“Father, you knew Tang Guozhu? Why didn’t you tell us sooner!”
Upon hearing the news, Jiang Yangming trembled with excitement.
“That’s not right. At the beginning of ’07, Tang Guozhu was seriously ill and was brought to me for treatment. But that illness was too difficult; I couldn’t cure it…”
The old man also looked confused.
“Even if you couldn’t cure him, there’s still some bond of fellowship from that encounter, right? He must be here because of you, Father! I’ll go out to welcome him!”
Jiang Shouren was very excited, rushing ahead to lead everyone out to greet the guests.
A black Audi, about eighty percent new, pulled up and stopped. It was very understated.
The car door opened. Tang Linglong, supporting Tang Guozhu and flanked by the three sons of the Tang family, the whole family walked in.
That girl Tang Linglong was wearing a short trench coat. Underneath was a black winter dress and natural-colored stockings. A delicate little belt was fastened around her waist, perfectly accentuating her graceful figure.
“Wow, is that the Secretary Tang’s daughter? She’s so beautiful!”
“The Tang family’s genes are amazing!”
Many of the young people present exclaimed, practically drooling.
Jiang Ran stared intently at Tang Linglong, his heart burning with desire. He murmured, “If I marry this woman, with the Tang family’s support, won’t my military career skyrocket straight to the top?”
Jiang Qingfeng’s expression was also excited. He glanced at Jiang Ran and thought to himself, Jiang Ran, although you’re doing well, your family background is ultimately too poor. You’re not worthy. Maybe I have a sliver of a chance if I pursue her.
Looking at the nobly born and exceptionally poised Tang Linglong, Jiang Banxia and the other Jiang family girls all felt she was like a princess. Their eyes showed jealousy, mixed with a bit of self-consciousness.
“Elder Tang, Secretary Tang, we really didn’t expect you to come!”
Jiang Shouren shook hands with several members of the Tang family, finally clasping Tang Weimin’s hand tightly, unwilling to let go.
He was much younger than Tang Weimin, but at this moment, his face was full of flattery as he bowed obsequiously, which seemed somewhat comical.
“Hehe, no need to be so polite. Where is Mr. Jiang?”
The Elder Tang asked kindly, beaming.
“He’s in the inner hall! Elder Tang, everyone, please follow me!”
Jiang Shouren thought to himself, the one Elder Tang refers to as ‘Mr. Jiang’ must surely be his old father. So, he gestured vaguely and led the way.
Unexpectedly, just as the group reached the colorful awning, Tang Linglong trotted over to Jiang Tian, bowed respectfully, and called out crisply, “Master, I’m here!”
“These are my parents, the ones you’ve always wanted to meet, right?” Jiang Tian pointed to his mom and dad.
“This junior, Tang Linglong, pays respects to you both! Wishing you an early Happy New Year!”
Tang Linglong’s eyes lit up. She knelt gracefully right there and performed the solemn, deep bow of the great ritual, observing all formalities without a single mistake.
Seeing this, everyone was stunned, unable to believe their eyes.
“This girl… please get up quickly!” Jiang Zhixing and his wife were also completely baffled.
Jiang Shouren was stunned for a moment, then hurried over with a smile to help her up: “Miss Tang, your status is noble, how can you perform such a great ceremony for my third brother’s family…”
After all, the Tang family members were standing right there. If she showed such great respect to his useless third brother’s family and the Tang family got angry, they could turn the entire Jiang family upside down!
“Grandmaster Jiang, so you’re here, not in the inner hall!”
“Greetings, Grandmaster Jiang, Madam Jiang!”
“We, the Tang family, wish Grandmaster Jiang’s parents a very happy New Year and good luck in the coming year!”
Unexpectedly, Elder Tang led his three sons over. Instead of stopping Tang Linglong, they bowed respectfully to Jiang Tian’s whole family, their expressions extremely humble.
This scene struck everyone like a lightning bolt.
