TL: Etude
"Dad, how about some wine?" Chen Jianghai casually suggested after ordering the food.
Hearing this, Lin Jianguo's eyes lit up, and he was about to agree when Xue Chunli beside him snorted.
Lin Jianguo cautiously glanced at Xue Chunli, then sat upright and waved off the idea, saying, "No need, no need, in the middle of the day, let's not drink."
Chen Jianghai then said, "Alright, then no wine. How about we order some drinks? Orange juice, maybe?"
Everyone agreed, and Fang Aiguo suggested adding some Jianlibao, so Chen Jianghai ordered a bottle of Jianlibao for each person.
Chen Jianghai knew clearly that if it weren't for Xue Chunli's prohibition, considering Fang Aiguo's personality, even if they didn't order strong liquor, they would at least have some beer.
While waiting for the dishes, the atmosphere at the table suddenly became somewhat awkward.
Zhao Changgui was like a sullen gourd, head down, staring intently at the teacup in front of him, lost in his thoughts.
Zhao Yuxi couldn't help but look around curiously.
After observing for a while, Xue Chunli's face was expressionless, occasionally sipping tea without showing whether she was pleased or not.
Lin Jianguo sat there honestly, with eyes on his nose and nose on his heart, not daring to make a sound.
Lin Wanqiu couldn't help but glance at Chen Jianghai beside her, then turned to look at her mother, trying to make conversation, "Mom, is everything alright at home recently?"
"It's fine," Xue Chunli replied.
Then she sighed and began to complain, "It's just that neighbor Lin Jihua is so annoying. Every day he keeps his door open to show off, as if afraid others won't know he has a big color TV!"
Xue Chunli's tone grew more agitated as she vented to her daughter about Lin Jihua.
The few men left at the table naturally did not join in the conversation, instead, they drank tea in tacit agreement.
At that moment, a frivolous voice came from the side.
"Wanqiu?"
Everyone turned around and saw a tall, thin man in his early twenties with long hair, looking at Lin Wanqiu with surprise on his face.
This guy was named Feng Renjie, who, relying on his father being the deputy factory director, did not work and loafed around with a bunch of ruffians, and had his eyes on the exceptionally beautiful Lin Wanqiu.
"Who's that?" Chen Jianghai asked with a raised eyebrow.
Lin Wanqiu's face was a bit unnatural, "He's the son of our factory's deputy director."
Usually, he would bother her now and then, and Lin Wanqiu had no choice but to avoid him.
Seeing Lin Wanqiu like this, Chen Jianghai knew that she probably didn't get along well with this colleague.
Feng Renjie had five or six people with him, all dressed in jeans and fancy shirts, looking like a bunch of thugs, making a scene.
"Renjie, is this the girl you've been pining for?"
"I heard she's already got a husband!"
"Brother, you sure have a unique taste, fancying a sister-in-law!"
"Heh, nothing tastes better than dumplings, but for fun…"
Hearing these people's comments, everyone's expression at the table changed.
"Wanqiu, what a coincidence to bump into you here for a meal, it shows that we really are… fated," Feng Renjie said excitedly as he approached Lin Wanqiu, blatantly ignoring everyone else.
After speaking, he reached out to grab Lin Wanqiu's hand.
Slap!
Chen Jianghai quickly swung his hand, knocking Feng Renjie's hand away.
It seemed only then did Feng Renjie notice Chen Jianghai beside him, and he raised his voice to challenge, "Who the hell are you?"
Chen Jianghai asked indifferently, "What do you want to do?"
"What I want to do is none of your business! Mind your own if you know what's good for you." With a face full of arrogance, Feng Renjie spoke, and a few thugs gathered around him.
"What do you want?"
Seeing this situation, Fang Aiguo immediately widened his eyes, without hesitation, his hand reached for the beer bottle, ready to smash it on Feng Renjie's head if he dared to make a move on Brother Hai.
