CHAPTER 542: CHAPTER 326: BANQUET INVITATION (PART 2)

"You leave before the dinner even starts, what will Yu Wenze think? Han Xue is at home tonight, I’ll call her to bring some money over, just to be safe, let’s have her bring a thousand." Han Leming said as he took out his cell phone and walked out: "I’m going out to call, to avoid any embarrassment with Yu Wenze hearing it inside."

Xu Jixiang sighed: "He really is a handful."

"Principal Xu, Professor Yu Wen has grown accustomed to living abroad, he’s quite casual, let’s be a bit more accommodating." Liu Ping said with a smile: "Besides, with today’s prices, for people with a bit of class, spending a thousand or two thousand on a meal isn’t really a big deal. It’s just that our military school, despite its fancy name..."

"Xiao Liu, we’re soldiers, we can’t lose our tradition of frugality. ’Spending a thousand or two thousand on a meal isn’t a big deal’—to hear such words come from your mouth is extremely disappointing. You should also consider the many farmers who can’t even earn that much in a year..."

Liu Ping quickly interrupted him: "Principal Xu, I was wrong, absolutely wrong. Please don’t lecture me anymore, Professor Yu Wen will be coming in soon."

Xu Jixiang still looked displeased, "Xiao Liu, you’re in charge of political work, such thinking is very problematic, indulging in luxury is definitely not a soldier’s conduct!"

"I know, I will definitely change." Liu Ping looked distressed. Her classmates and friends were entering the golden period of their careers, and it was very common for them to spend over a thousand on a meal when they got together. But how could she carelessly ignore Principal Xu’s tolerance?

Yu Wenze and Han Leming came back almost at the same time, and the dishes were just served complete, Han Leming picked up his glass: "We’re truly grateful that Professor Yu Wen ultimately chose our school. We’re sorry that this welcome dinner was postponed until today; I hope Professor Yu Wen will be understanding."

Yu Wenze laughed heartily: "No problem at all, Principal Han can’t just drop a meeting in Beijing because of my arrival. If I took offense at that, I’d be far too petty."

After clinking glasses, Xu Jixiang smacked his lips: "This wine is really good, the best I’ve ever tasted."

Han Leming kicked him under the table, signaling him to shut up.

Whether Yu Wenze genuinely didn’t catch his tone or pretended not to, he continued with a smile: "The taste is indeed good, I quite like it as well."

As the drinks flowed and the conversation deepened, everyone found that Professor Yu Wen wasn’t too peculiar— at least for now, he could stay on track with the topics everyone else was good at, instead of showing off his own expertise.

Xu Jixiang muttered to himself: if only he hadn’t ordered that 1800 Liangyou special brew, I would have had a good impression of him. What a shame!

Half an hour later, Han Leming stood up: "Excuse me, I have to step out for a bit."

"Dad, I’ve been waiting for you for over ten minutes already!" As soon as Han Leming reached the first-floor staircase, his delicate-looking daughter approached him with a face full of reproach.

"Xiao Xue, Dad couldn’t just leave as soon as the dinner started, right?" Han Leming took the envelope from his daughter and asked, "Is it exactly a thousand?"

"One thousand five, I was afraid you’d ask me to run another errand, so I collected it from a few uncles’ places." Han Xue pouted in dissatisfaction: "When I have the chance, I must see this Yu Wenze for myself, coming to the military school to pig out, what kind of quality is that!"

Han Leming quickly made excuses for Yu Wenze: "Xiao Xue, we can’t blame Professor Yu Wen for this. After all, he’s lived abroad for so many years, it’s normal for him not to be familiar with domestic prices. It would be nice for you to meet him sometime, Yu Wen is also single, and about the right age for you, you might consider it."

"Dad, are you being annoying or what? I’ve told you before, don’t interfere with my love life, you and Mom, or else I won’t come back home. You decide."

"Alright, alright, Dad won’t interfere, but you’re already thirty-three, your grandma calls every day to complain to me, sigh..." Han Leming said with a worried face: "It’s all mine and your mother’s fault, we only focused on making you study, and you missed out on..."

"Dad!" Han Xue glared at her father angrily: "I’m very aware of my own age, can you not constantly remind me? I’m leaving, and don’t ask for my help with anything in the future, it’s annoying!"

Watching his daughter’s retreating figure, Han Leming shook his head and sighed, then went upstairs, pausing next to his own room door, he looked carefully for a moment then quickly returned to the private room.

Han Leming, having rejoined the private room, seemed much more relaxed. The heaviness in Xu Jixiang’s heart also lifted, but he still felt there was something off about Han Leming’s expression. On closer inspection, however, it seemed to be nothing.

With everyone’s mood settled, they enjoyed the food a lot more—the dishes were everyone’s favorite, and by the end, the plates were almost all empty.