Chapter Thirty-Three: Brothers

"Let's talk about this later, alright?" Tang Long wanted to brush it off for now.

Yao Han Dong saw right through him, gave him a coquettish glance, and teased, "When did you become so timid? Just coax me a little and you'll get both the girl and the money—can't you even manage that?"

Tang Long didn't dare to respond. This wasn't just a matter of simple coaxing; whatever debts he incurred now would have to be repaid eventually.

"Are you worried I'll cling to you in the future?" Yao Han Dong laughed and said, "You needn't worry about that. If it ever comes to that, we'll each go our separate ways. I won't make things difficult for you."

"That's not what I meant," Tang Long shook his head.

Yao Han Dong pursed her lips and snorted coldly, "If that's not it, then what is? We're already scraping the bottom, but you're still worried about saving face. What's the point of worrying about the future now? We'll deal with it when it comes. You can barely handle the present—how can you think about what's next?"

Tang Long had to admit she was right, but he couldn't bring himself to go along. If a man cheats even his own woman, what meaning is left in life? He knew that following him would bring Yao Han Dong no easy days, but he couldn't bear to see her sacrifice her happiness for the rest of her life just to help him.

"Hey, what's with you two speaking in riddles? I'm Gao Peng, a boss at least, and here I am your chauffeur, waiting outside the hotel for you. Is it easy for me? If there's any good fortune, why not consider me? I might not have tens or hundreds of billions, but a few million—surely that's not beyond me?"

Gao Peng, driving at the front, suddenly chimed in with a laugh.

Tang Long glanced at him, hesitated, then said, "The development of Fish Head Village doesn't require much capital at the start. And it's unlikely to turn a profit in the short term."

"Forget investments—if you need money, just tell your brother. I'll give you a ten million interest-free loan, pay it back within twenty years," Gao Peng grinned.

Before Tang Long could speak, he went on, "Of course, I doubt you'd just take it for free, so let's talk investment. I'm not worried about profits—just the future potential..."

Tang Long suddenly cut him off, saying, "Hold on, repeat that last part—a ten million interest-free loan? Who says I'm too embarrassed to take it? I'll borrow the money; when can I get it?"

Gao Peng theatrically slapped his lips twice, then looked at Yao Han Dong in the rearview mirror: "Miss Yao, I can't lend the money to Tang Long. He's holed up in the countryside—I worry he won’t be able to pay me back in twenty years. How about I lend you the ten million? You're trustworthy. It's such a small sum; I'm not worried you'll run away with it."

After so many years as brothers, if he couldn't see through Tang Long's concerns, then he'd wasted his time.

Yao Han Dong's eyes flickered; she looked up at Tang Long and asked tentatively, "Can I borrow the money?"

Tang Long forced a smile. If Yao Han Dong took the money from Gao Peng, he really couldn't object.

"That's settled, then. In a few days, I'll come to Fish Head Village for an inspection," Yao Han Dong said with a playful smile, not waiting for Tang Long to answer. Finally, her cheeks flushed as she lowered her voice and added, "But you have to coax me first!"

Tang Long looked at Gao Peng, "Boss Gao, I really underestimated you."

Gao Peng just chuckled, saying nothing. As long as Yao Han Dong was happy, he wouldn't lose out.

Tang Long was worried that Yao Han Dong might take money from her family, leading to obligations and long-term losses. But if she borrowed from Gao Peng, there was no such risk.

Compared to their brotherhood, ten million was trivial. For Miss Yao, it was nothing at all.

But if he gave the money to Yao Han Dong, he wouldn't worry about her repaying it, he'd gain her gratitude, and Tang Long's concerns would be soothed. Gao Peng admired his own cleverness—he really was sharp.

At the hospital entrance.

Gao Peng didn't drive in—he'd have to pull out again soon anyway.

"Are you not worried that if we're seen together, someone in the village might call Secretary Xiu'e? Then you'll have no way to explain yourself!" Yao Han Dong got out of the Jeep, still holding Tang Long's arm, fluttered her lashes and asked playfully.

Tang Long smiled wryly, "Of course I'm worried. If I ask you not to be so close, will you agree?"

Yao Han Dong snorted, "Absolutely not."

Tang Long thought to himself, well, there's nothing more to say. He had no resistance to Miss Yao now.

Besides, even if people saw them, he doubted anyone would gossip. Doctor Qiu Yuxia wasn't that type, Zhao Xiaoyue and Li Ergou were his own, and Ermao and her mother would soon be off to Beijing for treatment and might not return for a while.

"Village chief, you're at the hospital entrance? Okay, we'll come right down!" Qiu Yuxia sounded delighted when she answered Tang Long’s call.

Though today had been a false alarm, it had still scared them.

Tang Long specifically told Qiu Yuxia to bring Ermao and her mother, Mrs. Li, out as well. Ermao was mobile, so it wouldn't affect her condition.

Zhao Xiaoyue was the first to run out, full of joy, but when she saw Tang Long at the entrance with the beautiful woman clinging to his arm, she stood frozen in surprise.

Doctor Qiu Yuxia, following behind, was also a bit startled.

They didn't know who the woman was, but she was stunning.

Compared to her, they felt like chickens before a phoenix.

But in Tang Long's eyes, the gap wasn't as wide as it seemed. Both Zhao Xiaoyue and Qiu Yuxia had their own charm. Neither was unattractive. The real difference was perhaps Yao Han Dong's confidence.

