The sky collapsed, and in the blink of an eye, I found myself transported to Nanluoguxiang.

After leaving Grandpa Liu's table, Li Kaixin looked around and walked straight over to where his parents were.

The mother, Qin Xiuli, was talking to Ye Wanning, while the father, Li Mingde, and her younger siblings sat to the side.

Also seated at the table were Director Liu, Station Chief Zhao, Li Huaide, Director Xie, and Hong Haoran and Chen Guoqiang, whom they had just met.

"Dad, are you and Mom getting used to staying here?" Li Kaixin stood behind her father.

Upon hearing this, the people at the table all looked at him.

Father Li Mingde turned his head, his tone teasing, "It's a habit, what's so strange about it? But you, what are you doing here? There's no seat for you at this table."

Before Li Kaixin could say anything more, Director Liu stood up with a smile: "Kaixin, why don't you sit here?"

"No need, Uncle Liu, I'll go see Jianming later." Li Kaixin quickly pressed Director Liu back into his seat. "I just came to see my parents."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Liu Jianming's voice came from behind: "Kaixin, I've finally found you! Come on, let's sit at the same table!"

"Brother Jianming, wait for me a moment."

Li Kaixin turned her head and replied, then greeted her parents and the elders at the table before turning around and walking away.

Looking at Li Kaixin's retreating figure, Director Xie at the table couldn't help but sigh, "Kaixin's abilities are growing more and more."

"yes!"

Station Master Zhao chuckled and chimed in, "Old Xie, it's also because you arrived late today that you missed the scene where Kaixin saved Chief Chen. I felt at the time that our transportation station was wasting talent and should have sent him to the hospital."

Director Xie, who had just been smiling, suddenly became anxious: "Old Zhao, how could you have such a thought? Don't you think there are enough people trying to poach our employees?"

On this occasion, he didn't call him stationmaster again.

"Old Xie, I was just joking, don't take it seriously." Station Chief Zhao chuckled sheepishly.

He knew that too many people were eyeing Li Kaixin and wanted to poach him, so his words just now were subconscious.

Li Huaide, who had been eagerly listening, interjected with a smile:

"Old Zhao, if you're worried about his talent going to waste, just leave Kaixin to me! Not to mention anything else, our steel mill's transport team and clinic—wherever he wants to go, I'll arrange for him to be in charge."

"Old Li, what are you dreaming about!" Station Master Zhao glared at him. "Kaixin is the face of our transportation station right now. If you dare to poach our staff, see if Old Xie and I won't beat you to a pulp."

"Yes, yes!" Director Xie nodded repeatedly.

When Li Mingde and Qin Xiuli saw this, they smiled broadly and couldn't help but feel a surge of pride.

Li Kaixin followed Liu Jianming past several tables to a seat by the window.

There were already quite a few people sitting at the two tables. Familiar faces like Chen Weidong and Hong Guozhang, as well as Ye Ling who had run away earlier, were all there, chatting animatedly.

Chen Weidong looked up at him, somewhat surprised: "Hey! Kaixin, why are you back again? Didn't you go to the old man's table?"

"Brother Weidong, I'm just going to say hello, I can't actually sit there."

Li Kaixin smiled and sat down in the empty seat, then greeted everyone at the table.

But when it was Ye Ling's turn, her face quickly flushed red, and she lowered her head to fiddle with the chopsticks on the table.

Just then, a sudden voice rang out: "Hey, Jianming, your little group is getting bigger and bigger, isn't it? Mind if I sit next to you?"

After saying that, he sat down without waiting for Liu Jianming's agreement.

There was another person following behind him, who also sat down next to him.

Liu Jianming's lips twitched, and he couldn't help but think to himself, "Do I even need to ask for my opinion?"

After the two sat down, their attention was entirely focused on Li Kaixin, who was sitting to Liu Jianming's right.

Li Kaixin felt a little uncomfortable being stared at and asked, "Brothers, why are you looking at me like that? Is there something you need?"

"Brother Yongtai, Yong'an, it was Kaixin who saved your old man just now, so don't you two get any ideas," Liu Jianming said first.

It wasn't that Liu Jianming was overthinking things; the two brothers were both in the military region, and their favorite thing to do was to find someone to practice with.

Li Kaixin looked much more robust than the others present, so he had to be on guard.

Upon hearing this, the two men's faces lit up with joy, and they immediately stood up.

Liu Jianming thought they were about to fight, so he quickly stopped them: "What are you two trying to do? Be careful, or I'll tell your old man."

"What are you thinking about all day long, you brat!"

Chen Yongtai glanced at him helplessly, then turned to Li Kaixin and said earnestly, "You must be Brother Kaixin! Thank you for saving my old man today."

Then, the two of them bowed deeply together.

Seeing this, Li Kaixin quickly reached out to help the two men up: "Brothers, what are you doing? Get up, get up!"

Chen Yongtai straightened up, his face still solemn: "Brother Kaixin, you deserve this courtesy. If it weren't for you today, I really can't imagine what would have happened to my old man."

Chen Yong'an nodded repeatedly beside him.

"It's only right. Anyone who was there at the time would have stood by and helped."

Li Kaixin replied, then immediately said, "Let's not stand here, let's sit down and talk!"

"OK."

Chen Yongtai responded and, after sitting down with Chen Yong'an, continued, "From now on, if you need anything, Brother Kaixin, just let me know. If I, Chen Yongtai, can do it, I will definitely do it without hesitation."

"Brother Yongtai, you flatter me." Li Kaixin smiled and sat down with him.

Shortly after, the banquet officially began.

One hot dish after another was served, and the aroma immediately filled the entire first floor.

The atmosphere at the table became even more lively with the addition of the Chen Yongtai brothers.

The two had just used some threatening language to successfully push Liu Jianming and Chen Weidong away, and they ended up sitting on either side of Li Kaixin.

Once all the dishes were served, Chen Yongtai picked up the wine bottle and filled it for himself, his brother, and Li Kaixin.

Without saying a word, the two raised their glasses and downed three glasses in one go to Li Kaixin.

Li Kaixin was stunned and asked, somewhat confused, "Brother Yongtai, Brother Yong'an, what are you doing?"

"These three cups are a special thank you from my brother and me."

Chen Yongtai let out a burp, then raised an eyebrow at Li Kaixin, "Brother Kaixin, the three of us are going to have a good drink later."

Seeing his posture, Li Kaixin knew there was no way to avoid it, so she simply didn't refuse.

As they continued drinking, one glass after another, Liu Jianming, sitting to the side, grew anxious and was about to offer some words of advice.

Li Kaixin immediately gave him a reassuring look.

At this moment, Old Master Liu at the main table also glanced over and saw Li Kaixin and Chen Yongtai drinking back and forth, and a satisfied smile immediately appeared on his face.

He turned to Old Master Chen beside him and said, "Old Chen, your two grandsons aren't stupid. They even know how to use drinking to get closer to Comrade Kaixin."

"That's right, don't you even know whose child it is?"

Grandpa Chen was in much better spirits than before, and there was a hint of pride in his eyes.