Chapter 47: Who Do You Think You Are?
"Are you about done eating?"
"Make way?"
Wu Renqing nearly choked. ’We just sat down, and the dishes haven’t even all arrived yet! How are we "about done eating?"’
However, the man was Director Gao’s secretary, representing Director Gao’s will. Wu Renqing didn’t dare argue.
Wu Renqing forced an ingratiating smile and pleaded in a low voice, "Secretary Liu, today is my father’s birthday. Could you please spare me some face?"
Liu Yongxiang’s expression darkened. "You want face? What about the Director? Does he not want face? I’ll give you thirty seconds. You figure it out."
"Alright, we’ll clear out."
Liu Yongxiang’s expression softened slightly. He said with false sincerity, "Chief Wu is a man who sees the bigger picture. Don’t you worry, the Director will remember your cooperation."
"Thank you, Director."
The private room was noisy, so the others didn’t clearly hear the conversation between Wu Renqing and Liu Yongxiang.
Thinking Liu Yongxiang had come to offer a toast, Wu Kun shot Cheng Yuan a smug look to show off. "Xiaoyuan, don’t be upset about what my dad and Third Aunt said to you earlier. You shouldn’t hang out with shady characters. Just look at the kind of people our family associates with! That’s Secretary Liu, the secretary to the head of the Luocheng Construction Bureau. For Secretary Liu to come offer a toast is the same as Director Gao coming to do it himself!"
’That’s Director Gao’s secretary?’
’Director Gao’s secretary is personally coming to make a toast. Big Brother has so much face!’
The people around them once again began to suck up to the powerful and belittle the weak.
"Looks like Big Brother is doing really well at the Construction Bureau. Even Director Gao’s secretary is coming to toast him personally!"
"Secretary Liu is so young and promising. Ah Kun, are you close with Secretary Liu? How about introducing him to your younger sister?"
"Xiaoyuan, with a shining example like Secretary Liu right here, you’d best not have any of your shady friends come over."
...
Under the crowd’s eager gazes, Wu Renqing returned to the table with an awkward expression.
To everyone’s surprise, Liu Yongxiang didn’t follow him, but instead stood at the doorway of the private room with a smirk.
Wu Xiulan asked, looking a little confused, "Big Brother, isn’t Secretary Liu here to offer a toast? Why didn’t he come with you? Hurry up and bring him over."
Wu Renqing’s face darkened. ’Toast my ass. How am I supposed to explain this?’
’I’ve been utterly humiliated today!’
But he didn’t dare disobey an order from Director Gao!
Wu Renqing forced a smile and said with a dry laugh, "Everyone, there’s been a small hiccup. Let’s change venues for our meal. We’ll go to the Hao Ge Grand Hotel next door."
Hao Ge?
That’s just a four-star hotel. It can’t even be compared to Hao Garden.
Wu Renqing held a lot of authority in the family. Plus, he was the one who had booked Hao Garden, so most of the relatives could only bottle up their objections.
Wu Xiulan was doing well for herself and didn’t need to curry favor with Wu Renqing, so she voiced her doubts.
"Brother, why do we have to move? It’s Dad’s ninetieth birthday! How many more of these will he have? We went through so much trouble to book a room at Hao Garden. I’m not moving! If you’re worried about the cost, I’ll pay for the banquet!"
Wu Kun also asked with a puzzled expression, "Dad, why do we have to move? It would be so humiliating to celebrate Grandfather’s birthday at Hao Ge! It’s not like our family can’t afford the banquet!"
Wu Renqing sighed and patiently explained, "It’s not about the money. Director Gao is hosting an important guest, but all the private rooms at Hao Garden are taken. Director Gao sent Secretary Liu to requisition our room. Xiulan, Xiaokun, I have no choice. Everyone, please just help me out here!"
This time, everyone heard Wu Renqing’s words clearly.
Everyone had a look of frustrated indignation on their faces!
’What kind of mess is this?’
’We thought he was here to give a toast, but he was actually here to kick us out!’
For a moment, everyone’s gaze toward Wu Renqing’s family turned a little strange.
’Just a moment ago they were so high and mighty, lecturing Cheng Yuan about not associating with good people. Now look. Their family really does associate with "good people"—people who demand they clear out the moment they open their mouths!’
