He was the chairman of Haitong Group, and money was certainly not something he lacked.
Upon hearing Lu Yang’s words, Meng Hongda did not argue. He figured Lu Yang might be too embarrassed or unwilling to admit he had no money, and he could simply outbid him later.
"I'm going out for a bit!"
Seeing the array of snacks on a nearby table, Lu Yang’s mouth began to water. He immediately spoke to Meng Hongda and hurried over.
He grabbed a piece of pastry and devoured it voraciously.
"Yo, Lu Yang? Aren't you supposed to be at home serving Li Xiumei? What are you doing here?"
Just as Lu Yang sat down, a sarcastic voice came from behind him.
Lu Yang turned his head and saw Tang Zixuan, with a heavily made-up woman clinging to his arm. The woman appeared to be at least ten years older than Tang Zixuan.
"Tang Zixuan, is that you?"
Lu Yang was also very surprised, not expecting Tang Zixuan to be at the auction.
"Lu Yang, did you sneak in here to steal food? You're a disgrace to the Tang family! Get out immediately!"
Tang Zixuan yelled at Lu Yang.
"What I do is none of your business!"
Lu Yang said dismissively while eating.
"You... you good-for-nothing, how dare you talk back to me? Believe it or not..."
Tang Zixuan clenched his fist, preparing to teach Lu Yang a lesson. However, he suddenly remembered Lu Yang’s formidable skills, noting that even seasoned martial artists couldn't defeat him. He realized he would only get beaten up if he tried anything.
With that thought, Tang Zixuan quickly withdrew his hand and roared at Lu Yang again, "This is the largest Traditional Chinese Medicine auction in Jiangbei City. It’s not a place for a nobody like you! Get out now!"
"Whether I come or not seems to have nothing to do with you. However, Tang Zixuan, your taste has really gone downhill, tsk tsk..."
Seeing Tang Zixuan with the woman beside him, Lu Yang couldn't help but click his tongue.
"What the hell do you mean by that?"
"Zixuan, who is this kid? How dare he mock me?"
The heavily made-up woman immediately looked at Tang Zixuan and asked loudly.
"Sister Hong, this is that useless live-in son-in-law from our Tang family. I don't know how he snuck in!"
"I'll call security right now to have him thrown out!"
Tang Zixuan finished speaking and loudly called out towards the entrance. Soon, two security guards responded and rushed over.
"Sir, how may we assist you?"
"How do you guards do your job? This kind of riff-raff sneaked in, didn't you notice?"
Tang Zixuan reprimanded the two security guards sternly.
"Sir, only those with invitations can enter the auction. No one can just casually walk in!"
The security guard stated seriously, looking at Tang Zixuan.
"Then what's the deal with him? Don't tell me he also has an invitation?"
"I know this person very well. He's our Tang family's good-for-nothing live-in son-in-law!"
"Look at his clothes, he looks like a beggar. Do you think he could have an invitation?"
"He's clearly here to freeload. Hurry up and throw this idiot out!"
Tang Zixuan shouted impatiently at the security guards.
The two security guards glanced at Lu Yang and noticed that Lu Yang was indeed dressed shabbily, wearing very cheap clothes. They couldn't help but murmur amongst themselves.
"Didn't you hear what Zixuan said? Are you not even giving my Sister Hong any face?"
"I am also one of the owners of this Guoxing Hotel, with a twenty percent stake. Throw this good-for-nothing out immediately, or you can pack your bags and leave!"
Sister Hong, standing beside Tang Zixuan, also roared at the two security guards.
"Sir, please leave!"
Upon hearing Sister Hong's words, the security guards broke out in a cold sweat and quickly spoke to Lu Yang.
"Why should I leave? I'm here to attend the auction. The auction hasn't even started, and you want me to leave? What kind of logic is that?"
Lu Yang said coldly to the two security guards.
"Sir, you don't have to leave, but please present your invitation!"
The security guards said politely.
"I... I don't have an invitation. I was brought in by someone!"
Lu Yang swallowed a tart in one gulp and mumbled.
"Haha, someone would bring a good-for-nothing like you in? Who do you think you are? You're just a useless live-in son-in-law!"
"Get out of here quickly, and stop making such pathetic excuses!"
Hearing Lu Yang's words, Tang Zixuan burst into laughter.
"Believe it or not, I'm here for the auction!"
Lu Yang shrugged indifferently and continued eating the pastries on the table.
"Sir, if you do not have an invitation, we will have to escort you out!"
The security guards continued to speak to Lu Yang.
"Hey, why aren't you guys getting it? Someone really brought me here!"
Lu Yang said helplessly.
"Lu Yang, I'll give you a chance. Tell me who brought you here. I'd love to know which idiot would bring a good-for-nothing like you to an auction!"
Tang Zixuan sneered and said to Lu Yang.
"That's right. In my Sister Hong's establishment, whoever brought you here, I'll make them kneel for me!"
Sister Hong also roared unyieldingly.
People around them turned to look. Upon seeing Sister Hong, they all cast sideways glances.
Sister Hong's name was well-known throughout Jiangbei City. She changed boyfriends faster than she changed clothes, and she favored young men in their twenties, usually playing with them for a few days before moving on.
"This kid is finished. He dared to talk back to Sister Hong, his fate will be miserable!"
"Yeah, I heard before that a guy offended Sister Hong. He was caught by Sister Hong and with four or five women for a whole night. The man died of exhaustion the next day!"
"This kid doesn't look like he has the stamina. He'll probably croak after one night!"
"..."
A crowd of onlookers watched Lu Yang and laughed coldly.
"Who did you call an idiot?"
"Who did you say should kneel for you?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a stern voice came from behind him.
Tang Zixuan turned around and immediately recognized the speaker as Meng Hongda, a revered figure in Jiangbei City's traditional Chinese medicine community.
"Elder Meng, why are you here?"
Tang Zixuan's body trembled, and he quickly asked Meng Hongda respectfully.
"Why shouldn't I be here?"
Meng Hongda said coldly.
"Elder Meng, I didn't mean it like that!"
"This good-for-nothing is the live-in son-in-law of the Tang family. I suspect he snuck in, and we were about to throw him out. With his status, how could he be qualified to attend a medicinal materials auction!"
Tang Zixuan quickly explained to Meng Hongda.
"Mr. Lu was brought in by me!"
"Did I just hear you say that whoever brought him here is an idiot?"
"And you want them to kneel for you?"
"So you're saying I'm an idiot?"
"Do you want me to kneel down now?"
Meng Hongda asked with extremely cold eyes.