I was forced to start the second round because I was raised in poverty

Chapter 236 Fake Wine
"Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year!"

The four of them spent New Year's Eve together at a shopping plaza.

Su Cheng cheered everyone on: "Let's all make progress together in the new year!"

12:30 a.m.

"How about we grab one last late-night snack together? I wasn't full from McDonald's." Qin Fen rubbed his stomach.

Ye Li: ? ?

Su Cheng: ???
"Dude, are you experiencing the side effects of the ketosis? Why are you hungry again?"

"I must have walked over 10,000 steps today, isn't it normal to be hungry?" Qin Fen retorted.

"Actually, I'm a little hungry too." Su Cheng chuckled and looked at Ye Li.

Ye Li: ???
Zhang Yangwen then stepped forward: "Hey, how about we go eat at Haidilao? They have discounts now that it's midnight, plus the New Year's Eve promotion, and with Black Sea members, it should be super cheap."

Su Cheng couldn't help but sigh, "Young Master Zhang has made progress! He's now learned to save money by checking promotions and taking all sorts of discounts into account."

"can!"

Zhang Yangwen also seems to be a dangerous sign. Su Cheng is afraid that he will fall into the 'trap of preferential calculation', but the possibility is probably not high.

Calculating coupon discounts is more brain-draining than solving calculus; any normal person wouldn't fall into this trap.

"It's already past midnight, can't you guys have another meal?"

"Sister Chestnut, are you going?"

"Go ahead, but you can order whatever you want, I'm not eating."

Ye Li went with them, of course, but she wouldn't eat anything.

"Row."

The three of them re-entered the mall and headed straight for Haidilao upstairs.

After sitting down, the three of them took turns ordering what they wanted to eat.

Ye Li was shocked.

I was just asking for a quick bite, so what's with all these beef and tripe dishes plus three servings of mung bean noodles?

The four of them discussed how to spend their holiday.

They had just finished resolving Du Juan's case, and everyone on the joint team was given seven days of paid leave to rest and recharge.

Furthermore, employees of the Geely Group can freely apply for and arrange their holidays.

So Su Cheng plans to apply for a few more days of leave from these seven days, and go straight back to her hometown tomorrow.

Ye Li and Qin Fen knew that Su Cheng's mother's death anniversary was just a few days away, so they would usually take leave to go back home around this time of year.

But it seems a bit too early this year?

It's almost half a month earlier than in previous years?

"Brother Cheng, are you planning to take your annual leave straight through until the Chinese New Year before coming back?"

"You know all this? You're so smart!" Su Cheng was a little surprised.

Why so early this year?

"I have some other things to take care of back in my hometown, so I left early."

Zhang Yangwen was stunned. Did that mean Su Cheng was going to start her annual leave now?

They won't be back until after the fifth day of the Lunar New Year?
"Yes, that's roughly the idea."

"However, it's possible that he won't be back until the Lunar New Year, depending on whether he has finished taking care of things at home."

Su Cheng hasn't taken many holidays this year, essentially using up all her vacation days at the end of the year.

The three of them didn't dare to linger at Haidilao for too long, and went home after about forty or fifty minutes.

What Su Cheng just talked about at the dinner table was about the old man.

He hadn't been home for so long and hadn't caused the old man any trouble. Now that he finally had some free time, he had to deal with the old man properly!

Perhaps we can find a weakness in the old man's plan and destroy his succession plan in one fell swoop.

Moreover, Su Cheng also planned to call Ye Li back to be her helper.

on the way back.

While driving, Su Cheng asked Ye Li, "Sister Chestnut, how are you spending your holiday?"

"Didn't I just say I haven't decided yet?"

"Want to come with me to my place? Just for fun."

"Uh, is that okay?" Ye Li really didn't have anything to do; she also wanted to go out for a walk to clear her head.

"However, I have to go to Shanghai tomorrow. I rejected their offer again, so I have to visit them in person."

Ye Li was referring to the bosses she had asked when she was considering changing jobs. Although they hadn't said for sure that she would accept their offers, Ye Li was referring to those bosses she had asked when she was inquiring.

But since she had already spoken up, people must know about her intention to switch jobs. It would be better for Ye Li to personally go and talk to them about the situation and bring some gifts to show her sincerity, so that she could feel at ease.

"Okay, then I'll wait for you for a day. I'll tidy up at home tomorrow."

"Wait a minute," Ye Li interrupted in time. "What right would I have to go to your house?"

"Just a colleague or friend, it can't be a girlfriend, right?"

"Okay, where should I stay?"

Where to stay...

This question really stumped Su Cheng.

My old house has three bedrooms and one living room.

