Why was Sister-in-law being so polite with them?
These shifty-eyed men, letting their eyes wander everywhere – they had no sense of propriety.
“Liu Tianquan is here, right? Either you call him out, or we’ll go in and find him ourselves!”
While Kang Wei’s words carried little threat, just Pan San’s slight smile with raised eyebrows made the doormen tremble. Ordinary thugs wouldn’t dare confront Pan San – his whole being radiated danger. Nobody was foolish; after years of living in this world, people could gauge who shouldn’t be crossed.
These three with Xia Xiaolan were not to be trifled with.
In 1984, normal girls avoided places like dance halls. For someone this beautiful to come here voluntarily meant either stupidity or powerful backing.
Not many people could drive cars either.
Someone with a driver and bodyguard was someone formidable.
“Please wait a moment…”
Pan San hadn’t even made a move before the doorman yielded.
Xia Xiaolan waited about ten minutes before Liu Tianquan hurriedly emerged.
Seeing Xia Xiaolan, Liu Tianquan showed no guilt, “When they said an exceptionally beautiful young lady was looking for me, Liu, the first person I thought of was Miss Xia. After meeting Miss Xia, no one else can be called beautiful!”
Liu Tianquan was quite clever – while he called Liu Yong “brother,” he addressed Liu Yong’s niece as “Miss Xia.”
It was certainly a safe form of address. Liu Tianquan could gauge Liu Yong’s influence.
What Liu Tianquan couldn’t gauge was Xia Xiaolan.
Including her relationship with Mayor Tang – thinking carefully, it seemed Xia Xiaolan was the connection there.
After all, it was Xia Xiaolan whom Tang Hongen had greeted in public, not Liu Yong. Liu Tianquan had tried to get involved in the construction materials business when he noticed Xia Xiaolan appearing on television. While Liu Yong’s affairs were easy to learn about – just get him drunk – he never said much about his niece. Liu Tianquan only knew this “Miss Xia” was now studying at one of the mainland’s best universities in the capital.
By Liu Tianquan’s standards, Xia Xiaolan seemed like a socialite from Hong Kong’s upper class.
Not the kind from an especially powerful family background, but rather a socialite courtesan kept by some important figure… given how beautiful she was.
If Xia Xiaolan knew Liu Tianquan’s thoughts, she’d probably have Pan San help put this fat pig in a sack and beat him. She looked behind him, and not seeing Liu Yong, asked directly: “Manager Liu, I heard you called my uncle here for business, but where is he?”
Liu Tianquan hesitated to speak.
“Your uncle was here just now, but he’s not available at the moment… Miss Xia, you know, sometimes men have private matters to handle. Brother Liu Yong is your elder, it’s not appropriate for you to inquire too deeply.”
Hearing this, could her uncle have fallen into their trap?
Xia Xiaolan frowned: “While I don’t want to meddle in my uncle’s private affairs, I’m not ready to have a new aunt yet. Mainland relationships aren’t as complicated as in Hong Kong. Using women’s pillow talk might be a successful tactic you’re familiar with, Manager Liu, but forgive my directness – the mainland market isn’t as accommodating as you might think. We’re at the forefront of reform and opening up; conducting legitimate business is the proper long-term path… Pardon my rambling, but I have a dinner appointment with Mayor Tang, and I wanted to bring my uncle along, that’s why I came looking for him.”
As soon as Xia Xiaolan mentioned Tang Hongen, Liu Tianquan gave a dry laugh.
For some reason, Liu Tianquan heard other implications in Xia Xiaolan’s words – what did she mean by tactics he was “familiar with”?
Xia Xiaolan ended the conversation there, and Liu Tianquan had no choice but to send someone to fetch Liu Yong.
After another ten minutes, Liu Yong emerged from the dance hall.
His expression was troubled, weighed down with worry, as if caught in an impossible situation.
Seeing Xia Xiaolan, surprise flashed across his face:
“Xiaolan, why are you here?”
Xia Xiaolan didn’t embarrass Liu Yong in public.
She didn’t even mention anything else, speaking casually: “I came for the weekend, bringing Taotao and Aunt along for tourism. They’re waiting for you at the building materials store.”
Hearing his wife and child had come, Liu Yong had no time for these messy affairs.
He felt guilty too – though he’d never had any relationship with other women, being found by his niece at a dance hall, how could he not feel guilty?
Fortunately, his niece hadn’t brought Li Fengmei directly here – Liu Yong wouldn’t have been able to explain himself even if he had ten mouths!
“Let’s go, let’s go quickly.”
Xia Xiaolan questioned Ge Jian with her eyes; Ge Jian slightly shook his head, and Xia Xiaolan felt relieved – her uncle hadn’t truly fallen yet.
“Brother, you’re just leaving like this? The person inside—”
Whatever Xiao Rou or whoever else, how could Liu Yong care about that now?
But Liu Tianquan had to bring it up, making Liu Yong’s face turn red with extreme embarrassment.
“Brother Tianquan, I already said I really can’t handle this matter. Xiao Rou is pitiful, but I’m a married man…”
Liu Tianquan suddenly understood, “I misspoke, Miss Xia, please don’t misunderstand.”
Liu Tianquan’s affected manner piqued Xia Xiaolan’s interest.
While she didn’t want to meet some hostess, resolving all of Liu Yong’s potential romantic troubles at once wouldn’t be bad.
“Manager Liu, I’m quite curious about this Xiao Rou now. Could you ask her to come out and meet us?”
Liu Yong opened his mouth, internally panicking – surely his niece wouldn’t tear down this dance hall? But he dared not say anything; being found by Xia Xiaolan at the dance hall, he had no face left as an uncle.
“If Miss Xia wants to see someone, how dare she put on airs? Go call Xiao Rou here.”
Liu Tianquan was very accommodating to Xia Xiaolan.
Kang Wei thought, Sister-in-law meeting a hostess – she’s giving face to these Hong Kong people. These Hong Kong folks just had to cause trouble. If someone investigated this dance hall, these Hong Kong people would behave themselves.
It was only in Pengcheng, a pilot city for reform and opening up, that such demons and monsters could emerge. Try this in Beijing, and Kang Wei would make these Hong Kong people understand why the Horse King had three eyes!
After another ten minutes, someone from the dance hall came running back, but no Xiao Rou followed.
“Manager Liu, Xiao Rou refuses to come.”
Xia Xiaolan gave a derisive laugh – so this was the extent of her courage.
That laugh from Xia Xiaolan made Liu Tianquan lose considerable face.
After Xia Xiaolan’s group got in their car, he had people bring Xiao Rou over. This time Xiao Rou was truly frightened, unlike her act from the morning: “Boss, I- I can’t meet her… Please don’t make me seduce Liu Yong anymore, I didn’t know his niece was Xia Xiaolan… I dare not provoke her.”