From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor-Chapter 370 - 345: New Friends and Old Companions

Yan Jingsong said, "I came to Capital City with the leader for business. I almost always stay here when I come, but this is the first time I’ve run into you here."

Xu Chunliang said, "It’s my first time here, and I’ve run into you already."

Yan Jingsong laughed heartily, "It’s fate, fate!" He held Xu Chunliang’s hand tightly, "What room number are you in?"

Xu Chunliang told him the room number, guessing that Yan Jingsong was gauging his standard through room numbers. To have already become the chief secretary of Bell Tower District at such a young age was no ordinary feat.

Only then did Yan Jingsong let go of Xu Chunliang’s hand, secretly thinking that Xu Chunliang’s standard was quite high, even higher than his own. With a face full of smiles, he said, "Do you have plans for tonight? I’ll treat you, let’s have a chat, just the two of us brothers."

Xu Chunliang was about to decline, but then had a quick thought. Director Fu Guomin had arranged a welcome dinner for him tonight, and he could invite Yan Jingsong, which would make it appear he had friends in Capital City. So, he said, "Class Leader, why don’t you join me tonight, Director Fu from the Beijing Office has arranged something."

Yan Jingsong was momentarily startled. Fu Guomin? He had dined with Fu Guomin before, but it was when Fu Guomin was entertaining the district chief, and he was merely a companion. Xu Chunliang seemed to have quite a bit of influence. Though he pretended to decline, after Xu Chunliang insisted once more, he promptly agreed.

Back in his room, Xu Chunliang first reported his safety to his grandfather. The old man routinely inquired about his well-being and insisted on video-calling to check his accommodation before he was satisfied.

He picked up his phone again, realizing there was still no reply from Mei Ru Xue. Xu Chunliang felt increasingly puzzled. With Mei Ru Xue’s personality, this wasn’t typical. Even if she intended to break up with him, she would clearly state it.

Could it be she was being controlled? Was her phone confiscated?

With these thoughts, Xu Chunliang began to feel uneasy. He realized he hadn’t been attentive enough to Mei Ru Xue. She must have encountered some issues, major ones at that, and now would be the time she needed his help the most, yet he wasn’t by her side.

There’s also a possibility that Mei Ru Xue didn’t want to burden or trouble him and intended to handle her problems alone.

Just as Xu Chunliang was considering how to find Mei Ru Xue, his phone rang. He picked it up, and it was a call from Gao Xiaobai. They had exchanged contact information the last time Gao Xiaobai returned to Dongzhou, but had never contacted each other individually.

Gao Xiaobai was making this call with a task in hand. Her father, Gao Xinhua, specifically called her, saying Xu Chunliang was visiting Capital City and had brought some traditional Chinese medicine for her grandfather’s health, instructing her to treat Xu Chunliang to a meal as a gesture of hospitality.

Given her intelligence, Gao Xiaobai could clearly see her father’s intent to matchmake them. But she disapproved of her father’s actions. What age are we living in, where parents still meddle in their children’s love lives?

However, Gao Xiaobai thought there was no harm in treating Xu Chunliang to a meal, after all, they were old classmates and used to play together as children. The last time they met, Xu Chunliang left a good impression on her, almost like he had undergone a remarkable transformation.

Xu Chunliang told Gao Xiaobai he was staying at Dongzhou Restaurant. Gao Xiaobai knew the place, just two subway stops from her school, and offered to go meet Xu Chunliang.

Xu Chunliang invited Gao Xiaobai directly to dinner, now he had two friends in Capital City.

At 6:20, Yan Jingsong called Xu Chunliang’s room to ask him to go together. When Xu Chunliang stepped out, he saw Yan Jingsong already waiting at the elevator. Xu Chunliang realized Yan Jingsong’s enthusiasm probably wasn’t just because of him; there was a high chance it was because of Deputy Director Fu Guomin from the Beijing Office.

Upon meeting, Yan Jingsong slipped two packs of Soft Chinese cigarettes into Xu Chunliang’s pocket for socializing purposes. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

They both arrived at Weishan Lake Hall, where Fu Guomin hadn’t arrived yet. Hotel manager Li Xiumei was waiting at the entrance and smiled as she invited them in.

Yan Jingsong was very familiar with Li Xiumei and joked, "Sister Li, are you personally serving us tonight?"

Li Xiumei smiled, "For Director Fu’s distinguished guests, of course, I have to serve at the highest standard."

Some people had already arrived in advance; they were friends invited by Fu Guomin to drink. One was Jiang Simian, director of the admissions office of Shuimu University’s Graduate School, and the other was Hu Yuchun, director of the Radiotherapy Department at the Capital Tumor Research Institute.

Fu Guomin was quite adept at selecting companions. Considering Xu Chunliang’s relatively low rank as an assistant at Changxing Hospital, at most a division level, it was best to arrange ordinary friends as drinking companions. Both were good friends of Fu Guomin and had come from Dongzhou. The three of them formed a tight-knit trio and met almost every month, so tonight’s arrangement was a win-win.

When Fu Guomin arrived, Gao Xiaobai happened to come too. Seeing her headed straight for Weishan Lake Hall, he guessed she was Xu Chunliang’s friend. He smiled at Gao Xiaobai, "Looking for Xu Chunliang?"

Gao Xiaobai nodded.

Fu Guomin said, "Come along. My surname is Fu, and I’m also a friend of Xu Chunliang."

Gao Xiaobai followed Fu Guomin to Weishan Lake Hall, where the people inside had already introduced each other and were chatting. Seeing them enter, Hu Yuchun teased, "I was wondering why Old Fu was late; turns out he was waiting for a beauty."

