From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor

Chapter 743 - 713: Immediate Promotion to Marquis

Xu Chunliang and Fan Lida transferred to the metro to head to the Nanshan Hot Spring Hotel for the meeting. As soon as Xu Chunliang heard the words ’hot spring,’ he got excited, planning to experience it first. Only after arriving did he realize that the hot spring hotel was just a facade named misleadingly, as there were no hot springs in Nanjiang City. To soak in a hot spring, one had to go to Tang Mountain outside the city.Their meeting was a provincial culture and tourism meeting about holiday safety. With May Day approaching, each city faced a rapidly recovering tourism market. While promoting local culture and tourism and increasing tourism revenue, it’s also crucial to pay attention to tourism safety. Accidents happen every year, so the Pinghai Province culture and tourism department gathered them for a meeting as a reminder: boosting the economy through tourism is important, but the safety of the people is even more critical.

Xu Chunliang took a shower in his room and noticed activity in an otherwise quiet performance group chat. This group, in fact, only had three members: Xu Chunliang, Su Qing, and Pinghai Province culture and tourism leader Xing Wenhua. Su Qing had created this group for the convenient rehearsal of "Farewell My Concubine." The three of them had excellent chemistry in this program, greatly impressing the audience. Of course, this was due to Su Qing and Xu Chunliang’s excellent performances and Xing Wenhua’s status added weight too.

After the Taiming Lake meeting, the group became inactive. Although they successfully collaborated on the program, they differed in status and had a significant age gap, leading to few common topics.

Xu Chunliang initially thought Xing Wenhua would be the first to leave the group, but he continued to remain silently in it. Since he stayed, Su Qing felt it inappropriate to disband the group.

If Xing Wenhua didn’t speak up, the two of them nearly forgot about the group.

Xing Wenhua mentioned Xu Chunliang, asking if he had arrived in Nanjiang.

Xu Chunliang told Xing Wenhua that he was already resting at the hotel.

Xing Wenhua invited the two of them to his place for dinner that night.

Xu Chunliang felt somewhat flattered. Xing Wenhua was the head of the Pinghai culture and tourism system, his superior’s superior. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t expect someone of his junior standing to be invited for dinner by a leader, especially at a family dinner. Generally, it’s common for leaders to invite someone for a meal, but an invitation to their home signifies the highest level of courtesy. Though they had some interactions, it wasn’t a deep friendship, and Xing Wenhua’s invitation felt somewhat sudden.

Su Qing saw the message and privately messaged him, asking if he wanted to go. She had even less of a relationship with Xing Wenhua, knowing that the invitation was definitely for Xu Chunliang.

Xu Chunliang couldn’t easily refuse. Su Qing told him to wait for her at the hotel so she could pick him up in about an hour. She wasn’t interested in having dinner at the Xing household, concerned more about who she’d dine with. She was willing to accompany Xu Chunliang.

Xu Chunliang didn’t have any gifts prepared, and thinking it over, he realized he couldn’t visit empty-handed. After some consideration, he thought of Xu Ying.

Xu Chunliang actually intended to gift a piece of calligraphy to Xing Wenhua, but he lacked any tools at the moment. Xu Ying’s teahouse often hosted calligraphy and painting salons with everything readily available, so Xu Chunliang planned to complete it there.

If Xu Chunliang hadn’t requested something, Xu Ying wouldn’t have known he was in Nanjiang. She naturally didn’t refuse such a request, informing him that she would prepare the necessary calligraphy tools at the teahouse, awaiting his esteemed presence.

Xu Chunliang didn’t disclose to Fan Lida that Xing Wenhua had invited him for dinner, as it’s typically best to keep such matters discreet.

Su Qing arrived at the hotel punctually, waiting for Xu Chunliang in the parking lot. Seeing him coming down empty-handed, she was somewhat surprised and said, "Visiting the leader’s house without bringing a gift? I brought two boxes of tea; you can give them to him later." She thoughtfully prepared for him.

Xu Chunliang laughed, "Secretary Xing isn’t fond of those formalities."

Su Qing replied, "Even so, visiting empty-handed isn’t very courteous."

Xu Chunliang told her to first go to Xu Ying’s teahouse.

On the way to the teahouse, Su Qing mentioned the Three Two Three’s viral barbecue video trending, laughing, "Three Two Three is truly a major influencer. After he promoted Dongzhou Barbecue, many of my colleagues got to know about it. Many are asking me where the best Dongzhou Barbecue is, planning to go and taste it themselves."

Xu Chunliang said, "When I was on my way here today, it seemed there were more people on the Dongzhou metro than usual. I wonder if it’s just my imagination."

Su Qing said, "Never underestimate the power of traffic; Three Two Three is not just any food blogger. He’s popularized many restaurants."

Xu Chunliang said, "Popularizing a restaurant is one thing, but igniting a city is quite another." Even he was cautiously observing the sustainability of this popularity.

Su Qing said, "I have a feeling that Dongzhou Barbecue could stay hot at least until May Day. Look at the top twenty trending topics; there are already three about Dongzhou."

Xu Chunliang checked the trending list; Three Two Three’s Dongzhou Barbecue video had already fallen out of the top ten, but the news about the lively May in Dongzhou and Dongzhou being the birthplace of barbecue were both in the top twenty.

Xu Chunliang said, "Three Two Three’s video already dropped out of the top ten; does this mean the popularity is starting to wane?"

