Free Web NovelChapter 183: Chapter 183 Uninvited Guest
Wang Hao saw Zhang Xuepin helplessly extend his hand for a handshake.
"You almost scared me to death!"
At that time, Zhang Xuepin was very grateful to Wang Hao for taking both children so seriously and also felt guilty for taking them away on his own.
After learning that Xiao Wei and Jia Jia had gone missing, Wang Hao had mobilized all his underlings to search for them, but to no avail. Everyone’s hearts remained tense all the time.
When Zhang Xuepin returned to the orphanage with the two children, they were nearly beaten to death by the underlings who had been frantically searching for the kids all day; if it weren’t for Sun Laotian’s intervention, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
"How is Jia Jia’s condition?"
Wang Hao asked anxiously.
"For now, the situation has stabilized. There’s no life-threatening danger, but she will need regular check-ups at the city hospital later on," Zhang Xuepin briefly answered.
After hearing the update, Wang Hao picked up Jia Jia, who stood motionless by his side. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly at the tough fate of such a well-behaved and adorable child.
"Mr. Wang, actually, I wanted to take Xiao Wei and Jia Jia back with me because it would be more convenient for their treatment," Zhang Xuepin stepped forward with an apologetic tone.
"But I now have an urgent matter at the company, and the doctor said Jia Jia shouldn’t undergo the strain of travel. The children also don’t want to be separated, so I can only continue to trouble you!" he said, feeling embarrassed.
"No trouble at all. Once you’ve sorted out your business, I’ll bring Xiao Wei over to you!" Wang Hao was in a very good mood that day, so he agreed readily.
"I can’t thank you enough. However, when the time comes, please bring Jia Jia along too!" At that moment, Xiao Wei’s mother came over, holding Xiao Wei’s hand.
"Since the children don’t want to be separated, let’s satisfy their wish. I will treat Jia Jia as my own daughter from now on!"
"No, as a daughter-in-law!" Xiao Wei suddenly interjected.
Wang Hao instantly frowned. Had such a small child already gone bad, setting his sights on a girl? Now he had to reconsider whether it was a good idea to let the two live together.
Zhang Xuepin and his wife couldn’t stop laughing at the side, seeing Wang Hao’s puzzled expression, they quickly explained.
"You see, we took them to a friend’s wedding. The groom vowed to protect the bride for life, and Xiao Wei thinks he has to do the same to protect Jia Jia forever," they clarified.
Wang Hao was at a loss whether to laugh or cry after hearing the explanation.
While they were happily chatting, Zhang Xuepin suddenly checked the time, as if he had an urgent matter to attend to.
"Mr. Wang, have you opened a Chinese herbal medicine company in Chicheng County?" Zhang Xuepin suddenly pulled Wang Hao aside and whispered.
"A partner of our company has also come to Chicheng County today, and when the environmental protection department leaders heard about it, they wanted to invite us for a meal. I’d like to invite you to join us!" he added on.
"Isn’t that a bit inappropriate? They didn’t invite me, and besides, they’re all leaders. What business do we, the merchants, have there?" Wang Hao felt it was awkward and declined.
"What’s inappropriate? I think it’s very appropriate. Manager Chen will be there too. Meeting these leaders could be very beneficial for your future business!" Zhang Xuepin argued earnestly.
Convinced by Zhang Xuepin’s reasoning, Wang Hao agreed.
The two drove to the largest hotel in Chicheng County, where they were greeted with the highest courtesy at the entrance.
As important guests, even the hotel manager was there to welcome them.
Upon seeing Wang Hao, the hotel manager was momentarily stunned, but said nothing, seeing Zhang Xuepin at his side.
"Mr. Wang, please take a seat inside while I step away for a moment," Zhang Xuepin said to Wang Hao as he escorted him to the private room, suddenly feeling an upset stomach and excusing himself to use the restroom.
As soon as he entered the private room, everyone inside turned to look at the door at the sound of his arrival.
Chen Hongying’s eyes nearly popped out of her skull when she saw Wang Hao entering, and her expression darkened as she quickly glanced at Qin Xi next to her.
Qin Xi’s face also looked unpleasant, pondering how Wang Hao could have found this place when he was sure he hadn’t let the news out.
