From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor

Chapter 687 - 657: Reminiscing the Past

Yu Li said, "Chunliang, I’ve already contacted Su Qing. She’s coming a day earlier, and she’s bringing Ma Xi to co-host the wedding. Can you ask her how much we should give as a private red envelope?"Xu Chunliang said, "Su Qing is helping out as a favor and isn’t charging any money. Ma Xi is someone she invited. I’ll check back with them."

Lu Qi said, "That won’t do. Even between brothers, we should be clear about money matters. Su Qing is coming all the way from Nanjiang, we should show some gratitude."

Xu Chunliang replied, "It’s not just for my sake that she’s coming. Didn’t you help her with the situation about her missing dad? She’s coming to return the favor."

Speaking of this, Lu Qi felt a bit embarrassed. Su Tianyu had been missing for so long, and they hadn’t found any useful clues. He hadn’t been much help to Su Qing.

Lu Ming said, "I know Ma Xi. He probably doesn’t know our brotherly relationship." Lu Ming is in charge of network security in Dongzhou City and frequently interacts with the city’s various publicity departments. Not only Ma Xi, but even the TV station director would be very polite to him.

The more it was like this, the more cautious Lu Ming was. He tried to avoid using his position to seek convenience for his brother, and Lu Qi also didn’t agree with doing so.

Qiu Minghui said, "Ma Xi is our Dongzhou’s top host. By the way, I haven’t seen him on any shows lately. Several programs he used to host have been replaced."

Lu Ming knew about this. He told her about the incident at Zhao Feiyang’s wedding. That’s when Qiu Minghui realized what had happened. Actually, Zhao Feiyang’s wedding fiasco was quite the talk of the town, and almost half of Dongzhou City knew about it. However, few paid attention to the fact that Ma Xi was the host of that wedding.

Qiu Minghui gossiped a bit, "Did Zhao Feiyang and his wife get a divorce?" She asked Xu Chunliang this because he used to work at Changxing Hospital.

Xu Chunliang was really unaware of the relationship status between Zhao Feiyang and Pei Lin.

Yu Li said, "I’ve heard a bit about it. They haven’t divorced, and they’re doing well. I just saw them shopping together a couple of days ago. Oh, and Pei Lin is pregnant; she looks about six or seven months along."

Qiu Minghui said, "No wonder. With a baby on the way, it’s not easy to brush off such a big incident otherwise."

Lu Qi was aware of the incident. Seeing the sisters-in-law getting more and more into gossip, he couldn’t help but explain, "That case has already been clarified. Someone deliberately used deception to get back at Pei Lin and ruin their wedding."

Qiu Minghui said, "Who would be so vile? They say it’s better to destroy ten temples than ruin a marriage. That’s so mean!"

Lu Qi briefly explained the case. It was directed by Guo Mingyi, the brother of Yang Mufeng’s ex-wife, which led directly to Zhao Feiyang’s father’s death and disrupted Zhao Feiyang’s wedding.

Now Guo Mingyi has been apprehended, and he frankly confessed to his crimes.

Although Qiu Minghui wanted to dig deeper, Lu Qi, due to the nature of his work, couldn’t reveal any details to her.

Qiu Minghui said, "Looking at it this way, Pei Lin seems quite complicated. She must have a past with that Yang Mufeng, probably causing their divorce, which is why they hate her so much."

Seeing his wife so into gossip, Lu Ming felt a bit embarrassed and reminded her to hurry home, as their daughter was waiting there.

The gossipy flame in Qiu Minghui’s heart was burning brightly, but after Lu Ming’s reminder, she had to restrain herself and got up to go home to supervise their kid’s studies. Yu Li also sensibly got up, letting the three of them continue drinking while she went to see her sister-in-law off.

After they left, Lu Ming raised his glass to apologize, "Sorry to make you two laugh. Women are always interested in this kind of gossip, especially my wife."

Lu Ming said, "Yu Li is the same."

Xu Chunliang said, "If you aren’t curious, you aren’t a woman. Let’s have a drink, the three of us brothers."

Lu Ming, after having a few drinks, mentioned that Fan Lidada had now gone to the cultural and tourism bureau as the deputy director. Lu Ming was well aware of Xu Chunliang’s contribution, and due to the nature of their work, they would have many opportunities to collaborate in the future.

After drinking, Lu Ming also showed his playful side, calling up Fan Lidada to come over for drinks. With anyone else, he wouldn’t have bothered.

Fan Lidada, upon receiving the call, came straight over without a word. He was an old friend of Lu Ming’s, and Xu Chunliang had done him a favor too.

Fan Lidada didn’t come empty-handed and brought two bottles of Wuliangye.

Lu Ming said, "Old Fan, are you trying to drink us under the table?"

Fan Lidada defended himself, "Why didn’t you invite me from the start?"

Lu Qi quickly explained that it was his fault.

Lu Ming laughed, "No need to explain. Brother Fan is one of us, I wouldn’t call anyone else over."

Before Fan Lidada arrived, Lu Qi had the waiter add a few more dishes. Even though they were close, they couldn’t serve Fan Lidada leftovers.

Lu Ming made Fan Lidada drink a penalty glass because he arrived late.

