The Chen general, referred to by Ma Hongtu, was named Chen Zhoushan.
Chen Zhoushan hailed from the Chen family in Modu, and alongside General Zhao Guodong from Si Jiu, they were known as Southern Chen and Northern Zhao.
This illustrated the background, status, and power of General Chen.
The primary difference between General Chen and General Zhao was that General Zhao emerged from the military, while General Chen pursued an economic and scientific research path.
General Zhao possessed a fiery temper.
He was known to slam tables and curse when displeased, described by the Western regions as an aggressive hawk.
General Chen, however, had a gentle disposition.
He always spoke with refinement and courtesy, earning him the moniker of a peace-loving white dove in the West.
In Si Jiu, General Zhao was responsible for supreme security and establishing the Dark Blade, among other duties.
In Modu, General Chen held absolute authority in economic and scientific research.
Consequently—
General Chen had the final "right of interpretation" for all biopharmaceutical projects in the Eastern regions.
Several days ago.
Due to the rampant global spread of vampires (Guanyin worms), Brown, the head of the International Biochemical Research Headquarters, personally approached General Chen.
Brown, in a veiled manner, expressed the hope of "borrowing" some bone marrow from a certain Li for scientific research, aiming to find a definitive cure for vampires (Guanyin worms) and restore safety to the world.
The "Luminaries" developed by International Ruixue had lost their effectiveness after vampires mutated into Guanyin worms, leaving Europe and the Americas, the heavily affected areas, to witness countless patients queueing for the afterlife. However, there were rumors that "Qianfan No. 1," developed in the East, was effective against both vampires and Guanyin worms. General Chen, responsible for public health and safety, was naturally aware of this.
General Chen also knew—
That the reason "Qianfan No. 1," effective against both scourges, was "unaccepted" was primarily due to International Ruixue.
It was the result of numerous "authoritative institutions" and various "experts and professors" continuing to promote "Luminaries" and denigrate "Qianfan No. 1."
Brown's personal visit to Modu was also related to International Ruixue.
General Chen found this highly objectionable!
However, due to many complex reasons, General Chen, after two days of consideration, ultimately decided to dispatch Ma Hongtu to represent him in Si Jiu.
Strictly speaking.
It was inappropriate to discuss work during the Spring Festival.
Yet, General Chen felt that it would be easiest to find Li Qianfan at this time.
After the Spring Festival, who knew where this kid would have gone?
Thus—
Ma Hongtu, representing General Chen, urgently arrived in Si Jiu this afternoon.
To persuade Li Qianfan to contribute to global health and safety, General Chen specifically called Meng Yue, hoping she could introduce Ma Hongtu to Li Qianfan.
Upon receiving General Chen's call, Meng Yue felt a pang of displeasure.
No matter how naive she was about social graces, she understood the immense importance of Li Qianfan's bone marrow genetic sample.
How could it be casually contributed to foreigners?
However, given General Chen's status, Meng Yue found it difficult to refuse.
She agreed first, then called Li Xiao, explaining the situation in detail.
Li Xiao told her to proceed according to General Chen's wishes.
As for whether Li Qianfan was willing to contribute his bone marrow genetic sample, that would be up to him.
After all, Li Qianfan's bone marrow genetic sample was his "private property," and even Li Xiao, his father, had no right to make arbitrary decisions about it.
Meng Yue, lacking in worldly wisdom, failed to grasp the deeper meaning behind Old Fox Li Xiao's arrangement.
She would only act as Li Xiao instructed.
Ma Hongtu was even more oblivious to the underlying complexities.
He only knew that if he could successfully obtain Li Qianfan's bone marrow genetic sample for Brown, he would become a tenured professor at Jianqiao University!
This was a solemn promise Brown had made to Ma Hongtu during a private phone call.
For many professors and experts, becoming a tenured professor at a world-class university was a matter of immense pride.
They vied for such opportunities.
Especially considering that Ma Hongtu's "cost" was merely obtaining a bone marrow sample from Li Qianfan.
A piece of cake—
It was only fitting that Mr. Ma would gain both fame and fortune!
