Chapter 12 Ji Zhao

◎This child is so pretty, ah…◎

After eighteen years, Zhao Xiangwan finally met his biological mother.

When she first learned about her life story, Zhao Xiangwan looked in the mirror and imagined what her biological parents looked like.

His adoptive parents were of stocky build, and his eldest and second brothers were also of medium height, but Zhao Xiangwan was tall and thin.

His adoptive parents looked ordinary, with double eyelids, big eyes, and round noses, but Zhao Xiangwan had clear outlines and sharp features. He had a pair of narrow, inner-doubled red-phoenix eyes, a straight and high nose bridge, and a slightly curled nose tip.

From a genetic perspective, the biological parents should be tall, with straight noses and almond eyes.

The Wei Meihua in front of him had a gorgeous appearance, with an oval face, big eyes, and a round nose. Apart from her figure, Zhao Xiangwan was nothing like her.

"Oh, it's just a street stall. How can it be high-end clothes? I have something else to do. I'll leave first." Wei Meihua said a few humble words and waved goodbye to the flatterer with a forced smile.

[You are a country bumpkin who has never seen the world. You only know about overseas Chinese shopping malls. This coat of mine is a foreign product brought from Hong Kong. It is the work of a top international designer. You can't find it anywhere in China. Do you want to buy it? With your round figure, you will probably turn into a gray mouse if you put on a high-end product worth three thousand yuan.]

She is Wei Meihua.

Hong Kong, Country F, three thousand dollars... Wei Meihua's world is extremely far away from Zhao Xiangwan.

My rapidly beating heart suddenly calmed down.

Very peaceful.

Wei Meihua walked past Zhao Xiangwan and glanced at her casually, her eyes lightly passing over her face.

"Steps, steps, steps—"

The high heels stepped on the ground, making a crisp sound.

[Where did this country girl come from? Her eyes are surprisingly bright. It's just a pity that birth determines everything. Judging from her appearance, she must have come to the city to work. She is shabby and stingy, not presentable. But my Chenyang has a good temperament. Everyone praises her for being like me. ]

Wei Meihua's cold eyes and condescending expression prevented Zhao Xiangwan from getting close to her. He followed her silently, listening to her thoughts.

【Chen Yang is a pretty good girl. She has good vision and knows how to curry favor with Zhou Jingrong. The reason why they can become relatives with Xu Group is because Chen Yang is sweet-talking and pretty. You know what, Chen Yang asked me to buy stocks. This idea is quite profitable. In 1987, Shenzhen Development was 20 yuan per share. I bought 100 shares for 2,000 yuan. I didn't expect to get 7 yuan per share in dividends in 1988, 10 yuan per share in 1989, and even a bonus issue. I made back my original investment in no time. She is really my little god of wealth.】

Zhao Xiangwan paused.

[When Chenyang graduates from college after three years and marries into the Xu family, with the support of both the Xu and Zhou families, maybe one day I, Wei Meihua, can become the governor's wife. I didn't expect that this daughter would be quite useful. If I win the card game today, I will take Chenyang to buy two beautiful clothes. I must win the heart of the boy from the Xu family.]

The sidewalk was lined with lush camphor trees, and the setting sun shone through the gaps between the trees onto my body, but the scattered sunlight did not bring any warmth.

Zhao Xiangwan has been enduring it ever since she learned at the age of ten that she was an illegitimate daughter fostered in the countryside and impersonated by Zhao Chenyang.

Zhao Qingyun was very cautious. When he came to Zhaojiagou to look for someone, he deliberately concealed his official position and unit, fearing that he would be misled by the country folk. Zhao Chenyang disappeared without a trace after he left. Apart from the fact that Zhao Qingyun was a leader in Xing City, even Qian Shufen didn't know where he lived, which street, or which neighborhood.

In the 1980s, transportation and communication were not well developed. What could a 10-year-old child do? Zhao Xiangwan could only study hard and get into Xing City to stand higher and have more abilities.

