Chapter 78

Originally, Guoguo was about to go upstairs to do her homework, but she rushed down like a gust of wind: "What about me!? Dad, you can't just take Mom and leave Guoguo out, that's favoritism! Do you still want to see those photos from the other day?"

Pfft, what a tempting offer!

"Of course I want to see them!" Xu Yun's favorite thing was the little secrets he shared with Guoguo.

Ruan Qingshuang, who was in the dark, was completely puzzled: "What photos?"

"I know." Qiu Yan also came down, and her one sentence made Xu Yun and Guoguo break out in cold sweat. Qiu Yan usually didn't care about gossip, so why did she suddenly change her personality?

But Qiu Yan continued: "If you don't want me to say, take me along."

The mighty and violent Fox Lord wasn't just for a meal; she was just worried about Guoguo. After all, it was already confirmed that the Red Scorpion had entered Hedong City, and she didn't want to be separated from Guoguo for even a minute.

"Of course, no problem!" Guoguo wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and quickly agreed, giving Xu Yun a meaningful look.

What could Xu Yun do? He had to agree! If this plan was exposed, Ruan Qingshuang would definitely kick him and Guoguo out of the house. The thought of being homeless with Guoguo made him break out in cold sweat.

Being homeless wasn't scary; what was scary was being homeless with Guoguo...

"What are you talking about?" Ruan Qingshuang waved her hand, not bothering to listen: "If you're so willing to go, then go. I won't go. I'll stay in the shop and let Qiangzi help me."

Qiangzi pointed to his hands, still wrapped in bandages: "Sister Shuang, I'm still a patient."

Xu Yun smiled and grabbed Qiangzi's hand to show Ruan Qingshuang: "He's still a serious patient. He can hardly even carry a plate. His hands probably won't be better by the time the Hongnan branch is renovated."

Now, all the renovation work for the herbal restaurant was entrusted to Xiao Fei's uncle, Pang Gang. All the branches and the main store had a unified style, showing a trend of large-scale chain development.

"Then, wait for Wan'er to come back and help me." Ruan Qingshuang didn't like going to unfamiliar people's banquets; she always felt very constrained.

Xu Yun smiled bitterly: "She's been so busy lately, I don't even know if she can come back."

Just as Xu Yun finished speaking, Qin Wan'er came back from work, not giving them any face.

"Ha, Wan'er, you came just in time. They're going out to eat tonight, and you'll help me in the shop today." Ruan Qingshuang smiled smugly.

Qin Wan'er shook her head and looked at Xu Yun: "Where are you going to eat? Take me along... I really don't want to move..."

"Mom, let's close the shop for a day. Go out for a big meal with Guoguo. We'll all go." Guoguo took charge: "It's settled."

Xu Yun was a bit annoyed. Originally, he was going to take Ruan Qingshuang to negotiate and try to get some information from Ma Pinghai. Now it had turned into a family gathering, with the whole family in tow...

Well, well, Xu Yun accepted everything. What's the big deal about bringing the whole family? He was sure Jin Biao and the others wouldn't dare say anything.

"Guoguo, you can't just close a restaurant. It will affect business." Ruan Qingshuang said, "If customers come and find out you've closed without notice, they'll lose confidence in our herbal restaurant. Do you understand?"

"That's easy." Guoguo directly assigned the task to Qiangzi: "Brother Qiangzi, call Dan Hongning and ask them to bring a chef. Don't be idle; come here and help out. Since your hands are injured, you can handle the cash and keep the accounts. I'll check them when I come back."

Qiangzi looked miserable. Getting injured was hard enough, and now he had to work.

Xu Yun was very satisfied with this arrangement and made the decision: "It's settled. Let's go! Oh, right, Qiangzi, give me the car keys. I need to use them."

"Bro... be careful on the road..." Qiangzi felt heartache when he saw the dents on his brand new Audi, even though he hadn't spent a penny on it and it didn't have any documents or license plates, it was still his treasure.

Xu Yun waved his hand impatiently: "I know, I know. You're so stingy. Call Dan Hongning and borrow a chef. The shop is yours tonight."

Qiangzi nodded in agreement.

Xu Yun and the four women, one big and three small, headed straight for the Hedong International Hotel in the city center. He wanted to see what tricks Jin Biao would pull and whether Ma Pinghai was really the Red Scorpion's contact in Hedong City.

As soon as they arrived at the International Hotel, Guoguo sighed: "It's been a long time since I've eaten in such a big place. Hmm, it feels good."

"Have you been to such a place before?" Ruan Qingshuang looked at Guoguo in surprise. She had never been to such a large hotel. Just looking at the LED advertisements at the entrance, she could tell how expensive it was: "Our store offers a special family gathering meal for ten people in a private room: 3988 yuan..."

A special family gathering meal for such a price! Are they crazy?!

