Chapter 228: Killing with a Borrowed Knife
Wen Zihua and his lackeys were stunned. ’Who is this kid? Such arrogance!’
Before Wen Zihua could react, one of his lackeys said coldly, "Kid, do you know who you’re talking to? Careful you don’t bite your tongue with all that big talk!"
Cheng Yuan said calmly, "I don’t need to know who you are. I just know that Miss Xiao is Sister Shishi’s good friend. By stealing Miss Xiao’s imperial banquet, you’re disrespecting Sister Shishi, and that makes me very unhappy."
PFFT!
Wen Zihua and his lackeys couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
"This kid really thinks he’s hot stuff! So what if you’re not happy?"
Cheng Yuan said calmly, "When I’m not happy, I can have you all thrown out."
Xiao Xun’Er and Han Zhongming gave a wry smile. ’This Divine Doctor Cheng is truly fearless out of ignorance. He has no idea how astonishingly powerful the Wen Family is!’
Han Zhongming whispered in Cheng Yuan’s ear, "Divine Doctor Cheng, I’ll take the loss on this one. Wen Zihua’s grandfather was the previous Dragon Head of Dragon Flame, and his father is the Director of the General Office of the Central Organization Department. We can’t afford to provoke them!"
The Central Organization Department?
Cheng Yuan smiled.
’If it were any other department, it might be a bit of a hassle, but the Central Organization Department is no problem at all.’
"No matter what his background is, he can’t just steal Miss Xiao’s imperial banquet!"
Saying this, Cheng Yuan took out his phone and dialed Zhang Yi’s number. The call connected quickly, and Zhang Yi’s somewhat fawning voice came through, "Divine Doctor Cheng, what can I do for you?"
"I’m at the Cheng Mansion Banquet. Some guy named Wen Zihua stole our imperial banquet. I’m not happy, and I don’t want to see him. Can you make that happen?"
"No problem. Please wait a moment, Divine Doctor Cheng. The issue will be resolved within two minutes."
Cheng Yuan hung up and looked at Wen Zihua, his face devoid of expression. "Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance. Apologize to Miss Xiao and Sister Shishi right now, and I can let this go. Otherwise, you can wait for the consequences."
Wen Zihua was so angry he laughed. "I remember now! A while ago, the news of Hu Shishi’s engagement was everywhere. You’re that grassroots doctor, aren’t you? Don’t think you’re so great just because you’ve latched onto the Hu Family! The Hu Family is nothing in Beijing!!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Wen Zihua’s phone rang. He grabbed it and looked at the screen. ’Huh, why is Dad calling?’
’Is Dad calling to wish me a happy birthday?’
Wen Zihua answered with a laugh, "Dad, how nice of you to remember my birthday and call! If you hadn’t called today, I was definitely going to tell Mom on you when I got home."
What Wen Zihua didn’t expect was his father’s furious roar from the other end of the line: "Wen Zihua! Zhang Yi just called me and said Director He is extremely displeased! What the hell have you done now? I don’t care who you’ve provoked! Right now! Immediately! Apologize to the person! You must get their forgiveness! Otherwise, I’ll act as if I never had a son! You can forget about ever coming home again!!"
How could Wen Zihua not be a sharp guy?
He understood in an instant. He had messed with the wrong person.
’This Cheng guy can actually get Director He involved?’
’Just what is his background?’
Wen Zihua immediately backed down. "Divine Doctor Cheng, I was blind and failed to recognize your importance. I have offended you. I’ll take my friends and leave right away."
HUH?
Everyone was dumbfounded, completely unable to understand what was happening.
One moment, Wen Zihua was acting so high and mighty, and in the blink of an eye, he was apologizing to this kid?
’What on earth did Director Wen say to him?’
Cheng Yuan said calmly, "Young Master Wen, you don’t need to apologize to me. You should be apologizing to Sister Shishi and Miss Xiao."
"Yes! You’re right, Divine Doctor Cheng!"
Wen Zihua turned and bowed very sincerely to Hu Shishi and Xiao Xun’Er.
"Sister Shishi, I spoke rudely just now. It was my fault! Your Hu Family is powerful in Dongshan, and your word is law in Beijing! And Xun’Er, from this day forward, I will absolutely never bother you again!"
With that, Wen Zihua gave a wave of his hand and led his lackeys out of the Cheng Mansion Banquet, cutting a sorry figure.
Only after they had walked out the main doors of the Cheng Mansion Banquet did his lackeys ask in confusion, "Young Master Wen, why did we back down? Does that kid have some powerful background?"
Wen Zihua gave a bitter smile. "That kid got Director He involved, and my dad chewed me out for it."
Director He??
The lackeys all gasped. ’That kid’s background is that powerful!’
’We’ll have to be more careful from now on. We absolutely cannot provoke that kid!’
Wen Zihua’s loyal lackey, Huang Xunan, felt his eyes shift as he spotted an opportunity to curry favor.
"Young Master Wen, do you remember? Young Master Duan from Dali is a real foodie."
Wen Zihua’s eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh. "Huang Xunan, you really are my master strategist! This plan of yours to kill with a borrowed knife is brilliant!!"
Wen Zihua took out his phone and dialed Duan Lang’s number. The call connected quickly, and a voice with a distinctive accent came through: "Young Master Wen, what can I do for you?"
"Up for some horse racing?"
"My good friend, I have to attend a medicinal herb conference tonight, so I’m afraid I can’t join you."
"What a shame. Well, I’m off to grab a bite. We’ll meet up some other time."
"I haven’t eaten yet, either. Any good restaurants in Beijing? Give me a recommendation."
"The Cheng Mansion Banquet is excellent, especially Elder Cheng’s imperial banquet."
"Thanks for the recommendation, Young Master Wen. I’ll go try it right now."
...
Back at the Cheng Mansion Banquet, after Wen Zihua left, the perceptive lobby manager led the group to the East Wing.
The decor of the East Wing was very similar to that of the Diaoyutai Hotel.
On the walls hung several portraits of venerable old men.
Cheng Yuan gave a slight bow toward the portraits, showing his respect for the men depicted.
This was Han Zhongming’s first time in the East Wing, and he couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration, "Thanks to Brother Cheng, I’m lucky enough to enter the legendary East Wing and witness a piece of history."
Hu Shishi and Xiao Xun’Er also bowed respectfully to the portraits, expressing their reverence.
"Brother Cheng, you should sit at the head of the table."
Originally, Han Zhongming had looked down on Cheng Yuan for his "grassroots" background, but now, Han Zhongming was utterly convinced of his worth and deeply grateful, so he proactively offered him the seat of honor.
The food at the Cheng Mansion Banquet arrived quickly.
Elder Cheng personally led his assistant chefs to serve the dishes, announcing the name of each one himself.
"My esteemed guests, this is the first course of the imperial banquet—’Mao’s Braised Pork.’ It is my specialty dish. In fact, it was with this very ’Mao’s Braised Pork’ that I earned the favor of our old leader."
The group subconsciously glanced at the portraits on the wall. The thought that they were about to taste the old leader’s favorite dish was thrilling!
An assistant chef respectfully placed the dish on the table.
With everyone watching, Cheng Yuan picked up his chopsticks, lifted a piece of the braised pork, and placed it in his mouth.
He took a gentle bite, and an incredible aroma filled his mouth. It was rich but not greasy, melting the moment it touched his tongue.
Cheng Yuan found himself at a loss for words. He could only give Elder Cheng a thumbs-up. "Elder Cheng! You truly are worthy of the title of Dragon Country’s number one Imperial Chef! This ’Mao’s Braised Pork’ is heavenly!"