Everyone felt a shock run from their spines through their limbs and up to the crowns of their heads. A wave of numbing dizziness spread like ripples towards their heads and then throughout their bodies.
“This, this…”
“What is going on?”
Everyone’s eyes were filled with shock and disbelief.
Jiang Shouren and the others were even more dumbfounded.
Jiang Ran’s face turned ashen, his eyes filled with fear.
The Tang family actually held Jiang Tian in such high regard! He had offended Jiang Tian. With Jiang Tian standing in the way, how could he possibly have any chance to get close to the Tang family?
“Good, good, Elder Tang, now all the heroes from Jiangbei are gathered here!”
Ye Gufeng, Long Wu, and the other Jiangbei heroes came over to greet them.
They weren’t surprised at all by Elder Tang’s arrival.
Now, Jiang Tian was already a Martial Arts Grandmaster commanding respect across Huaxia, daring to claim the title of number one under the Divine Realm. Who wouldn’t submit?
Especially the Tang family, who had gained immense benefits from Jiang Tian being here. Some were promoted, some got rich, some became martial arts experts.
Today was Old Master Jiang’s birthday. It would be extremely strange if the Tang family didn’t come to offer congratulations.
“We were wrong! We were wrong from the very beginning!”
Jiang Chao slapped his forehead, finally understanding, and stammered with shock and fear: “They didn’t come because of Ye Gufeng’s influence. They all came because of Jiang Tian!”
“But what on earth is going on? Why does Jiang Tian deserve such respect from them?”
Jiang Banxia looked unconvinced.
“Jiang Tian, being able to know so many important people is indeed something to be proud of! But so what!”
Jiang Qingfeng’s clenched fists trembled slightly, his face dark as he roared angrily in his heart:
“You’re ignorant and incompetent, a useless idiot. Your father is just a minor official!”
“This is the Jiang family, which values talent and learning above all. I am the most outstanding descendant of the Jiang family. In the future, only I am qualified and capable of controlling the Jiang family and the Yao Wang Group!”
In the crowd, Jiang Zhixing and his wife were also agitated and puzzled.
Zhang Wanqing murmured, “So, Old Ye actually didn’t come because of us, but because of our son?”
Jiang Zhixing couldn’t believe it. He frowned, annoyed, and said, “Wanqing, he didn’t go and use your Zhang family’s name in Linzhou, did he?”
The arrival of guests today was a series of strange events, with so many important figures actually coming to offer birthday greetings because of Jiang Tian. It was too incredible!
Jiang Zhixing thought of various possibilities, but ultimately dismissed them one by one, finally deciding this was the only truth.
The Zhang family in Yanjing was among the top ten elite families. In recent years, they had been thriving and wielding significant influence.
If Jiang Tian revealed the fact that he was the Zhang family’s maternal grandson, not just Long Wu and other martial artists, even the Tang family would have to show him some respect.
Thinking of this, his anger flared up again, leaving him deeply unhappy.
The Zhang family had always looked down on him and his wife. Jiang Zhixing, with his scholarly pride and unyielding spirit, had never tried to curry favor with them.
Even when the Qixia Pharmaceutical Factory was being suppressed by the Sun family and on the verge of bankruptcy, he never bowed his head to the Zhang family for help.
If his son did something so shameless, his own reputation would be utterly ruined. Right now, he wished he could kick Jiang Tian to the ground.
“Hmph, that son of yours, what achievements does he have? Besides using the Zhang family to bluff and bully, what else can he do?”
Second Aunt also thought of this, and immediately started sneering sarcastically: “He’s just a useless idiot who went to a third-rate, lousy college, knows nothing, and only cares about eating, drinking, and having fun. Could he really make these people respect him from the bottom of their hearts?”
“Yeah, it must be!”
“Jiang Tian, just to put a good face on his family, doesn’t care about his dignity at all, using the Zhang family to deceive these Jiangbei people!”
“And these Jiangbei heroes are really idiots, not knowing that the Zhang family and Jiang Tian’s family are irreconcilably opposed and haven’t interacted for years!”
