Chapter 3092: Loose or Tight

Hearing that Xiao Changkun was going back, Ma Lan became anxious.

Seeing Xiao Changkun hang up the phone, she hurriedly asked: "What's going on? You just arrived and you're going back? I haven't even stepped on the ground of Dubai with the soles of my shoes yet, and you're leaving..."

Xiao Changkun wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and whispered: "I have to go now. If I don't go back, I'll lose my position as Executive Vice Chairman."

Ma Lan said angrily: "We've been married for half a lifetime and finally came out for a honeymoon. We can't just go back like this! I've already posted on my Moments, and so many people are waiting to see the follow-up of my trip to Dubai!"

As she spoke, Ma Lan added: "And don't forget, we spent a lot of money on these air tickets and hotels, and the hotel is non-refundable!"

Xiao Changkun said with a depressed face: "Then what else can I do? Why don't you stay here and play for a few days, and I'll go back to handle things."

Ma Lan asked him: "How long will it take to handle?"

"How would I know..." Xiao Changkun said irritably: "According to Master Hong Wu, not only do I have to go back, but I also have to donate all this three hundred thousand. If I donate this 300,000, let alone the 200,000 profit, even my 98,000 principal will be gone."

As he spoke, he covered his face with one hand and said depressedly: "What kind of thing is this..."

At this time, the plane's cabin door had opened, and the passengers around him had started to take their luggage and line up to get off the plane. A few people looked at Xiao Changkun as they walked by, with mocking smiles on their faces that they didn't bother to hide, which made Xiao Changkun feel even more dejected.

He hurriedly took out his phone and checked the return flight tickets again, finding that the earliest return flight would take off in six hours. So he said to Ma Lan: "Wife, we did spend a lot of money on the hotel. Why don't you stay here and play for a few days, and I'll book a flight tonight to go back to Jin Ling to handle things."

Ma Lan asked hurriedly: "Are you coming back after you finish handling things?"

Xiao Changkun sighed and said: "It will be tomorrow afternoon by the time I get to Jin Ling. I don't know how long it will take to handle things. Flying back and forth like this will take another eight or nine hours. Flying back and forth like this will scatter my old bones..."

Ma Lan said: "What's wrong with that? We can sleep all the way here, and it feels pretty good. The food and drink are also okay. Just treat it as sleeping on the plane and you'll be there."

Xiao Changkun handed the flight page on his phone to Ma Lan and said depressedly: "Look, the flight taking off tonight, economy class is over four thousand, business class is over twenty thousand, and first class is over fifty thousand. I've already wasted one air ticket, and now I have to throw in nearly 100,000 in principal. If I fly first class again this time, wouldn't I lose even more? By the time I finish handling things and fly back first class, this will be three first-class trips. Over 100,000 is gone. Spending so much money to sleep on the plane for two nights, I might as well stay at home and not go out."

Ma Lan muttered dissatisfiedly: "We agreed to come for a honeymoon. You can't just throw me here alone for a few days, right?"

Xiao Changkun also felt that this was indeed inappropriate, so he could only say helplessly: "Then you stay at the hotel and wait for me. I'll come back as soon as I finish handling things."

Ma Lan breathed a sigh of relief and said: "That's more like it. You have to be quick, don't wait until you get here and it's almost time to go back."

Xiao Changkun nodded and said: "I'll take economy class back tonight. I can't take first class when I come back either. This round trip is 100,000. It's too painful. Economy class is less than 10,000, which is acceptable."

Ma Lan also agreed: "Economy class is practical. Anyway, it's only eight or nine hours. Just grit your teeth and it'll pass. When I was in college, I came to Jin Ling from my hometown. The green-skin train took more than ten hours. It was a blessing to buy a seat. I once stood the whole way."

Xiao Changkun sighed: "Alright, it's settled! Let's get off the plane first. I'll send you to the hotel, and then I'll come back."

The two got off the plane, went through customs, and hailed a taxi to the hotel they had booked. On the way, Xiao Changkun bought the return ticket. Ma Lan reminded him: "Tell Ye Chen before you get on the plane and give him the flight number so he can pick you up at the airport."

