Chapter 189: The General's Test
One table, two chairs, one pot of tea, two cups.
On the fifth floor of the villa, on the viewing terrace, Qiao Yunfeng and Zhang Yang sat facing each other in the wind, and had already been sitting like that for two hours.
In Meining during winter, the cold wind howled, yet the old and the young sat quietly in the wind. To anyone unaware, they might have seemed like two lunatics.
Qiao Yunfeng lifted a cup and poured tea from the pot. The tea inside had long gone cold, but he didn't seem to notice. He lifted it to his lips, drained it in one gulp, and his half-squinted eyes glanced at Zhang Yang as he slowly asked, "Do you know what made you sit here?"
Zhang Yang looked at Qiao Yunfeng in front of him—or rather, his potential future father-in-law. His appearance was somewhat similar to Qiao Xier's: fair skin, fine brows, calm eyes, and a gentle expression that made people feel close and at ease. His tone was steady and mild, putting others off guard.
But Zhang Yang dared not be careless, for the smiling middle-aged man before him was not only Qiao Xier's father but also a general bearing golden stars on his shoulders.
To be honest, it was really cold right now, especially after fighting five rounds earlier today with Lulu, Gao Qi, and Yang Jing. His body was feeling weak, and the cold wind only made his waist feel softer.
Yet, as he listened to Qiao Yunfeng's seemingly casual words, Zhang Yang sensed there was meaning beneath them. Why was he made to sit here in the cold wind? There were many possible reasons.
Perhaps it was to let the wind clear his mind, or maybe it was some kind of test. Either way, it definitely wasn't to admire the scenery.
Seek help from the system?
Zhang Yang thought for a moment and tentatively asked the System Assistant. The result required ten points—too costly. He only had eleven points left; losing ten would leave him with just a stick.
"Uncle probably wants to test Zhang Yang in the cold wind," he thought for a moment and replied.
"A test? Haha, you call this bit of cold wind a test?" Qiao Yunfeng looked at Zhang Yang and laughed.
"I heard from Chen Tianxiong that in a real fight, he might not be your match. In other words, with your skills, you could easily dominate in the special forces. Even in freezing snow, they can dive naked into the sea to catch fish and punch starving wolves on the mountains. If this bit of cold wind counts as a test for you, that would be a joke."
"If I wanted to test you, I'd have dragged you into a freezer." Qiao Yunfeng set his cup down, poured another, raised it, and glanced sideways at Zhang Yang. "Guess again."
"Then… perhaps Uncle wants Zhang Yang to clear his mind up here."
"Clear your mind? About what?"
"That depends on Uncle."
Qiao Yunfeng chuckled, tilted his head back, and finished the cup in one gulp. "Alright. I won't play riddles with you. The reason I brought you up here today is because twenty-four years ago, on this very day, I was also on the fifth floor of a villa with my father-in-law. There was also one table and two chairs, and the two of us sat face to face. It was even colder than it is down here in the south."
"Of course, we weren't drinking tea back then—we drank liquor. Fifty-eight-degree Laobaigan. Two plates of fatty meat on the table. There were more than three jin of that Laobaigan, and the two of us drank it all…"
"We drank all night. Together, we said less than ten sentences, but the three jin of liquor was gone. I was there to propose marriage, but I didn't mention the word 'marriage' even once."
"When the liquor ran out, my father-in-law asked me, 'Your Qiao family is a proper military family with strict traditions. You've always looked down on us merchants. Everyone in your family opposes your relationship with Ye Jing. So now, let me ask you: what gives you the right to make me entrust my daughter to you?'"
"And now, I'm asking you the same question: what gives you the right to make me entrust my daughter to you?"
Zhang Yang froze. If Qiao Yunfeng said that, it meant he already had an answer in mind. If Zhang Yang's answer didn't please him, then he and Qiao Xier might not have any chance at all.
Maybe the system had an answer, but this time he didn't want to ask. Why should Qiao Yunfeng entrust his daughter to him? Because he's rich? Powerful? Or because he's the president of Nuwa Company?
Probably none of those. It was because he had confidence.
"Because Joyce will only be truly happy with me. No one else deserves her." Zhang Yang thought for a moment. That was the only answer that felt right to him. Whether others thought he was arrogant or overbearing, he didn't care.
Qiao Yunfeng smiled, his expression giving away nothing of whether he was satisfied. He finished his tea in one gulp, set down the cup, and said, "A man should keep his word. I'll trust you this once."
"Uncle agrees?" Zhang Yang didn't expect things to go this smoothly.