Besides Chen Hongying and Qin Xi, there were two other people in the private room.
One of them was corpulent with a broad waist and a big belly, almost spilling out of the chair as he sat. He seemed to be in his forties or fifties, exuding an imposing presence.
The other was quite the opposite, in good shape with a vibrant energy, but, on closer examination, he appeared to be much older than Wang Hao.
This overweight man with eyes nearly squinted into slits was none other than Zhou Kun, the current deputy director of the Environmental Protection Bureau.
He was the uncle who had always been behind Zhou Mazi, supporting and boosting his morale. However, he had never seen Wang Hao and was simply staring at Chen Hongying, confused, thinking perhaps some young man had walked into the wrong room.
The well-maintained man was Ma Boyuan, the purchasing manager of Xiangbei Shop, who was the one who had come to Chicheng County for an emergency purchase of common Chinese herbs.
This time Xiangbei Shop was sourcing Chinese herbs in the Xiangbei region to be shipped abroad. They feared the news might damage Xiangbei Shop’s reputation, accused of selling out national pride to aid foreigners with domestic resources.
Therefore, they chose the relatively remote Chicheng County, where even if a rumor emerged, it wouldn’t spread far.
Xiangbei Shop had a significant reputation in the Xiangbei region. Knowing they were dispatching someone on a purchasing mission, the county specifically sent Zhou Kun, the deputy director of the Environmental Protection Bureau, to give Ma Boyuan a welcome reception.
But shortly after they sat down, Wang Hao arrived uninvited.
"Wang Hao, what are you doing here?"
Chen Hongying frowned and asked. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom
"Wang Hao?"
The name sounded so familiar. On hearing Wang Hao, Zhou Kun shivered, his beady eyes scanning over Wang Hao. Could this be the very Wang Hao who had bullied his nephew?
Zhou Kun was clearly a petty and narrow-minded person, unable to tolerate anyone bullying a member of his family, including a nephew who lived more than a dozen kilometers away.
After hearing Zhou Mazi’s complaints, he had been eager to deal with him, but with bandits recently causing trouble in Chicheng County, he dared not step outside.
Today, however, Wang Hao had delivered himself to the doorstep, and Zhou Kun was not about to let slip such an excellent opportunity.
"Is this the kind of place for a bumpkin like you?"
Zhou Kun’s face darkened as he assumed an authoritative official’s tone, ready to thoroughly humiliate Wang Hao.
"Who is he?"
Ma Boyuan, seeing Zhou Kun’s fierce expression and Chen Hongying’s look of disgust, didn’t bother to give Wang Hao a proper glance before asking.
"Him? He’s the owner of a new Chinese herbal medicine company established in our Chicheng County, named Wang Hao!"
Although Chen Hongying was introducing Wang Hao, her tone was brimming with disdain.
"Newly established?"
Ma Boyuan smirked condescendingly, then glanced dismissively at Wang Hao and said.
"In Chicheng County, I’ve always only heard of Manager Chen’s name. Now with Manager Chen presiding over a Chinese herbal medicine company, who would dare to start a new one? Truly overestimating their capabilities!"
Ma Boyuan said this with a sneer, rudely pointing at Wang Hao.
"Director Zhou, is this man your guest?"
"I invited him? What a joke!"
Zhou Kun laughed coldly, giving Wang Hao a fierce stare.
"Does he even qualify?"
Zhou Kun and Ma Boyuan took turns mocking Wang Hao, with every word and phrase squeezing him. How could Wang Hao not understand?
With Wang Hao’s temperament, he would normally have stormed out by now, but today Zhang Xuepin had kindly invited him, and no matter what, he had to wait until Zhang Xuepin showed up to greet him before leaving.
"Are you deaf? This is not a place for you to stay. Why are you still clinging on? Are you hoping to scrounge a good meal?"
Zhou Kun pointed at Wang Hao’s nose and scolded.
"So young, yet so thick-skinned, this is my first time seeing someone as shameless as you. Not only do you show up uninvited, but you also stick around unwelcomed. Do you want me to call someone to throw you out?"
"Since you put it that way, I’m not leaving!"
Wang Hao simply sat down at the dining table and stared back at Zhou Kun.
"I want to see who today has the guts to drive me away from here!"
