Chapter 509

Cheng Han never expected that someone from a county below would dare to speak to him like that. He looked at Su Xinghui’s age—barely over twenty—and his rank shouldn’t exceed deputy section level. Jiangcheng was a sub-provincial city, and their Investment Promotion Office was a deputy department-level unit. He, as a deputy director, was a solid department-level official. Not to mention the huge gap between Jiangcheng and the county, his father-in-law was the Deputy Secretary of the Jiangcheng Municipal Committee.

Cheng Han gritted his teeth. “You dare speak to me like that?”

Su Xinghui smiled indifferently and ignored him. If Hou Dali hadn’t heard the shout he just made, he wouldn’t mind shouting again.

Fortunately, another door opened, and the person poking his head out was none other than Hou Dali. He had heard Su Xinghui’s shout and opened the door.

Hou Dali saw Su Xinghui and smiled. “Xinghui is here. Come, come, my third uncle is waiting for you.”

Hearing Hou Dali’s words, Cheng Han’s face looked even worse. He squeezed out a smile. “Mr. Hou, did we disturb your rest? I’m really sorry. We’ll drive this person away immediately. Please rest well.”

Hou Dali said, “Director Xiao, why are you driving him away? This is my nephew, and my third uncle is waiting to see him.”

Su Xinghui and Lu Xiaoya strode toward the room Hou Dali had come out of. Cheng Han and Zhang Chenxi were angry and anxious, but they lacked the talent for crisis management; facing such a sudden situation, they didn’t know what to do.

Cheng Han couldn’t block Su Xinghui’s path. In his anxiety, he followed behind Su Xinghui, wanting to enter the room with him. However, Hou Dali stretched out his right hand and blocked him outside. “Sorry, Mr. Cheng, my third uncle only wants to see him alone right now. Please wait outside.”

Cheng Han felt he had lost face, but in front of Hou Dali, he didn’t dare put on any airs. He stood awkwardly outside the door, watching Su Xinghui and Lu Xiaoya enter the room. Hou Dali closed the door, locking him out.

Cheng Han still wanted to eavesdrop on what was being said inside. He pressed his ear against the door, but it was clearly in vain. The soundproofing of high-end hotel doors was very good; he couldn’t hear anything.

Su Xinghui entered the room and saw a white-haired old man standing in the center, looking at him with a smile. This old man looked to be in his seventies, but his spirit was good, and his presence was strong. Although there were several other people in the room, he stood there, immediately attracting all of Su Xinghui’s attention.

Hou Dali said to him, “Third Uncle, this is Mr. Su Xinghui.”

After finishing, Hou Dali said to Su Xinghui, “Xinghui, this is my third uncle, Hou Guangbi.”

Su Xinghui stretched out his right hand to Hou Guangbi. “Old Mr. Hou, hello, I am Su Xinghui!”

Hou Guangbi shook his hand with a smile. Su Xinghui introduced Lu Xiaoya to Hou Guangbi. “Old Mr. Hou, this is my girlfriend, Lu Xiaoya.”

Lu Xiaoya also shook hands with Hou Guangbi.

Hou Dali introduced the identities of the other people in the room to Su Xinghui. They were Hou Dali’s older brother, Hou my lord, and Hou Guangbi’s two sons. After shaking hands, they sat down as guests and hosts.

After sitting down, Hou Guangbi said, “Mr. Su, I owe it all to you that I was able to fulfill my wish and return to my hometown this time!”

Su Xinghui said, “Old Mr. Hou, you are too kind. It was just a small effort on my part!”

Hou Guangbi said, “I heard from Dali that our Hou family’s old residence was occupied by others, and it was you, Mr. Su, who helped us get it back. Our Hou family is deeply grateful for this.”

Su Xinghui said, “Old Mr. Hou, please don’t say that. The old residence was originally the Hou family’s property. Returning it to you is only right and proper.”

Hou Guangbi shook his head. “You can’t say that. Our Hou family left our home forty-five years ago, wandering far away. We were so fearful that we never thought we could return to our homeland, let alone dream of seeing Zhuangyuan Lane or our family’s old residence. If we don’t thank you for today, who else could we thank?”

Seeing Su Xinghui about to speak, Hou Guangbi raised his hand to press down, signaling him not to speak. He said to his second son, Hou Dajun, “Dajun, take out that painting.”

