Yan Songshan's chubby head poked in. Seeing Chen Yang and the others, he immediately pushed open the door with a beaming smile. He held a wine glass in one hand and a bottle of Moutai in the other, saying as he walked:
"Director Guan, Director Kan, Young Master Fang… this leader, I've come to offer you all a toast."
After speaking, Yan Songshan went straight to Guan Weiping, pouring his large, two-ounce glass of liquor while saying with a forced smile:
"Director Guan, this is my apology. I was blind to your greatness that day and offended you greatly. Please forgive my rudeness, please help yourself, I'll drink this first as a sign of respect."
After saying this, Yan Songshan tilted his head back and downed the entire two-ounce glass of liquor in one gulp, wiping his mouth without changing his expression.
Guan Weiping understood Chen Yang's intentions and, naturally, didn't want to overdo it. Smiling, he picked up his glass, took a small sip, and said,
"Director Yan, I can't hold my liquor, so I'll just have a little."
"Please, feel free to drink as much as you like!" Yan Songshan quickly replied.
Guan Weiping put down his glass and said meaningfully,
"Director Yan, the Provincial Public Security Bureau is not like the branch bureaus below. Once you're working there, you must be even more strict with yourself. Only with excellent personal qualities can you better guide the public security work throughout the province!"
Yan Songshan was stunned for a moment, then his face lit up with joy. He looked at Chen Yang gratefully and said repeatedly,
"Yes! I will definitely remember your instructions!"
Guan Weiping smiled broadly,
"There aren't that many instructions! I was just suggesting something. You should toast Director Kan and Chen Yang properly!"
Yan Songshan quickly turned to Kan Xufeng, still holding a full glass of two ounces of baijiu. A hint of awe crossed his face. He had indeed been thoroughly humiliated by Kan Xufeng lately. First, he received a reprimand, then the disciplinary committee's working group forcefully entered the Cangshui branch and launched a thorough investigation, all targeting him, the branch director. Soon after, news spread that he was to be transferred. Now, Yan Songshan both respected and feared Kan Xufeng. Holding his wine glass with both hands, he said with a forced smile,
"Director Kan, I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you last time… I'll drink this, please feel free to drink as you please!"
Kan Xufeng's expression softened slightly. He picked up his glass and lightly clinked it against Yan Songshan's. Yan Songshan was overjoyed and quickly downed his drink. Kan Xufeng downed his drink in one gulp and said calmly,
"I never drink carelessly, Xiao Yan. You can't be careless when drinking, and you can't be careless in life either, understand?"
"Yes, yes, yes! The director is right!" Yan Songshan bowed and nodded repeatedly. After being reprimanded by Guan Weiping and Kan Xufeng, he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
Then Yan Songshan drank a glass of wine with Xie Fangzhi. Although he considered Chen Yang the most important person to toast, the rules of the table couldn't be disregarded, and he still strictly followed the seating order to toast.
Finally, Yan Songshan approached Chen Yang, poured himself a full glass of baijiu, and bowed sincerely, saying:
"Young Master Fang, I, Old Yan, am truly impressed! I am very grateful for your generosity. When I get back, I will definitely teach that brat Yan Huiming a lesson. Come on! I'll toast you!"
Chen Yang also downed his glass in one gulp. Even Kan Xufeng had finished his drink; he couldn't be as presumptuous as Guan Weiping. Chen Yang put down his glass and said with a smile:
"Director Yan, my alcohol tolerance is really limited, so I won't return the toast. Consider this a congratulatory drink to celebrate your new appointment!"
"Thank you, thank you, thank you, Young Master Fang!" Yan Songshan replied with a beaming smile.
After the round of toasts, Yan Songshan tactfully took his leave and left the No. 1 private room. Chen Yang and the other three continued to eat and chat, and Xie Fangzhi also cherished this opportunity, frequently offering toasts. Everyone present had spent years navigating the treacherous waters of officialdom, and they all understood that true connections were built gradually through such interactions. As officials in Rongcheng, they knew they might need each other's help someday, so the atmosphere at the dinner was quite harmonious.
However, no one drank much. Chen Yang had only brought two bottles, averaging about half a jin (250ml) per person. By around 8:30 PM, the two bottles were finished, and everyone seemed to have had a good time.
"Waiter, the bill!" Chen Yang said, turning to the waitress behind him.
Kan Xufeng's eyes widened in surprise, feigning anger as he said,
"You're not paying the bill when we eat together! Waiter, bring me the bill so I can sign it."
The waitress smiled and replied,
"Sir, Mr. Yan from room number 9 already paid for your table!"
Kan Xufeng paused slightly, then muttered,
"At least he has some sense! Let's go then!"
Upon exiting, Guan Weiping and the others' cars were already parked in order at the club's entrance. When the meal in the private room was nearing its end, the waiter would notify the front desk via walkie-talkie, and the front desk would then notify the driver, so important guests could get into their cars immediately upon arrival.
These thoughtful details and services are a significant reason why the club is so sought after. The group got into their respective cars and left. Chen Yang got into the car of Xie Fangzhi, the deputy director of the Housing Management Bureau in Zhonglou District. Xie Fangzhi personally escorted Chen Yang to the entrance of Rongda University before letting the driver drive away.
