Chapter 543

Seeing Hackett hesitate, Su Xinghui said, "Mr. Hackett, this is merely a normal social interaction between friends; there is nothing else to it. If our project does not meet the World Bank's loan standards, feel free to reject it. A single meal cannot influence the approval of such a large project."

Only then did Hackett nod and say, "Very well, then I shall make an exception this time. I would also like to taste the craftsmanship of the chefs at the State Guest House."

Su Xinghui was overjoyed. He said to Hackett, "Mr. Hackett, then I need to call the owner of that private kitchen restaurant and ask her to arrange a table for us. You don't know this, but business at this private kitchen is very good; it requires booking a week in advance. It is only because I know the owner that I can eat there on short notice."

Hackett nodded and said, "Just use the phone on my desk to call."

Su Xinghui then called Yu Ruoqiu. Yu Ruoqiu answered the phone, and upon hearing it was Su Xinghui, she laughed, "What is it, Xinghui? Are you coming to eat at my place this afternoon?"

Su Xinghui said, "Yes, I want to treat Mr. Hackett, the Chief Representative of the World Bank's China Office, to a meal. Please help me arrange a table at your place."

Yu Ruoqiu said without hesitation, "Fine, when are you coming over?"

Su Xinghui said, "We can leave immediately; we should be able to arrive at your place in about half an hour."

Yu Ruoqiu said, "Then I will prepare now."

Su Xinghui said, "There is one more thing. Xiaoya is still at the hotel. Could you please send a car to pick her up and take her to your restaurant as well?"

Yu Ruoqiu said, "Fine, you can rest assured."

After hanging up, Su Xinghui smiled and said to Hackett, "Mr. Hackett, I have already booked it. Can you set off now?"

Hackett stood up and smiled, "Yes, let's go."

Hackett called Su Shanna and had her drive. The three of them drove to Yu Ruoqiu's private kitchen restaurant. In less than half an hour, their car arrived there. Su Xinghui saw that Yu Ruoqiu's car was already parked there; he knew that Yu Ruoqiu must have already picked up Lu Xiaoya.

Su Xinghui knocked on the door, and Manager Wang opened it. Seeing that it was Su Xinghui, she smiled at him, led them inside, and took them to the backyard.

Yu Ruoqiu and Lu Xiaoya were already waiting in the small room in the backyard. Su Xinghui introduced the identities of Hackett and Su Shanna to them. After the two sides exchanged pleasantries, they sat down at the dining table as host and guests.

Su Xinghui asked, "Mr. Hackett, would you like to drink Chinese white spirit, foreign liquor, or beer?"

Hackett said, "I will drink Chinese white spirit. I like white spirit very much."

Su Xinghui said to Yu Ruoqiu, "Ruoqiu, then let's have the twenty-year-old Pengwan Daqu."

Yu Ruoqiu said, "Fine, then I will go down. You all drink and eat slowly; it doesn't matter how late it gets."

Su Xinghui nodded. Yu Ruoqiu greeted Hackett and Su Shanna and then went downstairs. Before long, Manager Wang began to serve the dishes and the liquor.

The dishes Yu Ruoqiu arranged were all signature dishes of the place—labor-intensive dishes that truly tested the chef's skill. Hackett had eaten at quite a few good restaurants in China over the years, but after eating the food here, he still clicked his tongue in wonder, saying himself that he almost swallowed his tongue; it was too delicious.

Hearing Hackett use Chinese idioms and slang so authentically, Su Xinghui gave a thumbs up and said, "Mr. Hackett, you really are a China hand!"

Hackett tasted a few bites of the food and drank a cup of the liquor. Once the liquor entered his mouth, he savored it for a long time, then nodded and said, "Good liquor, good liquor!"

Su Xinghui said, "Mr. Hackett, take a look at the origin of this liquor."

Hackett took the packaging box the liquor came in, looked at it, and said in surprise, "This liquor is produced in your Shangjun County?"

Su Xinghui nodded and said, "Yes."

Hackett said, "Your small county can actually produce such good liquor?"

Su Xinghui said, "Mr. Hackett, China is a magical country. In fact, many good things are produced in small places. Like this liquor, China's famous liquors are basically all produced in small cities. These small cities are famous because of these famous liquors."

Hackett thought about it, and it really was the case; there were not many famous Chinese liquors produced in big cities. He said, "I believe that in the future, your Shangjun County will also be able to become famous because of this Pengwan Daqu."

Su Xinghui said, "There are quite a few other good things in Shangjun County. If you go to Shangjun County, it certainly won't disappoint you."

Hackett said with deep meaning, "With you saying that, I really do want to take a trip to Shangjun County."

Su Xinghui raised his glass and said, "Come, Mr. Hackett, I toast you. You are welcome to visit our Shangjun County!"

