With Cui Zhishen on board, Wang Qidong could finally relax a little.
The two had been neighbors for years and always got along, so they fell into an easy rapport after meeting again.
"Zhishen, you’re here!" Wang Qidong said with a smile, offering Cui Zhishen a cigarette.
Cui Zhishen teased, "You’re a real piece of work, Wang. Landed such a great job and didn’t even give your old pal Cui a heads-up."
"As if I needed to," Wang Qidong whispered playfully, winking. "I knew Boss Wu would come find you sooner or later. Xu Fei and Boss Wu are from the same hometown, and your niece is with him day in and day out. With a good thing like this, how could Boss Wu not think of you?"
Hearing this, Cui Zhishen thought it made sense and tacitly agreed with Wang Qidong.
’It would be even better if my niece and Little Wu’s relationship progressed further,’ he thought. ’A rich bachelor like him is a rare catch. I’ll have to get her aunt to give her another push.’
’As the saying goes, proximity gives one an advantage. Little Wu hasn’t brought a girlfriend home in all these years. This is an opportunity that can’t be missed.’
"Uncle Cui, I’ve got an order here for the Good Fortune Restaurant on the West Second Ring. You know the place?" Wu Jun asked Cui Zhishen after hanging up the phone.
"I know it, I know it. I’ll go right now." Hearing Wu Jun’s summons, Cui Zhishen made plans with Wang Qidong to go for a drink another day to celebrate becoming colleagues, then turned and walked toward Wu Jun.
Xiao Hong and No. 2 efficiently loaded the truck. Cui Zhishen didn’t hesitate either; he helped load up, then drove off to make the delivery.
Not long after Cui Zhishen left, Wang Qidong also drove off with a load.
Wu Jun and Wu Guangkun stayed behind at the warehouse. In between taking orders, the uncle and nephew chatted idly.
Wu Guangkun asked Wu Jun, "Little Jun, that girl who’s helping your mom take care of your dad, does she have a boyfriend?"
Wu Jun was taken aback for a moment, but then he burst out laughing once he realized who Wu Guangkun was talking about.
Xu Xiulan was a year older than Ma Dongmei. She’d just had her birthday a little while ago, making her 49. Although she was fair-skinned and looked sharp, calling her a "girl" was clearly not quite appropriate.
Wu Jun confirmed with Wu Guangkun, "Second Uncle, you mean Auntie Xu, right?"
"Yes, yes, that girl with the surname Xu," Wu Guangkun said. "She’s really easy on the eyes."
When Wu Jun heard this, his heart skipped a beat. ’Don’t tell me Second Uncle has gotten ideas and has his eyes on Auntie Xu!’
’Second Uncle has been a bachelor for most of his life. Even though I want him to find someone to grow old with, Auntie Xu is clearly not a suitable choice.’
’Old Luo and I are on good terms. If Second Uncle gets between him and Auntie Xu, I won’t be able to take sides. I’d be caught in the middle.’
"Second Uncle, I have some bad news for you." Wu Jun felt it was better to be upfront. "Auntie Xu is already seeing someone. I’ll find someone else to introduce you to another day."
"Get outta here! What are you talking about, you brat," Wu Guangkun said, his weathered face flushing. "I was just asking casually. You’re not even married yet, so what’s the hurry for me?"
"Second Uncle, aren’t you getting that backward?" Wu Jun couldn’t help but laugh. "What uncle waits for his nephew to get married before he does? If anyone’s getting married, it should be you first."
"Don’t worry, Second Uncle." Wu Jun knew what his uncle was worried about and told him, "Our family’s situation is completely different now. Buying a car or a house is no big deal. If you get married, I’ll buy you a villa for your marital home."
Although Wu Guangkun was from the countryside, he knew what a villa was. Hearing Wu Jun’s words, he said in astonishment, "Little Jun, are we really that loaded now?"
