Chapter 167: Your Wine

Although Feng Lun knew there was something wrong with the television, he still carried it back home.

Watching Feng Lun leave in a huff, Old Man An turned to Xu Fei and asked, "What on earth is the background of this Chunguang Store?"

"That's what puzzles me, too. If they didn't have powerful backing, they wouldn't dare open a shop on Zhongxing Street, and the rent for a place of that size isn't cheap."

"Sigh, Fei, have you ever thought that they might be targeting us?"

Xu Fei nodded.

"Actually, I've considered this as well. Their series of moves has made me realize the deliberate purpose behind them."

"Who on earth could it be?"

Xu Fei shook his head.

"I've sent people to ask around, but no one knows the true owner of this store. All we know is that the current manager is a young man surnamed Chen."

"Chen?"

Old Man An thought for a moment.

"Fei, do you have any rivals with the surname Chen?"

Xu Fei pondered for a second.

"It's not entirely out of the question, but strictly speaking, that person can't really be considered a rival."

"Who is it?"

"Chen Rong."

...

Duman had prepared a table full of delicious dishes for the evening.

Xu Fei stepped into the room.

"Is there some sort of holiday today?"

he asked curiously.

Duman walked out of the kitchen with a smile.

"Today isn't any particular holiday, but it is certainly a joyous occasion."

Xu Fei was taken aback.

"A joyous occasion?"

"That's right, our Xu Yun's senior high school entrance exam results came out today."

"Oh, really?"

Xu Fei said, glancing around and asking:

"Where is he?"

Duman pointed toward the inner room.

"He just came back, said he was tired, and is lying down in his room right now."

Xu Fei nodded.

"What's his score?"

"698."

"Whoa, that high?!"

Xu Fei was somewhat surprised, but then he looked at Duman with a broad smile and said, "No wonder you're in such a good mood tonight and prepared all his favorite foods."

"Of course. In our old Xu family, we'll be counting on Xu Yun in the future."

As she finished speaking, she seemed to think of Xu Fei, turned to him, let out a chuckle, and gave him an amused look.

Xu Fei was lowering his head, putting on a deliberately aggrieved expression.

"Look at you, starting again. How are only those two the ones being counted on in our old Xu family? Am I not part of it?"

Xu Fei's question made Duman burst into a fit of unrestrained giggles.

Seeing Duman laughing so happily, Xu Fei pulled her straight into his arms.

"I'll teach you to laugh at me. Let's see if I don't fix you..."

Caught off guard by the embrace, Duman hurried to break free.

But Xu Fei wasn't about to give her the chance; he reached his hands directly under her arms.

"Ticklish!"

Duman was someone who was extremely sensitive to tickling.

She had ticklish spots all over her body.

Xu Fei had known this long ago and naturally wasn't about to let her weak spot go.

"Ah, ah, hahaha..."

Duman shrieked and laughed out loud at the same time.

Yet try as she might to escape, she remained tightly held in Xu Fei's embrace.

Until Xu Fei asked, "Do you surrender?"

"Haha, I, I surrender,哈哈哈..."

"Then beg me."

Duman simply couldn't take it anymore and, clutching Xu Fei's body, pleaded, "I'm begging you, hubby, spare me."

Hearing her say this, Xu Fei finally released Duman with a smile.

"You are truly terrible."

Vexed, Duman gave Xu Fei a playful pinch.

With a chuckle, Xu Fei asked, "What, you want another round?"

"Ah! No, no..."

Frightened, Duman bolted straight into the kitchen.

"What's going on, sister-in-law?"

Rubbing his eyes, Xu Yun walked out at that moment.

"Xu Yun, you're awake. Your, your elder brother is bullying me."

Xu Yun glanced at Xu Fei.

"Brother, why, why are you at it again..."

Xu Yun had genuinely thought Xu Fei was bullying Duman just then.

However, when he saw Duman's smiling, flushed face and Xu Fei's mischievous grin, he realized the two of them were just fooling around.

"You two?"

Xu Yun shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Third brother, come here. Your sister-in-law says you did exceptionally well on your exams this time. Tell me, what gift do you want?"

Xu Fei said, pulling him over to sit at the table.

"Big brother, are you really going to give me a gift?"

"That's right. You scored so well and will definitely be heading to the municipal key high school. If you put in a bit more effort then, getting into a prestigious university in the future won't be a problem at all."

"Alright, I actually only have one request."

Xu Fei nodded and asked, "What request?"

"I want to go to Nanjing once."

What for?

"The ancient capital of six dynasties! I'm most interested in history, and you know how badly I want to go and see those ancient monuments we've only ever read about in textbooks."

Xu Fei smiled and asked, "Just that one request?"

"Mhm."

"Alright, big brother promises you. Just wait for my word in the next couple of days."

At that moment, Duman walked out carrying the final dish of braised fish.

"Here, this is Xu Yun's favorite gourd-braised fish."

Xu Fei took the dish from Duman and placed it in the center of the table.

"I remember this dish; Mom made it the best."

As he spoke, Xu Fei seemed to drift back into the past.

Even though it was only a memory, somewhere in another dimension, how was his mother doing?

Having transmigrated to the present, Xu Fei still missed home to a certain extent.

"Brother, sister-in-law, thank you both."

Xu Yun said, looking at the married couple.

"What are you talking about?"

Xu Fei smiled and reached out to pat Xu Yun's head.

"I know things haven't been easy for either of you lately. That this family can look the way it does today—Brother, sister-in-law, the two of you have put in the most effort."

"When did this kid get so sentimental?"

Xu Fei chuckled as he spoke.

He walked into the kitchen and retrieved the half-bottle of white liquor left over from last time.

"We're celebrating tonight because our third brother got into the municipal key high school!"

Duman stood up and took out the wine cups that were stored inside the cabinet.

She took the wine bottle from Xu Fei.

"Let me pour you a drink."

"What's going on?"

Xu Fei was startled.

"Xu Yun is right. Actually, you are the greatest contributor to this family. Without you, our lives probably wouldn't look like they do today."

Xu Fei felt as though Duman's words carried a hidden meaning.

Yet he had no idea where this feeling came from.

This time, Duman even took out a wine cup for herself.

She poured a glass for herself as well.

"Here, Xu Fei, this cup represents Xu Qing and Xu Yun in thanking you."

Xu Fei smiled and raised his wine glass as well.

"There's no need for you and me to talk like that."

"No."

Duman tapped her wine cup against Xu Fei's.

"This is what you deserve."

With that, she downed the contents in a single gulp.

The fiery liquor made her cough a few times.

"Look at you..."

Xu Fei reached out and patted her gently on the back.

Duman looked at him with a smile.

"Your drink."

Seeing Duman point at him and mention the drink, he hurriedly and cheerfully finished the liquor in his hand.

"Brother, sister-in-law, our family hasn't been this lively in a long time. How about we take a picture?"

Xu Yun said as he walked over to the cabinet and took out the Seagull brand camera.

"Yes, yes."

At that moment, Xu Fei pulled Duman over to sit beside him, casually placing a stool right next to them.

Xu Yun adjusted the self-timer function on the camera.

Then he ran over and sat down right next to Xu Fei.

Three!

Two!

One!

Click...