The knocking on the door was quite loud, but that’s how it is in the countryside, after all, if you knock softly, no one would hear...
A little cousin who was playing nearby immediately ran to open the door, but after opening it, he was obviously startled and ran back at once.
"So many people!"
The dining tables were set up in the courtyard, and upon hearing the child’s shout, everyone instinctively stood up.
As the main gate opened, a line of at least a dozen people filed in, and in the dim light, the adults first noticed Zhao Laosan’s family.
It wasn’t just Zhao Laosan and Zhao Deli who arrived, walking in front of them was an extremely burly man, standing at least 1.8 meters tall, with an intimidating appearance.
"Zhao Dezhu!"
Seeing him, Zhou Wang’s relatives had their expressions change, while Miao Ying, who was eating at another table, silently stood up and walked over to Zhou Wang’s side.
But soon everyone realized that Zhao Dezhu wasn’t the main focus. A middle-aged man, surrounded by the crowd, quickly walked forward, smiling as he said,
"I even calculated the timing, didn’t expect to interrupt your meal, sorry, sorry!"
"Zhao Shusheng?"
Second Aunt’s husband couldn’t hold back and exclaimed in a low voice.
At this moment, the others also recognized him. He was the richest man in Sanhe Town, a legendary figure in Zhao Village, Boss Zhao Shusheng.
Uncle Zhao Guilin thought the visitors came with ill intent, just as he reacted, wanting to greet them, but Zhou Wang was already a step ahead and walked over.
"Brother Zhou, sorry, came too early!"
Zhao Shusheng, who had been watching Zhou Wang from the start, laughed heartily and shook hands with Zhou Wang.
"Brother, nice to see you again... it’s not too early, we’re almost done eating."
Zhou Wang greeted in the standard countryside way, replying, "Did you eat already?"
"Ate, ate, otherwise, coming at this time, I’d be a freeloader, hahaha..."
"?"
Uncle Zhao Guilin glanced at Boss Zhao, who was chatting and laughing with his eldest nephew, then at Zhao Dezhu, who stood to the side with a friendly smile, and a question mark slowly floated across his mind.
The other relatives were mostly bewildered too, showing awkward, clueless smiles in the back.
After exchanging pleasantries with Zhao Shusheng, Zhou Wang turned and saw the other relatives still in a daze. He had to call Zhao Guilin again, "Uncle, quickly get some chairs..."
As if waking from a dream, Zhao Guilin hurriedly went with his equally flustered wife to get chairs from indoors. With help from other relatives, after a chaotic moment, everyone finally sat down in the courtyard.
"Zhou Wang, you and Mr. Zhao... know each other?"
Others didn’t dare ask, but Zhou Dajun had no such reservations. Finding a chance, he quickly voiced the question that everyone except Zhou Wang and Zhao Shusheng wanted answered.
The courtyard immediately fell silent, only the faint laughter of children playing in the distance lingered, all eyes naturally turned to Zhou Wang.
"Oh, we met in Ming City, being fellow townsfolk, we clicked, and that’s how we got to know each other."
Zhou Wang explained lightly, but Zhao Shusheng was obviously not pleased.
"Brother, I don’t quite like how you put it. I know you don’t want to take credit, but if it weren’t for you back in Ming City, I, Zhao Shusheng, would have suffered a silent loss!"
Zhao Shusheng sighed, "I wouldn’t mind losing, but I didn’t want the villagers to talk behind my back..."
After Zhao Shusheng explained, everyone roughly understood the story, especially Uncle Zhao Guilin, whose expression became even more bewildered...
So, the thousands he got back from Zhao Shusheng, was it his eldest nephew who helped him retrieve it?
But soon, with some understanding, Zhao Guilin thought of another question. In a place like Ming City, where even a formidable man like Zhao Shusheng was helpless when scammed, his eldest nephew had the ability to help get the money back?
Beyond being shocked, it finally made sense to Zhao Guilin why earlier when Zhao Shusheng shook hands with Zhou Wang, he used both hands...
Yes, maybe the lighting was poor, and not many noticed this detail, but Zhao Guilin saw it...
"I heard from Dezhu that there was a little misunderstanding between your grandmother’s family and his. Brother, I initially didn’t want to disturb you today, but Dezhu insisted on coming to explain in person, that’s why I brought them here..."
After a few casual chats, Zhao Shusheng seemed to joke casually, glancing at Zhao Dezhu, who hadn’t taken a seat.
Zhao Dezhu understood, stepped forward a few paces, first distributed a circle of cigarettes, then solemnly said to Zhou Wang,
"Mr. Zhou, it was a grudge between the older generation, long overdue to settle. We weren’t fair in handling it. My father is old, so I’ll represent him to apologize to you and your entire family!"
After speaking, Zhao Dezhu bowed deeply to Zhou Wang.
The corners of Zhou Wang’s mouth twitched, not because of Dezhu’s bow, but because his apology strangely sounded like a curse...
As Zhao Dezhu straightened up, he glared at Zhao Deli, "Second brother, come over here!"
Zhao Deli, slightly hunched, didn’t make any extra moves, straightforwardly walked over, offered the same apology, then took out a thick envelope, handing it to Zhou Wang with both hands.
"Mr. Zhou, this money is returned to you..."
Zhou Wang glanced at it, the thickness of the envelope clearly exceeded ten thousand...