Chapter 443

"Hehe, actually, it's mainly because your personality is suited for this line of work. Keep working hard, and in the future, this Student Union President position will definitely be yours."

Liang Lu stepped forward and patted Hou Liangping on the arm, pinching it as she did so. Hou Liangping felt a shock in his heart, his muscles subconsciously tensing.

"Alright, go back and get busy. You must do a good job with the Youth League Committee work from now on and report the work situation to me in a timely manner."

Liang Lu knew in her heart that things could not be rushed. Like with Qi Tongwei last time, her going up to threaten him had instead provoked his resistance; this time, in dealing with Hou Liangping, she prepared to boil the frog in warm water.

"Understood, Secretary Liang."

In the blink of an eye, it was October 1st. The Zhang Family Courtyard in Sijiucheng was filled with joy; thirty-year-old Zhang Weibing was finally getting married.

Wanqiu, of the same age, also had a partner—a retired soldier named Zhu Hong, twenty-eight years old this year. Because he had been raising his comrade-in-arms' five children, he had delayed getting married until now.

He had met Zhang Wanqiu by chance; Zhu Hong was a military doctor himself and had been working at Red Star Hospital since retiring from the military.

Both of them had studied Traditional Chinese Medicine, so they naturally had plenty of common topics, and after a few back-and-forth interactions, they started chatting.

Zhang Ping'an was quite satisfied with this future son-in-law; he could shoulder responsibilities, his conduct was good, and he was neither humble nor pushy, even when facing him.

His medical skills were even more solid, especially in terms of experience, which had been tempered in blood and fire. Zhang Ping'an did not hesitate to lend his own medical case files for him to study.

With this, apart from Wandong, the other five children of Zhang Ping'an and Wang Xiaoling had all found their footing.

Over these past few years, the three Weidong brothers had also added children one after another; Zhang Ping'an now had three granddaughters and three grandsons.

As for the children of the other three women, the oldest, Wei'an, was only twenty and in university, while the younger ones were still in middle school.

"Godfather, Godmother, Aunt Zhong, Aunt Lou..." Qi Tongwei also arrived, and Chen Yang came with him.

Chen Yang was somewhat dumbfounded looking at this large family. Although Qi Tongwei had already told her, she was still very surprised to see it in person.

"Tongwei is here. Is this Chen Yang? You kid certainly has a good eye."

Zhang Ping'an looked at Chen Yang; she was indeed very beautiful. It was no wonder she was Qi Tongwei's "white moonlight" in the original drama.

"God... Godfather..."

"Mm, we are all family here. Tongwei, take Chen Yang and get to know your older brothers and sisters."

"You got it, Godfather."

Qi Tongwei took the red envelopes handed over by Zhang Ping'an and the aunts, then brought Chen Yang to greet Zhang Weidong and the other older brothers and sisters.

"Not bad, Tongwei. This must be our sister-in-law, right? Come, take this red envelope."

Zhang Weidong and the others all knew that Qi Tongwei would be bringing Chen Yang over, so they had prepared red envelopes in advance.

"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, Eldest Sister."

Chen Yang's hands were soft from holding all the red envelopes. Not counting the five from Zhang Ping'an, five more had come; just by the thickness of the envelopes, she knew it was a lot of money.

"Brother Tongwei, this..."

"Just take them."

"Alright."

Chen Yang was also a top student, and with Qi Tongwei leading her, she quickly became familiar with everyone.

Following Qi Tongwei's introductions, Chen Yang was secretly shocked; almost everyone in this family was a university student.

Previously, when she heard Qi Tongwei say his godfather was a businessman, she had been skeptical about his transfer to work in Sijiucheng.

But now, looking at this residence, so large from south to north—a place that in the past would only be inhabited by high-ranking imperial officials—she no longer doubted that Qi Tongwei could be transferred to Sijiucheng.

The brothers He Daqing and Cai Quanwu were still in charge as Head Chefs today. Nowadays, Lu Cuisine Garden was already a high-end private restaurant that only accepted member reservations.

