As for whether Liu Yihan would bring her brother-in-law or stand him up, Zhang Cheng wasn't worried.
If he doesn't come, then this delicious meal will be a treat for him and Zhang Da Naotou.
Time passed by, and around 5:20, Zhang Cheng was rubbing his hands and breathing on them to keep warm from the cold when he finally saw two bicycles approaching from a distance.
One of them belonged to Liu Yihan.
She wore a bright plaid cotton-padded jacket today, but no face mask to protect her from the wind and snow. Her youthful face and delicate nose were red from the cold, which only added to her charm.
Upon seeing Zhang Cheng standing at the restaurant entrance, Liu Yihan's eyes lit up, and she excitedly raised her hand and waved.
On the other bicycle was a middle-aged man wearing a gray-brown cotton-padded jacket.
He was riding an old-fashioned bicycle, with a bulging black briefcase in the front basket.
He had a square face, wore black-rimmed glasses, had a serious expression, sharp eyes, and seemed somewhat unsmiling.
Upon seeing Liu Yihan and her brother-in-law finally arrive, Zhang Cheng quickly straightened his collar and went to greet them.
"Zhang Cheng, you're here really early!" Liu Yihan jumped out of the car and said with a grin.
"To welcome distinguished guests, of course I have to arrive early," Zhang Cheng replied with a smile, turning his gaze to the middle-aged man.
"By the way, Zhang Cheng, let me introduce you. This is my brother-in-law, Zhou Qiyuan," Liu Yihan said.
"Director Zhou, hello! I'm Zhang Cheng!" Zhang Cheng extended his right hand with just the right amount of enthusiasm and respect.
Zhou Qiyuan simply nodded slightly, glanced at Zhang Cheng calmly, but did not reach out to shake his hand.
The air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Zhang Cheng's smile remained unchanged, as if he was completely unaware of the other party's coldness. He naturally withdrew his hand and continued, "Director Zhou, Nurse Liu, it's cold outside, please come in. I didn't know what kind of food you liked, so I just ordered a few local dishes from Funing."
Zhou Qiyuan maintained his airs perfectly, remaining completely silent.
Liu Yihan pouted; her brother-in-law's attitude made her slightly displeased.
Zhang Cheng seemed oblivious and led the two into a private room.
As Zhou Qiyuan took his seat, his gaze swept over Zhang Datou, who stood up somewhat awkwardly, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes behind his glasses.
"Director Zhou, please take a seat."
"Big Head Bro, serve the food."
"Okay, all done!"
After Zhang Da-nao closed the door, only three people remained in the private room.
Zhang Cheng took out a cigarette from his pocket, Hua Zi, and offered it to Zhou Qiyuan, saying with a smile, "Director Zhou, how's your drinking capacity? I've prepared a bottle of Moutai, which I swiped from Director Zhao. I'm a rough man, I can't tell the difference, could you please give me your opinion?"
Zhou Qiyuan took the cigarette, and Zhang Cheng bent down, picked up the Moutai from under the table, and opened it.
Zhou Qiyuan's eyelids twitched, and he stared intently at the Moutai. "Good wine!"
"For you, it's like a cow chewing on a peony; for me, it's like a cow chewing on a peony." Zhang Cheng laughed, poured wine, and filled Zhou Qiyuan's cup.
Zhang Cheng lit a match and offered Zhou Qiyuan a cigarette, then continued, "It's an honor to have Director Zhou grace us with his presence. I'll drink this first as a sign of respect, but please feel free to drink as you please."
Having said that, he tilted his head back, swallowed the liquor swiftly and decisively.
Zhou Qiyuan smoked a cigarette, his fingertips tracing the cigarette, while he pondered in his mind.
Hua Zi, Moutai, Director Zhao… This country bumpkin has quite the connections.
The dishes were served one after another.
Zhang Da Nao sat down awkwardly, watching Zhang Cheng chat and laugh with Director Zhou. He secretly clicked his tongue in amazement, thinking, "Er Gouzi has really become someone important."
Seeing that Zhou Qiyuan was no longer being coy, Liu Yihan smiled and said, "Zhang Cheng, home-style dishes? These eels and soft-shelled turtles aren't cheap."
"Nurse Liu, you flatter me. These wild game dishes are rare in the city, but in our mountains, they're everywhere when the weather turns hot. If you want to eat them, you can get them easily," Zhang Cheng said with a smile.
Liu Yihan's comment was a wake-up call for Zhou Qiyuan, reminding him that Zhang Cheng had really invested in this meal.
Zhang Cheng was grateful for Liu Yihan's kindness.
If it weren't for her, it would have been difficult to get on Director Zhao's good side.
"You carefully selected the cigarettes and alcohol, and even included receipts. Xiao Zhang, you've gone to a lot of trouble." Liu Yihan smiled and winked playfully. Yesterday she was staying in the hospital's storage room, and today she's throwing a lavish banquet. Where did she get the money?
Zhou Qiyuan took a drag of his cigarette before getting to the point, "Xiao Zhang, Yihan said you invited me to dinner, what's all this fuss about?"
Zhang Cheng had anticipated that he would ask a question he already knew the answer to.
Turning back to Zhang Da Nao, he said, "Brother Da Nao, go to the supply and marketing cooperative again, get a pack of cigarettes, and put it on my tab."
"Okay, I'll go right away!"
Zhou Qiyuan's eyelids twitched again. A supply and marketing cooperative's bookkeeping? This kid…
Wait until Zhang Da Nao goes out.
Zhang Cheng put down his wine glass, met Zhou Qiyuan's probing gaze, and got straight to the point, "Director Zhou, I invited you here to ask if your hospital buys medicinal herbs?"
Zhou Qiyuan shook his head slightly. "I have some idea of why you've come, but to be honest, the hospital is not short of medicine."
“How could we not be lacking?” Zhang Cheng smiled. “Director Zhou, the medicinal herbs I’m talking about are for health preservation. They clear heat and detoxify, nourish the spleen and kidneys, and are also beneficial when drunk as tea.”
Zhou Qiyuan neither confirmed nor denied it.
The hospital's medicine warehouse is overflowing with medicines; how could there be any shortage?
"Director Zhou, it's cold now. Does your college have any intention of cooperating with the university?"
"School? Joint medical check-up?"
"No, it's for students to nourish their health. Students are the pillars of the nation; when the youth are strong, the nation is strong."
"I'm afraid it won't work," Zhou Qiyuan shook his head.
“Director Zhou, it’s all up to human effort.” Zhang Cheng’s smile faded slightly, his gaze fixed intently on Zhou Qiyuan.
His acceptance of the appointment revealed that this purchasing director was quick-witted.
If that's the case, why hide it?
Students who drink Polygonatum tea and Panax notoginseng tea will benefit from nothing.
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