Chapter 105: So Handsome He Got Away with Everything
Chapter 105: So Handsome He Got Away with Everything
Ma Huayun was a legend. Starting from nothing, he built a commercial empire, Tengyun Group, worth hundreds of billions. He was a true king of the business world. The platform he established invigorated tens of thousands of small businesses and merchants. He personally enjoyed very high prestige worldwide, making him a living legend. Among business people, especially the younger ones, almost no one didn’t admire him or hold him as an idol.
Therefore, the real star today wasn’t Du Zhishan, but Ma Huayun.
Ma Huayun was also a representative of Zhejiang Region merchants. He had a close personal friendship with Du Zhishan and presided over the same chamber of commerce. Since Du Zhishan, having “come back from the dead,” was holding this Recovery Banquet, there was no way Ma Huayun wouldn’t attend.
Li Zian naturally knew of Ma Huayun, but he had never met the man in person. He was a little curious and raised his head to look towards the entrance. He saw a sea of bobbing heads.
Where did Yu Jiahao have any room left to mock his “soft rice-eating” brother-in-law? Hearing that someone said Ma Huayun had arrived, he immediately walked towards the aisle. Excitedly, he said, “Brother Jianfei, wait a bit. I’m going to stand next to Boss Ma and shake his hand. You take a photo of me with your Mobile Phone, I’ll hang it in my office.”
“Alright, leave it to me,” Xie Jianfei said, following him. He took out his Mobile Phone as he walked, looking equally excited.
In fact, Yu Meilin was also excited because Ma Huayun was her idol too. However, she managed to control herself, merely watching from her spot and not going over to join the bustling crowd.
A group of people walked in this direction. Many were holding up their Mobile Phones, taking pictures. In the center of the throng, four bodyguards flanked a man on either side. The man appeared to be around fifty years old, tall and thin, with a square face and a broad forehead. He wasn’t handsome, but he left a very strong impression.
Li Zian’s fingers itched. The moment his eyes fell on Ma Huayun, he blinked, and the Great Sluggish Cauldron awakened. Two green sparks flashed deep within his pupils. Ma Huayun hadn’t asked him for a fortune-telling session, but what kind of fortune-teller wouldn’t look when encountering such a remarkable person? That would be no different from a useless salted fish!
For a fortune-teller, encountering a strange and remarkable sight was like a lecher encountering a stunning beauty, or an art lover seeing a genuine Wang Xizhi calligraphy piece. It caused an itch they couldn’t ignore; they simply had to look.
As the Great Sluggish Cauldron activated, Ma Huayun’s facial features were analyzed within Li Zian’s vision.
Many online fortune-tellers had commented on Ma Huayun’s face, saying it formed the character “丰” (feng – abundant), signifying a destined life of plentiful clothing, abundant food, and great wealth. Others analyzed his bone structure, claiming Ma Huayun’s forehead bone protruded – a sign of an “emperor’s bone.” His skull bone protruded – a “wisdom bone.” His nasal bone protruded – a “wealth-accumulating bone.” With these three bones prominent, his face destined him for immense success.
But these were merely shallow fortune-telling techniques. You could probably hear similar claims from any roadside fortune-teller peddling their trade.
For Li Zian, however, it was entirely different.
He didn’t see the character “丰” or those three prominent bones. What he saw was a ding (cauldron).
Ma Huayun’s facial features, his entire head put together, resembled the shape of an ancient ding.
Li Zian smiled. “A head broad at the top and narrow at the bottom? A wide face with prominent bones? High, fleshy ears? An innate Ding physiognomy! One fated to grasp power over the Central Plains. No wonder…”
At that moment, Yu Jiahao stepped into the aisle. Hunched over, he extended both hands early, eager to shake Ma Huayun’s hand.
One bodyguard swiftly stepped forward, blocking him.
Xie Jianfei held up his camera, frozen, unsure whether to take the photo or not.
Hesitating gave just enough time for Ma Huayun to walk right past Yu Jiahao.
Everyone here wanted to shake Ma Huayun’s hand, everyone wanted to exchange a few pleasantries. But he wasn’t someone dressed as Sun Wukong at a tourist spot, where anyone paying ten bucks could snap a photo.
