Who wants to be a male model after being reborn? I want to be a male god.

Chapter 430 A tragic victory
After Gu Hong's case was exposed, the authorities launched a rectification campaign throughout Linjiang.

Xu Wen heard that many people had been arrested from top to bottom.

All departments underwent a major reshuffle.

However, these things were no longer within his control; he could only listen to who had been imprisoned each day.

Although some people may have stopped in yesterday, life must go on.

The food delivery war in Flash City must continue.

Without the Lin family's help, Meituan quickly withdrew from the competition in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas, and Xu Wen rapidly seized the market.

He had promised Gu Hong that he would build a safe haven for Gu Xingruo before she returned.

Although some things have come to an end, he cannot stop yet.

Afterwards, Xu Wen even brought his lawyer to meet with Gu Hong once.

Whether he has a lawyer or not is no longer important given his current situation.

Xu Wen was simply asking Gu Xingruo about something.

After Gu Hong went to prison, the young lady not only did not return to the country, but also could not be contacted.

Gu Hong had lost a lot of weight in the detention center, but his eyes were exceptionally bright, and he looked to be in much better spirits than before.

Xu Wen asked his question.

Gu Hong's answer to him was: "Ruoruo is safe now and knows what's happening here, but she still needs to lay low for a while. When she wants to come back, she will naturally come back."

Xu Wen understood what the other party meant.

Gu Xingruo's reason for not returning is probably the same as Xia Ning's.

Neither of them had figured out how to face him yet.

They started talking about recent events.

Gu Hong didn't say much, only replying with the two words "Xu Wen".

A miserable victory.

Perhaps to set a benchmark nationwide, Gu Hong's case was closed very quickly.

The final verdict was a suspended death sentence, deprivation of political rights for life, and confiscation of all illegal gains.

Xu Wen instantly understood what Gu Hong meant by "a Pyrrhic victory".

He did not visit him in prison again.

Xu Wen continued to quietly do his own thing.

He instructed his men to remember to transfer money to Gu Hong's prison account every month.

It was all he could do.

All that's left is to wait for Gu Xingruo to return.

Time flies by.

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month, the streets of Linjiang were already covered with red lanterns.

Cured meat and sausages were drying on the balconies of every household, and the air was filled with the festive atmosphere of the New Year.

Xu Wen, enjoying a rare moment of leisure, lay on the sofa in his living room, listening to the sounds of his mother and sister bustling about in the kitchen.

"Brother, can you stop lying down? Come and help me put up the Spring Festival couplets!" Xu Ling leaned out from the balcony, holding a roll of red paper.

Xu Wen lazily rolled over: "Let Mom help you, I rarely get a day off."

"Mom's busy frying meatballs in the kitchen! Ever since Sister Ruoruo left, no one has been helping out during the New Year. Before, we had Sister Ningning." Xu Ling pouted, picked up the Spring Festival couplets, walked to the sofa, and gently kicked Xu Wen's calf with her foot.

She has fewer and fewer sisters-in-law these days.

Xu Wen still didn't move, he just turned over.

Xu Ling was helpless.

She placed the Spring Festival couplets on the coffee table and then sat down next to her brother.

"I just feel that the house is getting more and more lonely. When my sister Ningning was here, she would always bring all kinds of delicious food and buy me new clothes. Later, when my sister Ruoruo came, although she wasn't very good at housework, she would chat with my mom."

Xu Wen reached out and ruffled his sister's hair, messing up her carefully tied ponytail: "Isn't it nice for the three of us to spend the New Year together?"

"What's so great about it! Look at Aunt Wang's house next door, her daughter and son-in-law, son and daughter-in-law are all back, it's so lively. There are only three of us in our family, we can't even get enough people to play mahjong." Xu Ling slapped her brother's hand away and complained while fixing her hair.

Dai Guizhen came out of the kitchen, her hands still covered in flour: "Lingling, stop bothering your brother. He's had a hard year. Come help Mom make dumplings."

Xu Ling reluctantly stood up, but before leaving, she turned back and made a face at Xu Wen: "You lazybones!"

Xu Wen smiled and shook his head, then lay back down on the sofa.

