From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor

Xu Chunliang said, "Brother Chen, you really should take this seriously. I think they’ve been selling fake alcohol for a while now, and this is definitely not the only place. If this goes on, the reputation of your Qianfan Group will be completely ruined."

Chen Qianfan asked, "Chunliang, where are you heading to?"

Xu Chunliang didn’t hide it from him and told him he was on his way to the Capital City. Chen Qianfan was currently in the Capital City as well and immediately suggested they meet tonight to explain some matters in person.

Xu Chunliang wasn’t in a position to say anything yet because he didn’t know how Elder Qiao would arrange things next. If they went to the Ye Family, he would have to accompany them. He knew very well what Chen Qianfan wanted to explain but felt it was unnecessary.

Chen Qianfan said to call him, as he wouldn’t schedule any other events for the night.

Xu Chunliang came to the car and saw Elder Qiao outside eating instant noodles. He laughed, "You’re just making do like this?"

Elder Qiao said, "I haven’t had this in years. I have to say, these instant noodles are quite delicious."

Xiaowu asked if Xu Chunliang had eaten and offered him some from the car. Xu Chunliang joined Elder Qiao in having a bowl of instant noodles.

Elder Qiao asked, "How long until we arrive?"

Xiaowu replied, "About two hours, but it depends on the traffic to get home."

Elder Qiao nodded, "No rush, as long as we arrive before dark."

Xiaowu handed them two packs of milk to ensure a balanced diet.

Xu Chunliang glanced at the milk, which was not available on the market. It was a special supply from cows fed with natural feed. He thought to himself that’s why Elder Qiao found the instant noodles so delicious. He probably rarely had the chance to enjoy such high-tech food.

Xu Chunliang asked, "Are you planning to go out tonight?"

Elder Qiao laughed, knowing Xu Chunliang’s purpose for accompanying him to the Capital City. He shook his head, "Not going out tonight. I plan to rest well. I have an appointment with your god-grandfather tomorrow morning."

Xu Chunliang knew very well what had happened between their two families, so there was no need for Elder Qiao to hide it from him. They chose to meet the next day to avoid his old friend thinking he was overly eager to clarify his grandson’s affairs. Since it happened, rushing would only make things worse.

Xu Chunliang asked, "Shall I go with you?"

Elder Qiao shook his head, "No need!"

Xu Chunliang nodded. Since Elder Qiao said it wasn’t necessary, he didn’t insist. He pondered that he should first pay a visit to the Ye Family to make them believe he could help Qiao Rulong recover. Perhaps their attitude would soften, and with his precedent in treating the Ye Family father and son, gaining their trust shouldn’t be difficult.

Elder Qiao seemed to guess his thoughts and softly said, "Chunliang, for now, don’t contact the Ye Family people."

Xu Chunliang was taken aback. Clearly, Elder Qiao didn’t want him involved in this matter and seemed to have his own plans.

Although Elder Qiao invited Xu Chunliang to temporarily stay at his home, Xu Chunliang politely declined. He also avoided going to the Dongzhou Restaurant, mainly because he didn’t want to trouble Li Xiumei. Qin Xinli, Deputy Director of the Dongzhou Beijing Office and a former Director of the Tourism Bureau, resented Xu for his job change.

After safely escorting Elder Qiao home, Xu Chunliang contacted Chen Qianfan, who immediately came with a car to pick him up.

When Chen Qianfan saw Xu Chunliang, he immediately told him that the relevant departments had already destroyed the fake alcohol sales point. However, Qiu the Second and Cai Mazi had already escaped. He decided to allocate funds to combat counterfeiting nationwide.

Xu Chunliang wasn’t particularly interested in this matter and looked out the car window, "Brother Chen, where are you going with me?"

Chen Qianfan said, "Our Qianfan Group recently established an office to expand our business in the Capital City. It’s not far from here, with accommodations provided."

Xu Chunliang thought to himself that selling health wine was indeed a lucrative business if Chen Qianfan set up a dedicated office for it.

Although Chen Qianfan said it wasn’t far, it was a twenty-kilometer drive. Xu Chunliang couldn’t help but comment, "We’re outside the Fifth Ring, right?"

Chen Qianfan laughed, "It’s too expensive inside. I bought this house myself, and it’s quite spacious."

The car driving into a large courtyard was undergoing renovation, with an excavator digging a fish pond.

Xu Chunliang saw Pu Jian, who was standing next to the excavator pointing and instructing. Hearing the sound of the car, he turned around with a big smile and waved.

Chen Qianfan said, "So, new and old friends gather together, isn’t it wonderful?"

Xu Chunliang got out of the car, and Pu Jian greeted him with a wide grin, "Town Mayor Xu, welcome, welcome."

Xu Chunliang said, "Weren’t you on Weishan Island? When did you come back?"

Pu Jian replied, "I’ve been back half a month. I couldn’t get along with those Mu Tian people, and besides, I have my own business to attend to, can’t stay on a small island forever."

Xu Chunliang said, "It’s like I’m holding up your business or something."

Chen Qianfan said, "Don’t get caught up in reminiscing. Have a look around first. How do you like the place?"

Xu Chunliang looked around. It was a newly renovated courtyard house, "Not bad, looks like a wealthy family’s residence. How did you find this place?"

Chen Qianfan pointed at Pu Jian.

Pu Jian said, "Just say it, how’s it going?"

Xu Chunliang said, "No wonder you came back, you must have gotten quite a lot of kickbacks this time, right?"

