Way back to Our Past

41. Too Tacky

Translator: hanhan

Qu Jianguo took over the wine from Wang Zicheng and opened it skillfully. He sniffed the fragrance and said, “French cellar-stored Louis. I didn’t expect that I would have the chance to taste such a fine wine again.”

Wang Zicheng was taken aback for a moment and asked Qu Jianguo with a curious look, “Uncle, you can read French?”

It was all French on the wine box. How could Qu Jianguo know that it was Louis? Could it be that he had learned the language?

However, there were many people who could speak English in recent years, but very few knew French. How could Qu Jianguo, a blue-collar worker who had been laid off and struggled at the bottom of the ladder, know French?

Qu Jianguo replied with a smile, “Mr. Wang is making fun of me. How can I read French? You mentioned the name just now when talking over the phone, so I memorized the name.”

Wang Zicheng didn’t remember if he had mentioned the wine name when calling Ning Fei. There was only this wine in his office, so logically speaking, he didn’t need to specify the name at all.

Ning Fei didn’t know what Wang Zicheng was thinking and introduced the wine to Qu Wan and Qu Jianguo, “This wine was shipped from France by air. It has been cellared for over 70 years. The price should be over 15,000 dollars a bottle. Still, there is no such wine available on the market in our country, so it’s impossible to purchase.”

Qu Wan was shocked and felt disturbed. “Wang Zicheng, how can you waste such an expensive wine?”

“Tacky!” Wang Zicheng said disdainfully, “Wine is for drinking. How can it be wasted? Does money mean everything to you?”

Qu Wan gritted her teeth and replied sourly, “Only you rich people have the right to enjoy life. For us poor, this bottle of wine is our expenses for a year.”

“You said it as if I treated you badly! Are you complaining about the low pay again?” Wang Zicheng was unhappy.

“No! The salary you offer me is generous. I just feel sorry for this bottle of wine. It is such a waste to let us drink it!”

“Still talking about money. Just too tacky!” Wang Zicheng poured a glass for himself first and drained it at one go.

Qu Jianguo brought over chopsticks and said, “Come, let’s enjoy the wine with lunch.”

Wang Zicheng was very excited during the mealtime and highly praised the dishes Qu Jianguo had made. After that, Qu Wan went to clean away bowls and chopsticks one the table, and Wang Zicheng said to her shamelessly, “Your family cuisine is so delicious. How about preparing a little more for one more person in the future? I’ll pay for the meal!”

“Enough!” Qu Wan showed him the door. “Our apartment is too small to treat a big shot like you. Go find other options!”

“Don’t turn me down. I’m serious. Your food is really palatable!”

“I’m also serious. Get lost in grace and close the door. Thank you, bye!” Qu Wan rolled her eyes at him.

Wang Zicheng was kicked out of the apartment in the end. He returned to the car and asked Ning Fei, “When I called you just now, did I say the wine name Louis?”

Ning Fei thought for a while before replying to him, “No.”

“How did Qu Jianguo know that this wine was French Louis? Strange!”

“Perhaps… he might have heard it from others or seen it on TV.” Ning Fei made a guess.

“No way! It was all French on the package. For a person who doesn’t know a thing about French, he would have forgotten it today even if he had seen it yesterday. He couldn’t tell it at all!”

Wang Zicheng pondered for a moment and said, “Qu Jianguo is a little strange. He lives in poverty all year round, but he has a kind of composed and refined temperament. He doesn’t look like ordinary people.”

Ning Fei didn’t notice such things and said, “Young master, is it possible that you find him special because of your feelings for Ms. Qu? He seems quite ordinary to me.”

“Really?” Wang Zicheng was less certain and still confused deep within.

Maybe he was wrong. If Qu Jianguo spoke French, he must have received a good education. Then, it was unlikely for him to live such a life and couldn’t even find a job.

After the meal, Qu Wan sat down on the sofa and grabbed a book to pass the time due to her feet condition.

All of a sudden, Ling Mubai’s angry questioning last night came into her mind, she took out her cellphone and started to browse the news. She was dumbfounded right away.

All the posts on social media were rebuking her ex-husband and mother-in-law, and some even claimed that they should be doxed and punished.

Qu Wan stayed in a trance for a long while. It never occurred to her that things would evolve to such an uncontrollable state.

She only wanted to live a peaceful life and had never thought about taking revenge on Ling Mubai and Sun Lan. Such attacks were not what she wanted to see.

She hurriedly called Lin Yiyi and asked, “Yiyi, can you hold a press briefing to make these remarks on the net go away?”

Lin Yiyi was also about to call Qu Wan to talk about this issue. The public opinion had went to a direction out of their expectations. Once someone found out the identities of the said husband and mother-in-law, it would definitely cause a stir.

