BPIFC -Volume 1 – Chapter 192 The Story

In the afternoon of the third day, Sun Desheng personally went to the hospital to pick up Che Qianzi. He then brought the little Taoist back to his home and changed him into a high-end suit that had already been prepared.

He said, “Brother, we’ve got an appointment with Old Huang tonight to return the meal to Director Wu. Just come along and freeload a meal. It’s almost the end of the year anyway—people should keep in touch when they should.”

At the mention of eating with Wu Rendi, Che Qianzi frowned. “Forget it. That pretty-boy Director Wu hasn’t been looking at me kindly lately. I’d better not join the fun—I’m not scared of him, I just don’t want to go back to the ICU again… the nurses there all say the same thing when they see me: ‘Back again? What is it this time?’”

Seeing his gloomy expression, Sun Desheng chuckled. “Don’t worry. After tonight, there won’t be anyone in the world who can send you to the ICU anymore. I, Sun Desheng, guarantee it. Trust your brother just this once.”

After a long round of persuasion, Che Qianzi reluctantly agreed to go to the dinner.

The banquet was arranged by Shao Yiyi as a return treat to Wu Rendi, and she brought her daughter along as well. The four of them set out an hour early. When they arrived at the private room, Huang Ran, Meng Qiqi, and Zhang Zhiyan’s group had already arrived.

Seeing them come in, Huang Ran stood up with a smile. “Qiqi was just saying she missed your little girl, and then you arrived. Sit, sit—Boss Sun, you sit here next to Director Wu.”

Seeing only these few people present, Sun Desheng chuckled. “Old Huang, you’re too polite. We should’ve arrived earlier.”

Then he called out, “Xiao Wu, come greet everyone. You’ve met them a few times already but never properly greeted them. This one—bigger than your dad—call him Uncle. That’s Uncle Huang. And that beautiful lady over there is Auntie, Auntie Qiqi… Why are you shy? It’s not free—say something nice and you get pocket money. And that one over there, call him Big Brother, Zhang Zhiyan big brother…”

Zhang Zhiyan was already about to take out money as a greeting gift for the child calling him “uncle,” but hearing that Huang Ran and Meng Qiqi were “uncle” and “aunt,” while he became “big brother,” he stood up angrily.

“Sun Desheng, what do you mean? Are you mocking me?”

Before he could continue, Che Qianzi shot back first.

“Calling you young and you’re still unhappy? You look like you’ve been drained dry, doing shady business at night. Come to dinner and it won’t affect you picking up rich women, right? You look pale like you’ve got kidney deficiency—go eat some goji berries.”

Angered, Zhang Zhiyan was about to rush forward, and Che Qianzi grabbed a bottle of unopened red wine, ready to fight back.

At that moment, the bathroom door flushed open.

A large monk, Shanshan the Great Monk, came out while adjusting his trousers. Seeing the confrontation, he laughed.

“What’s this, kids playing house? Let me place a bet—I bet the kid surnamed Che wins. Come on, place your bets!”

Seeing him, Zhang Zhiyan immediately held back.

Just as he was about to explain how the Sun brothers were bullying him, Sun Desheng chuckled and walked over, personally pulling out a chair for the monk.

“I was wondering where you went, venerable one. Xiao Wu, come, bow to the old Buddha.”

The little girl hopped over obediently and was about to kneel.

The monk laughed and helped her up.

“This bow would be wasted on me. I don’t even have a gift ready… how about this: I’ll take you as my god-granddaughter. When you grow up and meet a scumbag, come tell grandpa—I’ll personally kill him for you on behalf of Buddha.”

After the monk appeared, Che Qianzi and Zhang Zhiyan’s fight was naturally called off.

Huang Ran also tried to smooth things over, and Zhang Zhiyan finally calmed down. But what surprised Che Qianzi was that Meng Qiqi didn’t react at all this time. Unlike before, she didn’t rush out to defend Zhang Zhiyan. The two of them seemed to have had a falling out—she ignored him completely, only occasionally glancing toward the entrance.

“Don’t worry. Wu Min is rarely on time,” the monk said with a grin, glancing at Meng Qiqi, then at Che Qianzi.

“The more I look at you two, the more you look like a married couple. I could even be your matchmaker—why don’t you two just get together? Kid, I’d be happy for your father if he knew.”

At the last sentence, directed at Che Qianzi, the boy froze.

He immediately understood something.

“You know my father? Monk, tell me—where did he die?”

The question nearly made Sun Desheng spit out his water.

Afraid the monk might reveal too much, he quickly cut in.

“Brother, don’t take the old monk’s joke seriously. He’s just teasing. He’s a monk, you’re a Taoist—different paths, same house rules. He’s just joking.”

The monk smiled faintly at Sun Desheng.

“I see what you’re trying to do. Little fatty, this isn’t something a few grapes can settle anymore. Name your price—if it suits me, I’ll help you. If not… Old Huang, I’ll tell you a story.”

Huang Ran smiled knowingly.

“Every word from the Zen master is supreme Buddhist teaching. I will listen carefully.”

As he spoke, he glanced at Che Qianzi, also wondering about the boy’s background.

At that moment, the door opened again.

Two white-haired men walked in one after another.

It was Shen La who opened the door—and the first to enter was the guest of honor: Wu Rendi.

The moment he entered, Wu Rendi noticed the monk.

He looked at him with mild surprise.

“Monk, what guilty thing did you do? Hiding your aura like that. Did you get caught in last night’s crackdown on vice? Too ashamed to show your face?”

The monk laughed heartily.

“Come sit, come sit. Long time no see. Don’t worry—I’m not here to collect debts.”

Then he looked at Sun Desheng.

“Have you made up your mind? I’m about to start the story.”