Chapter 889: The Vice Mayor Arrives

After sitting down, Hou Guangbi said, "Mr. Su, this time I was able to fulfill my wish and return to my hometown, all thanks to you!"

Su Xinghui said, "Elder Hou, you overstate it. I just did a small favor!"

Hou Guangbi said, "I heard from Dali that our Hou family's old residence was originally occupied by others, and it was you, Mr. Su, who helped our Hou family get the old residence back. Our Hou family is also very grateful for this."

Su Xinghui said, "Elder Hou, please don't say that. The old residence was originally the Hou family's property. Returning it to your Hou family is only right and proper."

Hou Guangbi shook his head. "You can't say that. Our Hou family left our hometown forty-five years ago and went far away. We were so terrified that we never thought we could return to our native land, let alone hope to see Zhuangyuan Lane and our family's old residence. If we don't thank you for today, who else can we thank?"

Seeing that Su Xinghui still wanted to speak, Hou Guangbi raised his hand and pressed it down, signaling Su Xinghui 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 told 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 mood when I saw this painting at that time. When I saw this painting, I thought I was dreaming. I pinched myself several times to confirm I wasn't dreaming. At that time, I took out money and bought this painting."

Speaking of this, Hou Guangbi's eyes were filled with tears. Su Xinghui was silent; he understood Hou Guangbi's mood very well, 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. In the past two years, I accidentally discovered that there were some Chinese artworks for sale in Joao's gallery, so I often went there to take a look. Sometimes I would buy one or two, and I would also ask him about the situation in the country. However, no matter what, I didn't have the courage to return to the country."

Hou Guangbi shook his head and continued, "It wasn't until that time that I saw this painting. At first, I didn't believe my eyes, and then I was ecstatic. After buying this painting, I asked Joao who painted it, and Joao told me your name. 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 tell me your contact information."

"That period of time was truly like a year for me. After waiting for several months, Joao finally gave me your contact information. As soon as I returned home, I called you, and then I got the news from Dali. Until today, I finally returned to my native land, returned to my native land..."

Speaking of this, Hou Guangbi couldn't go on. His tears were already streaming down. He stood up and bowed straight 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're so old!"

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, "Elder Hou, let's not do this today. Doing so makes me too terrified!"

Hou Guangbi nodded. "Fine, since you said 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? Wasn't it just to complete the task assigned by the county, 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 they would certainly demand returns for their investment. If they felt that investing in Jiangcheng was better than in Shangjun County, Su Xinghui wouldn't be shameless and use his favor to demand it.

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

Hou Dali asked, "Xinghui, what's going on with these people from the Jiangcheng Municipal Government today?"

Su Xinghui said, "Did they treat Elder Hou rudely today?"

Hou Guangbi shook his head. "Rudeness, no. When they appeared outside the airport, holding a big sign welcoming the French Hou family, we thought it was you who sent people to pick us up, so we walked toward them. As a result, they used both soft and hard tactics to get us into the cars they drove and brought us here. But they have always treated us with courtesy, just a bit too enthusiastic, insisting that we play in Jiangcheng for a few days."

Hou Dali said, "We said my third uncle hadn't been home for decades and we had to rush back to Shangjun County, but they said Jiangcheng was my third uncle's second hometown and wanted my third uncle to play here for a few more days so they could entertain us well."

Speaking of this, Hou Dali explained that it turned out Hou Guangbi had served as a senator of the Hudong Provincial Government of the Kuomintang 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 and used as a reason, saying Jiangcheng was Hou Guangbi's second hometown. Come to think of it, they had put in quite a lot of effort.

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

Hou Dali sighed. "Sigh, come to think of it, it's my fault. My eldest son Hou Wenyong's wife, that is, my daughter-in-law's classmate, is a person from the Jiangcheng Investment Promotion Office. When she was eating with this classmate, she mentioned Hou Wenyong going to France. When others asked, they asked when we were returning to Jiangcheng."

Su Xinghui nodded. "So that's how it is. Then I understand." ===== CHAPTER 891 =====