Hou Dajun took a painting out of a box as instructed and held it up to Hou Guangbi. Hou Guangbi unfolded the painting for everyone to see. He said to Su Xinghui, “Mr. Su, you might not understand my feelings when I saw this painting. At that time, I thought I was dreaming. I pinched myself several times to confirm I wasn’t. I immediately took out money and bought this painting.”

Speaking of this, Hou Guangbi was in tears. Su Xinghui was silent; he understood Hou Guangbi’s feelings, but he didn’t know how to comfort this old man.

Hou Guangbi said, “I haven’t returned to the country for more than forty years. Two years ago, I accidentally discovered that there were some Chinese artworks for sale in Joao’s gallery. I often went there to take a look, sometimes buying one or two, and would ask him about the situation in China. However, no matter what, I didn’t have the courage to return.”

Hou Guangbi shook his head and continued, “It wasn’t until I saw this painting that I didn’t believe my eyes at first, and then I was overjoyed. After buying it, I asked Joao who painted it. Joao told me your name, and I asked him for your contact information. But he wouldn’t tell me, saying he would ask for your opinion next time he came to China to see if he could give it to me.”

“That period was like years for me. After waiting for several months, Joao finally gave me your contact information. As soon as I got home, I called you, and then I got the news from Dali. Until today, I finally returned to my homeland, returned to my homeland…”

Speaking of this, Hou Guangbi couldn’t go on. His tears were streaming down. He stood up and bowed squarely to Su Xinghui.

Su Xinghui never expected Hou Guangbi to do this. He was shocked and stood up to support Hou Guangbi, barely preventing him from completing the bow. He said, “You mustn’t, you mustn’t! You are at such an advanced age!”

Hou Guangbi said, “Mr. Su has done such a great favor; it is only right for this old man to bow to you. Since you won’t let me bow, then fine, Dayi, you bow to Mr. Su on my behalf.”

Hou Dayi was Hou Guangbi’s eldest son. Hearing his father’s words, he stood up to bow to Su Xinghui, but he was also stopped by Su Xinghui. Su Xinghui said, “Old Mr. Hou, let’s not do this today. It makes me feel too terrified!”

Hou Guangbi nodded. “Fine, since you say no bowing, then no bowing. However, Mr. Su, whatever you ask for, the Hou family will not refuse!”

Su Xinghui just smiled faintly and didn’t say anything. What could he ask for? It was just to complete the task assigned by the county and let the Hou family return to Shangjun as soon as possible. If the Hou family was willing to invest in Shangjun County, that would be even better. However, the Hou family were also capitalists, and their investment would certainly require a return. If they felt that investing in Jiangcheng was better than in Shangjun County, Su Xinghui wouldn’t be shameless and use his favor to force them.

However, the Jiangcheng Investment Promotion Office was so despicable, and there were his enemies inside. Su Xinghui would naturally do his best and wouldn’t let those scoundrels succeed so easily.

Hou Dali asked, “Xinghui, what’s going on with these people from the Jiangcheng Municipal Government today?”

Su Xinghui asked, “Did they treat Old Mr. Hou rudely today?”

Hou Guangbi shook his head. “Not rude. When they appeared outside the airport holding a big sign welcoming the French Hou family, we thought you had sent someone to pick us up, so we walked toward them. As a result, they tricked us into their cars and brought us here. But they have always treated us with courtesy; it’s just that they were a bit too enthusiastic and insisted we play in Jiangcheng for a few days.”

Hou Dali said, “We said my third uncle hadn’t been home for decades and needed to rush back to Shangjun County, but they said Jiangcheng was my third uncle’s second hometown and wanted him to play here for a few more days so they could entertain him well.”

Speaking of this, Hou Dali explained that Hou Guangbi had served as a consultant for the Kuomintang Hudong Provincial Government for a few years before liberation and had lived in Jiangcheng for two years. He didn’t expect this history to be dug up by these people as a reason, saying Jiangcheng was Hou Guangbi’s second hometown. They had put in quite a bit of effort.

Su Xinghui asked, “Uncle Hou, do you know how they knew you were arriving in Jiangcheng today?”

Hou Dali sighed. “Sigh, it’s my fault. My eldest son Hou Wenyong’s wife—my daughter-in-law’s classmate—is someone from the Jiangcheng Investment Promotion Office. When she was having a meal with her classmate, she mentioned Wenyong going to France. Once they pressed, they found out when we were returning to Jiangcheng.”

Su Xinghui nodded. “So that’s how it is. Then I understand.”