“Xiao Lin, you’re here early, aren’t you?” Tang Sen shook Lin Hai’s hand with a beaming smile.
“I just got here a moment ago too, Mayor Tang. Please, come in.” Lin Hai extended his hand and nodded toward Hou Xianpin and Sha Wujing behind Tang Sen.
The few of them chatted and laughed as they walked inside.
Liu Hongju stood off to the side, staring dumbfounded. He swallowed hard and thought about going over to say hello.
But after mustering up his courage several times, he still didn’t dare take a single step forward.
As Tang Sen and the others brushed past him, Liu Hongju let out a sigh.
What right did a small-time businessman like him have to greet the mayor?
“Liangzi,” Lin Hai suddenly stopped.
“Which private room are you guys in? I’ll come over later and toast your dad.”
Liu Hongju perked up immediately upon hearing this.
“We’re in the Peony Pavilion,” Liu Hongju blurted out before Liu Liang could answer, an involuntary, humble smile creeping onto his face.
Lin Hai smiled, nodded, and walked inside.
“Liangzi, come on, let’s head to the room. I need to talk to you.” Liu Hongju’s eyes lit up as he pulled Liu Liang into the private room.
Lin Hai, Tang Sen, and Peng Tao took their seats in order. The dishes had already been served, and as they clinked glasses and exchanged toasts, the atmosphere was incredibly warm and pleasant.
“Mayor Tang, I’m not one for beating around the bush, so I’ll just say what’s on my mind.” After a few drinks, Lin Hai picked up another glass of wine and stood up.
“Haha, I like people who get straight to the point. Xiao Lin, go ahead and tell me what’s on your mind.”
“Mayor Tang, I’ve set my sights on the Golden Splendor property of the Hu Corporation. I was wondering if you could lend me a hand?”
Tang Sen furrowed his brow upon hearing this and set his glass down.
“Xiao Lin, it’s not that I won’t help you. If it were any other business, I could directly earmark it for you without issue. But the Zhao Group has also taken an interest in this Golden Splendor property.”
“The Zhao Group?” Lin Hai frowned.
“Yeah, the Zhao Group is a real giant. Even if I stepped in, they probably wouldn’t be willing to back down. So, aside from competing with them in the bidding, I’m afraid there’s no other way.” Tang Sen shook his head.
“However, I can guarantee the fairness of the auction. I won’t let anyone pull any tricks.”
“Haha, that’s great. Thank you, Mayor Tang.” Lin Hai tipped his head back and downed his wine in one go.
He had never expected Tang Sen to just hand it to him directly. As long as Tang Sen could ensure a fair bidding process, that was enough.
After all, he was an outsider in this game. Without someone backing him, he wouldn’t even know if he was being cheated.
“Mayor Tang, please sit tight for a bit. I have a classmate and his dad in the next private room. I’m going over to offer a toast.”
Inside the Peony Pavilion, Liu Hongju was eagerly instructing Liu Liang.
“Liangzi, listen to me. That fair-skinned, chubby guy with your classmate is the mayor in charge of political and legal affairs in our city. Later, get your classmate to say a few nice words to him, and our problem will be solved. Got it…”
“Ugh, you’re so annoying. I don’t want to get mixed up in all this messy stuff.”
“You kid, why are you…”
Before Liu Hongju could finish his sentence, the door to the private room opened, and Lin Hai walked in.
“Uncle Liu, Liangzi…” Lin Hai froze as soon as he entered.
“It’s just you two?” Lin Hai remembered Liu Hongju saying he had invited some Vice President Gong, didn’t he?
“Ah, the guest had something come up last minute and just left. You know how leaders are, always busy, always busy…” Liu Hongju looked a bit awkward.
“He didn’t just leave. He never even showed up,” Liu Liang muttered from the side.
“You shut up.” Caught red-handed, Liu Hongju’s face turned red.
“Come on, Uncle. Liangzi and I are like brothers, so you’re like an elder to me. Let me toast you.” Lin Hai saw that the table settings hadn’t been touched and understood immediately.
To avoid embarrassing Liu Hongju, Lin Hai raised his glass.