"Yes, we’re exactly that loaded," Wu Jun said. "From now on, eat what you want, drink what you want. You don’t have to be frugal for my sake. How many times have I told you? You just don’t listen."
Hearing Wu Jun’s words, Wu Guangkun chuckled. He said he wouldn’t be frugal anymore. For breakfast, he’d switch to hand-grasped pancakes and get all the fillings, no more jianbing guozi. He was going to live it up.
Wu Jun: "..."
’No matter how much you splurge on hand-grasped pancakes, you can’t really spend that much money.’
Just as they stopped talking, Wu Jun’s phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID—what a coincidence, it was a call from Old Luo. Speak of the devil.
Old Luo asked where Wu Jun was. He had gone to the supermarket to find him, but no one was there. Xu Fei only knew he was somewhere around the warehouse but didn’t have the specific address. Wu Jun sent him the warehouse’s address.
Less than twenty minutes after hanging up, a sleek black Audi A8 pulled up in front of the warehouse.
"That’s Auntie Xu’s boyfriend," Wu Jun said to Wu Guangkun before walking toward Luo Weimin’s car.
"Well, I’ll be damned! He drives a four-ringer!" Wu Guangkun clicked his tongue. Although he didn’t know how much the car cost, he knew it was very expensive—enough to buy a house in his hometown county. ’Alright, I’ll let him have her. I won’t compete with him.’
Luo Weimin pushed the door open and got out. Wu Jun went up to greet him. "Old Luo, what brings you here?"
"You brat. If I don’t call you, you never call me. Look how busy you are." Luo Weimin laughed and gave Wu Jun a playful punch. "Something good happens, and you don’t even think to let me know."
"What good thing?" Wu Jun asked, looking completely clueless.
"Playing dumb, huh? Still trying to pull one over on me," Luo Weimin said with a laugh. "You’re about to open a company and be a big boss, and you didn’t even tell me. Afraid you’d have to treat me to a meal or something?"
"Oh, that!" Wu Jun said. "I’ve been busy getting it all set up these past few days, but we haven’t set a date yet. You think I’d forget you when the time comes?" After a pause, he asked with a puzzled look, "You’ve got some good sources, Old Luo. Where’d you hear the news?"
Luo Weimin smiled happily and said, "Xiulan told me. She heard it from your mother."
Wu Jun was stunned. ’Previously, Old Luo had asked me for Auntie Xu’s number, but after getting it, he was too scared to even make a call.’
’When it was Auntie Xu’s birthday, he had to go through me to deliver his gift. So there’s been some progress now?’
"You and Auntie Xu have made some progress? Congratulations, Old Luo!" Wu Jun was genuinely happy for him.
"What’s with this ’Old Luo, Old Luo’? So disrespectful," Luo Weimin said with a half-smile. "Didn’t you call me ’Uncle’ last time? Why’d you change it back?"
Wu Jun said, "Alright, let me try again. Congratulations, Uncle!"
The two of them bantered and laughed for a bit, then Wu Jun introduced Luo Weimin and Wu Guangkun to each other.
At first, Luo Weimin thought Wu Guangkun was just the warehouse watchman. But when he heard he was Wu Jun’s actual second uncle, he very politely offered him a cigarette.
Wu Guangkun had been hanging around Wang Qidong a lot lately, and his speaking skills had improved significantly. Although he still had a thick rural accent and spoke "Pingshan Mandarin," outsiders could still understand what he meant.
Wu Guangkun said, "By the looks of it, we’re about the same age, right? What year were you born, Mr. Luo?"
Luo Weimin said, "I’m probably quite a bit older than you. I’m ten years older than Little Wu’s father. I was born in ’59."
"What! I couldn’t tell at all. You city folks really take good care of yourselves." Wu Guangkun was speechless. This "little old man" was a full twelve years older than him but looked about the same age.
Looking at the well-dressed and dapper Luo Weimin, Wu Guangkun thought, ’I should start dressing up a bit more, too. I can’t believe I just got shown up by a little old man.’