Chapter 367 Mr. Chen? What are you doing here?
Tang Yongnian and Tang Ruoyu's families were particularly livid, as they had been the loudest in their mockery, and their embarrassment was naturally the greatest.
Such grand gestures of respect even startled Song Ping and Aunt Tang; they had never received such a New Year's greeting before.
"Young man, please get up." Song Ping and Aunt Tang, having regained some composure, hurried to help Yuan Jie.
Yuan Jie dared not move. His earlier swagger might have angered Chen Xuan. He turned to Chen Xuan, his gaze seeking permission. Large beads of sweat trickled down his forehead.
"Even my mother and Aunt Tang are telling you to get up. Are you going to make them help you?" Chen Xuan took a sip of water, speaking indifferently.
It was the New Year, and Chen Xuan was too lazy to quibble.
"Thank you, Madam Song, thank you, Madam Tang!"
Yuan Jie, greatly relieved, scrambled to his feet.
"Mr. Chen, I'll take my leave then!"
Yuan Jie cautiously glanced around. Seeing Chen Xuan wave his hand, he turned and left. However, he paused as he passed Zhao Lingling.
"Lingling, you must take good care of Mr. Chen and Miss Su. If you fail to do so, don't even think about your promotion next year!"
With that, he paid no mind to Zhao Lingling's bewilderment and quickened his pace, as if eager to disappear from Chen Xuan's sight.
"Yes, yes, yes..."
Zhao Lingling repeatedly agreed. Even after Yuan Jie had walked far away, she continued to nod.
Inside the private room, silence still reigned; one could hear a pin drop.
The Tang family members exchanged glances.
"Could they be important people?" someone asked.
"What important people? Would important people come to eat for free?"
Tang Ruoyu, having been thoroughly embarrassed, refused to admit it, stubbornly saying, "I think they might be distant relatives of Mr. Yuan who have no connection with him. They come from areas with strict upbringing, so they perform such kowtows as a New Year's greeting."
"If Mr. Yuan is embarrassed today, he might just fire them tomorrow!"
Some people found this plausible, yet something felt amiss. Yuan Jie had clearly shown fear just moments ago.
Promotion?
Many people had a sudden realization. Zhao Lingling had been putting on airs.
"Lingling, didn't you say you were a manager?"
"Yes, Lingling, do managers need promotions now?"
Zhao Lingling's face turned crimson, and she stomped her foot in anger. Tang Ruoyu also felt her face lose its luster, hating Aunt Tang and Su Yunxi's family even more.
Tang Yongnian and his son, Tang Feng, felt immensely pleased. Tang Ruoyu and Zhao Lingling's mother and daughter had stolen their spotlight earlier. Now that they had been humiliated, they could once again be the center of attention.
"Exactly. And I think this isn't even a department head from Yishen Pharmaceutical; he's just a con artist!"
Tang Feng laughed, "After all, no one has ever seen him."
This statement garnered agreement from everyone.
Just then, another voice sounded from outside: "Tian Feiyang of the Tian family from Daliu Town, here to pay his New Year's respects!"
The surroundings first fell silent, then erupted into an uproar.
"Tian Feiyang of the Tian family? That's the young master of a provincial big shot's family!"
"Why would Tian Feiyang come to pay respects to our Tang family?"
"Yes, considering the Tian family has always been low-key and they don't even pay attention to our Tang family."
Although the Tang family boasted of being the foremost family in Daliu Town, that was only because the Tian family did not focus on the development of this impoverished region.
If the Tian family were to return to Daliu Town, the Tang family would be considered lowly even if they were made subordinates.
After all, one was a big shot making waves in Guang Province, while the other was a town-level family, with no comparison.
Chen Xuan's brow twitched.
He knew Tian Feiyang was from Daliu Town, but he hadn't expected Tian Feiyang to have connections with the Tian family.
Seeing that no one was going to greet him, Tang Ruoyu excitedly asked, "Lingling, you're quite sociable outside, aren't you? Perhaps it's one of your classmates?"
Their family had already lost enough face. If Tian Feiyang came because of Zhao Lingling, she could not only clear her earlier humiliation but also seize the spotlight, as Tian Feiyang's influence far surpassed Yuan Jie's.