Seeing this, Liu Hongju quickly poured himself a drink and stood up, looking flattered.
He turned his head and saw Liu Liang sitting there without moving a muscle. Liu Hongju was furious.
He kicked Liu Liang’s stool with his foot. “You kid, where are your manners? Xiao Lin is here to toast you, can’t you see? Pick up your glass!”
Liu Liang rolled his eyes and glanced at his dad.
“Only an idiot would drink with him. He’s a bottomless pit,” Liu Liang said, shaking his head.
“You little brat!” Liu Hongju was fuming. What kind of nonsense was that? Here he was, holding up his glass ready to drink with Lin Hai, and this guy says only an idiot would drink with him.
Wasn’t he calling his own dad an idiot?
“Haha, Uncle, this toast is for you. Don’t mind Liangzi. Us brothers will have plenty of chances to drink.” Lin Hai quickly tried to smooth things over.
“This rotten kid is driving me crazy. Xiao Lin, since you and Liangzi are close, look out for him in the future, will you?” Liu Hongju quickly clinked glasses with Lin Hai.
“Liangzi has looked out for me plenty of times before. Cheers, Uncle.”
“Oh, no, no, Xiao Lin. I’ll down mine, you do what you want.” With that, Liu Hongju tipped his head back and finished his wine.
Pfft! Lin Hai almost sprayed his drink.
What kind of talk was that? When an elder says something like that, how’s a younger person supposed to drink?
“Uncle, you’re the elder. If you down yours, there’s no way I, as the younger one, can’t down mine.” Lin Hai prepared to finish his wine as well.
“Oh, Xiao Lin, just a sip is fine. Don’t down it, don’t down it!” Liu Hongju quickly stopped Lin Hai, smiling obsequiously to keep him from drinking too much.
“Uncle, what’s this about?” Lin Hai was a bit confused. It felt like he was the elder here.
“Haha, Xiao Lin, sit down, sit down. Have some food, have some food.” Liu Hongju quickly urged Lin Hai to sit.
“Um, Xiao Lin…” Liu Hongju hesitated, as if wanting to say something but holding back.
“What is it, Uncle? Is something wrong?”
“You, uh, you and Mayor Tang…”
“Oh, isn’t this Old Liu?” Before Liu Hongju could finish, a burly middle-aged man walked in.
“Wang Li?” Liu Hongju frowned.
This Wang Li was also a businessman, but he played dirty in his dealings, and Liu Hongju didn’t like him much.
Lately, many of Liu Hongju’s businesses had faced cutthroat competition, and Wang Li was the one pulling the strings behind the scenes.
“Oh, pretty lavish spread. Who were you planning to treat?” Wang Li sneered as he looked at the table of mostly untouched food and drink.
“Who I’m treating is none of your business. If you have nothing to do, please leave and don’t disturb our meal,” Liu Hongju said coldly.
“Oh, pretty hot-tempered, aren’t you?” Wang Li not only refused to leave but sat down instead.
“Listen, Old Liu, what makes you think you can compete with me, huh? You invite someone to a meal, and they don’t even show up. Know why?”
Wang Li reached out and patted his own cheek.
“Face, understand? In their eyes, you, Old Liu, are no better than a dog. You’ve got no face at all!”
“Hmph! Whether I’ve got face or not is none of your business. Get out now. You’re not welcome here!” Liu Hongju pointed angrily toward the door.
“Haha, fine, fine. I’ll leave. I’ll leave, alright?” Wang Li stood up.
“Oh, by the way, Old Liu, I heard you’ve got your eye on Phoenix Pavilion? I suggest you save your energy. Haha…”
“Boss, there you are. President Gong is looking for you.” Just then, a man who looked like a driver spotted Wang Li while glancing around.
“Oh?” Wang Li’s eyes lit up. He smirked triumphantly at Liu Hongju. “Old Liu, you know who President Gong is, right? He’s having dinner with me right now. You still think you’ve got a chance? Hahaha…”
Wang Li walked out laughing loudly.
Hearing the name President Gong, Liu Hongju stood there dumbfounded.
