Chapter 32: The Youngster and the Old-Timer
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Jiang Fan agreed to let Zhou Hong and the others take the fish out for display in exchange for them helping sell 358 jin of large green fish and 110 jin of silver carp.
He then rode his small electric scooter back home, took a shower, changed clothes, and immediately headed to the restaurant where he had an appointment with Liu Ruyan.
At that moment, in a private room of an upscale restaurant downtown, sat Liu Zhoucheng, Liu Ruyan, and Shen Zhiling.
Liu Zhoucheng looked displeased. “Ruyan, is everything Zhiling said true? That kid Jiang Fan is a good-for-nothing punk, lying around at home every day, living off you? And you even cook and wash dishes for him...”
Liu Ruyan shot Shen Zhiling a sharp glare before explaining, “Dad, Jiang Fan isn’t a punk. He and I graduated from the same university.”
Liu Zhoucheng frowned. “Then his education should be decent. Why isn’t he out working but just lazing around at home?”
“Dad, he just quit his job and is looking for one,” Liu Ruyan explained.
Shen Zhiling promptly interrupted, “Nonsense! He wasn’t just quitting; he got fired. And he’s been at home for almost two years now!”
“Not only does he show no sign of job hunting, he spends all day fishing. Such a man is utterly unreliable!”
Liu Ruyan frowned deeply. “Zhiling! Stop talking nonsense!”
Liu Zhoucheng knit his brows. “Zhiling, you say the punk doesn’t look for work and just fishes every day?”
Zhiling, seeing Liu Zhoucheng’s interest, smiled smugly. “Yes, every day going fishing. Every time I go, I never see him!”
Liu Ruyan retorted, “He doesn’t fish every day. He… sometimes stays at home…”
Shen Zhiling rolled her eyes and continued, “See? Even you admit he’s only occasionally at home.”
“Ruyan, you’re too naive. A man like that surely has problems. He’ll cheat first and then disappear, turning you into the forgotten her!”
“Stop defending him.”
“It’s not as bad as you say!” Liu Ruyan protested earnestly.
“Enough! If that punk marries my daughter and is so irresponsible, I’ll give him a proper lesson later,” Liu Zhoucheng interrupted, waving his hand.
Just then, the private room door opened, and Jiang Fan walked in carrying two bottles of Moutai and a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes.
Shen Zhiling beamed, “Uncle Liu, here he is!”
Liu Ruyan immediately stood up and linked arms with Jiang Fan.
“Dad, this is Jiang Fan… Jiang Fan, say hello to my dad.”
It was Jiang Fan’s first time meeting Liu Zhoucheng.
He saw Liu Zhoucheng sitting in a chair, dignified and composed, radiating an aura of seasoned business acumen.
“Hello, sir.”
“I brought you a little gift.”
Jiang Fan smiled, placing the two bottles of Moutai and the cigarettes on the table.
Seeing this, Shen Zhiling sneered sarcastically, “Oh, Moutai and Hua Zi? Paid for with Ruyan’s money, right?”
Jiang Fan glanced at her, “Anyway, not from you.”
“Tch!” Shen Zhiling rolled her eyes.
Liu Zhoucheng showed no expression and gestured, “Xiao Deng, sit down.”
“…” Jiang Fan was puzzled but took a seat.
Xiao Deng??? This old Deng really knows how to coin nicknames!
Soon, Liu Zhoucheng ordered a table full of delicious dishes, opened one of the Moutai bottles Jiang Fan brought, poured himself a glass, then poured one for Jiang Fan.
“Xiao Deng, can you drink?”
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“Yes, but just a little.”
A fisherman drinks cautiously; too much would ruin the next day’s fishing.
“That’s good. I’d like to drink less too, but my work requires it. Over time, I’ve come to enjoy it. Let’s have a few drinks today, no problem?”
“No problem.”
Liu Ruyan’s eyes narrowed. “Dad, you can drink, but Jiang Fan can’t. Don’t force him, please.”
Jiang Fan smiled, “Honey, just a few drinks, no big deal.”
Then… Jiang Fan drank more than half the bottle, his face flushing red.
From his initial reserve, he now called Liu Zhoucheng “Old Deng” outright.
“Old Deng, I’m not bragging, but in the entire Yuanshan Town, if I say I’m second in drinking capacity, no one dares claim first!”
“Hahaha, really? I can see that…”
Liu Zhoucheng had also drunk more than half a bottle but remained perfectly composed, showing no reaction at all.