Hearing Second Aunt’s words, everyone present suddenly understood, and their shock turned into disdain.
Only now did Jiang Qingfeng realize this point. He immediately sneered coldly and murmured, “This kind of false prosperity is like a sandcastle. It can’t withstand any wind or wave. Sooner or later, its true colors will show.”
His eyes were dark, filled with gloating mockery:
“Actually, the more they praise Jiang Tian now, the harder he’ll fall when they learn the truth.”
“Look at him, still smug and chatting away cheerfully.”
Jiang Banxia agreed wholeheartedly. Her clear, beautiful eyes were full of ridicule as she looked at Jiang Tian as if he were a dead man. She sneered coldly, “These powerful people respect you just to gain benefits from the Zhang family. When the time comes and you can’t deliver, they’ll skin you alive!”
“Yeah, damn! I was just about to go apologize to him. Luckily, my mom warned me in time. Otherwise, I would have made a huge fool of myself!”
Jiang Chao wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
“Madam, please do not speak nonsense!”
Zhou Zhenghao overheard Second Aunt’s words. He whirled around and barked fiercely: “If it weren’t for the Old Master’s birthday today, a day of celebration, do you realize that for saying those words, I would have already killed you?”
He was a rough-and-tumble man by nature, looking as ferocious as a demon. Second Aunt was so frightened her whole body jolted, cold sweat dripped down, and her face was incredibly embarrassed.
Zhou Zhenghao swept his murderous gaze across the crowd and said coldly, “Grandmaster Jiang’s might suppressed Lingnan. How dare you people presume to comment on him?!”
At that moment, a young man rushed over, shouting, “Bad news, bad news! Yu Qiang is here! I saw him driving over at the village entrance. He must be here to cause trouble for Jiang Tian!”
“What? He’s here?”
Jiang Zhixing’s face showed surprise. Yu Qiang had lost a sports car to Jiang Tian before. He wasn’t here to cause a scene now, was he?
Zhang Wanqing held her forehead, her expression turning very sour: “This Yu Qiang is so malicious. Picking such an important day to come, isn’t he openly trying to slap us in the face?”
“Hehe, now the truth will out, won’t it? He fooled everyone in Jiangbei, but he can’t fool the people from Jinling!”
Jiang Banxia clapped her jade-white hands and said jubilantly.
Regarding this, Jiang Qingfeng couldn’t be bothered to say anything more. He just shook his head disdainfully.
“Just wait and see. If Yu Qiang doesn’t kill him, he can consider himself lucky burning incense.”
Jiang Chao sneered.
However, his smile hadn’t even fully formed before it froze solidly on his face, vanishing completely.
“Master Tang, it’s right here…”
They saw Yu Qiang, who could summon the wind and rain in Jinling, bobbing his head and bowing obsequiously as he led the way for a few distinguished-looking young men, as if these men held even higher status.
One of them was dressed like a Buddhist devotee. His hair was shaved, leaving only a short stubble. He wore a Chinese-style buttoned long gown, soft cloth shoes on his feet, and was twirling sandalwood prayer beads in his hand.
Another was dressed luxuriously and fashionably, with an impressive bearing and extraordinarily handsome features.
The third wore military-style casual clothes, exuding a somewhat martial aura.
The last one was murderous-looking, tall, and clad in standard camouflage, clearly a military strongman. He was accompanied by a very pretty and stylish young woman.
“Young Master Tang Shaoze from Yangcheng!”
Jiang Chao’s face showed shock. He barely managed to stop himself from falling flat on his backside.
“Bai Choufei and Tie Minghuang!”
Jiang Qingfeng’s face was pale, his eyes filled with terror, his voice hoarse.
He already realized the seriousness of the gambling incident!
Yu Qiang had mobilized forces from Yangcheng to suppress the Jiang family!
If they joined forces, it wouldn’t just be a matter of Jiang Tian being punished and finished; the entire Jiang family would be doomed
