Chapter 52: Zhao Baohua's Drinking Habits

Chapter 52: Zhao Baohua’s Drinking Habits

Zhuo Nan felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles. Mrs. Zhao’s eyes were constantly sweeping over him, occasionally revealing a satisfied smile that sent an inexplicable chill down his spine. He wondered if this woman had some kind of ulterior motive. Even though he was quite handsome, her frame was just too much for him to handle.

He offered an awkward smile and asked, "Auntie, why do you keep looking at me like that?"

Mrs. Zhao patted her forehead, feigning a cover-up. "Oh, nothing, nothing. I’m just checking to see if you’re hurt anywhere."

Zhuo Nan thought to himself, *Your daughter is the one who was kidnapped; you should be concerned about her, not me.*

He replied helplessly, "Auntie, is there any food in the house? Jiawen hasn't eaten all day."

Only then did Mrs. Zhao remember her daughter, having been too focused on her potential son-in-law. She asked with concern, "Jiawen, are you hurt? Why is there a bruise on your neck? Tell Mom what happened."

Zhao Jiawen recounted the events. After hearing them, her parents were overcome with lingering fear. If not for Zhuo Nan, their daughter might have been sold off. Zhao Baohua said to Zhuo Nan with deep gratitude, "Zhuo Nan, I don't know how to repay you for this great kindness to our family."

Zhuo Nan laughed and waved his hand. "Uncle Zhao, Jiawen is my classmate. Helping her is the right thing to do. Please, don't mention repayment. If you really want to thank me, could you ask Auntie to get us some food? Jiawen and I are starving."

Hearing this, Mrs. Zhao said apologetically, "Oh my, look at me, I completely forgot. Zhuo Nan, wait a moment, I’ll go cook." She then wiggled her barrel-shaped waist into the kitchen.

Zhao Baohua asked with concern, "Jiawen, do you want to go to the hospital for a check-up?"

Zhao Jiawen nodded and said, "Dad, I’m fine. There’s no need to go to the hospital."

Zhuo Nan interjected, "Uncle, I’ve already checked Jiawen over. There’s nothing seriously wrong. If you’re still worried, we can go to the hospital after we eat."

Zhao Baohua was intrigued. "You know medicine?"

Zhuo Nan didn't actually know medicine; he had simply used his "super brain" to scan Zhao Jiawen’s nervous system to confirm she was fine. Not knowing how to answer, he could only nod helplessly.

Zhao Baohua said with great joy, "Not bad, not bad. This young man is truly impressive."

Zhuo Nan felt embarrassed and gave a sheepish smile. Seeing her father praise Zhuo Nan, Zhao Jiawen was overjoyed; at the very least, her father had a good impression of him, and he likely wouldn't stand in the way of their relationship.

Just then, as if remembering something, Zhao Baohua stood up and ran into his room. Zhuo Nan was confused and turned to look at Zhao Jiawen, who just shrugged innocently.

A moment later, Zhao Baohua returned holding a pack of soft-pack Zhonghua cigarettes. He placed them in front of Zhuo Nan. "Zhuo Nan, we don't have any good cigarettes in the house. My brother-in-law brought these from Shanghai last year. Keep them."

Zhuo Nan was slightly stunned. He smiled and waved his hand. "Uncle Zhao, you’re too kind. Keep them for yourself; I have plenty."

Zhao Baohua looked at him with slight dissatisfaction. "Zhuo Nan, that’s not right. I may not have much ability, but I’m a good judge of character. You certainly don't lack cigarettes or money. If I offered you cash, you wouldn't take it, but this is a gesture from me. If you don’t accept it, you’re looking down on us."

Zhuo Nan felt a pang of emotion. Was it really necessary to elevate it to such a level? It was just a pack of cigarettes. He could see that Zhao Baohua rarely smoked these himself and had been saving them for a year. Since that was the case, he accepted.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhao," he said with a smile. He opened the pack, took one out, offered it to Zhao Baohua first, lit it for him, and then took one for himself.

After taking a puff, Zhao Baohua sighed, "Good smoke, truly good smoke..." By this point, he was treating Zhuo Nan as an adult; otherwise, he wouldn't have shared these cigarettes.

Watching Zhuo Nan smoke, Zhao Jiawen thought he looked incredibly handsome and had no desire to stop him. If Xia Qianrou were here, the situation would certainly be different.

***

Before long, Mrs. Zhao emerged from the kitchen with two side dishes. "Come and eat. It’s getting late, I’m sure you’re starving."