After finally meeting his biological mother today, Zhao Xiangwan's passionate heart suddenly calmed down.

She is beautiful, but also shallow; she has maternal instincts, but is also utilitarian; she loves power, money, and beautiful clothes... All of these make Zhao Xiangwan feel unfamiliar.

Eight years have passed since the beginning, and Zhao Chenyang and Wei Meihua have a close relationship, which Zhao Xiangwan is unable to intervene.

The door to the provincial party committee compound is not easy to enter.

The threshold of my biological parents’ home is also very high.

If I just walk up to Wei Meihua and tell her the truth, will she believe me?

Giving birth to a daughter out of wedlock, this past is probably a shameful thing that Zhao Qingyun and Wei Meihua wish they could keep secret? If Wei Meihua really had a loving mother's heart, how could she bear to abandon her own daughter in the countryside and not care about her, and only take her back ten years later? She has now established a mutually beneficial mother-daughter relationship with Zhao Chenyang, is she willing to give up?

Thinking of this, Zhao Xiangwan's eyes became deep.

Wei Meihua felt someone following her, so she slowed down her pace with some caution, tightly grasped her pearl fish skin handbag, tilted her head slightly, and glanced at the person out of the corner of her eyes. She found that it was the slender girl she had seen at the gate of the compound just now, and she felt relieved.

[What does this country girl mean by pestering me? Seeing how unfashionable she looks, is she trying to fool me? These country people are really like that now. When they see a rich person, they will chase him and you can't get rid of him. Forget it, forget it, hurry up and don't delay the mahjong game at Jingsheng at 10 o'clock.]

For some reason, Zhao Xiangwan suddenly found it funny.

Since Wei Meihua thinks that she is a country girl who is here to take advantage of others, she might as well play a play with her.

Zhao Xiangwan took a few quick steps and blocked Wei Meihua's way. He clenched his fists and placed them at his sides, leaning forward slightly: "Aunt Wei? Hello, my... my last name is Zhao."

Wei Meihua raised her hand impatiently and interrupted Zhao Xiangwan: "Okay, okay, I get it. You said your last name is Zhao. Are you from Zhao Qingyun's hometown?"

She opened her purse, casually took out two bills and stuffed them into Zhao Xiangwan's hand: "Okay, you came here from the countryside just to ask for money, right? Here's the money, hurry up and leave."

Zhao Xiangwan took the money and looked up at Wei Meihua.

Wei Meihua had seen many of Zhao Qingyun's country relatives come to Xing City to ask Zhao Qingyun for help, and she was very skilled in sending them away: "Let me tell you, it's not easy for us to live in Xing City. Old Zhao is just an office clerk in the provincial party committee and has no ability to help you. This little money is for you, and don't come here again in the future."

The sun sets in the west and dusk gradually falls.

The autumn wind blew across Zhao Xiangwan's exposed neck, but she didn't feel cold. She looked down at the two bills in her hand, one for fifty dollars and one for ten dollars. Wei Meihua was really easy to deceive. She just said her last name was Zhao and she got sixty dollars out of her.

Putting the sixty yuan into his pocket, Zhao Xiangwan looked at Wei Meihua deeply, then turned and left.

I already know where my biological parents live and have met my biological mother. The purpose of this trip has been achieved. I will see what to do next as I go.

Patience, she never lacked.

Wei Meihua stared at her tall figure in a daze. She felt depressed for some reason. She stamped her feet for a long time and angrily cursed, "This kid is so outrageous! When she met the elders, she took the money and didn't even say a soft word. She just left without saying anything!"

--

A week later, Zhu Feipeng hosted a dinner to celebrate the solving of the major case.

Zhao Xiangwan cut her hair short and wore a military green tweed jacket issued by the school with a belt of the same color tied around her waist. The crisp uniform coat made her apple-shaped face look energetic, exuding a rare heroic spirit among girls.

