Chapter 84: Visiting for the Banquet (Part Two)

Zhang Wenhao had not expected that Nie Minhui’s culinary skills would be so remarkable. Hailing from the Jianghuai region, she was particularly adept at Huaiyang cuisine, and the six dishes she prepared were all authentically flavored. From her choice of ingredients to her mastery of knife work and timing, everything was executed with precision. That such a commanding and powerful woman could cook so well truly surprised Zhang Wenhao.

Throughout the meal, Nie Minhui fussed over Zhang Wenhao, urging him to eat more, though she herself barely touched her chopsticks. Her attention was not on the food but on the young man seated to her left. She hoped this encounter would allow her to better understand Zhang Wenhao. After all, it was his arrival that had awakened romantic feelings and rebellious thoughts in her beloved only daughter for the first time. The information she had gathered about Zhang Wenhao revealed abilities so extraordinary that even she was astonished, filling her with a profound curiosity.

As an adult with vast experience, Nie Minhui knew what a person could truly comprehend, achieve, or master at eighteen. She had heard of many prodigies—some able to solve global mathematical problems before twenty, others becoming top-tier hackers—but those fields depended heavily on innate talent. What Zhang Wenhao possessed, however, could not be attributed to talent alone.

When Nie Minhui learned from Chen Feng about Zhang Wenhao’s performance in the detention center, she found it hard to believe that a boy who appeared somewhat frail in photos could possess such astonishing skills. Chen Feng himself was considered highly capable, yet he claimed that Zhang Wenhao’s prowess in combat far surpassed his own. Such ability could not be achieved purely through talent without years of professional training.

Then, Zhang Wenhao astounded her once more by single-handedly subduing Li Chunyang and eight other ruthless criminals last week—barehanded against machetes and firearms.

Afterward, Nie Minhui requested a written report of the incident from the police. The document detailed every aspect of that night with great precision and objectivity, drawing on accounts from Zhang Wenhao, Chen Feng, and her daughter Su Ruoran. She forwarded this report to the PLA Special Forces Research Center, where experts reconstructed the entire event digitally and conducted a thorough simulation.

The results were clear: even their finest special forces soldiers would find it difficult to achieve such perfection, especially Zhang Wenhao’s proactive assault on Li Chunyang. In that situation, his arm was pierced by a bullet—a minimal price to pay. His anticipation of the gun’s angle and trajectory was extraordinarily precise. The experts confidently concluded that Zhang Wenhao had prepared himself to be shot before charging at Li Chunyang, making his actions not mere bravado but the result of meticulous forecasting. This was how he escaped with only a minor injury.

At such close range, the accuracy and power of a handgun bullet were considerable, especially given Li Chunyang’s strong marksmanship. Anyone rushing him unarmed would surely have their head blown apart or, at the very least, be shot in the chest. Yet the bullet merely pierced Zhang Wenhao’s arm, failing even to hinder his movements.

This level of combat awareness was rarely seen among special forces veterans with over a decade of service. How could an eighteen-year-old student possibly possess it?

Moreover, Zhang Wenhao’s emergency treatment of Chen Feng was even more baffling.

Chen Feng was not important to Nie Minhui, and their paths seldom crossed unless urgent matters arose. All orders usually passed through Qing Wu. But because Chen Feng was injured while saving her daughter, Nie Minhui arranged for top specialists from Yanjing to fly to Jiangcheng for his surgery.

The experts she summoned were not famous nationally, but within the medical field, they were unmatched. None worked at any hospital, serving only high-ranking officials—doctors of imperial caliber. After examining Chen Feng’s injuries, each one marveled at the “doctor” who administered first aid.

A surgical expert even exclaimed, “I never imagined a second-tier city like Jiangcheng could harbor such talent. This kind of emergency treatment demands deep theoretical knowledge, a profound understanding of human anatomy and trauma management, immense courage, and a calm mind. Without all three, even knowing what to do, slight hesitation or the smallest error could cost the patient’s life!”

“The intercostal catheter drainage performed was flawless—the insertion depth was accurate to a tenth of a millimeter. Such precision is extraordinary!” When Nie Minhui, curious, asked just how slim Chen Feng’s chances of survival truly were, the expert sighed, “For a patient like this, the only likely outcome is death. Personally, I’d say the mortality rate is nearly 100%. The doctor who saved him can truly be said to have snatched him back from the hands of death. To call them the ‘hand of God’ would not be an exaggeration!”

When the surgeon expressed a desire to meet this miraculous first responder, Nie Minhui was startled. How could she tell her esteemed colleague that the doctor he so admired was, in fact, an eighteen-year-old boy?

