"That's rare." Zheng Ronghua nodded in appreciation, then glanced at Xu Zhengyang.
Yu Zhenbang and Pang Zhong were stunned for a moment, then looked at Xu Zhengyang. This kid was actually a shareholder of Gu Xiangxuan? And a friend of Master Gu, Yao Chushun? Not simple at all. No wonder he was able to remain calm and composed in the face of so many high-ranking officials and police officers, watching the situation unfold... However, his age was truly unbelievable.
He had intended to ask Xu Zhengyang a few more questions, but at that moment Zhao Qing and Zhong Shan came over to offer him a toast.
Yu Zhenbang and Pang Zhong were all smiles as they invited the two to sit down, chatted briefly, and drank a couple of glasses of wine.
Zhao Qing and Zhong Shan, of course, wouldn't take advantage of the situation and stay at the table forever. After exchanging a few polite words, they got up and returned to their original seats.
There's a saying in the countryside: "Many people are like monkeys on a mountain; they can't stand having a leader."
I wonder if it's appropriate to describe the main restaurant on the first floor of the Yunlai Hotel as a place frequented by dignitaries with prominent status in various fields.
I am but a rustic country bumpkin, lacking in literary skill and knowledge, so I will simply use local colloquialisms to describe and metaphorize this.
In short, Zhao Qing and Zhong Shan, these two individuals who might not have caught the eye of those important figures, set a precedent for others. Thus, those who had originally intended to offer a toast and exchange a few words gradually stepped forward, introduced themselves, and offered polite toasts…
The people invited by Master Yao Chushun were no ordinary nouveau riche. They were either prominent figures in the antique world of the entire province or even Beijing, or wealthy tycoons from Fuhe City and surrounding cities with an extreme passion for collecting antiques. Without absolute financial power, who could afford to collect these ridiculously expensive, worn-out antiques?
Aside from getting to know the Party Secretary and the Public Security Bureau Chief of Fuhe City, gaining a better understanding and familiarity with Zheng Ronghua, the CEO of Ronghua Group, would be a rare opportunity for them. After all, Ronghua Group is a top 500 conglomerate in the country, with strength comparable to some heavyweight state-owned enterprises.
Xu Zhengyang, sitting at a secluded table, naturally witnessed this scene. He also considered going over to toast Zheng Ronghua and exchange a few polite words. After all, it was the grand opening of his new shop, and Zheng Ronghua was well aware of his status as a part-owner of Gu Xiang Xuan. Not going would seem impolite—why pretend to be so important? However, looking at the two high-ranking officials beside him, Xu Zhengyang thought better of it. He had already spoken to Yao Chushun earlier and asked him to explain things to him. Besides, given Zheng Ronghua's status and position, he probably wouldn't be so petty as to bother with such formalities.
As the saying goes, birds of a feather flock together.
At the three tables where Xu Zhengyang and his group sat, apart from Diao Yishi and Ouyang Ying, everyone else was a country bumpkin. Zhong Zhijun was just a low-ranking policeman, and Zhou Qiang's family did business in Fuhe City... but that was only something many people in Shuanghe Village envied. They had assets of a few hundred thousand yuan.
At the table next to them, a different kind of people were gathered.
Yes, these were some figures from the antique circles of the surrounding cities and the provincial capital. They didn't necessarily have any particular feelings of good or bad towards Yao Chushun and Gu Xiangxuan; they only came to the banquet out of politeness. Of course, this was also the reason why Yao Chushun sent them invitations. Such is the nature of human nature. Yao Chushun was once a powerful figure, but later suffered a complete defeat, enduring ridicule and contempt. Who would have thought he would suddenly rise to power? Like a rocket soaring to the heavens, he made a comeback. Isn't this a stark slap in the face to some people?
A man in his forties, with a greasy face and dressed in a suit, seemed to be looking for someone to vent his jealousy and envy on. He looked disdainfully at Xu Zhengyang's table next to him and the two tables further inside, and said to the person next to him, "How come just anyone can get on stage? Yao Chushun really knows all sorts of people, he can reach out and make connections with people from all walks of life."
"Hehe, has Boss Zhang forgotten what kind of life Yao Chushun lived a few years ago?" the man next to him said with a slightly sarcastic tone.
Another person said disdainfully, "Look at these country bumpkins, sitting there all nervously, not daring to say a word. Sigh... what are they doing here? Aren't they just asking for trouble?"
The people at the table laughed, as if the joke made them very proud and allowed them to vent their frustrations.
Diao Yishi suddenly turned his head and glared at him, saying, "Hey, did you guys eat at home before you came?"
The group of people were slightly taken aback, not understanding what this young man, who seemed to be of higher status than the others sitting with him, meant.
