1987 My Era

Chapter 566, Strategic Maneuvering, A Big Gift!
When they passed by the Pentagon, Li Heng took the group into the Blue Sky Hotel for lunch.

A series of big and good things have happened to him in the past few months, and his roommates have been clamoring for him to treat them to a big meal to celebrate. He's been too busy to do so in the past.

I'll invite them all today.

This semester, the joint dormitory program has been full of twists and turns. This is the first time the two dormitories have gathered together so neatly since Wei Xiaozhu slapped Hu Ping twice.

We entered the private room.

As usual, Zhou Zhangming and Liu Yanling squeezed together.

Although Liu Yanling often speaks without thinking and likes to tell dirty jokes, she has a very good relationship with Zhou Zhangming. Their love is progressing steadily.

Wei Sisi and Tang Dailing are now a model couple. As soon as they sit down, they become inseparable, whispering sweet nothings to each other, seemingly oblivious to everyone else.

Cai Yuanyuan and Zhang Bing teamed up together.

Surprisingly, Li Guang approached Le Yao and kept trying to make her happy with his silly expressions.

Hu Ping deliberately avoided Wei Xiaozhu and temporarily shared a table with Zhao Meng.

Zhao Meng had a crush on Lao Hu, and she was much more tolerant of Hu Ping than most people, so the atmosphere was quite good when they sat together.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Wei Xiaozhu pulled Dai Qing directly up to Li Heng and said playfully, "We'll keep you company, are you welcome?"

Li Heng straightened up: "Welcome, two beautiful ladies."

Since they've been exercising together more often lately, Dai Qing has become a bit more cheerful than before. She sat down and said:

"What kind of beauty am I? Xiaozhu is the real beauty. Xiaozhu, let's get him drunk today."

Wei Xiaozhu laughed and said, "We can get him drunk, but who's going to carry him back?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhangming, Li Guang, Tang Dailing, and Zhang Bing all raised their hands, joining in the fun by shouting, "Me! Me! Me! Me!"

Li Heng asked Tang Dailing, "Old Tang, what are you making a fuss about? You're so skinny, are you sure you can carry me?"

Tang Dailing was unconvinced. He rolled up his sleeves and punched his arm hard: "Brother Heng, what is this? Muscles! You have to believe me."

"I don't allow it!"

Wei Sisi spoke up, "If you go and carry Li the Rich Man, who will carry me when I'm drunk? Other boys?

"Hahaha…!"

In short, the somewhat awkward atmosphere in the private room instantly became lively, as everyone was young and their tempers immediately kicked in.

Zhou Zhangming volunteered: "Sisi, I'll carry you back to school."

Tang Dailing was displeased. "This is my wife. Old Zhou, go cool off somewhere else. Be careful Liu Yanling doesn't kick you."

Liu Yanling placed the 36D brace on the table, her eyes sparkling. "I won't kick him. If he dares to hug Sisi, I'll find another man to cheat on him with, and that'll infuriate him!"

"Hahaha!"

No sooner had they finished laughing than everyone broke down in laughter again.

Liu Yanling is still the same Liu Yanling. She doesn't hold back when it comes to food and drink in front of acquaintances, and she even said something hurtful like being cuckolded. She's really known for her outspokenness.

Zhou Zhangming seemed to have been trained by Liu Yanling; he wasn't angry anymore. He opened two bottles of beer, giving one to Tang Dailing and keeping the other for himself.

"Come on, Lao Tang, we're in the same boat. We both found tigresses, so let's have a drink together."

Knowing that the relationship between the two dorm rooms was not as good as before, Tang Dailing deliberately sacrificed herself to liven up the atmosphere. She immediately took the beer, stood up and said, "Bring it on, who's afraid of who!"

At this moment, Sun Xiaoye, full of anticipation, held up the menu and asked the same question as before: "Uncle Li! Can I order anything I want today?"

Well, girls used to call him "Big Rich Man Li" or "Great Writer Li," but today they've called him "Grandpa Li," which clearly means they want to rip him off.

Li Heng repeated his previous statement, waving his hand generously and saying, "Of course, order whatever you like."

Zhao Meng glanced at the menu and exclaimed, "Wow! These dishes are all so expensive!"

Wei Sisi peeked over and said, "It's expensive! Extremely expensive! But we have a stabilizing force here, so what are you afraid of? Just order as much as you want, and pick the best food."

If you feel guilty or embarrassed, we'll give Qingqing to him after dinner.

"Haha! Great idea." Cai Yuanyuan called out from across the table, "Qingqing, our happiness depends on you, so we won't stand on ceremony. Please bear with us."