Zhuo Nan crushed his cigarette and smiled. "Auntie, that smells delicious. I’m in for a treat today."

Mrs. Zhao said with a motherly expression, "Just simple home cooking; I hope you’re used to it. Don't be a stranger, consider this your own home. Come, sit down."

Zhuo Nan feigned the role of a well-behaved student. "Not at all, I love home-cooked meals."

Mrs. Zhao laughed and handed him a bowl and chopsticks. Zhao Jiawen sat obediently next to Zhuo Nan, and Mrs. Zhao watched them with delight.

Zhao Baohua took a bottle of liquor from the cabinet and said to Zhuo Nan, "Zhuo Nan, keep me company for a drink."

Zhuo Nan turned to look at Zhao Jiawen. Seeing her give a slight nod, he smiled and said, "Sure, I’ll have a drink with you."

Zhao Baohua happily opened the bottle. Mrs. Zhao teased him from the side, "Drink in moderation. Don't start mistaking the toilet for the bedroom again."

Zhao Baohua lost face and said indignantly, "What are you talking about? There’s a guest here."

Mrs. Zhao retorted, "Who’s a guest? Zhuo Nan is family. You’re the one talking nonsense."

"Fine, fine, I can't win against you." He turned to Zhuo Nan and said, "Zhuo Nan, let’s drink. I’m happy today."

During the meal, Zhuo Nan frequently toasted him, and the mother and daughter kept piling food into his bowl. "Zhuo Nan, take it slow. If it gets too late, just sleep here."

Zhuo Nan was startled by Mrs. Zhao’s comment. Zhao Jiawen buried her head in her bowl, her face turning bright red. Seeing her daughter’s reaction, Mrs. Zhao understood—the girl had clearly taken a liking to Zhuo Nan.

As the saying goes, a mother-in-law sees the son-in-law as better with each look. That was certainly true here; Mrs. Zhao wanted to dump all the best food from the table into Zhuo Nan’s bowl.

As the first bottle neared empty, Zhuo Nan remained completely composed, while Zhao Baohua was already panting slightly, sweat beading on his forehead, his face flushed. *This kid has a high tolerance,* he thought.

Zhao Baohua opened a second bottle, but Zhuo Nan stopped him. "Uncle, that’s enough."

Alcohol had gone to Zhao Baohua’s head. He waved a hand dismissively. "That’s nothing! Let’s have another. Zhuo Nan, you’re sleeping here tonight." He poured Zhuo Nan another glass, then grabbed the cigarettes from the sofa and offered one to him.

Seeing this, Zhuo Nan couldn't help but laugh; the man was fully in character, playing the role of the host.

He took the cigarette, lit it for him, and Zhao Baohua puffed on it, casually flicking ash onto the floor, causing Mrs. Zhao to roll her eyes. Zhuo Nan realized that Uncle Zhao was definitely drunk.

He thought that if he weren't here, Mrs. Zhao would have dragged him off to give him a sound beating.

Zhao Baohua gulped down his drink and his tongue loosened. He gestured wildly. "Zhuo Nan, let me be honest. Your Uncle Zhao has hit his ceiling in this life. Just a minor section chief, nothing more to look forward to."

Zhuo Nan nodded repeatedly with an expression of earnest learning, while the mother and daughter looked on helplessly at Zhao Baohua’s performance.

Zhao Baohua continued, "The thing I’m most proud of in this life, let me tell you, is raising Wenwen. I value this child above all else. In the future, you must treat her well, you hear me?"

Zhuo Nan felt a headache coming on. Was he being entrusted with the daughter? *You’re drunk, man.* He looked at Zhao Jiawen, who was blushing deeply and dared not look up. Looking at Mrs. Zhao, it was clear she approved of her husband’s words. If Zhuo Nan didn't understand what was happening now, he would be as dense as a pig.

"Zhuo Nan, drink... bottoms up!" Zhao Baohua urged him again. Zhuo Nan had no choice but to down his glass.

***

Zhao Baohua’s mind was clearly becoming muddled. With glassy eyes, he said, "Zhuo Nan, Uncle is handing Jiawen over to you. In the future, you have to treat her well..." He downed another glass.

Zhuo Nan could only smile bitterly and cast a look of distress at Mrs. Zhao. She realized that if he kept drinking, her husband would start spouting even more nonsense. Even though she had already accepted Zhuo Nan as her son-in-law, she didn't want him to be the butt of a joke.

