Qu Mingwei, despite his high position, didn't know what to say to express his shock.
The seemingly ordinary girl harbored such a significant background.
If he hadn't witnessed it firsthand, he wouldn't have believed it at all.
No wonder Zheng Ming had called him saying there was an important person. Did Lao Wang and Jack Ma's presence also have to do with Lin'er?
Who exactly was she? Zheng Qingya didn't say, and he couldn't find out.
But he knew one thing: he had to treat this Lin'er with great care.
From his first glance at Xia Lin, she hadn't shown any arrogance. She was as plain as an ordinary girl.
It wasn't that others perceived her as ordinary, but rather that external affairs no longer affected her.
Before you arrived, your father had already briefed me. So, it turns out what your dad was referring to was her. Now it all makes sense, Qu Mingwei sighed.
No wonder Zheng Ming had instructed him to treat Lao Wang to a meal, and no wonder Long Aotian had also come to Sichuan Province.
Now, with Zheng Qingya's explanation, Qu Mingwei suddenly felt the truth had been revealed.
"More or less," Zheng Qingya said evasively.
Actually, her father was referring to Xia Feng, Lin'er's brother, the truly formidable one.
But Zheng Qingya found it difficult to say so directly, so she just said "more or less."
Qu Mingwei was still pondering Xia Lin's identity and didn't pay attention to the meaning behind Zheng Qingya's words.
After playing in the private room for a while, the dishes were soon served.
Waitstaff in uniform entered with plates of Sichuan cuisine and retreated politely after placing them down.
At this moment, Qu Mingwei looked at Xia Lin with a completely different gaze, filled with deep reverence. As the Vice Governor of Sichuan Province, he specifically stood up and raised a toast to Xia Lin, who responded with a drink.
The signal conveyed by this gesture was understood by everyone present, though nothing was explicitly stated.
The meal concluded with everyone enjoying themselves, a truly pleasant occasion for both hosts and guests.
After dinner, Xia Lin and the others continued their shopping spree. Qu Mingwei sat in his official car as the driver headed towards the Provincial Office Building.
In Qu Mingwei's car, Peng Gui seemed hesitant to speak.
"You want to ask why I was so polite to that girl at the dinner table, don't you?" Qu Mingwei said, noticing Peng Gui's unspoken question.
"Leader, I wouldn't dare," Peng Gui quickly denied.
Inquiring about a leader's affairs was itself a taboo.
"It's fine to tell you. You know Xiao Ya, right? She's Secretary Zheng of Modu's daughter, and my niece. And you know the National Little Wang and the others, don't you?"
Qu Mingwei, unable to contain his shock, began to confide in Peng Gui about the day's events.
"Yes, I know them," Peng Gui nodded quickly.
"Do you know who the person wearing the floral shirt today was?" Qu Mingwei asked, creating suspense.
"Leader, my position isn't high enough; I couldn't recognize him," Peng Gui shook his head.
"He is the grandson of Old Zhou, the Old Zhou from the capital," Qu Mingwei added, specifically naming the Old Zhou from the capital.
"Old Zhou's grandson?"
"A top young master of Hua Xia?"
Peng Gui was stunned. He never expected that Old Zhou's grandson would barely say a few words at the dinner table, and even sat in an inconspicuous position. It seemed no one paid much attention to his identity.
Could it be that his identity was concealed from everyone?
That didn't seem right either; there was no need for that.
While Peng Gui was still in a daze, Qu Mingwei dropped another bombshell with a look of utmost seriousness: "All these people I've just mentioned to you are followers of that girl named Lin'er."
"All...
"All followers of that girl?"
Peng Gui's eyes widened in terror, his mouth agape in disbelief. His stunned expression betrayed the tumultuous storm raging within him.
No wonder the leader had so humbly toasted her, no wonder the leader had called them important guests.
No wonder...
Seeing Peng Gui's shocked expression, Qu Mingwei smiled. Finally, someone shared his astonishment.
"In one ear and out the other," Qu Mingwei instructed.
"I... I understand, Leader," Peng Gui nodded, utterly speechless.
Qu Mingwei nodded and said no more.
In the afternoon, Liu Jingru took everyone to visit Kuanzhai Alley, an ancient street that had been preserved.
It represented the most Chengdu, the most colloquial, of the folk cultures. Scenes of leisurely life, like sipping tea from a lidded bowl and enjoying Douhua rice, were found throughout these slightly dilapidated alleys.
If one visits Chengdu, this place is considered a must-see.
There were many snacks in the alleys; basically, all the famous Chengdu snacks could be found here.
"Jingru, I'm going to buy some Douhua. Do you want any?" Xia Lin walked over, spotting the Douhua vendor on the street.
Douhua is a classic snack found throughout the country, especially in tourist areas where vendors selling it are ubiquitous.
This delicacy is delicious, doesn't cause internal heat, and is good for the complexion, making it a favorite among young women.
"We want some too," the National Little Wang stepped forward, offering to pay.
"If we eat like this every day, do you think we'll get fat?" Xia Lin and the others stood aside, beginning to worry about their weight.
"You can't have the energy to lose weight if you don't eat enough," Zheng Qingya said with a smile.
"That's true. Let's eat first," Qin Wen replied.
When the five girls started talking about their figures, they huddled together, chattering incessantly.
However, they were all the type who didn't gain weight no matter how much they ate; their figures were standard. This was related to their constitution.
Some people don't gain weight no matter what they eat, while others gain weight just by drinking cold water.
Binge eating does have some impact, but paying attention to diet, and one's constitution plays a significant role.
"Lin'er, I can't accompany you tomorrow during the day. I have to attend my cousin's wedding," Liu Jingru suddenly said.
"Okay, it's fine. If you have something to do, go ahead. We still have so many people here," Xia Lin nodded.
"Alright, remember to come home for a meal with me sometime," Liu Jingru added.
"Got it."
Xia Lin agreed. Since they were in Chengdu, she definitely had to visit Liu Jingru's parents.
After all, she had stayed at her place for an entire summer and they had been very good to her.
Soon, the National Little Wang and the others returned with bowls of Douhua, handing them to the girls. None of them had lost their appetite despite having just eaten.
"It's really delicious."
"It does taste good."
"I want another bowl."
"Brother, we want more. Get us another bowl."
The girls commented on the food with great enjoyment, one after another. Qin Wen, before finishing her bowl, called out to Qin Dou and the others to prepare another one for her.
The second day in Chengdu was also spent eating, drinking, and having fun, which is what women loved most.
Indeed, a woman's word meant the men around her would run their legs off.
Especially Xia Lin's words, everyone vied to fulfill them. Yu Wei's performance this time was excellent, apart from an accidental fart yesterday, he showed no other improprieties.