Zhao Changgui, although silent, also had a darkened expression, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked, ready to explode at any moment.
Chen Jianghai said coldly, "Wanqiu is my wife, how could it be none of my business!"
Hearing this, Feng Renjie was taken aback for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Chen Jianghai, and then he laughed presumptuously.
"Oh, so you're the good-for-nothing husband living off Wanqiu?"
Faced with Feng Renjie's mockery, Chen Jianghai's demeanor remained indifferent, as if the words weren't about him at all.
Seeing Chen Jianghai not responding, Feng Renjie thought he was scared and pointed at Chen Jianghai, saying fiercely, "If you know what's good for you, you'll divorce Wanqiu quickly, or you'll regret it!"
By then, Feng Renjie's fair-weather friends had also closed in, looking at Chen Jianghai with malicious intent.
Chen Jianghai snorted coldly, "Then I'd like to see how you're going to make me regret it."
After speaking, he grabbed Feng Renjie's finger and twisted it forcefully, causing Feng Renjie to howl in pain and drop to one knee.
Feng Renjie's howling also attracted the attention of everyone in the restaurant.
"Stay away when it goes down!"
Zhao Changgui instructed Zhao Yuxi, and then stood up to join Chen Jianghai.
"Sister-in-law, you guys step back too!"
After speaking, Fang Aiguo also picked up a beer bottle and stood behind Chen Jianghai.
"If there's nothing else, go about your business, and don't come looking for trouble here."
At this point, Chen Jianghai released his grip and said coldly.
Rubbing his fingers, Feng Renjie thought Chen Jianghai was scared and said through gritted teeth, "Damn it, you think you can get away after hitting me? Who do you think you are!"
"What do you want to do?" Chen Jianghai frowned.
"You have to apologize to me today! And let Wanqiu dine with me!" Feng Renjie declared arrogantly.
"You want an apology, right?"
Chen Jianghai pointed outside, "It's not very convenient here, shall we go outside?"
Confident because of his numerical advantage, Feng Renjie didn't think twice, "Let's go, I'm not afraid of you."
Chen Jianghai glanced at Zhao Changgui and Fang Aiguo, then said to Lin Wanqiu, "Wanqiu, you guys stay here."
Upon hearing this, Lin Wanqiu quickly grabbed Chen Jianghai's hand, "Jianghai, there are so many of them, you better not go."
Chen Jianghai, who had been frost-faced, smiled and said, "Don't worry, I know my limits."
With that, Chen Jianghai turned and walked out, with Zhao Changgui and Fang Aiguo following immediately.
Feng Renjie even gave Lin Wanqiu a smug look, a gleam of unknown significance in his eyes.
"Wanqiu, don't worry, I won't be too harsh, I'll be back to dine with you in a bit."
After speaking, Feng Renjie, leading his gang, followed them out.
"Brother Hai, later…" Fang Aiguo wanted to say something but was interrupted by Chen Jianghai.
"Just don't go too far later."
Fang Aiguo nodded at Chen Jianghai's words, and then glanced at Zhao Changgui.
Zhao Changgui didn't speak, only grunted to indicate he understood.
Among the three, probably only Zhao Changgui was capable of inflicting serious harm.
Once outside in the alley of the hotel, Chen Jianghai pulled out a cigarette and offered one to Zhao Changgui.
Before long, Feng Renjie arrived with his group, his face full of confidence.
Seven against three, Feng Renjie was sure he could win even if a fight broke out.
With such an easygoing mindset, he didn't take Chen Jianghai and his companions seriously at all.
"Kid, what are you staring at? Kneel down and apologize to me right now, I'm still waiting to go back and have dinner with Wanqiu," Feng Renjie bellowed with wide eyes.
Mentioning Lin Wanqiu only fanned the flames of Chen Jianghai's anger.
"Attack!"
Chen Jianghai shouted, charging forward, and with a flying kick, he knocked Feng Renjie to the ground, followed by a flurry of kicks.