Chapter 2404: Chapter 1520: Fate’s Misalignment (Part 2)

"What cup? Give him a drink so he can get drunk and make a scene?"

Jiang Huazi’s words carried a double meaning too. It wasn’t that she wouldn’t give him face, it was that he himself refused to save his own face. She had repeatedly advised him to go back first, but he insisted on coming in, putting her in an awkward spot as well.

Hong Xiaoyu instantly didn’t dare move.

Zhang Zhongquan gave an awkward laugh and said casually, "You guys drink, I’ve got a bit of fatty liver, better if I don’t drink too much."

"What did you say about Jiang and Qing Qing..."

Taking advantage of a moment when no one was paying attention, Pan Hui glanced at her husband and quietly spoke up.

"I didn’t say anything. I only said he has good taste. He’s the one who started overthinking and getting clever with himself."

Fang Weiguo replied calmly.

Indeed.

He hadn’t lied.

He had just chosen not to correct it.

It was all Zhang Zhongquan’s own wishful thinking. What did that have to do with him? 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"If you do this, Qing Qing will..."

"You think Qing Qing will mind?"

Fang Weiguo cut off his wife’s concern. "If Zhang Zhongquan found out Jiang Chen was here, he’d definitely beg Jiang Chen to stand up for him, even if he had to play the scoundrel. No matter what, he’s an elder, and we’re all here. Jiang Chen definitely wouldn’t be able to flat-out refuse, so... just let him think what he wants."

"When they were little, those two kids were always called a golden boy and jade girl. Let them ’reprise their roles’; isn’t that kind of fun too."

Fang Weiguo added.

Pan Hui was slightly stunned, then looked at her daughter and unconsciously nodded slowly.

By some twist of fate, it seemed to patch up a bit of that unspoken regret in her heart.

"...It is pretty nice."

By this time, Fang Weiguo had already raised his glass and smiled at Jiang Chen. "Have a drink?"

His smile carried a slightly different flavor than usual.

Came with an agenda, Zhang Zhongquan started trying to establish his presence. "Young man, you better drink properly with your Uncle Fang. According to our local custom, if you don’t keep Brother Fang company with the drinks, then you and Fang Qing... hehe."

"Shut up. Eat your food."

Jiang Huazi snapped impatiently.

"Sis, I’m teaching him here. Back when I went to my old father-in-law’s house for the first time—no brag—I drank a catty and a half, knocked my old father-in-law flat on the spot..."

Zhang Zhongquan was all animated eyebrows and flying spittle. You could tell his desire to excel was strong; he really wanted to be the main character. But Jiang Huazi wouldn’t give him that face.

"Can you be quiet? If you can’t, take the dishes to the kitchen and stay there!"

"Sis, come on, you..."

Zhang Zhongquan fell sullen, still with a bit of pride left. His voice dropped and he stopped trying to steal the show.

"Qing Qing, eat. Don’t listen to your Uncle Zhang’s nonsense."

When Jiang Huazi turned to Shang Fangqing, she put on a kind, gentle smile again.

"Mm, this chicken feet are good. It’s my mom’s specialty. Bro, give Sister Fang Qing some."

Hong Xiaoyu suddenly chimed in.

The moment the words left his mouth, everyone except Zhang Zhongquan froze for a beat, including Fang Weiguo.

Pick food for her?

If they were a couple, that wouldn’t be anything...

No, wait.

The two of them were supposed to be a couple right now.

What could you say.

The actors present were not very professional.

But it didn’t matter.

So they were amateurs. So what if they weren’t fully in character?

The audience’s level varied too.

As the only one in the room kept in the dark, Zhang Zhongquan didn’t notice anything amiss. He even felt his nephew’s emotional intelligence was actually pretty high. He’d thought the kid was introverted before—clearly he’d misjudged him.

That "Bro" sounded so natural, so intimate.

Because of Hong Xiaoyu’s little improv, everyone simultaneously looked at Jiang Chen. If he didn’t pick food for her, the act would definitely fall apart.

But it was just a marinated chicken foot. Given his relationship with Fang Qing, it was nothing worth mentioning; even sharing a cross-cupped drink wouldn’t be a big deal.

All right.

A cross-cupped drink still needed some consideration.

They weren’t kids playing house anymore.

Under everyone’s gaze, a marinated chicken foot was picked up by Jiang Chen’s chopsticks and then dropped into Fang Qing’s bowl.

Fang Qing tilted her head.

"It’s sweet and spicy. Qing Qing, try it."

Jiang Huazi hurriedly diverted the attention.

"Young man, how old are you this year?"

