"Do you remember my rich second-generation friend? His family also had a painting called 'Cranes Delivering Blessings,' but the authentic one was only one, and its price was no less than fifty million. So I can be sure that Huang Hailong's painting must be fake."
Lin Xingwan immediately understood why Zhou Jinbai was so certain. kuAiδugg
Soon, more than half of the guests were seated.
But a new problem arose.
Too many guests had arrived. The Lin family had only planned for ten tables, but there was an extra table's worth of people.
After everyone was seated, the Lin family members found themselves with nowhere to sit.
Some guests said apologetically, "Today is Old Mrs. Lin's birthday. How can we let the birthday star stand? Please sit down."
Zhong Jingjing immediately refused with a smile, "Everyone has come to my birthday banquet today, how can I let you go home hungry? Please eat to your heart's content. If there aren't enough tables, just order a few more."
Gu Shaoting knew this was his chance to shine, so he immediately said, "I'll ask the hotel manager to add another table."
Zhong Jingjing smiled so much that the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes could have caught flies, "Shaoting, you've really made me spend a lot today."
"A mere few million is nothing to me. The most important thing is that Grandma is happy."
Gu Shaoting appeared very filial and considerate. Since Lin Xingwan and the others could give gifts worth tens of millions, he, Gu Shaoting, would not be outdone.
Soon, the hotel manager hurried over.
"Mr. Gu, I'm very sorry, but the table you ordered is no longer available." The hotel manager said apologetically.
"What? No more? Such a big hotel? Can't you add another table? Do you know how much we're spending here tonight? Are your tables inlaid with gold?"
Lin Hanhai immediately put on a fierce face for the hotel manager. The hotel manager's tone became increasingly helpless, "The Platinum Banquet, because of its high cost-effectiveness, is very popular in our hotel, and it's always in short supply. The number of tables in each room is clearly stipulated. Please forgive me, sir."
"A mere manager actually looks down on our Platinum Banquet. What a tone! Do you earn hundreds of millions a month to be so arrogant?"
Gu Shaoting's face was full of arrogance. To him, the hotel manager was just a subordinate.
They had to meet the customer's demands, otherwise, he could have him fired.
Although Yunhai Hotel's banquets were divided into Silver, Platinum, Diamond, and Emperor tiers, the Platinum Banquet he had booked was still more expensive than the banquets at other hotels!
Over 300,000 per table. Who would normally book such an expensive banquet?
But this manager seemed to disregard them, which was infuriating.
Facing Gu Shaoting's insults, the hotel manager remained neither humble nor arrogant, "I'm very sorry, I suggest you book our Diamond Banquet. I can apply for a 9.999% discount for you. If you find it unacceptable, we can also help you book a banquet at another hotel."
Although the hotel manager did not use any vulgar language, his words were sharp and piercing.
"Then book the Diamond Banquet." Gu Shaoting was so angry that he lost his reason. How could he book a banquet at another hotel and still maintain his dignity?
"The Diamond Banquet here is not cheap, it's 6.66 million per table." Yang Niyun's voice trembled. Spending so much money on a meal, even if it was Gu Shaoting's money, made her heart ache.
"6.66 million is too expensive. How about we eat something else?" Lin Shirou also couldn't help but advise.
Zhong Jingjing also appeared very conflicted at this time.
The Platinum Banquet was the most cost-effective banquet at Yunhai Hotel. If they went any higher, they would be pure suckers!
Who would spend millions on a single meal? Weren't they treating them like fools?
But if they didn't, with so many people watching tonight, the Lin family would lose face.
At this moment, Zhou Jinbai spoke, "I happened to book a private room at Yunhai Hotel. Why don't we eat in the private room I booked?"
Lin Xingwan looked at Zhou Jinbai with surprise, "When did you book it?"
"This afternoon. I was worried that too many people would attend the birthday banquet, so I booked a room." Of course, Zhou Jinbai would never tell Lin Xingwan that Yunhai Hotel also belonged to him, and the hotel manager had informed him of all the circumstances before they arrived.
Gu Shaoting wanted to save face but was also reluctant to spend money. He had only booked ten tables for thirteen tables of guests.
The final result would be that some people would not get to eat.
"You booked the Bronze Banquet, didn't you? Don't you know that Bronze and Platinum banquets don't have private rooms?" Lin Shirou said sarcastically, "Do you want Grandma to be treated as inferior and only eat the Bronze Banquet?"
"Is your mouth smeared with lubricant? You're always spewing nonsense?" Lin Xingwan couldn't stand Lin Shirou's instigation. This woman was like Aristotle's sister, Jenny Massado.
Lin Shirou's face turned pale with anger, "Sister, how can you scold me like this?"
"Scolding you is already giving you face. You're so good at adding fuel to the fire. Has your cooking improved?" Lin Xingwan was not to be outdone. If she didn't use vulgar language towards Lin Shirou, then she had nothing to say to her.
Lin Shirou was about to say something else when she saw Zhong Jingjing's expression darken.
"I would rather starve to death than eat the Bronze Banquet!" Zhong Jingjing said indignantly.
Zhou Jinbai smiled and said nothing. As expected, fools were all the same.
"6.66 million is nothing to me. As I said, as long as Grandma is happy, and it's not like we eat this expensively every meal. In life, a sense of ritual is the most important thing." Gu Shaoting then boasted to Zhou Jinbai, "Wait and see what a real private room looks like."
Gu Shaoting, under everyone's watchful eyes, booked the Diamond Banquet.