"Forget it!" Xiao Changkun refused on the spot: "I'm not telling anyone this time. When I arrive, I'll go directly to that Zhou Liangyun, apologize, or whatever. As long as he lets this matter pass, I'll go find Chairman Pei to see how to solve the trouble in the association. If I can handle it, I'll come back directly."

Ma Lan asked hurriedly: "What if you can't handle it?"

Xiao Changkun felt anxious and sighed: "If those bird-brained people hold onto this matter, I estimate I won't be able to stay in the Calligraphy and Painting Association. Let's see. If it really doesn't work, I'll just quit the Calligraphy and Painting Association. My requirement now is not high, as long as I don't get thrown into prison."

Ma Lan instructed: "When you go back, talk to that Zhou Liangyun properly. If it really doesn't work, find Ye Chen for help. Losing face is better than going inside."

"Good!"

When the two arrived at the hotel, it was already evening in Jin Ling.

Ye Chen and Xiao Churan had just finished dinner at home. Xiao Churan took out her phone and said to Ye Chen: "I see the flight software indicating that Mom and Dad's flight landed nearly two hours ago. I guess they should be at the hotel. I'll send them a video to ask."

Just as she finished speaking, before she could open WeChat, she received a video call from Ma Lan.

Xiao Changkun thought that he would report safety to Ye Chen and Xiao Churan via video as soon as he arrived at the hotel, and after letting them rest assured, he would quietly fly back to Jin Ling to handle things. They were concerned about whether he and Ma Lan had arrived at the hotel smoothly and started their honeymoon. As long as he reported safety at the hotel, they wouldn't pay too much attention. By then, he would let Ma Lan take a few photos around every day and send them to himself, and he would post them on his Moments, which should be enough to muddle through.

As soon as the video connected, he saw Xiao Changkun and Ma Lan sitting on the sofa in the hotel living room. The hotel floor was very high, and the famous Palm Island in Dubai could be seen in its entirety.

Ma Lan held the phone and said to Xiao Churan with a smile: "Daughter, your dad and I have arrived at the hotel. You and Ye Chen don't have to worry about us."

"Alright, Mom." Seeing that the relationship between the two had eased, Xiao Churan was very gratified and said: "You and Dad have fun there, feel more of the local characteristics. If there are any famous local specialties, remember to bring some back for Ye Chen and me."

Ma Lan said readily: "Don't worry, Mom will definitely bring some for you."

As she spoke, she added: "Your dad said that the international roaming data for our phones is very expensive, and the mobile network here is slow as hell. Only the hotel's WiFi speed is okay, so don't send us videos for these few days. If you have anything, just send WeChat messages, just text."

Xiao Churan didn't think much and nodded: "Alright, you have fun, be sure to pay attention to safety. Also, be vigilant when you are away from home, and never trust strangers."

Ma Lan said hurriedly: "Don't worry, Mom is considered experienced now, and I will definitely be very, very cautious."

After speaking, she added: "I won't talk to you anymore, daughter. Your dad and I are going out to eat something, and by the way, go shopping at the Dubai Mall!"

"Alright." Xiao Churan smiled: "I wish you a happy time!"

Although Ye Chen didn't speak on the side, he guessed from Ma Lan's deliberate foreshadowing about expensive data and slow speed that Xiao Changkun would likely be back soon.

At this moment, Ye Chen hadn't decided what kind of lesson he should give his father-in-law this time. The scale of this matter could be loose or tight, and the looseness and tightness were all under Ye Chen's control.

If it were loose, he would raise his hand high. After he donated the 300,000, he would let Zhou Liangyun come out in person to "refute a rumor," saying that the matter Zhang Ermao posted on his Moments was a misunderstanding and the whole thing had nothing to do with fraud. In that case, his father-in-law would lose money, but at least his personal reputation and status in the Calligraphy and Painting Association would not be affected.

If it were tight, he would make him pay a greater price. He would only guarantee that he wouldn't be arrested, and leave the rest alone. By then, his reputation would be ruined, and the Calligraphy and Painting Association would definitely be cold.

As for which method to choose, he still had to observe secretly whether his father-in-law had truly repented.

As for which specific method to choose, I still need to secretly observe whether this father-in-law of mine is truly repentant.