Following Liu Yating into the courtyard, Liu Changping and his wife saw the radiant Liu Yating, and Ye Qing couldn't help feeling happy for her. He smiled and said, "Sister Yating, how are you settling in here?"
Liu Yating smiled softly and said in a gentle voice, "These days have been the happiest of my life. Mr. Ye, to be honest, I owe you a lot for this. Without you, my daughter and I... who knows where we'd be right now..."
At this, Liu Yating's voice choked with emotion. Life in Xishan City had been like a nightmare for her. Every ti she thought about it, the terror gripped her, waking her up from nightmares ti and again. To be honest, the life she was living now felt too surreal. Even though she had been in Dongzhou for nearly two months, she still wondered if it was all a dream.
Ye Qing understood Liu Yating's feelings. He sighed gently and said, "Sister Yating, everything is in the past now. Don't dwell on it. Focus on living well here and don't let your thoughts wander."
"Mmm." Liu Yating nodded. Just as they reached the door of Liu Changping's house, they could see from afar a little girl in a cute pink outfit watering a small flower on the lawn. Next to her, soone stood nearby, lovingly doting on her with ticulous care.
The little girl was Xiao Ding Ding, Liu Yating's daughter. The child now had a chubby face, no longer the frail figure she had been in Xishan City. With her plump little hands holding the small watering can, watering the flower with such focus, she exuded an adorable charm that made hearts ache for her.
The person standing nearby, brimming with affection, was Luo iyun, Liu Changping's wife and a professor at Dong Province University. Her job was fairly relaxed, involving only the supervision of a few doctoral students, so she didn't need to go to the university often. In the past, without children in the house, she would often sit alone on the lawn, sotis visiting other people's children just to fill the emptiness in her heart. But now, with Liu Yating and Xiao Ding Ding's arrival, her life seed to be filled with color. She spent almost all her ti with Xiao Ding Ding, wholeheartedly caring for her.
In her fifties, Luo iyun had never had children, so finally having a child around naturally brought her imnse joy. Except for her hours at work, she spent all her ti with Xiao Ding Ding, doting on her in every possible way.
"Mom!" Liu Yating called out as she entered with Ye Qing, smiling. "Ding Ding, look who's here!"
Xiao Ding Ding turned her head, froze for a mont when she saw Ye Qing, then imdiately put down her little watering can and ran over, cheering, directly jumping into Ye Qing's arms. She exclaid excitedly, "Uncle, you're finally here! I missed you so much!"
Back in Xishan City, Ye Qing had helped Liu Yating and her daughter trendously, so Xiao Ding Ding grew very attached to him. Seeing Ye Qing now, she was incredibly happy, clinging to him and refusing to let go.
Ye Qing smiled faintly as he held Xiao Ding Ding, while Luo iyun walked over and invited him inside.
Everyone sat and chatted for a short while before Liu Changping returned ho. Upon seeing Ye Qing, Liu Changping imdiately said, "You rascal! I've been telling you to co to Dongzhou for ages, but you never ca. You finally show up now. Tonight, no excuses—I've already called Old Zhou and Lin Dade. We won't let you off until you're passed out!"
"Ah, Uncle Liu, have rcy on !" Ye Qing pleaded quickly, "Your drinking capacity, along with Uncle Zhou's, I dare not compete against. If you really make pass out, who's going to carry back to the hotel?"
"Who's carrying you? After you're passed out, we'll leave you in the restaurant. Wake up and find your own way ho!" Liu Changping joked with a laugh.
Ye Qing stuck out his tongue and replied, "No way. People in Dongzhou have poor drinking ethics. I'd better not drink with you guys."
"Get lost!" Liu Changping laughed and cursed affectionately. He had essentially co to see Ye Qing as a younger family mber and treated him very warmly.
As everyone continued chatting, Lin Dade hurriedly arrived.
When Liu Yating was still in Xishan City, it was Lin Dade and his family who always looked out for her and Xiao Ding Ding. Without their help, Liu Yating and Xiao Ding Ding might have starved to death, let alone made it back to Liu Changping. Consequently, the Liu family was very grateful to the Lin family. After the Xishan City incident, Liu Changping even brought the Lin family to Dongzhou and funded Lin Dade to learn a trade. Now, Lin Dade worked in renovation and earned far more than before, while his wife found a cashier job. Although the salary was less than Lin Dade's, their combined inco far exceeded what they had in Xishan City, allowing them to live comfortably.