After getting to know Li Heng, Dai Qing became much bolder, blushing as she said, "You guys order, it's free anyway, Li Heng won't dare to do anything to me."

Liu Yanling added sharply: "That's not necessarily true. If we get our handsome Li drunk today, he might mistake you for Xiao Han."

"Qingqing, a moment of spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Don't cry tonight, just bear with it and the pain won't be so bad."

Look at what he said! Everyone's expressions changed quickly at first, then they burst into laughter.

Taking advantage of the situation, Sun Xiaoye asked Zhou Zhangming, "Zhou Zhangming, tell me! Did you hurt Yanling?"

Zhou Zhangming was immediately embarrassed. He could scratch his head with his right hand and didn't know how to answer.

If he says no, it proves that he's a useless man.

If we say yes, then what do we take Yanling for?

In the end, Liu Yanling sided with her husband: "What? Are you envious? It would be a great thing if Qingqing were to be hurt by the rich man Li. Then we could call Qingqing Mrs. Li from now on."

They say three women make one play.

And once she started talking, she just wouldn't stop.

When the dishes were served, everyone put aside their differences, stood up, raised their glasses, and clinked them together for a reunion drink.

After the reunion dinner, it's time to drink as you please.

Wei Xiaozhu pulled Dai Qing along and said to Li Heng, "Li Heng, let's have a drink together."

Li Heng readily agreed: "Okay."

With a "bang," the three of them tilted their heads back and downed the drink in one gulp.

Dai Qing then poured more wine into the three empty glasses.

Wei Xiaozhu then asked, "Will Mai Sui go back with you tomorrow?"

Li Heng is right.

Wei Xiaozhu asked softly, "What about Xiao Han?"

Li Heng understood what she meant and said without batting an eye, "We're all in this together, let's go together."

Wei Xiaozhu said, "When I get back to school later, I'll visit your house and catch up with Mai Sui and Shi He."

Li Heng said, "Okay, Dai Qing, you should go too."

Dai Qing hesitated for a moment and then declined: "I need to pack my things this afternoon; the fellow villagers' association is coming to find me."

Upon hearing this, Li Heng and Wei Xiaozhu said nothing more.

In truth, all three knew that Dai Qing's words were the truth, but also an excuse.

Because Dai Qing's crush on Li Heng was no secret within certain circles, Mai Sui and Zhou Shihe both knew about it.

Therefore, she didn't want to show her face in Lushan Village, nor did she want to meet Mai Sui at Li Heng's house. After all, Mai Sui was his confidante.

Since some people were leaving that night, the gathering didn't involve any heavy drinking as usual; everyone ate and drank their fill and then dispersed.

When passing by the braised food shop, Li Heng took a special look inside and found that Bai Wanying was running it.

Li Xian and Chen Guifen are helping out.

Upon seeing Hu Ping from afar, Chen Guifen hid in an inner room. Seeing this, Hu Ping was too embarrassed to come in and went back to school with Zhao Meng, Li Guang, and Le Yao.

Li Heng said, "Wanying, give me two jin of braised dishes."

Bai Wanying quickly weighed the items and handed them to him.

Li Heng took out some change and placed it on the counter, which Bai Wanying readily accepted. After spending so much time together, they both knew each other's personalities and didn't haggle over money.

Bai Wanying invited the group inside to sit for a while.

But Li Heng glanced at his watch and said, "I have to rush to the medical university later, I don't have time, let's get together after the New Year."

Hearing him say that, Bai Wanying said, "Then I wish you and Xiao Han a Happy New Year in advance!"

Li Heng smiled and said, "You too, Happy New Year."

As he turned around, Bai Wanying asked from behind, "Oh, by the way, Li Heng, do you have a telephone at home?"

Li Heng waved his hand: "No, we don't even have a TV."

Bai Wanying joked, "That's terrible? That shouldn't be the case! It's not right for such a famous person not to have a landline at home."

Li Heng shrugged: "I'd like to too, but installing a telephone in those deep mountains and forests isn't an easy task."

Back at school, everyone went their separate ways.

Li Heng and Wei Xiaozhu walked side by side towards Lushan Village.

Wei Xiaozhu asked, "Are you going to pick up Xiao Han later? Aren't she and Zhang Haiyan coming over by themselves?"

Li Heng said, "I'll be going to my teacher's house while I'm at it."

Wei Xiaozhu understood. Her tentative question was simply out of curiosity about who was more important to him, Mai Sui or Xiao Han?

Just as I reached the entrance of the alley in Lushan Village, I met Yu Shuheng coming out from inside.

Li Heng stopped in his tracks. "Teacher, where are you going?"

