In the grand hall of the banquet.
The heated atmosphere had gradually cooled down.
Men and women who had found their suitable partners left in pairs to find places for intimate conversations.
And those who hadn't found a suitable partner also left, seeking places to drown their sorrows.
After all, in such an occasion, no one wanted to be left alone and embarrassed.
"Where did Mengyao go?"
Zhou Weiguo scanned the area and then spotted Tian Mengyao with two others: "Huh, who is sitting next to her? I don't recognize them."
He performed the duties of a secretary, possessing excellent eyesight and memory.
Anyone he had seen once, he could remember perfectly for at least six months.
Even after three to five years, he would still have some impression.
Therefore, he was certain he had never seen the young man sitting beside Tian Mengyao before.
Wang Yao's eyes widened as well.
He didn't recognize the young man in the middle, but he recognized the person sitting on the right!
Who else could this be but his own daughter?
If it were any other occasion, he would have been very happy to see his daughter sitting and chatting with a strange man.
However, to the left of this young man sat the esteemed Miss Tian!
This...
Zhou Weiguo and Wang Yao exchanged glances, both filled with the same concern.
"Mengyao, how is it? Are you having fun?"
Zhou Weiguo walked over with a smile, asking.
Wang Ying saw her father approaching and her heart sank: "Dad?"
"Daughter, have you made a new friend?"
Wang Yao's gaze was fixed on Lin Fan.
When did his daughter get acquainted with such a young man?
His age was not an issue; he was very open-minded.
Moreover, given his status and his daughter's qualifications, finding someone younger was normal.
The only problem was the relationship between this young man and Miss Tian.
"Dad..."
Wang Ying hesitated, not knowing how to introduce Lin Fan and Tian Mengyao.
Zhou Weiguo chuckled at this moment and said to Wang Yao, "Old Wang, this is whom I told you about. If Mengyao ever needs your help, please give her some face."
Tian Mengyao stood up and smiled at Wang Yao, "Hello, Uncle Wang."
Wang Yao nodded gently, "Mengyao, hello to you too. If you ever need anything, just let me know, and I'll help if I can."
Tian Mengyao pulled Lin Fan over and introduced him, "This is my assistant, Lin Fan, and also the general supervisor of our Luofeng Village Herbal Medicine Planting Cooperative."
She then turned to Lin Fan and introduced, "This is Uncle Zhou, and Uncle Wang."
Lin Fan could guess from his knees that the two people opposite him were no ordinary figures.
Especially since one of them was Wang Ying's father.
"Hello, Uncle Zhou. Hello, Uncle Wang."
Meeting them for the first time, Lin Fan had no choice but to follow Tian Mengyao's address.
Zhou Weiguo chuckled.
Many people wished to establish a connection with him, yet even distant relatives had no opportunity to meet him.
However, Lin Fan, by virtue of Tian Mengyao, was now addressed as "Uncle Zhou," establishing a certain rapport.
"Yes, the young man is good."
Zhou Weiguo could not afford to offend Miss Tian.
Wang Yao's eyes sharpened, like X-rays, scanning Lin Fan from head to toe: "Did you and my daughter know each other before?"
Before Lin Fan could speak, Wang Ying hastily said, "Dad, we..."
Under her father's stern gaze, Wang Ying swallowed her words.
Lin Fan's scalp tingled, and he introduced himself, "I am a doctor. I treated Wang Ying sister before, and then we gradually got to know each other."
"Is that so~"
Wang Yao said with a half-smile, his face unreadable: "I didn't expect you to have such skills at such a young age."
"Dad, Xiao Fan's medical skills are very impressive. You haven't seen it with your own eyes."
"How impressive can it be?"
Wang Yao was a man of status.
When he went to the hospital, he always booked appointments with specialists.
Hearing this, Lin Fan's interest was piqued: "For example, Uncle Wang, your forehead is red and your cheekbones are bright, indicating a heat syndrome."
"And a sallow complexion like orange peel, with greenish whites of the eyes, indicates a damp syndrome."
"With the intermingling of dampness and heat, and considering your speech and voice, I estimate that you usually live a life of comfort, with little physical activity, and tend to sit for extended periods."
Lin Fan, based on the symptoms observed through his Purple Extreme Spiritual Eyes and his own deductions, diagnosed, "Uncle Wang, you must often be troubled by hemorrhoids."
Upon hearing this, Wang Yao's face immediately turned red.
Being told of his embarrassing ailment by a junior on the spot, he found it hard to maintain his composure.
Wang Ying, knowing the truth, wanted to laugh but dared not.
She thought to herself, "Serves you right for not giving Xiao Fan a friendly reception. Now you've made a fool of yourself!"
It seemed true that a daughter, once grown, could not be kept.
Zhou Weiguo sensed the awkward atmosphere and praised, "I didn't expect you to have such profound achievements in medicine at such a young age. It's truly remarkable!"
"Young man, focus on your medical studies, and you will surely have a great future in the medical field!"
Lin Fan blinked, finding the remark peculiar.
He suspected that the other party's unspoken meaning was for him to stay away from Tian Mengyao.
Tian Mengyao also understood this implication and said, "Uncle Zhou, Xiao Fan has had quite a bit to drink. We'll be leaving now."
"Alright, I'll send someone to see you off."
Zhou Weiguo's nephew was also attending this banquet, with his sights set on Tian Mengyao.
Tian Mengyao directly refused, "No need, I haven't been drinking. Xiao Fan drank for me."
After speaking, she supported Lin Fan and turned to leave.
Wang Ying watched from behind, wanting to follow.
However, sensing her father's stern gaze, she had no choice but to remain standing in place.
Zhou Weiguo watched Lin Fan's receding figure thoughtfully, calculating rapidly in his mind: "Is this young man bringing trouble upon himself, or is he about to rise to prominence?"
...
After Lin Fan and Tian Mengyao got into the car, they drove through the bustling streets towards the western suburbs of Shimen Town.
Tian Mengyao's only desire now was to return to the village committee dormitory, take a good shower, and then lie in bed, comfortably drifting off to sleep.
She was beginning to doubt her suitability for officialdom.
Interacting with people was too exhausting, even more so than her constant worries about the cooperative.
"Xiao Fan, why don't you go and sleep in the back for a while? I'll drive faster, and we'll be back at the village soon..."
"No need, I really haven't drunk that much."
Lin Fan said this, yet in his heart, like Tian Mengyao, he was utterly exhausted and indeed sleepy.
Waves of fatigue made him completely lose his energy.
Coupled with the residual trace of alcohol, after saying these words, he lowered his head and fell asleep.
"Hey, you say you're not drunk, but you're going to sleep in the back!"
Tian Mengyao controlled the steering wheel with one hand and reached out with the other to pat Lin Fan's head.
Unexpectedly, before her hand could touch Lin Fan's head, she suddenly saw a large pothole in front of them.
She hastily retracted her hand and violently swerved the steering wheel.
Lin Fan, as a result, leaned over and fell onto her delicate shoulder.
His considerable weight almost pressed her against the car window.
She maneuvered around the pothole, glanced at the sleeping Lin Fan, and complained, "Honestly, you wouldn't go to sleep in the back, and now you're leaning on me!"
She couldn't bear to wake Lin Fan, so she endured it, driving while carefully preventing Lin Fan's head from sliding down.