Because they went to bed too late the night before, the whole family slept until late morning the next day, and didn't get up until almost noon.
Shen Huaichuan had to rush back to the military region to handle some business, so Shen Zhenbang drove his jeep, carrying his family and Dr. Wu and Dr. Chen, into the city.
The first thing to do upon entering the city is to find Old Master Zhai.
When we arrived at the Zhai family's courtyard, the old man was wearing an apron and preparing lunch.
Shen Zhenbang quickly stopped him and said:
"Old Zhai! Don't bother! How can we let you cook lunch? We've already discussed it, and today's meal must be on the Shen family! You should take care of your business first, and help us report the matter of making the overseas call to our superiors. After that, we'll all go to the state-run restaurant and have a good meal together! We've really troubled you a lot these past few days, and the two doctors have also worked hard. We must show our appreciation!"
Grandpa Zhai was a straightforward man. Seeing the Shen family's sincerity, he didn't refuse and readily agreed with a smile.
"Alright! Then I'll take advantage of your generosity today and treat myself to a better meal!"
He worked quickly and efficiently, and soon completed the application process for making a phone call.
The group arrived at a state-run restaurant that was relatively close to the post office.
It was lunchtime, and the restaurant was quite crowded and lively.
There were many of them, and the large round table was almost full.
Shen Zhenbang looked at it and made the arrangements:
"Alright, you women can sit at one table and have a good chat. Old Zhai and I, the two old men, will find another small table to sit at."
After ordering, while waiting for the food to be served, Grandpa Zhai couldn't wait to inquire about Zhouzhou's situation.
I was in a rush at the door just now, and I only heard the child call out "Grandpa," which made him very happy, but I didn't have time to ask him any more questions.
Shen Zhenbang recounted in detail what had happened to Zhouzhou the previous night, his face beaming with undisguised joy and pride.
Grandpa Zhai was a man of strong emotions; upon hearing this, he beamed with joy, slapping his thigh repeatedly and exclaiming:
"That's wonderful! This is truly a joyous occasion! This child has a bright future ahead of him!"
He grew happier and happier as he listened, and a warmth spread through him. He stood up and walked toward the counter.
"Old Shen! Just wait! On this joyous occasion, we must have a couple of drinks to celebrate!"
A short while later, he returned with a bottle of Xifeng liquor.
As soon as the bottle cap was opened, the rich aroma of the wine wafted out.
Shen Zhenbang's eyes lit up instinctively when he saw the wine.
Upon smelling the aroma of the wine again, his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, but a troubled expression immediately appeared on his face.
He waved his hand and said:
"Brother Zhai, I appreciate your kind offer! But... this really won't do. First, I'm driving; how can I drive after drinking? Second..."
He lowered his voice slightly, glancing somewhat embarrassedly at his wife chatting animatedly at the table in the distance, and said:
“Perrin... because of my chronic stomach problems and high blood pressure, she gave me a firm order to quit drinking, and I've been abstaining for almost three years now. If she smells alcohol again, she'll definitely throw a tantrum at me…”
Old Master Zhai was incredibly astute. He immediately understood everything from the undisguised greed in Shen Zhenbang's eyes to his unconscious sniffing of the wine.
He laughed heartily, deliberately raising his voice slightly, and joked:
"What's wrong, Old Shen? A veteran revolutionary, unafraid of bullets, can be controlled by his own wife? Are you really afraid of your wife?"
Shen Zhenbang was caught off guard, his face flushed, and he wanted to refute but lacked the confidence to do so, stammering and unable to utter a coherent sentence.
Seeing this, Old Master Zhai laughed even more heartily, patted him on the shoulder forcefully, and said in a hearty manner:
"Drink! Drink if you want! It's such a joyous occasion, what's wrong with making an exception? I'll back you up today! I'll personally talk to Comrade Qin later! Let's see if she dares to disrespect this old man! I guarantee she won't dare to have any objections!"
He paused, then added:
"Driving is no problem at all! Drink up! I'll have my son find a reliable driver from his workplace to take you all home safely! I guarantee it!"
With things having been discussed to this extent, and given the joyous occasion, Shen Zhenbang's cravings were completely aroused. Furthermore, with Old Master Zhai repeatedly assuring him that everything would be alright, he reluctantly agreed.
He picked up the wine cup, poured himself a full glass, raised it, and solemnly offered it to Old Master Zhai:
"Brother Zhai! I have nothing more to say! Thank you! It's all in the wine! I toast you!"
"Okay! Let's do it!"
Grandpa Zhai also poured his glass full, and the two clinked glasses and drank it all in one gulp.
The two were close in age and both had a generous and easygoing nature. The more they chatted, the more they clicked, feeling like old friends as they ate, drank, and talked.
Before I knew it, I had shouted quite a few times.
When you've abstained from alcohol for a long time, a sudden burst of alcohol can be quite potent.
After a few drinks, Shen Zhenbang felt his face getting hot and his head starting to spin a little, but he was happy and kept smiling.
After finishing his meal, it was time to go to the post office to make a phone call. Shen Zhenbang was already slightly tipsy and his steps were unsteady.
Seeing his state, Qin Peilan was both annoyed and amused. She scolded him a couple of times, but out of respect for Old Master Zhai, she didn't say anything too harsh. She just told him not to go to the post office and cause trouble, and to go to the car to lie down and rest for a while to sober up.
Grandpa Zhai, however, had a huge capacity for alcohol. Despite drinking so much, he was completely unaffected, his eyes remained clear, and he spoke with perfect clarity.
With a wave of his hand, he arranged for a driver using the hotel's phone.
Then, full of energy, he accompanied Zhou Qiqi and Qin Peilan to the post office, ready to report this wonderful news to Dr. Zhai on the other side of the ocean.
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