Seeing Jiang Fan babbling nonsense, Liu Ruyan pinched him.
“Dad, Jiang Fan is drunk. Let’s stop here today. I’ll take him home.”
Liu Zhoucheng waved his hand. “Why go? You’ve eaten and drunk. I haven’t even asked any questions yet. Let’s finish the talk before leaving.”
Liu Ruyan suddenly sensed trouble.
Sure enough, her father was an old fox in the business world, planning to get Jiang Fan drunk before interrogating him!
They say people reveal the truth when drunk; this time it could be serious trouble!
While Liu Ruyan worried about Jiang Fan’s loose tongue, Shen Zhiling was ecstatic.
Heh heh, Jiang Fan, let’s see how you handle Uncle Liu this time!
Liu Zhoucheng looked at Jiang Fan, saying, “No beating around the bush, Xiao Deng, I know everything about you.”
“I hear you have no money, no job, and like to freeload?”
Jiang Fan nodded, “Yeah, I like freeloading off my wife, and I also like freeloading off my wife’s…”
Liu Ruyan quickly covered Jiang Fan’s mouth, blushing. “Dad, Jiang Fan is drunk. Don’t listen to his nonsense. He’s not a freeloader.”
Liu Zhoucheng waved Liu Ruyan off, signaling her to be quiet.
After a pause, he continued, “How did you meet my daughter?”
Jiang Fan spoke at length, “Haha, it’s a long story, with romance and all, but basically I fell for her looks; she liked my looks and my 20…”
Liu Ruyan covered Jiang Fan’s mouth again.
“…”
Liu Zhoucheng clapped his hands. “Good, good, straightforward, no beating around the bush. A direct man!”
Then he asked, “How much dowry did you pay when marrying my daughter?”
Liu Ruyan, “188,000.”
Jiang Fan, “No money.”
Seeing them answer in unison and Liu Ruyan’s embarrassed expression, Liu Zhoucheng knew exactly what was going on.
“So no dowry, huh? Good, very good, beautiful and independent! I like that! Awesome PLUS!”
Liu Ruyan explained, “Dad, Jiang Fan and I truly love each other. How can money measure our feelings?”
“Don’t say another word,” Liu Zhoucheng interrupted.
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Then he turned to Jiang Fan and asked, “Do you have a house?”
“An old district self-built house left by my parents — no shared area, no property management — but it gets a bit hot in summer.”
“Any car?”
“One two-wheeled new energy vehicle — economical, environmentally friendly, a civilized little treasure.”
“...So, just a no-job, no-house, no-car punk?”
Liu Ruyan, “Dad, Jiang Fan is not a punk.”
Liu Zhoucheng, “Don’t say anything.”
Liu Ruyan, “...”
He kept looking at Jiang Fan. “You’ve been home for almost two years. No plans to find a job?”
Jiang Fan waved his hand, drunk and candid, “To be honest, no plans.”
“666!” Liu Zhoucheng gave a thumbs-up.
Liu Ruyan said, “Dad, actually Jiang Fan is looking.”
“Don’t say anything,” Liu Zhoucheng warned.
“...”
Liu Zhoucheng continued, “Do you really love my daughter?”
Jiang Fan patted his chest, “I can’t speak for others, but this I’m sure about!”
“Come, Ruyan, give me a kiss so Old Deng can see!”
Saying this, Jiang Fan kissed Liu Ruyan right in front of Liu Zhoucheng and Shen Zhiling, the feeling indescribably wonderful.
But Liu Ruyan had no mood for it, sensing her father was about to explode!
This time it was really over — truly over!
Did she not know her father’s character?
He was a man who wouldn’t tolerate even a speck of sand!
There was no way he would allow her to continue being with Jiang Fan!
Sure enough... when she looked at her father, Liu Zhoucheng’s face was dark as night!
Then he took out a bank card and placed it in front of Jiang Fan.
“Xiao Deng, this card has two million yuan… I’ll give you two choices: first, take the money and leave my daughter; second, take the money and within one year give me a grandchild!”
Liu Ruyan: (°ο°)
Shen Zhiling: (OＡO川)
Jiang Fan: (=′ー`)
“I said, did you hear me?!”
Liu Zhoucheng frowned. “Xiao Deng! Are you hard of hearing?! Don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink! If you hear me, answer!”
Liu Ruyan, “I heard, I heard. Jiang Fan heard too. But Dad, you’re not drunk, are you?”