"Mom, you think too highly of me. How could I possibly know someone like that?"
Zhao Lingling shook her head like a rattle, not daring to claim acquaintance.
Tang Ruoyu's heart sank halfway, and she seethed inwardly.
Seeing that no one claimed responsibility, Old Master Tang surveyed everyone and said with a smile, "Which of my descendants is so capable as to invite the young master of the Tian family? Grandfather will offer a great reward!"
As the atmosphere was sufficiently built up, it was the perfect moment for a dramatic entrance and showmanship. Tang Yongnian stood up and said, "Dad, it's your eldest grandson, Feng!"
"Oh?"
Old Master Tang looked over with surprise, his gaze excitedly falling on Tang Feng, "Feng, is that true?"
Tang Feng also stood up with a smile, "Grandfather, indeed! Young Master Tian and I have some business dealings, and we are both from Daliu Town. That's why Young Master Tian came to pay his respects to the Tang family."
Old Master Tang trembled with excitement, his face beaming, "Excellent, excellent! This is the fortune of my Tang family. Our Tang family has a villa on Qingwu Mountain in Jiangzhou. It's yours. Come find me for the keys later!"
The crowd's mouths watered with envy.
That was a villa on Qingwu Mountain! Although the Tang family's villa on Qingwu Mountain was the lowest-grade one, it was in the most expensive area of Jiangzhou, where every inch of land was priceless. Old Master Tang had even brought this out.
Tang Yongnian's smile was so wide it could barely be contained. He hadn't expected his father to be so generous.
He had asked Old Master Tang for the keys countless times, but his father had never given them to him. Now, it was being offered as a reward.
Even though it was given to his son, it was indirectly given to him, and he was genuinely delighted.
"Thank you, Grandfather!" Tang Feng thanked him repeatedly.
"Quickly, go invite Young Master Tian to be seated! I must toast Young Master Tian!"
With Old Master Tang's command, Tang Feng eagerly went to welcome Tian Feiyang. At the doorway, he whispered a few words to Tian Feiyang with a bow, appearing quite subservient. Tian Feiyang, however, maintained a stern and aloof demeanor.
But the Tang family members didn't see it that way. Being able to speak with Tian Feiyang was an honor in itself!
After all, none of them could even get Tian Feiyang to speak to them.
Tian Feiyang, accompanied by several others, strode in with an extraordinary bearing. His mature and handsome appearance, coupled with his distinguished background, caused many Tang family women to gaze at him with shining eyes, their hearts stirred.
"Old Master Tang, Feiyang is here to offer his New Year's respects!"
Tian Feiyang remained very aloof. Although he merely cupped his fists in a salute, no one felt that Tian Feiyang was being impolite. Instead, they felt it was appropriate, given Tian Feiyang's status. In terms of social standing, Old Master Tang could not compare.
"It is my honor as an old man that Feiyang has come. Quickly, have Feiyang and his entourage be seated! We must have a few drinks here today!" Old Master Tang said excitedly.
Tang Feng busily invited Tian Feiyang and his group to sit, but with the number of people Tian Feiyang had brought, there weren't enough seats.
Tang Yongnian's eyes darted, and he pointed at Chen Xuan, saying in a commanding tone, "Hurry up and bring your chair for Young Master Tian."
Chen Xuan frowned but did not move.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up!" Tang Yongnian shouted when Chen Xuan didn't comply.
Xue Chuan, his face darkened, was about to stand up. He had long been fed up with the situation throughout the evening. Fortunately, Chen Xuan had already placed a hand on Xue Chuan's arm, saying, "It's the New Year."
Only then did Xue Chuan grudgingly sit down.
Chen Xuan picked up his own chair and casually tossed it over, the sound of it hitting the floor with a thud, landing on Tang Yongnian's foot.
"Can't even move a chair properly, you good-for-nothing, useless!" Tang Yongnian cursed.
"Mr. Chen? What are you doing here?"
Tian Feiyang looked over, and upon seeing Chen Xuan, he was overjoyed.
The Tang family suddenly looked towards Chen Xuan...