Chapter 293 - 291: Selling a Favor

Chapter 293: Chapter 291: Selling a Favor

"Nuannuan, I already told my mom and dad, and they’re so happy. Oh, and they said that since we’ll only be eating the first few courses tonight, they’re going to ask my grandpa to change the serving order and bring out his best dishes first. I also told my parents what you like to eat, so my grandpa will probably make those a priority." Lin Qiao’s face was still flushed as she ran over to Gu Nuan Nuan. She added happily, "My dad said we’re sitting at the main table in the central hall tonight..."

"Wait." Gu Nuan Nuan was stunned. "You said your dad said we’re sitting where? The main table? No way. I’m not sitting there. Plus, with your uncle and a bunch of teachers from our school here today, sitting with them will give me indigestion. Let’s just sit in your parents’ room like we did at lunch."

’Geez. Everyone still sees me as a kid, so wouldn’t putting me at the main table be way too much? And all the guests at Lin Qiao’s house today are teachers from our school...’ Gu Nuan Nuan’s expression darkened as she imagined the trouble that would follow. Then, her thoughts turned to the Ye Family. ’It’ll be a disaster if they make a big scene, too.’

To be on the safe side, Gu Nuan Nuan nudged Lin Qiao. "Go talk to your parents. Tell them not to let everyone know my identity. There are so many teachers from our school here. If they all find out, I’ll have no end of trouble, right? Oh, and have your dad give the Ye Family a heads-up, too. Don’t tell him I said it; just say it was your idea for him to tell them. Remind them not to make a big scene. Anyway, no matter whose house it is, I’m definitely not sitting at the main table."

"Oh, I’ll go right now." Lin Qiao realized Gu Nuan Nuan’s concerns were completely valid. Her own thoughts raced ahead—she feared that if she were too late, her parents would have already blurted out Nuannuan’s identity to her grandparents. If that happened, all their relatives would know and would spend the entire dinner trying to cozy up to Nuannuan, begging for her help to get their own family members into the Zhang Group. A shiver went through her, and she immediately broke into a run.

"Dad! Mom! Wait."

Lin Qiao found her parents, panting. Luckily, they were still where she’d left them. Wiping the sweat from her brow, she quickly relayed Gu Nuan Nuan’s message and added her own concerns. After a moment of thought, Lin Qiao’s father said to her mother, "Alright, here’s the plan. We won’t make a fuss; we’ll just sit where we did at lunch. Don’t say anything to your parents for now. We’ll just say that our Qiaoqiao’s classmate happened to meet her second uncle, who coincidentally is colleagues with Ye Laosan of the Ye Family. He holds a high position in the Zhang Group, so he’s helping our two families build a good relationship as a favor to Qiaoqiao’s classmate. That’s why Ye Laosan’s group is coming to our house for dinner first. I’ll head over to the Ye Family’s place now. This counts as doing them a favor, too."

Lin Qiao’s mother nodded. "I understand. I know what to say. You should hurry over and let the Ye Family know. *Sigh.* Let’s just hope... if the Ye Family can really put in a good word with our neighbors this time and stop them from causing so much trouble, it would be a godsend. Otherwise, once our chickens and ducks start bringing in real money and our neighbors get jealous again, who knows what they might do."

"Heh heh, once we’re really making money, what can they do even if they are jealous? The fence around the bamboo grove is already up; good thing all that work wasn’t for nothing. When it comes down to it, people look down on us now because we’re poor. But once we have money, and we aren’t doing anything illegal, what is there to be afraid of?" Lin Fu straightened his back, speaking with a rare air of command. "That’s why we must seize this opportunity and make a real go of it. Let everyone see that I, Lin Fu, wasn’t fated to be poor my whole life."

"Yes, yes, once we have money, we’ll see who’s afraid of who," Lin Qiao’s mother said with a smile, pushing him toward the door. "Hurry up and go. Just make sure that once you have money, you don’t turn bad like some people. Otherwise, no matter how much money we make, it’ll all be for nothing."

"And remember, don’t let Grandma and Grandpa’s side of the family talk you into going back, Dad. You can’t forget how they treated our family, how they treated Mom and me, and Lin Long and Lin He!"

"Don’t worry. Both of you, don’t worry. I won’t turn bad like all those other characters. If the day ever comes when I can finally hold my head high, why would I jump right back into the mud? Besides... I’ll never forget who’s treated me well and who hasn’t... Honestly, what’s with you two? We haven’t even started, and you’re already worried about all this?" Lin Fu shook his head with a smile and walked off.

"Mom, do you think Grandma and the others will be able to talk Dad into going back to them later on?" Lin Qiao asked her mother worriedly once Lin Fu was out of earshot.

"He won’t." Lin Qiao’s mother shook her head confidently, her smile tinged with a strange sense of glee. "What your grandparents did back then was too cruel. Your dad isn’t that easily swayed."

"So... would you say this is a blessing in disguise for us?" Lin Qiao tilted her head in thought.

"Stop dawdling. Go on and keep your classmate company." Lin Qiao’s mother smiled, giving Lin Qiao a little push. ’Of course it’s a blessing in disguise.’ She couldn’t wait to see the looks on all their faces once her family was successful. ’Hmph.’

「The Ye Family.」

Ye the Fourth was at his eldest brother’s doorway when his sharp eyes spotted Lin Fu approaching. He froze for a moment, then quickly broke into a smile and hurried to greet him. He pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, took one out, and offered it over. "Lin, what brings you here at this hour?" As he spoke, he also took out a match, struck it, and a small flame flared to life.

"It’s a small matter regarding Qiaoqiao’s classmate. I figured I’d come over and give your third brother a heads-up." Lin Fu accepted the cigarette and put it between his lips, leaning in to catch the flame. He took a drag, inwardly ecstatic, but kept his expression neutral. ’Would this Ye the Fourth ever have been so polite to me in the past? Looks like I’ve still underestimated the importance of Qiaoqiao’s classmate. Mmm, I must have another serious talk with Qiaoqiao when I get back. I’ll tell her she must never get mad or act petty with that classmate.’

"It’s about our Young Miss? That’s a serious matter! My third brother’s home. Let’s go, I’ll take you to him right now." Hearing this, Ye the Fourth was startled and didn’t dare delay. He immediately started to lead Lin Fu to find Ye Laosan, asking on the way, "Lin, what’s it about, exactly? Can you give me a hint first?"

"It’s not a big deal. Actually, telling you is the same as telling him."

Lin Fu didn’t move. He stood right there and said to Ye the Fourth, "Basically, I heard that my eldest daughter’s classmate’s second uncle and your third brother are coming to my house for dinner first tonight. So, naturally, I planned on seating them at the main table. Heh, but when Qiaoqiao’s classmate found out, she refused. She said she won’t sit at the main table and doesn’t want everyone to know her identity right now. She said it would make her uncomfortable. I figured since that was my plan, your family was probably thinking of a similar arrangement. That’s why I made a special trip to give you a heads-up, so we don’t end up upsetting her."

"Oh my, I really have to thank you, my good man. We were, in fact, planning to have the Young Miss sit at the main table. If you hadn’t made the trip to warn us, we really might have upset her. Thank you, thank you so much, Lin. Won’t you come in for a cup of tea before you leave?"

"No, no, everyone’s busy at home today. I should be getting back. Another time, we can talk another time." Lin Fu waved his hand dismissively and left. Not daring to delay, Ye the Fourth hurried inside to find his father and his brothers.