Fang Qingye fished until sunset, catching eight fish in total: three half-foot-long bighead carps, two crucian carps, and two culter fish.
His most satisfying catch was a one-catty mandarin fish—a species quite difficult to hook. It was a rewarding haul.
He’d have his mother steam it when he got home!
Whistling cheerfully, Fang Qingye rode his scooter home in high spirits.
That evening, Fang Qingye stayed in, continuing to read and build mathematical models. The next day around noon, after playing some single-player Warcraft for a while, he checked the time and figured it was about right. He went downstairs, hopped on his scooter, and headed straight for Song Dahai’s house.
Song Dahai’s villa was located in the eastern part of the county—a three-story European-style imitation building with a stone lion crouching on each side of the main gate, their claws bared as if ready to pounce.
Song Dahai had an older brother named Song Dahua, who had just turned thirty this year. He was the deputy general manager of Kerry Real Estate’s headquarters and the future successor of the company. However, he and his wife’s family didn’t live here but resided in a duplex in the city.
Their home also had a German Shepherd, quite fierce, but Fang Qingye was a frequent visitor, so the dog wagged its tail and stuck out its tongue at him.
“Dahai, where are your parents?” Fang Qingye asked Song Dahai, who had come to open the door for him.
Song Dahai grinned. “My mom went out to play mahjong, and my dad isn’t back yet. How about we play a couple rounds of CS first?”
CS (Counter-Strike) was all the rage in internet cafes during the early 2000s. Back then, Fang Qingye was still in high school and often slipped out with Song Dahai and Liu Dong during evening self-study sessions to play LAN matches at nearby internet cafes.
At that time, almost every guy in internet cafes played it. Dozens of people would split into two opposing rows for LAN battles—it was incredibly lively.
The internet cafes were filled with shouts of “Go, go!” and “Fire in the hole!” along with the intense sounds of gunfire and explosions. However, its popularity gradually declined as Warcraft began to rise.
But Song Dahai had always loved playing CS, perhaps partly because he had served in the military. Since no one played LAN matches in internet cafes anymore, he would create rooms on the HF platform to find opponents.
Now, seeing Fang Qingye arrive, he immediately dragged him into a game. They each picked snipers and started a one-on-one match on the de_dust2 map.
Fang Qingye refused.
“Dahai, I’m no match for you. This is just asking for a beating.”
“So what if it is? Let me beat you once. Come on, let’s go upstairs.”
Before long, the sounds of gunfire and explosions echoed from upstairs.
Fortunately, they only played two rounds before someone called for Song Dahai from outside—his father had returned. Fang Qingye seized the chance to quit.
Song Qingdong’s tea room was on the third floor. Fang Qingye followed him there. The room was furnished uniformly with Chinese-style rosewood furniture, featuring a large rosewood tea table in the center, set with Gongfu tea utensils.
“Xiao Ye, have a seat.” Song Qingdong greeted him with a smile.
Fang Qingye caught a whiff of alcohol on him—clearly, he had just finished socializing. Fang Qingye sat on a rosewood chair, and Song Dahai sat beside him.
“A friend of mine brought some Da Hong Pao from Fujian Province. It’s said to be purebred Da Hong Pao from Niulan Pit in Wuyi Mountain. Though it can’t compare to the mother tree Da Hong Pao, it’s close. Let’s try it today.”
After saying this, Song Qingdong took a small can of tea leaves from the tea cabinet and started boiling water to brew the tea.
Song Qingdong personally handled the process—warming the cups, placing the tea leaves, rinsing the tea—with meticulous care. Fang Qingye and Song Dahai watched from the side.
After a while, the tea was finally ready. Song Qingdong poured a cup for each of them.
“Try it. How does it taste?”
Fang Qingye picked up the tea cup and took a gentle sip: “Uncle Song, the flavor is truly excellent—there seems to be a hint of orchid fragrance in it?”
“Exactly, that’s the characteristic of Da Hong Pao—rich aroma with orchid notes. It seems you’re quite knowledgeable about tea?” Song Qingdong said with a smile.
“Not really. My grandfather runs a nursery with all kinds of flowers, especially orchids, so I’m quite sensitive to this scent,” Fang Qingye replied.
Song Da Hai, sitting nearby, also took a sip from his tea cup but couldn’t detect any orchid fragrance.
He didn’t like tea, preferring beer or cola instead.
