Chapter 433: Xiaoyuan, Your Uncle Thanks You
Yu Cuiping was utterly confused. She leaned in and whispered in Wu Renqing’s ear, "Honey, who are these distinguished guests Xiaoyuan invited? Why are the directors being so deferential?"
"The City... the City Lord, and... Director Zhu from the Provincial City."
Yu Cuiping was so frightened her heart lurched. Her mind went fuzzy from a lack of oxygen, and her vision swam with black spots. She gripped Wu Renqing’s arm tightly to keep from collapsing.
’Old Wu had been so loud and bossy in front of the City Lord and Director Zhu, even telling them to toast the other leaders. We’re so screwed!’
Wu Renqing didn’t have time to consider the consequences. He walked forward on legs that felt like jelly, bowed respectfully to Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Song, and apologized in a choked, pleading voice.
"My lords, I truly didn’t know it was you two! I was so offensive just now, and I sincerely apologize to you both! Let me toast you. I’ll down my glass; please, drink as you wish!"
With that, Wu Renqing raised his glass and drained it in one gulp.
Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Song gave Wu Renqing face, both raising their glasses and downing them as well.
Ni Zhenjiang smiled. "Old Wu, we’re all on the same side here. You don’t have to be so formal. You’re Xiaoyuan’s elder. In private, we can just treat each other as peers."
Wu Renqing was terrified, waving his hands frantically. "I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare."
Zhu Song laughed. "Old Wu, don’t be a stranger. You’re Xiaoyuan’s uncle, which makes you my own dear brother! In the future, if you’re ever in the Provincial City and run into any trouble, just mention Zhu Jiang’s name. It’ll absolutely get you sorted out!"
Wu Renqing was stunned, his mind buzzing.
’How could Xiaoyuan possibly know the City Lord and Director Zhu?’
’And be on such good terms with them?’
’Like a brother??’
The eyes of all the other directors filled with a mixture of envy, jealousy, and resentment. ’Look at Wu Renqing,’ they thought. ’With a nephew like that, he’s set for life!’
Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Song didn’t stay long. After some pleasantries, they made their excuses. "Old Wu, congratulations again! We won’t disturb your thank-you banquet any further. We’ll get together another time."
Wu Renqing couldn’t hold it in any longer. He asked with a completely bewildered expression, "My lords, Xiaoyuan is just a kid who recently got out of prison. How did you two come to know him?"
Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Song looked at each other and smiled.
"Brother Wu, you can’t think of Xiaoyuan as just a kid! There are many times when the two of us have to ask Xiaoyuan for help to get things done!"
After saying this, the two departed at a leisurely pace, leaving a dumbstruck Wu Renqing in their wake.
’Two major leaders need Xiaoyuan’s help?’
’How is that possible?!’
The directors’ eyes lit up!
’It’s confirmed!’
’Even the City Lord and Director Zhu have to ask Young Master Cheng for favors. It seems Lord Shen really did get his position through Young Master Cheng’s connections!’
The directors swarmed around Cheng Yuan, toasting him relentlessly, all hoping to just make an impression and become a familiar face to him.
Cheng Yuan didn’t refuse anyone, raising his glass time and again. However, he only took a small sip each time. Yet, the directors had no complaints whatsoever, their faces plastered with smiles.
’It seemed that Cheng Yuan even being willing to take a sip was enough to give them immense face!’
Wu Renqing’s mouth twitched uncontrollably. ’Are you sure these are the high-and-mighty leaders of the various bureaus?’
’Why are they so humble in front of Xiaoyuan?’
’Usually, when he toasted his leaders, they would be the ones to take a small sip. But with Xiaoyuan, the roles were completely reversed!’
’This doesn’t make any sense!’
The members of the Wu Family were already growing numb to the shock.
First the City Lord and Director Zhu, and now so many other directors, all of them so respectful toward Xiaoyuan!
’What on earth did Xiaoyuan do that was so shocking?’
’Why were so many leaders so polite to him?’
The directors knew their place. They didn’t overstay their welcome with Cheng Yuan. After offering their toasts, they tactfully took their leave.
Soon, the Qingyun Ascending Hall returned to tranquility. The hearts of the Wu Family members, however, were anything but calm; it was as if a tempest was raging within them.
Everyone stared at Cheng Yuan with expressions of utter awe and reverence.
The old patriarch sighed. "I completely misjudged. I thought that with the eldest becoming the Deputy Director of the Construction Bureau, he was the True Dragon of our Wu Family! The undisputed one in charge! But compared to Xiaoyuan, the eldest is nothing more than a worm! The True Dragon of our Wu Family has been Xiaoyuan all along!"
Wu Renqing was silent. He didn’t want to admit it, but what had just happened said it all.
His so-called accomplishments were worth nothing in front of Cheng Yuan.
The others didn’t dare to speak casually, but Wu Xiuli, as Cheng Yuan’s mother, had no such reservations.
"Xiaoyuan, what else have you been hiding from us? Spit it out, right now! How do you know the City Lord and Director Zhu?"
Cheng Yuan answered truthfully, "Actually, Uncle Ni and I only met recently. However, the reason he came to Luocheng has a little something to do with me."
After a slight pause, Cheng Yuan continued, "As for Uncle Zhu, I met him right after I got out of prison. The Zhu Family in the Provincial City saw my potential in martial arts and established me in their line of succession, giving me the same treatment as a direct heir of the Zhu Family."
Cheng Yuan said it all very calmly, but to the others, it sounded like a fairy tale.
Wu Xiuli pressed, "I can understand the martial arts talent, but what does Lord Ni coming to Luocheng have to do with you?"
Cheng Yuan answered honestly, "The reason Uncle Ni came to Luocheng was to make it easier to look after me."
If it had been before Ni Zhenjiang and Zhu Song’s arrival, the Wu Family members would have certainly sneered at Cheng Yuan’s words.
’Such a powerful City Lord came to Luocheng just to look after you, Cheng Yuan?’
’Talk about blowing your own horn!’
But now, nobody refuted him. They even had a faint feeling that what Cheng Yuan said was the truth.
The old patriarch gave Cheng Yuan a deep look, then glanced at Wu Renqing. He understood everything in an instant and prompted, "Renqing, everything you have today is thanks to Xiaoyuan! You need to thank him properly!"
Huh?
The Wu Family members were taken aback. What did this have to do with Cheng Yuan?
Soon, they realized something.
’Could it be... the City Lord promoted the eldest brother entirely to give face to Xiaoyuan?’
’It must be!’
Wu Renqing was no fool. The patriarch’s words were a wake-up call, and he instantly understood the crux of the matter.
’The City Lord was an outside appointee. He had never met the man before, so why would the City Lord treat him so well?’
’Why would the City Lord give him an exceptional promotion to Deputy Director of the Construction Bureau?’
’Obviously, this was all thanks to Xiaoyuan!!’
’He thought about his own behavior over the past few days, about how he had flaunted his success in front of Cheng Yuan, about how he’d even wanted to find a job for him!’
’He was a complete and utter clown!’
Wu Renqing wished the ground would open up and swallow him whole.
Wu Renqing struggled to compose himself, slowly walking up to Cheng Yuan and looking at him with a very complicated expression.
"I’m only now realizing how ridiculous I’ve been. All my accomplishments... it turns out I was just basking in your glory! I’ve been a frog in a well. Compared to you, I’m nothing! From now on, I’m done competing. You will always be the one in charge of the Wu Family! Xiaoyuan, your uncle thanks you!!"