Chapter 680: Chapter 680

The dinner that evening was a family outing.

In accordance with Grandfather Shen Jianhua’s demands, it had to be a lavish meal!

Therefore, they went to a fancy restaurant and ordered a table of high-quality dishes, costing Huo Mingshan over two thousand yuan.

It can be said that it wiped out a quarter of Huo Mingshan’s tutoring income for June...

All you can say is, the family enjoyed the meal and the money was spent...

During the dinner, Shen Jianhua was in the highest spirits.

He was so gratified, he even called over his cadre friends from the village.

Paying for the guests was a minor matter; Shen Jianhua just wanted to show off in front of them!

After all, Centou Village had never before produced a child who was accepted to Tsinghua.

Thus, this time Shen Jianhua truly felt unlimited glory; he simply couldn’t suppress the desire to show off!

After three rounds of drinks, the tipsy Shen Jianhua even put his arm around Huo Feng’s shoulders, suddenly changed his mind, and blurted out, "My eldest grandson, I’ve decided, we won’t have the banquet at the hotel! I will host a big feast in the village! Invite everyone in the village to celebrate! Let everyone know my grandson got into Tsinghua! What do you think?"

Huo Feng obediently nodded in agreement, "Definitely! Grandpa, whatever you want is fine! As long as Grandpa is happy!"

"Look at that! My eldest grandson is so sensible!"

Shen Jianhua, with his arm still around Huo Feng’s shoulders, boasted drunkenly to the few friends at the table: "I tell you, raising two daughters isn’t as good as having this one sensible grandson! He brings me honor and respects me!"

The few friends at the table nodded in agreement, "Huo Feng is indeed well-behaved. We all watched him grow up."

"Huo Feng, you must be good to your grandfather in the future. Look how much your grandfather expects from you!" one of the friends lectured Huo Feng.

After Shen Jianhua invited his friends over, the table’s control shifted to Shen Jianhua and those few older cadres.

Among the younger generation, aside from Huo Feng who dared to chat with them freely, the others truly did not dare...

Shen Yu and Shen Nuan, just like their grandmother, waited obediently in a submissive womanly manner.

Huo Mingshan didn’t dare to interject at all.

Fortunately, Pu Sangzhi was there at the table.

Huo Mingshan, who had a very low social status, could chat with Pu Sangzhi...

And Pu Sangzhi, throughout the entire dinner, observed everyone at the table from a bystander’s perspective...

She had figured out the family dynamics of Huo Feng’s family, and the members’ positions within it.

She found it very interesting!

Because she had not expected that Teacher Huo’s status within his own family could be so low! It was unbelievable to her...

Conversely, the young Huo Feng, who could hold the scene like an old hand, also truly amazed her...

"I, Huo Feng, am laying it down here tonight!"

Huo Feng, by his side, began boasting with the courage provided by alcohol and an extrovert’s daring, his voice loud and bold, "It wasn’t easy for my grandpa to raise my mom and aunt alone all his life! Among the younger generation, I am the only male! So, no matter what, I ought to take care of my grandpa’s later years!"

Shen Jianhua listened with such warmth in his heart!

"Oh this kid, listen to what he’s saying... Grandpa has medical care and retirement all sorted! You don’t need to take responsibility for that! Grandpa won’t be a burden to you!"

Though Shen Jianhua said this, in his heart he was truly delighted by what Huo Feng was saying!

"Grandpa, please don’t think I’m just talking like a kid!"

Huo Feng earnestly raised his hand, "Please don’t treat me like a child anymore! I understand everything!"

Huo Feng continued, "For us younger ones, respect for elders comes first! Think about it, how hard it was for our elders to raise us! Especially Grandpa! Really..."

Huo Feng eagerly patted Shen Jianhua’s hand, "Grandpa, you have really doted on me since I was little! You supported everything I did! Even when I skipped elementary school classes, you would slip pocket money into my pocket! Really, Grandpa! Later, when I make it big, I’ll buy you a huge mansion, hire a hundred maids, and take care of you and Grandma thoroughly! Those daughters of yours, you can forget about relying on them! I, Huo Feng, will take care of you in your old age!"

Shen Jianhua laughed heartily looking up, loving every word that Huo Feng said!

Huo Feng’s mouth had always been sweet since he was little! Always charming the older folks!

The entire table, old and young, couldn’t match Huo Feng’s slick talk...

Shen Yu and Shen Nuan, the two daughters, were left speechless on the side.

Huo Mingshan also looked at Huo Feng with a face full of disdain!

Many times, Huo Mingshan wondered how such an upright man like him could have ended up with such a slick son as Huo Feng?

At the table, Pu Sangzhi particularly liked Huo Feng’s savvy old-timer demeanor.

She always found this side of Huo Feng incredibly amusing...