Su Qing shook her head, "I studied media, and in media statistics, I did a rough big data analysis. The current popularity is just beginning. Try searching for fire brigade."

Xu Chunliang searched for firefighter news and saw quite a few pieces about firefighters, including several about a large group of them heading to Dongzhou. Xu Chunliang’s first reaction was that something happened in Dongzhou? A fire? No, that can’t be right; I just came from Dongzhou, and there’s no way I wouldn’t know about such a big event.

Looking further, he found more details: a large number of firefighters had gone to Dongzhou, seeking earthly pleasures and sharing barbecue delights.

Xu Chunliang was both amused and exasperated. So, the firefighters were barbecue-eating firefighters. Novel internet terms were popping up endlessly, turning terms like firefighter units and special forces into code for foodies.

Xu Ying’s teahouse business had always been slow, and she had no particular material demands.

Xu Chunliang had been there a few times and never saw many customers; he even suspected that Xu Ying’s teahouse was simply a losing business.

Xu Ying had prepared the Four Treasures of the Study, hearing that Xu Chunliang wanted to give a gift, she reminded him that it was too late to write and frame anything now. However, she had some painting and calligraphy small pieces, and Xu Chunliang could choose one to give as a gift.

Xu Ying had quite a few paintings and asked, "Is it for a businessman or an official?"

Xu Chunliang laughed, "Someone inside the system."

Xu Ying thought for a moment, then picked a painting and handed it to Xu Chunliang. The painting depicted a monkey riding a white horse, symbolizing instant promotion to marquis.

Xu Chunliang glanced at the signature, it was by Pan Chengfeng. He praised, "So it’s Professor Pan’s masterpiece. This painting has a great meaning, but it’s too precious."

Xu Ying said, "It’s not that precious. It’s one of Professor Pan’s practice works. I originally asked for it to give as a gift, but later..." She sighed softly.

Xu Chunliang vaguely guessed that she originally intended to give the painting to Zhao Feiyang, but later changed her mind because Zhao Feiyang chose not to continue in the system and resigned to join Huayuan Group instead.

Xu Chunliang didn’t stand on ceremony with Xu Ying, and took the painting.

Xu Ying invited the two of them to sit and have tea, anyway there was still some time before dinner, so neither of them were in a hurry to leave.

Su Qing was very interested in the decoration of Xu Ying’s teahouse, and Xu Ying let her look around as she pleased.

In fact, a few days ago Xu Ying attended a cultural and tourism symposium in Dongzhou at Xu Chunliang’s invitation. It was quite impressive because her encounter with Zhao Feiyang caused quite a stir. Since she returned, Xu Ying hadn’t contacted Zhao Feiyang, but upon hearing that Pei Lin and her child were fine, she was slightly relieved. However, lately, there was more news that Pei Lin had an accident. Xu Ying couldn’t directly ask Zhao Feiyang, so she took this chance with Xu Chunliang to learn more.

Xu Chunliang simply shared what he had heard.

Though Xu Ying didn’t have a good impression of Pei Lin, she couldn’t imagine that Pei Lin would be involved in a poisoning and murder case. Thinking about Zhao Feiyang’s great start in life, only to end up in his current situation, it would be unfair to place all the blame on Pei Lin because Zhao Feiyang himself had significant issues, too. As a friend, she felt her reminders to him were insufficient.

Xu Ying felt a bit guilty, and her mood became increasingly gloomy.

Xu Chunliang saw from her furrowed eyebrows that Zhao Feiyang’s matter affected her significantly, and he comforted her: "There is no conclusion yet. Actually, even if Pei Lin’s thing is true, Dean Zhao shouldn’t be too affected." Even he didn’t believe his own words, because if it was proven that Zhao Feiyang’s wife had killed someone, it would cause extremely severe consequences for Changxing Hospital and even for the entire Huayuan Group.

Back then, when he was involved in a brawl, Huayuan Group immediately distanced themselves from him. The Tang Brothers are people who prioritize profit above all, and they surely wouldn’t share hardships with Zhao Feiyang. They might have already thought about kicking Zhao Feiyang out.

Xu Ying said, "The impact will definitely be there, but Huayuan probably won’t kick Zhao Feiyang out at this time, after all, he hasn’t committed any fundamental errors, and they have a contract. If they prematurely kick Zhao Feiyang out, it would be Huayuan breaching the contract, and they would have to pay a hefty compensation."

Xu Chunliang nodded. Zhao Feiyang must have carefully considered his future before deciding to resign from public office. He didn’t have much sympathy for Zhao Feiyang; the reason Zhao Feiyang ended up this way was largely due to his own actions. He hoped that Pei Lin’s incident could help him see himself and the true nature of Huayuan.

Xing Wenhua lived on Jinghai Road, where many leaders from Pinghai lived.

Xing Wenhua was very considerate, having them send over their license plate numbers in advance to notify the security at the gate, allowing Su Qing to drive the car directly into the yard, reaching the 67th building where Xing Wenhua lived.

Xing Wenhua’s eldest son, Xing Yongjin, came outside to greet them, directing Su Qing to park the car in the roadside parking slot.

As soon as Xu Chunliang got out of the car, Xing Yongjin proactively extended his hand to him and enthusiastically introduced himself: "Xu Chunliang, right? I’m Xing Yongjin and I work at Nanjiang Bank."