However, Ma Huayun didn’t put on airs either. As he walked, he brought his palms together in a gesture familiar to a Buddhist follower, respectfully acknowledging people. Occasionally he’d add, “Everyone, please take your seats.”
Those with higher status and standing tended to have better cultivation and approachability. Conversely, it was the mediocre ones who constantly postured before others, trying to appear superior.
Guarded by four bodyguards, Ma Huayun made his way down the aisle towards the main table beneath the front wall.
Just then, Du Zhishan and Du Linlin emerged from the aisle flanking the front wall.
“Brother Du, it’s been a while! Hope all is well?” Ma Huayun waved and greeted them.
Du Zhishan and Du Linlin quickly walked forward to meet him.
Du Zhishan said with a smile, “Brother Ma, with how busy you are, you still took the time to come. Truly an honor.”
Ma Huayun chuckled. “Look at you, acting formal with me. That’s being too distant!”
Du Linlin, her face radiant with a smile, called out crisply, “Good day, Uncle Ma!”
Ma Huayun looked Du Linlin up and down, giving a compliment, “Lilin, you’ve grown prettier and prettier! When you were shorter than this –” he gestured, lowering his hand to knee height, “– I used to worry you wouldn’t grow taller.”
Just this gesture alone let onlookers realize the Ma and Du families were old friends across generations.
Du Linlin linked her arm with Ma Huayun’s, her voice sweet and bright. “Uncle Ma, let’s take our seats. Later, I must offer you a proper toast.”
“Little girls shouldn’t be drinking,” Ma Huayun said.
“I’m not an ordinary girl. Don’t forget, I’m a martial arts heroine who’s trained since childhood!” Du Linlin replied.
Ma Huayun laughed. “Won’t you scare off any future boyfriend?”
Chatting and laughing, the group took their seats.
With the hosts seated, the guests also began taking their places.
Li Zian and Yu Meilin found a nearby table and sat down.
Yu Jiahao and Xie Jianfei returned as well, sitting at the same table as Yu Taishan and Gao Shengmei.
Yu Jiahao looked rather sullen. His attempt to shake hands and take a photo with Ma Huayun had been blocked by a bodyguard. But he didn’t feel humiliated – after all, that was the king of the business world, an idol to countless people. And any lingering dissatisfaction vanished when he glanced at Li Zian and Yu Meilin sitting not far away. His mood instantly improved considerably.
Li Zian and Yu Meilin sat at a table the Du Family had prepared for ordinary guests. None of the others sitting there knew who they were.
Yu Jiahao said with a grin, “Brother-in-law, why are you sitting over there? Come join us. Let the family sit together; no one will laugh at you.”
Li Zian smiled back. “It’s alright. Your sister and I are fine right here.”
Xie Jianfei couldn’t help but add, “Jiahao, your brother-in-law is truly a… special case. Doesn’t he ever get angry, no matter how you talk about him?”
Yu Jiahao chuckled. “Brother Jianfei, you just don’t get it. Eating soft rice isn’t something everyone can do. First, you need thick skin. Second, you need to know how to suck up. If he got angry over a few words I said, how could he keep eating my sister’s soft rice?”
Xie Jianfei slapped his thigh, his tone exaggerated. “Oh dear! Now that you say that, Jiahao, I understand! It really is like that. Seems I’ll never be able to eat soft rice in this lifetime. I’m a real man!”
The two of them sang in harmony, pouring on the sarcasm and belittling words.
Yu Meilin couldn’t take it anymore and started to rise to retort, but Li Zian placed a hand on her shoulder, gently pressing her down.
“Just a few words. Hearing them won’t make us lose a single ounce of flesh. Think of it as a rabid dog barking. If a rabid dog bites me, should I bite it back?” Li Zian said calmly.
Yu Jiahao’s face instantly darkened.
Xie Jianfei flew into a rage. “Who are you calling a rabid dog?”
That highlighted the difference.
Some people felt free to say whatever they wanted about others, finding it perfectly acceptable. But the moment someone said anything back, they couldn’t tolerate it. They’d become furious and look for revenge.
