Chapter 188: Chapter 187: Reception Duty

Ling Chengyan naturally knew about Xiaoyu’s background and origin, but she had never mentioned it to anyone.

Upon hearing Zheng Xiaotian talk like this, she simply smiled. Zheng Xiaotian, being clever, didn’t ask further and changed the topic with a smile.

It was the first time Wang Liansheng came home late; it was nearly nine o’clock when he returned, carrying a bit of alcohol smell as he entered the house.

The older children had already been sent to their rooms to sleep, and little Shi Tou was also coaxed to sleep. Ling Chengyan, hearing the noise, stepped outside just in time to see Wang Liansheng parking his bicycle in the porch and turning to close the door.

Seeing his actions were steady and his mind clear, Ling Chengyan thought he hadn’t drunk too much but still asked, “Shall I make you a bowl of sobering soup?”

Wang Liansheng was in a good mood, smiling as he waved his hand. “No need, just a glass of water will do for me.”

While saying this, he stumbled a step.

Ling Chengyan reached out to steady him, noting his overly bright smile, only then realizing he was a bit tipsy.

She led him to sit by the small table in the courtyard, then went to the kitchen to pour a glass of water for him. Watching him drink it in one gulp, she poured another and left it on the table.

She turned and opened the sealed stove, putting on a kettle of water to boil.

“Come, let me tell you,” Wang Liansheng cheerfully beckoned Ling Chengyan to sit by the table and said with a smile, “Do you know what I did today? Yes, that’s right, I met an old overseas Chinese returned from Hong Kong, who had been in the United States before…”

Ling Chengyan had traveled extensively to the Southeast Coast and was somewhat connected to it due to the purchasing of goods, so she had heard plenty of legends about Hong Kong—golden paradise, heaven on earth, and the likes, which many fellow countrymen yearned for.

The United States was similar, with many people in recent years figuring out ways to go abroad, to chase that elusive splendor across the ocean.

But it was Ling Chengyan’s first time actually encountering, or to be accurate, indirectly encountering someone from the United States and Hong Kong, and she couldn’t help but be curious.

Especially someone whom the officials made special arrangements to host, made Ling Chengyan wonder if besides being a returning overseas Chinese, the person held another identity?

Just then, Wang Liansheng said with a smile, “Apparently, this Mr. Lian is a tycoon and a patriot; he aims to invest in construction after returning…”

At this point, Wang Liansheng paused, took up the glass to drink some water.

Seeing him put down the glass, Ling Chengyan asked, “Do you want more?”

Wang Liansheng chuckled and waved his hand, saying, “They always talked about opulence, but seeing it today, I realized how shallow the books I read were. The old gentleman was fine, but his grandchildren, who came along, are quite particular; even the water they drink was specially brought over.”

Ling Chengyan laughed and shook her head, “Our tap water here isn’t particularly pleasant. However, the mountain spring water from when we trained in the mountains a while back was quite good.”

“No, they refused to drink water that hadn’t been tested,” Wang Liansheng sighed and shook his head, showing neither obvious envy nor clear resentment, merely sharing something interesting with Ling Chengyan.

Seeing him getting sleepy under the influence of alcohol, Ling Chengyan got up to bring some hot water, mixed it for him to wash his face and hands, and gave him slippers to rinse his feet. Only then did they go inside to rest together.

The next morning when Ling Chengyan woke up, Wang Liansheng was already up.

Stepping outside, she saw him squatting by the faucet washing clothes, the clothes he wore the night before last.

“Why not sleep a bit more?” Ling Chengyan asked with a yawn, “Is the hangover gone? No more discomfort?”

“I’m fine,” Wang Liansheng replied, smiling shyly and shaking his head, continuing, “Last night there were many people, and I accidentally drank a couple extra cups…”

Ling Chengyan wasn’t particularly against men drinking, perhaps because her father and brothers in her past life were good drinkers.

Seeing her silent, Wang Liansheng got a bit anxious and quickly added, “Don’t be mad, I won’t drink again after this… ”

But suddenly, Ling Chengyan smiled brightly and said, “Do you know you went crazy after drinking last night?”

“Huh?” Wang Liansheng looked stunned, and then quickly asked, “Really? What, what did I do?”

Ling Chengyan, however, simply shook her head with a smile and went to the kitchen to grab a thermos and basket, saying, “No need to cook, this morning we’ll have deep-fried dough sticks and soy milk, I’ll go buy them.”

The whole day, Wang Liansheng tried to remember what he might have done or said wrongly after getting drunk the previous night but no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t recall a thing.

Feeling frustrated, he slapped his forehead twice, took his bag, planning to leave work early, buy some good food, and make amends at home.

But unexpectedly, just as he was leaving, his leader called him, “Section Chief Wang, wait a minute. Tonight, the reception team is organizing a movie viewing to invite our distinguished guests. I saw you had quite a good chat with Old Mr. Lian last night, please join us tonight.”

Quickly, Wang Liansheng stepped forward to explain, “Leader, my wife is on a business trip, there’s no one to take care of the kids… Could you perhaps find someone else…”

“Comrade Xiao Wang,” someone called him with a somewhat peculiar accent.

Both the leader and Wang Liansheng turned to see a tall woman in a bright red dress, walking over with a smile as beautiful as a flower, saying, “Comrade Wang Liansheng, right? I’m Jenny, here to convey a message on behalf of the old man, inviting Comrade Wang to join us for dinner tonight, and then to watch a movie together. The old man says, although Comrade Wang is young, he is knowledgeable and engaging, an intergenerational friendship!”

The leader was very pleased, turned back to give Wang a glance, quickly agreeing before Wang Liansheng could say anything, “No problem, no problem at all. Our Section Chief Wang will be there in no time…”

“Since Section Chief Wang has agreed to the invitation, there’s no need to delay. I drove here, I’ll take Mr. Wang over,” Jenny smiled charmingly, her eyes filled with pride and indifference.

The leader directly nudged Wang Liansheng, “Alright, it would be a great help from Miss Jenny.”

Then turned back grinning after watching them leave, pleased to see a good connection, thinking that with a good connection, the investment from the old overseas Chinese would surely come through, and they would earn significant recognition.

Ling Chengyan didn’t go on trips anymore, nor did she train outside, her off-duty time was quite regular.

She first picked up little Wang Wenzhang, and when they got home, Hongling almost had dinner ready.

Ling Chengyan looked around, didn’t see Wang Liansheng’s bicycle, and asked, “Your uncle hasn’t come back yet?”

Hongling shook her head, “Not yet, maybe he got held up by something.”

Ever since Hongling came to live with the fourth uncle’s family, he almost always got off work on time, except for special circumstances like last night.

Ling Chengyan poured a glass of water for little Wang Wenzhang, let him sit on a stool to drink, and while rolling up her sleeves to enter the kitchen, said, “Don’t rush to do these, make the most of your time to study more, the exams are just a few months away, strive to seize this opportunity.”

Hongling shook her head with a smile, as she lifted the dishes out of the pot, saying, “I studied for half the afternoon and got a headache, cooking is actually a good way to relax, don’t worry about me, auntie.”

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