After savoring the tea for a while, Song Qingdong steered the conversation to the main topic: “Yezi, you’re clever—you’ve already guessed why I invited you for tea today.”
“Is it about the loan?” Fang Qingye asked with a smile.
“Yes. At dinner the night before last, you saw Director Xia’s attitude. Although she said she’d look into it, that was just an excuse. The fact that Director Xia brought you to dinner shows she trusts you and considers you her confidant,” Song Qingdong explained.
Confidant?
Not necessarily—maybe just a shield?
But he knew clearly that Xia He currently held him in high regard.
“Please help me. Whatever it takes, convince Director Xia to approve a loan of 10 million for me—the more, the better. If this succeeds, I will definitely show my gratitude,” Song Qingdong finally stated his request.
Fang Qingye pondered for a moment, set down his tea cup, and then said, “I’ll do my best, but I can’t guarantee success. Also, there’s no need for gratitude—you said yourself that Da Hai and I are good brothers.”
“Alright, thank you.”
Seeing Fang Qingye agree so readily, Song Qingdong felt pleased but also somewhat doubtful—could he really pull it off?
With the serious matter concluded, Song Qingdong said he wanted to return to his room for a nap, told them to make themselves at home, and left.
Only then did Song Da Hai ask, “Hey, Yezi, how are you going to convince your senior, Director Xia?”
“It’s not exactly difficult, but it depends on the opportunity,” Fang Qingye said casually.
“What opportunity?”
Fang Qingye smiled slightly but didn’t answer.
“Fine, fine, I won’t ask. Just get it done,” Song Da Hai said, then pushed Fang Qingye toward the door.
“What are you doing?”
“Let’s play games—but this time I won’t crush you. We’ll go on the Hao Fang platform.”
“Alright.”
Fang Qingye spent the afternoon amid the sounds of gunfire and explosions, and in the evening, he left after eating the sour soup rice prepared by the housekeeper at Song Da Hai’s home.
On the last day of the holiday, Fang Qingye didn’t go out either, spending the whole day reading at home.
After the May Day holiday, Fang Qingye returned to work on time and found an opportunity to review the loan application materials submitted by Kerry Real Estate, pondering the matter Song Qingdong had mentioned.
Of course, he could directly approach Xia He, state his purpose, and ask her to approve the loan, but Fang Qingye understood clearly:
Based on his over ten years of workplace experience from his previous life, the chance of success with this approach was almost zero.
Xia He was indeed grateful to him and appreciated him, but that didn’t mean he could propose suggestions—especially ones that would make her bear certain risks.
More importantly, Xia He internally disagreed!
He needed an opportunity.
Unexpectedly, the opportunity came quickly.
One afternoon, just before getting off work, Fang Qingye went to the shed to get his scooter when he heard the office director Wu Shengli shouting in the courtyard: “Old Zhang! Old Zhang!”
No one answered.
“Where has this Old Zhang gone?? He’s not answering his phone either. Director Xia’s meeting has already ended, and we’re waiting for him to pick her up. If he doesn’t want to work, he should just quit!” Wu Shengli was venting his anger.
“Where did Director Xia go for the meeting?” Fang Qingye casually asked the female colleague riding a bicycle next to him.
“I heard she went to the county government for a meeting. The county notified all branch directors to attend, saying it’s about supporting real estate work,” the female colleague replied.
Supporting real estate work?
Fang Qingye immediately realized something—this was a perfect opportunity to talk!
Instead of getting his scooter, he approached Wu Shengli: “Director Wu, Old Zhang probably has something urgent. Should I go pick up Director Xia?”
“You know how to drive?” Wu Shengli sounded somewhat skeptical.
“Yes, I got my driver’s license back in school and often drive my friends’ cars. I just don’t have the unit car keys,” Fang Qingye replied with a smile.
“Alright then, I’ll give you the spare key.”
After saying this, Wu Shengli returned to his office and came back hurriedly with a key within two minutes.
“Take the Passat. Remember, drive slowly and be careful on the road,” Wu Shengli instructed.
“Don’t worry, I’m a great driver.”
Fang Qingye took the car keys, went to the garage to get the Passat, and after exiting the bank gate, headed toward the government building.
The Nanxin County government building was located in the newly developed urban area, about six kilometers from the old town. Rumor had it the relocation was meant to promote real estate development in the new district.
Fang Qingye arrived at the government building entrance after a ten-minute drive, where he saw Xia He waiting at the main entrance, dressed in office lady attire.