At night, inside a private room at Xinrongji in Rong City.
Unable to refuse their warm hospitality, Zhang Yang was firmly seated in the place of honor by Bei Tianfu. Fine wine, cigarettes, and all sorts of Xinrongji's signature dishes filled the table.
"Uncle, you're my elder. Isn't this a little inappropriate?" Zhang Yang asked with a laugh.
"It's perfectly appropriate. You're an honored guest who's come all this way; nothing would be too much." Bei Tianfu beamed, then got up to pour Zhang Yang another drink.
"We're family, so there's no need to stand on ceremony. Even though I'm not Bei Wei's father's biological brother, we're closer than brothers. I may only be Bei Wei's cousin, but I'm closer to her than a real uncle. Little Zhang... You don't mind if I call you that, do you?"
"Of course not." Zhang Yang didn't mind, though he was still a little unused to Bei Tianfu's enthusiasm.
Wasn't he a little too enthusiastic?
Not far away, Bei Wei and Bei Jiajia leaned their heads together and whispered.
"My dad's so snobbish. He's all about money... Anyway, dear big sister, you can't tell Handsome Zhang I said that, okay?"
"I won't, I won't. Why would I say something like that?" Bei Wei chuckled, lowering her head.
She didn't know whether her cousin uncle was really that calculating, but as far as she could remember, he'd never acted this way during any of their previous meals together.
As the night deepened, the atmosphere in the private room grew lively.
Zhang Yang could hold his liquor, but Bei Tianfu was even more impressive. They ate, drank, and chatted as time slipped by unnoticed.
They still had business to discuss, of course, but it wasn't like a typical business negotiation. There was none of the