Or are the people who come to eat just stupid?

"Who's paying for this, such a big spender?" Qin Wan'er couldn't help but ask.

"Jin Biao." Xu Yun smiled faintly and said calmly.

Qin Wan'er's eyes widened instantly: "What? What's his intention! I haven't even dealt with him, and he dares to..."

"Wan'er, we're here to eat today. We'll settle accounts later. And you don't have time to deal with Jin Biao's affairs right now." Xu Yun suppressed Qin Wan'er's impending outburst: "We'll only know what Jin Biao's intention is when we get there."

Qin Wan'er's anger didn't subside. If it weren't for the fugitive, she would have already confronted Qi Yishan and Jin Biao, who were in cahoots.

"Since we're here, let's make the best of it." Guoguo was optimistic, "Even if it's a trap, it doesn't matter. If it's like Xiang Zhuang's sword dance, we still have Dad to transform into Xiang Bo and Fan Kui."

Wow, this girl really knows how to think. Qin Wan'er felt a bit inferior: "Okay, since Guoguo said it, I'll go with you to see what he's up to."

Qiu Yan didn't say anything. She didn't sense any danger. She came not because she liked such banquets, but because she knew Guoguo wanted to come and she couldn't convince her to stay at home. She felt more at ease by coming along.

Ruan Qingshuang only then realized that the one who invited them was the big troublemaker: "We... why are we having dinner with a gang leader?"

Xu Yun smiled but didn't speak. Qin Wan'er looked helpless, and Qiu Yan remained silent.

"Mom, haven't you figured it out yet?" Guoguo shrugged: "You're a gang leader too."

Ruan Qingshuang's eyes widened, and she suddenly realized the change in her identity.

Qin Wan'er didn't support this, but due to various reasons, she didn't say anything.

After learning that Xu Yun had agreed to the dinner, Jin Biao immediately came to the International Hotel to wait. Because of the rising power in the South District, Ma Pinghai and Wu Lei didn't delay and arrived early at the room Jin Biao had reserved.

Seeing that the time was about right, Jin Biao went to the hotel lobby to wait. He sat on a redwood sofa, smoked two cigarettes, and waved to the hotel manager: "I'll take a nap. I have important guests, one man and one woman. Call me when they arrive."

"Yes, yes, Mr. Biao, who are the important guests that you're waiting for personally?" The hotel manager lowered his head and spoke respectfully. He knew Jin Biao's status and spoke cautiously.

"Is that something you can ask?" Jin Biao glared at him and closed his eyes to rest.

The hotel manager still smiled and bowed, leaving to wait at the entrance, imagining who Jin Biao was waiting for.

Jin Biao dozed off until he heard a young voice calling his name, which woke him up.

...

Xu Yun led the four women, one big and three small, into the International Hotel lobby. The revolving door opened, and Xu Yun strode in.

"Wait a moment." A manager dressed in a uniform blocked Xu Yun. The manager looked at Xu Yun's unconventional attire and the stunning beauties behind him, frowning and thinking: What kind of world is this? Could such a good catch really be taken by this unreliable guy?

Xu Yun was taken aback: "What's up?"

"Sorry, what are you here for?" The manager frowned.

"Someone invited me to dinner." Xu Yun was speechless. Am I here to play mahjong?

The manager didn't believe it: "You? Friend, this is a high-class place. Your attire is really inappropriate, and I can't let you in."

Guoguo covered her face with her hand, sighing. Dad, you're really embarrassing me.

Xu Yun glanced at the snobbish manager and smiled: "I can't come to eat in this outfit? Who said that?"

"I did." The manager, seeing Xu Yun's attire, was sure he wasn't someone important. He didn't recognize Xu Yun, so he wasn't afraid to offend him.

Xu Yun shrugged and turned to the women, looking helpless: "Looks like we can't eat here today. Let's go back."

Xu Yun didn't have much to say to this snobbish manager. He just needed to step out and tell Dan Hongning, and once Dan Hongning passed the message to Jin Biao, the manager's good days would be over.

Ruan Qingshuang was glad to leave, finally breathing a sigh of relief. Qin Wan'er was a bit annoyed, feeling embarrassed. Qiu Yan turned around, not caring about anything.

"Do you know who invited my dad?" Guoguo wasn't going to take this lying down, putting her hands on her hips: "Don't look down on people. Even though my dad's outfit is a bit shabby, you can't afford to offend him."

The manager, seeing Guoguo's defiance, sneered: "Alright, tell me, who invited you to dinner?"

"Jin Biao!" Guoguo was shrewd. She knew that the name of this local gangster would be enough to make a difference.

The manager was taken aback, then found it funny, but then he became nervous and fearful...

"Damn!" Suddenly, a loud slap sent the manager stumbling several steps away!

...