Wu Shengnan smiled and said, "Those SWAT officers were responsible for protecting the gold convoy along the route. Their mission is complete, and they've all returned."
"I've stayed behind with some SWAT officers, mainly to ensure the safety of the King and Queen."
"I heard they're staying here for two days, so I'll be staying for two days too."
Seizing the opportunity when no one else was around, Wu Shengnan lowered her voice and jokingly said, "Mr. Cheng, you have so many beautiful women around you. You won't object to me staying, will you?"
Cheng Xiaofan burst into laughter, "Beautiful Wu, I'm too happy to welcome you to object!"
"Let's go inside and eat!"
Wu Shengnan chuckled, "No, I'm on duty right now!"
"After you've all eaten, I'll just have something small."
Cheng Xiaofan grinned and said, "Don't worry about that!"
"No matter how capable someone is, they wouldn't dare cause trouble at my home!"
Wu Shengnan replied, "I know you're capable, and ordinary people wouldn't dare cause trouble here."
"But rules are rules. I have to set an example in front of those SWAT officers."
"You go inside quickly and accompany King Mengsi!"
Presumably, Zhang Heng had briefed her on the precautions before she arrived.
Seeing her resolute stance and with everyone else waiting inside, Cheng Xiaofan didn't insist further.
He shrugged helplessly and said, "Alright, Beautiful Wu, it's a bit of a hardship for you, but I'll go inside then!"
Cheng Xiaofan hurried inside. The dining table had just been set.
"Old Meng, you and the Queen, please sit here!"
He walked over and guided Mengsi to the head of the table.
Mengsi and Vanke did not sit down.
Instead, they turned to Cheng Xiaofan and asked, "Your Excellency, where are your parents?"
Bai Yiling, standing nearby, said, "Your Majesty, my parents are helping in the kitchen. I'll go and invite them over!"
A moment later, Bai Yiling brought Cheng Fugui and Miao Xiuhua.
Upon seeing them, Mengsi and Vanke immediately knelt down before them.
They said in unison, "Mengsi and Vanke pay respects to the parents of Your Excellency!"
Their actions stunned everyone present.
Especially Cheng Fugui and Miao Xiuhua, who were utterly bewildered.
In ancient times, a king and queen were equivalent to an emperor and empress.
Since ancient times, when had an emperor and empress ever knelt before commoners?
Cheng Fugui hastily said, "Please get up quickly, you mustn't kneel, you mustn't!"
Mengsi explained, "You are the parents of Your Excellency. Without you, there would be no Your Excellency."
"Without Your Excellency, the doomsday virus could not be eliminated!"
"If the doomsday virus cannot be eliminated, the small island nation will perish!"
"It is only right that the Queen and I kneel before you!"
"..." Cheng Xiaofan listened from the side, truly speechless.
What kind of logic was this?
Did people really talk like this?
However!
It did seem to make sense!
Cheng Xiaofan said, "Old Meng, you and the Queen, please get up. Don't scare my parents!"
"Thank you, Your Excellency!"
Only then did Mengsi pull the Queen and stand up.
Cheng Xiaofan smiled and said, "Everyone, please sit down!"
Cheng Fugui and Miao Xiuhua, along with Bai Yiling, Shen Ruobing, and Luo Changsheng, were seated with Mengsi.
Adding the two ministers from the small island nation, the table was completely filled.
Lorraine and Fanny were seated at a table with village committee members like Mei Xueyun and Tang Guihua.
As for Mei Haoran and Fu Mingdao, they were assigned to a table near the entrance.
Fu Mingdao was so angry that the veins on his forehead throbbed like earthworms, almost breaking through the skin.
"This is outrageous!"
He couldn't help but exclaim indignantly, "By rights, I should be seated with the King of the small island nation."
"Why are we, who were summoned from the capital, placed here?"
What made him even more furious was that some officials from the provincial capital were seated at tables in front.
"This Cheng Xiaofan is truly detestable!" someone beside him agreed with a dark expression.
Another person gritted his teeth and said, "It seems this brat surnamed Cheng doesn't take us seriously at all."
Mei Haoran, with a fawning smile, said, "Officer Fu,"
"The situation is special today. It's not Cheng Xiaofan's fault."
"The King came here specifically to visit his family."
"There are many people at that table, and there's no room for anyone else!"
Fu Mingdao snapped, "Mei Haoran, shut your mouth!"
"You, a mere district head, are you qualified to speak to us?"
As they were speaking, Tang Xiuwan led a group of young village women to start serving the dishes.
As soon as the dishes were placed on the table, the aroma that wafted out was instantly invigorating.
Fu Mingdao forgot his anger, twitched his nose, and his eyes widened immediately.
He thought to himself, he was accustomed to eating delicacies in the capital and had tasted all sorts of good food.
Never before had any dish emitted such a beautiful aroma!
After all the dishes were served, Fu Mingdao eagerly picked up a chopstickful of food to taste.
He couldn't help but exclaim, "The taste of this dish is simply exquisite!"
Mei Haoran poured a cup of wine for everyone and said with a smile, "Officer Fu, allow me to toast you first!"
"Hahaha..."
Just then, Cheng Xiaofan walked over with a wine glass, a cheerful expression on his face.
He smiled and said, "District Head Mei, allow me to toast you first!"
"I'm truly sorry today. There are too many people, and I'm overwhelmed."
"I've put you at this table near the entrance!"
"..." Mei Haoran's head was pounding.
He thought, how was this brat toasting?
The people he should be toasting here were the ones from the capital.
Why was he toasting me?
"Xiaofan, let me introduce you,"
Mei Haoran quickly said, "This is Officer Fu from the capital."
"The gentlemen beside him are all Officer Fu's assistants."
"You should toast Officer Fu first!"
Only then did Cheng Xiaofan turn around and cast his gaze upon Fu Mingdao.
"Oh, you're from the capital, so you must be a big shot."
He quickly said, "It's my fault for my poor eyesight, not recognizing that a big shot has come to our humble place!"
"My apologies!"
"Officer Fu, what brings you here this time? Any advice for us?"
Fu Mingdao's expression was extremely displeased.
How could his eyesight be poor?
Clearly, he didn't take me seriously at all.
He glared fiercely at Cheng Xiaofan.
His tone was aggressive.
He said, "You are Cheng Xiaofan, aren't you?"
Cheng Xiaofan nodded and said, "Yes, I am Cheng Xiaofan."
"Didn't District Head Mei just introduce me? Do you have hearing problems?"
"Cheng Xiaofan, what is your attitude towards Officer Fu?"
Someone beside him angrily said, "We came all the way from the capital this time to clarify one fact: the gold awarded to you by the small island nation."
"It doesn't belong to you alone, but to all of China."
"You should hand over all this gold."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Xiaofan deliberately spoke loudly, "What did you say? You're not staying for dinner,"
"And you have to rush back to the capital immediately?"