Therefore, when his assistant, Xiao Wang, anxiously inquired if Li Qianfan would cooperate, Ma Hongtu dismissively uttered that sentence.
Meng Yue, standing by the window, overheard Ma Hongtu's remark.
Anger flared within her.
She silently cursed, "Why does this surname Ma speak so casually, as if he's just sweeping away grass? He says it's just taking a bit of his bone marrow, not his life? Even if this is General Chen's wish, you can't treat Qianfan brat as a public resource to be used at will!"
Just as she was about to turn and confront Ma Hongtu, a car slowly stopped in front of the tea house.
Immediately after.
Meng Yue saw Li Qianfan push open the car door and step out.
"Forget it, on Qianfan brat's account, I won't argue with this surname Ma."
As Meng Yue thought this, she saw a woman in a sable coat and a matching black fur hat, her fair skin appearing even whiter, gracefully step out of the car.
Upon seeing this woman—
Meng Yue's already furrowed brow tightened further.
She certainly recognized Su Nanyin.
She had long heard of the rumors surrounding Su Nanyin and Li Qianfan, their open display of affection during their New Year's visit to General Zhao today, and their subsequent rampage in the Miao family.
"Alas. Who would have thought that Qianfan brat would be so infatuated with this woman. She even brings her along when I ask him to meet me. Heh, is this what they call inseparable?"
Meng Yue sighed inwardly, then gave a disdainful cold laugh.
However, she also knew that she couldn't interfere in this matter.
One.
The Dragon Ruins, Emperor Valley, and Li Family Village had not voiced any opinions on this matter.
Meng Yue, at best, was Li Qianfan's "stepmother." When Li Wujiang, his biological mother, remained silent, there was no need for her to gratuitously comment.
Two.
Meng Yue was certain that if she showed Su Nanyin a cold shoulder, given that woman's unyielding nature, she would undoubtedly deliver the sharpest retort on the spot.
"Li Qianfan has arrived."
Seeing Li Qianfan and Su Nanyin whispering to each other and walking into the tea house side-by-side, Meng Yue turned and said to Ma Hongtu, then quickly exited the private room.
Although she harbored strong reservations about Su Nanyin, out of basic courtesy, she went to the third-floor staircase to greet them.
Meng Yue hurried to the third-floor staircase, pondering what her expression should be when she saw Su Nanyin.
Footsteps sounded from the stairs.
Li Qianfan in front, Su Nanyin behind, they arrived at the third-floor landing.
However, Ma Hongtu, who already knew Li Qianfan had arrived, did not leave his private room to stand at the landing "awaiting" Li Qianfan like Meng Yue.
"You're the one who needs something, yet you put on airs. Truly baffling."
Meng Yue glanced back at the door of the private room and muttered softly.
"Ha, Mom Meng, Happy New Year."
As Li Qianfan reached the landing, he looked up and saw Meng Yue, immediately saying with a cheeky grin, "You've been waiting for me at the top of the stairs for so long. Are you hoping I'll kowtow to you for the New Year's greeting?"
"Oh, you know?"
Meng Yue feigned surprise, "Hurry, quickly kowtow to me for the New Year, there's a big red envelope for you."
She wasn't lying.
Before coming, she had indeed prepared a New Year's red envelope.
In Meng Yue's eyes, Li Qianfan was her close junior relative. It was customary to give him a red envelope as a New Year's gift upon meeting him during the holidays.
"Oh, really?"
Li Qianfan quickly walked up to her, acting subservient, "Greetings, Mom Meng! Hand over the red envelope."
"Kneel to the ground, kowtow! No kneeling, no kowtowing, no New Year's money."
Meng Yue said this, but she took out a red envelope and handed it to Li Qianfan.
The money in the red envelope wasn't much, just two hundred-yuan bills.
The elder giving a New Year's gift to a junior was for good luck; the amount of money was secondary.
"You're so stingy, and you still expect me to truly kowtow to you?"
Li Qianfan opened the red envelope, pouted, and dodged Meng Yue's feigned angry right hand.