As Wu Renqing’s wife, Yu Cuiping was the first to stand up and support her husband.
"Xiuli, Xiuhua, hurry and help Grandfather up. We’re going to Hao Ge. Hao Garden is all for show anyway. The food is actually mediocre. The food quality at Hao Ge is much better."
Wu Xiuli and Wu Xiuhua could also see the bigger picture. Although very reluctant, they cooperatively stood up and walked toward their grandfather, intending to comply with Secretary Liu’s demand to clear the room.
But to their surprise, Cheng Yuan suddenly pulled them back. "Who the hell does he think he is?" he said coldly. "We have to clear out just because he says so? Grandfather is already ninety and has trouble getting around. Everyone sit down! We are not going anywhere today!"
Cheng Yuan’s tone and demeanor were so domineering that the two women were stunned, and they instinctively sat back down.
Wu Kun’s and Yu Cuiping’s faces turned green with anger. They said reproachfully, "Xiaoyuan, what do you think you’re saying? Secretary Liu is Director Gao’s secretary! He represents Director Gao’s will!"
Cheng Yuan snorted coldly. "I don’t give a damn who he is. If you want to go, then go. I’m not leaving!"
Liu Yongxiang gave Cheng Yuan a deep look, then turned his cold gaze on Wu Renqing. "Chief Wu, is this your family’s attitude?"
Wu Renqing’s expression changed. ’That little bastard Cheng Yuan, why is he suddenly being so stubborn?’
’Is he deliberately trying to sabotage me?’
Wu Renqing shot his son an annoyed glare. ’It’s all his fault for constantly belittling Cheng Yuan. Look, now Cheng Yuan’s bullheaded temper is flaring up, isn’t it?’
"No, no, Secretary Liu. He’s just a kid who doesn’t know any better. Please don’t stoop to his level. I’ll reprimand him right now!"
Wu Renqing put on a stern face and looked at Cheng Yuan. "Xiaoyuan, what do you think you’re doing? Are you going to defy your uncle’s words now?"
Cheng Yuan looked at Wu Renqing expressionlessly. "Uncle, it’s not that I’m not giving you face. He’s the one not giving you face! He’s not giving our entire family any face! Today is Grandfather’s ninetieth birthday! Today, Grandfather is the most important person here! Not even God Almighty himself could make us move!"
Hearing this, all the relatives felt a surge of validation!
’That’s right, it’s Grandfather’s ninetieth birthday. He’s the most important one today. No one else matters!’
In that moment, the relatives’ impression of Cheng Yuan changed slightly for the better.
’Xiaoyuan was usually so meek and listless. Whenever he was criticized and lectured at gatherings, he never talked back. But when it really mattered, he was surprisingly reliable!’
Liu Yongxiang laughed in anger. "Not even God Almighty could make you move? Fine! Chief Wu, I’ll report this situation to the Director exactly as it is!"
Wu Renqing was terrified and hurried to block Liu Yongxiang.
"Don’t, please don’t, Secretary Liu! He’s just a foolish kid. Rest assured, I will handle this properly!"
As he spoke, Wu Renqing shot a look at Wu Xiuli and Cheng Hongbing, signaling for them to talk some sense into Cheng Yuan.
Cheng Hongbing had long been displeased with Wu Renqing’s family. He pretended not to see the signal, staring blankly ahead as if in a deep meditative state.
Wu Xiuli, after all, was Wu Renqing’s biological sister and had to consider their family ties.
"Xiaoyuan, how about we just let it go? A higher rank can crush you. We can’t ruin your uncle’s career just because we’re angry."
Cheng Yuan grinned confidently. "Mom, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. Even though I can’t stand Uncle’s family, I wouldn’t deliberately harm them."
This...
Unable to persuade Cheng Yuan, Wu Xiuli could only give Wu Renqing a helpless look.
Cheng Yuan gave Wu Xiuli a reassuring look, then turned his expressionless gaze to Wu Renqing and Liu Yongxiang.
"Uncle, don’t stop him. Let him go! We booked this room. We haven’t even had a single bite of food yet. On what grounds should we have to leave? Isn’t he getting a little too full of himself?"