Yang Fei had never expected this.

The high-ranking leader invited him to dinner and had chosen such a place.

His outfit was completely mismatched with this environment.

Liang Jiayi stifled her laughter as she sized up Yang Fei.

"Not bad, quite handsome."

"However, your outfit could probably buy this little diner."

"Wasn't your old military uniform perfectly fine?"

Seeing the cheeky expression on the young woman, Yang Fei felt an itch in his teeth from annoyance.

"Why didn't you warn me?"

Liang Jiayi held back a laugh, "Sorry, I forgot to tell you."

"The owner of this little diner is a fellow villager of Uncle Luo, and Uncle Luo really likes their Four Happiness Meatballs."

"Do you still have your old clothes? Quickly change back."

Yang Fei looked at the bustling small diner and let out a wail.

He had no choice but to return to the car, swiftly stripping off the expensive Armani suit and putting on the olive green military uniform.

By the time the two had finished their ordeal and returned to Xiaokang Garden, the kitchen had already started serving dishes.

Four Happiness Meatballs, braised lion's head meatballs, sweet and sour carp, hand-grabbed meat...

Steam was rising from the table, the aroma enticing.

Yang Fei marveled.

"The dishes really smell wonderful. I understand why Leader Luo chose this place now."

Liang Jiayi smiled, "Uncle Luo had a sudden meeting and will come over after it ends."

"He was worried about neglecting you, so he asked me to wait for you here first."

Yang Fei nodded, looking around with some emotion.

"I really didn't expect such a high-ranking leader to host a meal in this kind of place."

Liang Jiayi looked at him slyly. "What, did you think Uncle Luo's treat would definitely be at a five-star hotel?"

"Places you can't imagine are plenty."

The two chatted for a while until they saw a lean middle-aged man enter the diner.

He was dressed in plain clothes, simple yet neat.

He wore black-framed glasses on his nose, behind which intelligence and shrewdness twinkled.

This man was too ordinary overall.

If one had to point out something characteristic.

It would be that his clothes were exceedingly clean and tidy.

This middle-aged man was Luo Dicheng, who appeared on the city's TV station every day.

Yang Fei stared intently at Luo Dicheng.

He discovered that the only luxury the renowned figure owned

was the Parker pen clipped in his shirt pocket.

"Uncle Luo, over here!"

Liang Jiayi stood up and called to Luo Dicheng.

Luo Dicheng recognized them and walked straight towards the two.

His gait was strong, his spine ramrod straight, indeed displaying a soldier's demeanor.

Liang Jiayi stood up, and so did Yang Fei.

Luo Dicheng gestured with his hands for them to sit down.

He was extremely amiable. "This must be Mr. Yang Fei. I've heard Little Liang mention you."

While speaking, he reached out to shake hands with Yang Fei.

Yang Fei also extended his hand, shaking hands with Luo Dicheng, neither servile nor overbearing.

"Hello, Secretary Luo, I'm Yang Fei, 'Yang' as in poplar, 'Fei' as in flying."

Liang Jiayi noticed the mischievous look on Yang Fei's face had miraculously disappeared.

His expression had become refined and sincere.

In his eyes was a special steely resolve.

For a moment, Liang Jiayi almost thought she was seeing things.

Blink of an eye, a hen turns into a duck!

Monster indeed.

Once seated, Luo Dicheng gave Yang Fei a look.

Seeing Yang Fei's refined and sincere face without any improper habits, he nodded slightly to himself.

Especially the old military uniform on Yang Fei gave Luo Dicheng an indescribable sense of familiarity.

"Did Mr. Yang serve in the military?"

Luo Dicheng casually asked.

However, in his heart, he already had the answer.

As a veteran, he could feel the iron-blooded, stern aura emanating from Yang Fei.

Only the trials of blood and fire in the army could forge such a temperament.

As for the fearless determination on Yang Fei's face, that was secondary.

Luo Dicheng only glanced at Yang Fei once.

He sensed that this young man was definitely not an ordinary soldier.

Yang Fei neither confirmed nor denied, merely smiled slightly.

"Leader, can I choose not to answer this question?"

Upon hearing this, Liang Jiayi was immediately scared stiff.

Right at the first meeting, this guy was confronting the leader head-on.

What was he trying to do?

But Luo Dicheng merely smiled understandingly.

"Of course, I've heard that you and Comrade Liang are very good friends?"

Liang Jiayi derived a different meaning from Luo Dicheng's words.

She shyly glanced at Yang Fei, teasing and pleased.

Yang Fei nodded.

For some reason, there was a disconcerting undertone in Luo Dicheng's tone.

"Damn, playing the role of Liang Jiayi's boyfriend, hope it doesn't turn real?"

"I'm a loyal good man, my heart has only Sister Xueyi..."

The smile in Luo Dicheng's eyes deepened.

He glanced at Liang Jiayi and then at Yang Fei and said lightly, "Originally, I had many questions to ask you."

"However, having seen you in person, that seems no longer necessary."

"Let's eat, we can talk while eating."

Having said that, Luo Dicheng was the first to pick up chopsticks, grabbed a Four Happiness Meatball, and placed it in Yang Fei's bowl.

He also picked a red-braised pork meatball for Liang Jiayi.

"Try these dishes; these are my favorite hometown foods which I recommend to you."

In that moment, more guests flooded in, and the small restaurant suddenly became crowded.

Luo Dicheng looked around with some apology.

"The owner of this small restaurant is a fellow townsman of mine. I often eat here to support his business," he explained.

"However, this time, it was my oversight. Sorry to inconvenience you two young people."

Yang Fei quickly demurred.

Yet Liang Jiayi proudly said, "Only those who are close friends with Uncle Luo get invited here for a meal."

Luo Dicheng gave a slight smile, not contradicting.

He pulled out a bottle of Fen Liquor from under the table, poured a glass for Yang Fei, then poured one for himself.

Luo Dicheng raised his glass slightly, "My stomach isn't great, the doctor advised against drinking and smoking."

"But in life, one simply seeks 'comfort'. The opinions of others shouldn't be taken too seriously."

"As long as one's conscience is clear, let's drink."

Yang Fei fidgeted internally, "As long as one's conscience is clear?"

"Is Luo Dicheng guiding me with this statement?"

Indeed, Luo Dicheng downed the liquor in his glass, then filled both his and Yang Fei's glasses again.

He said softly, "I've heard from Little Liang about your deeds, securing the old building without depriving the locals."

"Meanwhile, you spread the news to prevent large inflows of capital from speculating in Yannan's real estate."

"Though your methods were unconventional, your heart was in the right place."

Listening to Luo Dicheng's review of Yang Fei, Liang Jiayi's cheeks flushed with a glow.

She looked at Yang Fei with a smile, more delighted than if she had been complimented herself.

"However, you disclosed information about the old town's renovation."

"Although it hasn't caused severe consequences, it's against administrative regulations and unacceptable by law."

"Liang is suspected of negligence and malpractice, and you're suspected of disrupting the market."

Luo Dicheng's expression remained indifferent, yet it began to reveal a sharpness.

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