Chapter 358: This Is Just a Small Starting Point
The family’s WeChat group had been buzzing with conversation, but after Wu Renqing’s message, everyone went silent.
’Did Big Brother (our eldest uncle) take the wrong medicine?’
’How dare he use that tone with Xiaoyuan (our cousin)?’
’What if Xiaoyuan (our cousin) gets upset and kicks our eldest uncle out of Auxiliary Building Two?’
After a long moment, Cheng Yuan’s second uncle, Wu Renguang, finally spoke up to smooth things over. "Big Brother, what’s the great news? Is Xiaokun getting married?"
Wu Renqing just smiled without saying a word, but his wife, Yu Cuiping, stepped in. "Renguang, you can guess bigger than that."
Wu Renguang replied, "Don’t tell me it’s a shotgun wedding?"
The WeChat group instantly exploded with chatter, with people guessing all sorts of things.
Yu Cuiping laughed. "Renguang, your thinking is so limited. Enough nonsense. Everyone, gather at Auxiliary Building Two!"
Cheng Yuan had already guessed what Wu Renqing was going to announce. He smiled and asked, "Mom, what do you think Uncle’s great news is?"
Wu Xiuli asked uncertainly, "Could it be... you really pulled some strings for your uncle? But isn’t this too fast?"
Fast?
Of course it was fast.
Cheng Yuan wasn’t surprised at all. For a man like the City Lord, Ni Zhenjiang, wasn’t it a simple matter of saying the word?
"Mom, when have I ever let you down?"
Wu Xiuli was overjoyed that her son was so capable now, but her mood quickly soured.
"It’s just a shame. If only you’d had these connections sooner, you wouldn’t have been wrongly imprisoned for three years!"
Cheng Yuan comforted her, "Mom, don’t be sad. The Jin Family has already been destroyed. You could say I’ve gotten my revenge."
"The Jin Family got what they deserved! Do enough evil and you’ll face divine punishment! Thank the heavens! Thank all the gods and buddhas for avenging our Xiaoyuan!"
The corners of Cheng Yuan’s mouth turned up slightly. He really wanted to tell her, ’Mom, you can stop praying. I’m the one who got revenge!’
"Xiuli, Xiaoyuan, what are you dawdling for? Big Brother is rushing us, let’s go!"
Urged on by Cheng Hongbing, the family of three left Villa One and headed straight for Auxiliary Building Two next door.
Aside from Wu Renqing’s family, everyone in the Wu Family was very respectful toward Cheng Yuan’s family. After all, Villa One and the two auxiliary buildings all belonged to Cheng Yuan. He could kick them out with a single word.
In the Wu Family, Cheng Yuan was the center of everything.
When Cheng Yuan’s family walked into the banquet hall of Auxiliary Building Two, everyone greeted them with welcoming smiles.
"Xiaoyuan’s here?"
"Eldest Sister, Brother-in-law, you two are looking better and better!"
Only Wu Renqing’s family remained seated, unmoving. Wu Renqing even tapped the table, looking somewhat displeased.
"Xiuli, you’re a little late. Everyone’s been waiting for you for several minutes."
Wu Xiuli was a little annoyed. ’Xiaoyuan was the one who helped Big Brother, so what’s with this attitude?’
’So what if we were two minutes late?’
’Villa One is huge. Doesn’t it take time to walk over?’
’It’s not like we dawdled on purpose!’
However, on the day of Wu Renqing’s great news, Wu Xiuli decided not to pick a fight. She said blandly, "You’re right, Big Brother. It’s a happy occasion, so we should have been more prompt."
Wu Xiuli’s compliant attitude put Wu Renqing in a great mood. He sat down grandly in the host’s seat and then gestured to Cheng Yuan.
"Everyone, sit. Xiaoyuan, you sit next to me."
Everyone was visibly stunned for a moment. Ever since Cheng Yuan had revealed his ownership of Villa One, he had always taken the host’s seat at every family gathering.
The old master himself had decreed it!
But now, Big Brother had actually taken the host’s seat?
’What is Big Brother trying to do?’