Yu Shuheng looked Wei Xiaozhu up and down, then smiled and said, "I'm going to the capital to take care of some business, and I'll visit Jiaojiao and Suyun along the way."

Li Heng frowned: "Sister Xu is still in Beijing? Didn't she come back to Shanghai with her senior brother?"

Yu Shuheng said, "That's why I went there."

Li Heng nodded: "Then I wish you a safe journey, teacher."

Yu Shuheng nodded slightly: "I've put your plane tickets with Mai Sui. Your flight is at 7 a.m. tomorrow. Zeng Yun will drive you to the airport."

"Oh, thank you, teacher."

Li Heng wanted to ask her when she was going to Qianzhen, but he didn't bring it up because Wei Xiaozhu was there.

He still vividly remembers the shocked expression on Wei Xiaozhu's face when she found out about his relationship with Teacher Yu; he will never forget it.

Not to mention last time, even now, Wei Xiaozhu, who was standing next to them, had been secretly observing the two of them, and her shock was no less than it had been back then.

She was very confused: it was understandable that Mai Sui would fall in love with Li Heng, after all, they were the same age and inexperienced in the ways of the world; but why would Teacher Yu, who came from a large family like the Yu family, be interested in Li Heng? And why when Li Heng was already in a relationship?
If Li Heng didn't have a partner and was single, she wouldn't find it strange.

But now, Wei Xiaozhu felt completely lost.

After chatting for a few minutes, Yu Shuheng left.

Watching Ms. Yu walk away, Wei Xiaozhu said with emotion, "I especially admire Ms. Yu's scholarly temperament, elegance and intellect. She gave me a concrete understanding of the daughters of wealthy and noble families. Li Heng, you are truly charming."

Li Heng, thick-skinned, automatically filtered out the awkwardness, saying, "You're looking at the scenery upstairs, but the people looking at the scenery are also looking at you."

Don't be envious. Your first-love face has captivated countless boys, and many girls are even envious of you.

Wei Xiaozhu chuckled to herself, suddenly realizing that winning Li Heng's love might not necessarily be a blessing, as Mai Sui and Xiao Han were unlikely to be able to compete with Teacher Yu.

As they walked along the bluestone slabs to the end of the alley, the two happened to run into Zhou Shihe, who was coming out of building number 27.

The three of them met up and headed towards building number 26.

At this time, the wheat ears are doing a thorough cleaning, preparing for the coming year.

Sun Manning and Ye Ning were surprisingly reliable for once, offering their help.

Li Heng pulled Mai Sui into a room and said to her, "I'm leaving tomorrow. I need to go to my teacher's house."

Mai asked, "Are you coming back tonight?"

Li Heng nodded: "Isn't my flight at 7 a.m. tomorrow? I have to get back tonight. Otherwise, I won't make it tomorrow morning."

"Okay," Mai Sui replied without asking any further questions.

Because she knew better than anyone that Xiao Han would be coming along tonight.

As she turned to walk to the door, Mai Sui turned back, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "Did you know that Song Yu will be going back to Shao City during the winter break?"

Li Heng was taken aback. "She told you?"

Wheat ears (default).

Li Heng frowned: "Why didn't she tell me about something this big?"

Mai Sui gazed at him, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

Li Heng grabbed her arm and asked anxiously, "Did you two agree to meet?"

He guessed it right away.

Song Yu wrote to Mai Sui, saying she wanted to meet her during the winter break.

After agonizing for more than half a month, Mai Sui finally replied to Song Yu and decided to meet with her.

However, fearing he would worry, Mai Sui didn't admit it, but only said, "Song Yu's parents are at the teachers' college. She said she left Shao City more than a year ago and misses it a bit. She wants to come back to visit and have a meal with me and Manning."

Li Heng stared intently into her eyes. "Is it really that simple?"

Despite the immense pressure, the wheat still managed a soft "hmm."

After a long standoff, seeing that she remained unwilling to reveal any more details, Li Heng asked, "When are the three of you having dinner together?"

Wheat said, "Number 19."

"the day after tomorrow?"

"Yes."

Li Heng narrowed his eyes, feeling that Song Yu had carefully planned this schedule.

Because he's going to the Xiao family's house on the 19th.

The problem is, he only discussed going to the Xiao family with Xiao Han, so how did Song Yu know about it?
Could it be that the scheming wife passed it on through Chen Zijin or Xiao Feng again?
Damn it!
His two wives are working in parallel, on two fronts, and he can't spare a moment for them.

