Signing In At The Civil Affairs Bureau, I Was Rewarded With A Gorgeous Wife

"Hmm?"

Ouyang Rong asked in confusion, "Could it be that the Ye family intends to take on the Nangong Family alone? Let's not even talk about what I said - although the Ye family's assets are indeed substantial, their foundation is a genuine shortcoming!"

"This..."

Father Ye didn't know how to explain to Ouyang Rong, after all, his alliance with the Zhao Family was a private matter that nobody had been informed about. They were planning to have the Zhao Family make a fierce entrance at the critical moment to backstab the Nangong Family.

"Wait, I'll go outside and explain to you."

Ouyang Rong nodded to Ye Qingqing and then went out to the courtyard. Finding a quiet spot under the shade of trees, he asked, "Since you're so confident, can I assume that you've already found an ally or support in Forty-nine City to contend with them?"

"If it was just about contending, the Ye family wouldn't be this passive everywhere. When you first came to Forty-nine City, I knew you were up to no good; you certainly intended to pin down the Nangong Family in Magic Capital, just like a quagmire, letting them sink deeper without realizing. But you don't have the ability to drag down such a colossal entity by yourself."

"If the Nangong Family suffers heavy losses in Magic Capital, then the beneficiary would be..."

Ouyang Rong lit a cigarette, pondered for a few minutes, then suddenly said, "The Zhao Family!"

"You've allied with the Zhao Family!"

Father Ye on the other end of the phone was terrified by Ouyang Rong's deduction. He had not expected that a mere slip of the tongue would reveal so much information - truly worthy of being the current patriarch of the Ouyang Family!!!

"Please keep this matter confidential. Otherwise, all the arrangements we've made these days will be in vain."

Father Ye sighed and said.

Ouyang Rong exhaled a cloud of blue smoke and said with a smile, "Don't worry. Your son-in-law saved my old man's life. My old man is quite fond of him. Just for that, I won't interfere with your plans."

"But one thing - how did you manage to get through to the Zhao Family? And you even convinced them! You know, Zhao Dong is a tough nut to crack and extremely headstrong."

Zhao Dong is the current patriarch of the Zhao Family, known for his strong-handed approach. Family members who have not agreed with his decisions have been gradually stripped of their shares in the family business over the years, now just receiving hundreds of thousands a month as allowance.

How could such a self-reliant person be moved by the plight of the Ye family to spend a considerable amount of resources to stab the Nangong Family in the back?

"That truly involves some secrets I'm afraid I cannot reveal. Mr. Ouyang, are you interested in some of the Nangong Family's industries? It's still not too late to get involved."

Father Ye said with a smile, not really intending to drag the Ouyang Family into the mix, but merely joking.

Unexpectedly, Ouyang Rong took it seriously and said, "Actually, I am interested in the Nangong Family's high-tech industry. However, I can't support you like the Zhao Family can. How about this: I'll step in and offer a bit of help when you're most anxious. How's that sound?"

The Ouyang Family, being powerful and wealthy, wouldn't genuinely covet the Nangong Family's assets. However, Song Yun had saved their old master's life, a favor that needed to be repaid. Although Song Yun had said it wasn't necessary, the fact made the favor even more precious than one with a price tag.

Ouyang Rong wanted to take this opportunity to repay the favor quickly to avoid future complications.

"Really???"

Father Ye was shocked, and it took him a long while to recover before he said, "Thank you so much. May I share this news with the Zhao Family?"

"Of course, after all, the three of us are now allies," said Ouyang Rong with a smile. But just at that moment, the aroma of a meal wafted out from the kitchen, causing his previously ungrumbling stomach to grumble hungrily.

This scent is way too tempting!

That greenhorn Song Yunkai could never produce such a delicious smell; it seems my father's culinary skills have become even more exquisite!!!

"Alright, that's settled. I'm off to eat."

Ouyang Rong swallowed his saliva and hung up the phone in a hurry, then made his way to the kitchen.

Leaning on the doorframe, he peeked into the kitchen, which had been equipped with a traditional rural stove at the request of the Ouyang family's patriarch, requiring a fire to be lit for each meal.

But the next scene made Ouyang Rong's eyes nearly pop out of his head.

There he saw Ouyang Shu perched on a little stool by the hearth, ceaselessly stuffing firewood inside, while Song Yun was at the counter, frantically stirring the food in a wok with a large spoon.

"Gulp."

Inhaling the delicious aroma, Ouyang Rong swallowed another mouthful of saliva— it was so fragrant!!!

Could this kid be the reincarnation of some culinary god??? After all, he held a position of power and had attended countless banquets, but none of the food had ever touched his heartstrings like today's meal.

"You're quite the master chef, lad; how about we build you a room right next to this old man's? Then I could mooch meals off you every day," Ouyang Shu said as he stood up, pounding his slightly sore back before picking up his chopsticks to carefully chew on a piece of meat from the iron pot.

"If we go by what you're saying, this little courtyard is where you usually live alone. If I were to suddenly move in, the younger members of the Ouyang family would surely tear me to pieces," joked Song Yunkai.

Ouyang Shu glared fiercely, grumbling, "I'd like to see which of those brats would dare whisper behind my back!"

"Yes, yes, you're wise and invincible. Make way, please—the dish is about to come out."

Song Yun plated the dish, and as Ouyang Shu turned around with the plate in hand, he found himself face-to-face with his son.

An awkward silence filled the kitchen.

Ouyang Rong said with a flattering smile, "You shouldn't trouble yourself with this sort of task, let me carry the dish in."

"Step aside!" Ouyang Shu roared with a glare and a whisk of his beard. "When you were a child, every time I let you carry the dish, half of it would be gone by the time it reached the room. Do you think your old man is clueless about your schemes?"

"Cough, cough..."

Being scolded in front of the younger generation, Ouyang Rong felt rather embarrassed.

Soon, all the dishes were ready—three dishes and a soup, with a bowl of rice for each person. They all sat around the table, waiting for Ouyang Shu to pick up the first chopsticks.

As Ouyang Shu took a slice of "twice-cooked pork" into his mouth, a symphony of flavors danced on his taste buds, leaving him wanting more.

"No, I have to have some wine today; otherwise, it would be a waste of this table of food."

Ouyang Shu got up and rummaged through the cabinets for wine. Due to his doctor's advice regarding his health, his alcohol and tobacco use had been restricted, so this little stash was something he had saved up secretly.

Ouyang Shu pulled a small bottle from the wardrobe. The wine inside was amber-colored, sealed with a wooden cork and beeswax. Just the look of it made it clear that this was a well-preserved treasure from the old man's collection.

"Father, the doctor said..."

Ouyang Rong, eyeing the bottle of wine eagerly, tried to suppress his father's intent using the doctor's advice, hoping to sneakily take the liquor for himself later.

But to his surprise, Ouyang Shu slammed the table and exclaimed, "I've been through battles my whole life; how can I not drink? When I get down there, wouldn't those rascals laugh at me?"