Let's set aside the question of whether it's appropriate for Ye Li to stay in a room.

The problem is that there isn't even a room like that.

Su Cheng occupies one room, and the old man occupies another.

There's another room specifically for storing Su Cheng's mother's belongings; it's usually locked, so Ye Li definitely can't stay there.

Moreover, it's inappropriate for him to let Ye Li live in the same house as the old man.

Su Cheng's first thought was to tell the old man to pack his things and get out, leaving him and Ye Liteng a place.

But that seems unlikely.

Su Cheng had a sudden inspiration.

He also has an old family courtyard.

It's ready to move in after a little tidying up; the yard is huge and there are plenty of rooms.

Although it's in a village, it's not far from the county seat, only about six or seven kilometers away.

Su Cheng asked Ye Li for her opinion, and to her surprise, Ye Li agreed.

"Just a place to stay."

"I'd actually like to live in the village, where it'll be quieter."

Although Ye Li seemed to be in the same state as usual these past few days, Su Cheng could easily tell that Ye Li had not yet regained her composure and that the wounds in her heart had not yet been healed.

This trauma may take months or even years to heal.

Going outside can distract you and speed up the process.

It doesn't matter where I go, as long as it's an unfamiliar city, so it doesn't matter whether it's a first-tier city or a rural town.

"Is your dad going to treat me like a waiter? I'm a little scared."

"Don't worry, it's definitely not! My dad is usually very polite to outsiders. Last time he didn't know you were my colleague."

This is also one of the reasons why Su Cheng wanted to take Ye Li back.

With Ye Li around, Dad won't be so reckless.

Because according to his father's character, he is the kind of person who is very nice and polite to outsiders.

Especially other people's children.

Because he's extremely concerned about saving face.

You can suffer a great loss for your own child, but you must never lose face for him.

So, out of consideration for his reputation, the old man certainly wouldn't cause him any trouble.

"This time it's our turn to boss him around."

Ye Li was amused by Su Cheng: "It's not that bad."

"How do we get there? By buying tickets or driving?"

"Let's drive. It'll be easier for us to go anywhere if we drive back."

"Row."

the next day.

When Su Cheng woke up, it was already noon. Ye Li had already taken the high-speed train to Shanghai.

However, Ye Li's schedule was very tight; she went in the morning and returned in the evening, and finished her business that same day.

On the third day, Su Cheng and Ye Li officially set off to go home.

Before getting on the highway, Su Cheng drove to a gas station and filled up the tank.

"Hey, Sister Chestnut, time to pay?"

"Huh? Didn't you fill it up for me? Why are you using a gas card?"

"Yes, yes, I'll add it for you, but you see, my seat isn't very convenient. The passenger seat is closer to that side." Ye Li: ???
Su Cheng did it on purpose, didn't she?
There are so many refueling pumps running non-stop, but they have to stop on the passenger side.

"Okay, okay, I've fallen for your big trick."

After getting on the highway, Ye Li was still using her iPad to look at some documents and files released by Deng Qiang.

"Oh, I just realized you haven't reported your leave yet."

"No, it's still within the case's leave period."

"Then you have to report it in advance."

"No rush, I'll submit it a day in advance."

It's currently the seven-day holiday for the case, so Su Cheng doesn't need to apply for leave at all.

Even after these seven days, Su Cheng will not apply for a leave of one or two months at once; he will apply for leave week by week.

In this way, the old man wouldn't know when Su Cheng left.

This is a scheme, a smokescreen to mislead the old man.

"Alright, then don't forget."

"Uh-huh."

Sucheng is taking the GJA Expressway. Although it's not a holiday, there's still a lot of traffic.

When they were halfway through the journey, Su Cheng pulled into a service area, and the two of them got out of the car to use the restroom.

After Ye Li came out of the restroom, she found Su Cheng talking to someone at the service desk of the small shopping mall in the service area.

"Let's go?"

"Wait a minute."

"what happened?"

"He's having an event here, and I'm wondering if I should join."

Ye Li didn't understand. What was so interesting about the service area? It was all about ripping off tourists. What good activities could there be?

I learned from the teller that they are currently offering a free bottle of wine for every 500 yuan gas card top-up, and three bottles of wine for every 1000 yuan gas card top-up.

Ye Li: ???
That's it?

She wanted to swear.

Since joining Dihao Group's Shengyue Consulting, Ye Li has stopped participating in commercial activities and discounts. She can often see through the discussions behind the scenes and what psychological aspects of people are being exploited.

The gas station the teller was working at wasn't one of the two major oil companies, but rather an unknown small gas station.

Su Cheng is an elite in the consulting industry, after all. Why would she want to participate in this kind of event?

"Can I see this wine?"

