Chapter 428: Xiaoyuan, Why Didn’t Your Wife Come?
Cheng Yuan looked where Shi Jisong was pointing and, sure enough, saw Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Jiang getting out of an Audi.
Cheng Yuan grinned. ’What a coincidence!’
’I never thought I’d run into Uncle Ni and Uncle Zhu.’
"Okay, I’ll go over and say hello."
Cheng Yuan got out of the car and confidently walked toward Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Jiang.
A disdainful smile spread across Shi Jisong’s face. He watched Cheng Yuan coldly, waiting for him to make a fool of himself.
In Shi Jisong’s mind, Cheng Yuan was just putting on an act. ’He’ll definitely turn tail and run in shame any second now.’
But to Shi Jisong’s astonishment, Cheng Yuan really did walk right up to Ni Zhenjiang and greet him enthusiastically.
"Uncle Ni, Uncle Zhu, what a coincidence."
Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Jiang were taken aback for a moment, then brilliant smiles instantly broke out on their faces.
"Xiaoyuan, it really is a coincidence!"
Ni Zhenjiang affectionately patted Cheng Yuan’s arm.
"Xiaoyuan, I heard you went to Nanjiang. When did you get back?"
Not to be outdone, Zhu Jiang also gave Cheng Yuan’s arm an affectionate pat.
Shi Jisong was practically petrified!
’Damn it!’
’That kid wasn’t bullshitting! He really knows the City Lord! And they’re on great terms! Otherwise, the City Lord wouldn’t have patted his arm. That’s something you only do with a junior you’re really close to!’
Of course, Cheng Yuan wasn’t about to rub it in a taxi driver’s face. Flanked by the two elders, he walked into the Qingyuan Hotel.
Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Jiang were both a little surprised. Neither had expected the other to be so familiar with Cheng Yuan.
Zhu Jiang laughed. "Old Ni, why didn’t you tell me you knew Xiaoyuan sooner? Turns out we’re all on the same side!"
Ni Zhenjiang laughed as well. "I only knew Xiaoyuan had connections in Beijing. I had no idea he had a network in the Provincial City, too! Since we’re all allies, we’ll have to get together more often."
"Haha, of course."
Soon, the elevator reached their floor. Cheng Yuan politely excused himself. "Sirs, I’ll head to my party first. I’ll drop by your private room in a bit."
"Alright."
...
It was now 8:02.
The meal had yet to begin in the Qingyun Ascending Hall.
Today was Wu Renqing’s big day. The old patriarch had insisted Wu Renqing take the seat of honor, while he himself sat to Wu Renqing’s right.
Wu Renqing sat at the head of the table, glancing repeatedly at his watch. ’Is Xiaoyuan being deliberately disrespectful? I already gave him a heads-up, and he’s still late?’
However, since it was his big day, Wu Renqing didn’t have an outburst, merely tapping his fingers lightly on the table.
Wu Renguang looked at Wu Xiuli, displeased. "Sis, what’s the deal with Xiaoyuan? Everyone’s here, so why isn’t he? What could he possibly be so busy with all the time?"
Wu Xiuli was also getting annoyed. "I have no idea what he’s so busy with. I reminded him about tonight. That little brat... I’ll be sure to give him a piece of my mind when he gets here!"
The old patriarch sighed. "Xiuli, don’t blame Xiaoyuan. Ever since he got us into the villa, he’s been the one calling the shots in the family. Now that Renqing is successful, Xiaoyuan’s position as the head is threatened. It’s only normal for him to feel a bit resentful."
Wu Xiuli frowned but said nothing. At her side, however, the usually quiet Cheng Hongbing couldn’t hold back.
"Dad, Xiaoyuan’s not like that! He doesn’t care about power or who’s in charge. He must have gotten stuck in traffic."
Cheng Yuan’s third aunt, Wu Xiulan, curled her lip. "Brother-in-law, don’t take his side. If Xiaoyuan really cared, wouldn’t he have left earlier? Didn’t the rest of us all leave an hour ahead of time?"
Cheng Hongbing was at a loss for words.
Wu Kun said irritably, "Why don’t we just start? It’s ridiculous to have so many elders waiting for one junior!"