My sister is right, this house is indeed much quieter than before.

Xia Ning has been away from Linjiang for more than three months. She occasionally sends messages saying that she is doing well in XZ.

Gu Xingruo.
Xu Wen's eyes darkened. He hadn't received any news from her since he handed the USB drive to the investigation team.

My phone vibrated; it was a work report from Lan Qiusheng.

Xu Wen quickly glanced through the list and gave a few instructions.

Flash City quickly regained its footing after the Hongjing incident, and the encirclement and suppression by Meituan and Ele.me was greatly reduced due to the downfall of the Lin family.

Lan Qiusheng has grown rapidly in the past six months and has become his most capable assistant in Nanjing.

"Brother! Someone's knocking! Go open the door, my hands are covered in flour!" Xu Ling's voice came from the kitchen.

Xu Wen sighed and dragged his feet toward the door.

Through the peephole, he saw a familiar figure standing outside the door, carrying large and small bags.

As soon as the door opened, Lan Qiusheng's bright smile came into view.

She wasn't wearing her usual business attire today, but rather a beige down jacket with a scarf loosely draped around her neck, making her skin appear even whiter.

"Squad leader, Happy New Year! I brought some local specialties from Nanjing. I thought it would be a good time to visit you and Auntie since the New Year is coming soon." Lan Qiusheng held up the gift in his hand.

Xu Wen was taken aback for a moment, then stepped aside to let her in: "Why are you here? Didn't we agree to give you a week off?"

"Idleness is also idleness."

Lan Qiusheng, familiar with the place, took off his coat and hung it in the entryway, then carried the gift to the kitchen: "Auntie! I've come to see you!"

Dai Guizhen poked her head out of the kitchen, her face immediately breaking into a smile: "Oh, it's Xiaolan! Why didn't you tell me beforehand? I could have prepared some of your favorite dishes."

"No need to trouble yourself, I'm just here to join in the fun. Are you making dumplings? I'll lend a hand." Lan Qiusheng put the gift on the table, rolled up his sleeves, and prepared to help.

Xu Ling's eyes lit up, and she moved closer to Lan Qiusheng: "Sister Lan, you know how to make dumplings?"

"Of course I can! I often help my mom make dumplings at home. Do you want me to teach you how to make gold ingots?" Lan Qiusheng smiled and pinched Xu Ling's cheek.

Xu Ling cheered and pulled Lan Qiusheng towards the kitchen.

Xu Wen stood there, watching the three women quickly become friends, with bursts of laughter coming from the kitchen.

"Xu Wen, don't just stand there, go and bring the cured meat from the balcony in," Dai Guizhen instructed, peeking out from the kitchen.

"Understood." Xu Wen walked towards the balcony.

The winter sun shines warmly through the glass windows of the riverside.

The balcony was filled with New Year's goods prepared by my mother.

Cured pork, sausages, salted fish, and strings of red chili peppers.

He carefully put them into the prepared bamboo basket, with the sounds of laughter coming from the kitchen in his ears.

When he returned to the living room, he found that Lan Qiusheng had already tied on his mother's apron and was skillfully rolling out dumpling wrappers.

Her movements were swift, and the dough she rolled out was round and even, which even Dai Guizhen praised repeatedly.

"I didn't realize Director Lan had this skill," Xu Wen teased, leaning against the doorframe.

Lan Qiusheng looked up and glared at him: "Is the squad leader looking down on people? I used to help out at home every day."

“That’s right! Sister Lan is amazing. She just taught me how to make lace edges!” Xu Ling chimed in from the side.

Dai Guizhen smiled and pushed a bowl of fillings in front of Xu Wen: "Don't just look, you should make a few too."

Xu Wen reluctantly washed his hands and joined in making dumplings.

His technique was clumsy, and the dumplings he made either leaked filling or were oddly shaped, which made Xu Ling laugh out loud.

"Brother, why are the dumplings you made so crooked and twisted, just like you?"

Lan Qiusheng couldn't help but chuckle. She took the dumpling from Xu Wen's hand, which was almost falling apart, and skillfully pinched it a few times, and a plump crescent-shaped dumpling appeared in her palm.