Nie Minhui had also looked into Zhang Wenhao’s academic record: bottom of the class for two and a half years of high school, then a dramatic leap over a single winter break. In the last mock exam, he scored a staggering 736 out of 750. She had the exam analyzed—it was notably tougher than average, with the top-tier cutoff at about 530. Achieving 736 astonished even the Ministry of Education. In all provinces where the maximum score is 750, no one had ever scored above 730.

Seeing Zhang Wenhao now, so ordinary and unassuming like thousands of boys his age nationwide, Nie Minhui felt a rare sense of helplessness. She simply couldn’t see through him, nor understand him.

“Wenhao.” After pondering alone for a long while, Nie Minhui looked at Zhang Wenhao and asked, “Could you tell Auntie what plans you have for the future?”

“The future?” Zhang Wenhao looked up, putting down his chopsticks, and replied with a gentle smile, “Auntie, I haven’t dared to look too far ahead. For now, my next step is to hopefully get into Yanjing University through the college entrance exam.”

Nie Minhui nodded gently. Yanjing University was also her daughter’s top choice. It seemed the two young people had already made their plans.

Nie Minhui smiled calmly, “Your grades are excellent. Getting into Yanjing University shouldn’t be a problem for you.”

“Let’s hope so,” Zhang Wenhao replied modestly. “If I do well in the entrance exam, it should be fine.”

Nie Minhui smiled, though she felt a strange unease. In her heart, she least wished to see her daughter fall in love too early. She believed that for anyone, the years before twenty-two were crucial for learning and accumulating knowledge. Early romance not only distracted from studies but could influence character, thinking, and life’s direction. If the relationship succeeded, so be it; but if not, the psychological damage could be profound. Her maternal instinct made her most fearful of the latter.

Yet reality was that she could no longer stop her daughter’s heart. All she could do was protect her as much as possible from harm. This was why she so urgently wished to understand Zhang Wenhao better.

Though she did not wish for her daughter to date so early, after the incident with Li Chunyang, at least Nie Minhui could be certain that Zhang Wenhao’s feelings for her daughter were absolutely sincere. First, Zhang Wenhao could not have known the real background of the Su family before the incident, proving his actions weren’t motivated by wealth or power. Second, he risked his life to prevent her daughter from falling into Li Chunyang’s hands. If a man is willing to take such risks for a woman, it shows she holds an extremely important place in his heart.

Thinking of this, Nie Minhui smiled to herself, comforted yet a little resigned. There were many powerful families in Yanjing eyeing her daughter, eager for a marriage alliance with the Su family to gain access to its resources. From Nie Minhui’s perspective, she would never allow Su Ruoran to marry a man with impure motives. Compared to those ambitious sons of wealthy families, Zhang Wenhao was actually the most suitable.

Then Nie Minhui asked tentatively, “Wenhao, do you have a clear idea of your future? For example, after you graduate from university, which profession do you plan to pursue? Or more generally, do you want to go into business, politics, or follow most people and seek a good job?”

Zhang Wenhao pondered briefly, then smiled, “Aunt Nie, while I haven’t mapped everything out, I can say for certain that politics is not for me.”

He paused, then continued, “Business is a path many aspire to, but I haven’t studied anything related nor have any experience. I can’t claim I’ll definitely go that way, but I’ll make it my first choice, accumulate knowledge and experience in university, and when the time is right, I think I’ll choose that direction.”

Nie Minhui nodded in approval. Objective and pragmatic—these were yet more reasons for her to appreciate Zhang Wenhao. Many young people are restless and arrogant, always dreaming big and far, letting their ambitions outpace their abilities. Such people rarely achieve much.

If Zhang Wenhao had just now boasted about his dreams and confidence in business, she would have thought less of him. But she was glad to see he was steady and grounded.

This simple conversation eased Nie Minhui’s mind. She evaluated a person according to three criteria: ability, mindset, and family background. Zhang Wenhao far exceeded his peers in ability, was much more mature in thought than most young people today, and his family background was also very satisfactory.

Nie Minhui never cared about how much power or wealth a family had; what mattered was the character of the parents. She had looked into Zhang Wenhao’s parents: Zhang Xingping, though now unremarkable, was once a heroic figure. Both Lei Zhijun and his insightful father held Zhang Xingping in high esteem, proving his integrity beyond doubt.

As for Zhang Wenhao’s mother, she was honest, diligent, and frugal—a dutiful wife and mother. Though not as illustrious as Zhang Xingping, she was unquestionably virtuous. Their family, though not wealthy, provided Zhang Wenhao with a healthy environment for growth, which for Nie Minhui was the most important thing.

With these thoughts, Nie Minhui felt at ease. Aunt Chen had just refilled their glasses with red wine, and Nie Minhui raised hers with a knowing smile, “Wenhao, Ruoran, this toast is for you both—to your success in the college entrance exam this June, and your admittance to Yanjing University.”