Chapter 432: As the Host Wishes
Niu Jishui was very respectful of Wu Renqing. He picked up his glass without hesitation and drained it in one gulp.
"Old Wu, my heartfelt congratulations!"
The surrounding Directors also chimed in to exchange pleasantries with Wu Renqing.
"Director Wu, I hear you’re in the Qingyun Ascending Hall? We were thinking of dropping by in a bit to join the fun, if you don’t mind?"
Wu Renqing laughed. "Of course I don’t mind. I’d be more than happy to have you!"
Zhang Guoqiang, Director of the Commerce Bureau, asked in a gentle voice, "Director Wu, you must have a lot of people at your thank-you banquet?"
"Not too many, not too many. Nowhere near as popular as your gathering, Director Niu!"
The Directors’ eyes lit up.
Niu Jishui asked, feigning casualness, "Such a big celebration. All your relatives must be here, right?"
"That’s true. None of the relatives are missing."
The Directors’ eyes lit up again. ’Although we couldn’t get the City Lord, getting to meet Young Master Cheng is still a great honor!’
"Old Wu, don’t keep your relatives waiting. We’ll head over with you right now."
"I couldn’t ask for more."
SHUFFLE, SHUFFLE.
Seven or eight Directors stood up.
Wu Renqing and Yu Cuiping were trembling with excitement. ’Just getting Niu Jishui to drop by would be impressive enough!’
’It would have been more than enough to put Mei Xing’an and Gao Qingyuan, Cheng Yuan’s guests, in their place.’
What Wu Renqing and Yu Cuiping hadn’t expected was that these Directors were being so incredibly respectful! Every single one of them was coming over!
’Wouldn’t this completely crush Mei Xing’an and Gao Qingyuan?’
Wu Renqing suppressed his excitement, adopting a very humble posture. "This way, please, my esteemed leaders!"
Led by Wu Renqing, the large group swept majestically into the Qingyun Ascending Hall.
At this moment, the Cheng Family’s relatives were all crowded around Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Song.
The old master insisted that Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Song take the seats of honor, but the two of them repeatedly refused, insisting that the old master take the seat instead.
For a moment, the two sides were at a stalemate.
Hearing the door open, the Wu Family merely shot it a brief glance before turning their attention back to Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Song!
’After all, these two are the City Lord and the Director of the Provincial City Patrol Headquarters!’
’The officials Wu Renqing brought with him paled in comparison to these two.’
Due to the angle, Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Song were completely blocked from view, so Wu Renqing and the other Directors couldn’t see who was being surrounded by the crowd.
The Directors’ expressions remained calm. ’After all, we’re here to see Young Master Cheng; it’s normal to be given the cold shoulder. We have to know our place.’
Wu Renqing’s expression, however, turned a little ugly.
’Aren’t they just Mei Xing’an and Gao Qingyuan?’
’Do my family members really need to suck up to them this much?’
’Didn’t I tell them ahead of time? That I was bringing the Directors over! How can my family not understand who’s more important!’
Wu Renqing gave a loud, deliberate cough, trying to remind his family to come and greet the leaders.
But then something happened that made Wu Renqing even more frustrated!
The members of the Wu Family just glanced over instinctively before turning their attention back again!
And that included his own dear son, Wu Kun!
In fact, his "dear son" Wu Kun was being particularly enthusiastic, his face plastered with a fawning smile so obsequious that even he, his own father, could barely watch.
Wu Renqing finally lost his patience. He took a deep breath, mustering up all his authority as the head of the Wu Family, and bellowed:
"Director Niu Jishui of the Construction Bureau has arrived!"
"Director Zhang Guoqiang of the Commerce Bureau has arrived!"
"Director You Baquan of the Political and Legal Affairs Bureau has arrived!"
"Director Qiu Ming of the Disciplinary Bureau has arrived!"
...
Wu Renqing’s voice, full and resonant, echoed throughout the Qingyun Ascending Hall. The hall’s boisterous chatter came to an abrupt halt as everyone turned to look at Wu Renqing with nervous expressions.
’He’s shouting his head off in front of the City Lord and Director Zhu. Will they get mad?’
Wu Renqing thought their nervous expressions meant he had successfully intimidated them, and he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Wu Renqing’s gaze swept over the crowd and finally landed on Cheng Yuan. ’It’s all because he brought Mei Xing’an and Gao Qingyuan that my family is being so rude, making a fool of me in front of the leaders!’
Wu Renqing said in a lecturing tone, "Xiaoyuan, don’t you have any manners? What is all this chaos? Hurry up and bring everyone, including your two distinguished guests, over here to toast the leaders!"
SWOOSH!
The expressions of everyone in the Wu Family changed drastically. Wu Kun, in particular, was so scared his face turned white!
’Has Dad gone crazy? Making the City Lord and Director Zhu go over and give a toast?’
’This is suicide!’
Wu Kun kept trying to send his father signals with his eyes, but Wu Renqing’s attention was focused entirely on Cheng Yuan, and he didn’t notice his son’s hints at all.
Cheng Yuan’s expression turned serious. "Uncle, I know the rules perfectly well. I can toast the leaders, but my distinguished guests cannot."
The Directors’ faces grew solemn. ’So this is Young Master Cheng?’
’He really has the look of wealth and nobility, and such a commanding presence!’
Worried that Cheng Yuan was getting angry, the Directors quickly tried to smooth things over.
"Director Wu, please calm down. This is a happy occasion, it doesn’t matter who toasts whom! Young Master Cheng, I, Qiu Ming, will toast you!"
"Director Wu, calm yourself. Don’t let us be the reason for friction between family. I’ve long heard that Young Master Cheng is a heroic young man, and seeing you today, you are truly extraordinary. I, You Baquan, will toast you!"
For a moment, the atmosphere relaxed slightly.
Unfortunately, Wu Renqing was too blinded by anger to listen to reason. He said in a heavy voice, "My esteemed leaders, my family is being ignorant and has made a fool of themselves in front of you! But without rules, there can be no order. Today, we must establish some rules!"
After speaking, Wu Renqing stared fixedly at Cheng Yuan and said in a low, forceful voice, "Xiaoyuan, normally, I wouldn’t stoop to arguing with you. But today is my thank-you banquet, and you must give me this face! Take your guests and toast the leaders now!"
Cheng Yuan instinctively started to refuse, but Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Jiang took two steps forward, interrupting him.
"When in Rome, do as the Romans do. We’ll offer a toast to the leaders, then."
Huh?
’That voice sounds a little familiar...’
Wu Renqing and the Directors turned to look, slightly puzzled. They saw Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Song emerge from the crowd, holding their glasses and walking toward them with faint smiles.
The City Lord?
Director Zhu??
The Directors were completely dumbfounded. They looked at each other, speechless for a long moment!
’Wasn’t the City Lord busy hosting Director Zhu?’
’How could he have time to attend Wu Renqing’s thank-you banquet?’
Soon, the Directors figured it out!
’Young Master Cheng must have invited the City Lord and Director Zhu!’
How could the Directors dare to let Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Jiang toast them? Their faces turned deathly pale with fright, their backs instantly stooped, and their faces were plastered with ingratiating smiles.
"City Lord, Director Zhu, how could we possibly let you toast us? It should be us toasting the two of you!"
The Directors hastily raised their glasses and downed the contents in one gulp!
Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Song merely took a small sip.
Wu Renqing’s head was buzzing. He couldn’t comprehend what was happening in front of him!
’Didn’t Cheng Yuan invite Mei Xing’an and Gao Qingyuan?’
’How did they turn into the City Lord and Director Zhu?’
’This isn’t some little surprise!’
’This is a terrifying shock!’