Chapter 842: Chapter 842
"You don’t need to worry about my health, Xu Qianli. Instead of worrying about others, you should take care of yourself! After all, you’ve just arrived in Cailin County, and you’re not familiar with the place or the environment here. If you happen to fall sick, it’d be quite troublesome, especially when you don’t have anyone to care for you."
Zhang Dongyang immediately retaliated, "You say I’m no good, but I’m going to make sure you can’t stand your ground in Cailin County!"
"Kid, just wait and see how I, Zhang Dongyang, will handle you in the future!"
Xu Qianli said, "Thank you so much for the reminder, County Magistrate Zhang. You’re right, I’m new here, and it’s no good not having any friends around. How about this, I’ll make a friend now so I have someone to rely on later in Cailin County."
Zhang Dongyang almost burst into laughter at this.
Cailin County is practically dominated by him and Fu Guotai, as solid as a rock. Who would dare openly befriend Xu Qianli, knowing he and Fu Guotai are at odds with him?
He really wanted to see if there was anyone here in Cailin County who was so oblivious as to dare provoke him and Fu Guotai.
If there really was such a person, he’d genuinely be curious to see who it was.
Deliberately, Zhang Dongyang glanced around, daring anyone to step forward.
The officials, big and small, in Cailin County were anxious inside.
In Cailin County, who didn’t know the grudge between Fu Guotai, Zhang Dongyang, and Xu Qianli? They were spectacularly powerful before, but Xu Qianli came and humiliated them, leaving them in disgrace.
This time, Xu Qianli came specifically because they orchestrated it to give Xu Qianli a hard time, which everyone understood.
Xu Qianli wanting to make a friend who could support him in front of Zhang Dongyang seemed like sheer nonsense.
No matter who was willing, they weren’t, as they weren’t foolish enough to openly embarrass Zhang Dongyang like that.
That Xu Qianli guy, surely he was just bluffing, it couldn’t possibly happen.
He Fang, who had been left speechless by Xu Qianli earlier, suddenly jumped back into the fray, "Oh my, Xu Qianli, you must think you’re a superstar or something, as if being handsome means friends wherever you go. Our Cailin County is not like other places. Not just anyone is willing to make friends with us, let alone being able to rely on each other. You might as well stop wasting your time."
Xu Qianli smiled warmly, keeping his eyes on He Fang, "Secretary He, right? You really have a mouth that’s quite endearing; it’s so rosy and pretty that men must like it. But the things you say just aren’t pleasant to hear. What’s this about me not making friends? I actually feel surrounded by friends here. For instance, you, Secretary He—I think we could totally be friends."
Bwahaha...
He Fang burst out laughing.
Hahaha, so funny, too damn funny. She, He Fang, is Zhang Dongyang’s person—not just a secretary but his close confidante, having done everything imaginable with him, opening all sorts of doors for him.
Someone like her, standing with Xu Qianli in front of Zhang Dongyang? No way!
Funny, funny that Xu Qianli could even say such a thing.
What does he rely on, just his good looks?
Sure, He Fang admits the kid is quite handsome and her type. If it weren’t for the feud between Xu Qianli and Zhang Dongyang, she might have secretly approached Xu Qianli to hang out, maybe even take it a step further and have a fling.
But since he offended Zhang Dongyang, she must distance herself from him, have no contact whatsoever, let alone be friends, especially not mutually supportive ones.
Xu Qianli said, "Don’t be so sure about things; nothing in the world is absolute. Believe it or not, I can say one sentence and make you agree to be my friend, a very close one at that."
"I truly don’t believe it!" He Fang crossed her arms, looking mockingly at Xu Qianli, "Just one sentence, huh? I’d love to hear it. What could you possibly say? You wouldn’t threaten me in front of all these people, would you? I don’t fall for that!"
"Secretary He, come on now, we’re talking about making friends, not enemies. Why would I threaten you? As for what I’ll say, it’s simple. Just yesterday, my second uncle from Huayuan Village called to tell me we’re actually cousins. Just like that—do you think we could be friends?"
Xu Qianli spoke casually and waited with a smile for He Fang’s response.
Damn woman, with all your flirtation, flaunting your status as Zhang Dongyang’s secretary, who do you think you are trying to act tough with me?
Forget you being a secretary, even if it were Zhang Dongyang himself, I wouldn’t take him seriously. Who are you, anyway?
I didn’t plan to deal with you, nor did I want to cause trouble because you weren’t worth it. But you just had to jump out, so don’t blame me for being rude!
Everyone at the banquet was listening intently.
They were curious about what Xu Qianli would say but ended up hearing just a nonsensical sentence.
What nonsense about a second uncle from Huayuan Village saying he and He Fang are cousins—what’s that about?
Never mind where Huayuan Village is; if they were really cousins, wouldn’t they have known by now?
No way, absolutely not. This statement doesn’t add up at all.
Zhang Dongyang was also pondering deeply, unable to figure it out.
Xu Qianli’s words clearly conveyed some information, yet he couldn’t grasp it, so he turned his gaze to He Fang.
He Fang’s face turned all sorts of colors before she finally squeezed out a smile, walked over, and shook Xu Qianli’s hand with a laugh, "Oh my, those words... So you’re my cousin? It’s such a shame that family members meet yet don’t recognize each other. Don’t worry, cousin; now that you’re here in Cailin County, if there’s anything inconvenient, your cousin will help you out."
The scene left everyone in the room dumbfounded.
Xu Qianli’s words shouldn’t have been anything special, so why did He Fang immediately have a change of heart?
Just a moment ago, she was being all sharp-tongued, yet now she’s smiling warmly as if they really were family. Was that necessary?
There was something off, there was definitely something significant about what Xu Qianli said!
But nobody could understand what it meant, nor why He Fang changed her demeanor so suddenly.
Zhang Dongyang frowned, looking coldly at He Fang, "What the hell are you up to, woman? You know full well that I, Zhang Dongyang, and Xu Qianli don’t get along, yet you’re cozying up to him, calling him cousin. What do you mean by this? Trying to slap me in the face?"
He Fang quickly sensed Zhang Dongyang’s gaze, and her heart skipped a beat. She quickly looked away, not daring to meet his eyes again.
While everyone was puzzled, Xu Qianli said, "I knew it, Cailin County is such a hospitable place. Making friends isn’t that complicated. See, with just one sentence, I’ve gained a cousin. And County Magistrate Zhang, believe it or not, with a few more words, I can have a whole bunch of friends."