At dusk, Zhao Xiangwan, Xu Songling and Zhou Qiaoxiu arrived at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Four Seasons Hotel, the most luxurious hotel in the southern part of Xing City. The sky-blue glass curtain wall of the 16-story building shines brightly in the sunset, and from a distance it looks like a huge blue crystal column. The five big characters "Four Seasons Hotel" flash on the neon tube that is three stories high, which is particularly dazzling from a distance.

The hotel has more than 80 luxurious rooms and suites. The first to third floors are restaurants and bars, the fourth to fifteenth floors are guest rooms, and the top floor is a private club covering an area of ​​2,000 square meters that is not open to the public. It includes a 25-meter-long indoor heated swimming pool. It is a hotel that attracts thousands of people in Xing City and a symbol of top luxury.

This is the most upscale hotel in the capital city of Hunan Province. Zhu Feipeng is just an ordinary criminal policeman. How could he have the money to entertain guests here?

Zhou Qiaoxiu saw her confusion and explained softly and considerately.

Zhu Feipeng's parents resigned from their jobs in the 1980s and went into business, making a lot of money. They originally wanted to train him to do business, but they didn't expect that Zhu Feipeng's dream since he was a child was to become a policeman and catch bad guys. They could not change his persistence and could only let him enter the People's Public Security University. After graduation, he was assigned to the Municipal Public Security Bureau and worked as a criminal policeman with a monthly salary of only 70 or 80 yuan.

Zhu's parents were reluctant to let their only son suffer, so they gave him 2,000 yuan in pocket money every month. Zhu Feipeng was a generous person who often treated people to meals, and this time he took the opportunity of celebrating his success to invite Zhao Xiangwan into the group to have dinner together, both to express his gratitude and to make friends.

Xu Songling laughed: "Zhao Xiangwan, we are all thanks to you this time. This is the first time we have dinner in such a luxurious hotel."

Zhou Qiaoxiu smiled and said, "Zhu Feipeng's mother is the manager of this hotel. She can get a discount on meals. Anyway, it doesn't matter where you eat, so why not let the meat rot in the pot?"

The three of them walked into the hotel lobby chatting and laughing.

The pure white marble floor was shining brightly, and the crystal chandeliers were sparkling and dazzling. Some kind of event was being held in the largest banquet hall on the east side. The door was open, melodious violin music was playing, and waiters in uniforms were walking around.

There is a poster by the door with the words "Dragons Flying and Phoenixes Dancing" written on a plain cardboard, which is very artistic.

——Ji Zhao’s personal painting exhibition.

There was an oil painting hanging on the wall. Zhao Xiangwan was attracted by the scenery at first sight and slowly walked closer.

The rice fields are golden, the huts are low, the pink and purple wild pea flowers are blooming on the edge of the field, there are farmers working in the fields, the rice ears and grass leaves are shining with various colors under the sun, the painting is extremely delicate, exuding infinite vitality and strong wildness. It is like a picture taken with a camera and then enlarged, with no difference and lifelikeness that is amazing.

Take a closer look, the farmer's waving hoe, the awns on the rice ears, and the dragonflies resting on the weeds, the details are so real that you feel as if you are there.

Although Zhao Xiangwan had no artistic background, he was born in the countryside and was very familiar with everything in the painting. Seeing it was like returning to his hometown, and he couldn't help but feel happy.

Xu Songling asked the waiter: "Does your hotel also hold art exhibitions?"

The waiter was well-trained and attentive and enthusiastic: "This is hosted by Mr. Ji of our hotel. Tonight is a thank-you banquet. Mr. Ji has been learning to paint since he was a child and started holding personal exhibitions at the age of sixteen. He is a genius."

Zhou Qiaoxiu said, "Oh!" "Ji Zhao, the talented painter praised in the newspapers, the creator of the hyperrealistic school. I didn't expect that he is Mr. Ji's son."

After hearing what Zhou Qiaoxiu said, Xu Songling also remembered it and blurted out: "Oh, that autistic painter."

Zhou Qiaoxiu glared at him and signaled him to be careful with his words.