Hackett raised his glass and had another drink with Su Xinghui.

This meal was naturally very satisfying for Hackett. It was nearly eight o'clock before the host and guests parted ways, fully satisfied. Su Xinghui saw Hackett and Su Shanna out of the courtyard and shook hands with Hackett, saying, "Mr. Hackett, we will soon be going to the State Planning Commission to run the project for approval. After the project is successfully approved, I hope Mr. Hackett can enter the loan approval process as soon as possible."

Hackett nodded and said, "Good, I will wait for your good news!"

After seeing the two of them off, Su Xinghui returned to the courtyard. Yu Ruoqiu asked, "How did it go? I saw that you were chatting quite well."

Su Xinghui said, "It went alright. Actually, I am not too worried about the loan from them. Our project has very good prospects, and it is a government loan, so the repayment ability is guaranteed, which meets their loan conditions. The key is the issue of project approval."

Yu Ruoqiu said, "Don't worry about the project approval issue. My second brother is not a person who makes promises easily. Since he has made a promise, he will definitely help you get this project through. And I will also do my best to help you."

Su Xinghui said, "Then thank you very much!"

Yu Ruoqiu had Manager Wang drive Su Xinghui and Lu Xiaoya to the hotel. After the two went upstairs, Su Xinghui said to Lu Xiaoya with some apology, "Xiaoya, I'm sorry. I came to Jingcheng with you, but I haven't had time to accompany you out to play. I'm afraid I still have to go out to handle business tomorrow."

Lu Xiaoya said, "It's okay, Xinghui. Sister Ruoqiu told me today that she will accompany me out to play tomorrow. She said she wants to accompany me to see all the places like the Forbidden City and the Great Wall. You just go ahead and handle your business."

Su Xinghui took Lu Xiaoya's hand and said, "Thank you, Xiaoya!"

Lu Xiaoya leaned into Su Xinghui's arms and said, "You still say such things to me."

Su Xinghui kissed Lu Xiaoya's face, and the two kissed passionately again. After a long while, they separated. Su Xinghui smiled and said to Lu Xiaoya, "Xiaoya, I bought a private house by Zhongming Lake."

Lu Xiaoya said in surprise, "Really?"

Looking at Lu Xiaoya's happy appearance, Su Xinghui felt that he had told her this news at the right time.

Originally, Su Xinghui did not plan to tell Lu Xiaoya this news so early. He wanted to wait until the new house was built and renovated before telling Lu Xiaoya, giving her a big surprise. However, he thought again that it would take nearly half a year for the house to be built and renovated, which was too long, and it would only make Lu Xiaoya anxious.

He had long told Lu Xiaoya that he wanted to buy a house as their wedding home. If there was no movement for a long time, Lu Xiaoya would inevitably have wild thoughts. Rather than letting her have wild thoughts for so long in exchange for a momentary surprise, it was better to tell her now.

Su Xinghui smiled and nodded, "Of course it's true. And I also hired someone to tear down the old house in the courtyard and build a brand-new two-story building. When you see it, you will definitely like it very much."

Lu Xiaoya said, "Where did you get the money? Doing this must cost a lot of money, right?"

Su Xinghui said, "A few days ago, I sold a few more paintings and made over a hundred thousand. That is enough to do these things."

Lu Xiaoya happily hugged Su Xinghui and kissed his face. As she kissed him, she said, "Xinghui, I love you so much!"

Su Xinghui hugged Lu Xiaoya back and said, "Xiaoya, I love you too!"

Lu Xiaoya said with a face full of longing, "Next time I go to Shangjun, I must go with you to see that house. I want to see what you build the new house into."

Looking at Lu Xiaoya's cute appearance, Su Xinghui felt his heart was about to melt. What girl doesn't hope to live in a beautiful house with the person she loves in the future?

Su Xinghui said, "Fine, this time when we go back from Jingcheng, let's go to Shangjun County together to see that house. I will show you the design drawings to see if you are satisfied. If you are not satisfied, we will change it according to how you feel satisfied."

Lu Xiaoya nodded repeatedly. This was of course the best. What girl doesn't hope to personally participate in the design of her future wedding home?

Su Xinghui looked at the time and saw it was not early. He said to Lu Xiaoya, "Xiaoya, you should take a bath and rest early. I'm going over to rest too."

Lu Xiaoya nodded, and Su Xinghui got up and returned to his room to take a bath and sleep. Nothing happened overnight.

The next morning, after Su Xinghui got up and washed, the phone in his room rang. He picked up the phone and heard it was Yu Ruizhi. Yu Ruizhi said, "Are you up yet?"

Su Xinghui said, "I'm up."

Yu Ruizhi laughed, "Then wait in your room. Ruoqiu and I will come to pick you up in a while."