"Sister Yajie, Jinghao, you're back."
Seeing Liu Yajie, Ma Zhen Dong's wife, and his son Ma Jinghao return, Wan Yunting greeted them with a smile.
"Uncle Wan..."
Upon seeing him, Ma Jinghao ran over happily. Wan Yunting scooped him up and chuckled, "You rascal, how's your studies lately?"
"Great! I'm really good at studying. I got a perfect score on my math test." Ma Jinghao's expression was filled with pride.
"A perfect score is excellent. Tell me, what do you want, and Uncle Ma will buy it for you later," Wan Yunting praised with a smile.
"I want an Iron Man action figure!" Ma Jinghao's eyes lit up, and he said excitedly.
"Tsk, what action figure? Go back to your room and do your homework," Ma Zhen Dong said sternly, reprimanding his son.
"Oh."
Ma Jinghao pouted, looking aggrieved, and headed off with his schoolbag.
"Go do your homework. Uncle will buy you an Iron Man action figure and send it to your house later," Wan Yunting said, patting his head with a smile.
"Thank you, Uncle Wan! You truly are a great hero."
Ma Jinghao jumped with joy, happily hugging his schoolbag as he ran back to his room.
"This brat is obsessed with movies. He keeps asking for Iron Man action figures. Yunting, don't buy it for him, or he'll get spoiled," Ma Zhen Dong said.
Wan Yunting shot him a playful glare and chuckled, "He's just a kid. Of course, he deserves a reward for getting a perfect score."
"Little Wan, we're relieved that you're back," Liu Yajie said as she came out of the restroom, smiling at Wan Yunting and Ma Zhen Dong. "You guys chat, I'll go help in the kitchen."
"Alright, sister-in-law."
Wan Yunting nodded with a smile.
"General."
The elderly man, who was playing chess, had won against Pang Yuan again. He waved dismissively, "Scram, scram, let Little Wan come play with me. I must win against Little Wan today."
"Alright, Little Wan, it's your turn. I really can't beat the old leader," Pang Yuan said with a helpless expression as he got up, letting Wan Yunting take his place.
"By the way, our investigation in the capital hasn't found any connection between Fang Tai, Chen Guangyang, and the people of the Heavenly Eye Main God Cult!"
Pang Yuan sat on the sofa, peeling an orange from the fruit bowl on the coffee table. He turned to Wan Yunting and asked, "Little Wan, is it possible that the mastermind behind those two Heavenly Eye Main God Cult members who tried to kill you isn't Fang Tai and the others, but someone else?"
"Someone else?"
Ma Zhen Dong also turned to Wan Yunting, who was playing chess with the elder. He let out a sigh and said, "That's also possible. Little Wan, have you offended anyone recently?"
Wan Yunting moved a chess piece and replied with a slight smile, "To be honest, I haven't offended anyone recently. If I had to say someone, it would be the Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Association!"
Hearing this, Ma Zhen Dong and Pang Yuan exchanged glances. After all, a while ago, Wan Yunting had exposed the corruption and poor work attitude of the Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Association's delegation, including Weng Dehai, who were sent to rural areas for medical support. This had caused a stir, comparable to the Sima Hongyun incident, and had become widely known with negative commentary online.
Therefore, everyone now knew that some individuals within the Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Association had serious corruption issues.
"I saw on the news that Weng Dehai, the president of the Huadu City Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, held a press conference to apologize and had already resigned from his position. Could it be that Weng Dehai holds a grudge against you and wants to deal with you?" Pang Yuan speculated.
"Impossible."
Wan Yunting's gaze was fixed on the chessboard. He waved his hand and said with a smile, "I know Weng Dehai. He wouldn't dare to order the Heavenly Eye Main God Cult to kill me. If it were their chairman, Sima Wentang, well, that seems possible!"
Mentioning the Sima family, Wan Yunting's eyes narrowed. He didn't drop the chess piece in his hand. Ma Jianguo looked up at him and asked, "Little Wan, do you think it's the Sima family?"
"Wasn't that Sima Hongyun Sima Wentang's own brother? You exposed his matters. It's very likely they did it!" Pang Yuan said, eating an orange and nodding.
Wan Yunting placed his chess piece and curved his lips into a smile. Why hadn't he thought of the Sima family before?
"It seems we need to investigate this Sima family's issues as well!" Ma Zhen Dong said, leaning back on the sofa and lighting a cigarette.
Wan Yunting sneered, "What a coincidence. My master's problem isn't resolved yet, and they're already targeting me!"
This made Pang Yuan and Ma Zhen Dong pause. They turned to look at Wan Yunting. Ma Jianguo slammed his chess piece down firmly and said, "Little Wan, if you need this old bone of mine, just say the word."
Wan Yunting's expression faltered. He looked up at Ma Jianguo, feeling immense warmth, and nodded with a smile.
"Wait, you're going to lose if you play that move. Don't go easy on me!" Ma Jianguo immediately stopped him and glared as Wan Yunting was about to make his next move.
"Alright, I won't go easy..."
Wan Yunting smiled and put down the cannon he was holding, picking up the horse piece instead.
"Ah, that's more like it..."
Ma Jianguo continued to play his moves. Ma Zhen Dong and Pang Yuan shook their heads, feeling that the elder was becoming more childlike as he aged. He didn't even want Wan Yunting to go easy on him.
