Li Nianlong nodded with a smile, "It's me, Uncle, Aunt. Now that our fourth brother is out of trouble, Zhao Tianming and I visited your home earlier. Your sister-in-law is preparing lunch; let's go back together and have a drink."
"Good, good." Zhang Zhenghao's parents, having never met someone of such high status, felt both nervous and a sense of pride. Their son being a classmate of the Liu family head made them think that he might become a high official in the future.
"Big brother..." Zhao Tianming took the lead in driving Zhang Zhenghao's parents back home. Li Nianlong drove slowly behind with Zhang Zhenghao. With no one else around, Zhang Zhenghao couldn't help but ask, "What exactly is going on? How did you become the head of the Liu family?"
Li Nianlong smiled faintly, "It's quite unbelievable, actually..."
Li Nianlong briefly recounted how he became the head of the Liu family. After finishing, he glanced at the stunned Zhang Zhenghao and said, "Old Fourth, I didn't help much while you were suffering. Do you blame me?"
"Don't say that, big brother." Zhang Zhenghao shook his head repeatedly, "If it weren't for you, my life would have been over. I wouldn't have gotten out so easily. Besides, you didn't know back then!"
With deep gratitude, Zhang Zhenghao said, "Big brother, thank you for not forgetting me."
"What are you talking about!" Li Nianlong patted his head. "You're bald now and still not smart?"
Zhang Zhenghao touched his bald head, "Big brother, thank you, truly."
"If you're thankful, drink more today!" Li Nianlong smiled. "I met your wife; she seems very nice."
Zhang Zhenghao showed a happy smile, "Yes, Xiaoyue is great."
Back home, Zhang Zhenghao saw Xiaoyue. Her eyes were full of tears as she ran into his arms, hugging him tightly.
Zhang Zhenghao hugged her back, too emotional to speak.
Seeing this, Zhang Zhenghao's parents wiped their tears, while Li Nianlong and Zhao Tianming watched the couple with smiles. Once they calmed down, Zhao Tianming said, "Old Fourth, since you're out now and we're here, you owe us a good drink."
Zhang Zhenghao nodded vigorously, "I'll drink as much as you want."
Xiaoyue wiped her tears, shyly smiling, "Big brother and Brother Zhao are our benefactors. If Zhenghao can't drink, I'll drink for him."
"Haha, sister-in-law, you're so straightforward," Zhao Tianming laughed. "But let's eat something first. It's been a hectic morning, and I'm starving."
Xiaoyue hurriedly said, "Everything is ready. I'll go serve the food."
In the village, news spread quickly. The word that Zhang Zhenghao was released soon reached everyone. The biggest news was that Zhang Zhenghao's big brother was the Liu family head, Li Nianlong. Everyone knew the Zhang family was destined to rise, and people brought gifts like eggs or chickens to congratulate them, hoping to make a good impression on Li Nianlong.
"Zhenghao, I always said good fortune follows the good. Now you're out, you'll soon be enjoying life."
"Auntie, Zhenghao will be an official now. Don't forget us, the villagers."
"Zhenghao, remember Uncle Zhao? You peed on me as a kid!"
"Xiaoyue, Zhenghao's back, and now your good days are here."
Watching the people come and go, Li Nianlong felt uncomfortable. Raised with Li Ying, he never experienced such rural relations. His impression of rural life was lots of relatives gathering for events. Villagers enjoyed the liveliness, but city folks used to peace might find it overwhelming. Li Nianlong just wanted to drink with his brother, but the constant visitors dampened his spirits.
Finally, he put down his cup and said, "Old Fourth, you just got out today, and your family has much to deal with. Old Third and I will leave now. Call me when things settle down, and we'll drink outside."
As soon as Li Nianlong spoke, the relatives and neighbors' faces changed. Zhang Zhenghao felt awkward, "Big brother, sorry for ruining your mood. Once things calm down, I'll apologize with three cups."
Patting his shoulder, Li Nianlong turned to Zhao Tianming, "Old Third, let's go."
"Alright!" Zhao Tianming stood up, leaving with Li Nianlong.
With the main guests gone, the other visitors lost interest and left after a few polite words. The cold reality of human relationships was evident.
Seeing this, Zhang Zhenghao could only sigh and spend a peaceful day with his parents and wife.
After leaving, Li Nianlong and Zhao Tianming drove side by side. Zhao Tianming asked, "Brother Long, are we heading back to Tianfu?"