Fan Lidada and Lu Ming often joked with each other. Over the years, he had rarely won an argument with Lu Ming. Knowing well he wouldn’t win, he downed a glass of liquor and smacked his lips, "This liquor is good, tastes like Maotai."

Lu Ming laughed, "I told you so, take a closer look at the packaging."

Fan Lidada picked up the wine and examined it, exclaiming, "Impressive, this wine is meaningful as a memento. You young people always have so many tricks up your sleeves."

Lu Ming said, "Chunliang sponsored it, look at the brotherly affection between the two of them. When I got married, you only gave five hundred as a gift."

Fan Lidada retorted, "You have the nerve to say that, when I got married, you only gave two hundred."

Lu Qi laughed, "The friendship between the two of you can’t be measured in money."

Fan Lidada had a couple of drinks with Xu Chunliang. No words were needed between them; everything was understood without saying. Fan Lidada said, "Chunliang, I’m going back to work in Dongzhou."

Xu Chunliang said, "Congratulations." He thought of the command center on Weishan Island. Does Fan Lidada leaving mean the command center would be canceled?

Fan Lidada said, "The national-level resort command center on Weishan Island will remain, and Director Fu intends for you to take over."

Xu Chunliang said, "What do you mean? I’m still working for Hu Shan Town."

Fan Lidada laughed, "You belong to the Bureau of Culture and Tourism, your position in Hu Shan Town is just a temporary transfer. Director Fu said that given your exceptional ability, you can definitely handle multiple roles. You can be the Deputy Mayor of Hu Shan Town and also manage the national-level resort command center’s work. Besides, the two roles don’t conflict, so I’m sure you’ll handle them expertly."

Xu Chunliang said to the Lu Brothers, "See, he’s ashore now while leaving me stuck on the island."

Lu Ming said, "Not cool, a drink penalty!"

Fan Lidada, half-laughing and half-crying, said, "Lu Ming, now I understand why every time we drink together, I’m the one who ends up drunk, too many drink penalties."

Lu Ming laughed, "Who told you to keep making mistakes?"

Fan Lidada raised his glass towards Lu Qi, "Brother Lu Qi, congratulations, if there’s anything I can help with, just let me know, I’ll do my best."

Lu Qi said, "Everything’s pretty much ready, just bring your wife over to the wedding banquet when the time comes."

Fan Lidada said, "I’ll definitely be on time. By the way, how’s the wedding arrangement going? I have a cousin who runs a wedding planning company."

Lu Ming said, "Hindsight is 20/20, everything’s already prepared. Now you mention a cousin with a wedding planning company, where were you earlier?"

Fan Lidada said, "Lu, it seems like you’re not happy to see me today. As soon as I sat across from you, I knew I was in for bad luck." He scooted over a bit, but Lu Ming’s eyes were still on him. Fan Lidada and Lu Ming exchanged glances, and just like that, Xu Chunliang noticed a bit of tender affection between them.

Suddenly, both of them burst into laughter. Fan Lidada said, "I really don’t understand myself; after being bullied by you for decades, I still enjoy spending time with you."

Lu Ming said, "I don’t want to bully others; all my energy goes towards you."

Lu Qi said, "Hey, big bros, aren’t you being a bit mushy? How about setting a better example for us young folks?"

Fan Lidada picked up a shot glass, "Ming, care to challenge?"

"Afraid of you? Let’s drink!" Lu Qi picked up a shot glass and downed it in one go.

Fan Lidada followed suit with a glass himself, then suddenly seemed to realize something, "Did this guy just call me a name?"

Xu Chunliang laughed, "I didn’t hear anything."

Lu Qi poured them more drinks, and at that moment, Yu Li called to remind him to drink less.

After he hung up, Fan Lidada said, "So you’re not allowed to drink? Planning on having kids?"

Lu Qi said, "No plans for kids these two years; I’m heading to Xinjiang as aid in a couple of months."

"Going to Xinjiang doesn’t stop you from sowing seeds! Lu Qi, having kids early continues the family line, don’t miss out. There’s this saying, ’Get married, have kids the same year. If not within a year, then not in three; if not in three, then not in five.’ By that time, even if you want to, you might not be able to anymore. That’s what happened to me; I planned to have kids two years after getting married, but it just wouldn’t happen."

Lu Ming said, "Nonsense, because you were using contraception, right?"

Fan Lidada said, "The first two years, yes, then we stopped using protection but still couldn’t conceive."

"Then your seed’s no good."

Fan Lidada spat, "Quit talking nonsense, how could it be no good? We went to the hospital, and the doctor said both of us were perfectly healthy, no issues, told us to just let things happen naturally. We went with it, and it took a full three years to conceive."

In retrospect, even amidst the exuberant years, Fan Lidada spoke with a hint of hardship, saying how for those years, he ploughed the fields diligently, but for three years afterward, each month began with hope only to end in disappointment, month after month, year after year. As their patience wore thin and they were considering adoption, his wife surprisingly got pregnant.

Fan Lidada said, "It’s a son! I didn’t stop drinking; I even drank heavily during that time, starting with at least half a kilo a day. My wife said, Old Fan, maybe we should abort; she was worried that with my constant drinking, the child might not be healthy."