Even so, it was almost packed every day; the reputation of two First-Grade Chefs alone was enough to make people willing to pay the bill.

Coupled with the bonus of the ingredients, no one could argue if they were called Special-Grade Chefs.

He Daqing was already over seventy this year. With Zhang Ping'an's help, his physical condition was now similar to that of a sixty-year-old, but for the most part, Lu Cuisine Garden was managed by Cai Quanwu and his son.

Yuchufang now had three branches in Sijiucheng; Shazhu, Nan Yi, and Yan Jiecheng were all Head Chefs, each responsible for one store.

"Brother Tongwei, why is this food so delicious?" Chen Yang whispered.

It was her first time eating such a delicious banquet. Usually, they were just standard rotating banquets, and even when she went to high-class restaurants with her father, it wasn't this good.

"Hahaha, can food made by First-Grade Chefs be anything but delicious? They were all my godfather's neighbors in the past."

"Let me tell you, the courtyard my godfather lived in before..."

Chen Yang was astonished. She hadn't expected that such a small Siheyuan would house so many capable people, and looking at those who had come to the banquet just now, there were several with imposing auras that even her father couldn't compare to.

In the afternoon, after sending off all the guests, Zhang Ping'an handed the keys to the renovated Siheyuan to Qi Tongwei.

"Tongwei, these are the keys to your courtyard gate. It has already been renovated. Since you are here, let's go take a look together."

"You got it, Godfather."

Qi Tongwei took the keys and pedaled his Bicycle, taking Chen Yang to the once-dilapidated courtyard. But now, where was there any sign of its former ruin?

With its vermilion gate, bronze door knockers, and grey bricks and tiles, Qi Tongwei fell in love with it at first sight.

"Brother Tongwei... is this the place?"

"Mm, come on, let's go in and take a look."

Opening the door, the courtyard was built in an antique style. Walking into the hanging flower gate, each room was full of modern atmosphere, with tables, chairs, benches, sofas, pots, pans, furniture, appliances, pillows, and bedding all provided.

"This..."

Qi Tongwei felt moved looking at all of this; he knew it must have all been purchased by his godfather.

"Brother Tongwei, this is just too... luxurious?"

Chen Yang didn't know how to describe it; this kind of visual impact was truly incomparable to commercial residential apartments.

"I only bought the house; all of this must have been provided by Godfather. I'll send the money to Godfather later."

Afterward, the two of them looked through the courtyard from front to back, inside and out, and the more they looked, the more satisfied they were.

"Come, let's go look at the next one."

"Mm, okay."

The second courtyard was even larger, with the same configuration. Zhang Ping'an had done the same for Qi Tongwei, and then there were the third, fourth, and fifth ones.

The Style Lei had also finished renovating it for him, but there was no furniture or appliances inside; it was completely empty.

"Brother Tongwei, this... did you buy all of this?"

"Mm, money is useless just sitting in my hands. These Siheyuan have great potential for appreciation in the future; it won't be a problem for their value to multiply several times over."

Chen Yang was feeling a bit numb; adding the three houses in Jingzhou, Qi Tongwei must have spent at least seven or eight hundred thousand. If the prices rose in the future, he could just lie flat even without doing anything.

"Alright, let's head back. When you come to work in Sijiucheng in the future, just live in whichever courtyard is closer."

"Mm, okay."

The two of them had basically been honest and open with each other, and they both had each other in their hearts, so Chen Yang did not decline.

"Godfather, I won't go back. Chen Yang and I will stay here tonight."

"That's fine too. Then we'll come over tomorrow at noon to help you warm the house."

Zhang Ping'an was not worried either; everything needed was fully stocked in both residences, and there was even plenty of food in the refrigerators.

"Okay."

Qi Tongwei and Chen Yang returned to the first courtyard, tidied it up according to their own habits, and only then prepared to make dinner.

After eating and drinking their fill, the two sat side by side on the reclining chairs under the grape trellis in the courtyard, quietly watching the night sky; at this moment, their hearts were drawing closer and closer.