“Wanwan, I’m preparing a press briefing, but a new post suddenly appeared this morning, saying that all the information about you was fabricated. You have no child or ex-husband, and you have never been bullied by an vicious mother-in-law. It was you who made up all the story, aiming to play a stunt to hype up the news.”

As soon as the post came out, it was immediately reposted by many VIP users, which caused a big reaction that even the program team was accused of misleading propaganda and were under great pressure.

“Wanwan, this post is spreading quickly. It’s a little bazaar. I suspect that Ling Mubai was behind it.”

“Ling Mubai…” It shouldn’t be him.

Ling Mubai might argue for Qin Surong, but he wouldn’t deny everything, even their previous marriage.

“Now there are fling abuses everywhere. Ling Mubai will not sit by when he sees these comments. He will certainly try to shift the direction of public opinion elsewhere.”

Qu Wan said quietly, “Yiyi, Ling Mubai came to me yesterday.”

“What?” Lin Yiyi immediately exploded, “What did he say? Did you harass you?”

After Qu Wan told her what had happened last night, Lin Yiyi sneered, “How dare he came to you? Wanwan, you are too soft. If I were you, I would have exposed him long ago and let him and his mistress lose all reputation.”

“Yiyi, I just want to let the past go. I don’t want to revenge myself on him. I also don’t want to entangle with him ever again. Do you understand?”

“I know. I’m just angry with all these. Wanwan, Ling Mubai called my boss today, blaming us for taking his money to hype a person instead of using it on the show. He was very displeased. Our boss was frightened.”

“What does the station decide to do? Dismiss me?” She was fine with it.

“No, you won’t be dismissed. Actually, we will do a matchmaking show specially for you. You can find a date and then leave the show. Then, this matter will be gradully forgotten.”

This was the decision made in an impromptu meeting by the station. Lin Yiyi also shared the latest updates with her friend.

“Wanwan, as soon as your matchmaking campaign starts, thousands of people have signed up. I believe you can surely find a man for you.”

“I hope so.” Qu Wan sighed. There was nothing she could do but follow this plan.

Lin Yiyi had done her best to help her, and now she only hoped that of those participants, she could find her Mr. Right to spend the rest of their lives together.

The dating show suddenly adjusted the propaganda strategy, annoucing that it was going to hold a special date for No. 9 female guest. The attention of the press also slowly shifted away, and the number of people rebuking the ex-husband and mother-in-law dropped obviously.

It was a good turn for the Ling family, but Ling Mubai wasn’t happy at all. After seeing the media coverage, he immediately scolded his assistant angrily.

“Who told you to call the station in my name?”

The assistant lowered his head, explaining, “Mr. Ling, I saw that you were being smeared by those people online and felt very uncomfortable. So I used your office landline to call the station. I knew I did wrong.”

Ling Mubai’s face blacked with rage. He would rather be reproached for the rest of his life than see Qu Wan go to a blind date,

let alone that she would date thousands of men at the same time!

The assistant didn’t say a word. He was aggrieved but he realized a fact that Mr. Ling was still in love with Qu Wan.

No man could stand it to watch his beloved woman date men on TV. The assistant well deserved the scolding.

When Wang Zicheng learned about the news, he also flared up. “Qu Wan, good for you. All men in the city are lining up for you!”

Qu Wan gave him a cold glare and said, “You blame me? This is all because of you!”

If he didn’t go to the show to cause trouble, she would stand quietly in the corner every day, making money silently. How comfortable it would be!

Only two shows had been recorded so far, and she was already spotted by so many people. She couldn’t make money and also got into so much trouble.

“You seem unhappy on the face but overjoyed in your heart, don’t you?” Wang Zicheng stared at her. “So many men are available for you. Do you feel like a Queen choosing her lover? Qu Wan, are you happy now?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I am not!”

“No one knows the truth but you!”

“No means no!”

The two stared at each other, too angry to give in.

“I went to the show for your good. In order to make you shine, I was willing to be a background. Shouldn’t you make up for me instead? I’ve never done such a losing business before.”

“Make up fo you? In your dreams!”

“Wanwan, if you fail again this time, will you consider me? The two of us should fit well.”

“What do you mean?”

“I was disgraced on the show last time and no woman would fall for me ever again. It happens that you can’t find a man as well. If we end up with each other, you’ll lose nothing for sure!”

Qu Wan sneered. “Let’s not talk about whether it’s my loss or not. I am a divorced woman with a son. Can Mr. Wang accept a woman like me?”

Wang Zicheng gritted his teeth and looked embarrassed. “It seems that it’s going to be me suffering loss, but it’s good to have a son for nothing. As long as you treat me well afterwards and also…”

“Pah!” Qu Wan directly cut him in. “I won’t be with you, never in this life. You’d better drop this idea forever.”

Wang Zicheng was irritated at once and his face turned red. “You damn woman, who do you think you are? Do you really think I want to marry you? I was just joking. Don’t flatter yourself!”

Qu Wan was speechless. Who was acting all affectionate just now?