"Mom, you're stepping on my skirt," Keke grumbled.
"I'm sorry, Keke, I didn't mean to," Li Mengyao patted Keke's head, then looked at Ye Yun with disbelief. "Why would Captain Zhang be looking for you? How do you know such an important figure?"
"It was a coincidence. I helped him with a small favor, so he wanted to treat me to a meal. I took the opportunity to invite him over for a few drinks at home." Ye Yun said.
"What? How could you invite such an important person to your home for a meal? Shouldn't you have booked a nice place outside? No, no, it's good at home, it feels more intimate. Sigh, Ye Yun, why did you only buy so few dishes? And this wine is too poor."
"Keke, play at home for a while. Mom will go out and buy a salted goose, some cured meat, and two bottles of good wine. Ye Yun, you have a good drink with Captain Zhang tonight, drink plenty!"
Li Mengyao said in a flustered tone. Without waiting for Ye Yun to agree, she grabbed her phone and turned to leave.
Women are like this. At this moment, her impression of Ye Yun gradually changed, and she hoped to manage her small family well.
And befriending someone like Zhang Jinzhong was naturally all to the good.
She didn't even intend to investigate further and ask Ye Yun exactly how he had helped Zhang Jinzhong.
Did it matter?
As long as they could establish a connection, that was enough!
Li Mengyao was a traditional woman. She didn't forbid Ye Yun from drinking.
What mattered was who he drank with.
If he drank with someone like Zhang Jinzhong, even if Ye Yun drank a whole jin, she wouldn't say a single word.
Seeing Li Mengyao rush out, Ye Yun gave a wry smile.
Were his dishes few?
Chicken, duck, fish, meat, plus a few small dishes.
There were already six or seven dishes prepared.
However, as long as Mengyao was happy.
Soon, the "distinguished guest," Zhang Jinzhong, arrived in plain clothes.
"Captain Zhang, please excuse the humble abode. Please, sit down." Seeing that it was indeed the guardian god of Jinling, Li Mengyao was extremely enthusiastic, much more eager than Ye Yun.
"Sister-in-law is too kind. I'm already happy that Master Ye invited me to his home." Zhang Jinzhong carried some fruit and milk for children and placed them by the door, apologizing. "There was some work at the unit, so I'm late. I apologize, I apologize."
Sister-in-law???
Li Mengyao's head was filled with question marks.
The dignified guardian god of Jinling called her sister-in-law?
Also, how old was Captain Zhang?
How old was I?
You call me sister-in-law???
And what was this "Master Ye" thing!
"It's already great that Captain Zhang could come. Please, sit down." Although her heart was full of questions, Li Mengyao didn't ask further. She quickly helped Zhang Jinzhong pour a full glass and then poured one for Ye Yun. "Ye Yun, have a good chat with Captain Zhang."
"Sister-in-law, you are truly too kind. All right, Master Ye, let's have a toast. Thank you, Master Ye, for your divine insight and for saving my life!"
Amidst laughter, Zhang Jinzhong raised his glass to Ye Yun.
Ye Yun raised his glass in return, their glasses clinked, and they took a sip.
"Captain Zhang, you don't call me a charlatan anymore?" Ye Yun chuckled.
"Master Ye, are you trying to make fun of me? Here's this, for my previous inappropriate remarks, I'll personally take a penalty drink! Master Ye, you are a great person with true skills!" With that, Zhang Jinzhong downed half his drink and ate a peanut, exclaiming in amazement.
"To be honest, old Zhang here never believed in anything supernatural before. This time, I'm convinced, completely convinced!"
"If it weren't for your timely advice, I definitely wouldn't have worn a bulletproof vest during last night's operation. I probably would be drinking with King Yama by now. I won't say anything else, Master Ye, I, old Zhang, must finish this drink to thank you!"
With that, Zhang Jinzhong downed a glass of baijiu.
My goodness, Ye Yun couldn't help but glance at Li Mengyao next to him.
In less than ten seconds, Zhang Jinzhong had finished a glass of baijiu.
Are you a drunkard?
Ye Yun wasn't afraid of drinking with Zhang Jinzhong. In fact, he had been taking herbal medicine during this time, and his physical fitness had long surpassed his previous state.
Let alone one glass of baijiu, even two or three glasses wouldn't be a problem.
However, would this make Mengyao think he was still a drunkard?
Yet, Li Mengyao also showed Ye Yun what double standards were. Not only was she not angry, but she obediently brought Keke to eat, without Ye Yun needing to ask anything.
The implication was clear.
Just keep Captain Zhang company.
Ye Yun gave a wry smile and also downed a glass of baijiu.
"Good! I didn't expect Master Ye to have such a capacity for alcohol! Master Ye, from now on, if you encounter any trouble, as long as it's not illegal, I, Zhang Jinzhong, will do my best to help you!" Zhang Jinzhong raised his glass again.
"Alright, Captain Zhang, now that you've said that, I won't be polite in the future. Also, don't call me Master Ye anymore, just call me Ye Yun." Ye Yun poured another glass of baijiu. After their glasses met, they drank it down again.
With two glasses of baijiu consumed, Zhang Jinzhong's face was slightly flushed, but he was still in good spirits. He picked up a piece of salted goose and asked.
"Good! Ye Yun!" Zhang Jinzhong was not one to stand on ceremony and got straight to the point. "Would it be convenient to tell me what happened to you?"
"What does Captain Zhang want to know?" Ye Yun picked up a piece of cured meat, his state much better than Zhang Jinzhong's.
"A story of a prodigal son returning. Ye Yun, don't get angry, but I checked your file today. There are quite a few records at the station. Just over a month ago, you were fined for gathering a crowd to gamble. Other similar offenses include drunken brawls, gambling, and vice crackdowns, you've been caught many times."
"How is it that in just over half a month, you've changed so much?" Zhang Jinzhong asked with a smile.
At this moment, he had completely shed the domineering air of a criminal police captain from yesterday, seeming more like a long-time friend chatting with Ye Yun.
Li Mengyao, who was nearby, couldn't help but prick up her ears.
She was also very curious about this.
There were many stories of prodigal sons returning, but the change that had occurred in Ye Yun was too great!
To put it bluntly, if they had crossed paths a month ago, Captain Zhang would likely have had Ye Yun with his hands up in surrender every time he cracked down on vice and gambling.
Can I say that while you think it's only a short time, for me, it's been forty years?
Ye Yun let out a long sigh.
Of course, he couldn't tell the truth. He actively started to spin a tale.
The trigger for all this, naturally, was Keke and Li Mengyao.
Both Li Mengyao and Zhang Jinzhong listened with keen interest.
When he was happy, Zhang Jinzhong would inevitably raise his glass and continue drinking with Ye Yun.
When he was in a good mood, Zhang Jinzhong couldn't help but talk about his own family matters.
From time to time, he would offer a cigarette, and they would smoke together.
As they talked and drank, their bond grew like that of old friends.
Even though, strictly speaking, they had only met twice, and their total time spent together was less than an hour.
This is how society works in China. Cigarettes are the icebreakers, and alcohol is the catalyst.
Friendship is forged over drinks.
Time flowed by, drop by drop.
Soon, the two bottles of baijiu were emptied.
Just as Li Mengyao suggested Ye Yun see Zhang Jinzhong out.
At the doorway.
A barrage of curses was heard.
Then.
The door of Ye Yun's house was knocked violently.
Immediately after, a roar erupted.
"You son of a bitch Ye Yun, come out quickly! I'm going to cut you to pieces, you bastard!"