Section Reading 148
"I won't keep you any longer, Uncle Cheng. Please take care. Don't worry about the project; I'm always thinking about it."
Cheng Renji: "That's right, I have complete confidence in you! Alright, nephew, see you another day!"
Daqi: "Take care, goodbye!"
After saying that, Cheng Renji left with his designer and construction workers.
When Daqi returned to the construction site, the workers immediately surrounded him, praising him. Some workers said, "Manager Tong, you're really amazing! It's a good thing you came down today, otherwise, this project would have been..."
Daqi smiled and shook his head, saying, "Brothers, I, Xiaotong, am quite satisfied with the quality of your construction. From now on, you just need to follow the plans. Today at noon, I'll treat everyone to lunch, and also get to know you all. We're all in the same boat, don't you think?"
Liu Donghua immediately smiled and said, "We all thank General Manager Tong for his guidance on the project, and we also thank him for treating everyone to dinner!" The workers cheered, and some even applauded. Daqi then said to everyone, "Brothers, I'm entrusting you all to work diligently on the construction site. Don't worry, I will pay you your wages in full. If you maintain this quality and construct according to the plans, I will also give you bonuses. At that time, it depends on what your boss, Lao Liu, thinks. I will discuss with Lao Liu how much bonus to give each of you. From now on, when I'm not around, you will all listen to him. I'm counting on you all!"
One of the workers said, "Boss Tong, don't be so kind. Don't worry, we're all working for you, and we'll do our best!"
“Yes, yes, yes. We will do our best!” Several other workers echoed this sentiment.
"Okay, okay, okay. Everyone get back to work. Take a break if you're tired. If you need anything, just tell Lao Liu, and the company will try its best to help you! Remember to have lunch with me today, everyone come!" Daqi said to the workers at the end. The workers smiled and got back to work.
Daqi called Liu Donghua aside, and the two talked alone for a while.
Liu Donghua: "President Tong, I'm so sorry about today. It's fortunate you came, otherwise..."
Daqi: "It's alright, just follow the plans strictly from now on! I'm satisfied with your construction quality. Lao Liu, do the workers need anything?"
Liu Donghua: "There's nothing else, except that a few people occasionally get minor illnesses. It's too far from the city center, so it's inconvenient because there are no clinics here."
Daqi: "Here's what we'll do. When you have time, go buy some commonly used medicines, such as cold medicine, diarrhea medicine, and heatstroke medicine. Bring these medicines to the construction site, and provide them to the workers for free if they need them. You can get reimbursed by the finance department."
Liu Donghua: "Okay, thank you!"
Daqi: "No need for thanks, I have no other requests. It's the same old saying, strictly follow the drawings during construction. Because if I don't follow the drawings during construction, things are prone to going wrong."
Liu Donghua: "Okay, don't worry, Mr. Tong!"
Daqi: "Okay, you go ahead and do your work. Organize the workers to go to a nearby restaurant for lunch."
Liu Donghua: "Okay, I'll get back to work then!" Daqi nodded with a smile.
It seemed they would have to have lunch with their workers today. Daqi and Pingjia first went to look around the construction site and luckily found two or three restaurants. They chose a relatively decent restaurant, arranged to have three tables for lunch, and paid a deposit. The owner was overjoyed and hurriedly invited Daqi and Pingjia to sit down, serving them tea.
A businessman is a businessman; his simple act of serving tea and water made Daqi feel very welcome.
Daqi: "Boss, business is good, right?"
Boss: "Thanks to you, things are going well! You're the foreman of this villa construction site, right?"
Daqi smiled and nodded: "That's right, that's me. My workers often eat here?"
Boss: "It's alright, but not many people come for meals usually, they only come when they're drinking."
Daqi: "This is a hotel, unlike the small restaurant next door. The workers can't drink every day, can they?"
Boss: "This boss is right! Thank you for patronizing my business. May I ask your surname?"
The two chatted for a while. The restaurant owner even inquired about the owner of the villa, as Cheng Renji's villa was the most conspicuous building in the area. After Daqi explained, the owner nodded and said, "What a grand sight! Such a large villa is truly rare!"
Of course, the villa of the top real estate developer in Rongzhou is magnificent!
Around noon, Daqi led Liu Donghua and his workers to a restaurant for lunch. The workers were delighted; they were getting a feast at noon. Daqi asked the owner to serve the workers some wine, but Liu Donghua said to Daqi, "Just a little bit is enough; everyone has work to do this afternoon." Daqi nodded in agreement and said to Lao Liu, "You take care of it; I'll pay the bill." Lao Liu nodded.
It's good to have a meal with his workers; that way, they'll all get to know each other a little better. After all, they're the people who work for him on the construction site. After the meal, Daqi and Pingjia took a taxi back to the city.
