Chapter 49: Let’s Skip This Meal
Gao Qiming and the others looked incredibly awkward, momentarily unsure how to smooth things over.
Gao Qiming kept shooting glances at Wu Renqing, hoping he would help him out.
But before Wu Renqing could speak, Cheng Yuan snorted. "Brother Fei, you’ve misunderstood. They’re not here to offer a toast—they’re here to make us clear out."
Make you clear out??
The smile on Wu Fei’s face slowly vanished. His gaze turned cold as he stared at Gao Qiming and his men.
"Director Gao, these people are celebrating a ninetieth birthday. Their food hasn’t even all arrived, and the drinks haven’t been poured. By what right do you demand they give up their room? Who gave you that authority?"
Gao Qiming wanted to die. His attempt at flattery had backfired spectacularly. ’What am I going to do?’
"It’s a misunderstanding, all of it! Xiaoliu just told me this party was already finished, which is why we came over. It was Xiaoliu who didn’t grasp the situation."
Liu Yongxiang’s face went deathly pale. He knew the director was sacrificing a pawn to save the king, but he didn’t dare protest.
"It’s my fault. The director went to so much trouble to invite Secretary Wu; how could we not have a private room? That’s why I... I accept the consequences. Please, Secretary Wu, decide my punishment!"
"I’m not your director at the Construction Bureau, so I have no authority to punish you. Since you’re not here to offer a toast, please leave. Don’t disturb this ninetieth birthday party!"
With a cold expression, Wu Fei ordered them to leave.
"Yes, yes, yes, we’ll leave right now!"
Gao Qiming didn’t dare argue. He obediently led his men away.
Wu Fei looked at the group apologetically. "I never imagined my presence would disrupt the elder’s ninetieth birthday. I sincerely apologize to all of you!"
As he spoke, he moved to bow.
Cheng Yuan quickly stopped him. "Brother Fei, don’t. This has nothing to do with you."
The relatives also waved their hands in protest.
"Secretary Wu, you mustn’t apologize to us! In fact, we should be thanking you. If it weren’t for you, we might have been the ones kicked out today!"
Wu Fei smiled. "Well, I’ve made my toast. I’ll take my leave now and not interrupt your celebration any further."
"I’ll see you out."
Cheng Yuan personally walked Wu Fei out of the private room. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Wu Fei left.
As Wu Fei reached the corner, Gao Qiming and his men hurried to intercept him, their faces plastered with obsequious smiles.
"Secretary Wu, my apologies. There are no more private rooms here at Hao Garden, but we’ve booked one at Hao Ge next door. Perhaps we could..."
Wu Fei cut him off before he could finish.
"Director Gao, we have nothing to discuss. Let’s just forget about dinner."
Gao Qiming gave a bitter smile. "Secretary Wu, we’ve known each other for years. Can’t you just put me out of my misery? Who exactly is Chief Wu’s nephew?"
Wu Fei said nothing, simply raising a finger and pointing toward the heavens before turning to leave.
Gao Qiming’s spirit instantly deflated. To think that such a trivial matter would result in him running into a brick wall.
’That kid actually has connections to the City Lord!’
’There’s no way to salvage this now, not that I’d dare try. I’ll have to find a way to make it up to him later.’
「Meanwhile.」
「Library Pavilion.」
Watching Cheng Yuan and Wu Fei chatting and laughing so casually, the surrounding relatives wore complicated expressions.
Cheng Yuan had always been the family wallflower, someone anyone felt they could lecture at will. They never imagined he would know a big shot like Secretary Wu!
Wu Xiuhua shot a glance at Wu Renqing and Wu Xiulan, then snorted. "Who was it just now saying Xiaoyuan only hangs out with a bad crowd? And who was it saying we shouldn’t let his friend come over for a toast?"
The two looked embarrassed and could only force a laugh.
They couldn’t wrap their heads around it. ’Xiaoyuan was in prison for two years and just got out. How could he possibly know Secretary Wu?’
