Chapter 39: He Jins Falling for a Badger Game 1 (2/2)
Li Zong and He Zheng were sitting on the right side of He Changchun. With a little finesse, Qiao Peiyu had managed to arrange for He Yu to sit beside Li Zong.
Servants served newly-prepared courses one by one, which were all local delicacies looking very appetizing. This was no common family dinner. He Changchun had spent a fortune and hired the chef of the most famous restaurant named Five Tastes Abode, who made these dishes specially.
”Have a try. See if they are the right dishes for you.” With warm hospitality, Qiao Peiyu asked Li Zong to try the food. He Changchun also had a joyous look on his face.
He Changchun had interacted with Li Zong for a couple of times before, and he was fully aware that as the youngest deputy head of the Supernaturalism Management Bureau (SMB), Li Zong was favored by some high-rank officials and had boundless career prospects. As a result, he had always tried to cotton up to Li Zong whenever he had the chance. This time, it had gone far beyond He Changchun's expectation that Li Zong agreed to marry He Zheng and give him the dragon scale.
He Changchun didn't care whether Li Zong was a gay or He Zheng really took his fancy. It meant nothing to him.
Becoming an in-law of Li family was a once-in-a-life-time opportunity for him, and he would be a fool if he didn't take advantage of this chance to shorten the distance between them.
He Zheng had a scornful look in his eyes as he saw the gushing expression on the faces of Qiao Peiyu and his old man.
He Qin and He Jin were sitting opposite He Zheng. A master of pretence, He Qin raised his glass and proposed a toast to the newly-weds. ”Let's toast the return of He Zheng and Li Zong in wine. I'm very happy to see you back.”
He Zheng didn't even raise his glass. Taking no offence, He Qin looked at Li Zong, who didn't raise his glass either but flicked a glance at He Qin with his extremely deep eyes. He Qin's expression slightly changed but soon became mild again. ”I know it's inadvisable to drive under the influence, but I'm sure it won't hurt to drink a glass of juice!”
Seeing the look on Li Zong's face, He Yu worried that he might take offence if He Qin pushed him too hard, so she hurriedly said in an affectedly displeased tone of voice, ”Elder brother, don't be so persistent if Elder Brother Li doesn't want to drink. There's no point in filling our stomachs with drinks when we have so many dishes in front of us.”
”Yu has got a point.” Qiao Peiyu gave He Qin's hand a gentle pull, twisted her head aside and said to Li Zong with a smile, ”Zong, SMB is going to start recruiting soon, right? Yu has been learning in the Tigers and Dragons Mountain. Her Master Shifu is Sect Leader Zhang, who said that she's ready to finish her discipleship.”
Qiao Peiyu gave a tender smile and continued with tongue in cheek, ”We're family now. I'm counting on you to offer her some help. Yu is eager to land a job in SMB and become one of your colleagues!”
It had never crossed He Zheng's mind that this sly old woman would stoop so low as to make a request of this kind. Originally, he had intended to quietly enjoy watching them being humiliated, but he was still a member of He family after all. 'This woman is so shamelessly trying to exploit the connection. Who does she think she is?'
”Why should Li Zong help her?” He Zheng slid a sideways glance at He Yu, a sneer of disdain on his face. ”What do you mean by 'family'? You think we're your family?”
He Jin, who disliked He Zheng the most, had been silent all along. On hearing He Zheng's remarks, he flew into a temper, heavily put his bowl down onto the table and reprimanded aloud, ”He Zheng! What did you mean by that remark?!”
He Zheng was a bad-tempered man who could be persuaded by reason but not cowed by force. Looking He Jin in the face, he observed pointedly, ”He Yu really should have looked into the mirror and figured out who she is before she has the nerve to exploit the connection.”
Then he sneered, a cold look in his eyes. ”You know exactly what I meant. Why pretend otherwise?”
”You! You are such a–”
”Enough! Shut your mouth!” He Changchun reprimanded sharply, face full of anger. He Jin had no choice but to swallow back the rebuke that had sprung to his lips.
It took He Changchun quite some efforts to subdue his anger. Then he forced a smile and said to Li Zong, ”Supt. Li, I'm sorry to have put you through this farce.”
Everybody had thought that Li Zong would say something to ease the tension, but unexpectedly, Li Zong replied calmly, ”Patriarch He, I'm afraid I cannot offer assistance of any form to help anybody get into SMB by the back door.”
With a bland look on his face, he looked at He Yu. ”If He Yu is really competent, all staff members of SMB will welcome true talents with open arms. As regards those who get into SMB through other channels, I hate to say this, but most tasks of SMB are perilous. I really don't think it's a good idea for girls to get involved.”
It had never crossed He Changchun's mind that Li Zong would make these remarks. He Zheng also had not expected that Li Zong would side with him.