Chapter 287 - 285: Not to be Trifled With

Chapter 287: Chapter 285: Not to be Trifled With

Special treatment is something that exists in many places.

But shouldn’t the people who enjoy it either have a background that commands respect, or be genuinely pitiable and in need of help due to real difficulties? These are situations everyone can understand, right?

In reality, even with a background that commands respect, not just anyone gets special treatment.

But Gu Lihuang had only himself to blame for being too low-key. When he first joined the new transport fleet, he refused to reveal anything about his background, no matter how people prodded him, openly or otherwise. On top of that, he didn’t look like someone in any real trouble, yet he still enjoyed these "privileges." Naturally, this rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.

On what grounds?

Speculation ran rampant. Most people suspected that Gu Lihuang had either secretly bribed someone or was a relative of someone in charge who was quietly pulling strings for him. But he was too cunning, too good at hiding. No one ever saw him being particularly close with any of the fleet’s supervisors or team leaders.

The more Gu Lihuang hid his connections, the more everyone became convinced he was doing it on purpose, and the more resentful they grew.

It wasn’t just the drivers. In fact, even many of the supervisors and team leaders would grumble when they saw a nobody like him enjoying "special treatment." Some people even took it seriously enough to file official complaints against Gu Lihuang. The strange thing was, every single one of those complaints vanished without a trace, as if dropped into the ocean.

Now that the truth was out, everyone was left speechless. With the sudden understanding, their previous feelings of animosity completely dissipated.

Gu Lihuang had, in fact, chosen this specific moment to reveal everything precisely for this effect. It wasn’t that he hadn’t wanted to tell the truth when he first noticed things were getting out of hand. But by then, it was already too late. Even if he had said something, who would have believed him?

Gu Lihuang’s words made Gu Nuan Nuan smile. "My mom told me, ’There’s no greater virtue than admitting your mistakes and correcting them’... You’re doing just fine now."

"Heh heh, she really said that?" Gu Lihuang grinned, pleased.

"Why would I lie to you? Let’s leave it at that for now, Second Uncle. We’ve been held up long enough." They had spent quite a while standing there, waiting and talking. Even the crowd of onlookers was starting to press forward, and Gu Nuan Nuan was growing impatient. She tugged on Lin Qiao, who still hadn’t quite snapped out of her daze. The pull jolted Lin Qiao back to reality, and still looking a bit bewildered, she joined Gu Nuan Nuan in waving goodbye to Gu Lihuang and his companions.

The two had barely turned to leave when Gu Lihuang called out to them again. "Nuannuan, how about your Second Uncle comes over to your friend’s house tonight to join the festivities?"

He looked at Gu Nuan Nuan expectantly, then turned a shameless gaze on Lin Qiao. "Lin Qiao, you wouldn’t mind adding an extra pair of chopsticks to the dinner table tonight, would you? You don’t even have to add a seat. I can eat standing up. I don’t eat much."

’Heh. Second Uncle’s shamelessness really is something else...’

Gu Nuan Nuan rolled her eyes and said bluntly, "Second Uncle, have you no shame, inviting yourself like this? It’s so late already! They’ve probably gotten everything ready. You can’t just add someone at the last minute! Hmph, and ’eat standing up’... If you actually showed up, could they really bring themselves to make you stand and eat?" She shot Gu Lihuang a look and shook her head decisively. "There’s no extra room. Can you please not make things difficult for my friend’s family?"

"It’s okay, Nuannuan! The more, the merrier. We can squeeze to make room," Lin Qiao quickly interjected. "If your Second Uncle is willing to come, my family would be thrilled to have him." ’If there aren’t enough seats, it’s no problem at all,’ she thought. ’Worst case, our own family can eat later.’

"That won’t do! Even if your family is willing, I can’t agree to it!" Ye Laosan, who had been listening anxiously from the side, quickly jumped in. He was afraid that if he didn’t speak up, Gu Lihuang would actually end up going to Lin Qiao’s house. If that happened, his family would find out and chew him out for a year straight. Besides, he had his own little scheme to get the "Young Miss" over to his own family’s dinner that evening.

Ye Laosan immediately feigned anger at Gu Lihuang. "Huang, it’s not very decent of you to switch venues at the last minute, you know? The whole point of hosting is the more guests, the better! We’re on the same side here. Shouldn’t you be helping your own, trying to figure out a way to get the Young Miss over to my place? I’ve got plenty of room prepared today. Forget one person, I could fit another whole table!"

As he spoke, he fixed his glittering eyes on Gu Nuan Nuan, his face full of anticipation. "Young Miss, why don’t you come over to my place and join our celebration instead?"

Before Gu Nuan Nuan could answer, Lin Qiao pouted. "Uncle Ye, you say Nuannuan’s Second Uncle isn’t decent, but I think you’re the one who’s being indecent! You said it yourself, the more guests the better. My family doesn’t have that many guests to begin with, so how can you have the heart to try and steal one? I, for one, think Nuannuan’s Second Uncle’s original idea was excellent. Nuannuan, tell your Second Uncle to come to my house. Besides, Uncle Ye has so many guests, one less of them won’t be missed, and one more won’t make a difference."

Lin Qiao wasn’t one to be outdone at a crucial moment. Staring right back at Ye Laosan’s glare, she fearlessly encouraged Gu Nuan Nuan to her face. Gu Nuan Nuan just laughed, making it clear whose side she was on as she called out to Gu Lihuang, "Second Uncle, my friend has spoken. If you want to come, then come."

"Ye Laosan, you see how it is. My apologies..." Gu Lihuang said to Ye Laosan apologetically, without a moment’s hesitation.

"No, no, wait! Young lady of the Lin family, I was in the wrong just now. Don’t be hasty, we can discuss this. Heh heh..." Ye Laosan could see that Gu Nuan Nuan truly cared for her friend, Lin Qiao. In his panic, he dropped her name and resorted to his usual nickname for her. He offered a quick apology, followed by a wheedling laugh, his mind racing.

"Uncle Ye, as long as you’re not trying to steal my guest, I’m not hasty at all. Hmm, I can even give Nuannuan’s Second Uncle back to you," Lin Qiao said magnanimously. But as soon as she said it, Gu Lihuang’s face became a kaleidoscope of expressions. He muttered helplessly under his breath, "Great. Now I’m a piece of merchandise."

Gu Nuan Nuan couldn’t help but cover her mouth to stifle a laugh. Gu Lihuang grinned along with her, all thoughts of arguing with Lin Qiao vanishing from his mind. He even made a secret mental note not to mess with that little spitfire in the future.

Ye Laosan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but he certainly couldn’t lose his temper. Normally, if Lin Qiao had dared to talk back to him like that in the village, he would have definitely retorted with something like, "My, what a sharp tongue you have, little lady." But now, in front of Gu Nuan Nuan, he remembered her saying that Lin Qiao was her best friend, and their close bond was obvious. He didn’t dare underestimate the friendship between two teenage girls. ’The last thing I need is to offend this young lady of the Lin family,’ he thought. ’She’ll add this new grudge to all her old ones and have a field day badmouthing me to Gu Nuan Nuan...’