After seeing Wu Fei off, Cheng Yuan returned to find everyone staring at him in silence. He laughed, "Why is everyone looking at me? Is there something on my face? It’s Grandpa’s birthday today; he’s the real star!"
Everyone looked away from him and turned their attention to the old man.
"Happy birthday, Dad!"
"Grandpa, congratulations on your ninetieth birthday!"
"Grandpa, may you live a long and happy life!"
With a chorus of good wishes, the atmosphere in the room began to lighten.
The old man gazed fondly at Cheng Yuan.
Cheng Yuan had been mischievous as a child, and the old man had always worried about him. That worry had only intensified after Cheng Yuan went to prison. But now, the worry was gone, replaced completely by pride!
The old man patted the empty seat beside him and beckoned to Cheng Yuan. "Xiaoyuan," he said, his voice ringing clear, "come sit next to your grandpa."
Everyone froze. The seat next to the old man had always been reserved for Wu Renqing, the most successful child in the family.
But now, the old man was asking Cheng Yuan to take that seat. ’What does this mean?’
Not wanting to be the center of attention, Cheng Yuan smiled and waved a dismissive hand. "That’s Eldest Uncle’s seat. I’m fine right here."
Wu Renqing’s face was unreadable, but inside, he was bitter. ’I can’t believe I’m being upstaged by a junior.’ But there was nothing he could do.
"Xiaoyuan, what your grandpa says, goes today. If he tells you to come over, you come over!"
With his eldest uncle having spoken, Cheng Yuan couldn’t refuse. Under the watchful eyes of everyone in the room, he went and sat down beside his grandfather.
The old man was still in good health, his senses sharp. He raised his glass and looked around the table.
"Thank you, all my children, for taking time out of your busy lives to celebrate an old man’s birthday. Our family doesn’t stand on ceremony. After this toast, let’s all eat, drink, and be merry."
The old man raised his glass and drained it in one go.
"To Dad!"
"To Grandpa!"
"To Grandpa!"
Those who drank alcohol raised their glasses, and those who didn’t, raised their juice.
With the toast concluded, everyone began to eat.
After a few bites of food, the ever-opportunistic Wu Xiulan looked at Cheng Yuan with a wide smile. "Xiaoyuan, you and Secretary Wu seem to be so close. Could you help introduce us?"
Cheng Yuan had a very low opinion of Wu Xiulan. Her family was the wealthiest, yet she had stood by and done nothing when his family was going through its hardest times.
"Third Aunt, Secretary Wu and I are merely acquaintances. Today was only the second time we’ve ever met."
"Oh, Xiaoyuan, don’t be so modest. If you were just acquaintances, why would Secretary Wu back you so strongly? You two must be really close."
"I just helped him with a small matter. By doing what he did just now, he’s already repaid the favor."
Hearing this, the relatives’ apprehension toward Cheng Yuan eased a bit. ’So, his connection to Secretary Wu isn’t that deep after all.’
Wu Renqing’s eyes narrowed. ’I can’t let Cheng Yuan steal the whole show. I have to find a way to get my dignity back!’
Wu Renqing shot a look at Wu Kun, who understood his father’s intent immediately. He produced a small, exquisitely wrapped box and approached the old man.
"Grandpa, this is the birthday gift I bought for you. It’s an aged Pu’er."
The old man happily accepted the box. "Excellent! How thoughtful of you, Xiaokun!" he said with a smile. "This Pu’er must have been expensive, hmm?"
"Not too bad. It was just enough to use up my scholarship money."
"That’s very expensive, then! Your scholarship is over ten thousand!"
’Over ten thousand?’
Cheng Yuan’s interest was piqued. Activating his Double Pupil, he took a look. ’Let’s see what a ten-thousand-yuan Pu’er looks like.’
After seeing the so-called aged Pu’er, Cheng Yuan couldn’t help but sneer. ’This isn’t aged Pu’er at all. It’s just a common tea cake in a fancy wrapper.’