"Yes, ma'am, take a look. This is our collaboration with Wuliangye..." The teller began using a script she had memorized beforehand.

Ye Li ignored the clerk's words and focused on the two bottles of wine.

This isn't anything good either.

It's just a generic brand of liquor using the Wuliangye name.

So that's what captivated Su Cheng?

Ye Li looked at Su Cheng and found him listening intently to the clerk's explanation and boasting about how good their gas station's fuel was, how wide its coverage was, and how there were reward points for daily refueling, and she even went on to introduce how good this wine was, that it was specially supplied, blah blah blah...

Ye Li nudged Su Cheng, reminding him to leave quickly and not to act up here: "Let's go, you don't drink anyway."

Su Cheng knew, of course, that this event was a scam.

The oil isn't necessarily that good.

The wine is of unknown origin, possibly even a private label, or it might even be counterfeit.

Do you have gas stations in northern Henan?

The teller nodded quickly: "Yes, of course!"

So Su Cheng waved her hand and took out her bank card: "Swipe the card and top up 1000 for me."

Ye Li: ???
Is Su Cheng really having a relapse?
The two men walked out of the service area with two bottles of wine in their hands.

Before even getting into the car, Ye Li couldn't help but ask Su Cheng, "What are you doing? Why are you participating in that kind of activity?"

Su Cheng answered honestly, "It's for my dad."

Ye Li hadn't even considered that possibility.

Did Su Cheng bring it for his dad?
Did you bring the complimentary wine that comes with topping up your gas card at the service area?
no……

Aren't you afraid of getting sick from drinking it?

but!

Su Cheng wants fake alcohol!
Ideally, it should be the kind that can kill someone.

He stated frankly, "It's okay, nowadays basically no one dares to make fake alcohol."

It's so hard to buy fake alcohol these days!

Fake liquor that can kill people is even harder to buy.

"If you want to buy wine, why don't we go to the Wuliangye counter before we get on the highway, or go to the mall after we get off the highway?"

"no, I'm fine."

Su Cheng didn't explain much to Ye Li.

But the underlying message was basically the same: the old man didn't deserve such good wine from him.

But then again...

The old folks usually drink red wine and smoke cigars, and Moutai is an unlimited self-service beverage at the occasions they attend.

Su Cheng was certain that even if he gave those two bottles of wine to the old man, the old man would most likely not drink them; he wouldn't even consider them worthwhile.

However, Su Cheng wasn't worried that the old man wouldn't drink; he would persuade him to drink.

Ideally, the drinker would develop some health problems.

Therefore, Su Cheng couldn't say this to Ye Li, and could only give a simple explanation.

Just as they were about to exit the highway, Su Cheng suddenly slapped her forehead, startling Ye Li: "What's wrong?"

"It should be Sister Chestnut's turn to drive."

"Huh? Why?"

"The toll booths on the highway are all on the left."

Ye Li: ???
If Ye Li hadn't seen Su Cheng driving, she would have punched him right away.

"Once you get out of the car, you'll see if I beat you up or not, and that'll be the end of it."

Su Cheng suppressed a laugh, completely ignoring it.

"Sister Chestnut, there are so many cars queuing in the manual line... Hey Sister Chestnut, do you have ETC? Let's use the ETC lane then!"

As Su Cheng spoke, he turned the steering wheel.

Ye Li stared wide-eyed as Su Cheng swiped the highway toll at the ETC exit.

"My grass?"

"Fuck you!"

"My money!!!"

Su Cheng pretended nothing had happened and sped straight to her residential compound.

"Sister Chestnut, please don't move! We're already downstairs at my house. Don't let my dad see you and beat me up."

Su Cheng shifted into Park, but didn't dare get out of the car.

"What do you mean? You want to hide, huh? Don't even think about it!"

Ye Li pounded on Su Cheng repeatedly until Su Cheng begged for mercy, only then did Ye Li let him go.

"Turn off the engine, don't waste my gas."

"it is good."

Su Cheng took out her phone: "Let me call my dad first and tell him I'm back."

"Huh? You didn't tell your dad before you left?"

"No."

Why don't you say so?

"Uh, he didn't answer the phone, he's probably busy, I can call him now without any problem."

"Okay, sure."

Su Cheng wanted to catch the old man off guard.

The call was answered quickly.

"Hello? Dad? Are you busy?"

"Not busy, no work today, what's up?"

"I'm home now!"

"Huh? To which home?"

"What other home could it be? Our home, of course. I'm already downstairs in the apartment complex." Su Cheng tentatively asked, step by step, "Dad, where are you now?"

"You're already at the apartment complex? I'm not home right now!"

(End of this chapter)