After all, Xiao Han had already told Wei Shiman and Xiao Hai that she would come over on the 19th. How could she change her mind halfway through such a big deal?
The distance between Qianzhen and Shaoshi is not short. These days, a one-way trip by bus takes 5 hours, and it gets dark before he can make a round trip. He simply doesn't have the time.

Li Heng was outmaneuvered by Li Heng's unpreparedness.

He was completely outmaneuvered by his several wives!

Li Heng had a headache, and finally asked Mai Sui, "Can we not go on the 19th? Or postpone it by a day, and go after I come from my hometown?"

Some things are immediately clear.

Mai Sui knew that he didn't want to lose her and was afraid that she couldn't withstand Song Yu's pressure, so he wanted to participate in this meeting.

She felt a warm glow in her heart and was deeply moved.

But Mai Sui didn't agree. Instead, she stood on tiptoe and kissed her cheek, saying, "Let's go to Xuhui quickly, or we won't have enough time."

After saying that, she was afraid that staying would be a hindrance to him or that she would be too soft-hearted, so she left the room decisively and went to talk to Shihe and Xiaozhu and the other girls in the living room while they cleaned.

Li Heng stood in the room for about three minutes before finally leaving Building 26 and heading to Xuhui.

As the bus passed Tongji University, he saw a familiar figure boarding the bus again: Wu Siyao.

This girl is the closest in appearance to the "Four Little Kings" of Fudan University.

Wu Siyao was particularly outgoing; after getting on the bus, she came over with a smile and asked the empty seat next to him, "Is this seat taken?"

Li Heng casually replied, "Yes."

Wu Siyao sat down as if she hadn't heard his reply, or as if asking him was just a matter of politeness.

After settling in and waiting for the bus to move forward a short distance, she asked, "Are we still going to Xuhui today?"

Li Heng was still preoccupied with Song Yu and Mai Sui's meeting, feeling a bit worried and impatient. "Didn't you already guess? Why are you asking?"

Seeing him treat her so unfriendly for the first time, Wu Siyao was stunned for a moment, then nervously lowered her head and looked at her toes, remaining silent for a long, long time.

The unexpected quiet was exactly what Li Heng wanted. He closed his eyes and pondered his next move.

And so, without a sound, the bus left Yangpu and passed Hongkou.

When the car arrived in Jing'an, Wu Siyao got off.

Before leaving, she secretly slipped a note into his pocket.

Li Heng was aware of this.

He didn't take it out to check immediately, but his mood improved when the bus entered Xuhui District, and he then took the paper out of his pocket.

The strip of paper was small, only about the width of a palm.

The note on the paper was brief, just a few lines: "Before leaving home today, I consulted the oracle. The hexagram indicated yin, suggesting it was unfavorable to go out. But I still went out. This is the 14th time I've 'bumped into' you on the bus. The last four digits are indeed unlucky. I'm sorry to have bothered you. I'll disappear obediently for the next six months."

Looking down at the note, Li Heng was speechless.

From just a few words, he formed a general first impression of this determined girl: she was stubborn and a little mischievous.

He sighed, and then unconsciously began to recall their first meeting.

It seems to be September 30th, 1987. He had just finished military training that day and couldn't wait to go to Xuhui to find his cunning wife after taking off his uniform. Wu Siyao boarded the bus when it passed Tongji University. I remember she boarded with three other girls.

At first, the girls were chatting and laughing happily, but Wu Siyao gradually became distracted when she accidentally saw Li Heng in the corner of the last row. She kept talking to her roommates, but her eyes kept drifting towards Li Heng.

As the old saying goes, "If you walk by the river often enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet." If you do it too many times, you'll inevitably slip up.

Sure enough, one time she was caught red-handed spying on Li Heng.

Li Heng stared intently at her. She initially seemed a little embarrassed, but managed to keep her composure. She pretended to glance around the car and slowly looked away. After about ten seconds, she looked at Li Heng again, only to find him still staring intently at her. The moment she was caught a second time, Wu Siyao broke down, blushed, and then bit her lip, hurriedly turning her head away.

About three more minutes passed, and Wu Siyao secretly glanced at him again, but Li Heng caught her red-handed.

Arrested for the third time, Wu Siyao, feeling utterly ashamed, somehow mustered the courage to give him a bright smile. Then, looking dejected, she hung her head and dared not meet his gaze again.

This is the whole story of our first chance encounter on the bus.

The first encounter was probably purely by chance.

As for the subsequent "chance encounter," it was probably something the girl did on purpose.

As the bus approached Shanghai Medical University, Li Heng got off with an older woman, went to a nearby department store to buy some gifts, and then hurried towards the university.