Diao Yishi sneered and said, "I thought you ate something unclean at home, that's why you have bad breath."
“You…” The person who first uttered the sarcastic remark showed anger on his face.
The person next to him advised, "Forget it, don't bother with them, it's not worth it..."
"Damn, what a show-off!" Diao Yishi cursed disdainfully.
Everyone was furious.
Xu Zhengyang pulled Diao Yishi back, stopping him from continuing his outburst.
To everyone's surprise, Xu Zhengyang picked up a glass of wine, stood up, and stood in front of the table. He said in a loud voice to the greasy-faced man, "Come on, brother, let's have a drink and get to know each other!"
Volume 3, Judge, Chapter 121: There's always someone better.
Because Xu Zhengyang deliberately raised his voice and spoke in a vulgar tone, everyone heard this inappropriate and mood-ruining remark.
"My name is Xu Zhengyang, from Shuanghe Village, Huaxiang Township, Cixian County. Where are you from, brother?" Xu Zhengyang didn't care about the stares of the crowd and continued to ask in a very polite, simple, and somewhat vulgar manner.
Mr. Zhang was quite embarrassed. With so many people watching, this young man actually wanted to get to know him, greet him, and even offer him a drink? If he refused, it would seem like he was being too arrogant and putting on airs. But if he accepted, he felt it was unnecessary and he would probably be laughed at.
"What? You're not giving me face?" Xu Zhengyang glared and shouted angrily.
Mr. Zhang forced a smile, picked up his cup to gesture, took a small sip, and put it down.
Xu Zhengyang glared and said, "This is so insincere! Drink it all up!"
The people in the restaurant were all dumbfounded, wondering if they had hearing and vision problems. Where did this country bumpkin come from?
"Hmph!" Boss Zhang turned his head away and ignored Xu Zhengyang.
The person next to him, however, put on a stern face and reprimanded, "Who do you think you are? Go back and stop making a fool of yourself here!" Several people glared at Xu Zhengyang with displeasure. Their eyes contained annoyance, contempt, disdain, and sarcasm.
Xu Zhengyang's expression suddenly changed. His previous smug and vulgar smile vanished, his glaring eyes narrowed, and his honest smile faded as he said softly, "You don't like this either? We're eating quietly and talking softly, and you mock us for not daring to make a sound... I just don't understand, who are you people? Why are you so difficult to please? Besides, we're all guests invited by Master Gu, so why do we have to meet your standards? You should have told Master Gu earlier that all the guests need to be vetted by you first, shouldn't you?"
"What do you mean?" Boss Zhang's face fell.
"Judging from what you just said, does Master Gu have to report to you about the kind of people he associates with?" Xu Zhengyang accuses people randomly and distorts the meaning of their words. "Gentlemen, could you introduce yourselves and tell me which temple you belong to? I'd like to curry favor and climb the social ladder..."
The men looked embarrassed but didn't know what to say, so they just snorted and turned away, ignoring Xu Zhengyang and pretending not to care. However, everyone in the restaurant had already been drawn to Xu Zhengyang's previous vulgar behavior and words, so the men present also became the focus of attention because of him.
Looking at the people at the table, all speechless after being teased by a seemingly ordinary young man, the people in the restaurant couldn't help but chuckle. They hadn't expected to encounter such a situation at today's banquet, or to see such a fascinating person. In truth, weren't all of them seasoned veterans? They had already roughly guessed what was going on from the conversation. Some were even thankful they weren't sitting at that table, otherwise they might have become the target of that young man's teasing as well. After all, they had also wondered why there were such a group of country bumpkins as guests today.
Yao Chushun had already gotten up and was walking over with a wine glass, wanting to smooth things over. He wasn't particularly angry about Xu Zhengyang's behavior; he could guess what those people had said from Xu Zhengyang's words earlier.
At this moment, Zheng Ronghua suddenly smiled and waved over, saying, "Young friend Zhengyang, you're really not giving me, Zheng Ronghua, any face, are you? It's been so long, and you haven't come over to have a couple of drinks with me. Do you think I'm too old to hold my liquor?"
"Not at all! Mr. Zheng's words make me feel ashamed!" Xu Zhengyang replied with a smile, picking up his wine glass and walking over there. Now that Zheng Ronghua had spoken, he couldn't keep hiding and playing the low-key card anymore; that would just be pure showing off and would get him struck by lightning.
After walking over, Xu Zhengyang grinned again. He raised his glass and said, "I'd like to toast you. Um, please, just a little something is fine. I'll drink it."
To the surprise of the puzzled crowd, Zheng Ronghua stood up, raised his wine glass, and laughed, "Zhengyang, people say that old swords are still sharp. I wouldn't dare to be presumptuous, but I still have a good capacity for alcohol. I can't let you, a young man, underestimate me, haha!" With that, Zheng Ronghua downed the wine in his glass in one gulp.