Xu Songling smiled a little embarrassedly.

[This is the Ji family's territory. The owner of the Four Seasons Hotel, Ji Jinmao, has only one son. He directly said that his son's problem is indeed not very good. Ji Zhao, an autistic genius, has a photographic memory and can present the scenes he has seen perfectly. When I saw this report, I even joked in the bureau that it would be great if I could bring him into the Public Security Bureau as a simulated portrait artist.]

Zhao Xiangwan smiled slightly when he heard what Xu Songling was thinking. Ji Zhao is the only son of Ji Jinmao, the richest man in Xing City. How could he work as a portrait artist in the Public Security Bureau? Captain Xu is only focused on his career, so he just thought about it.

The music in the banquet hall gradually faded, the magnesium lights flashed, and the crowd became noisy and applauded.

Xu Songling and the other two stopped at the same time and looked at the young man surrounded by the crowd in front of the banquet hall.

She is wearing a white shirt and khaki pants. Her fair skin is like fine porcelain, delicate, soft and smooth. Her slender fingers with distinct joints are slightly raised, and the gradually contracting arc of her wrists is breathtakingly beautiful.

Just a silhouette attracted the attention of everyone in the venue.

"Ji Jinmao has a good son. He is already a well-known painter in the country at a young age."

"Not only is he a good painter, he is also handsome."

"I heard that the Academy of Fine Arts wanted to hire him as a lecturer, but he refused to go."

"Tsk! The Ji family has plenty of money, why would they need him to go out and take classes to earn money?"

Those who were invited to attend the thank-you banquet for the art exhibition were either rich or noble. There were politicians, business celebrities, media reporters, and masters of the literary and art circles, all of whom were famous people in Star City.

Everyone collectively ignored Ji Zhao's autism and praised his achievements.

Ji Jinmao wore a black brocade with dark patterns, a Tang suit jacket. He looked chubby and smiling like a Maitreya Buddha. When he heard people praising his son, he felt as happy as if he had drunk honey and couldn't stop smiling.

Ji Jinmao made a few opening remarks.

There was applause from the audience.

Ji Zhao, who had been keeping his head down and keeping silent, finally raised his head, revealing a handsome face that was enviable.

She has a slightly long face, black, messy, and fluffy hair, bangs covering her eyebrows, thick eyelashes, ink-black eyes, clean and clear eyes with ripples, plump lips with a beautiful curve, giving people a feeling of coolness and pride.

Everyone was overwhelmed by his radiance; the sounds of applause and talking all disappeared, leaving only the regret from the bottom of their hearts - how could such a beautiful person suffer from autism?

Even Zhou Qiaoxiu, who was standing outside the door, couldn't help but sigh: "This child is so good-looking, ah..."

Zhao Xiangwan's gaze stayed on Ji Zhao for a moment. He was too far away to hear what he was thinking, but his drooping eyelids and tightly pursed lips made one feel that he was unhappy. Attention and crowds, praise and flowers, these were not what he really wanted, right?

Not wanting to watch any more, Zhao Xiangwan said softly, "Teacher Zhou, Officer Xu, let's go."

Walking through the corridor covered with red carpet with gold flowers, my footsteps were soft and there was no sound at all.

Zhu Feipeng's dinner was held in the Baorui Hall of the Four Seasons Hotel. The private room was decorated very luxuriously, with thick red carpets, carved oak furniture, a small dance floor in the middle, and a white grand piano in the corner. The light cast a very Western feel to the room.

Zhu Feipeng was mixing cocktails with his colleagues. There was a row of colorful foreign wines and juices on the wine cabinet. They were having a lot of fun. When they saw the captain coming, everyone put down their items and saluted respectfully.

Xu Songling raised his hand and pressed down: "Today is the weekend, it's time to rest, everyone is free to do whatever they want."

Zhu Feipeng was a man who came alone. He smiled and asked Captain Xu and Teacher Zhou to sit down. He handed a cup of orange-red liquid with a lemon slice on the surface to Zhao Xiangwan and urged him, "Come, try the drink I made."