Chen Qianfan laughed, and Pu Jian got anxious: "Xu Chunliang, be kind with your words, am I that kind of person?"

Chen Qianfan said, "Chunliang, don’t wrong Pu Jian. I actively approached him. He’s been running around for me these past days. Many people have their eyes on this yard, and thanks to Pu Jian’s help, I managed to get it."

Xu Chunliang said, "Many people? They’re all just proxies, right?"

Pu Jian said, "Come on, I’m leaving now, my self-esteem is hurt, you’re insulting my character, Xu Chunliang, I don’t have friends like you."

Chen Qianfan said, "Don’t be like that, even if you take kickbacks, I’m fine with it, I’m satisfied with buying this yard."

He invited Xu Chunliang to the tea room for some tea. The place still had a faint smell of wood wax oil, as it had just been renovated.

Chen Qianfan asked Pu Jian to chat with Xu Chunliang while he went to the kitchen to check on the preparations.

Xu Chunliang sat down on an armchair, and Pu Jian poured him a cup of tea and handed it over: "Town Mayor Xu, don’t mock me, you just tell me, is this place worth thirty million or not?"

Xu Chunliang said, "One willing to hit, one willing to suffer, anyway, it’s not my money being spent." He took a sip from the teacup and whispered, "Honestly, how much in kickbacks did you take?"

Pu Jian sighed, "You know me too well, we’re all friends here, I symbolically took..." He held up two fingers.

Xu Chunliang gave him a thumbs-up, "Two million?"

"No way, I’m not that greedy, two hundred thousand. I’ve realized that I might not be suitable for the antiques trade, my real talent might be in real estate."

Xu Chunliang said, "Give you a little sunshine and you shine bright, you’re most suited to being a middleman."

Pu Jian chuckled. At this time, there was the sound of a horn outside, and he went out to greet friends. This time it was Yan Jingsong, the chief secretary of Dongzhou Bell Tower District. Yan Jingsong and Pu Jian are childhood friends, and he was a classmate of Xu Chunliang’s during their training at the Nanjiang Party School. Xu Chunliang and Pu Jian met thanks to his introduction.

Xu Chunliang didn’t expect him to come. Yan Jingsong didn’t know Xu Chunliang was here, so he was quite surprised to see him. He stepped forward to shake his hand and said, "Chunliang, when did you come to the Capital City?"

Xu Chunliang said, "Just arrived this afternoon, and Pu Jian didn’t mention you were coming."

Pu Jian said, "I wanted to give you both a surprise."

Yan Jingsong came this time to accompany Secretary Liang from their Bell Tower District for training. Liang would be in training for twenty days, and as the chief secretary, Yan Jingsong also had to stay in the Capital City for twenty days. He was staying at the Dongzhou Restaurant and had already been here for two weeks, set to return before May Day.

During his time in the Capital, Yan Jingsong had been following Dongzhou Barbecue closely. Seeing Xu Chunliang, the topic quickly shifted to that: "Chunliang, your Bureau of Culture and Tourism just got established and already made Dongzhou Barbecue a hit, that’s impressive."

Xu Chunliang felt that the word "made" might not be the right fit, but Yan Jingsong represented the majority view, where people generally thought that Dongzhou Barbecue’s explosive popularity was thanks to online hype, a successful promotion effort.

Pu Jian said, "I’ve always said Xu Chunliang is favored by fate, bringing prosperity wherever he goes."

Xu Chunliang said, "I don’t remember you saying that."

Yan Jingsong said, "I believe it. Now even the Capital City knows about Dongzhou Barbecue. We’ve never received so much attention in Dongzhou." Being a Dongzhou native himself, he felt honored.

Pu Jian said, "In the past, I underestimated internet celebrities. In the future, I should seek advice from Three Two Three. If they could help promote my antique collectibles, wouldn’t the sales multiply many times over?"

Xu Chunliang said, "You’re thinking too small. With your capabilities, you don’t need to rely on others. You set up a live-streaming channel and sell online, and in less than three months, you’ll be gathering millions of followers."

Pu Jian said, "Why do I feel like you’re mocking me?"

Yan Jingsong said, "I don’t hear that, Fu Jian. With your eloquence, not doing live-streaming is a waste."

Pu Jian said, "Old Yan, that’s harsh, you’re ganging up to trick me." Though he said that, he began to contemplate to himself. Yes, he should change his mindset and seize the opportunities to keep up with societal trends and try live-streaming to sell goods.

Chen Qianfan called them to the table.

Seeing the authentic Sichuan dishes on the table, Xu Chunliang knew Chen Qianfan had put in a lot of effort.

Chen Qianfan introduced, "I brought a chef from my hometown. Although he’s not professionally trained, his Sichuan dishes are incredibly authentic, many of which you can’t find in regular Sichuan restaurants."

Chen Qianfan picked up the Five-Whip Rejuvenating Wine and started pouring. Seeing the wine, Xu Chunliang thought of his experience at the highway service area earlier today and couldn’t help but laugh, "Is this the one selling for 2888?"

Chen Qianfan said, "It’s listed at 2888, but the factory price isn’t that high. This is our group’s latest development, the royal supreme series. Give it a try."

Xu Chunliang picked up his glass, smelled it, and took a sip. This wine was indeed different from the fake wine earlier today, mainly because the base wine used was different.

They drank a few glasses together, and Chen Qianfan raised his glass to Xu Chunliang, expressing gratitude for his help in busting an illegal counterfeit wine sales ring today.