Chapter 46: What Kind of Decent Person Could You Know?
Hao Garden Hotel was situated at the intersection of He Mountain Road and Xinxing Road, in the heart of Luocheng’s most bustling commercial district.
Business at Hao Garden Hotel was booming. It was almost always fully booked, and some of the more popular private rooms had to be reserved a month in advance.
It was 11:30, and most of Cheng Yuan’s relatives had already arrived. They were gathered around the family patriarch and Wu Renqing, chatting enthusiastically.
Wu Xiuli and Cheng Hongbing stood off to the side in silence, clearly being ostracized.
"Grandpa, Eldest Uncle, Eldest Aunt, Second Uncle, Second Aunt, Second Aunt, Second Uncle-in-law, Third Aunt, Third Uncle-in-law."
Cheng Yuan greeted all the elders in one go. As for his own generation, he couldn’t be bothered, merely giving a slight nod to his second aunt’s daughter, Liu Qian. Then he plopped down in a chair, pulled out his phone, and started scrolling through short videos.
The private room instantly fell silent. All eyes turned to Cheng Yuan.
Seeing his nonchalant attitude, the relatives couldn’t help but frown. ’Has he completely given up on himself?’
’Sigh. How did our family end up with an ex-con?’
’It’s shameful to even talk about it.’
’What’s even more baffling is that Cheng Yuan is so pigheaded!’
’He actually rejected Dean Zhang’s olive branch. He’ll probably never amount to anything now!’
His cousin Wu Kun, son of his eldest uncle, feigned concern as he asked, "Xiaoyuan, how many years until you graduate? If you want to take the civil service exam after that, I can help you study. I ranked first in both the written and interview portions of the provincial exam this year."
Cheng Yuan knew Wu Kun didn’t want to help him study; he just wanted to rub it in his face that he’d become a civil servant.
His cousin on his third aunt’s side said in a reproachful tone, "Eldest Cousin, aren’t you rubbing salt in the wound? Second Cousin just got out of prison. He has a criminal record, so he can’t take the civil service exam."
"Oh, my bad, my bad. I completely forgot Xiaoyuan just got out. I shouldn’t have brought that up."
Cheng Yuan, of course, was unfazed. He replied calmly, "Congratulations, Cousin. After three years of trying, you finally passed the exam."
Wu Kun was displeased. ’This Cheng Yuan is such a buzzkill,’ he thought. ’Why did he have to mention the three years?’
"Xiaoyuan, have you gone back to school? Can you even get your diploma?"
The private room instantly fell silent. Even Wu Renqing felt his son had gone a bit too far and chided him, "Xiaokun, what nonsense are you talking! Xiaoyuan, don’t mind him. Your cousin didn’t mean any harm; he wasn’t being malicious."
As if the thought had just struck him, Wu Kun gave himself a light slap.
"Xiaoyuan, I’m sorry. Why do I always have to bring up sore subjects? You’ve already been expelled from school. You have no chance of going back!"
Cheng Yuan’s expression was placid.
"There’s nothing to be sorry about. In fact, I think I should be grateful for the experience."
The relatives thought he was just being stubborn, forcing himself to endure the humiliation, and they shook their heads.
Cheng Yuan’s second aunt, Wu Xiuhua, was fond of him and couldn’t bear to see him give up on himself. She turned to Wu Renqing with an ingratiating look.
"Big Brother, you were just promoted to Section Chief, and in a powerful department like the Construction Committee at that. You’re well-connected—could you help Xiaoyuan find a job?"
Hearing this, Wu Xiuli also looked at Wu Renqing with an expectant gaze. ’Lin Ruoxi is so exceptional,’ she thought. ’If my son doesn’t make something of himself, he’ll never be worthy of her.’
Wu Renqing looked troubled. "Xiuhua, I want to help Xiaoyuan, too, but my department is different. With his criminal record, he couldn’t even get a job as a janitor with us."
The light faded from Wu Xiuli’s eyes. ’He’ll probably never be able to escape this stain,’ she despaired. ’He’s only twenty. What will become of him?’
Wu Xiuhua wasn’t ready to give up. She smiled, "Big Brother, I’m not asking you to get Xiaoyuan a job in the Construction Committee. But don’t a lot of developers ask you for favors? Can’t you have them figure something out?"
