For several consecutive days, Zhao Jisheng came over.
He figured that if Liu Bei needed three visits to invite Zhuge Liang out of seclusion, it wouldn't be a problem for him to come over a few more times.
Especially since he could occasionally come over to mooch a meal.
He was happy, but it was Zhou Qi who suffered.
Every time Zhao Jisheng came to freeload a meal, Zhou Qi had to stand at the door, his stomach rumbling with hunger, yet still smiling and apologizing.
After a few days, he was emotionally and physically exhausted, his edges completely worn down.
He had already called his mother, Qi Mu, to complain about how unreasonable Qi Chengyan was.
However, Qi Mu hadn't been feeling well since the Lunar New Year, and the mention of Qi Chengyan's name gave her a headache.
"A Qi, you don't need to tell me anything about him anymore. I don't have such an unfilial son!"
With that, she hung up the phone.
Zhou Qi was dumbfounded. He couldn't even garner sympathy now!
Not wanting to drag things out, he decided to follow Zhao Jisheng's advice. He sincerely and wholeheartedly apologized to Qi Chengyan.
In the past few days, he had said "I'm sorry" more times than he had in his entire life.
Finally, Cheng You relented.
"Given your sincerity, my husband and I will forgive you. Remember this lesson well. We are kind-hearted and don't like to make things difficult for people. If it were someone else, it might not be the same."
Zhou Qi's face contorted. She called this kind-hearted?
"Yes, I understand." He said through gritted teeth.
Cheng You let out a chuckle. "Since you've apologized, you can leave now."
Zhao Jisheng and Zhou Qi suddenly looked at her.
"Comrade Cheng You, we haven't discussed our important business yet!"
Cheng You asked, "What important business? Your important business was to apologize to my husband, wasn't it?"
"The matter of medicinal herb seeds is our primary objective. Listen to me, I'll explain properly..."
Cheng You interrupted him, "No need to explain. I have no intention of cooperating with you."
Zhou Qi's face twisted with rage. "So you were just playing with me!"
Cheng You chuckled. "Playing with you? I was never doing business with you from the start. You made a mistake, and an apology is the right thing to do, isn't it? Or do you only bow your head and apologize if there's something to gain? Your calculations are so blatant that even your ancestors eighteen generations underground can hear them."
The already strained relationship was on the verge of turning hostile again.
Zhao Jisheng quickly said, "Zhou Qi, shut up!"
Zhou Qi was unwilling. Why should he shut up?
After all this effort, she was simply toying with them.
"Teacher, didn't you hear what she said?"
Zhao Jisheng stated firmly, "Comrade Cheng You is right. You should apologize. This cannot be used as a condition for our negotiation!"
Zhou Qi retorted loudly, "Why should I apologize! Everything I said before was the truth! She's just deceiving herself! Cheng You, you haven't been to Yancheng. If you had gone, you would know that what I said was relatively mild. What people say behind your back is truly unpleasant! Can you make me shut up, and can you make everyone else shut up?"
"Zhou Qi, I can't get through to you, can I!" Zhao Jisheng roared.
Zhou Qi let out a cold snort and strode away.
Zhao Jisheng knew that the negotiation was impossible today. He smiled apologetically at Cheng You and quickly followed Zhou Qi.
Cheng You slammed the door shut. "As if I cared about his apology."
Qi Chengyan flipped open the cookbook in his hand and pointed to a page. "This roast suckling pig looks good."
Cheng You: "..." So he was back to messing around with food again.
Qi Chengyan seemed to really enjoy feeding her.
A single word of praise from her could make him want to cook a Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.
Cheng You walked over with a smile, playfully climbed onto his back, her cheek pressed against his ear.
"Are you really going to change careers and open a restaurant?"
"No." A faint smile played on his lips. "I'll only cook for you."
Cheng You swallowed the teasing remark she was about to make and pecked his cheek.
"Qi Chengyan, why are you so wonderful."
A smile appeared on Qi Chengyan's clear and handsome face. Because you are even more wonderful.
...
Zhao Jisheng had initially planned to make a few more trips, but Zhou Qi directly called back to complain.
This time, he contacted Qi Shengwen.
That is, the patriarch of the Qi family who had personally broken one of his son's legs.
He explained the importance of these medicinal herbs, not believing he was exaggerating.
The quality of Cheng You's medicinal herbs was evident. If they could be cultivated and the planting area expanded, it would be a great boon.
Qi Shengwen was initially indifferent until he heard Zhao Jisheng mention how much the agricultural research institute valued this matter. Only then did he begin to listen intently.
"Professor Zhao went in person, and she still won't budge?"
Zhou Qi paused for a moment and explained, "It's actually because of me."
"Because of you?"
"Dad, Brother Yan and I had an argument, and in a fit of anger, I said some things about his time in Yancheng. Cheng You holds a grudge and is unwilling to relent."
Qi Shengwen fell silent.
He hadn't seen Qi Chengyan in a long time. His anger stemmed from disappointment, but also from guilt hidden beneath that anger.
At the time, he only intended to teach his son a lesson, not to break his leg and end his military career.
But as the head of the family, he would not admit that he still had a soft spot in his heart.
"If he did such a thing, is he afraid of what others will say?"
Clearly, he didn't think Zhou Qi was at fault.
Compared to Qi Chengyan, Zhou Qi, the adopted son, was more outstanding in his eyes. Although he was on the path of a researcher, he was more worthy of cultivation.
"Tell Qi Chengyan what I said. If he wants to return to Yancheng in the future, he must fully cooperate with Professor Zhao's work. Otherwise..."
"Dad, you might have to say this to him in person."
Zhou Qi felt that Qi Chengyan wouldn't listen if he just relayed the message.
Qi Shengwen said in a deep voice, "I can't leave here."
Zhou Qi was somewhat disappointed. If he didn't come, the matter would remain at an impasse.
A moment later, Qi Shengwen added, "Have Qi Chengyan call me back."
"Okay!"
A phone call should be enough.
Zhao Jisheng shook his head inwardly. Zhou Qi was only making things worse.
People like Cheng You clearly responded to kindness, not threats.
If you were tough, she would be even tougher.
Qi Shengwen's attitude clearly wouldn't work.
Yet Zhou Qi, feeling self-important and arrogant, ran over to Qi Chengyan and said, "Dad wants you to call him back. Brother Yan, I advise you, if you still want to return to Yancheng..."
"Whether I return or not is not for you to decide," Qi Chengyan interrupted him coldly.
Zhou Qi's eyes held malice as he taunted, "What can you do as a cripple if you go back? If you don't rely on Dad, do you think you can still establish yourself in Yancheng!"
Cheng You tutted. "This loquat is a bit sour."
Qi Chengyan wiped her hands. "Then we won't eat it."
Cheng You smiled and deliberately said, "Zhou Qi is right. If we go back to Yancheng, we'll have to spend money on food and lodging. Without your father, what will we do?"