A carefree soldier king in the city

Chapter 344 Lunch

"She wouldn't dare!" Li's mother said with a smile, "Alright, I know what I'm doing. Okay, take all these washed vegetables to the kitchen, I'll start cooking."

Li Bing's wife said, "Mom, let me help you."

Mrs. Li nodded and said, "Okay."

As the last vegetable dish was served, a man in a police uniform walked in.

"Old Jia, why are you so late! We're starving!" Old Zhao laughed.

This old Jia is the chief of the city's Public Security Bureau.

Old Jia laughed and said, "There's nothing I can do. Something came up at the bureau and it took a while."

Old Zhang joked, "You've come just in time to freeload, all empty-handed. You didn't even bring anything."

Old Jia laughed and said, "Didn't you bring all the food and drinks? Did you expect me to bring gifts? Old Li would beat me to death if I did."

Li Hongren chuckled and said, "Good to know. Alright, bureau chiefs, let's eat!"

Everyone took their seats, and no one paid much attention to Chao Bufan and Gu Qinghua until the two sat down at the table. However, when Director Jia sat down and inadvertently saw Chao Bufan, he was suddenly startled. He quickly stood up, his face full of excitement and awe, and gave Chao Bufan a perfect military salute: "Good morning, sir!"

"Huh?" Everyone was greatly surprised, and their gazes shifted from Director Jia's expression to Chao Bufan. But Chao Bufan remained calm and showed no surprise whatsoever.

Someone who can command the respect of even the head of the Public Security Bureau to bow and address him as "Sir," that person...

"Old Jia, what's going on?" Li Hongren asked in surprise.

Seeing everyone's blank expressions, Old Jia asked in surprise, "Old Li, do you really not know who this is?"

Gu Qinghua suddenly blurted out, "Chief Jia, he's just an ordinary security guard."

Upon hearing this, Old Jia immediately glared at Gu Qinghua, who shrank back, realizing he had spoken out of turn, and quickly shut his mouth, unaware that he was already sweating profusely and feeling incredibly stifled. He had originally thought this would be a chance to publicly humiliate Chao Bufan and also get closer to these bureau chiefs, but who knew that Chief Jia would actually be a little angry. He's just an ordinary security guard, was I wrong?

For a moment, Gu Qinghua felt her face burning, and even her ears felt like they were on fire. She was so embarrassed.

Old Zhao, Old Zhang, and the others quickly turned their gazes to Li Hongren. Li Hongren frowned slightly and then looked at his daughter with a questioning gaze.

"Little Wei, who is your friend...?"

Upon hearing this, Li Wei smiled slightly, then glanced at Chao Bufan, who smiled slightly and said, "Uncle, I am really just an ordinary security guard, but I work as a security guard in my own company."

"Your own company?" Li Hongren was clearly confused. Who works as a security guard in their own company?

"Dad, Bufan is the chairman and president of the Tang Group!"

"Huh?" Apart from Lao Jia, everyone else was greatly surprised, especially Gu Qinghua. After a brief moment of surprise, he seemed to realize something and quickly said, "No way! His surname is Chao, how could he be the chairman of Tang Group?"

Li Wei laughed and said, "What's impossible about that? Bufan is the chairman of the Tang Group."

This made Li's mother extremely happy. Upon hearing that Chao Bufan was the chairman of the Tang Group, her thoughts immediately underwent a complete 180-degree change. So this guy wasn't a country bumpkin after all!

Li Hongren wasn't stupid; he quickly looked at Director Jia and asked, "Old Jia, then why did you call him 'sir,' and..."

Old Jia said, "Old Li, he is..."

Chao Bufan quickly interrupted Lao Jia, smiling faintly, "Commander Jia, I'm just here to celebrate your father's birthday. Can we not get sidetracked?"

Upon hearing this, Old Jia immediately understood what Chao Bufan meant. He quickly smiled apologetically, then wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said with a smile, "Old Li, he is indeed the chairman of the Tang Group."

Upon hearing this, Gu Qinghua was shocked, his face changing drastically as if he'd been kissed on the face with an iron. He'd lost face beyond belief. It turned out this kid's background was even more impressive than his own—the Tang Group, one of the most powerful companies in the country. Compared to it, the Gu Group was truly insignificant. Ha, so he really had been showing off his limited knowledge. He'd been spouting off a bunch of grand life philosophies, but little did he know, he was the real country bumpkin. What others called "refined" or "cultured" was showing off in front of him—it was utterly humiliating.

At this moment, Gu Qinghua just wanted to disappear into the ground and find an excuse to leave, but they hadn't even started eating yet!

The others clearly noticed something amiss and didn't dare to press further. It was Li's mother who broke the awkward silence, gently nudging her husband with her foot before laughing, "Old Li, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and pour them some wine!"

Upon hearing this, Li Hongren quickly said, "Old Zhang, Old Jia, come on, let's drink."

Chao Bufan picked up a glass of white wine in front of him, stood up, and said, "Uncle, today is your sixtieth birthday. Here, I wish you boundless happiness and longevity, and may you have many more birthdays like this one every year."

Li Hongren quickly chuckled and said, "Thank you, thank you!"

The two raised their glasses and took a sip. Then, Old Zhang and the others also toasted. When it came to Gu Qinghua, his actions and tone seemed to have changed. He picked up the glass of white wine in front of him, hesitated for a moment, and then stood up and said, "Uncle, happy birthday! I wish you eternal youth and all the best!"

Li Hongren chuckled and said, "Thank you, thank you."

Since he couldn't drink, he only made a small gesture. After Li Wei and his elder brother Li Bing offered their toasts, Li Hongren reached out and said with a smile, "Everyone, eat your food, eat your food, don't be shy."

Throughout the meal, Gu Qinghua seemed a bit reserved, barely speaking at all. This was completely different from his previous self, who was usually very outgoing and eloquent, spouting words full of philosophical insights. Even Li Hongren and his wife thought he was a learned and cultured man.

Everyone was in high spirits for the meal, but for Gu Qinghua, it was nothing short of torture. After finally finishing the meal, he breathed a sigh of relief and quickly made an excuse to slip away.

After dinner, Li Wei said, "Dad, Mom, Uncle Jia, Uncle Zhang, you guys chat. I'll go for a walk with Bufan."

Old Jia quickly stood up and said, "Young...Bu Fan, I'll send a few people to protect you."

Upon hearing this, Chao Bufan smiled slightly and said, "No need."