Xu Zhengyang was slightly embarrassed. He picked up his glass and drank it all, then smiled sincerely and said, "President Zheng, I reckon I won't be able to sleep for the next few days. I'm so excited!"
Zheng Ronghua had already sat back down and laughed, "Originally, as the behind-the-scenes owner of Gu Xiang Xuan, I was hoping to take advantage of my proximity to collect more treasures. I never expected that you would steal my seat as the owner. You're not being fair. For that, you deserve a cup of wine. In the future, if Gu Xiang Xuan has anything good, you'd better let me know first!"
"Definitely, definitely." Xu Zhengyang smiled, picked up the wine bottle beside the table, filled a glass, and drank it down in one gulp. He then filled another glass and said to Yu Zhenbang and Pang Zhong, "Secretary Yu, Director Pang, I'm so sorry. I'd like to propose a toast to you both. Before, I was really too embarrassed to come over, being a country bumpkin. Please don't take offense at my rudeness..."
Yu Zhenbang was amused by Xu Zhengyang's seemingly shy and honest appearance, and raised his glass slightly, saying, "Xu Zhengyang, hmm, not bad, I remember you."
Pang Zhong, standing beside him, raised his glass and smiled, saying, "Heroes have always emerged from among the young. You did a great job last time!"
Unlike Zheng Ronghua, the two of them didn't drink their wine in one gulp; they just took a small sip.
"Thank you both for coming today. I'll be looking forward to your continued support in the future," Xu Zhengyang said with a shy smile.
Pang Zhong laughed and said, "Just don't break the law!"
"Well, I wouldn't dare. I've always been a coward," Xu Zhengyang said seriously.
The group exchanged knowing smiles.
Everyone in the restaurant looked astonished. Who exactly was this young man named Xu Zhengyang? Even Chen Chaojiang and Zhong Zhijun's friends, as well as Xu Zhengyang's relatives—his parents, sister, Diao Yishi, and Ouyang Ying—found it all somewhat unbelievable.
When did Xu Zhengyang get to know these important figures? And it seems they do have a good relationship.
Now that the matter was out in the open and Xu Zhengyang's identity as a shareholder and owner of Gu Xiang Xuan was revealed, he could only put on a sheepish smile and apologize. He then began to walk around each table, just like Yao Chushun had done before, giving brief self-introductions and toasting everyone to thank them for their support...
After sitting at a table for a long time, Zhan Xiaohui and Deng Wenjing whispered to each other for a while.
Then, Zhan Xiaohui began introducing Xu Zhengyang to several people at the table whom he didn't know very well, saying that Xu was the boss of their Jinghui Logistics Company, exaggerating how powerful and influential the company was, how large it was, how much registered capital it had, and so on... He deliberately raised his voice a little, which only made the people at the next table more and more surprised.
Who exactly is this young man named Xu Zhengyang? One minute he's the owner of Gu Xiang Xuan restaurant, the next he owns a logistics company with assets worth tens of millions. How old is he? He looks to be only in his early twenties, and he doesn't look like a wealthy person at all; instead, he seems rather rustic and simple. Hmm, he even knows Zheng Ronghua, the CEO of Ronghua Group. Zheng Ronghua called him "young friend," and he even stood up to drink the wine he offered, speaking to him with such ease and familiarity. And the municipal party secretary and the police chief also know him…
Mr. Zhang and his group were so embarrassed they wanted to disappear into the ground. Getting up to leave now wouldn't work either; that would only make them look even more contemptible. So, they silently cursed each other in their hearts: "Where did this rich young master come from, insisting on sitting with a bunch of country bumpkins? He looks like a country bumpkin, his clothes are tacky, and he even stands up for them..."
Xu Zhengyang finally walked to their table, but his face did not show any dissatisfaction. He smiled and said, "Everyone, thank you for coming. I'd like to propose a toast to you all."
The group quickly stood up, their faces full of apology, and spoke politely before drinking their glasses of wine.
"Now, everyone, please introduce yourselves so I can get to know you. Which temple do you all belong to?" Xu Zhengyang said this while still smiling, but his eyes were slightly narrowed, revealing an unfathomable expression.
The men looked embarrassed and became increasingly awkward. Two of them, who hadn't spoken much sarcasticly before, forced smiles, apologized, and introduced themselves. Mr. Zhang and his two companions then made a move to leave. Just then, Yao Chushun, who had come to their rescue, stopped them, offered a few words of comfort, and persuaded them to sit down. Yao Chushun then smoothed things over by introducing himself again.
Xu Zhengyang smiled and sat back down in his original seat.
