Chapter 427: Dad, Your Friend’s Here!

When Wang Yun woke up, it was already the next morning.

They’d drunk way too much the night before. They kept going until Xiao Gang’s parents returned from the fields.

When the elderly couple saw Wang Yun and Brother Hu, they were a bit surprised at first.

But after Xiao Gang explained everything, they were full of gratitude.

If it weren’t for Wang Yun, their son wouldn’t have done so well, wouldn’t have made so much money. In their eyes, Wang Yun was nothing short of a benefactor.

Uncle Liang, Xiao Gang’s father, had even pulled Wang Yun aside and drank more with him.

At some point during the night, Brother Hu had tapped out. Wang Yun couldn’t even remember how late they drank until.

All he knew was that after one long, heavy sleep, it was already morning.

“Phew!”

Wang Yun struggled to sit up. The room around him was quiet.

Only the occasional bark from a dog could be heard outside.

“Good thing I’ve got a strong constitution. If I had to drink like this every day, my body would’ve given out by now.”

He patted his head. Aside from a mild headache, he felt mostly fine.

They were staying in Xiao Gang’s older sister’s room. She’d already married and only came home for New Year’s.

Brother Hu was nowhere to be seen.

Wang Yun got up and stepped out into the yard—just in time to see Xiao Gang and Brother Hu emerging from the kitchen, each carrying a steaming hot dish.

“Yo, Boss! You’re finally up. I heard you went all out last night, knocked my uncle clean under the table!” Brother Hu grinned, teasing him.

Wang Yun didn’t remember any of it.

In fact, his memory was foggy and fragmented.

He scratched his head in embarrassment, vaguely recalling that toward the end, he’d slung an arm around Xiao Gang’s father and shouted, “Big Brother, cheers to you!”

Good thing Uncle Liang was just as drunk.

“Enough talk. Let’s eat. I made some nice, hot rice to warm your stomachs.”

Xiao Gang smiled warmly.

Just seeing Wang Yun and Brother Hu here gave him a deep sense of reassurance. No matter how tough things got, it all felt a little easier to bear. Especially now that the Boss had promised to help him fix everything.

“Alright. After breakfast, I’ll go with Xiao Gang to see Mao Hongping. I want to ‘interview’ that Mao Yan. Brother Hu, I need you to head to Mao Yan’s fields. Take an e-scooter and stay off the main roads. Once you’re in town, use the list I gave you—buy the ingredients, mix them into a liquid, then when no one’s around, pour it right into his field. Remember, don’t let anyone recognize you. If we’re gonna put on a show, we’re doing the full production,” Wang Yun said, then bit into a steamed bun and laid out the whole plan casually.

Xiao Gang and Brother Hu both froze.

“Wait, what?” Xiao Gang was the first to speak.

Even Brother Hu looked puzzled. Why was the Boss bringing Xiao Gang to an interview?

Wasn’t that just asking for trouble?

And what if things escalated? No, scratch that. If it did escalate, then Xiao Gang’s “miracle backer” would finally make his grand entrance.

Wang Yun shot Xiao Gang a sidelong glance.

This guy’s too straight-laced.

“What do you mean, ‘what’? Didn’t that guy say he’s going to ruin your family’s field? So we strike first.”

When he finished, Xiao Gang and Brother Hu exchanged a look… and both broke into wicked grins.

Once they were done eating, the trio began preparing in earnest.

Wang Yun called ahead to Mao Hongping, letting her know he’d be coming by for a shoot.

On her end, she’d already checked in. Mao Yan and his father were at the construction site, supervising the workers.

Before long, they picked up Mao Hongping.

When she saw Xiao Gang tagging along with Wang Yun, she looked visibly uneasy.

“Um, Mr. Wang… if you’re heading over for an interview, I really think it’s better to keep things calm and civil. When it comes to men and women, love can’t be forced, after all. And this place is pretty remote; Mao Yan’s family has good relations with the whole village. If something really happens… It’s not that I don’t want to see Xiao Gang get justice, but still…”

She danced around it politely, but the meaning was clear: Don’t go picking a fight with the local bullies.

“Don’t worry, Sister Ping. This is a law-abiding society, we understand. We just want to ask if Mao Yan’s willing to go on camera, that’s all.” Wang Yun chuckled breezily.

Mao Hongping didn’t press any further. After all, whatever happened wasn’t really her business anymore.

Yesterday, she had seen it clearly. Wang Yun was squarely in Xiao Gang’s corner.

And truth be told, if Yangyang ended up with Xiao Gang, that would be a happy ending. Lovers united at last.

Fifteen minutes later, a black Mercedes-Benz pulled up in front of the house Mao Yan’s family was building.

At that moment, Mao Yan and his father were standing by the half-constructed building, watching workers haul steel beams overhead. Beside them, two large cranes were operating steadily.

The whole scene looked grand and imposing.

“Brother Yan, someone’s pulling up!”

“Whoa—a Mercedes! Think that’s a friend of Uncle Guo’s?”

Workers on the scaffolding noticed the luxury vehicle and leaned out to get a better look.

With a cigarette dangling from his lips, Mao Yan turned around, his eyes narrowing.

A Benz… that thing’s gotta cost at least a million.

It was his dream car. How could there be someone driving that in a village like this?

Maybe it really is one of Dad’s friends?

“Dad! Someone’s here!”

He turned toward the distance and shouted.

Mao Guo was in the middle of yelling at the workers, complaining their work wasn’t up to par. Hearing his son’s call, he turned his head and saw Wang Yun’s car.

At the same time, Wang Yun and the others stepped out.

But Mao Yan didn’t look their way, he was still watching his father, a smug grin on his face.

“Dad, your friend’s here!”

He even jogged over eagerly.

“When did you get to know such a rich guy?!”