Chapter 342: Brother Yuan, A Toast to You.
Cheng Yuan quickly helped the family of three to their feet, smiling as he said, "Uncle Xiao, Aunt Zhou, Yating, please don’t be so formal. You were the ones who helped me during my toughest times. Now that I see you about to fall into a pit of fire, how could I just stand by and do nothing?"
After exchanging pleasantries, Xiao Ziqiang returned to the main stage, picked up the microphone, and said in a deep voice, "To all my friends and family, my sincerest apologies for the scene today! The engagement banquet is canceled. Please, just consider this a dinner on me, Xiao Ziqiang! All the gift money received will be returned in full!"
"President Xiao is generous!"
"Then thank you, President Xiao!"
"Impressive! I’m definitely making a friend in President Xiao!"
The guests who hadn’t left yet all cheered, and some even started to egg things on.
"Didn’t that young man who stopped the engagement like Yating? Why not just swap the groom-to-be and continue with the engagement today!"
Xiao Ziqiang subconsciously glanced at Cheng Yuan, his heart stirring at the idea. He turned to Xiao Yating, "Yating, what do you say? If you have feelings for Xiaoyuan, I’ll go talk to him right now!"
"Dad! Stop trying to play matchmaker! Brother Yuan told me he’s already married!"
"He’s already married? Oh, then that really won’t work."
...
Xiao Ziqiang’s family returned to Table Six and sat down.
Xiao Ziqiang said with a hearty laugh, "My old comrades, since you’re here, eat and drink your fill. Wastefulness is a great crime."
With Xiao Ziqiang leading the way, everyone began to eat and drink.
After a few rounds of drinks and several courses...
Liu Kun’s son, Liu Deshui, suddenly looked up at Cheng Yuan. "Brother Yuan, when did you get married? How come none of us knew? Last time, we thought Uncle Cheng was joking."
"Not long ago."
"Brother Yuan, why didn’t you bring your wife over for us to meet?"
"My wife is rather busy."
"Brother Yuan, your wife is best friends with the City Lord’s daughter, so she must come from a powerful background, right? Could you ask her to help me find a job?"
Everyone around the table looked at Cheng Yuan with expectant eyes.
Cheng Yuan mercilessly crushed their hopes. "Ruoxi is from the Lin Family of the Provincial City. However, because she married me without their permission, she has been expelled from the Lin Family and stripped of all her positions at the Huanyu Group. Right now, Ruoxi is just in the early stages of starting her own business, so I’m afraid she can’t help any of you."
The moment they heard "the Lin Family of the Provincial City," everyone at Table Six was so thrilled their hair stood on end!
The Lin Family of the Provincial City was an incredibly powerful family, and their Huanyu Group was one of the top twenty corporations in Dongshan Province!
But when they heard that Lin Ruoxi had been expelled from the Lin Family and stripped of all her positions, the anticipation on their faces vanished, replaced by immense disappointment.
Liu Deshui quickly offered his suggestion, "Brother Yuan, you have to think of something! Get your wife back into the Lin Family as soon as possible! With the Lin Family’s support, you could at least land a mid-level position at the Huanyu Group! You’d be set for life then!"
Everyone else quickly chimed in with their own ideas.
"Xiaoyuan, you should hurry up and have a child with your wife. Then you can go back to the Lin Family with the child. Even if the family doesn’t give you any face, they have to consider the child, right?"
"Xiaoyuan, this is the biggest opportunity of your life! You absolutely can’t go head-to-head with the Lin Family. You can show a little weakness! If you can really win the Lin Family’s approval, you’ll be able to skip at least twenty years of struggle!"
Cheng Yuan wanted to tell them, ’What’s the big deal about the mere Lin Family?’
’Yuanxi Pharmaceutical alone is enough to crush the Lin Family and leave them gasping for air.’
"Alright, I’ll work hard. One day, I will definitely let Ruoxi return to the Lin Family with her head held high."
