Chapter Thirty-Two: Fortune and Love Gained

"Damn it, what a shameless couple!" Gao Peng, trailing behind the two in his car, stopped at the entrance of the Shangri-La Hotel and couldn't help cursing. In broad daylight, are they really that desperate? Even if they are, shouldn't they consider how others feel?

He wanted to leave, but dared not; he couldn't afford to offend Boss Tang, and even less could he provoke that young lady. Helpless, he could only park at the hotel entrance and wait for their summons.

...

Zhang Xiu'e received a call from Qiu Yuxia, saying that Ermao had been found.

"What about Tang Long?"

"Did the village chief come to the provincial capital?" The young doctor Qiu Yuxia was taken aback and said in surprise, "We haven't seen the village chief!"

"You haven't seen Tang Long?" Zhang Xiu'e frowned. "Then how was Ermao found?"

Qiu Yuxia hesitated, then said, "She was brought back by Tang Long's friend. Ermao said she was just at the hospital for a checkup, never left the hospital at all. Someone took her for tests, and she thought we knew about it."

She never left the hospital, just went for a checkup?

Judging by the timing, Ermao was brought back just as Tang Long arrived at the provincial train station. Why did Ermao turn up as soon as Tang Long reached the city? Was there a connection between the two events?

If someone used Ermao to draw Tang Long to the city, whatever their intentions, it proved one thing: that person wielded influence far beyond their own.

"I understand. Take care, and call me if anything comes up." Zhang Xiu'e hung up and hesitated a moment before dialing Tang Long.

It was still early, not yet dinner time.

Inside a room at the Shangri-La Hotel, Yao Handong looked at Tang Long with an enigmatic smile. "Your phone's ringing—why aren't you answering?"

Tang Long knew who it was. In front of this little jar of jealousy, he couldn't answer, but he couldn't hang up, either.

"You think I don't know who's calling if you don't pick up?" Yao Handong sneered.

With a swift motion, she sprang from the bed and walked over to where the phone lay.

Tang Long rubbed his forehead, remaining where he was, making no move to stop her. At moments like this, it was best to say nothing and offer no excuses.

Yao Handong picked up the phone. For some reason, she didn't answer it, but turned to look at Tang Long instead.

She asked coldly, "Answer it, or not?"

Tang Long shrugged, forcing a laugh, and muttered, "Well, this is a little awkward..."

Yao Handong blushed, glared at him, and muttered something under her breath.

She walked over, handed him the phone, and said, "Go ahead, answer it—don't keep her waiting."

Tang Long looked at the display—Zhang Xiu'e. He glanced up at Yao Handong.

"Why are you staring at me? Answer!"

Yao Handong's face was frosty.

Tang Long picked up. "Secretary Xiu'e, Ermao has been found. Don't worry, everything is fine here in the provincial capital."

On the other end, Zhang Xiu'e was silent for a while before saying, "As long as everything's fine. Since you're already out, I'll leave the procurement for Yutou Village to you. I'll take care of planning the tourist routes. Whatever happens, you must be back before mid-month."

She hung up before Tang Long could reply.

After the call, Zhang Xiu'e was lost in thought. Her intuition told her Tang Long wasn't alone—there was someone else with him, and it was a woman. Don't ask how she knew; a woman's intuition is never wrong.

"Secretary Xiu'e," Yao Handong mimicked Tang Long with a teasing, vinegar-tinged tone. "How sweet!"

Tang Long smiled and set the phone on the bedside table. "A university student from the city, willing to stay for months in a remote place like Yutou Village without a thought of leaving—just for that, I admire her. Surely that's worthy of your respect too, Miss Yao, don't you think?"

Yao Handong was briefly taken aback, frowning but saying nothing more. She climbed onto the bed, straddling Tang Long's legs.

"Then that makes you even less of a decent man!"

Tang Long shrugged, grinning wickedly. "I never claimed to be decent; it's not like you didn't know."

"Exactly, you're really not!" Yao Handong nodded emphatically, her eyes glinting as she gritted her teeth. "Maybe I shouldn't just take your word for things. If that pampered college student can survive in Yutou Village, why can't I?"

Tang Long gave her a wry smile. "You can try—it’s not like anyone’s stopping you."

"Fine, I’ll try! Do you think I’m bluffing?" Yao Handong leaned close, murmuring in Tang Long's ear, "If I ever find out you’re lying to me... you're finished!"

...

Gao Peng had dozed off in the car. As night fell, he picked up his phone and, resigned, dialed Yao Handong.

"For the love of God, are you two done yet? Why don’t we go eat first, and you can continue later tonight?"

"To hell with you!" Yao Handong, breathless, cursed and promptly hung up.

Gao Peng rolled down the window, lit a cigarette, and extended a finger toward the hotel building.

Shameless, putting romance over friendship... what a pair!

Half an hour later, Tang Long and Yao Handong emerged from the hotel and got into Gao Peng’s car.

Yao Handong’s icy demeanor had melted. Clinging to Tang Long’s arm, she was as docile as a little bird.

Gao Peng was dumbstruck.