...
The next afternoon at four o'clock, Chen Yang, carrying simple luggage, arrived on time at Yiyuan, the faculty residential area of Rongda University. A Buick minivan was quietly parked downstairs in front of Professor Yan's building.
The university attached great importance to the Boao International Law Forum, not only providing a relatively comfortable minivan for airport transportation, but also having all three of their plane tickets booked in advance by the university's logistics department, so Chen Yang and the others didn't need to worry about it themselves.
Chen Yang didn't go over. Instead, he took out a cigarette under a large tree not far away and lit it. He had only smoked half of it when he saw the minivan driver carrying Professor Yan's suitcase emerge from the building, with Professor Yan and his wife following behind.
Chen Yang quickly stubbed out the cigarette in the trash can beside him and hurried over.
"Xiao Fang's here! Let's go!" Professor Yan was feeling a headache coming on as his wife was still giving him a long lecture about things to be careful about before leaving the house, when he saw Chen Yang approaching and said with a sense of relief.
"Hello, Professor's wife!" Chen Yang greeted his professor's wife politely first, then looked at Professor Yan and said, "Professor, Liu Xinyao hasn't arrived yet!"
Professor Yan opened the car door and said,
"She called me this morning saying she'd come herself. Let's meet at the airport, let's go!"
Professor's wife laughed and scolded from the side:
"You old rascal! You don't like me that much? You find it annoying to be with me for even a second longer?"
Professor Yan looked embarrassed, and Chen Yang smiled and smoothed things over:
"Professor's wife, the professor is in a hurry to buy you Yellow Lantern Chili Sauce! He knows you like it."
In his previous life, Professor Yan was one of Chen Yang's private tutors, and Chen Yang knew his family situation quite well. He knew that his professor's wife was from Hunan, and had a natural affinity for all spicy foods. Yellow Lantern Chili Sauce from Sanya City was famous throughout the country, a signature specialty of that region, which is why Chen Yang said that. Professor Yan's wife wasn't truly angry. After decades of marriage, she knew his personality quite well. Hearing Chen Yang's words, she smiled and said,
"Let's go! Let's go! Don't miss the flight! Be careful on the road!"
The flight was at 6:30 PM. The drive from the city to Yongle Airport was about an hour. The airline required check-in about an hour before departure, so time wasn't particularly generous.
After getting in the car, Chen Yang chatted with Professor Yan for a few moments. As the car smoothly entered the highway, they both closed their eyes for a short nap. Chen Yang had drunk quite a bit last night, and having gotten up early to exercise this morning, he felt waves of sleepiness washing over him. So he simply reclined his seat, half-lying back, and gradually drifted off to sleep listening to soothing music.
More than an hour later, as the car passed the speed bump at the highway exit, Chen Yang was startled awake. He rubbed his sleepy eyes, saw that they were already within airport grounds, and quickly straightened his seat.
Yongle Airport's terminal building has two levels: the lower level is the arrival hall, and the upper level is the departure hall. The van drove directly along the ramp to the entrance of the second-floor domestic departure hall and came to a smooth stop on the side of the road.
As soon as Chen Yang got out of the car, he saw a rugged Mengshi command vehicle parked not far away, with Liu Xinyao standing coolly beside it.
Today, Liu Xinyao wore military green studded skinny jeans paired with black high-top leather boots. She also wore a military-style grass-green short-sleeved fitted t-shirt, her hair neatly tied in a ponytail, a camouflage sun hat, and Ray-Ban aviator glasses. She carried a grass-green hobo shoulder bag, exuding a strong queen-like aura from head to toe. Her military-style outfit made her look incredibly powerful.
Liu Xinyao leaned against the Mengshi command vehicle, staring blankly at the planes taking off and landing on the distant runway.
Chen Yang waved vigorously at her and called out:
"Liu Xinyao! Over here..."
Liu Xinyao looked over at the sound of his voice and saw Professor Yan getting out of the car. She quickly followed, carrying her shoulder bag, followed by a sergeant—Xiao He, the driver from last time. He pulled Liu Xinyao's suitcase and smiled slightly at Chen Yang.
"Professor!" Liu Xinyao greeted Professor Yan and nodded to Chen Yang as well. After the incident on the airport expressway, Liu Xinyao's attitude towards Chen Yang had softened slightly; she no longer had an icy demeanor every time they met.
"Xinyao's here! Let's go! Let's check in first," Professor Yan said with a smile.
The three of them walked into the lobby, followed by the driver of the Buick minivan, the driver of the Mengshi van, and Sergeant Xiao He.
"Excuse me, sir, there are only two adjacent seats left. Could one of you be moved to another seat?" After Chen Yang handed over their identification documents, the Luhu Airlines staff checked the seating information and apologized to Chen Yang.
Upon hearing this, Liu Xinyao leaned closer and pointed to Chen Yang's ID card, saying:
"Please move him somewhere else!"
Faced with Liu Xinyao's domineering attitude, Chen Yang gave a helpless wry smile. Professor Yan originally wanted the two young people to sit together, but since Liu Xinyao had already spoken, he didn't know what else to say and let her have her way.