Chapter 145 Buying Furniture

Backed by Old Lu’s lingering prestige and Chen Liang’s clever strategizing, Xiaoyu quickly established a firm foothold in the library.

Chen Liang’s strategy was simple: divide and conquer. Once Xiaoyu kicked out the two troublemakers Old Lu had deliberately left behind, peace and quiet were restored to the entire library.

With Old Lu’s network of connections backing her up, Xiaoyu had no shortage of authority. She delegated most of the power downward and, much like Old Lu, became the supreme ruler of the library, spending her days idling about and researching the human embryo incubation project with Chen Liang.

Because of Chen Liang’s intrusion, Old Lu had been forced into early retirement, which in turn had disrupted Xiaoyu’s plans to move into her new home. Today, right after the two of them finished discussing a multi-billion-dollar project in the curator's office, Xiaoyu emerged with a pre-prepared list in hand.

Dressed in a half-undressed state, she leaned against Chen Liang’s arms. "Darling, if you have nothing to do this afternoon, let’s go buy some furniture together. The new house has been empty for quite a while, and the paint smell should have cleared out by now, right?"

Xiaoyu, who had never once skipped work before, had been thoroughly corrupted by Chen Liang and had actually learned how to slack off during office hours.

"Alright, then how about we go to Old Lu’s place for a meal together after we finish shopping?" Chen Liang thought for a moment and agreed, also suggesting they sponge a free meal off Old Lu.

"Mm! Then hurry up and get up, Darlings," Xiaoyu started to get up and dress, but Chen Liang stopped her. "My little treasure, did you forget something? We haven’t finished discussing our project yet. What’s the rush? Come on, help me put on my socks first!"

Hearing this, Xiaoyu gave him a charming side-eye, muttered under her breath that he was truly lazy, and then gracefully bent down to put the socks on Chen Liang.

By the time the two left the library, it was already past two o’clock in the afternoon. Chen Liang gave Xiaoyu a ride on his bicycle, and they soon arrived at the entrance of the trust store.

Xiaoyu stood at the entrance, possessing beauty that could topple cities and states, instantly drawing the gaze of quite a few passersby. It was rare indeed to see a girl so strikingly attractive.

However, when Chen Liang parked the bike and walked over, the daring speculators instantly became as docile as grandsons, hurriedly averting their gazes elsewhere.

Good grief, this was nothing short of suicidal! The wife of the cold-faced deity Chen Liang was actually this gorgeous? Was there any justice left in the world? How did he manage to run into all the good things?

Chen Liang’s reputation at the moment was by no means small, and he didn't spend every waking moment nestled in Xiaoyu’s tender embrace.

During this period, owing to the government’s directive for various units to maintain public order within their subordinate jurisdictions, Chen Liang had led the Red Star Rolling Mill’s security department to massive acclaim.

They had rounded up a large batch of underworld scoundrels and even gunned down several ferocious, fugitive outlaws, casting a shadow so bright it overshadowed even the municipal bureau.

Right now, who in the jianghu of the ancient capital didn’t know of Chen Liang, the cold-faced deity from the Red Star Rolling Mill’s security department? He was a man who truly couldn’t tolerate a single grain of sand in his eyes; anyone who fell into his hands never met a happy ending!

However, toward these speculators, Chen Liang turned a blind eye, too lazy to bother with them. They were all hard-working folk struggling to make a living, and none of it was easy!

Mostly, it just wasn't worth the trouble. For a matter of three or five yuan, even if you arrested someone, they’d be released after being locked up for a few days—not worth the effort at all!

As soon as Chen Liang walked through the door holding Xiaoyu’s hand, the manager of the trust store trotted over fawningly, "Section Chief Chen, welcome to our humble establishment!"

Chen Liang was baffled. Who the hell are you? Do I know you?

Noticing Chen Liang’s confusion, the trust store manager hastily explained, "Section Chief Chen, I am Zhu San’s uncle."

Zhu San, he did know. He was a soldier in their security department who, due to his outstanding performance recently, had been recommended by Chen Liang to the ministry and promoted to an officer.

"So you are Manager Zhu! A pleasure, a pleasure," Chen Liang extended a hand and shook his.

Then, Manager Zhu cast a glance at Xiaoyu standing beside Chen Liang. "Is this Section Chief Chen’s better half? You two truly look as perfectly matched as a golden boy and jade maiden!"

What Chen Liang loved most was hearing others praise his wife; it felt far better than being praised himself.

A smile instantly bloomed on his face as he accepted the pagoda-brand cigarette handed over by Manager Zhu, exchanging a few pleasantries with him. Once the cigarette was smoked down to the filter, Manager Zhu asked, "Section Chief Chen, did you bring your wife here to buy some items?"

"Yes, the smell in the new house has finally cleared out, so we wanted to buy some furniture to spruce it up," Chen Liang didn't beat around the bush and stated it generously.

"I see. Then, Section Chief Chen, are you looking to buy new furniture or old?" Manager Zhu asked again.

"Manager Zhu, is there some trick to whether they're new or old?"

"Heh, what trick could there be! It’s just that we keep the new ones and the old ones in separate areas. Once I know what you want, I can guide you to pick them out better!"

"There's no need to trouble Manager Zhu, I can just pick out a few things casually outside!" Initially, Chen Liang truly hadn't intended to bother him, but Manager Zhu's next sentence immediately dismissed that thought.

"Don't do that, Section Chief Chen. To be honest with you, out front are just some defective items we put out to fool people! All the items in pristine condition are stored away in the warehouse!"

Manager Zhu murmured a few words quietly into Chen Liang’s ear before continuing, "Since you've come, Section Chief Chen, there's no way I could fob off junk on you. Later on, come with me to the warehouse and pick whatever you like—take whatever catches your eye, and I'll give it to you at cost price!"

"Then I'll have to trouble Manager Zhu," Chen Liang dropped his earlier insistence and followed Manager Zhu to the backyard warehouse.

"This Warehouse Number Three contains items that are eighty to ninety percent new, basically identical to when they first rolled off the factory floor. Would you like to take a look and see if anything catches your fancy?"

Freshly manufactured? Chen Liang naturally lost interest and shook his head.

Manager Zhu didn't mind the trouble at all. No sooner had he finished introducing Warehouse Number Three than he led Chen Liang to the edge of Warehouse Number Five. "This one contains old furniture in pristine condition—genuine vintage pieces."

Upon hearing the words "vintage pieces," Chen Liang stopped in his tracks. "Manager Zhu, don't trouble yourself further, let's just open Number Five. Before I came here, I was actually wondering if I could find a traditional canopy bed!"

"Section Chief Chen likes canopy beds? What a coincidence! We just acquired one a few days ago, crafted entirely from rosewood. I guarantee you'll fall in love with it at first sight!"

"Xiao Li! Xiao Li, go to my office, help me fetch the keys to Warehouse Number Five, brew a pot of tea, and wash a couple of apples!" Hearing Chen Liang’s words, Manager Zhu hurriedly called out to someone to retrieve the keys, brew tea, and prepare fruit!

"No need, Manager Zhu. Such hospitality makes me uncomfortable. Forget about the fruit, just brew a pot of tea."

Fruit was something Chen Liang certainly didn't lack, but for ordinary people, apples were still a rare delicacy, something they couldn't afford to eat a few of even throughout the whole year. There was no need to put him to such an unnecessary expense!

"Very well, as you say. Xiao Li, go brew a pot of tea!" Manager Zhu stopped insisting and sent his subordinate, Xiao Li, to the office to fetch the keys and make tea!