Chapter 2410: Chapter 1525: Zhou Xingchi’s Movies (2)
"Let’s have a drink, just the two of us."
"Cheers!"
At the dinner table, Zhang Zhongquan didn’t notice the father and son’s whispering, all his attention was on Jiang Chen.
This kid.
Say what you will.
His way with words really isn’t bad.
Or rather.
The Fang Family’s girl did a great job brainwashing him.
To put it more bluntly.
He’s basically been trained into a total simp.
Even though Zhang Zhongquan is scared of his wife, he despises simps, feels ashamed to be lumped together with them. What’s there to talk about with a simp?
Just drink.
He raised his glass to Jiang Chen. "Mm, you’re absolutely right, so you’d better cherish her. Once you miss out on Qing Qing, you’ll never meet such a good girl again."
"If I miss out on Qing Qing, there’s still Rui Rui, Qian Qian, Sisi... Uncle Fang, you flatter me."
Fang Qing finally opened her mouth.
Zhang Zhongquan was caught off guard, didn’t understand what was going on, so he could only grin stupidly.
But Jiang Chen’s heart was pounding as he listened.
Rui Rui, Qian Qian, Sisi...
Fortunately she didn’t mention Xi Xi or Zhi Zhi.
No, wait.
How could there possibly be a Zhi Zhi.
Still, it was enough to make him squirm in his seat, cold sweat breaking out on his back.
Qing Gege looked like she was sitting back and watching the show from on high, but in reality she saw everything as clear as fire, heart like a bright mirror!
"Uncle, drink."
Jiang Chen raised his glass, not bothering to haggle over old grudges anymore.
"Drink, drink."
Stupidly grinning Zhang Zhongquan of course felt nothing, but that one word "uncle" falling into everyone else’s ears stirred up mixed feelings.
Thinking of the hardships and mud this child had trudged through growing up, Jiang Huazi couldn’t help but feel her eyes redden.
The liquor in the bottle kept going down.
In its place, drunkenness crawled up across the men’s faces.
The most enthusiastic of them, Zhang Zhongquan, was getting pretty drunk. Once a man drinks too much, it’s easy for his true thoughts to spill out.
"Sis, about that apartment of Jiang Chen’s, are you guys still going to keep it or not? If not, just transfer it to me. I’ll buy it for three hundred thousand."
"Three hundred thousand? You have that much money?"
"I don’t now, but once I return that other apartment, won’t I have it then?"
Well damn.
The abacus is clacking loud and clear.
They’d just barely managed to ease things up, the nephew maybe wasn’t that hung up anymore, and he immediately starts calculating again.
Jiang Huazi really hated that he wouldn’t live up to expectations.
"Three hundred thousand? You’re daydreaming! Sanjian Courtyard is getting torn down this year. When it’s relocated to Bibo Road, what the hell is your three hundred thousand worth!"
Zhang Zhongquan’s sense of shame was never much to begin with, and now with alcohol diluting it, even when his cousin exposed his scheme, he didn’t mind at all.
"Anyway, Jiang Chen’s so rich now, isn’t one apartment pretty much nothing to him? Sell it to me, his uncle, a bit cheap—what’s wrong with that?"
"Heh. Now you remember you’re his uncle? Don’t you think it’s a little late? When that kid needed his family, where were you?"
"Sis, there’s no point bringing up the past."
"If you want shade, you have to plant your own tree. Don’t say you’re just his cousin-uncle, even if he were your own son, if you didn’t raise him, he has no obligation to take care of you!"
"Huazi, what you just said is absolutely right."
Fang Weiguo was also halfway drunk. He picked up the thread, "Zhongquan, just stop thinking about that apartment. That’s the only inheritance Old Jiang left to Jiang Chen. Even if he agreed to give it to you, I wouldn’t agree."
"Brother Fang, I’m not asking for it for free, I’m paying. How about four hundred thousand?"
"No amount will do!"
With the alcohol in him, Fang Weiguo spoke firmly. "Even if Sanjian Courtyard gets torn down and moved to Bibo Road, our two families will still be neighbors."
So that’s how it is.
Realization dawned on Zhang Zhongquan, then he flushed bright red and laughed. "Brother Fang, Qing Qing already has a boyfriend, and you still want them living across the hall. Don’t you feel awkward? Wouldn’t it be better if I moved in instead?"
"Awkward how? Even if their generation doesn’t have that kind of fate, the kids they have in the future might!"
"Dad!"
So he’s planning to keep the child-bridal betrothal tradition going?
"Don’t mind him, he’s drunk."
Pan Hui hurriedly tugged at him.
Jiang Chen lowered his eyes to his nose, his nose to his heart.
"I’m not drunk."
Fang Weiguo said, "If he’s got the guts, that brat Jiang Chen can just never come back here again. Otherwise, we’ll see who feels awkward when the time comes."