Xiao Han and Zhang Haiyan were already waiting for him downstairs in the girls' dormitory. When they saw him rushing over, they immediately pulled their luggage to greet him.

Upon meeting, he suggested, "Honey, Haiyan, I bought some gifts for Professor Wenyan. Let's go over there first."

Xiao Han gave him an approving look and happily said yes.

The three turned and headed towards the teachers' accommodation area.

Before long, they arrived at their destination. Unfortunately, no one answered the door when they knocked. Xiao Han took out her key and went inside, only to find the house empty. Professor Wen Yan was clearly not home.

Zhang Haiyan said, "Teacher Wen may have gone to his father's house."

Xiao Han picked up the phone on the coffee table and called Principal Wen's house, but no one answered. After calling twice without success, she looked up, cleared her throat, and asked, "Mr. Li, are we still waiting?"

Li Heng glanced at his watch: "No time, we can't wait any longer. Let's leave a note here, put the gift here, and then we'll leave."

Xiao Han did as instructed, took out a pen and wrote a note wishing the teacher a Happy New Year, then placed the gift next to the sofa, and the three of them left the teachers' apartment.

Just as Xiao Han stepped out of the school gate and went to the roadside to hail a passing taxi, she saw Li Heng wave in a certain direction to the right corner.

The next instant, a Santana slowly drove up and stopped precisely in front of the three of them.

The driver was Huang Zhaoyi's assistant, Gong Min, the person in charge of Fuchun Xiaoyuan. She had come here today because she had arranged to meet Li Heng in advance.

Seeing that Gong Min was dressed in an extraordinary manner, Xiao Han looked at Li Heng with suspicion.

Li Heng opened the back door of the car and explained, "She's taking us to the new house."

Upon hearing this, despite having many questions, Xiao Han wisely stopped asking and instead pulled Zhang Haiyan into the car.

Li Heng sat in the passenger seat and greeted, "Have you been waiting long?"

Gong Min replied, "We've only been here a short while, are we leaving now?"

Li Heng nodded. "Let's go."

Gong Min kept a low profile today, only driving a Santana. She didn't cause any trouble at all, and didn't even glance at Sister Huang's rival. She kept her emotions very calm.

Both are in Xuhui District and not far apart. The car arrived at Wukang Road in no time and finally stopped in front of a three-story villa.

After getting out of the car, Gong Min opened the courtyard gate and introduced, "Mr. Li, Ms. Xiao, this is a three-story European-style garden villa, with a total area of ​​more than 1600 square meters. It has gray cobblestone exterior walls and dark green wooden windows."

The first floor includes a living room, dining room, open-plan hallway, and storage room. The second floor contains a study and bedrooms…

As Gong Min recounted the story, Xiao Han and Zhang Haiyan were both deeply captivated by the garden villa.

In addition to the main building, there is an auxiliary building to the north, which can be used as a library or collection room.

There is also an auxiliary building on the south side, which forms a symmetrical structure with the north auxiliary building, and together with the main building, they form a complete architectural complex.

After shopping, Li Heng asked Xiao Han, "Honey, how was it? Are you satisfied?"

Xiao Han hesitated for a moment, then asked crisply, "It's too big and very beautiful, but it must be very expensive. Are you really planning to buy this place as our new home?"

Li Heng smacked his lips: "It's not a plan, I've already bought it."

Xiao Han's surprise was palpable, followed by a hint of joy; the two contradictory expressions blended together, creating a unique and captivating effect.

Li Heng knew what she was thinking, took her hand and said, "Don't worry, I'm not short of money now. If we buy this place, we'll finally have a real home in Shanghai."

Upon hearing the word "home," Xiao Han instantly suppressed all her concerns, smiled sweetly, and said, "Yes, yes, I'll listen to my husband."

Seeing the two so affectionate, Gong Min sighed inwardly for Sister Huang, but her professional spirit remained strong. She continued to introduce the new house to the couple with neither arrogance nor servility, and explained some things that needed attention.

Finally, Gong Min handed over the property certificate, keys, and other items to Xiao Han and then walked outside.

Li Heng personally saw the other party out.

Watching the Santana drive away, Zhang Haiyan, who had been silent until now, said enviously to her friend, "Hanhan, owning a garden villa like this in a big city like Shanghai is unbelievable! I never even dared to dream of it. It's so good to be rich! It's so good to find a capable man!"

Xiao Han loved her new home, especially the garden; she already had many planting ideas in mind. She planned to spend two years transforming it into the most beautiful manor in Shanghai, hoping to keep this man with her.

