally, she had thought about visiting Gu Bing's home during the Spring Festival this year. But since her parents were coming to the mainland to play in October, she wanted to take this opportunity to let both sets of parents meet.

Gu Bing put down the phone and said from the bottom of his heart: "Dongzi, that your uncle and aunt could accept Wu Huilin so readily is thanks to your mediation. Fifth Brother sincerely thanks you."

Zhou Andong rolled his eyes at Gu Bing: "Just saying thanks with empty words? There's no sincerity at all."

Gu Bing patted his chest: "Aside from borrowing money, tell me, how do you want me to thank you?"

Zhou Andong opened his mouth, then finally waved his hand weakly: "Forget it, I don't need your thanks."

Gu Bing said seriously: "This is what you said—you don't need my thanks. Don't say later that I don't know how to be grateful."

Zhou Andong gritted his teeth and said: "You earn so much money and don't spend it, and you won't lend it to me. Are you saving it to breed?"

"Do you think raising a wife is that easy?" Gu Bing said righteously: "Which woman doesn't love beauty? Doesn't she have to buy clothes, shoes, bags, and cosmetics?"

Zhou Andong gave a thumbs up in admiration: "What you say makes so much sense!"

"Right!" Gu Bing chuckled, then immediately looked sentimental: "Dongzi, before I met Huilin, in over ten years of marriage, I didn't know what love was.

From the day we got married, we lived under the same roof but were like strangers, yet in front of outsiders, we still had to act like we were deeply in love."

Gu Bing lit a cigarette and continued: "You really don't understand how painful that kind of life was. Later, I couldn't take it anymore, so I told my family I wanted a divorce.

But no one in the family agreed, so I started making a scene. No matter how I acted out, the family wouldn't let me divorce. I also felt tired, so I requested to go to the grassroots level."

Speaking of this, Gu Bing took a fierce drag of his cigarette: "Your aunt thought going to the grassroots level to train wouldn't be bad, and it would also let me calm down. My idea was to go to Yunbian Province, far away from home.

But your aunt didn't agree, so she chose a place for me, and that was Jiangzhou. A former provincial capital city, an industrial hub—although it had declined later, the completeness of the city's infrastructure was not something Yunbian Province could compare to.

More importantly, Jiangzhou is not far from Beijing, only 500 kilometers, so returning to Beijing is very convenient. At the time, I didn't agree, but I couldn't withstand the threats from your uncle and aunt, so in the end, I could only compromise."

"There are many places to go in Jiangzhou; why did you choose the Jiangzhou Liquor Factory?" Zhou Andong asked curiously: "When you were transferred to the Jiangzhou Liquor Factory, the factory was already suffering serious losses. This couldn't have been hidden from you, right?"

Gu Bing laughed: "They arranged for me to serve as the acting county magistrate in Jinli County. Of course, I wouldn't let them have their way, so I just said I'd go to the Jiangzhou Liquor Factory. After all, the Jiangzhou Liquor Factory's 'Big Sorghum' is quite famous."

Zhou Andong asked with a smile: "And my uncle and aunt just agreed?"

"Of course they wouldn't agree." Gu Bing said proudly: "They didn't agree, so I made a scene, and in the end, they still compromised."

Zhou Andong also took a box of cigarettes from the drawer, tore open the packaging, and lit one: "Qiuqiu went to the Jiangzhou Liquor Factory because you were there too?"

"Right!" Gu Bing walked slowly to the window and looked at the scenery outside: "You know, at that time, the Jian family was forcing her into a marriage alliance, so she ran to Jiangzhou to find me."

Zhou Andong understood: "Qiuqiu's position as the Trade Union Director was also recommended by you, right?"

Gu Bing nodded: "Actually, with Qiuqiu's educational background, there wouldn't be any problem with her serving as the Municipal Trade Union Director."

Just as Zhou Andong and Gu Bing were chatting about the past, Shen Wenqi parked his car downstairs at his home. He pushed open the door, got out, and entered the unit door with a face full of exhaustion.

In the morning, after he left the wool mill, he first sent Wu Hongkang home and then went to the shop that was being renovated. But he had been absent-minded the whole time. Seeing that it was already 3:00 PM, he simply gave instructions to his assistant and drove back.

At this time, Bai Hui and Liu Aijun were watching TV in the living room. The two hadn't gone out shopping but had stayed at home for almost the whole day. After all, with such a big thing happening at home, how could Bai Hui be in the mood to shop?

When the sound of the door opening came, Bai Hui and Liu Aijun turned their heads to look at the entrance at the same time. When the door opened and they saw Shen Wenqi for the first time, they both stood up simultaneously.

"Wenqi!" Liu Aijun called out, but when she saw the bulging briefcase Shen Wenqi was carrying, the words that followed were swallowed back, and her face turned somewhat pale.

Bai Hui also noticed. The briefcase Shen Wenqi was carrying money in had been bulging when he left in the morning, and now that he was back, it was still bulging. Clearly, the money hadn't been given away.

The anticipation of the whole day now turned into nothingness, and Bai Hui collapsed instantly. Her knees went weak, and she sat back on the sofa with a thud, tears streaming down uncontrollably.

Seeing Bai Hui collapse and cry, Shen Wenqi looked bewildered: "Sister-in-law, you... what's wrong?"

Liu Aijun took a deep breath and asked with the last bit of hope: "Wenqi, the matter... how did it go?"

Shen Wenqi suddenly realized and hurriedly said: "I met Zhou Andong, but my understanding of the matter isn't comprehensive, so he agreed to meet with you, sister-in-law, to chat and understand it fully. But he didn't promise to help, so we must do our best to strive for it."

Hearing that Zhou Andong agreed to meet and chat, there was hope, and Bai Hui immediately stopped crying: "Wenqi, as long as Zhou Andong agrees to help and save your brother, I'll agree to whatever he wants."

Shen Wenqi opened his mouth to say something, but seeing the hopeful expression on Bai Hui's face and the light in her eyes, he swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. At this moment, Bai Hui couldn't take any more blows; it was better to give her some hope.

Liu Aijun also breathed a sigh of relief. As long as Zhou Andong agreed to meet, there was a chance. She stood up and said: "When is the meeting scheduled?"

"Tonight!" Shen Wenqi looked at the time: "After work, around 5:30 or 6:00, at the First Bar."

Liu Aijun walked toward the kitchen: "I'll cook. After we eat, we'll go." ===== CHAPTER 2600 =====