It had been a long time since entering the University of Finance and Economics campus, returning felt like a very, very long time had passed.
Ah, unexpectedly, two years had already passed since my rebirth.
It was exam season again.
The end of these exams meant the end of Chen Pingjiang's sophomore year.
"What the hell, Chen Ge, why are you back?"
"Oh my, a rare visitor."
A bunch of "sons" in the dorm clamored, attracting classmates from other dorms.
"What nonsense, I paid 600 yuan for accommodation fees for the year, don't make such a fuss."
They didn't feel anything when living together before, but now that Chen Pingjiang came back less and less, and met less and less often, many people excitedly surrounded him when they met again.
Finally, Chen Pingjiang raised his arm and called out:
"Go study and review, the exam is tomorrow. After the exam, don't go back yet, we'll go have a meal together."
The next day was the exam.
Chen Pingjiang's examination room was unique.
First, Li Fu stood ramrod straight at the entrance, guarding the examination room like a doorman.
Chen Pingjiang told him not to, but he didn't listen, so Chen Pingjiang let him be.
Unlike other examinees, Chen Pingjiang was allowed to bring his phone, and could even openly answer calls.
A high-ranking leader had already given instructions, would the invigilator dare to question it?
However, Chen Pingjiang was also quite self-aware, knowing he couldn't write anything anyway, he handed in his paper after a brief pretense.
Chen Pingjiang didn't specifically arrange the location for the meal.
Instead, he led the entire class to Xiao Chen BBQ Main Branch on the commercial street outside the school gate.
They almost completely occupied the entire entrance before barely managing to seat the whole class.
"I'd like to say a few words. Although everyone has called me class monitor for the past two years, I am very ashamed that I have done almost nothing for the class. Wang Liwen has always been doing the work. In the new academic year, if any handsome guy in the class is willing to come forward to be the male class monitor, I fully support it. I will penalize myself with three drinks."
After speaking, Chen Pingjiang chugged three large glasses of beer.
A burst of cheers erupted around them.
"Besides you, no one is suitable to be class monitor."
"Exactly, even though you come back less often, our entire class benefits from you."
"You are forever the class monitor in our hearts."
"..."
Even the girls, including Cong Nini, gradually became lost in thought looking at Chen Pingjiang.
Wang Liwen grumbled,
"What! Usually, I work myself to death running around for them, and they take it for granted. Chen Pingjiang did nothing, yet he has everyone's adoration."
"Oh, you two are different. How many people like Chen Pingjiang are there in the world?"
Since Chen Pingjiang became increasingly famous, Class 4 of Industrial Management's presence at the University of Finance and Economics also became increasingly special.
Dorm checks definitely would not happen.
Course instructors would leniently pass those who failed.
If Class 4 of Industrial Management competed in a debate competition organized by the school, the judges would overtly or covertly go easy on them.
All this was because Class 4 had a Chen Pingjiang.
From the outside, we don't know who Chen Pingjiang has a good relationship with in the class.
Since that's the case, it's best not to offend anyone.
When Chen Pingjiang said these words, Zhu Guangtong and some thoughtful individuals in the class understood.
It was feared that Chen Pingjiang would return to school less and less often in the future.
Although this was foreseeable in everyone's hearts, when this day actually came, it was still somewhat unpleasant.
...
Empress Dowager Xu and Chen Guangming arrived as scheduled.
"The weather in Dongjiang is really something, it's only June and it's already so hot, it's 35 degrees today,"
Xu Fangjuan grumbled from the back seat of the Maybach 57S.
Chen Pingjiang chuckled,
"Do you think the title of one of the 'Four Furnaces of China' is for nothing? But it's muggy in summer and damp and cold in winter, the kind that chills you to the bone."
However, Empress Dowager Xu didn't respond, instead, she became very interested in Li Fu, who was driving, and asked him a barrage of questions.
Although Li Fu usually spoke little, it depended on who he was talking to; he answered every question from the big BOSS's mother.
After seeing Yan Yan again, Empress Dowager Xu was extremely satisfied, her crow's feet conspicuously visible from smiling.
"Oh, girl, I missed you so much."
"Chen Pingjiang didn't bully you, did he?"
This overly affectionate behavior made Chen Pingjiang unable to watch.
When had she ever been so nice to him?
So... maternal love had transferred, had it?
Yan Yan shook her head sweetly,
"He didn't bully me, he treats me very well."
Chen Pingjiang's "sharpness" in dealing with people was actually somewhat like Xu Fangjuan's, so Xu Fangjuan could quickly get along with anyone.
The amount of conversation between Yan Yan and Xu Fangjuan felt like more than Yan Yan had with her own parents at home.
After the two adults and two young people wandered around, they met Yan Yan's parents officially at Liu Cheng's private kitchen in the evening.
"Brother, to entertain you today, I closed the restaurant. Everyone, from top to bottom, is here to serve you,"
Liu Cheng said with a smile after meeting Chen Pingjiang.
"No need, why not make money?"
Liu Cheng waved his hand,
"It's no trouble, they're usually quite tired, so consider it a holiday for them to rest."
This was the stance Liu Cheng took, clearly showing Chen Pingjiang how important he was in his heart.
The God of Wealth in the circle.
Just a little guidance or an introduction to some connections would be enough for Liu Cheng to benefit endlessly.
Sometimes Liu Cheng would lament to Lu Lizhen at home, saying how lucky she was to have met Chen Pingjiang back then.