Jiang Huazi and her husband exchanged looks.
Mm.
You could say he was almost drunk, but definitely not wasted.
Otherwise, why bother talking in third person? That stinky brat he’s talking about is sitting right here.
"Jiang, you don’t mind, right?"
Having said that, Fang Weiguo actually turned to look at Jiang Chen.
Double meaning, right there!
Hong Xiaoyu’s own head wasn’t too clear. He’d stopped drinking after finishing one more glass and had hit his limit, but right now he was still in awe.
He used to think Uncle Fang was just an ordinary working man, but now it seemed, the older the ginger, the spicier it really is!
"Of course I don’t mind."
Jiang Chen forced a smile, swallowing his words along with his bitterness.
"Then it’s settled. No matter what happens with you two in the future, you must have a son, to make up for the losses my girl’s taken."
"Dad!"
Fang Qing almost shot to her feet, but someone yanked her back. "Calm down. Uncle Fang’s drunk."
"Hahaha, Brother Fang, I’m with you on this! If they can’t have a son the first time, then a second kid, a third kid. Anyway the policy’s loosened now, they can go all out..."
Completely riled up, Zhang Zhongquan shouted with loud laughter.
"Shut up!"
Jiang Huazi snapped at him.
"I’ll take him to lie down for a bit. You all go ahead and eat."
Pan Hui forcibly dragged Fang Weiguo away from the table, muttering under her breath, "You trying to get yourself killed or what! What kind of drunk nonsense is that!"
"So Brother Fang’s afraid of his wife too." Zhang Zhongquan laughed till he could hardly breathe.
"Get him out of here."
Jiang Huazi instructed her husband.
Hong Ou still held his liquor pretty well. As the host, he obviously had to stay sober. With everyone drinking like this, it was about time to wrap up anyway. He supported Zhang Zhongquan to his feet.
"If you don’t leave now, your sister’s going to blow up."
"Let her blow up." Zhang Zhongquan waved a hand and shouted at Jiang Chen, "Kid, remember this, you can’t spoil women too much. When you need to be tough, you gotta be tough..."
"You’re really asking to die!"
Unable to stand it anymore, Jiang Huazi kicked him.
Hong Ou dragged him away.
Good.
Instant peace.
There were only the younger ones left at the table.
"I’ll clear these bowls first. Qing Qing, no rush, you guys take your time eating."
Jiang Huazi smoothed her hair and smiled casually, starting to clean up.
"Mom, I’ll help you."
"Help what, help. You sit with your brother and sister for a bit."
Hong Xiaoyu wanted to escape, but there was no escape.
"Sister Pan, I’ll pour Brother Fang some water."
They’re doomed.
His mom was gone too.
"This duck head is really good. Why aren’t you eating?"
Jiang Chen spoke lightly. Whether it was because he could hold his liquor or because he held grudges, he actually hadn’t forgotten his cousin’s earlier kick-him-while-he’s-down routine.
"Bro, I’m full, I can’t eat anymore."
Hong Xiaoyu gave an awkward smile. "Just now, I was just cooperating with Uncle Fang in his act. Didn’t I act well? Right, Sister Fang Qing?"
He hurried to pull in an ally, a savior.
Fang Qing really was loyal; she immediately stood up for him. "If you don’t want to eat, you don’t have to. Why are you blaming Xiaoyu?"
"Sister Fang Qing, that’s not what my brother meant."
It really did put this little brother in a tough spot, having to maneuver between both sides. "Bro was eating with great gusto just now. Anything Sister Fang Qing eats is definitely delicious to him!"
Black lines popped up on Jiang Chen’s forehead—like a crow was flying over the dining room.
Definitely not because of the alcohol.
It’s just that this kid’s skill level was always this bad.
If you don’t know how to smooth things over, then don’t talk nonsense, okay!
Of course.
A well-meant effort shouldn’t be nitpicked.
"You’ve been wronged."
He pulled a napkin from the table.
"No. You’re the one who’s been wronged."
"I don’t feel wronged. You’re the pride of Sha City. Being your boyfriend is an honor for me."
Jiang Chen wiped his mouth as he spoke, expression serious, perfectly straight-faced.
"You’re the pride of the nation, a pillar of our people. Being your girlfriend is a glory for me."
Tsk.
They’re being polite now.
Still.
What a perfect closing line.
"So, should we shake hands?"
Jiang Chen slightly raised his hand in a gesture.
Fang Qing smiled. "My hands are greasy."
Hong Xiaoyu sprang into action, jumping up and yanking out a bunch of napkins, and in the middle of the hustle he turned his head and asked:
"Bro, Sister Fang Qing, so how many kids are you planning to have?"
The "couple" turned their heads at the same time and spoke in unison.
"Shut up!"