Meng Yue withdrew her hand, then pretended to notice Su Nanyin, pausing and asking Li Qianfan, "Brat, who is this beautiful young lady? She looks so familiar."
Li Qianfan—
Rubbed his nose, deciding it was best not to speak.
"Meng Yue, stop pretending."
Su Nanyin walked to the landing and said irritably, "If you want to insinuate that I'm an old cow eating young grass, just say it directly. You don't have the acting skills for it, but you insist on acting. You're not tired from acting, but I am tired from watching."
"Hehehe."
Meng Yue chuckled strangely and asked, "Oh, so you know you're an old cow?"
Su Nanyin's face darkened, and she put her arm around Li Qianfan's, "He's willing, what business is it of yours?"
Li Qianfan saw that the situation was escalating—
Before he could say anything, Meng Yue produced another red envelope and placed it in Su Nanyin's hands, "Here's your New Year's money."
Su Nanyin—
"Don't you dare put on a face for me, I don't fall for that. And don't deliberately flaunt your affection in front of me. Do whatever you want, I couldn't care less."
Meng Yue said unapologetically, "But since you admit it so brazenly, then you are my junior. Now that you've seen me, you must call me Mom!"
Su Nanyin—
Released Li Qianfan, stomped her foot towards Meng Yue's toes, her face filled with shame and anger, "Call you Mom!"
"Oh. My good daughter-in-law! After you give me a big, fat grandson next year, I, as your mother-in-law, will give you another big red envelope as a reward."
Meng Yue swiftly dodged the small leather boot and replied sweetly.
Su Nanyin—
Seeing the two women about to escalate from bickering to pulling sleeves, Li Qianfan quickly stepped between them and asked, "Mom Meng, you asked me to come here on New Year's Day. Is there something important?"
Su Nanyin also perked up her ears.
On the way here, she had made up her mind.
If Meng Yue was a representative sent by the Li family to "break up the couple," she would turn hostile on the spot!
After all, she had already confessed everything to General Zhao, so what was there to fear?
"It's like this."
Bringing up the main topic, Meng Yue also adopted a serious attitude and briefly recounted Ma Hongtu's intentions.
"What?"
Before Li Qianfan could react, Su Nanyin sneered, "General Chen actually agreed to Brown's request to extract Qianfan's bone marrow genes for foreign research? Heh, have they been drinking too much during the New Year? Especially that surname Ma, he's asking for a favor, yet he doesn't even deign to come out to greet us. Pfft. What a disgrace."
Meng Yue remained silent.
However, a hint of admiration surfaced in her gaze as she looked at Su Nanyin.
Because Su Nanyin's words echoed her own thoughts.
"Qianfan."
Su Nanyin then looked at Li Qianfan and said calmly, "You and Mom Meng go sit in another private room. I'll meet this surname Ma on your behalf."
"Yes, yes, yes."
Meng Yue nodded vigorously, her fondness for Su Nanyin soaring once more.
Meng Yue had recently come to a thorough understanding of what kind of woman Su Nanyin was.
She was the quintessential viperous woman!
She dared to get involved with Du Yaoya's fiancé, so what else was she incapable of doing?
It was most appropriate for her to deal with Ma Hongtu.
This also prevented Li Qianfan from directly confronting Ma Hongtu, who represented General Chen, and potentially causing a conflict if they couldn't reach an agreement.
Meng Yue said "yes, yes, yes" and was about to pull Li Qianfan away.
However, Li Qianfan shook off her hand.
He said to Su Nanyin, "You and Mom Meng, go sit in the next private room. I'll go meet that Mr. Ma. After all, he's here to see me."
"Qianfan—"
Su Nanyin frowned.
Li Qianfan waved his hand, signaling her not to say more, and turned to walk quickly towards the private room.
He naturally understood that it would be most advantageous for him to have Su Nanyin negotiate with Ma Hongtu, who represented General Chen.
But this was his affair!
And letting a woman step up for him, what kind of man would that make him?!
——————
Wishing everyone a happy New Year's Day once again, red envelopes, please! ^_^.