Zhao Hui could just imagine what a mess Peng Yu must have been in for the past two days!
Liu Haoran had, of course, heard about the top brands collectively demanding to pull out, and he had mentioned it to Zhao Hui.
They were quite pleased. It was as if Chen Xiao was getting revenge for them.
Zhao Hui’s wife, Wang Yan, said, "From the way you’re talking, it sounds like our brother-in-law is the perfect man!"
Zhao Hui laughed. "And how! He’s rich, handsome, and dotes on her!"
Mrs. Zhao was happy inside, but what she said was, "Listen to you. Doesn’t he have any flaws?"
Zhao Hui joked, "Does being overprotective count?"
Wang Yan scoffed. "How is being protective a flaw? Is a man who doesn’t protect his family even a man?"
The family was full of joy and harmony, their laughter filled with irrepressible happiness!
The grandmother smiled from the side. It had been many years since her son’s family had shared such a wonderful atmosphere!
With her granddaughter having found such a good match, she could finally rest easy. Zhao Xiangjun was her only remaining attachment in this world.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Zhao Hui got up to answer it.
It was his uncle. Zhao Hui stepped aside to let him in. They hadn’t told any of their relatives about Chen Xiao’s visit.
After all, it wasn’t a formal marriage discussion, so there was no need for everyone to know.
His uncle lived in the same building and often dropped by, so he didn’t think much of it.
He had a bad impression of his uncle, who was always pestering Zhao Xiangjun to buy him things. ’He has his own son, so what’s he doing bothering his niece every day?!’
He conveniently forgot that he used to freeload off his younger sister just as much. But back then, in his mind, it was just what he was used to.
Since his little sister hadn’t moved out and split the family assets, he always felt that what was hers was his. Of course, part of it was just due to being poor.
Thinking back on it now, he felt deeply ashamed!
Even back then, he didn’t like seeing other people freeload off his sister.
He knew how hard his sister worked to earn money, and he knew he was adding to her burden. He could make excuses for his own failures, deluding himself, but he couldn’t accept others taking advantage of her too!
Of course, he knew the reason Zhao Xiangjun occasionally bought things for their uncle was that if she didn’t, their mother would secretly help her own brother. She was just trying to avoid burdening their mother.
"Sis! Brother-in-law!" the uncle called out as he entered. Seeing Zhao Xiangjun’s grandmother, he greeted her as well.
Mr. Zhao asked him to sit and offered him a cigarette.
The uncle glanced at it, then reached into his pocket, pulled out his own pack of cigarettes, and offered one. "Brother-in-law, try one of mine today. Xiao Qing brought them back for me!"
Zhao Hui, with his sharp eyes, noticed it was a pack of Huazi. He didn’t react. ’It’s just a pack of cigarettes,’ he thought. ’With my current income, it’s not like I can’t afford them. I just don’t see the point.’
He and Mr. Zhao both smoked brands that cost a little over ten yuan a pack.
Not wanting to refuse his gesture, Mr. Zhao and Zhao Hui both took one and lit up. The uncle then pocketed the rest of the pack.
He then added, "I’ll save the rest of these. When Xiangjun brings her boyfriend home tomorrow, we can smoke these to look good!"
Hearing this, Mr. Zhao’s cigarette nearly fell out of his mouth, while Zhao Hui choked on a puff of smoke!
’The uncle is a classic old shut-in,’ Zhao Hui thought. ’He rarely leaves the house and has no income of his own. Does he really think a pack of Huazi is enough to make a good impression these days?’
’When you go back to the countryside for the New Year, every migrant worker coming home is smoking Huazi!’
’Besides, you want to use this to impress Chen Xiao? The man can spend over a billion to acquire Jiangzhou Wansheng Square with just a word!’
In the past, he definitely would have made a sarcastic remark to his uncle, but his temper had improved a lot, so he held his tongue.
But he was curious, so he asked, "Uncle, how did you know Xiangjun was bringing her boyfriend home tomorrow?"
"The news is all over the neighborhood. How could I not know? You all made such a big production out of buying fish and meat!"
They all laughed. They had indeed been overly nervous all afternoon; they were taking Chen Xiao’s visit extremely seriously.
’Looks like we’ll need to set out an extra pair of chopsticks tomorrow,’ Zhao Hui thought. ’The uncle didn’t just drop by tonight for no reason.’
Anyway, whenever Zhao Xiangjun came back, he was sure to hang around her, as she was, after all, the niece who was most generous to him.
Far away, Xu Jia chatted with Zhao Xiangjun via text message every day.
She and her husband had received offers from the Yino Group’s Jiangzhou Branch and Dr. Feng’s Robot, respectively.
With such high compensation, her husband naturally had no reason to hesitate.
The two of them were packed and ready to leave for Jiangzhou the next day.
Unfortunately, Zhao Xiangjun was heading back to her hometown tomorrow and couldn’t pick them up. However, after discussing it with Chen Xiao, they arranged for the couple to stay at his bachelor pad in Huaren Mansion for the time being.
That way, they wouldn’t have to stay in a hotel. Xu Jia offered to pay rent, but Chen Xiao naturally wouldn’t accept it.
He wasn’t short on that little bit of money, so there was no need. Besides, Xu Jia was Zhao Xiangjun’s best friend, and he wanted to see her get settled in Jiangzhou.
At Celestial Star Pavilion, the room was once again filled with distinguished guests tonight!
Only this time, the host was not Chen Xiao, but Xu Wu.
Chen Xiao had arranged a long-term partnership with Old Jia Restaurant. Whenever he hosted a banquet here, he would book their entire team.
It was a great arrangement. The expense was no higher than going to Bailu Manor, but the quality of the ingredients and the flavor of the dishes were far superior to the typical mass-produced banquet fare.
Paired with the luxurious décor of Celestial Star Pavilion and the outdoor Aerial Garden where guests could relax, hosting a banquet here was incredibly impressive!
Li Guoqiang had been here a few times, so he was more composed, but Ding Yong and Li Fei had already praised the place no less than ten times!
Li Xiao and Gao Yue, who had accompanied them, felt a sense of pride. Their old classmate’s move had stunned everyone, earning them a great deal of face in front of their own bosses.
Since arriving that afternoon, Xu Wu had briefly received them and made introductions. Then, because she had to attend a team meeting, she invited her guests to go upstairs and enjoy the amenities first.
Ding Yong and Li Fei had witnessed the power of Junxiao Capital and saw how warmly Xu Wu treated Li Xiao and Gao Yue, like they were her own little sisters.
That afternoon, while dealing with their own company matters, they had started asking the two women for their opinions on things.
It was a massive change in attitude.
To be honest, the two of them still only had a vague understanding of their old classmate’s current power. They had no idea how she’d had such a meteoric rise.
It was a legendary story, but not an inspirational one. Her success was the kind you could only envy, not replicate.
Everyone has their own destiny. From another’s perspective, wasn’t the fact that the two of them knew Xu Wu the kind of opportunity many people dreamed of?
During the banquet, Xu Wu, as the host, was supposed to drink some alcohol. However, Li Guoqiang repeatedly insisted that President Xu wasn’t a good drinker and should just have a soft drink instead.
Li Xiao and Gao Yue were speechless. ’Miss Xu can handle half a liter of liquor. Since when is she not a "good drinker"?!’
This was just Li Guoqiang being worried. It would be inconvenient for Xu Wu to get a designated driver if she drank too much, and as she was a young and beautiful woman, he was afraid he couldn’t bear the responsibility if anything happened to her.
Xu Wu didn’t stand on ceremony either. As the head of a capital firm, she could choose not to drink from a position of power.
And her guests had to smile and express their understanding.