After finishing the phone call with Wu Tingxiu and informing her about the situation with the map, I also booked my ticket back to Guangling for the next day.
Liu Jiangmin, knowing we were leaving, offered to buy a lot of local specialties for me to take back to Wu Tingxiu.
Although Liu Jiangmin hadn't visited much during this period, he often called me and helped us resolve any needs immediately, fulfilling his role as a host.
Fatty and I had traveled light, so there wasn't much to pack.
Sitting on the sofa in the living room, Fatty was organizing the specialties given by Liu Jiangmin and asked me, "Master Xiang, can I keep some of these for myself?"
"What do you need these for?"
"To take back for my master."
"It's thoughtful of you to even consider that. Keep whatever you want," I said.
"Alright, thank you, Master Xiang," Fatty replied happily.
Song Bing came out of his room, saw Fatty busy with the items, and asked if there were enough, offering to buy more if not.
"No need to trouble you. I'm just taking a little. I still need to save some for Director Wu," Fatty said with a smile.
"Director Wu probably doesn't need these things," Song Bing said with a smile.
Fatty's eyes lit up: "Are you sure?"
Song Bing nodded: "I've followed Director Wu for many years, and I know her personality well. She would likely just give these things away if she took them back."
Fatty glanced at me, seemingly waiting for my approval.
I couldn't help but smile wryly: "If you want them, pack them all up and mail them to Yanjing first. We'll go back to Guangling, and I'll accompany you to Yanjing later."
"That would be great!" Fatty said, "I won't be polite then."
With that, he told Song Bing an address and asked him to help mail everything.
I checked my watch, feeling a bit uneasy.
I had called Yan Yuhe several times since this morning, but none of the calls went through.
I didn't know how the election was going yet, and I still needed to find out about that "Old Chen" from her.
Time flew by, and it was afternoon. I called Yan Yuhe again, but there was still no answer.
Unexpectedly, Liu Zaixi called me at this moment.
"Did the Yan family give you what you wanted?" she asked.
"Yes," I replied.
"I was going to say I wouldn't mind helping you if they hadn't given it to you."
Her tone was very relaxed, a stark contrast to her previous coldness.
"Today..."
Just as I was about to ask if something had happened today, she said, "Are you free? Come have a few drinks with me?"
I hesitated for a moment and then said, "Okay."
"Alright then, I'll have someone pick you up."
About ten minutes after hanging up, a black Crown sedan stopped downstairs. Jiang Xue'er was driving.
We exchanged smiles, didn't say much, got in the car, and she drove us to a lakeside villa.
Even before entering, I knew this was the place I had visited last time.
It seemed that Liu Zaixi had accumulated quite a fortune in Guangbei over the years through counterfeiting and selling fakes.
After entering and seeing the familiar golden nanmu furniture, Jiang Xue'er led me to the backyard.
In the backyard of the villa, there was an ancient-style pavilion. Walking along the stone path, we reached the pavilion where Liu Zaixi, dressed in casual home wear, sat warming wine.
Seeing me arrive, she gestured for me to sit and then poured me a cup of freshly warmed yellow wine.
"Why do you like drinking yellow wine?" I couldn't help but ask.
She smiled and said, "Years ago, my father often went to Shanghai on business. Every time he returned, he would bring back some yellow wine. He said people there liked to drink it, and after going many times, he also developed a liking for it."
I nodded. Before I could say anything, she lifted a cup of wine and sprinkled it on a flowerbed nearby, saying softly, "Today is my father's death anniversary..."
Hearing this, I was taken aback and immediately thought of something.
"I heard you're leaving tomorrow?" Liu Zaixi turned to ask.
"The matters in Guangbei are all settled, so it's natural for me to return," I said.
She smiled: "I thought you would have gone to the election venue with Yan Yuhe today."
Hearing her mention the election, I couldn't help but ask, "What exactly happened today?"
"Don't you find these things uninteresting?" she asked with a half-smile.
"I'm just a bit curious..."
"I simply returned the favor, paying them back in their own coin. You'll know the specifics by buying a newspaper tomorrow..."
Liu Zaixi said, raising her wine glass, "I asked you to come today not to talk about these things, but simply to have a farewell drink with you."
I raised my glass and smiled, "If there's a chance in the future, you can come to Guangling, and I will treat you well."
"There will definitely be a chance," Liu Zaixi smiled. "It's just a pity that I haven't been able to entertain you properly while you were here in Guangbei."
"Let's consider it a debt, then. You can entertain me properly next time I visit," I joked.
After finishing her yellow wine, she said, "I dislike owing anyone anything the most. Since I don't know when you'll be visiting next, I'll give you a gift as compensation."
Liu Zaixi picked up her phone from the table and dialed a number. Soon, Jiang Xue'er came over holding a brocade box.
Looking at the brocade box, I felt a bit confused: "What is this?"
"Just a gift for you. I hope you don't dislike it."
Just as I was about to take it and open it, Liu Zaixi said, "Don't you think it's impolite to open a gift in front of the giver?"
Hearing her say that, I smiled wryly: "I need to know what's inside before I dare to accept it."
"Are you that afraid my gift won't be good?"
"It's not that it's not good..."
"Then what is it?" Liu Zaixi refilled my cup. "If you still consider me a friend, then accept it."
"Alright," I said helplessly.
After a few cups of wine, we started chatting.
I must say, Liu Zaixi is indeed a very versatile person, perhaps it also has something to do with her background.
It was a very pleasant experience to chat with her, as if she had a kind of magic that made you want to tell her everything.
Compared to Yan Yuhe, I actually felt that Liu Zaixi was a better friend.
After several rounds of drinks, seeing that it was getting late, I took my leave.
As soon as Jiang Xue'er dropped me off at my accommodation, Yan Yuhe called, saying she was at the airport and was about to leave Guangbei.
I asked her where she was going.
She said, "Would you be willing to come and see me off?"
Her tone revealed a sense of helplessness, and I became even more curious about what had happened during the day.
What was the final outcome of the election for the four major families?
"Okay, I'll come find you now."
After hanging up the phone, I asked Fatty to drive me to the airport.
When I arrived, Yan Yuhe was holding a suitcase and wearing casual clothes.
From her appearance, she seemed like a girl next door.
As I walked over, she suddenly threw her arms around me, catching me off guard.
"Where are you going?" I asked.
Her emotions seemed a bit stirred. She let go of me, sniffled, forced a smile, and replied, "Abroad."