"It's not about agreeing or not. I'm just saying I don't object. As for whether you can marry her, that's up to you."
"Thank you, Uncle… truly open-minded."
"You mean Ye Jing isn't open-minded?"
Zhang Yang broke into a cold sweat. "No, that's not what I meant…"
"Whether it is or not, I just want to tell you—you've only convinced one of us." Qiao Yunfeng glanced at Zhang Yang. "So, the second question: Xu Danlu and Gao Qi—what about them?"
This question didn't surprise Zhang Yang. Ever since Xu Danlu mentioned that Qiao Yunfeng had gone to see Chen Tianxiong, he knew that if Qiao Yunfeng understood his connection with Chen Tianxiong, then he must also know about his entanglements with Xu Danlu and Gao Qi.
"What does Uncle think I should do?" Rather than answering, it was better to let the one asking the question provide it.
"You've got guts, huh." Qiao Yunfeng looked at Zhang Yang and laughed. "Did Qiao Qiao teach you that? They say you can't keep a grown daughter at home, and it's true—she's even told you about her old man's private affairs. Not bad. Back then, before I married your Aunt Ye, I had just as many women around me. But after we got married, I cleaned everything up."
"Then Uncle, after Joyce and I get married, I'll handle everything to your satisfaction too."
Of course, Zhang Yang wouldn't tell him how he'd handle it. He couldn't anyway.
Qiao Yunfeng just smiled and didn't press further. After a while, he said, "Actually, I know most of your answers don't match your heart. But I trust Qiao Qiao's choice. Otherwise, no matter how well you spoke tonight, it wouldn't have mattered."
He paused, then continued, "Nanxing One and Lingguang One were both your theories. That proves you're a genius in biomedical science—worthy of Qiao Qiao. And that Blizzard… that was you too, wasn't it?"
"Yes!"
"Computer science, medical science—such a huge gap. How did you manage that?" Qiao Yunfeng frowned slightly and added, "Those three things have already surpassed the limits of modern science. If it were a research team, I'd believe it. But you're alone. Unless you're an alien."
Zhang Yang's expression darkened. That question was too hard to answer truthfully.
Would he believe it?
If he didn't explain, the man might really think he was an alien. And a foreign being bringing high technology to Earth—was that a threat or a blessing? For a soldier, who knew?
But there was no choice. Even if he didn't answer now, as more shocking inventions appeared later, someone would eventually notice.
He'd been thinking about how to answer this question for a long time. He already had a plan—but he needed someone to believe him.
And the general before him was the perfect supporter, if he could convince him.
"Yes, whether it's Nanxing One, Lingguang One, or the trending Blizzard, they're all my—or my companions'—creations. But I can guarantee one hundred percent that I'm not an alien. My companions include my daughter and other friends—they're all real Earthlings. The theories, however, are mine." Zhang Yang paused, glanced up at the starry sky. In Meining, this was one of the few places where the stars could still be seen so clearly. "About four months ago, a meteor fell in Meining City—and I happened to be right near the impact site."
"Believe it or not, after I blacked out for a moment, my mind was suddenly filled with countless things—a flood of future science and technology. I don't know if aliens implanted something in me, or if my brain was altered by a strong magnetic field, but this is who I am now."
Combining fact with fiction, Zhang Yang spun the most plausible and convincing answer he could. He would never reveal the truth about the Nuwa System in his head.
"You said the meteor fell near Qiduo Café, right?"
Zhang Yang nodded. It seemed General Qiao had already dug up every detail about him. Good thing he hadn't made up another location.
"It seems I'll have to accept that answer for now." Qiao Yunfeng looked at Zhang Yang. "Does anyone else know?"
"No one should, though Joyce might suspect something. She just hasn't asked me."
"Future technology…" Qiao Yunfeng stared at Zhang Yang, suddenly clenched his fist, his eyes lighting up. "Just as I thought. Do you know why I brought you here tonight?"
"Didn't you just say? About your father-in-law back then…"
"Bullshit. Back then, we drank liquor. You gave me Tieguanyin—and it's cold!" Qiao Yunfeng spat and burst out laughing. "I just wanted to confirm one thing—whether you're a genius or had a lucky encounter. Hahaha! Just as I imagined, Qiao Qiao found herself a man with a sudden stroke of fortune. The Qiao family's about to rise!"
"Uncle… you're really something…" Zhang Yang looked at the general speechlessly.
"Don't be so polite. By the way… since you've mastered all this future tech, how about making your future father-in-law some badass high-temperature alloy material first?"