In the days that followed, aside from Wednesdays when he and his family were busy moving, he spent his time learning to drive with Ding Jian as usual. Every three to four days, he would go to the construction site to check on things, and everything was going smoothly. The man was quite satisfied with his new place, after all, there were more rooms; each of his four wives had her own room, and he also had a study. He would go to one of his wives' rooms to sleep each day, as he couldn't engage in sexual activity every day. After all, a person's physical strength is limited, and most of the time he would just sleep with them.
The weather was exceptionally nice that day, and Ding Jian started teaching Da Qi how to drive again. Around lunchtime, Ding Jian's phone rang. He answered, chatted briefly, and then hung up.
Ding Jian smiled at Da Qi and said, "My bride is here. She said she wanted to see how I teach people to drive. She wants to learn too!"
Daqi laughed and said, "Oh, sister-in-law is coming? That's great! I've met her before, it's a good opportunity to meet her today. Wen'er said she's a real beauty!"
Ding Jian smiled and said, "You flatter me! We'll have her join us for lunch, along with Brother Li."
Daqi: "Of course, of course."
Ding Jian: "Go sit in Brother Li's office for a while. I'll go and bring my wife in. She's never been to the traffic police brigade before."
Daqi nodded and said, "Alright, alright, you go ahead. I'll wait for you in my office!"
After saying that, Daqi went to Li Zhigang's office alone and chatted with him.
"What are you all talking about?" It was Ding Jian's voice as he and his bride walked into the office. Da Qi and Li Zhigang both looked at Ding Jian's bride at the same time.
It was no wonder that Tong Daqi was so stunned when he saw it!
How could this be? How could it be her? I thought I would never see her again in this lifetime, but she is standing right in front of me!
Good heavens, are you deliberately trying to mess with me, Tong Daqi? I had finally managed to forget her, but why are you making her appear in front of me again? Why is that?
As you all probably know, the woman standing before Daqi is none other than Daqi's first love—Chen Meiting! His former dream girl, the woman he once loved most, the girl who was closest to his heart!
Just like Daqi's reaction, Meiting was also stunned by his appearance. The two stared at each other, and for a moment it seemed as if the world consisted only of the two of them. Even though Li Zhigang was praising Meiting's beauty, and even though Ding Jian was smiling proudly beside her…
Ding Jian: "What, you two know each other?"
Daqi and Meiting then seemed to realize what was happening. However, Tong Daqi didn't know how to answer Ding Jian's question. Meiting, on the other hand, naturally said to him, "Oh, Daqi and I were deskmates in junior high school, and we used to be good friends!"
Li Zhigang laughed and said, "Isn't this a good thing? It's rare to see classmates who haven't seen each other for many years! Come on, let's go have a meal together!"
Daqi smiled at Ding Jian and said, "That's right, Meiting is my good friend. Brother Jian, let's go eat..."
Sigh, I really don't know what to say, and I really don't know how to face Meiting, Ding Jian, or even Qiwen? All I can say is, "Let's go eat..."
The four of them walked to a private room in a hotel and sat down. Daqi's heart was heavy the whole way, and he believed that Meiting felt the same way... The two of them managed to exchange a few words on the way, and both of them remained calm.
I don't know why, but both of them were so calm. Maybe it was because Ding Jian was there...
Daqi: "Ting...Meiting, why are you back?"
Meiting: "It's still best to have my own country... so... so I came back..."
"How are you doing?" The two of them blurted out the same question at the same time.
I never imagined that after so many years, that unspoken understanding between them would still exist. Is it just a tacit understanding? Is it the warm, unspoken understanding that exists in their hearts? No, it's not a tacit understanding! It's a gleaming, sharp knife, a knife plunged into Daqi's heart!
At this moment, Daqi felt his heart bleeding and aching, but he could only bleed silently and ache silently...
All that is past is like smoke, and everyone says time heals all wounds. But can that really be true in life? At least Tong Daqi wasn't so lucky at this moment. From the traffic police station to the hotel where they were eating, in that short distance, his mind was filled with memories of his past with Meiting—the beautiful past!
He had poured out his heart to her in the past, climbed mountains with her in the past, and visited her from afar in the past... Everything in the past, including their intimacy and Meiting's obedience to him... all these beautiful memories seemed to play like movies in Daqi's mind at this moment, and also like sharp arrows piercing his heart, which was full of pain!
Hey, what can I do? I'm a man. What can I do even if my heart aches? She's someone else's wife, and she's my best friend's wife! Ding Jian is practically my best friend...
Daqi's heart was churning with turmoil: Hold on, Tong Daqi, you have to hold on! I know you're hurting. But you're a man, you have to hold on. Even if it's for Ding Jian's sake, it's for Meiting's happiness! Ding Jian absolutely cannot find out about my past with Meiting…
Once I find out, how will I face my best friend Ding Jian, and how will I face Qi Wen? But if I don't let them know, how will I face Mei Ting?
Had he really forgotten Meiting? Perhaps he could have said that before he saw her, but now that she was standing right in front of him, could he still say that?