Xu Wen watched as her nimble fingers flew across the paper, quickly wrapping a neat row of dumplings. "Sister Lan, aren't you going home for the New Year?" Xu Ling suddenly asked.

Lan Qiusheng paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "Xiao Zhe (his younger brother Lan Jiangzhe) has never seen the sea. He did well on his final exams this time, so my mom took him out to play during the Chinese New Year. I was busy with work, so I couldn't go with him."

Dai Guizhen immediately said enthusiastically, "That's perfect! Let's celebrate the New Year at our house! It'll be more lively with more people!"

"Isn't this a bit inappropriate?" Lan Qiusheng glanced at Xu Wen.

That's actually what she meant by coming here.

It wasn't because we were too busy with work that we didn't go out to play together.

She stayed behind on purpose.

Before Xu Wen could say anything, Xu Ling spoke up first: "What's wrong with that! Sister Lan, you can stay in my room, I'll sleep on the sofa!"

"Nonsense! Your sister Lan is a guest, how can you sleep on the sofa? Xu Wen, you sleep on the sofa tonight, and clean out your room for Xiao Lan to stay in." Dai Guizhen gently patted her daughter's head.

"Huh? Why me?" Xu Wen's eyes widened.

"Because you're the least afraid of the cold!" Xu Ling said matter-of-factly.

Lan Qiusheng chuckled, his cheeks slightly flushed: "Then I shall respectfully accept your offer."

Xu Wen looked at the three women and shook his head helplessly: "Fine, whatever you say goes."

After finishing making the dumplings, Lan Qiusheng volunteered to put up the Spring Festival couplets.

Xu Ling volunteered to help, but Dai Guizhen dragged her to the kitchen to prepare ingredients for the New Year's Eve dinner.

"I'll help you." Xu Wen picked up the tape and scissors and followed Lan Qiusheng to the door.

The two stood on a stool and carefully pasted the Spring Festival couplets.

Lan Qiusheng wasn't tall enough to reach the top of the door frame, so Xu Wen naturally took the Spring Festival couplets from her.

"A little higher on the left, yes, that's it," Lan Qiusheng directed from below.

As Xu Wen pasted up the couplets, he chatted casually: "Are you settling in well in Nanjing?"

"It's great, my colleagues take good care of me. It's just that sometimes I miss the snacks from Linjiang. The taste in Nanjing is still a bit different." Lan Qiusheng helped hand me some tape.

"When I go back after the New Year, I'll bring you some cured meat that my mom makes."

"Really? That's great!" Lan Qiusheng's eyes lit up.

The two chatted as they pasted up the Spring Festival couplets, and before they knew it, the decorations at the entrance had been completely renewed.

"Dinner's ready!" Xu Ling's voice came from inside the house.

The New Year's Eve dinner was much more lavish than usual.

Dai Guizhen prepared eight dishes, symbolizing "wealth coming from all directions".

Lan Qiusheng also showed off his skills, making a spicy chicken dish from his hometown.

Unfortunately, apart from Xu Wen, neither the mother nor her daughter can handle spicy food very well.

However, Xu Ling insisted on eating it despite the spiciness, because it was just too delicious.

"Sister Lan, your cooking is amazing!" Xu Ling exclaimed, her mouth full of food, her words muffled.

Dai Guizhen smiled and served Lan Qiusheng a bowl of soup: "Xiao Lan, don't be shy, eat more. You've gotten so thin, are you working too hard?"

"It's alright, it's just that sometimes I get so busy I forget to eat." Lan Qiusheng smiled sheepishly.

“That won’t do! Health is the foundation of everything, Xu Wen. As a leader, you should care more about your subordinates and stop making them work overtime all the time.” Dai Guizhen turned to her son.

"Mom, when did I ask her to work overtime?" Xu Wen asked innocently.

Lan Qiusheng quickly explained, "Auntie, the class monitor is very good to me. He often reminds me to eat on time, and he also took the initiative to approve a week off for me this time."

Xu Ling's eyes darted around, and she suddenly interjected, "Sister Lan, do you have a boyfriend?"