"Little Wan, stop playing and wash your hands, it's time to eat."
Huang Xiue and Niu Qiuling, who were in the dining room, had already prepared a table full of dishes with Liu Yajie.
"Coming, Auntie, Uncle. We'll continue after dinner," Wan Yunting said to Ma Jianguo upon hearing about the meal. He excitedly got up and ran towards the dining room, making Ma Jianguo anxious. "Hey, don't run off, finish this game first before you eat..."
"I won't play anymore, Uncle. In the disaster area, I either ate instant noodles or biscuits. I came back just for Auntie's meal."
Wan Yunting, who had rushed to the dining room, smiled as he looked at the spread of dishes. Seeing Niu Qiuling bringing out a plate of ribs, Wan Yunting unceremoniously reached out and grabbed a piece, popping it into his mouth. Niu Qiuling glared at him and huffed, "Did you wash your hands before sneaking food?"
"I'm sneaking food, what are you going to do about it?" Wan Yunting said cheekily, eating the ribs.
"I made these. Do you think I can't do anything about it?" Niu Qiuling said, her eyes wide with anger.
"You made them?"
Wan Yunting savored the taste of the ribs and put on a critic's airs, commenting, "The taste is okay, but the fried ribs are a bit overcooked. Remember to pay attention next time."
"Tsk."
Niu Qiuling placed the plate of ribs on the table and turned to glare at him, saying, "Auntie fried the ribs."
"Ah, Auntie fried them?"
Wan Yunting was stunned. Huang Xiue, who was bringing out the last soup, chuckled. Niu Qiuling sneered, "Your act failed."
Wan Yunting shot her a glare and grinned at Huang Xiue, "Auntie, the ribs are actually quite crispy when overcooked, and they taste good."
"Heh, alright, go wash your hands and eat," Huang Xiue said with a smile.
"Will do."
Wan Yunting nodded with a smile, then turned and provocatively glared at Niu Qiuling. This made her eyes widen, and she raised her small fist to retaliate. Wan Yunting rolled his eyes, too lazy to bother with her.
Wan Yunting and Pang Yuan certainly had a few drinks with the elder during this meal. He also ate ravenously. More than half of the dozen or so dishes on the table were eaten by Wan Yunting, making Niu Qiuling disdainfully say, "Are you a reincarnation of a starving ghost, or haven't you eaten in days? Eating so much, are you a pig?"
"Nonsense, I haven't eaten in days."
Wan Yunting finished the last sip of soup and put down his bowl. "You have no idea, Luo Tang and I were trapped in that cave. We only had a few packs of soda crackers left. At first, we could eat two crackers a day, but in the end, after we ran out of crackers, we starved for two or three days."
"Tsk, Luo Tang. You call her so affectionately."
Niu Qiuling, sitting beside him, rolled her eyes disdainfully. This made Wan Yunting glance at her, too lazy to respond.
"Here, Little Wan, have another bowl. Eat more, you've really worked hard," Huang Xiue continued to serve him soup. Wan Yunting thanked her again.
"By the way, Little Wan, I heard on the news that you have a girlfriend. Is that true?" Liu Yajie asked with a gossipy smile.
Wan Yunting paused. Ma Zhen Dong, sitting next to him, smiled and said, "It's his college girlfriend, Fang Yanxi. When she heard he was in trouble, she was the first one to rush to the disaster area."
"Oh, really?"
Liu Yajie and Huang Xiue looked at Wan Yunting and smiled, "When will you bring her over for dinner so we can meet her?"
"This..."
Wan Yunting put down his bowl while drinking soup, looking a bit embarrassed. He said with a smile, "Next time she's free, I'll bring her..."
"Um, Auntie, Uncle Ma, I'm full. I have some things to attend to at home, so I'll be going now."
At this moment, Niu Qiuling stood up, interrupting Wan Yunting. After speaking to Ma Jianguo and Huang Xiue, she left the table.
This left everyone at the dining table stunned. Looking at Niu Qiuling leaving directly, Liu Yajie asked in confusion, "What's wrong with Qiuling?"
"What else could it be? Of course, it's because of Little Wan," Ma Zhen Dong said, glancing at Wan Yunting with a mischievous grin.
"Little Wan?"
This caused Liu Yajie, Pang Yuan, and the elder Ma Jianguo to look confused and bewildered.
"Brother Dong, what are you talking about?"
Wan Yunting shot Ma Zhen Dong a glare and continued eating his food.
"Oh, actually, that girl Qiuling is quite nice. Her mother came to me before and talked about this, wanting to set up Little Wan and Qiuling," Huang Xiue said regretfully. "But now that Little Wan has a girlfriend, it's a shame Qiuling didn't meet him sooner."
"So that's what it is."
Ma Jianguo finally remembered why Niu Qiuling's mother, Luo Meihui, had come to find Huang Xiue so many times before.
"What's the big deal?"
Ma Zhen Dong teased with a laugh, "Little Wan is young, it's normal for him to have a few girlfriends."
"Heh."
Wan Yunting looked at Ma Zhen Dong speechlessly and said to Liu Yajie, "Sister-in-law, Brother Dong also went with us to..."
"Yunting, don't talk nonsense and make your sister-in-law misunderstand me..."
Ma Zhen Dong became anxious and lunged forward to cover Wan Yunting's mouth, causing Pang Yuan and the others to burst into laughter...