Old Li has arrived, so Old Wang naturally wouldn't bother with Li Chaoren.
It was impossible to invite them for a meal.
"Okay, we'll be back soon," Old Wang said excitedly.
"Fine," Jiang Quanshui replied, hanging up the phone. He then looked at Lei Ming, who was dawdling behind, and urged him, "Old Lei, hurry up! Don't delay Teacher Ma's cooking, or it will also delay Old Li's meal."
"Okay, okay," Lei Ming replied, shrugging his shoulders and quickening his pace.
After hanging up the phone, Old Wang looked apologetically at Li Chaoren and Miss Dong. "I and Xiao Ma can't accompany you for dinner tonight. How about I pick a place for you, and you can order whatever you like?"
"If you're both leaving, what's the point of us staying for dinner?" Miss Dong said with some displeasure.
"This Old Wang is too unreliable. He was all set earlier, and now he's leaving just like that."
"It's alright, you go ahead and be busy," Li Chaoren said, understanding the situation somewhat.
"Thank you for your understanding, Uncle Li. Xiao Ma, let's go." Old Wang was decisive. He stood up and left as soon as he finished speaking.
Until Old Wang and Penguin Ma had left, Miss Dong was still staring at the door, lost in thought.
Seeing Miss Dong's puzzled expression, Li Chaoren smiled and said, "President Dong, can't figure out why?"
Miss Dong shook her head.
"They are not the same people as before; they have met a benefactor." Li Chaoren's words carried a deeper meaning, leaving Miss Dong bewildered.
"Uncle Li, Old Wang and the others are gone. I'll treat you to dinner tonight," Miss Dong invited.
"Okay," Li Chaoren didn't refuse. He was in Modu anyway and had nothing else to do.
As soon as Old Wang and Penguin Ma stepped out, Penguin Ma couldn't help but ask, "Old Wang, what's the urgent matter that made you rush back?"
He hadn't discerned anything significant when Old Wang was on the phone earlier.
"Old Li is coming over. We're having dinner at the villa tonight," Old Wang said quietly.
"Ah, then hurry back! See if there's anything we can help with," Penguin Ma was surprised upon hearing this.
When Old Wang and Penguin Ma returned to the villa, Jack Ma and the others had already arrived.
Several people were helping in the kitchen, preparing the ingredients.
"Is there anything we can help with?" Old Wang asked as he walked in.
"Do as you see fit, just don't delay my cooking," Jack Ma said, holding a pot and blanching the meat to remove any blood foam.
Old Wang and Penguin Ma nodded and began to find tasks for themselves.
That afternoon, Xia Lin and the others had also stopped playing games. They had tidied up the living room, arranged the fruit, and were waiting for Old Li to arrive.
Around 5:30 PM, several cars drove into the villa. Before the cars had even fully stopped, more than ten internal guards had already alighted and were dispersing around the villa.
None of these internal guards entered the villa, a specific instruction from Old Li.
Old Wang and the others heard the commotion outside and rushed out, arriving just as Old Li was getting out of his car.
"Old Li," Old Wang and the others called out respectfully.
"You're all here," Old Li nodded with a smile.
"Yes, we are. Please come in, Old Li," Old Wang said politely.
As Old Li entered the villa, Xia Feng walked over and said with a smile, "Old Li, you've picked a very opportune time to crash our meal."
"Haha... of course. Is the wine for tonight ready?"
Upon seeing Xia Feng, Old Li's face softened with paternal affection, showing none of the demeanor of a powerful figure.
It was like a conversation between peers.
"Don't worry, there's plenty," Xia Feng replied with a smile.
"Then I can rest assured. Your place is quite spacious, and lively too. Not bad, not bad," Old Li commented, looking around the villa.
"Old Li," Zhou Gangyi called out respectfully. Old Li nodded at him.
Zhou Gangyi was the grandson of Old Zhou, so Old Li was naturally familiar with him.
"Old Li, shall we go upstairs to the study to discuss matters? I've prepared some excellent tea for you."
Xia Feng knew that Old Li had important matters to discuss today, and even if he didn't mention it, Old Li would bring it up himself.
"Alright," Old Li nodded and followed Xia Feng upstairs.
When they arrived at the study, Qin Wen, dressed in a qipao, was seated inside, brewing tea. Her figure was shapely, exuding a captivating charm. The study was decorated in an antique style, which, combined with Qin Wen's qipao, created a very harmonious atmosphere.
"Old Li," Qin Wen said, rising to greet them as Xia Feng and Old Li entered. dafengnovel.com
"This is Qin Wen, granddaughter of Qin Kaihu," Xia Feng introduced her to Old Li.
"Mm, very good. You've grown so much in the blink of an eye," Old Li said kindly to Qin Wen.
Qin Wen's face flushed slightly upon hearing this, and she sat down to serve them tea.
"Old Li, this tea is meant to be savored. I'll send you some when you leave; it can nourish your body," Xia Feng reminded him.
"Haha... alright."
Old Li certainly wouldn't refuse. Nothing Xia Feng gave was ordinary.
Indeed, after a few sips, Old Li was captivated by the tea. He had consumed a great deal of high-grade, specially supplied tea in his life, but this was the first time he had tasted such exquisite tea as Xia Feng's.
After they had both finished two cups, Xia Feng said to Qin Wen, "You may leave now. I need to discuss something with Old Li."
"Mm, alright." Qin Wen rose and walked towards the door, closing it gently behind her.
"Old Li, go ahead and tell me what it is," Xia Feng asked after Qin Wen had left, turning his attention to Old Li.
"It's about the incident in the high seas. Originally, the black gold stone was to be mined entirely by us, but now the US side has gone back on their word, saying they want to mine it together. Furthermore, US King Hughes has emerged from seclusion and has requested a meeting with you on that island in the high seas."
"This matter concerns you directly, so we couldn't make the decision ourselves, which is why I've come to tell you personally. King Hughes is of the same caliber as you. It's said he was already very famous during World War I, and he has only recently emerged from twenty years of seclusion."
Old Li looked at Xia Feng earnestly and said, "It's likely that US King Hughes has emerged from seclusion, which has given the US newfound confidence in negotiations, leading them to renege on their agreement and discuss joint development of the black gold stone with China."
They were unaware of Xia Feng's true strength, so they hadn't pushed things to the absolute extreme; they only proposed joint development, not seeking sole ownership.
As soon as King Hughes emerged from seclusion, the US "Rice Bowl Committee" reported the matter to him and presented all of Xia Feng's information.
King Hughes felt that he could have handled the crisis five years ago, and the video of Xia Feng killing the purple dragon was a trivial matter not worth mentioning.
"Isn't this the usual behavior of the United States?" Xia Feng chuckled.
"The US is indeed like that. Their words are like farts, and their skin is superfluous to them."
"So, what is your take on this? King Hughes has publicly invited you for a meeting in the high seas," Old Li asked, looking at Xia Feng.
"Old Li, I've told you before that I am Chinese. As for matters concerning China, I, Xia Feng, will not shirk my responsibilities," Xia Feng stated resolutely and forcefully.
"Good, that's the spirit of a true Chinese man!" Old Li exclaimed, striking the teapoy in excitement.
"May our youth defend the prosperity of our Middle Kingdom!!!"