Liu Changping also rented a spacious apartnt for the Lin family in Dongzhou. Their children attended city schools, and the couple, able to earn good money, enjoyed a much better life. The work they did was less taxing than before, and their newfound hope for the future made them regard the Liu family as benefactors. They frequently visited Liu Changping's ho to show gratitude.
Having visited the governnt residential compound so often, Lin Dade had no trouble moving in and out. The security guards didn't even stop him now, and most people in the compound recognized him.
Seeing Ye Qing, Lin Dade ran over excitedly and grabbed his arm. He said, "Ah, Brother Ye! Uncle Liu and Sister Yating keep talking about how you never co to Dongzhou. Finally, you're here! No excuses tonight—we're drinking until we drop!"
Hearing this, Liu Changping burst out laughing. Ye Qing, however, looked distressed and said, "Dade, how have you changed since coming to Dongzhou? Wanting to drink under the table... Did you conspire with Uncle Liu beforehand?"
"What conspiracy?!" Lin Dade looked confused, not understanding what Ye Qing was insinuating.
"Don't accuse of scheming!" Liu Changping quickly interjected. "This is what the people want. Everyone agrees, which ans democracy is at work—you need to respect it!"
"Democracy just ans bullying !" Ye Qing pouted. "Getting drunk and dumping at so hotel—is that how you treat guests?"
"No, no!" Lin Dade quickly waved his hands. "I even rode my motorcycle here. If you really get drunk, I'll toss you onto it and take you straight to the hotel!"
"Oh, Dade, life treating you well now? You've even upgraded to a motorcycle!" Ye Qing teased with a laugh.
"Dongzhou is too big. Biking to jobs often made late, and buses sotis get stuck in traffic. I saved up a little and figured I needed transportation, so I bit the bullet and bought a motorcycle!" Lin Dade said proudly. "You wouldn't believe it—having a motorcycle makes such a huge difference. It's so much more convenient now!"
"Sounds great!" Ye Qing smiled.
"Well then," Liu Changping grinned, "we're all in agreent—tonight, you're drinking!"
"Alright, alright, stop bullying the young man!" Luo iyun interjected with a laugh. "Tonight, don't drink too much. One person drinks half a bottle with him—that's enough!"
"What?!?" Ye Qing's eyes widened. "Aunt Luo, half a bottle each... that's one and a half bottles total!"
"What one and a half bottles?" Luo iyun dismissed with a wave. "Yating can drink a little too. My tolerance isn't great, but I can drink a bit as well..."
"I'd better leave then..." Ye Qing pretended to get up and go.
Lin Dade quickly ran to block him, and everyone roared with laughter. Spending ti with them, Ye Qing finally felt at ease. Whatever storms raged back in Shenchuan City, they had no effect on the peace here in Dongzhou.
The group chatted for about two hours, covering a myriad of topics. By five or six o'clock, they headed to the hotel where Zhou Bolong was already waiting.
From afar, Zhou Bolong, a burly man, spotted Ye Qing and imdiately ca forward. The first thing he said was, "Ye Qing, it's not often you visit. Tonight, no excuses—we drink till we drop!"
Ye Qing's face imdiately fell, while Liu Changping and Lin Dade laughed heartily, shouting, "What the people want! What the people want! This is what the people want!"
"I have a voice too!" Ye Qing cried helplessly. "Why don't you listen to mine?"
"Minorities obey the majority—it's a basic principle!" Liu Changping pressed Ye Qing's shoulder with a grin. "Quit complaining. Let's go—you're not escaping tonight!"
Reluctantly, Ye Qing was practically dragged into the hotel by the group.
The hotel owner, who had been waiting, greeted them warmly. With both the commander of the Provincial Military Region and the director of the provincial office dining together, even this influential hotel owner felt compelled to personally attend to them. After all, Zhou Bolong and Liu Changping wielded real power in the Eastern Province; these were truly influential figures!
"Commander Zhou, Director Liu, esteed guests, everything is ready!" the owner said with a sycophantic smile. "Shall I take you upstairs?"
"Perfect!" Zhou Bolong nodded. "Downstairs is no good for sitting. Let's go upstairs. Oh, and make sure to get the wine ready—bring two cases straight to the room so we don't have to keep stepping out for it!"
"Of course, no problem! Leave it to !" The owner nodded repeatedly. With a direct order from Zhou Bolong, he dared not neglect it. After escorting the guests to the room, he hurried off to handle the arrangents.
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