Chapter 1087: Designated Driver

Li Wenjing carried the freshly cooked spicy pepper chicken over: “What are you two chatting about so enthusiastically?”

Xu Chunliang replied: “Of course, we’re plotting and trying to help my Brother Zhengyang rise swiftly.”

Li Wenjing laughed: “Oh, he already has plenty of people jealous of him now.”

Xu Chunliang invited her to join them for dinner, but Li Wenjing said the fish was still in the pot and told them to start eating slowly.

Qin Zhengyang said: “Your sister-in-law is planning to work at the education bureau.”

“Congratulations.”

“What’s there to congratulate about? It’s just a laid-back job. Mostly because both of us are busy; my job is demanding and her school work is piling up too. Both can’t be so occupied; one has to sacrifice to take care of home.”

Xu Chunliang sighed: “Sister-in-law is really good to you; sacrificing her own career for you—truly a supportive wife.”

Li Wenjing came out with the cooked fish, catching Xu Chunliang praising her, and she laughed: “Don’t praise me behind my back, do it in front of me—I love hearing it.”

Xu Chunliang said: “I’m afraid if I praise too much, my brother might overthink.”

Li Wenjing giggled: “He won’t overthink; he’s too lazy to even glance at me, an old hag.”

Qin Zhengyang said: “Don’t say silly things in front of Xiaoxu—I have been consistent in my affection for you. Isn’t there a song about it—’In my eyes, there’s only you.'”

Li Wenjing was overjoyed: “Alright, you’re spouting nonsense in front of Chunliang—aren’t you afraid he’ll laugh?”

“What’s to laugh about? Chunliang is my brother.”

Li Wenjing sat down beside Qin Zhengyang: “Chunliang, try my cooking.”

Xu Chunliang raised his thumb, overwhelmed with praise: “You’ve matched the head chef of a five-star hotel.”

“I’m just barely making it edible. However, He Tiantian’s cooking is delicious; we often go there when we have time. I learned this fish recipe from her.”

Xu Chunliang remarked: “Sister-in-law, I hear you’ve been promoted.”

Li Wenjing laughed: “What’s promotion? It’s merely a lateral transfer. Actually, I’ve had this idea since Zhengyang went to work with Secretary Wang, but there were many unfinished tasks at school. Since I became principal, I must see things through.”

Qin Zhengyang said: “Your sister-in-law has sacrificed greatly for this family.”

Li Wenjing remarked: “I’ve told you not to be sappy—Has Chunliang solved his personal issues?”

Xu Chunliang replied: “I’m always rushing around, no time for that.”

“Would you like your sister-in-law to introduce someone?”

Before Xu Chunliang could respond, Qin Zhengyang quickly rejected the offer: “No need, he’s surrounded by so many beautiful girls that he’s overwhelmed with choices.”

Li Wenjing was just speaking casually; someone as talented and attractive as Xu Chunliang hardly needed her help, and the level she could introduce was incomparable to his social circle.

Li Wenjing said: “Dating and building a family are two different matters—one must be careful.”

Xu Chunliang nodded repeatedly.

Qin Zhengyang said: “Xiaoxu came to drink, not to listen to your lectures.”

Li Wenjing laughed: “Sorry, my occupational hazard kicked in.”

Xu Chunliang felt satisfied after eating at Qin Zhengyang’s home and shared his thoughts concisely.

After dinner, Qin Zhengyang escorted him to the door, but Xu Chunliang insisted he needn’t see him off further.

Downstairs, the designated driver was already waiting.

Xu Chunliang handed over the keys, and the driver expressed envy, saying he hadn’t driven such a nice car before.

Xu Chunliang sat in the passenger seat, assured because the driver’s skills seemed adequate.

The driver was a bit chatty, talking non-stop along the way. Xu Chunliang, uninterested in engaging, advised him to focus on driving.

Arriving at the garage, Xu Chunliang used the remote to open the door and asked the driver to reverse the car inside. The driver attempted several times, but the car kept tilting and nearly scraped against the garage door, only halfway in.

Xu Chunliang said: “What’s your skill level? Can’t even park the car?”

The driver replied: “I’ve never driven such a nice car before and fear scratching it. Shall I park it here, and you park it once you’re sober?”

Xu Chunliang impatiently waved him off: “Fine, go ahead.”

“Alright!” The driver took an electric scooter from the trunk, begging Xu Chunliang not to leave a negative review.

Xu Chunliang, annoyed by his chatter, urged him to leave quickly.

After the driver had left, Xu Chunliang shook his head, looking at his car. Leaving it with the rear hanging out was asking for trouble.

Xu Chunliang glanced around before getting into the car to try parking it properly. Despite drinking a bit over eight ounces, it wasn’t a big deal for him, but news about designated drivers staging accidents was common, so he was cautious. With the driver gone, backing up should be no problem.

While reversing, an unexpected incident occurred—a person wearing a helmet suddenly appeared from the corner on an electric scooter and crashed into the side of the Cayenne. Hidden in the blind spot of Xu Chunliang’s view, and with him reversing, it was too late to avoid.

Xu Chunliang was frustrated; despite his vigilance, he got trapped. Anger stirred up in him as he opened the door and got out.