Today, Meiting wore a black wool coat over a pink turtleneck sweater, paired with black capri pants. She wore purple high heels and a beaded necklace. A crystal-embellished belt cinched her waist, simply and neatly highlighting her beautiful figure. With fair skin, a delicate face, and outstanding气质 (qi zhi - a combination of temperament, bearing, and presence), she appeared extremely charming and eye-catching!
From the traffic police station all the way to the hotel, and even inside the hotel, people couldn't help but turn around to look at Meiting...
In the past, I would have felt very proud and elated, but today I feel really lost, depressed, and downcast...
After that, Daqi only spoke discreetly with Ding Jian and Li Zhigang. Especially during the meal, Li Zhigang smiled and said, "Brother Tong, you're really something today. Why did you suddenly go silent? You seem to be not saying anything. Don't you love telling dirty jokes? Come on, come on, give everyone one."
Daqi could only force a smile and say, "Brother Li, I'm not feeling well today. Let's talk another day, another day!"
Ding Jian: "My wife's here, don't talk about it, don't talk about it, it'll have a bad influence!" Ding Jian was obviously very proud, because he believed that everyone envied him for having such a beautiful wife!
Ding Jian suddenly said to Mei Ting, "Ting, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell...?" Mei Ting forced a smile and shook her head...
After dinner, Meiting said she wasn't feeling well and wanted to go home first. Ding Jian offered to take her home, but she declined. She told Ding Jian, "Teach my old classmate how to drive properly, I'll take a taxi home myself!" Ding Jian smiled and said, "Yes, ma'am!" She smiled, glanced at Ding Jian and then at Daqi, and then left…
Chapter 181 Hotel Ecstasy
Daqi glanced at her and said with a very fake smile, "Meiting, take care..."
Hypocritical, so incredibly hypocritical. You, Tong Daqi, are the most hypocritical person in the world. You were clearly thinking, "Meiting, don't go..." but Daqi's mind was still filled with a myriad of thoughts...
After attending the theory class, Daqi continued learning to drive with Ding Jian. Ding Jian kept asking him, "Hey, what's wrong with you this afternoon? You seem distracted. Are you feeling unwell?"
Daqi had no choice but to say, "I probably didn't sleep well last night, I'm a little dizzy!"
Ding Jian smiled mysteriously and said, "Could it be that you've been having too many affairs with your wife?"
Daqi could only laugh and say, "No, no, Brother Jian, don't make fun of me..." The two chatted and laughed for a while longer.
After learning to drive with Ding Jian today, Daqi took a ride home alone.
Back home, he went alone into the study. This study had been meticulously decorated for him by the fairy Qiwen. It contained many books; a large bookshelf held over a hundred books, which the man himself had selected at the bookstore. He lay on the bed in the study, his mind completely blank…
He kept thinking about Meiting. Why did she marry Ding Jian? Why is the world so small? Why did he have to meet her again? So many whys, but not one of them he could answer, because it was simply impossible to answer!
Just then, someone knocked on the door, and the maid Yijing entered. Seeing the man lying on the bed, she went to his side and softly asked, "Brother, what's wrong? When you came home just now, you didn't look well!"
Daqi smiled and beckoned to Yijing, who obediently lay down on the bed, resting her head on the man's chest. The man said softly, "Jing'er, I'm fine. By the way, when are Sister Wen and the others coming back?"
Yi Jing: "Soon, are you really alright?" Clearly, Yi Jing cared about the man. She reached out and touched his forehead, saying, "It's a little hot. You have a cold! I'll go get you some boiled water to drink."
Daqi smiled slightly and said, "No need, I was thinking of holding you and sleeping for a while, is that alright?"
Yi Jing smiled slightly and nodded, and Da Qi then hugged his little maid and closed his eyes. For some reason, he quietly fell asleep.
When he woke up, he found Qiwen and Xiaoli standing by his bed. Qiwen was holding a glass of water, and Xiaoli was holding some medicine.
Qiwen: "You're awake? I heard from Jing'er that you were sick. Are you alright?"
Daqi smiled slightly and said, "I'm fine." The fairy, feeling sorry for the man, gently stroked his face with her soft hand and said, "My parents are coming to attend Jian Ge's wedding in a couple of days, and they might stay at our house. You must be feeling well; this is the first time you'll be meeting my parents!"
Daqi: "Wen, I'm fine. I just need to rest!"
Xiao Li said, "Here, sweetie, take some cold medicine." She then handed the medicine to the man. Da Qi looked at Xiao Li, said "thank you," took the medicine, and drank half a glass of water from Qi Wen's hand.
At dinner, everyone ate, except for Daqi, who only drank porridge. Jing'er had specially cooked it for him; she knew her man probably didn't have a good appetite, and porridge was the best thing for him.
After drinking the porridge, the man went to sleep in the fairy's room.
After Qiwen finished eating and taking a shower, she stayed with the man. She hugged him and asked, "What happened?" Daqi shook his head and said nothing was wrong, and even forced a smile at her.