"Yes, let's go back," Li Nianlong replied. "I'm not used to such rural socializing. Old Third, did it spoil your mood?"
"Not at all," Zhao Tianming laughed. "Seeing Old Fourth out, I'm happy. We can always drink together in the future."
Li Nianlong smiled slightly, "Come to Liu Manor tonight. I'll cook, and we'll drink together."
Zhao Tianming widened his eyes, looking at Li Nianlong's smiling face. Taking a deep breath, he nodded, "Brother Long, my life is in your hands."
"As long as I'm alive, the Black Rat Gang will thrive better than before."
Zhao Tianming nodded repeatedly, then asked curiously, "Brother Long, when did you learn to cook? Can you make something edible?"
"Get lost!"
They returned to Tianfu in the afternoon. Zhao Tianming followed Li Nianlong into Liu Manor. Stepping into Liu Manor for the first time, Zhao Tianming was trembling with excitement: "This is Liu Manor? I can come here now too. Thank heavens, praise be to you!"
"Big brother, you're back?" Yuexi, who was walking with her master, greeted Li Nianlong with surprise. "Why are you back so early? Weren't you staying for three days?"
Li Nianlong smiled, "I planned to stay for three days, but something came up, so I returned early."
"Something came up?" Yuexi looked puzzled.
"Just a minor issue." Li Nianlong smiled, greeting the old lady. Then he introduced Zhao Tianming, "This is my university dorm mate, Old Third Zhao Tianming. He's also the deputy leader of the Black Rat Gang, which has decided to join the Liu family. We're one family now."
Zhao Tianming grinned, "Hello, Grandma, hello, little sister-in-law."
Hearing "little sister-in-law," the old lady chuckled, while Yuexi blushed and pouted, "Who's your sister-in-law?"
"Uh, I saw you and Brother Long looking at each other fondly, so I thought... Well, since you're not, I'll call you little sister then!"
"Pah! Who's your little sister? I'll burn you to ashes," Yuexi glared at him.
Zhao Tianming, encountering such a "feisty" girl for the first time, was at a loss and awkwardly scratched his head.
Li Nianlong laughed, "Alright, Old Third is just joking. Don't mind him. I'm going to have a drink with him tonight. Anything you want to eat?"
"Oh?" Yuexi glanced at Zhao Tianming, "He looks decent but has a sly face. Can't be a good person." After another jab at Zhao Tianming, she said, "I want twice-cooked pork."
"Alright." Li Nianlong smiled and turned to the old lady, "Master, what would you like?"
"Soft and light for my old teeth," the old lady smiled.
"Got it." Li Nianlong nodded, "Where are Ruyue and Changchang?"
"Changchang is napping, and Sister Ruyue is watching 'Pleasant Goat.' One or two of them are boring, so I'm out walking with the master."
"You girl, complaining about walking with the master," the old lady tapped Yuexi's head with her cane. "Deserves a hit."
"Ouch! I'm just bored!" Yuexi looked aggrieved, "I wanted to go to Emei Mountain to see the nuns!"
Li Nianlong was speechless. You should go to Song Mountain to see the monks instead...
Li Nianlong then took Zhao Tianming to meet the old man and Shao Meiyun. The old man encouraged Zhao Tianming, while Shao Meiyun, smiling, said something that made Zhao Tianming's heart skip a beat, "The Black Rat Gang is lucky. The Liu family was planning to deal with them. If not for Nianlong's relationship with you, you wouldn't be a deputy leader anymore. Even the Zhao family couldn't save you."
Zhao Tianming broke into a cold sweat, never feeling more fortunate. He was determined to follow Li Nianlong to the end... no, to follow him towards a bright future.
That night, Li Nianlong personally cooked a lavish dinner. Zhao Tianming, tasting his cooking for the first time, burst into tears, "So damn good! What I ate before was pig food!"
"..."
The day was a huge shock for Zhao Tianming and a nuclear-level impact for Zhang Zhenghao. That night, he and Xiaoyue passionately expressed their year-long longing until the early hours. Lying in bed, Zhang Zhenghao couldn't sleep, reflecting on the day's events.
His former dorm leader had become the head of the Liu family. The corrupt
officials of their small town were all arrested, and new officials were urgently appointed to maintain order. The entire town underwent a seismic shift because of him. He was deeply grateful to Li Nianlong but didn't know how to repay him.
"Zhenghao, what are you thinking about?" Xiaoyue, also sleepless, looked at Zhang Zhenghao, feeling fulfilled and sweet.