"Tang Long, who is she?" Zhao Xiaoyue stared, curious, at Yao Han Dong. Seeing her holding Tang Long's arm, Xiaoyue pouted, visibly unhappy.

"Yao Han Dong. You can call me Sister Han Dong," Yao Han Dong said with a casual glance at Tang Long, released his arm, and smiled at Zhao Xiaoyue. "You're Zhao Xiaoyue—I know!"

Zhao Xiaoyue blinked, as if to ask, how do you know?

"Get in the car," Tang Long urged. Playing mind games with Miss Yao, Zhao Xiaoyue was no match—neither inside nor out.

With her innocence, she'd be outmaneuvered by Yao Han Dong in half an hour.

Li Ergou sat up front, the rest squeezed together in back. Apart from Tang Long, everyone else was slender.

"In the evening, Secretary Xiu'e called me," Qiu Yuxia said quietly to Tang Long on the way to the hotel.

She wasn't very outgoing, but not lacking in emotional intelligence. The moment she saw Tang Long and Yao Han Dong, she sensed their relationship was not simple.

"I know. I've already spoken to her," Tang Long nodded with a smile.

Yao Han Dong glanced at him, shifted her gaze from Zhao Xiaoyue to Qiu Yuxia, and said, "Your Secretary Xiu'e must be worried sick."

Qiu Yuxia blushed, lowered her head, and murmured a response, uncertain how to reply—this wasn't her area.

"Ermao, have you gotten used to life in the provincial city these days?" Tang Long asked the girl seated on his lap.

Yao Han Dong was like a porcupine now, bristling with quills—just a glance could prick you.

Ermao answered quietly, "I'm not really uncomfortable—it's just a bit boring." For her, the bustling city was less interesting than Fish Head Village.

"Tomorrow I'll take you to the amusement park and the zoo—much more fun than staying in the hospital," Tang Long promised.

Ermao asked, "Village chief, when can I go back to the village?"

She could only hear Tang Long with one ear; at close range she could catch his words, but farther away her ability to understand dropped sharply.

"When your ear is healed, we'll go back," Tang Long replied.

Ermao's eyes brightened, then dimmed again as she lowered her head and asked softly, "Will my ear really get better?"

"It certainly will," Tang Long said, gently rubbing her head.

At the hotel Gao Peng had booked, the rooms and dishes were ready, and there were no outsiders present.

"Don't drink too much, alright? Later I'll arrange for everyone to be sent back to the hospital," Gao Peng chuckled as he asked Tang Long.

"A little is fine," Tang Long hesitated, then nodded.

With Tang Long's approval, Gao Peng was delighted, rushing out to bring back a whole crate of Moutai.

Li Ergou watched in awe—he’d heard of Moutai but never tasted it.

"Ergou, come sit here," Tang Long pulled him over to the main seat, with himself and Gao Peng seated on either side.

As for the others, Tang Long needn’t worry—Yao Han Dong would keep them happy.

"That's Gao Peng. The number I gave you is his. If you need anything in the city, call him—don't be shy," Tang Long introduced Gao Peng to Li Ergou.

Li Ergou, unaccustomed to such high-level gatherings, felt a bit awkward and uneasy.

Gao Peng opened a bottle of Moutai, poured for Li Ergou and Tang Long, and said with a smile, "Tang Long’s right. Ergou, if you need anything in the city, just call me—no need for formality. From now on, we're brothers—real brothers, not just in name. It's all in the wine. Let's drink!"

The three clinked glasses and downed fifty-three-degree Moutai in one gulp.

Tang Long laughed and stopped the honest, eager Li Ergou from matching Gao Peng drink for drink, whispering, "Slow down. Don't compete with him—he can drink eight bottles on his own."

Li Ergou paused, eight bottles? Good heavens, that's more than the village’s best drinkers.

The wine was good, and Li Ergou could manage about a third of a liter before he'd be under the table.

After several rounds, Gao Peng, having entertained Li Ergou enough, brought his glass over to Tang Long.

"Tang Long, not to be critical, but why didn't you look me up when your villagers came to the city?" Gao Peng challenged him.

Tang Long smiled without explaining, lifted his glass to toast him, and drank it down.

Gao Peng, feeling triumphant, threw his arm around Tang Long, as gleeful as a child.

"Just this once—no repeats. If it weren't for you, Tang Long, I'd have been shot to pieces in the Golden Triangle years ago!"

Tang Long laughed, "Let's just drink. No need to dredge up old troubles… I don't want you breaking down and wiping your nose on me."

Gao Peng glared, "Tang Long, when have you ever seen me cry?"

The whole crate of Moutai was gone in less than an hour.

"Will they be alright after drinking so much?" Doctor Qiu Yuxia, quietly observing from the shadows, was startled by their intensity.

Yao Han Dong glanced at Tang Long, smiled, and said, "Let's just enjoy our meal and ignore them. For them, this amount of wine is nothing."

In country terms, she knew these fellows could really hold their liquor. To reach their limit, they'd need another crate.

Gao Peng would probably be the first to fall, but whether Tang Long would succumb, Yao Han Dong couldn't guarantee.

She remembered their first outing, when Tang Long claimed he was allergic to alcohol and passed out after one beer, forcing her to carry him home.

Whenever she recalled it, Yao Han Dong clenched her teeth—it was the first time she'd ever been taken advantage of so badly.

It had become a running joke among them ever since.