The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

"Don't be shy, have a seat."

Zhou Chu waved his hand, gesturing for Chu Liu to sit down.

"Uncle, have you two eaten yet?"

Zhou Chu was actually asking a question he already knew the answer to.

These past few days, Sun Qiang has been extremely busy. Every day after the person in charge of the renovation left, he would take Chu Liu and the few new workers he had hired to start cleaning up.

Many jobs are not handled by bricklayers and carpenters.

They just need to do their jobs well; Sun Qiang has to handle the finishing touches and cleaning up the trash.

"I just finished working and haven't had time to eat yet."

Sun Qiang took a sip of tea.

"Eat at home. I just got back. The food is ready. I'll have someone make extra so I can take some back with the others."

Zhou Chu smiled.

Zhou Chu knew that there were still a few restaurant staff who needed to eat.

These are different from the hired help; Sun Qiang bought them from the countryside.

Food and lodging must be provided.

However, the monthly fee is much cheaper, and you can use it with more peace of mind.

Zhou Chu also asked Xianglan to prepare wine.

The wines of this era were either rice wine or yellow wine.

No one drank baijiu (Chinese liquor).

Yellow wine is quite popular in the Jiangnan region.

In Beijing, people mainly drink rice wine.

Rice wine requires specific timing and temperature control when drinking it.

After brewing for several days, it is taken out and drunk. It is like a fine wine, and Zhou Chu thinks it tastes better than any other wine.

Zhou Chu didn't like drinking originally, but now he often has a few drinks.

Don't drink too much.

This stuff tastes sweet, and it doesn't seem to have any alcohol content at all.

But if you drink too much, you'll definitely get drunk, and very drunk at that.

Zhou Chu's family always had wine being brewed.

Last year, by chance, Zhou Chu bought a winemaking recipe from a gambler.

The wine brewed according to the recipe was highly praised by the old man.

From then on, Zhou Chu's family continued to brew wine.

It's mainly supplied to old men.

Zhou Chu originally intended to bring the old man home.

But he rejected her.

Zhou Chu understood that with the old man's abilities, if he wanted to, countless high-ranking officials and nobles would probably vie to give him houses.

So I didn't insist.

Fortunately, the two families lived very close to each other.

Zhou Chu often sent Xianglan and others to deliver wine and food to the old man.

We can't send it every day, otherwise my master's wife will complain.

"You bring me food every day, are you just using me as a decoration? I can take care of him."

Zhou Chu often thought that if a man could be like the old man, no matter how down on his luck he was, he would have a beautiful woman by his side who would take care of him without complaint or regret. That would be considered extremely successful.

Zhou Chu and Sun Qiang were drinking and chatting. On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, I had dinner with them and listened to them talk about everyday matters. I had a strange feeling in my heart.

He grew up with his deadbeat father.

From as far back as he can remember, he has basically cooked for himself every day.

The house is basically empty.

He had long been used to taking care of himself.

Never before have the three of us sat around a table eating and chatting about everyday life like this.

This made Chu Liu feel somewhat embarrassed and uneasy.

I'm used to being alone, and this is the first time I've been alone like this on the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. It feels strange, but I'm also getting used to it.

Zhou Chu naturally noticed Chu Liu's actions and knew why he did so, but he said nothing.

Zhou Chu knew very well that deliberately talking to Chu Liu at this time would make him even more uncomfortable.

Let him adapt gradually.

"Uncle, have you found out anything about Hu Wei?"

After Zhou Chu finished eating and drinking, he put down his chopsticks and asked.

"We found out. It seems this kid has recently hooked up with a rich businessman. The two of them often go to casinos to gamble together. That businessman is a bit strange," Sun Qiang replied.

"Oh? What's wrong?"

Zhou Chu asked.

"That wealthy businessman shouldn't be from the capital. I've never met him before, and neither have my friends. He seems to be from the Jiangnan region. I happen to have a friend at the casino who said that this man is extremely generous and doesn't care about winning or losing. He'll casually give some of his winnings to Hu Wei."