He looked at Tang Long admiringly. "Boss Tang, you’re the real deal. In this life, there’s no one I admire more."

"Cut the crap," Tang Long shot him a glare. If he had a choice, he’d prefer Yao Handong to be a bit colder toward him, at least in front of others, to maintain her aloof image instead of being so affectionate.

But Miss Yao’s temperament was never something you could predict.

"Heh, dinner? I've already made the reservation!" Gao Peng grinned and winked at Tang Long.

It had been ages since the two brothers had met; tonight, whether it was a "life-and-death gathering" or not, they were sure to drink to their hearts’ content.

Tang Long said, "Let’s go to the hospital first."

Doctor Qiu Yuxia, Li Ergou, Zhao Xiaoyue, Ermao, and her mother were all at the hospital. Since he was here, he had to pay them a visit. Besides, since it was just dinner with no outsiders, bringing the villagers along wouldn’t be an issue.

"Alright!" Gao Peng started the car and headed for the provincial hospital. He knew exactly what Tang Long intended.

He’d considered sending someone to fetch the villagers from Yutou Village, but thought better of it. Tang Long had finally come to the city; it was best to be an obedient helper and not add to his troubles. If anything needed doing, Tang Long would say so.

"About Ermao’s ear—could you do me a favor?" Tang Long said softly to Yao Handong, who was leaning against him.

Yao Handong’s eyes sparkled. She replied coyly, "If someone’s willing to accompany me for half a month and serve me well, I guarantee that little matter will be taken care of!"

Up front, Gao Peng peeked into the rearview mirror and couldn’t help grinning.

Yao Handong’s expression changed immediately. She glared and snapped, "What are you laughing at? Want to be single forever?"

Gao Peng’s smile vanished; after all, it was Yao Handong who had introduced him to his girlfriend.

"Half a month is too long—a week at most. I have to be back in the village by mid-month. I took charge of a tour group that’s coming to Yutou Village around then," Tang Long said helplessly.

If sacrificing a few days of his dignity could cure Ermao’s ear, he had no complaints. But he’d already promised Jiang Xue, and Zhang Xiu’e was waiting for his return with supplies—he couldn’t let them down.

"Tourism?"

Yao Handong looked up at Tang Long with a half-smile, her interest piqued. "What's this about? Tell me. If you convince me, not only will I help that child’s ear, I might even overlook you keeping a college student in the countryside!"

Tang Long chuckled. "Don’t be ridiculous. We’re not as depraved as you imagine."

Yao Handong sneered, "Maybe Secretary Xiu’e isn’t, but you? That’s another story."

Tang Long forced a laugh and explained, "Yutou Village is poor. Recently, torrential rains destroyed many houses, and most of what’s left is barely habitable."

Yao Handong listened, frowning, but did not interrupt.

"The storm lasted two days and a night, opening up a huge cave on the mountainside behind the village. It’s a classic lava cave, full of stalactites—great for tourism. Taoyuan County is backward and poor, but with no heavy industry, the mountains and waters are pristine. Yutou Village has mountains and rivers, and now a cave with tourist potential.

"So we thought of giving tourism a try, to see if it could work. Coincidentally, some university students from the city heard about the cave and visited, giving us advice and offering to bring classmates as our first tourists.

"That’s the gist of it."

Yao Handong leaned against Tang Long’s arm, remaining silent as she pondered. After a while, she asked, "So Yutou Village is really poor?"

Tang Long smiled bitterly. Poor didn’t even begin to describe it.

"Very poor."

Yao Handong was astonished. "With houses collapsing, you still think about tourism? Have you received any funding from the town or county?"

Miss Yao, with her master’s in economics, was no stranger to such matters.

"No funding. The town and county are broke; they can’t help us. If we want to develop, we have to find our own way," Tang Long hesitated, smiling wryly. "The money we got is for rebuilding houses—not much left for tourism."

"So you’re broke, then!" Yao Handong smiled lazily, triumphant. "Well, I have money! Sweet-talk me, and if you make me happy, maybe I’ll invest in your backwater village. How about it?"

"Boss Tang, both beauty and fortune in hand—what’s there to think about?" Gao Peng chimed in from the front, grinning.

It was obvious—the young lady was offering herself and her money; what a deal!

"Shut up!" Tang Long and Yao Handong snapped in unison. Yao Handong glared, "Just drive and mind your own business."

She didn’t want Gao Peng to ruin her plan.

Tang Long wasn’t stupid; he knew exactly what Yao Handong meant. Beauty and fortune, yes, but both came with a price—not so easy to accept.

Yao Handong knew Tang Long well, so she spoke before he could. "For the sake of Yutou Village, won’t the great village chief make a little ‘sacrifice’? Didn’t you say you’d do anything to help the village?"

Tang Long smiled wryly. In truth, these were two separate matters. If Yao Handong helped, the village might develop rapidly, but for him, for her, and even for the village, it might not be such a good thing.

The funds at Yao Handong’s disposal didn’t really belong to her, but to her family.

The more she invested in Tang Long and Yutou Village, the less leeway she’d have to resist her family’s demands in the future.

Tang Long didn’t want Yao Handong to sacrifice her own happiness for him.