Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

"That's it, everyone go back to work, don't block the way here."

Manager Fang dismissed the surrounding restaurant staff and chefs, then smiled and said to Wei Xucheng, "May I ask how this comrade is addressed? My surname is Fang, and I am Manager Fang of this state-run restaurant."

Wei Xucheng answered Manager Fang somewhat awkwardly, "My surname is Wei, and my name is Xucheng. I'm sorry, Manager Fang!"

"Hey! It's alright. When you're eating and drinking, it's inevitable to talk loudly. This is a restaurant, not a grand hall. It's not like we can't talk," Manager Fang pulled up a chair and sat down with Wei Xucheng, Bai Shuibao, and the others.

"Comrade Xucheng, I didn't know you were Mr. Chen's cousin if you hadn't told me," Manager Fang said, striking up a casual conversation with Wei Xucheng. "When Mr. Chen first came to Nanshan County, he often dined at my restaurant. He came just two days ago."

"Really? Hehe," Wei Xucheng was lying to avoid running into acquaintances. His relationship with Chen Dong was, to put it nicely, that they were cousins, but when they met, Chen Dong didn't recognize him at all.

Chen Dong had long been aware of the relationship between the two families. When the Chen family members saw someone surnamed Wei, they would remain silent. They would treat him with utmost respect, even if he spat on them.

Manager Fang noticed that Wei Xucheng didn't seem to want to chat, so he tactfully returned to the counter. A short while later, the waitress who had criticized them for speaking loudly came over reluctantly with a plate of braised meat, put it down, and left.

"Hey comrade, we didn't order this dish. Did you bring it to the wrong table?"

"No mistake, this is a gift from our Manager Fang," the waitress emphasized the word "gift," her face showing a look of disdain that was unclear whether she was looking down on Wei Xucheng or their restaurant's Manager Fang.

Bai Shuibao gave an "oh," then picked up some braised meat from the plate and started eating. "Brother Xucheng, you really have connections. I've eaten at so many state-run restaurants, and I've never heard of anyone getting a free dish from the restaurant's manager!"

"Yes, Brother Xucheng, you are this one!"

Lao Luo, Niu Zi, and Lao Shan all chimed in with flattery and compliments, making Wei Xucheng feel incredibly light and airy. For the first time, Wei Xucheng felt that, damn it, the feeling of being fawned over was truly amazing!

Unfortunately, a lie is still a lie. He could fool someone once, but not twice. When Chen Donglai ate at the state-run restaurant, given Manager Fang's obsequious nature, he would definitely say, "Mr. Chen, your cousin came to eat here a few days ago."

Chen Dong would definitely ask him in confusion, "My cousin, which cousin?" Then, when Manager Fang mentioned Wei Xucheng's name, his true identity would be exposed.

At this moment, Wei Xucheng felt even more resentment towards the Chen family. Damn it! Now that they've made it big, they don't even recognize their closest cousins!

He wouldn't think about why the Chen family didn't acknowledge them as relatives; he would only blame Chen Xiangui and his family, believing that Chen Xiangui and Chen Zaiguang had become successful and looked down on people.

"Let's not talk about this, let's drink," Wei Xucheng waved his hand irritably, tilted his head back and drank the last of the medicinal wine in his glass.

The five people drank at the state-run restaurant until after 11 a.m. before staggering out of the restaurant, and Manager Fang even smiled as he saw them off at the door.

Bai Shuibao and the others didn't drink much; they mainly got Wei Xucheng drunk. Lao Luo and Niu Zi supported Wei Xucheng on either side to prevent him from collapsing on the street. In this day and age, it's rare to see someone so drunk in the county town at midday, not on Sunday. Passersby curiously turned around and glanced at the five of them.

The five walked for a long time. When Wei Xucheng was led to the main street next to Nanshan County No. 1 High School, he was mostly awake. After seeing his surroundings clearly, he asked Bai Shuibao in confusion, "Old Bai, why did you bring me to the school?"

Bai Shuibao said, "We saw that you were drunk, Brother Xucheng. It would be too early to take you back, so we thought we should take you back to our place first. That's why we came here. Look, we live not far away."

Wei Xucheng nodded without thinking much about it, and the five of them continued walking forward. When they arrived at the school gate, Lao Shan deliberately said, "We've been walking too fast, and I need to pee. I need to relieve myself first. Wait for me."

"Now that you mention it, I'm also a bit of a pee-peeer. Let's go together," Niu Zi chimed in. "Brother Xucheng, Big Brother, wait here for us for a bit."

"Hurry up, hurry up, so much nonsense," Bai Shuibao urged impatiently, and then stood on the street opposite the school with Lao Luo and Wei Xucheng.

After waiting for a while, Lao Shan and Niu Zi still hadn't returned from urinating. Wei Xucheng's legs were getting sore from standing for so long. "Where did those two go to pee? It's been so long."

"They probably went into some dark alley. Anyway, we're fine with nothing else to do. Let's sit here on the curb and wait for a while," Bai Shuibao said, patting his bottom and sitting down first.

The three of them sat by the roadside and waited. Bai Shuibao quietly raised his hand to look at the watch in his sleeve. It was already 11:30. School was about to let out. Sure enough, the ringing of the school bell reached their ears.

As if it were pre-arranged, as soon as the bell rang, Lao Shan and Niu Zi emerged from the alleyway beside them. Wei Xucheng stood up and said, "I thought you two had fallen into a pit, and I was even thinking of using toothpicks to fish you out!"

"Damn it, all those alleyways are full of old women standing around talking, it makes us both feel awkward taking off our clothes to go get some water," Lao Shan 'complained.' "Let's go!"

"Wait a minute, you guys are done relieving yourselves. I'm getting really hungry too, so I need to go relieve myself," Lao Luo suddenly said.

Across from the school gate, students began to walk out. Bai Shuibao remained silent, watching them come and go. Suddenly, he noticed a student wearing red sneakers, a watch, and carrying a leather crossbody bag, chatting and laughing with several classmates as they walked out of the school gate.

Bai Shuibao stared intently at the student, then suddenly asked Wei Xucheng beside him, "Brother Xucheng, do you know that student?"

Wei Xucheng looked in the direction Bai Shuibao was pointing, "Oh, that's my cousin's eldest son, Chen Rongfei."

"As his uncle, shouldn't you go over and say hello?"

"What's there to say hello to? Never mind," Wei Xucheng waved his hand to indicate that he wouldn't go. In fact, he and Chen Rongfei had never exchanged a single word, and Chen Rongfei didn't even know this so-called uncle of his.

He knew Chen Rongfei because he was there when he joined the crowd at the reopening banquet at the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, and the people from Lianzhai Village told him about it.

Bai Shuibao and Lao Shan exchanged a glance. Just as they were about to make their move, they saw a bright silver Mercedes-Benz 450 drive up, and they immediately stopped in their tracks.

A man got out of the Mercedes-Benz 450, waved to Chen Rongfei, and Chen Rongfei waved goodbye to his classmate, got into the Mercedes-Benz 450, and drove away.