For a moment, the surrounding people began to flatter them, praising the old lady for having such a good grandson-in-law.
The old lady smiled even more happily.
At the same time, an employee in a butler's uniform immediately walked over.
He cast an obsequious and flattering gaze at Zhou Jinbai. Seeing the man nod slightly, the employee respectfully said, "Distinguished guests, please follow me."
"The service in this Diamond private room is indeed different. You useless person, learn properly what it means to climb higher."
Lin Hanhai was in a good mood and laughed heartily.
"It's still Shirou who has good taste, unlike some people who are content with mediocrity and stubbornly refuse to change."
Old Mrs. Lin, supported by Lin Shirou and Gu Shaoting, walked unsteadily towards the Diamond private room.
How could Yang Niyun miss this opportunity to mock Lin Xingwan? She said, "Xingwan, Jinbai, hurry up and follow. This kind of opportunity only comes once in a lifetime."
"Let's not go. I can't eat. Just seeing those people makes me sick."
She had already stolen enough limelight tonight and didn't want to stay here and disgust herself.
"It's okay, we can just eat in the private room I booked. Wife, you've worked hard for so long, you deserve to be rewarded."
Zhou Jinbai was indifferent. He wondered who would be disgusted later.
Soon, Gu Shaoting and the others entered a luxurious private room to dine.
Lin Xingwan and Zhou Jinbai also followed. Although Lin Xingwan was puzzled, weren't they going to Zhou Jinbai's booked private room?
But seeing Zhou Jinbai's calm demeanor, Lin Xingwan seemed to realize something.
Could it be...
The style of the entire private room was predominantly Chinese. All the tables, chairs, and benches were carved from exquisite small-leaf sandalwood. Especially the large round table carved with intricate patterns, it was both grand and luxurious, and the room exuded a faint woody fragrance.
"Such a large piece of small-leaf sandalwood must be very expensive, right? Look at these mortise and tenon joints, the craftsmanship is so ingenious. It truly lives up to the Diamond Banquet." Lin Hanhai touched everything and looked around, extremely pleased.
Yang Niyun quickly took out her phone to shoot a short video and posted it on Douyin with the caption: Son-in-law is truly filial.
Within seconds, several people liked it and praised her.
As for Lin Shirou, she nestled tenderly in Gu Shaoting's arms, "Shaoting, it's so good to have you."
Gu Shaoting's heart ached. A birthday banquet had cost him nearly ten million, but outwardly he showed nothing, and said to Lin Shirou with deep affection, "For you, I would give up my fortune, let alone just a Diamond Banquet."
Old Mrs. Lin sat upright and deliberately said in a grand tone, "Since everyone is here, let's serve the food."
The employee who had led them earlier immediately took out a black and gold scroll and opened it. A lifelike golden dragon was embroidered on it. "Mr. Gu, please sign here, and then we will be qualified to serve the food."
Gu Shaoting felt like an emperor. He smiled, took the pen, and signed his name.
"This is Suzhou embroidery worth tens of thousands, isn't it? It's used as a signing tool. It's truly extravagant!" Yang Niyun said with a pained expression.
"A meal costs millions. What's tens of thousands of Suzhou embroidery?" Zhong Jingjing thought Yang Niyun was too petty, as if she had never seen the world.
Soon, dozens of chefs lined up outside the corridor, and a designated person began to announce the dishes:
"Serve, premium South African abalone."
"Serve, Dragon Roaring Nine Heavens."
"Serve, Peony Fish Slices."
"Serve, Nine Treasures and Nine Collections."
...
Soon, the table was filled with all sorts of exquisite and delicious dishes, even the wine was fragrant and refreshing.
"Good wine, good wine, truly good wine. I've never tasted such delicious wine in my life."
Lin Hanhai praised repeatedly, his face full of lingering appreciation.
The person announcing the dishes immediately flattered, "The Gujing Gong wine, worth tens of millions, naturally has a unique flavor."
Gu Shaoting looked at Lin Xingwan and Zhou Jinbai, who had been silent since they entered, and sneered, "It's normal to be at a loss when you come to a place like this for the first time. But don't be so reserved. Eat more. Once this opportunity is gone, it won't come again."
"Oh? Is that so?" Zhou Jinbai's lips curved. Yunhai Hotel was already the peak of consumption for these people.
But in reality, if the Dongfang family held a banquet, Yunhai Hotel wouldn't even be qualified to apply to provide food.
"What? Are you trying to tell us that you've had dinner better than the Diamond Banquet? Can you not brag or show off? If you hadn't latched onto Xingwan, you wouldn't even have the right to enter Yunhai Hotel." Gu Shaoting was particularly angry seeing Zhou Jinbai's calm demeanor.
At this point, this poor loser was still talking big. He really didn't know what Lin Xingwan saw in this loser. Losing him would be the biggest regret of her life.
"If you've eaten anything better than the Diamond Banquet, I'll twist my head off and use it as a ball for you to kick." Lin Hanhai couldn't stand Zhou Jinbai and looked at him with disdain.
"Your entire outfit doesn't even cost a thousand yuan, yet you're still talking big. Sister, you really have good taste, picking such scum." Lin Shirou rolled her eyes. She loved this feeling of being superior and spending money lavishly.
Lin Xingwan was more beautiful and better than her, so what? She had still snatched her man, and now she was eating the lavish meal booked by her man, without daring to utter a word.
Just as Lin Xingwan finished speaking, a group of people rushed into the private room, menacingly saying, "Who the hell is Gu Shaoting?"