Chapter 124: What a Coincidence
County Town. The Wang Family Ancestral Home!
As today’s birthday celebrant, Wang Guoguang was actually losing his temper with his eldest son—because the son had forgotten a very important task he’d been assigned!
“You call yourself a Party Secretary, yet you can’t even handle such a small matter?”
“It was just a matter of inviting someone—how could I have forgotten? My memory must have been eaten by a dog…”
Faced with his father’s scolding, Wang Anmin could only offer a wry smile and apologize.
A couple of days ago, his father had asked him to invite Li Yi, the man who had saved his life, to the birthday banquet.
He had agreed at the time, but with so many county affairs piling up these past few days—and then yesterday, when city leaders came for an inspection and he had to accompany them on a tour of the county all day—he didn’t get home until the early hours of the morning.
One thing led to another, and he’d completely forgotten about the task his father had entrusted to him!
It wasn’t until the old man brought it up just now that he realized he’d forgotten to tell Li Yi.
With no other choice, he had to come clean.
Upon learning that he had actually forgotten such an important matter, the old man immediately flew into a rage.
Wang Guoguang was genuinely angry at that moment. Although he knew there were over a hundred guests seated outside, he realized it wasn’t appropriate to scold his son right then.
But he still couldn’t contain his anger…
“Father, please don’t be angry. Anmin has been so busy these past few days—I haven’t even seen him in days!” Wang Anmin’s wife spoke up in her husband’s defense.
“Father, Big Brother didn’t mean to do it on purpose. Please don’t be angry!”
This time, it was Wang Anguo’s wife, An Hong, who spoke up. She knew her father-in-law’s temperament—he responded better to kindness than to harshness.
Wang Guoguang shot his second daughter-in-law a glance, then snorted coldly and fell silent.
Just then, An Hong suddenly said, “Father, look—An Guo is back!”
Wang Guoguang’s gaze instinctively turned toward the window. Through the glass, he indeed saw his youngest son returning!
However, what he saw next was a familiar figure following right behind his second son—wasn’t that the very lifesaver he’d been hoping to invite?
Overcome with excitement, Wang Guoguang immediately stood up and hurried toward the door.
His sudden movement startled the family members inside, and they all followed him out…
Seeing his father rush out, Wang Anguo immediately said, “Father, I’m back…”
But before he could finish, his father swept him aside with a broad gesture and walked straight past him.
Wang Anguo was dumbfounded!
Wang Anmin was stunned!
An Hong and all the guests were baffled; none of them had any idea what the old man was up to.
Just then, the old man suddenly burst out laughing, “It really is you, you rascal! I thought I was seeing things!”
Li Yi was also a bit surprised; he hadn’t expected to run into the old man here. He immediately said, “Old man, what are you doing here? What a coincidence!”
“How could it not be a coincidence? This is my home!” Wang Anguo said with a smile.
“Your place?”
Li Yi then pointed to Wang Anguo standing nearby and asked, “Is Captain Wang your son?”
“Yes, my younger son. You’ve met my older son!”
By then, Wang Anguo had caught on as well. He looked at his father and asked, “Dad, do you know Brother Li Yi?”
“Hahaha, we’re more than just acquaintances. It was this young man who saved my life last time. If it weren’t for him, I’d have already passed my seventh-day memorial service!” Wang Guoguang explained.
Wang Anguo exclaimed in surprise, “Dad, are you saying that Brother Li Yi was the one who took you to the hospital last time?”
He knew that his father had suddenly fallen ill while visiting the countryside a while back and had been saved by a young man—he never expected that person to be Li Yi.
Stunned, Wang Anguo immediately turned to Li Yi and said, “Brother Li Yi, the Wang family owes you a huge favor. How can we ever repay you?”
Li Yi smiled and said, “It was just a small favor. Don’t worry about it!”
Then Li Yi turned to Old Master Wang and said, “Team Leader Wang and I are also good friends. A few days ago, he invited me to his father’s birthday banquet, so I came. I never expected the birthday celebrant to be you, sir. What a coincidence!”
“It is fate—and a rather deep one at that!” Wang Guoguang said with a smile.
“I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I just bought a few bottles of liquor. I hope you’ll enjoy them!” Li Yi said again.
“Maotai! That’s the stuff!” Wang Guoguang said happily.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Old Man Wang led Li Yi to the table at the head of the banquet hall and seated him with his closest relatives.
No sooner had he sat down than Wang Anmin said with a smile, “Brother Li Yi, I’d like to apologize to you first!”
Hearing this, Li Yi felt a bit overwhelmed by the unexpected honor.
This was the county Party secretary apologizing to him—was he kidding?
“Secretary Wang, why on earth are you apologizing to me? I couldn’t possibly accept that!” Li Yi replied immediately.
“My old man asked me a few days ago to invite you to his birthday banquet, and I agreed, but I’ve been so busy lately that I completely forgot!”
Wang Anmin continued, “Before you two arrived, my old man gave me a real dressing-down. Thank goodness my second son managed to invite Brother Li Yi—otherwise, I’d be in for a rough time today!”
Old Man Wang snorted coldly and said, “You can’t even handle something this simple, and you still have the nerve to speak!”
Wang Anmin immediately shook his head with a wry smile, then wisely kept quiet.
Li Yi immediately offered a few words of comfort to Old Master Wang. After all, Wang Anmin was in charge of an entire county; forgetting to invite someone as insignificant as him was perfectly understandable.
Only after the old man’s mood had cleared did Li Yi have a chance to take a good look at the Wang family!
Li Yi had met Wang Anmin, Wang Anguo’s older brother, before at the Hongqi Commune, and he had a fairly vivid impression of him.
The middle-aged woman sitting next to Wang Anmin was likely his wife, and beside her was a girl of about fifteen or sixteen who was chatting affectionately with Wang Anmin from time to time—she must be his daughter.
Wang Anguo was also accompanied by two people. Li Yi recognized the woman—she was his greatest rival from his previous life: An Hong!
Li Yi had also seen the child in the photographs displayed in Wang Anguo’s office; he must be his son.
Other than that, Li Yi was the only outsider left at this table!
As Li Yi surveyed the Wang family, the Wang family members—and even the other guests attending the birthday banquet—were all sizing him up.
No one could have imagined that Old Master Wang would seat such a young man at the same table as his family; everyone was speculating about the relationship between Li Yi and Old Master Wang.
In fact, quite a few people had already guessed their relationship from Li Yi’s earlier conversation with Wang Guoguang, but many others were still in the dark.
For a moment, the guests throughout the courtyard were all whispering to one another, and the focus of their discussion was Li Yi!
Compared to the others, An Hong was even more curious about Li Yi!
She had heard her husband mention this man’s name more than once, and every time he spoke of him, his face betrayed a look of astonishment and admiration.
Moreover, she knew that it was this young man who had saved her husband not long ago, so her first impression of Li Yi was quite favorable.
So, after a moment’s hesitation, she picked up a cup of tea and walked over to Li Yi!