Gu Chuanming glanced at Zhang Shouyi, and the two nodded slightly.

Zhang Hongmei happily followed Wang Xinyi and Aunt Li to clear the table, while Xiao Li carried a case of wine to the side.

Zhang Hongmei squatted down and saw that it was all good wine, but there was so much of it. Had they drunk it all today? The thought was terrifying.

Seeing Gu Chuanming sitting to the side with a smile, Zhang Hongmei leaned over and said, "Grandpa, you can only drink two ounces of wine today. Don't drink more than that. This is an exception. You're still taking Chinese medicine."

Gu Chuanming immediately frowned. "Xiao Li, there's only one bottle of wine on the table. I can't drink it, and I won't let them drink it either."

"Alright, alright, don't be angry. Yes, we won't let them drink either. When you're better, I have some good wine here."

"real?"

"Grandpa, I'm not lying."

"Okay, I'll only have two ounces of liquor today. You'd better save the good stuff for me."

Seeing the old man's face brighten from its stormy state, Zhang Hongmei breathed a sigh of relief. He was really hard to please.

At 6:30, Kong Mingde and his two companions arrived together. The other two were important figures, and the guards behind them were carrying wine.

Zhang Hongmei wondered, "Is this something we can't prevent?"

Zhang Shouyi, being a leader, didn't need to stand up to greet them, and Gu Chuanming, being both an elder and a leader, certainly didn't need to either. Only Zhang Hongmei, as the hostess and a junior, was obligated to welcome the guest.

"Professor Kong, you've arrived. Please have a seat. And welcome to both of you as well."

"Haha, what? This is Old Master Gu's granddaughter. It's a waste of her talent to be that old man's granddaughter."

"Cough cough cough! Haven't you gotten a beating in a long time? Are you itching for a beating?" Gu Chuanming glared fiercely at the burly man who had just spoken.

"You still have such a strong voice, which puts my mind at ease. I was worried that if you suddenly passed away, I wouldn't know whether to cry or not."

"Are you thinking I can't beat you anymore? That's why you're so arrogant?"

"Hehe. How could that be? I was just worried about you."

"Hehe. It's alright. Chengzi, go and put the wine the guests brought into the storeroom. We'll treat them to our best wine today."

Since you're all here, let's get to know each other. This is my granddaughter, Zhang Hongmei. From now on, she represents everything I say; what she says is what I say. Do you understand?

The three people who came with him were stunned. They had thought that Old Master Gu only wanted to have someone burn incense and money for him after his death by adopting a granddaughter. They never expected it to be like this. The meaning was completely different; this was about finding a successor.

All three of them stared at Zhang Hongmei at the same time. Kong Mingde knew that this girl had this ability, but the other two did not.

"Are you getting senile? Why are you choosing such a delicate and frail young girl?"

Kong Mingde tugged at his clothes. This heartless, uncultured man, didn't he see that Old Master Gu's facial expression had changed?

Gu Chuanming paused for a moment, then said, “You all introduce yourselves. Hongmei, these three are all your uncles. If they misbehave, you don’t need to give them any face.”

"Hehe, I don't need to introduce myself. I am both your professor and your uncle. Don't worry, as long as you ask, I, Kong Mingde, will never refuse."

"Hehe, Old Kong, you have such an outstanding disciple? Could this little girl be the national champion?"

Kong Mingde exclaimed with emotion, "Yes, he is our top scholar. I never thought we would become family."

“You’re really something, little girl. I’m He Chuanyong, your uncle. If Kong Mingde can do it, I, He Chuanyong, will do it too. From now on, if you need anything, no matter if it’s right or wrong, just ask, and your uncle will take care of the rest.”

Zhang Hongmei accepted their kindness with a smile, saying, "Uncles, you don't need to be so polite. I'm not a wicked person who would commit crimes, and I would never be tempted by money, so you two can rest assured. Even if I were to come to your door someday and ask for something, it would be within your means."

"Good, good, good. You've got good taste this time."

"Hehe, that's right. I had no foresight to take in all three of you."

"Hey, hey, hey, I'm here too. Little girl, I'm Zhao Changlong. I'm not as eloquent as the other two, but I can do anything they can do. Most importantly, my fists are harder than theirs. If anyone bullies you, I'll beat them up."

Zhang Hongmei smiled. Actually, she liked this kind of easygoing person the most. It was worry-free. Although she knew that Zhao Changlong couldn't be as simple as he seemed, at least on the surface, getting along with him wasn't tiring.

"Uncle Zhao, thank you so much. I also like to throw punches, but my little body isn't strong enough. I'll have to rely on you from now on."

"Hahaha, no problem, fists are the fastest and most effective solution."

"Alright, everyone sit down. Aren't you all tempted by all this food?"

"You're so kind, aren't you? You're just showing some restraint to the younger generation, so they won't always call me a roughneck. Honestly, it's impossible to reason with you guys, you're so hypocritical."

Neither Kong Mingde nor He Chuanyong paid him any attention; arguing with him would only make them more infuriated.

"Mr. Gu, you're being too stingy. Just this one bottle of wine?" Zhao Changlong grumbled unhappily.

"One bottle of wine is good enough. I invited you here to eat, not to drink. If you're not satisfied, you don't have to eat."

"Why? Would I be a fool not to eat meat when it's available?"

The three men walked to the table and greeted Zhang Shouyi, "Boss, are you here to freeload a meal?"

Kong Mingde closed his eyes. This idiot, can't he just not ask?

Gu Chuanming and Zhang Hongmei both laughed unkindly, looking at Zhang Shouyi with amusement.

"Zhao Changlong, this is my home."

"The leader's family? Kong Mingde, He Chuanyong, you two should eat less!"

Kong Mingde sat down listlessly, no longer bothering to acknowledge him. He Chuanyong also sat down with a smile, knowing that talking to him was a waste of time.

"Hehe, it's okay, Zhao Changlong, eat as much as you want. You'll be full by the time you come to my house, right?"

"Hehe, that's true, the leader isn't a petty person." Zhao Changlong sat down as well, not forgetting to give instructions to Chengzi.

"Chengzi, hurry up and pour the wine. We've divided it equally among the five of us, there's no wine for you."

"Hehe, as long as the leader is satisfied with his drink, that's all that matters."

"Nonsense. What can this little bit of wine do? Five more of this and we'd be able to drink to our hearts' content. I'm not coming to the boss's house for dinner again; they don't even provide enough wine."

The four people at the table ignored him and started eating.

"The boss is really generous. I'd accept this food even without alcohol. You guys, save me some pig's head meat." Only Zhao Changlong shouted loudly at the table.

He Chuanyong took a few big bites and said, "Leader, Mr. Gu, is this wild boar meat? Domestic pigs aren't this tough."

"Yes, we went up the mountain to hunt them yesterday," Gu Chuanming said proudly.

"Which mountain? I'd like to go take a look too." He Chuanyong asked even while eating.

"Hehe, I'm not looking down on you, but even if I told you you wouldn't find it, it's not about brute force, it's about luck."