Although her heart was filled with happiness, Xiao Han maintained her poised and composed demeanor, a subtly aloof and pretentious image.
"It's alright. My husband has good taste. Finding a beautiful woman like me to be the mistress of this villa is a perfect match."

Hearing this, Zhang Haiyan was filled with jealousy. She hugged her best friend tightly and swayed her from side to side, saying, "Save me a room. I'll come and stay with you when your Mr. Li isn't here."

"it is good."

Xiao Han readily agreed.

This place is just too big, and it's a bit scary to live alone in such an empty place. Having her best friend come to keep her company makes her much braver.

Zhang Haiyan released Xiao Han, spread her arms, and ran forward into the sunlight for a while. Then she plopped down on the grass, sprawled out, and shouted:

"Ah! I want to be rich someday, so I can live in a villa with a garden! That's the life of an immortal!"

Zhang Haiyan was completely shocked by this garden villa, and for the first time truly realized that there are social classes among people.

...

Outside the villa.

Gong Min asked, "Do you need me to leave the car with you?"

Li Heng was instinctively tempted, but remembering Teacher Yu's good intentions, he shook his head: "No need."

Gong Min asked again, "Do you want me to come pick you up later?"

Before he could reply, Gong Min said, "Fuchun Xiaoyuan in Xuhui is not far from here. It only takes me about 6 minutes to drive there."

She was about to refuse, but when she heard Li Heng nod, she said, "Okay, then I'll trouble you."

Then he asked, "You live nearby too?"

Gong Min said, "Yes, it's about a kilometer away from here. But my villa is very small, only a little over 400 square meters."

After saying that, she gave him her address so he could find her anytime he needed her.

Li Heng noted it down, and finally asked, "Is Consort Zhao still in Hunan?"

Gong Min replied, "She's still here. Sister Huang originally wanted to go back to Shanghai a while ago, but something came up at the factory and she couldn't make it back."

Li Heng nodded. "Okay, I understand. You can go ahead and get busy."

Gong Min turned around to get into the car.

After taking only two steps, Gong Min turned back as if remembering something and said, "By the way, next door is Sister Huang's villa, which was also newly bought at the same time. She hasn't moved in yet. Sister Huang said that having them next to each other would ensure Miss Xiao's personal safety."

It can't be that simple, can it?

Li Heng suddenly realized that Da Qingyi was actively moving closer to his cunning wife.

The same is true.

Huang Zhaoyi's purchase of two villas was significant and the result of careful consideration.

She was very clear about her own position: Li Heng's lover and housekeeper. She knew she had no chance to get a marriage certificate with him and could not make him marry her officially.

So after weighing her options, she decided to place her bet on Xiao Han.

He didn't choose Song Yu, Mai Sui, or Chen Zijin, nor did he show any interest in Yu Shuheng. Instead, he placed his heavy bet on Xiao Han, for the following reasons:

In Da Qingyi's eyes, the virtuous Mai Sui was actually a very good candidate.

But after analyzing it for a while, she felt that Mai Sui, like herself, was hard to be accepted into the family and hard for him to marry openly and honestly.

Both women were lovers and confidantes, their positions overlapping, making them natural competitors in vying for a man's favor.

Especially Mai Sui's increasingly mature and alluring charm made Da Qingyi feel somewhat wary. If the two of them were to become entangled, Li Heng would probably only go to the bed of the stunning beauty Mai Sui in the future, and wouldn't come to her.

From an analysis of status to competition in bed, Huang Zhaoyi was the first to rule out Mai Sui.

The reason why Consort Huang did not choose Chen Zijin was because she did not have a high opinion of the Chen family.

Despite being the first to receive her cards and the first to sit at the table, Chen Zijin was dragged down by the Chen family and lost a lot of points with Li Heng and the elders of the Li family.

Although Li Jianguo and Tian Run'e doted on Chen Zijin and had even decided to make her their daughter-in-law, Huang Zhaoyi still didn't think Chen Zijin could rise to the top or compete with the others.

Another reason is that Chen Zijin's beauty is at the level of Fudan University's "Little Wang," which is inferior to Song Yu, Xiao Han, and Yu Shuheng, and also inferior to her own appearance.

Huang Zhaoyi felt that her rivals were all stronger and more alluring than the last, and with her family not being supportive, it would be difficult for Chen Zijin to escape her addiction by relying on her beauty.

Excluding Mai Sui and Chen Zijin, only Yu Shuheng, Song Yu, and Xiao Han remain.

Huang Zhaoyi harbored a deep-seated resistance towards Yu Shuheng. During the Spring Festival Gala, Yu Shuheng repeatedly prevented her from getting close to Li Heng.

