Chapter 607

There wasn't a hint of embarrassment on Yin Jisheng's face; his smile remained as he said, "Minister Yao, you are Teacher Cao's student, and I am Zhang Tao's brother-in-law. When you think about it, we are all one family."

"Today is Teacher Cao's sixty-sixth birthday, so let's not talk about anything else, just talk about our bond. In a while, I'll have Little Yin properly keep you and Chairman Zhou company for a few drinks."

Little Yin? Everyone in the room stared at Yin Jisheng, dumbfounded. Especially Meng Tianyu's father, who felt his face burning as he looked at his own brother-in-law.

The Yin siblings, including him, held Yin Jisheng in high regard. And Yin Jisheng, at home, was the one whose word was law; his prestige was very high. No matter what happened, they would always seek this eldest brother's advice and decision.

Yet, he never imagined that his brother-in-law, who could stir up wind and rain outside, would actually refer to himself as "Little Yin" in front of a young man, which made him feel ashamed.

Yin Jisheng also sensed the strange atmosphere in the room, but he didn't care at all. He took out that pack of Zhongnanhai cigarettes again and very attentively lit one for Yao Jun.

"Minister Yao, as the saying goes, one family doesn't speak two languages. In the future, if there's anything, like fixing a courtyard or building a house, you just need to say the word, and I'll be there whenever you call."

Ma Zhiyao turned and walked out of the room, sighing inwardly. No wonder Yin Jisheng could achieve what he had today; with this shameless drive, it would be against the laws of nature if he didn't succeed.

"Why did you come out too?" Zhang Yue asked, glancing at the room door and whispering.

Ma Zhiyao softly explained what had happened, leaving Zhang Yuru speechless for a long time.

"This... in this world, how can there be such a thick-skinned person?"

"Keep your voice down!" Ma Zhiyao said. "Don't let people hear you; it wouldn't be good."

Zhang Yuru rolled her eyes: "So what if they hear?"

Zhou Andong threw his cigarette butt on the ground and crushed it with his foot: "This Yin Jisheng will definitely be a big figure in the future."

Ma Zhiyao nodded in agreement: "He knows how to pick things up and put them down. If I had half the thickness of his skin, I wouldn't have been stuck in the town's finance office for so many years without even landing a deputy section-level position."

Zhang Yuru said huffily: "You still have the nerve to say that?"

Ma Zhiyao chuckled, not angry. He looked at Zhou Andong, hesitated for a moment, and then gritted his teeth: "Dongzi, I heard that Xurishi Ice Tea is all produced by contract manufacturers?"

"Right!" Zhou Andong saw that Ma Zhiyao had something on his mind: "We're all family, just say whatever is on your mind."

Ma Zhiyao said: "Our town's soda factory hasn't been doing well these past two years. The factory leadership went to the Xurishi company to discuss contract manufacturing before, but because the scale was too small, it didn't work out."

"If it didn't work out, why are you still talking about it?" Zhang Yuru said huffily, "Don't meddle in things you shouldn't."

As she spoke, she looked at Zhou Andong: "Dongzi, don't listen to your brother-in-law; just do what you have to do."

Zhou Andong smiled: "When are you leaving?"

Ma Zhiyao perked up: "The child only got one day off, so we originally planned to leave tomorrow."

Zhou Andong said: "Let Sister Yuru take the child back herself. You notify the soda factory leadership to bring him to the winery to find me tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll go call them right now." Ma Zhiyao suppressed the excitement in his heart and strode away to find a public phone in town.

"Hey!" Zhang Yuru called out, but was stopped by Zhou Andong.

"Don't call him back!" Zhou Andong said: "This isn't a big deal; as long as the factory meets the requirements, it'll be fine."

Zhang Yuru asked: "This matter has nothing to do with him; you don't need to put yourself in a difficult position."

Zhou Andong said: "This factory must be a long-standing headache for your town. If Brother-in-law solves the difficulty, the town leaders, and even the county leaders, will see it."

Zhang Yuru was stunned, and Zhou Andong said with a smile: "This is also the reason why I kept him and asked him to bring the beverage factory leadership to find me. I want your town leaders, including the county leaders, to understand that I am giving this favor to Ma Zhiyao."

A warm current flowed through Zhang Yuru's heart, and her eyes moistened as she said: "Dongzi, Sister thanks you."

"What's there to thank!" Zhou Andong said: "If you really must thank me, next time I have a chance to visit your home, just stir-fry a plate of shredded potatoes for me."

Zhang Yuru giggled: "Look at your lack of ambition. If you come to my house, I'll stir-fry two plates for you."

Zhou Andong rolled his eyes: "You really are stingy. If I go, you'll only stir-fry two plates of shredded potatoes for me?"

Zhang Yuru laughed out loud: "Don't you like eating them?"

Zhou Andong said huffily: "I like them, but one plate is enough."

At this moment, another group of people arrived outside, men and women, old and young, about twenty or so.

Zhou Andong didn't recognize the few young ones, but he recognized everyone over forty.

They were teachers from the town primary school. The short, white-haired old man walking in front was the principal.

The half-grown boys who were making a ruckus in the courtyard shrank their necks in fear when they saw so many teachers arrive, standing there properly one by one, not daring to move.

"Teacher!"

"Hello, Teacher!"

"Hello, Teacher!"

"..."

A young teacher looked at a boy and asked: "Li Jun, have you finished your homework?"

Li Jun nodded honestly: "I finished it."

"Zhong Zhixin!" A female teacher looked at another boy, "Have you finished your homework?"

Zhong Zhixin rolled his eyes and shouted loudly: "I finished it."

The female teacher said: "I will check your homework myself tomorrow."

Zhong Zhixin was dumbfounded when he heard this and muttered something.

Cao Shuzhi heard the voices in the courtyard, got off the kang, put on her shoes, and hurried out to greet them.

"Teacher Cao, I wish you a life as long as the Southern Mountain!"

"Teacher Cao, I wish you happiness as vast as the Eastern Sea!"

"Teacher Cao, I wish you the longevity of the pine and crane!"

"..."

"Thank you, thank you!" Teacher Cao thanked them one by one, "Hurry inside and sit; the banquet is about to start."

"Zhou Andong?" The young teacher who had just asked the student about his homework was stunned when he saw Zhou Andong, then immediately reacted and shouted happily.

Looking at this young teacher, Zhou Andong felt he looked familiar and knew he must know him, but he just couldn't remember his name.

"Kan Xingjiang!" Yao Jun came out of the room and called out when he saw the young teacher, which counted as rescuing Zhou Andong.

"Kan Xingjiang!" Zhou Andong muttered the name and finally remembered; he was a primary school classmate and even the study committee member.

It was just that for him, it was really too long ago; there were truly very few of those primary school classmates he could remember.

"Yao Jun!" Kan Xingjiang shook hands with Yao Jun.

Zhou Andong said with a smile: "You kid became a teacher at our town primary school?"

"That's right!" Kan Xingjiang shook hands with Zhou Andong again, "I thought you didn't recognize me."

Zhou Andong said with a straight face: "How could that be? Even if I forgot anyone else, I couldn't forget you, my old classmate."