Satisfied expressions appeared on their faces. ’Xiaoyuan is finally listening to reason. If he manages to climb the ladder at Huanyu Group in the future, won’t we get some credit for helping an emperor ascend the throne?’
"Xiaoyuan, when your wife returns to the Lin Family and you’ve secured a position at Huanyu Group, you have to remember us, your childhood friends! Even getting us jobs as regular employees at Huanyu Group would be great."
Cheng Yuan shrugged. ’Do they really think it’s that easy to get into Huanyu Group?’
’Jiang Nuo was as proud as a peacock just for getting into a subsidiary of Huanyu Group.’
Because Cheng Yuan’s earlier performance had been too eye-catching, many distinguished guests came over to toast him, trying to build a connection.
Xiao Ziqiang warmly received them and introduced the guests to Cheng Yuan, trying to help him build his network.
Cheng Yuan knew Xiao Ziqiang meant well, but he had no need for this so-called network. In response to the guests’ toasts, Cheng Yuan merely took a small sip.
The guests didn’t dare to object. On the contrary, they felt it gave them a great deal of face.
The people at Table Six were already growing numb to it. Every person who came to offer a toast was someone of importance, yet in front of Cheng Yuan, every single one of them was utterly respectful.
The group at Table Six all looked at Cheng Yuan with suspicion. They couldn’t shake the feeling that he was fooling them. If his wife had really been kicked out of the Lin Family, why were all these presidents and leaders falling over themselves to curry favor with him?
Only a few guests at Table Two didn’t come over. Instead, they kept their backs to Cheng Yuan, looking as if they were terrified he would see them.
The few people at Table Two were old acquaintances of Cheng Yuan.
The men were whispering among themselves.
"Old Xu, I didn’t expect the Boss to be at this engagement banquet too. Aren’t you in some trouble? This is a golden opportunity, don’t miss it."
Xu Ke gave a wry smile. "Old Pan, the Boss handed such a lucrative project to the two of us, and we have nothing to show for it yet. How can I possibly face him?"
Pan Gang persuaded him, "Old Xu, this isn’t the time to worry about face. If your funding chain breaks and you delay the Boss’s project schedule, that would be an even greater disservice to him! Come on, let’s go over and toast the Boss."
"Alright..."
Pan Gang pulled Xu Ke over to Table Six.
Seeing these two approach, Xiao Ziqiang’s expression immediately turned serious. ’President Xu is my God of Wealth!’
Xiao Ziqiang stood up to greet them, his face wreathed in smiles. "President Xu, how could I let you, the client, personally come over to toast me, the contractor? I should be the one toasting you!"
Client?
Everyone stared at Xu Ke in astonishment. ’This young man looks about the same age as our own children, doesn’t he?’
’And he’s already a client?’
GULP. Xiao Ziqiang raised his glass and drained it in one go.
Xu Ke only took a small sip.
"You’re too kind, President Xiao. You are Brother Yuan’s elder, which makes you my elder! I’m just making a living by following Brother Yuan!"
Everyone at Table Six exchanged glances. This President Xu was President Xiao’s client, yet he claimed to be following Cheng Yuan? ’What is going on with Cheng Yuan?!’
Xiao Ziqiang’s pupils contracted slightly. He had just realized something!
’Could it be that my partnership with President Xu was single-handedly arranged by Xiaoyuan?’
’Xiaoyuan had quietly helped him out in such a huge way!’
Xu Ke turned his head and looked at Cheng Yuan with utmost respect.
"Brother Yuan, the two of us came to give you a toast! I’ll down mine, you can drink as you please!"
After speaking, Xu Ke tilted his head back and drained the contents of his glass!
Everyone was at a loss for words. When Xiao Ziqiang had toasted President Xu, the man had only taken a small sip.
But now, President Xu was taking the initiative to toast Cheng Yuan, and he drained his glass completely!
This meant that in President Xu’s eyes, Cheng Yuan was far more important than Xiao Ziqiang!
’They weren’t even in the same league!’
’Just what is the deal with Cheng Yuan???’