[To test Zhao Xiangwan's alcohol tolerance, Whisky Toddy, whiskey with sugar and lemon slices, has a strong aftertaste, hehe. ]

Zhao Xiangwan didn't take it: "Give me a Coke. I get drunk easily, especially whiskey."

Xu Songling snatched the glass from Zhu Feipeng's hand: "Zhao Xiangwan is still studying and can't drink alcohol. You are a bad boy. You dare to use whiskey as a drink."

Everyone burst into laughter.

"Junior sister can see through your little tricks, no one can fool her. With your limited ability, you still want to trick her by saying that cocktails are drinks."

"That's right. She can even dig up Wang Qiankun's old case. How dare you lie in front of her?"

"Our Serious Crime Unit was able to hold its head high in front of Director Peng this time thanks to our junior sister's help. Xiao Zhu, weren't you treating her today to thank her? Why did you trick her into drinking right away?"

Zhu Feipeng shyly took a large bottle of Coke from the wine cabinet, poured it into a glass, and passed it over, saying flatteringly, "Come on, drink Coke."

He handed another cup to Zhou Qiaoxiu and said with a smile, "Teacher Zhou, you drink Coke too."

He Mingyu joked, "Xiang Wan, just drink as much as you want. Officer Zhu is treating us tonight."

Zhao Xiangwan lowered his head and took a sip of Coke. As the drink slid down his throat, a trace of carbon dioxide rose up. It was different from the farm tea he was used to drinking, and it was a very novel feeling.

When everyone arrived, the dishes were served. Dishes were brought into the Baorui Hall one by one, and the aroma spread, making everyone's mouths water.

Zhu Feipeng explained: "I don't know what you like to eat, Zhao Xiangwan, or whether you can eat spicy food, so I randomly ordered ten dishes and a soup, Mao's braised pork, chopped pepper fish head, blood duck, steamed meat with basil, Wensi tofu, lion's head, crispy barbecued pork, roasted suckling pigeon..."

In addition to Hunan cuisine chefs, the Four Seasons Hotel also has chefs of Cantonese, Sichuan, Shandong, and Huaiyang cuisine, as well as a Michelin-rated Western chef, so people from all over the world with different tastes can all be satisfied.

The waiter placed a bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall to Zhao Xiangwan's right hand side. He Mingyu squinted at her and said, "This is the Four Seasons Hotel's signature dish. Only 300 bowls are cooked every day. Senior Brother Zhu spent a lot of money to reserve nine portions this time. You should try it quickly."

Zhao Xiangwan opened the lid, scooped up a spoonful of thick soup and put it to his mouth, the aroma filled his nose. He took another taste, and it was really a thousand flavors gathered on the tip of his tongue, so delicious that it made him feel happy instantly.

Captain Xu gave an order and the good time of feasting at the table began.

The criminal police are in good physical condition and usually work very hard. It is rare for them to come to a high-end hotel to eat. They all roll up their sleeves and say they want to eat to make up for their money. The scene is very lively.

There was a sound of hurried footsteps, and the door of Baorui Hall was suddenly pushed open.

A woman in her thirties or forties, with a pretty face, wearing a business suit, a bun, a short skirt, and high heels, was neat and tidy. At this moment, her face was full of anxiety, and she walked quickly.

"Xiaopeng, it's great that you're here. You have to help mom this time!"

When he saw the woman who had come in, Zhu Feipeng stood up like a spring and quickly went over to her: "Mom, what's wrong?"

Zhu Feipeng's mother, Lu Manning, is a hotel manager. When she saw her son, her heart finally calmed down. She said hastily, "Ji Zhao is missing. President Ji has sent people to seal all the exits of the hotel. You have to help me find him."

Ji Zhao is missing?

Xu Songling exchanged glances with Zhou Qiaoxiu, then stood up, walked to Lu Manning's side, and asked in a deep voice, "Don't panic, tell me what's going on."