As the banquet was nearing its end, Yao Chushun and the event company staff were about to invite the guests back to Gu Xiang Xuan to begin the ceremony when two men in black suits with cold expressions walked in through the glass doors of the restaurant. They stood on either side, their piercing eyes fixed on everyone in the large dining room.
Then, an elderly man, well past seventy, with white hair, dressed in a black Tang suit and cloth shoes, walked in. A humble smile graced his slightly sallow face. Upon entering the hall, he turned his gaze towards the back of the restaurant. Beside him followed a tall, elegantly dressed young woman. What was striking was that her fair, jade-like face, with its pair of bright, beautiful eyes, was cold and indifferent, utterly devoid of any sparkle.
After the old man and the girl entered, three tall, burly men in black suits walked in.
Everyone in the restaurant looked at the newcomer with slight surprise, wondering who the old man was. He seemed somewhat familiar, as if they had seen him somewhere before, yet he was also a stranger…
Seeing the girl and the old man enter, Xu Zhengyang hurriedly stood up and walked over, thinking to himself, "What kind of joke is this? Grandpa, why did you actually come? Isn't this shortening my lifespan?"
Xu Zhengyang stepped forward, a sheepish smile on his face, and said nervously, "Um, Grandpa, what brings you here?"
"Hehe, you sent me an invitation, why can't I come?" The old man smiled kindly and even joked with Xu Zhengyang.
"Cough cough, sorry, sorry, slip of the tongue, slip of the tongue, I was too nervous." Sweat beaded on Xu Zhengyang's brow as he scratched his head and said, "Quick, please sit down, sir." As he spoke, Xu Zhengyang gestured for the old man to walk to Yao Chushun's table, while turning to Li Chengzong and complaining, "Brother, why didn't you call ahead?"
Li Chengzong smiled but remained silent.
Li Bingjie suddenly said, "I told you I would come."
Xu Zhengyang broke out in a cold sweat, thinking to himself, "You said you would come, but you didn't say your grandfather would come! And, and you're all so late... Sure enough, important people always act like big shots."
Whether the old man guessed what Xu Zhengyang was thinking or not, he turned around and smiled, saying, "I'm a little late, sorry to have kept you waiting."
"No, no..." Xu Zhengyang quickly replied.
No wonder Xu Zhengyang was so nervous upon seeing this old man. As the current acting chief judge of Fuhe City, he knew the old man's identity inside and out. In front of such an old man, the number of people who could remain calm and composed in this multi-party country was probably less than the number on the palm of one hand.
Furthermore, from Li Bingjie's perspective, he is an elder, a grandfather, so how could a grandson not show him respect?
As the old man walked to the table and was about to sit down, Yu Zhenbang and Pang Zhongcai suddenly remembered the old man's identity. They quickly stood up in unease, and Yu Zhenbang said humbly, "Old Li, what brings you here?"
Upon seeing Yu Zhenbang's attitude, a flicker of surprise crossed Zheng Ronghua's mind. She then realized the old man's identity; in Fuhe City, there was only one person who could command such trepidation and humility from Yu Zhenbang. Zheng Ronghua hurriedly stood up, wanting to greet him but unsure whether she should or couldn't. For the first time, the usually composed and shrewd Zheng Ronghua lost her composure.
A bead of sweat appeared on Pang Zhong's forehead as he greeted him humbly.
The old man smiled kindly as he sat down, raising his hand slightly as he said, "Don't be so nervous and polite. I'm not a god. Please sit down."
The group sat down with awkward smiles.
Xu Zhengyang was already scratching his head in frustration. "Grandpa, you're just making things worse... With you here, who can eat or drink?" Despite these thoughts, Xu Zhengyang took out a cigarette and offered it to him. "Grandpa, please have a cigarette."
The old man smiled and waved his hand, saying, "I'm getting old, so I can't smoke or drink."
"Oh? I see." Xu Zhengyang withdrew his hand.
What Xu Zhengyang didn't notice was that everyone smoking in the restaurant immediately threw their lit cigarettes under the table and stomped them out.
Li Bingjie gently sat down beside the old man, then looked up at Xu Zhengyang with unwavering gaze.
"Zhengyang, you're good, very good." The old man suddenly smiled and nodded approvingly.
"Thank you, thank you for the compliment. I... I'm a little embarrassed." Xu Zhengyang chuckled and sat down.
The old man turned to look at Li Chengzong, who then handed a long, narrow wooden box to Xu Zhengyang. The old man smiled and said, "I am a lonely man living in seclusion and have nothing to offer as a gift. Please accept this small gift, as I have written a few words for you. I hope you will not find it too insignificant."
"How could that be?" Xu Zhengyang quickly took the wooden box and thanked him repeatedly.