His words just now, full of an aged wisdom, had made Pu Sangzhi cover her mouth and giggle quietly, finding it especially hilarious!

As the meal was drawing to a close, Huo Mingshan, using the restroom as an excuse, stood up to go and pay the bill.

Just then, Pu Sangzhi came out from the restroom, and unknowingly followed Huo Mingshan to the front desk to pay.

The meal had cost over two thousand, and Huo Mingshan was not at all happy about it.

Pu Sangzhi followed beside Huo Mingshan, curiously watching this side of Mr. Huo she had never seen before... She found it quite interesting!

"Charge it to the card."

Huo Mingshan took out his bank card and handed it to the waitress.

During the payment, he sighed deeply, raised his hand and stroked his bald head, looking melancholically at Pu Sangzhi, "Making you witness this spectacle, huh?"

Pu Sangzhi laughed and shook her head, "Mr. Huo, I only realized tonight just how warm your family’s atmosphere is."

Huo Mingshan’s mouth twitched, "You probably just saw the deep affection between Huo Feng and his grandfather..." Fresh chapters posted on 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩⁂𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱

Pu Sangzhi laughed out loud, "No, Mr. Huo. I think Huo Feng and his grandfather really have similar personalities, quite unlike you."

Huo Mingshan sighed again, "That kid Huo Feng is doted on by his grandfather completely, and he knows it. In his grandfather’s eyes, even if he commits unforgivable sins, his grandfather wouldn’t think him to be at fault. You don’t know, when he was 5 years old, he stayed at his grandfather’s home during winter break. After we brought him back home, he would cry at night and call his grandfather saying he missed him. Why? Just because his grandfather spoiled him."

"So that’s what happened..."

Pu Sangzhi felt somewhat incredulous.

"You’re right to say he resembles his grandfather."

Huo Mingshan nodded, "Starting from when he was 6 years old, he would spend every lunar birthday at his grandfather’s. His grandfather would always invite a bunch of colleagues and set up two tables for his birthday. That bit of eloquence he has was drilled into him meal by meal by his grandfather. Those pleasantries I could never utter, he could deliver them without batting an eye!"

Pu Sangzhi reflected, "Mr. Huo, I’ve always thought this aspect of him was quite impressive. His social skills are really strong; he can make friends instantly and gets along naturally with everyone."

"What you say makes sense."

Huo Mingshan sighed softly, "Actually, I’ve always disliked those who speak merely to please others. So, every time I see that side of Huo Feng, I feel very disappointed! I always hope he would be down-to-earth and speak sincerely. Instead, he thinks I’m too rigid!"

Pu Sangzhi felt some understanding for Huo Mingshan, "Mr. Huo. Actually, I really like your personality, but I also like Huo Feng’s personality. Your father-in-law’s personality is also good; I like it too. I think each has its merits."

Huo Mingshan smiled upon hearing this, "Don’t let Huo Feng lead you astray. Your personality is so gentle and pure; don’t let that kid drag you down to worldly ways."

Pu Sangzhi also smiled.

"Ah, it’s almost university time."

Huo Mingshan sighed, "You’ve been guiding my son towards Tsinghua all this way, and while I’m grateful, I’m also afraid you’ll be led astray by him."

Pu Sangzhi pursed her lips, her big bright eyes earnestly locking onto Huo Mingshan.

He sincerely said to her, "I know full well how unreliable my son is. I’ve always felt that he doesn’t deserve you, so I initially did everything to stop you two from dating. But now, I can see that you’ve changed him. I know it’s been hard on you, but I still hope that you won’t disdain him and will continue to lead him onto the right path, making him into a decent and upright person."

"Hmm, I will," said Pu Sangzhi, nodding, "Mr. Huo, deep down, you care for Huo Feng a lot, don’t you?"

Huo Mingshan frowned at this, waving his hand, "I don’t care for him. I could whip him with a feather duster without blinking an eye. If he ever bullies you, you mustn’t hold it back! Even in Beijing, I could come over and beat him up!"

Pu Sangzhi laughed out loud, "Haha, understood, Teacher..."

Huo Mingshan suddenly added, "Remember, don’t break up easily! No matter how reckless my son might be, he is serious about you. If he can change, don’t give up on him too easily!"

Pu Sangzhi’s smile faded, and in that second, she truly saw the seemingly shallow yet deeply rooted affection between father and son.

"Hmm," she acknowledged.

Huo Mingshan stated, "Beijing is a place of many temptations. I hope that the two of you go there, and both of you come back."

Pu Sangzhi agreed, "Hmm."

Huo Mingshan said, "You’re too outstanding... I always fear that you’ll disdain Huo Feng."

Pu Sangzhi replied, "I won’t."

Pu Sangzhi never felt that she excelled in anything...

She only felt that Huo Feng was so perfect that she didn’t deserve him...