Zhang Zhongquan asked cheerfully, totally oblivious to any undercurrents.

"Same age as Fang Qing."

"Really? That’s a perfect match then. Where do you work?"

"Him? He started his own business. He’s his own boss."

Fang Weiguo answered for him, his expression bright with pride and satisfaction. As he spoke he took a sip of his drink. That look made Zhang Zhongquan keep a straight face on the surface while his heart grumbled nonstop.

What are you so smug about.

So he got lucky.

Just happened to have a good daughter, is all.

Otherwise, what is he? A nobody, a truck driver scraping by for life.

"Young people these days are really something. In their twenties and already a boss. The family must’ve given him a lot of help, huh?"

Jiang Huazi knew her cousin’s old problem was acting up again—narrow-minded, easily jealous, always sour when he saw other people doing well.

"He did it all on his own. Not a single relative helped him!"

Jiang Huazi suddenly said, loud enough to startle Zhang Zhongquan. "Sis, why are you shouting like that?"

Jiang Huazi really wanted to lay into him, but for the bigger picture she could only force it down. "If you don’t know what you’re talking about, then don’t talk nonsense."

As an older sister, there was nothing wrong with scolding her younger brother a bit; Zhang Zhongquan could take that. But being snapped at over and over again in front of so many outsiders and juniors, he gradually felt embarrassed. So he defended himself: "Sis, what nonsense did I say? I was just chatting."

"Alright, Zhongquan didn’t mean any harm."

Fang Weiguo stepped in to smooth things over.

"Brother Fang, you’re the one who really understands me."

Zhang Zhongquan immediately went along with it, letting himself down easy. He let out a deep sigh. "Brother Fang, you’re really a model for people like us. I’m just too envious of you. A brilliant daughter, and a young, promising son-in-law. If I were you, I’d be waking up from laughter in my sleep."

Fortunately, Jiang Chen and Fang Qing were professional enough, keeping their mouths shut.

But Fang Weiguo couldn’t maintain that same composure. Being flattered by Zhang Zhongquan had him grinning ear to ear, flowers practically blooming on his face—who knew how much of it was genuine and how much was for show.

"Saying that now is a bit premature. They’re just dating. Who can say what’ll happen in the future? Anyway, as parents, we fully respect the kids’ wishes. We’ll never interfere in their relationship."

Listening to this, Pan Hui’s face burned in waves. She really wished she could be a fool like Zhang Zhongquan.

But she couldn’t. She was too clear-headed. Instead, she started wondering if her husband was the one becoming a bit unclear.

"Have you had a bit too much to drink?"

It wasn’t just Pan Hui who wondered. Seeing Fang Weiguo speak so righteously and logically, Jiang Huazi and her husband also gave each other strange looks.

"Is Brother Fang really drunk... or is this truth spoken after wine? That can’t be, he’s only had half a small glass, maybe two or three taels?"

Jiang Huazi muttered under her breath.

"Shh." Hong Ou neither agreed nor disagreed; she just reminded her to hush.

"Brother Fang, no wonder you could raise someone as outstanding as Qing Qing. You’re really so open-minded and reasonable. Young man, you have to know, Brother Fang is famous around here as a great guy—warmhearted and generous. If anyone’s in trouble and asks him for help, Brother Fang will definitely rush to help without a word..."

Fang Weiguo raised a hand.

"Zhongquan, don’t say that. I’m not that great. I only do what I’m capable of. And even then, whether I help depends on the person. Those cold-blooded, selfish types—I definitely won’t have anything to do with them. You’d be the same, right?"

There it was.

Pan Hui got her answer.

Her husband was absolutely not drunk.

Jiang Huazi’s face flushed red then pale by turns. If she could understand it, how could Zhang Zhongquan not?

He was clearly taking veiled jabs, pointing at the mulberry tree to curse the locust tree.

But people aren’t all the same.

Some people have a sense of shame.

And some people have skin thicker than a city wall.

"That’s right. I’m just like you, Brother Fang. Otherwise we wouldn’t have stayed in touch for decades."

Forget other people.

Hearing this, Fang Qing couldn’t help the twitch at the corner of her mouth.

"Uncle and nephew really are uncle and nephew."

She murmured, passive-aggressively skewering someone.

The "young man" whose face was just as outstandingly thick didn’t even blink. Taking advantage of the moment when everyone else was still stunned by Zhang Zhongquan’s shamelessness, he picked up another chicken foot. After taking a bite himself and finding he wasn’t quite used to the sweet-and-spicy taste, he very naturally dropped it into his "girlfriend’s" bowl.

"Eat more, Qing Qing."