Suddenly, everyone grew tense, extremely worried that Cheng Yuan would lose his temper.
Cheng Yuan just raised an eyebrow slightly, not showing any dissatisfaction.
’Although his maternal grandfather had entrusted the Wu Family to him, where would he find the time to manage it?’
’If his uncle was willing to take on this burden, he could have it. It would be one less thing for him to worry about.’
Cheng Yuan calmly sat down next to Wu Renqing.
Wu Xiuli, fuming, sat down beside Cheng Yuan, waiting to see what kind of show Wu Renqing would put on.
Wu Xiuli was quite looking forward to it. What kind of expression would Big Brother have when the truth came out and he learned it was Cheng Yuan who had solved his problem?
The expected clash of titans didn’t happen. Everyone sat down, their gazes flickering restlessly.
’Big Brother is being so aggressive. Is his family’s star on the rise?’
’Even Xiaoyuan has to back down?’
A satisfied look appeared on Wu Renqing’s face. ’Xiaoyuan knows his place. He didn’t challenge me or abuse his authority.’
’For the sake of Villa One, I can give him a little boost.’
Wu Renqing cleared his throat and announced in a deep voice, "I’m sure you’re all curious why I’ve gathered everyone here so late. I won’t keep you in suspense. Just a short while ago, I had the honor of attending the welcome banquet for the City Lord!"
WHOOSH!
The banquet hall was in an uproar.
Cheng Yuan’s third uncle-in-law, Lian Shiqiang, asked with a look of disbelief, "Big Brother, you’re not joking, are you? You only have the treatment of a deputy section chief, with no actual post. Even if you had an actual post, you wouldn’t be qualified to attend the City Lord’s welcome banquet, would you?"
Wu Renqing proudly lifted his head, like a magnificent swan.
"Brother-in-law, you’re right. Under normal circumstances, I indeed wouldn’t be qualified. Among those who attended the banquet, I was the only one at the deputy section chief level. The others were, at a minimum, deputy directors! Most were the directors of their respective departments!"
’The lowest rank was deputy director?’
Everyone was stunned!
Wu Renguang laughed. "Big Brother, were you seated at the foot of the table, pouring tea for the leaders? Still, even serving the leaders is a tremendous honor! Your future is limitless! You’ll probably get an actual post as a deputy section chief!"
Wu Renqing lifted his chin with a touch of smugness. "Renguang, you’ve guessed wrong this time! I wasn’t there to pour tea! Nor was I at the foot of the table! The City Lord himself pulled me over to his left side! I was in the third most honored seat at the table!"
Cheng Yuan didn’t doubt this. It seemed Uncle Ni had truly taken his matter to heart.
Cheng Yuan mentally filed away this favor from Ni Zhenjiang.
Cheng Yuan’s family didn’t question it, but the others simply didn’t believe Wu Renqing’s words.
Cheng Yuan’s third aunt, Wu Xiulan, said with disbelief, "Big Brother, can you stop bragging? The third most honored seat should be for the Deputy City Lord. The gap between you and a Deputy City Lord is a million miles wide! How could you possibly sit in the third most honored seat? How could the City Lord be so ignorant of protocol?"
Aside from Cheng Yuan’s family, everyone else looked utterly unconvinced, thinking Wu Renqing had taken his bragging way too far.
Wu Renqing wasn’t annoyed in the slightest. He grinned, pulled out his phone, and brought up a photo. "Little Sister, I knew none of you would believe me. This is a photo Secretary Wang took for us!"
Facts speak louder than words.
Seeing the photo Wu Renqing produced, everyone’s doubts vanished completely.
Wu Xiulan immediately apologized, "Big Brother, I was out of line just now. Your little sister sincerely apologies! I can’t believe the City Lord values you so highly! You’re definitely going to soar now! I think they might even make you a full-fledged section chief, maybe even a department head!"
Wu Renqing smiled faintly, putting on the full airs of a director.
"No harm done, you didn’t know. Little Sister, there’s no need to apologize. It’s just a directorship, nothing to make a fuss about. This is just a small starting point. I still have to keep working hard."