Unable to wave her off, Wu Renqing frowned at Cheng Yuan. "Xiaoyuan, if you’re willing to work on a construction site, I can try to help."
Cheng Yuan rolled his eyes in annoyance. ’If I wanted to work on a construction site, would I really need to owe someone a favor for it?’
"Eldest Uncle, I appreciate the thought, but you don’t need to worry about my job."
Wu Xiuhua turned to Wu Xiulan. "Xiulan, I heard your clothing factory profited over six hundred thousand in the first half of the year. How about letting Xiaoyuan work there?"
Wu Xiulan shook her head vigorously. "Second Sister, that was our gross profit. After wages and expenses, we actually lost money in the first half of the year! We still have bank loans to pay. We really can’t afford to carry any dead weight."
Wu Xiuhua was about to say more, but Cheng Yuan stopped her with a smile. "Second Aunt, my wife just opened a small company. We’re doing fine, so you don’t need to worry about me."
Wife??
Everyone’s ears perked up.
Wu Xiuhua asked, a little excitedly, "Xiaoyuan, you’re married? When did this happen?"
"We just registered a few days ago. We haven’t had the wedding ceremony yet, but I’ll let you know when we do."
The other relatives, finding it hard to believe someone would willingly marry an ex-convict, all turned to Wu Xiuli.
"Xiuli," they chorused, "is Xiaoyuan really married? Is she a local or from out of town?"
Wu Xiuli nodded. "They’re really married. I guess you could say she’s from out of town."
’From out of town, huh?’
The relatives all got ’I-knew-it’ looks on their faces. ’Of course a local girl wouldn’t have him. She must be after his Luocheng residency permit.’
’Once she secures her residency, she’ll probably divorce him in a heartbeat.’
Cheng Yuan’s eldest aunt-in-law, Yu Cuiping, said smugly, "Our Xiaokun is getting engaged next month, too. His fiancée is the daughter of the Deputy Director of the Construction Committee."
Everyone’s eyes lit up, and they immediately began to shower her with compliments.
"The Deputy Director’s daughter? Xiaokun will get a huge boost in his career! He might even surpass his uncle’s achievements!"
"Xiaokun, you have to seize this opportunity and make a good impression on your future father-in-law."
Wu Kun shot Cheng Yuan an arrogant glance, then declared to the elders, "Please don’t worry, everyone. I will certainly make a good impression and will be as devoted to my future parents-in-law as I am to my own parents."
This was met with another round of effusive praise.
Just as the atmosphere was reaching a fever pitch, Cheng Yuan received a call from Wu Fei.
"Brother Cheng, are you free? I’d like to treat you to lunch."
"Sorry about that, it’s my grandpa’s birthday. How about another day?"
"It’s your grandpa’s birthday? Which hotel? I’ll come over to give a toast."
"Hao Garden, second floor, Sutra Pavilion. Brother Fei, it’s the thought that counts. No need to go to all that trouble."
"No trouble at all. My own party is at Hao Garden. I’ll just drop by to offer a toast. I won’t be intruding, will I?"
"Of course not. You’re more than welcome."
After hanging up, Cheng Yuan looked at Wu Renqing. "Eldest Uncle, a friend of mine is coming by in a bit to offer a toast to Grandpa."
Wu Renqing frowned instinctively. "Xiaoyuan, be careful who you associate with. We’re a respectable family. If it’s some shady character, tell them not to come."
"He’s respectable."
Wu Xiulan couldn’t help but sneer. "Xiaoyuan, you just got out of prison. What kind of respectable person could you possibly know? Hurry up and call him, tell him not to come. It’s bad luck!"
Just as Cheng Yuan was about to explain, a young man in a white shirt and black trousers walked into the private room.
Seeing the young man, Wu Renqing shot up from his seat, hurried over, and asked in a slightly fawning tone, "Secretary Liu, what brings you here?"
The newcomer was Liu Yongxiang, secretary to Gao Qiming, the Director of the Construction Committee.
Liu Yongxiang spoke in a commanding tone, "Chief Wu, Director Gao is hosting an important guest, and there are no more private rooms on the second floor. I see you’re about done eating. Could you vacate the room?"