Aware of news about fake accidents involving designated drivers, Xu Chunliang was convinced it was the driver’s setup, but upon getting out, he discovered it was a woman. Her looks were plain, and after the crash, she lay on the ground, clutching her leg and shrieking like a pig being slaughtered.

The villa area had few residents, but her loud cries brought security, along with the returning designated driver who hadn’t gone far.

The chauffeur looked at Xu Chunliang with a face full of surprise: “Hey, didn’t I tell you to wait until you sober up before reversing the car?”

Xu Chunliang thought to himself this is a damn trap, it would be strange if these two hadn’t already planned this.

Xu Chunliang looked at his car, the door had a big dent, and the bodywork painting would cost quite a bit. It’s not the money that bothers him, but the annoyance, being a hawk all day and today the eagle pecks at his eyes.

Xu Chunliang said, “Alright, alright, stop pretending. Just say what you want to do.”

The woman glared at Xu Chunliang angrily and said, “Who’s pretending? You hit me with your car, and you think you’re in the right?”

The chauffeur pretended to be sincere: “Sister, don’t say that. He was reversing, and you hit his car body.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m the chauffeur!”

The woman seemed to understand something, pointed at him and said: “I get it, he drank, and you’re his chauffeur. Alright, drunk driving, I’ll call the police.”

The chauffeur said, “Please don’t call the police, if you do, I’ll lose my job.”

Xu Chunliang watched their performance coldly, seriously thinking I can’t see through your scheme.

The woman took out her phone, pretending to dial, the chauffeur almost kneeled to her, clasped his hands and said: “Sister, see here, it’s indeed not this big brother’s fault, it’s all my fault, all my fault. How about we accompany you to the hospital, let’s settle this privately, okay?”

The woman still sat on the ground, angrily said: “Settle privately? I’m hurt, my car is damaged, what do you say we should do?”

The chauffeur came to Xu Chunliang’s side, whispered: “Big brother, why not give a symbolic compensation, more trouble than it’s worth.”

Xu Chunliang said: “How much do you say?”

The chauffeur said: “Ten thousand!”

The woman had sharp ears: “Ten thousand won’t do, twenty thousand!”

Xu Chunliang said: “Isn’t twenty thousand a bit low?”

Both of them were stunned, hadn’t seen this kind of person, actually thought it’s too little. The woman said: “You say how much compensation.”

Xu Chunliang glanced at his car: “A hundred thousand then.”

“Alright! A hundred thousand it is.”

Xu Chunliang said: “You won’t continue to find me tomorrow, right?”

The woman shook her head and said: “Don’t worry, as long as the compensation is in place, I won’t bother you again.”

Xu Chunliang said: “Then you transfer the hundred thousand to me.”

The woman thought she heard wrong: “You’re crazy for money? You’re supposed to compensate me.”

Xu Chunliang said: “At my doorstep, you rushed out and hit my car, yet you want me to compensate you? In this world where things are turned upside down like this? Now you pay me a hundred thousand, I won’t bother with you two. I’ll give you half a minute to think about it, miss this chance and it’s gone.”

The chauffeur was distraught: “Big brother, don’t mess around, I don’t even know her, if she really calls the police you’ll not only have to pay but also go in, it’s almost Mid-Autumn Festival, do you really want to spend it in a cell?”

Xu Chunliang said: “Oh, you’re quite concerned for me.”

The chauffeur said: “Of course, if something happens to you, I get affected too. I’ve already said to sober up before moving the car, but you refused to listen.”

The woman persisted: “A hundred thousand, no less, or I’ll call the police.”

Xu Chunliang said: “Call, go ahead, at worst celebrate the festival inside.”

The chauffeur said: “Big brother, you…”

Xu Chunliang glared at him: “Get lost.”

The chauffeur didn’t leave, persuaded the woman: “Don’t be stubborn, how about this, just ten thousand, okay?” He was even helping Xu Chunliang bargain down.

The woman rolled her eyes: “Forget it, the festival is coming, I don’t want to make it difficult for you, ten thousand is fine.”

The chauffeur told Xu Chunliang: “Just ten thousand, more trouble than it’s worth.”

Xu Chunliang had already dialed the phone: “Is this 110? There are two people here jointly blackmailing me!”

The chauffeur and the woman were dumbfounded, damn it, he really dared, drunk driving, he doesn’t want to live well.

The woman pointed at Xu Chunliang and said: “I blackmail you? Fine, you’re something else, today I want to see if the police come to arrest you or arrest me?”

The chauffeur was heartbroken: “How can you repay good with evil? I’m helping you, you call the police? You’re drunk driving and dare to call the police, I can’t save you.”

The woman wasn’t easy to deal with either, dialed 122, complained about Xu Chunliang for drunk driving.

Soon the police came, after hearing the story, they suspected these two of jointly staging a fraud. However, Xu Chunliang was also suspected of drunk driving, they brought out the breathalyzer, let Xu Chunliang blow onsite, he did a few blows, all indicators were within normal range.

The chauffeur’s face turned green: “This is impossible, he drank, called a chauffeur for drunk driving, halfway I asked him how much he drank, he said nearly half a liter.”

Xu Chunliang said: “Just because I said it, you believe it?”

“If you didn’t drink, why call a chauffeur?”

“Because I feel like it.”