Chapter 462: Do Good Deeds, and Don’t Worry About the Future!
After the convoy entered the city, Li Yi didn’t take Lao Huang and the others to a hotel on the outskirts.
Nor did he comply with Jiang Longcheng’s request to take them to the guesthouse at the cotton mill.
Instead, he took them straight to his own home!
Bringing guests home is a form of hospitality deeply ingrained in the hearts of northerners.
It wasn’t that they couldn’t spare the money for a hotel or guesthouse; rather, they wanted their guests to remember the way to their home so they could visit often in the future.
In contrast, people from the south do not have this custom.
This isn’t to say that Southerners aren’t hospitable enough; rather, they place greater value on privacy. Not only would they never invite friends to stay at home, but they rarely even invite relatives over.
If a Southerner thinks you’re a good person worth getting to know deeply, they’ll invite you out for dim sum—the kind of gathering where you chat all day long.
After driving through the city for nearly half an hour, the car finally arrived at the entrance to Li Yi’s alley.
After parking the car, Li Yi got out and led Huang Lixing and the others toward his home.
It was then that Li Yi met Old Huang’s daughter, Ah Min.
The little girl was now over eight months old. Held in her mother Chen Chuhong’s arms, she was curiously gazing at the rustic buildings around her.
The little girl had fair, delicate skin and was very pretty—a trait she had clearly inherited from her mother.
At the Li residence, Jiang Xue was busy in the kitchen, while Zhang Xinyao was in the inner room watching over the two little ones!
Knowing that Old Huang and the others were coming today, and that they likely wouldn’t stop for a meal along the way,
So Li Yi had gone to the market early in the morning and bought quite a bit of meat and vegetables.
He spent the entire morning in the kitchen, and it wasn’t until nearly noon that he called Jiang Longcheng and they headed out. The prepared dishes were kept warm in pots, ready to be eaten together once Old Huang and the others arrived.
Just as Jiang Xue had finished setting out the bowls and chopsticks, she heard the door open outside.
Knowing the guests had arrived, Jiang Xue immediately went out to check.
Seeing that it was indeed Old Huang and the others, Jiang Xue immediately went out to greet them, then said with poise, “Brother Huang, Sister-in-law, Captain Wang, Captain Li, welcome to our home!”
After spending several months in the capital, coupled with the guidance and example set by her mother, Ye Lingyun, Jiang Xue had made significant progress in her social graces.
She no longer showed any trace of her former shyness or awkwardness; she now carried herself with the grace and poise of a well-bred young lady.
“Little Xue, it’s finally good to see you!” Chen Chuhong said first.
Jiang Xue, meanwhile, looked at the little girl in Chen Chuhong’s arms and said with delight, “This must be Amin. She’s so pretty!”
Seeing Jiang Xue compliment their precious daughter, Huang Lixing and Chen Chuhong were both overjoyed!
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, everyone went inside.
After introducing Zhang Xinyao to everyone, Li Yi asked everyone to take their seats in the dining room, and they quickly began the meal.
Since today’s guests included not only Huang Lixing’s bodyguards but also several officers from the Ning City Public Security Bureau,
The table in the main room was a bit small and couldn’t accommodate everyone, so Li Yi set up another table in the west wing and had Huang Lixing’s bodyguards dine there.
Once everyone was settled, the welcome banquet for Huang Lixing finally began!
……..
After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, the women took the three children into the inner room to chat, while Li Yi led Huang Lixing, Jiang Longcheng, Wang Anguo, Li Gang, and the others into the living room.
After pouring a cup of tea for everyone, Li Yi asked with a smile, “Old Huang, have you settled everything up north?”
“Pretty much. I spent over a month in the North this time, selecting 87 impoverished areas in Ning City, Qingcheng, Lucheng, Echeng, and Bacheng to build schools. I also had someone calculate the costs—it’ll take about five million to complete them all!”
Huang Lixing continued, “I’ve already transferred the funds to the provincial government’s designated account. They’ll oversee the use of the money, and it will all go toward building the schools.”
Hearing this, Jiang Longcheng, who was standing nearby, gaped in astonishment.
He had always thought his brother-in-law, Li Yi, was already quite wealthy, having earned over four million in just a few short months.
He never expected that this Mr. Huang was even more impressive—donating five million on the spot, and for the purpose of building schools, no less.
In an instant, his opinion of Huang Lixing changed significantly.
Although this man ran casinos and was involved in smuggling, the fact that he could come up with such a large sum all at once to build a school clearly meant he wasn’t a completely rotten person—someone worth associating with.
No sooner had Huang Lixing finished speaking than Wang Anguo chimed in from the side: “Old Huang, this school is being built to the standards of a first-class central school—classrooms, dormitories, a cafeteria, a playground, and a library are all fully equipped. A donation of five million has even caught the attention of the top official in the province!”
“Hahaha, Brother Li Yi once said that building a school is a deed that benefits both the present and future generations—we can’t cut corners on this!”
Huang Lixing then added, “Besides, this is also about accumulating merit and praying for blessings for my daughter Amin—we certainly can’t cut corners on this!”
Li Yi immediately replied, “Old Huang, no matter what, I still have to thank you for this. Who knows how many children’s lives your act of kindness will change!”
“Brother Li Yi, you’re too kind. If we were to exchange thanks, we’d never finish!” Huang Lixing said with a smile.
“You’re right. I won’t dwell on the thanks then. Since you two are here in the capital, I’ll make sure to show you around this ancient Ming and Qing dynasty capital over the next few days!”
“Hahaha, we’d be grateful for that, Brother Li Yi!”
Then, Li Yi turned to Wang Anguo and asked, “Captain Wang, did you come to Beijing just to escort Old Huang and the others?”
“That’s right. Now that we’ve delivered them, our mission is complete. Unless something unexpected comes up, we’ll be heading back tomorrow!” Wang Anguo replied.
“In such a hurry? Can’t you stay a few more days? I heard Sister-in-Law An Hong is coming back in a few days—why not see her before you leave?”
Wang Anguo hesitated for a moment, but finally shook his head and said, “I’d rather not. I really can’t get away from the bureau!”
Just then, Li Gang, who was standing nearby, suddenly chimed in with a smile, “Brother Li Yi, you really shouldn’t try to keep him here. A deputy director at the Municipal Bureau has just retired, and Brother Anguo has his eye on that position!”
Li Yi immediately asked, “Are you confident?”
Wang Anguo smiled and said, “Not really. After all, I’m still a bit junior, and I was only promoted last year. But whether I succeed or not, I’ve got to give it a shot!”
“That’s true,” Li Yi said. “You have to put in the effort before you can even think about anything else!”
Li Gang chimed in with a laugh, “Brother Li Yi, why don’t you give Brother Wang a reading to see if he stands a chance this time?”
Hearing this, everyone’s eyes turned to Li Yi, filled with anticipation.
However, Li Yi shook his head and said, “I’d rather not. What’s the fun in knowing the outcome before you even try? The beauty of life lies in the unknown and the surprises it holds!”
“Brother Li Yi is right—let’s not do it!” Wang Anguo said with a laugh.
Li Yi smiled and said, “I won’t predict the outcome of this matter, but I can offer Brother Wang a piece of advice!”
“What’s that?” Wang Anguo asked eagerly.
“Just do good deeds; don’t worry about the future!”
Hearing this, Wang Anguo immediately fell into deep thought.
Huang Lixing and Li Gang also looked deep in thought, while only Jiang Longcheng, the carefree one, showed no reaction at all.
………