She urged, "Lao Zhao, stop drinking. That’s enough. Let the kids rest. Wenwen has been through a lot; let her get some sleep."

Zhao Baohua nodded, his eyes unfocused, and he mumbled something that left everyone speechless: "You... go take Wenwen to bed first. I’m going to have a few more drinks with my brother here."

Mrs. Zhao was furious, but with Zhuo Nan present, she couldn't discipline him. She gave Zhuo Nan an embarrassed smile. Zhao Jiawen covered her mouth to hide a laugh; her dad was definitely drunk again. *Sigh, he has such poor drinking habits, yet he insists on drinking. Look at Zhuo Nan—he’s had so much and still looks fine. He’s amazing.* In Zhao Jiawen’s eyes, Zhuo Nan had no flaws, only strengths. She was well and truly smitten.

Zhuo Nan was speechless. He’d seen people with bad drinking habits, but never this bad. When Zhao Baohua reached for his glass again, Zhuo Nan had an idea. He leaned in and whispered, "Brother Zhao, that’s enough. The boss has arrangements for us later."

The effect was instantaneous. Zhao Baohua jolted upright and shouted, "Who’s there? Hurry and clean this up! Don't you know the boss is coming? What are you doing? Nobody has any flexibility!"

Mrs. Zhao stared at him, looking as if she wanted to throw him out the window. But the effect was immediate; after saying that, Zhao Baohua collapsed as if his energy had been drained, sliding right under the table.

The mother and daughter were startled, but Zhuo Nan waved his hand with a smile. "It’s okay, it’s okay. He stood up too fast and the alcohol hit him all at once. He’s just asleep. Let’s help him to bed."

The two women breathed a sigh of relief. Zhuo Nan carried Zhao Baohua to bed and tucked him in. Mrs. Zhao watched him, thinking that this son-in-law was quite considerate.

After Zhuo Nan finished and left the room, he saw Mrs. Zhao staring at him with a beaming smile. Feeling awkward, he said, "Auntie, it’s getting late. I should head back."

Mrs. Zhao immediately replied, "Zhuo Nan, just sleep here tonight. You and Wenwen can share her room; there’s a small extra bed. You’ve had so much to drink, it’s not safe for you to drive."

"Mom! What are you saying?" Zhao Jiawen blushed and complained.

Mrs. Zhao laughed. "What’s the big deal? It’s not like you’re sleeping in the same bed. Besides, your father and I were already together when we were your age."

"Mom, oh my..." Embarrassed by her mother’s teasing, Zhao Jiawen ran into her room.

Zhuo Nan was speechless. *This woman is literally throwing her daughter into the tiger’s den.* Although he had a bit of a "fire" in him lately and wouldn't have minded some "special projects," doing it under Mrs. Zhao’s nose was a bit much. "Auntie, really, I have to go. I need to return this car to its owner. I’m heading out." With that, he grabbed his bag and bolted out of the house as if fleeing.

Mrs. Zhao couldn't stop him and sighed helplessly. Hearing the door close, Zhao Jiawen shyly walked out. Seeing her, Mrs. Zhao said, "He’s gone... you silly girl, if you like him, be bolder! I created the opportunity for you and you couldn't seize it."

"Mom, how could you? We’re still young," Zhao Jiawen said, her face burning.

"Young? These days, good boys are hard to find. Your father and I both like him. Don't worry, we fully support you." Zhao Jiawen was overjoyed. She had been worried about her family discovering her "puppy love," but to her surprise, they supported her unconditionally.

"Mom, you’re the best," she said, acting spoiled.

Mrs. Zhao poked her forehead affectionately and said earnestly, "Wenwen, no matter how much a woman achieves, she will eventually marry and have children. Instead of looking aimlessly in the future, it’s better to grab a good boy when you find one. This Zhuo Nan used a lot of connections for you and went to save you all by himself. I don't know the full extent of the danger, but it couldn't have been easy. The fact that he was willing to risk his life for you—few men can do that. When a man is willing to die for you, what else wouldn't he give you? You have to hold onto him tightly, or you’ll regret it."

Zhao Jiawen stood there, savoring her mother’s words. *When a man is willing to die for you, what wouldn't he give you?* Although she didn't remember how Zhuo Nan rescued her, when she was being choked by the man with the fake eye, her only hope was Zhuo Nan. And clearly, he had succeeded.

Watching her daughter lost in thought, Mrs. Zhao smiled with relief. She didn't disturb her, turning instead to the dining table to clear the dishes.