After having a relationship with Li Heng, Yu Shuheng even sent Liu Bei to investigate her.

All of this means that she and Yu Shuheng have an irreconcilable relationship, so naturally she will not support Yu Shuheng.

Originally, Song Yu was an excellent collaborator. She didn't have a strong background and needed an ally. Moreover, in terms of beauty and temperament, she surpassed all her competitors, leaving them far behind and possessing unparalleled advantages.

At the same time, Song Yu is deeply loved by Li Heng. She is the object of his love at first sight and the only person he is currently actively pursuing. This difference between being passive and being active creates her irreplaceable nature.

In addition, Song Yu is not strong-willed, has a gentle heart, and is kind to others, which is why Huang Zhaoyi trusts her the most.

However, after careful consideration, Huang Zhaoyi decided to abandon her bet on Song Yu.

The reason is simple: Song Yu's strengths are, to some extent, also her weaknesses.

Song Yu held an unshakeable position in his heart, far surpassing all others.

If he were to be paired with Song Yu, Li Heng would likely focus all his attention on Song Yu and wouldn't give her a second glance.

It is said that a woman's beauty is 30% skin and 70% bone structure.

If you want to hold onto a man's heart for a long time, the key is his bone structure.

Besides her stunning looks, Song Yu is also a rare beauty with a refined and elegant demeanor, which only grows more sophisticated with age. In contrast, Huang Zhaoyi is now 33 years old, and in a few more years her prime will be over, inevitably leading to aging and loss of beauty.

Given a choice between a stunningly beautiful woman and an aging, faded beauty, which would a man choose?
Who would you choose?

Who will she party with every night?
Being with Song Yu meant that Consort Huang wouldn't get a share of the profits, so she had no choice but to give up betting on her.

After much deliberation, only Xiao Han remained.

Although Xiao Han's family is well-off, they are nothing compared to her rivals. The Huang family can make up for that.

Putting aside her temperament, if judged solely on appearance, Xiao Han's beauty ranks among the top two, making her highly competitive.

Furthermore, according to Huang Zhaoyi's observation, Xiao Han is very patient and resourceful. As Li Heng's official girlfriend, she has certain advantages.

Xiao Han's qualities—slightly lacking but more than adequate—were exactly what Huang Zhaoyi desired.

Of course, Da Qingyi also hypothesized about Zhou Shihe.

If Li Heng were to develop feelings for Zhou Shihe one day, he would become another formidable enemy.

But whether the assumption holds true or not, whether Li Heng can't resist pursuing Zhou Shihe or not, it has little to do with her.

Because Zhou Shihe is too powerful, her beauty and temperament can rival Song Yu's, her family background can rival Yu Shuheng's, and she is also multi-talented, able to play the piano and cook. She is a mountain all by herself and does not need any supporting leaves.

Even if Consort Huang were to align herself with them, she wouldn't gain any advantage; it wouldn't be worth it.

Of course, don't assume that Consort Huang was completely submissive to Li Heng, or even abandoned all her reserve to please him in bed.

For example, kneeling down to sing "Conquer".

For example, you could take the initiative to eat his ice cream.

But that doesn't mean she doesn't value dignity.

Conversely, from Li Heng's perspective, she was the high and mighty Consort Huang, the eldest daughter of the Huang family, a famous Peking Opera actress, a wealthy woman with abundant assets, and as beautiful as a flower.

All of this is for others to fawn over her; she would never lower herself to please Zhou Shihe.

Well, the Huang family, the Yu family, and the Zhou family are all considered prominent families in a small circle. Even though their family influence varies, they are all roughly on the same level.

She, Huang Zhaoyi, may be friendly and accommodating to those below her, but she will never try to please Zhou Shihe and Yu Shuheng.

Because she cares about her reputation and has her own dignity.

Li Heng, an old hand, quickly guessed what the woman in blue was thinking, but he didn't blame her; instead, he understood.

Since I haven't given Da Qingyi enough security at this stage, it's understandable that she's looking for support on her own.

Thinking of this, he said to Gong Min, who had a somber expression, "I understand. See you later."

Upon hearing this, Gong Min felt relieved and gratified that Sister Huang had overcome this hurdle, but also felt a pang of heartache and reluctance.

Gong Min is gone.

Li Heng didn't rush back to the villa. Instead, he stood on the tree-lined path and surveyed the surrounding environment, feeling a sense of satisfaction for no reason.

In my past life, even if I gave up all my savings and fortune, I still couldn't afford a garden villa like this, and it wouldn't be nearly enough.

In this life, only two years after being reborn, I have already fulfilled a luxurious wish that I never dared to even dream of in my previous life.