Fu Guomin chuckled, "Don’t joke around. Miss Gao is Xiaoxu’s friend."

Unexpectedly, there were so many people present. If she had known it would be like this, she might not have come, but she saw a familiar face.

Jiang Simian vaguely remembered Gao Xiaobai; after all, there were only a few pretty girls in their graduate school: "You’re a student at our college, aren’t you?"

A bit shy, Gao Xiaobai responded, "Director Jiang." After all, her experience with social settings was limited.

Xu Chunliang approached Gao Xiaobai and said, "Let me introduce you. This is my classmate and good friend Gao Xiaobai, an outstanding student from Shuimu University."

Hu Yuchun said, "So you were childhood sweethearts!"

Gao Xiaobai blushed when he said that.

Xu Chunliang noticed Gao Xiaobai was shy and laughed, "We’re basically best buddies now."

Yan Jingsong couldn’t help but marvel at the sight of Gao Xiaobai, envying Xu Chunliang’s way with women. During the training in Nanjiang, he had seen beauties circling around him like a carousel. Now, just arriving in the Capital City, another one appeared. What kind of charm does this guy have?

Fu Guomin invited everyone to sit, arranging for Gao Xiaobai to sit next to Xu Chunliang and for Li Xiumei to sit beside her, hoping the two ladies could find a common topic.

They first brought out two bottles of alcohol, one of Wuliangye and the other Baijiu Niuer. Wuliangye was for entertaining out-of-town guests, while locals in the Capital City typically drank Baijiu Niuer, partly due to local sentiment and because of its lower alcohol content.

Fu Guomin started with an opening speech, mainly welcoming Xu Chunliang to the Capital City. It was a gathering of new friends and old, all from Dongzhou, so everyone should just relax and drink to their heart’s content.

As tonight’s main guest, Xu Chunliang naturally became the centerpiece of the toasting. Fu Guomin invited two people who could drink a lot.

The main principle of entertaining friends from Dongzhou is to ensure they drink well, and the standard for drinking well is practically to get them drunk.

Xu Chunliang never refused a drink, and after a few rounds, it was apparent to everyone that this guy could handle his alcohol well, probably better than Fu Guomin and the other two combined.

As Xu Chunliang’s friend, Yan Jingsong naturally stood by him. He originally planned to help Xu Chunliang by blocking a few drinks, but seeing this scene, he realized he didn’t need to lift a finger.

Gao Xiaobai, being a student, wasn’t familiar with such drinking scenes, and from the start, she said she didn’t drink. Fortunately, no one insisted, and Li Xiumei, being understanding, talked with her about school matters.

Jiang Simian, sitting next to Xu Chunliang, struck up a conversation and asked about Xu Chunliang’s purpose for coming to the Capital City.

Xu Chunliang explained his academic plans, saying he was going to study at Yanjing University.

Yan Jingsong had heard of such educational methods but doubted if it would lead to a nationally recognized degree.

Jiang Simian, being from an educational background, knew these tricks all too well. He laughed, "The degree is definitely legitimate. Anyone who can facilitate such education internationally isn’t ordinary. If they can handle educational qualifications in Europe, they’ll find a way for the degree to be recognized worldwide, although it’s usually pretty pricey." He subtly hinted that it’s like buying a degree.

Fu Guomin said, "Actually, degrees aren’t that important now. Look at all the continuing education institutions, business schools, and MBAs. Do you think people are really doing it for learning or a degree?" He shook his head. "No, the real purpose is networking."

Jiang Simian added, "Yes, the first ones to grasp this were politicians. Haven’t most of you been trained at the party school?"

Yan Jingsong and Xu Chunliang exchanged glances, as they were classmates at the Nanjiang Party School.

Fu Guomin said, "No politics during drinking." He proposed a toast together.

Hu Yuchun and Yan Jingsong drank two glasses, and hearing Hu was a top aide in the Bell Tower District, he turned to Fu Guomin, "Old Fu, if you’d stayed in Dongzhou, you’d have been at the proper department level by now, right?"

Fu Guomin replied, "I wanted to go back, but my wife wouldn’t let me. She insists on staying in the Capital City as a second-class citizen."

Jiang Simian interjected, "You’re mistaken. You’re no second-class citizen. Citizens have equal rights, and you have the added benefit of schooling rights for an extra child in the Capital City. Do you know how much a Capital City residency costs?"

Fu Guomin said, "No place is as good as home." He sniffed the air, "Can you smell that?"

Jiang Simian and Hu Yuchun said in unison, "Old Tuanjie’s stinky tofu sauce."

At this moment, the waiter brought out the stinky tofu sauce, along with a dish of salted bean and scrambled eggs.

Hu Yuchun exclaimed, "Authentic, authentic! Do you have any hot buns?"

"Of course, freshly steamed fermented buns."

Jiang Simian picked up a fermented bun, broke it open, and spread some stinky tofu sauce inside. The warm, pungent aroma immediately reminded him of home.

The taste of home is unforgettable. No matter where you go, the familiar feeling returns as soon as you smell your hometown’s specialties.

Fu Guomin said meaningfully, "Isn’t home still the best?"

At that moment, his phone rang. Seeing it was a call from Secretary Zhou in Dongzhou, Fu Guomin hurried to answer.

After the call, he told them, "There it is, I said no politics, but here comes an assignment from above. I have to go now."

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year 2023, January 1st, may the new year bring new beginnings. Everyone, please cast your monthly vote for Octopus to bring some good cheer! And fill Octopus with energy for the first day of the new year!