This, in fact, is the very distinction between humans and rabid dogs.
Meanwhile, at the head table, Du Zhishan suddenly stood up. He looked around anxiously, evidently searching for someone. His gaze quickly swept across and landed… on Li Zian.
He was indeed looking for Li Zian.
Li Zian, dressed in white, outstandingly handsome, remained a conspicuous target even amidst the crowd.
“I’ll go invite Brother Zian over,” Du Linlin offered.
Du Zhishan spoke beside her. “You stay and keep Uncle Ma company. I must go invite him personally! Zhong Fu… really! How could he let Zian sit there? If I don’t give instructions, he doesn’t know what needs doing?”
Zhong Fu wasn’t there. Had he been, he would have hung his head, for it truly was an oversight on his part.
Du Zhishan walked over. He didn’t use a cane, his steps light and agile. He looked nothing like someone who had recently returned from the brink of death! His complexion and pace were indistinguishable from a perfectly healthy man.
This was all thanks to Li Zian’s Detox Ointment and his Zhenqi bone-massaging therapy.
Seeing Du Zhishan approach, Yu Taishan felt a surge of overwhelmed honor and stood up hurriedly. “President Du, I’m quite fine here, no need for such trouble!”
Some empty seats remained at the main table beneath the front wall.
Du Zhishan suddenly walking towards them, a wide smile on his face, naturally led Yu Taishan to believe he was being invited to join the head table.
Yu Jiahao also stood up, his face wreathed in smiles. “Hello, Uncle Du.”
Not wanting to be left out, Xie Jianfei stood and bowed respectfully. “Good day, President Du.”
All three expected Du Zhishan to stop before them, smile, and invite them to the head table. Instead…
Du Zhishan walked right past them, straight towards Li Zian. He reached out and took hold of Li Zian’s arm.
“Oh my! Zian! Why are you sitting here? Where does this leave my old face?” Du Zhishan exclaimed, a look of sincere regret and discomfort on his face.
Li Zian stood up, smiling. “Uncle Du, any seat is the same. There’s no need to stand on ceremony.”
“Let’s go, let’s go, come sit with us. I absolutely must be a host to you! Besides, my Brother Ma also wants to get acquainted.” Du Zhishan started pulling Li Zian along, then suddenly remembered something. He turned to Yu Meilin. “Meilin, you must join us as well.”
Yu Meilin also stood. “Alright,” she said sweetly. “I’d like to chat with Sister Du Linlin too.”
With one hand holding Li Zian and the other holding Yu Meilin, Du Zhishan happily led them toward the main table under the front wall. As they walked, he proclaimed loudly:
“Brother Ma! Let me introduce you! This is the Master who pulled me back from the Gate of the Underworld! You really must get to know him!”
Ma Huayun stood up, a warm smile on his face as he looked at Li Zian.
Li Zian extended both hands and approached him. It wasn’t about worship or status. As a younger generation facing an elder, proper manners were simply necessary.
Ma Huayun, in turn, didn’t put on airs. He also extended both hands to shake Li Zian’s.
Meanwhile, the group Yu Taishan, Yu Jiahao, and Xie Jianfei were utterly dumbfounded.
Their faces stung, as if someone had slapped them hard across the cheek.
Just moments ago…
The Father-in-Law had been scornful and cutting, demanding his daughter divorce her ‘dirt farmer’ of a husband.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, that very ‘farmer’ became the honored guest seated at the table of a business titan?
How twisted was that?
Just moments ago…
The brother-in-law had relentlessly mocked the brother-in-law, deriding him as a ‘soft-rice eater,’ thick-skinned and good at sucking up.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, this brother-in-law’s personal idol shook hands with that ‘soft-rice eater’ – and did so with such evident respect?
How stinging was the slap to the face?
Xie Jianfei touched his burning cheek. He stared at the ‘Soft Rice King’ who was now chatting congenially with Ma Huayun, sporting an expression that screamed he felt utterly bewildered and defeated.
What was wrong with the world?
Could being this handsome really mean someone could just… get away with anything?