It was the first time meeting the girl's parents.
Even Empress Dowager Xu was a little nervous, constantly asking Yan Yan if she had any dietary restrictions or what dishes she liked.
Yan Yan covered her mouth and smiled,
"Auntie, they're all fine with anything."
While Xu Fangjuan and Chen Guangming were nervous, Yan Liming and Li Yuhua were not necessarily composed either.
Ultimately, Chen Pingjiang was not the Chen Pingjiang of the past.
He was a son-in-law whom Yan Liming also needed to rely on.
If it weren't for Chen Pingjiang, it would be a question mark whether Yan Liming could become the district chief.
As soon as the parents met, Yan Liming stepped forward and shook hands with Chen Guangming and Xu Fangjuan.
"It was truly regrettable that we couldn't meet when you came last year. This time, please stay for a while longer no matter what, and visit our home later."
Yan Yan turned around after hearing this and met Chen Pingjiang's gaze, secretly squeezing Chen Pingjiang's palm that she was holding.
Chen Pingjiang grinned at her, knowing that the little girl was expressing her apology.
Chen Guangming smiled,
"District Chief Yan, thank you and your esteemed wife for raising such a wonderful daughter. Yan Yan is excellent, my wife and I both especially like her. She is well-educated and a lady from a good family; we both wish we could adopt her as our daughter."
Old Chen had been mixing in society for many years, and indeed, he had a knack for eloquent formal speeches.
"Haha, you flatter me, you flatter me. Also, there's no District Chief here tonight. I asked Chen Pingjiang, you're a year older than me, so I'll call you elder brother."
Li Yuhua also smiled broadly, looking at Xu Fangjuan and Chen Guangming.
She was very satisfied that these in-laws didn't put on airs because of their sudden wealth.
Especially praising Yan Yan was like praising their own couple.
Seeing their beloved daughter leaning shoulder to shoulder with Chen Pingjiang, they truly were a perfect match.
"Pingjiang, let Xiao Li go to your Uncle Yan's trunk to get the things out. We brought them as a first meeting gift for your parents."
Before Li Fu could speak, Liu Cheng quickly leaned over, took the car keys, and said with a smile,
"I'll do it, I'll do it, you all chat."
"Oh my, that's too kind. We're the groom's family, we should be the ones bringing the meeting gift."
"Hey, it's nothing."
It must be said that Liu Cheng also spared no expense.
Usually, it was hard to get a table at this restaurant, and reservations had to be made half a month in advance.
Today, not only was it closed, but he even called in all the best chefs from his other branches.
Each chef cooked their most signature dish!
Since it was the first meeting for both sets of parents, they wouldn't directly discuss marriage, especially since Chen Pingjiang and Yan Yan were still students.
Therefore, it was mostly about getting to know each other, sharing interesting anecdotes.
"Elder brother, don't stay in a hotel. Come to my house tomorrow, it'll be more comfortable. I'll take you to the nearby reservoir for fishing."
Yan Liming was served so well by Chen Guangming and Chen Pingjiang, father and son, that he was already three or four parts drunk.
Chen Guangming smiled and shook his head,
"Let's not trouble you. Chen Pingjiang's mother and I will leave after a few days. If you're on vacation in the future, come find me in Tongcheng, it's fun there."
Chen Pingjiang also nodded and chimed in,
"Uncle Yan, I've made an appointment to look at houses tomorrow. We can go together then."
"Don't you already have two houses?"
Li Yuhua asked curiously.
"But they are all small three-bedroom units, and quite remote. I plan to get a bigger one,"
Chen Pingjiang said, winking at Yan Yan beside him.
Yan Yan didn't expect Chen Pingjiang to dare to "tease" her in front of both sets of parents, and immediately blushed deeply.
Li Yuhua immediately understood, knowing this was probably for their future wedding home.
"That's good, a bigger one is better."
Upon hearing this news, Yan Liming and Li Yuhua, as the girl's parents, were naturally somewhat pleased.
This showed that Chen Pingjiang cared about their daughter.
"What kind of house are you planning to buy?"
"A villa, perhaps,"
Chen Pingjiang said,
"But it's not set in stone, we'll look around more then. A villa's advantage is good privacy, and a yard offers more freedom. You can plant some flowers and plants, my mother loves those. But personally, I still prefer living in a large flat, otherwise, a villa is too big, and with few people at home, it feels quiet. Sometimes if I leave my phone upstairs, running up and down is quite troublesome."
Chen Pingjiang's words seemed to open up everyone's conversation, and suddenly, they were all chiming in.
Yan Liming spoke first,
"I recommend choosing a large flat. The surrounding facilities are complete, transportation is convenient, and education and medical care are guaranteed."
Li Yuhua disagreed,
"I don't agree. Villas are rare resources; good villas in good locations are selling out. 'Watching flowers bloom and fall before the courtyard, watching clouds roll and unroll in the sky.' Chinese people don't just like independent houses with their own sky and land, and their own yards; it's an innate habit."
Both were correct from their own perspectives.
Li Yuhua, after all, was an editor-in-chief at a newspaper, with the characteristics of a literati in her bones.
Seeing his wife say this, Yan Liming had to admit,
"Dongjiang and some other major cities in China have tightened villa land use, so they will indeed become scarcer and scarcer."
With the conversation reaching this point.
Xu Fangjuan also spoke up,
"I also like villas; having my own small yard is very nice."
(End of chapter)