Since the first two sisters-in-law have disappeared, we have no choice but to look for the third one.

"Lingling!" Dai Guizhen and Xu Wen called out at the same time to stop her.

Lan Qiusheng smiled shyly: "No."

"That's great! What do you think of my brother? Although he's a bit lazy, has a bad temper, and is a workaholic, overall he's a good person!" Xu Ling clapped her hands excitedly.

"Xu Ling! If you keep talking nonsense, you'll be sleeping on the balcony tonight!" Xu Wen was genuinely annoyed this time.

Dai Guizhen glared at her daughter and changed the subject: "Xiao Lan, try this braised pork, it's Auntie's specialty."

The meal ended in a lively atmosphere amidst Xu Ling's occasional teasing and Xu Wen's warnings.

After the meal, Lan Qiusheng insisted on helping with the dishes, and Dai Guizhen couldn't refuse her, so she had Xu Wen help as well.

In the kitchen, Xu Wen was in charge of rinsing, and Lan Qiusheng was in charge of drying.

The sound of running water drowned out the television in the living room, and the two fell silent for a moment.

"Xu Ling is a girl who speaks without thinking, don't take it to heart," Xu Wen broke the silence.

Lan Qiusheng shook his head, a smile playing on his lips: "It's nothing, I think it's quite cute. You siblings have such a good relationship."

“She’s just spoiled.” Xu Wen said this, but his eyes softened considerably.

"Actually, I envy the atmosphere in your family. My younger brother is a bit afraid of me." Lan Qiusheng hesitated for a moment.

Xu Wen turned off the tap and turned to look at her: "Then you should come often in the future. My mom really likes you. She can't wait to have someone to chat with."

"Really?" Lan Qiusheng's eyes sparkled under the kitchen light.

"Of course, you're welcome anytime." Xu Wen unconsciously softened his voice.

At eight o'clock in the evening, Xu Ling found a mahjong set somewhere and insisted on playing with everyone.

"Sister Lan, come quick! We're one short for mahjong!" Xu Ling called out to the kitchen.

Lan Qiusheng wiped his hands and came out: "But I'm not very good at playing."

"It's okay, if you can't play, you can still pay, right?" Xu Ling warmly pressed her into the seat.

Xu Wen reluctantly put down his phone and joined the card game.

"Pong! Sister Lan, it's your turn!" Xu Ling excitedly pushed over two cards.

Lan Qiusheng frowned as he looked at the cards in his hand, hesitating.

Xu Wen glanced at her cards and couldn't help but remind her, "Play the three of characters."

“Okay, thirty thousand.” Lan Qiusheng obediently complied.

"Brother! You can't help Sister Lan!" Xu Ling protested.

“I’m just competing fairly; she’s a newbie,” Xu Wen said matter-of-factly.

After a few rounds, Lan Qiusheng gradually got the hang of it and even won a small hand.

Once a beginner learns to play mahjong, they will quickly become addicted.

It was Xu Ling who wanted to play at first.

However, Lan Qiusheng gradually became the one who played the most enthusiastically.

Xu Ling, who had promised to win money, ended up losing several tens of yuan.

As midnight approached, Dai Guizhen brought out the prepared glutinous rice balls.

Xu Ling couldn't wait to run to the balcony and watch the fireworks that had begun to bloom sporadically in the distance.

"Come and see! Fireworks are about to go off!" she shouted as she turned around.

Xu Wenhe and Lan Qiusheng walked onto the balcony.

The cold winter wind swept over him, and Lan Qiusheng unconsciously shrank his neck.

Seeing this, Xu Wen went back into the house, grabbed a scarf, and handed it to her.

"Thank you." Lan Qiusheng took the scarf.

"Five, four, three, two, one! Happy New Year!" Xu Ling counted down excitedly.

As the clock struck midnight, the night sky over Linjiang was illuminated by dazzling fireworks.

Colorful light shone on everyone's face.

My phone vibrated at that moment; it was a text message from an unknown number: "Happy New Year."

The signature below is Gu Xingruo.

Xu Wen stared at the screen for a few seconds, then calmly replied, "Happy New Year, how are you doing over there?"

(End of this chapter)