Wu Renqing’s expression darkened. "Xiaokun, you can’t treat Xiaoyuan like an ordinary junior! It was Xiaoyuan who drastically improved the Wu Family’s standard of living! We must never forget his contributions!"
His second brother-in-law, Liu Zhengyun, quickly chimed in, "Eldest Brother is right! We can’t forget all the good Xiaoyuan has done!"
Lian Shiqiang laughed. "Second Brother-in-law, that’s where you’re wrong. You can’t compare Xiaoyuan to Eldest Brother! Sure, Xiaoyuan got us into the annex of Villa No. 1, but he didn’t make us any money. Only Eldest Brother can help us truly ascend to a new social class!"
Basking in the praise, Wu Renqing chuckled. "Xiaoyuan is just a young man, after all. He got lucky with Villa No. 1, so we can’t ask too much of him. As for leading everyone to a higher social class, you can leave that to me!"
This unleashed a torrent of flattery from the crowd!
"Eldest Brother is incredible!"
"First Uncle is so impressive!"
"I’ve known since he was a boy that our eldest would be a great success! It looks like the future of the Wu Family rests on his shoulders!!"
...
Just as the atmosphere reached a fever pitch, Cheng Yuan pushed the door open and walked in.
Seeing that everyone was in high spirits, Cheng Yuan planned to quietly find a seat and hoped no one would notice him.
Unfortunately, Wu Renqing was eagle-eyed and spotted him instantly.
A huge, beaming smile spread across Wu Renqing’s face, as if he didn’t mind Cheng Yuan’s tardiness in the slightest. He beckoned to him enthusiastically.
"Xiaoyuan, you’re here! Quick, come over! Sit next to me!!"
At the old patriarch’s last birthday banquet, he had let Cheng Yuan sit in the seat of honor, a fact that had been a sore spot for Wu Renqing ever since.
’This time, I can finally hold my head high!’
’After all, he was at the head of the table, while Cheng Yuan could only sit beside him, like a right-hand man.’
Cheng Yuan felt resigned. Now that his uncle had called him out by name, there was no hiding. He could only walk forward with an awkward smile.
"My dear elders, everyone, I had a long way to travel. My apologies for being late."
With that, Cheng Yuan calmly sat down beside Wu Renqing.
Beside them, his aunt Yu Cuiping asked with feigned casualness, "Xiaoyuan, why didn’t you bring your wife? Oh, that’s right. A proper heiress from a great family like her probably looks down on your uncle, a mere deputy director, doesn’t she?"
Instantly—
The expression on everyone’s face turned grim.
’Xiaoyuan really had dropped the ball. How could he not bring his wife to such an important family event?’
Cheng Yuan immediately came up with an excuse. "Auntie, you’ve misunderstood. Ruoxi isn’t in the country right now, so she couldn’t make it back in time. Even I just flew in from Nanjiang and didn’t even have time to change! Here, look at my ticket if you don’t believe me!"
As he spoke, Cheng Yuan held up the plane ticket.
Seeing the ticket he presented, the expressions around the table softened slightly.
Wu Renqing said with a hint of regret, "What a shame Ruoxi couldn’t be here. It just feels like something’s missing! Waiter, let’s begin the meal!"
"Right away!"
Wu Renqing had truly spared no expense, ordering the most expensive seafood platter on the menu.
King crab and Australian lobster were soon brought to the table, along with every other kind of seafood imaginable.
Everyone’s mouths were watering. The old patriarch was the first to pick up his chopsticks, and then everyone began to feast.
Exhausted and hungry from his travels, Cheng Yuan didn’t hold back and dug in as well.
He ate a good half of a king crab before he started to feel more comfortable.
Seeing the way Cheng Yuan was devouring his food, Wu Kun sneered in disdain. ’And here I thought Xiaoyuan was such a big shot for buying Villa No. 1. Turns out he’s eating like he can’t even afford king crab?’
’As for him, Wu Kun, he was now the son of a government official. From now on, he could eat things like king crab whenever he pleased!’
Wu Kun looked at Cheng Yuan condescendingly. "Xiaoyuan, everyone prepared a gift for my dad. As his nephew, you surely brought a gift too, right?"