Do you think he wasn't excited?
Standing on the tree-lined path, he glanced at his own home and then at Huang Zhaoyi's garden villa next door, feeling a mix of emotions, but also a sense of peace.

He had previously worried that his cunning wife wouldn't dare stay in such a large villa while he was away. Now, with Huang Zhaoyi subtly protecting her, he was completely at ease.

He thought to himself that he would have to have a proper talk with Da Qingyi about this later.

After a while, Xiao Han came out of the courtyard gate, smiled with a dimple, and asked, "Mr. Li, what are you thinking about? Aren't you going to spend some time with your wife?"

Li Heng reached out and grabbed her hand, in high spirits, and said, "Please call me the man who has been married five times."

Xiao Han's eyebrows curved into a smile, her eyes narrowing into a silkworm shape: "Okay, Mr. Five-Times-Married Man."

Li Heng turned his head: "I told you to call them that, and you actually did? You want me to marry five?"

Xiao Han's face fell, and she said with a heavy heart, "It's okay, I'm willing. As long as you agree, I'm willing to help you overcome the only obstacle on your path to your fifth marriage, Mrs. Song."

Bah! What a hypocritical woman.

He'd be a complete idiot to believe that nonsense.

Li Heng tactfully changed the subject: "I was just thinking about your safety."

Xiao Han followed him into the villa. "Don't worry about that. I wouldn't have come here alone if you weren't here. By the way, Haiyan said she wants us to reserve a room for her. She'll return it after she graduates from university."

Li Heng asked, "What did you say?"

Xiao Han pursed her lips and said, "I agree. I don't have many friends in Shanghai. Besides my roommates and senior classmates, Haiyan is the only one I get along with the best."

Li Heng nodded: "Okay. I'd be more than happy if Haiyan was willing to move in with you, so you won't be lonely."

After all, it's a 1600-square-meter garden villa, surrounded by many trees. A girl living there would inevitably feel a little intimidated. Zhang Haiyan, in her previous life, was one of the scheming wife's best friends. They remained close even in old age, often shopping and dining together, and gossiping together.

He would be skeptical of other people in Shanghai. But he knew Professor Wenyan, Zhang Haiyan, and his three roommates quite well and was relatively at ease with them.

Of course, the senior sister who was very familiar with me in my past life but whom I have not yet met in this life is also a good person, very steady.

Unable to resist the allure of the garden villa, Li Heng had no choice but to accompany the two women on another thorough tour of the entire place.

Throughout the journey, the phrase he heard most often from Zhang Haiyan was, "Wow, how impressive!"

Around 4 p.m., Li Heng and Xiao Han came out of the villa, first ran to the intersection to buy some gifts, and then walked towards their teacher's house not far away.

As for Zhang Haiyan, she didn't want to come along. She bought some snacks and happily stayed on the grass, waiting for them.

Li Heng carefully observed that it only took him a few minutes to walk from his own home to his teacher's house.

Xiao Han smiled sweetly and said, "It's so close, it will be convenient for me to visit my husband in the future."

Li Heng praised, "My wife is in a very good mood today."

"That's right, that's right, this beauty is a family woman now." Xiao Han said with an air of "you know me so well."

When we arrived, he said, "Come and knock on the door."

"Okay." Xiao Han rang the doorbell.

A moment later, Sister Lin ran out of the house, took their luggage, and said with a smile, "Grandpa was just asking me about you. He said he received a call this morning saying you were coming over for dinner, and he was wondering why you hadn't arrived yet. I didn't expect you to come so soon."

Li Heng chuckled and said, "I was looking at apartments next door, which took up some time."

Sister Lin followed closely: "Looking at houses? What kind of houses? Junior brother, are you buying a house?"

Li Heng pulled Xiao Han aside and said, "Hanhan and you all live in Xuhui. I'll be coming here often in the future, so I was thinking of settling Hanhan in a home so she can be close to her teachers."

Xiao Han glanced at him, thinking to herself, "My honey is the epitome of a sweet talker. He can say whatever he wants to anyone, no matter who they're talking to. When he's with me, he only has eyes for me. But once we leave Xuhui, he'll definitely be calling me 'my Sui Sui,' 'you're my wheat ear,' 'Song Yu, I love you the most,' and so on."

Oh dear, he must have hugged Teacher Yu as well.

Sighing, thinking of Mai Sui and Teacher Yu's voluptuous figures, Xiao Han sighed silently, realizing that she was at a disadvantage in terms of figure, not as well-endowed as them.

But it's okay, I'll be sending you a big gift package soon, I hope your big breasts can catch it.

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(End of this chapter)