Chapter 338: You Call This a Small Business?

Chapter 338 -264: You Call This a Small Business?

“Brothers!”

“A happy early New Year to everyone!”

Inside private room 777, everyone raised their glasses in celebration.

Since Wan Jiaze was the one who organized today’s gathering, no one had any objections to him bringing two people back, especially since Wan Jiakai was his cousin.

There were originally ten people in the room. After Wan Jiakai and Gu Heng arrived, it became a bit more crowded, but the atmosphere grew even livelier.

Older people enjoy being around the young.

The vibrant energy they possess is naturally infectious.

“Captain Wan, your little cousin’s quite something.”

“A top student from the Public University. You can’t find many of those in the entire province each year.”

Sun Ye, the deputy leader of Wan Jiaze’s squadron, spoke up. “Coming back to our Beichun in the future would honestly be a waste of his talent. If you ask me, he should aim for a big city. The prospects and the pay are far better than anything we can offer back home.”

“The current basic assignment policy at the Public University is to send graduates back to their province of origin. Unless he can rank in the top 5% on their school’s police recruitment joint exam, he won’t get a chance to freely choose a position anywhere in the country. Otherwise, as a student from Ji Province, he’ll have to obediently return to Ji Province.”

At this, Wan Jiaze shot a sideways glance at Wan Jiakai. “As for whether this kid has a chance of scoring in the top 5% on that exam… just ask him what he ranked in his class on the final exams this year. That’ll tell you everything you need to know.”

“So, kid, what was your rank?”

Gao Wei, who was sitting opposite Wan Jiakai and was built like a bull, asked with a hint of curiosity.

“Uh…”

“I ranked 42nd in the class.”

Wan Jiakai scratched his head and replied with an embarrassed grin.

“There are 44 people in his class.”

“And one of them went to join the army, so only 43 people actually took the exams.”

Wan Jiaze added.

“Wait, what?”

“Kid, does that mean you were second to last?”

Sun Ye was stunned for a moment, then couldn’t help but chuckle as he spoke.

“I didn’t perform well.”

“I was nervous before the exams.”

Wan Jiakai, looking a little embarrassed, mumbled his defense.

“Alright, alright.”

“Say no more, kid.”

“I’ll see you at the Kuan District Branch in three years.”

Sun Ye raised his glass and said to Wan Jiakai with a smile.

Seeing this, Wan Jiakai quickly picked up his beer mug with both hands and clinked it against Sun Ye’s.

“And where do you go to school, little brother?”

Gao Wei noticed Gu Heng, who had been sitting next to Wan Jiakai and had barely said a word since entering the room. Seeing that Gu Heng was about the same age as Wan Jiakai, he took the initiative to strike up a conversation.

“I didn’t go to college. I’m currently doing business in Beichun.”

Gu Heng smiled and replied with straightforward honesty.

“Oh…”

“I see.”

“Being independent at such a young age is also very impressive.”

When Gao Wei heard this, he figured Gu Heng had dropped out of school. He looked a little awkward and quickly added a few words to smooth things over.

“Thank you, Brother Gao.”

Gu Heng raised his glass at the right moment, appearing humble and polite.

“Come on!”

“Let’s have a drink!”

Gao Wei raised his glass, his smile hearty and open.

With the Lunar New Year’s Eve festival just around the corner, everyone was in high spirits.

Glasses clinked and toasts were exchanged amidst laughter and cheerful conversation.

In this atmosphere, time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, it was nine o’clock.

By now, Wan Jiakai was getting restless. He kept shooting all sorts of glances at Gu Heng, but Gu Heng remained calm and composed, completely unperturbed and giving nothing away.

However, Wan Jiakai failed to notice that after nine o’clock, Wan Jiaze, Sun Ye, Gao Wei, and the others were also silently exchanging glances, casting a strangely eerie mood over the table.

“COUGH, COUGH!”

“Looks like Old Niu and Old Zhao have had about enough. How about we call it a night?”

Wan Jiaze suddenly coughed twice. After speaking, he turned to Wan Jiakai and Gu Heng. “How about you two? If you haven’t had enough, I can find another place for us to have a few more rounds.”

“We’ve had plenty!”

“Any more and I’ll have to puke!”

“This was just the right amount!”

Wan Jiakai was overjoyed. He had just been racking his brain trying to figure out how to make his escape, and Wan Jiaze’s suggestion was exactly what he’d been hoping for.

“Alright then.”

“Then let’s call it a night.”

“I’ll find some time tomorrow or the day after, and we’ll do this again.”

Hearing this, Wan Jiaze readily agreed.

“Sounds good!”

In just a few words, the group decided to end the night there.

After finishing their last drinks, everyone got up and started heading out of the room.

Wan Jiaze led the way, walking to the restaurant’s cashier to pay the bill.

“What?”

“It’s on the house?”

When Wan Jiaze heard the cashier’s reply, he was completely stunned.

“Yes.”

“Sir, our owner personally gave the instructions.”

The server nodded and replied, “The entire bill for your private room today has been comped.”

Wan Jiaze was a bit dumbfounded. ‘Even though I was promoted to criminal investigation squadron leader at a young age and have some status in Beichun, it’s not enough for the owner of the renowned Champion Scholar Pavilion to comp my entire bill. Besides, I don’t even know the owner!’

“Brother Wan, what’s wrong?”

Gao Wei and the others, who were walking behind, had now reached the cashier. Seeing Wan Jiaze’s furrowed brow, they came forward to ask.

“I just came to pay the bill, and the server said the owner of Champion Scholar Pavilion personally instructed them to comp everything for our room. Does anyone know what’s going on? Or does one of you know the owner?”

Wan Jiaze asked Gao Wei and the others in a low voice.