Donghai Hotel was one of the most famous hotels in Donghai, and also one of the oldest.
It was built at the beginning of the last century, went through the baptism of war, witnessed the rise and fall of the ten-mile foreign concession, and also witnessed the process of the Dragon Country standing up, becoming prosperous, and then strong.
Today's Donghai, with its reputation as the Oriental Pearl, is also one of the most famous metropolises in the world, with five-star hotels everywhere. However, Donghai Hotel still stands firm, and many dignitaries and nobles like to hold banquets here.
Especially the older generation of Donghai's powerful figures.
For them, it was a habit, a sentiment, and a way to showcase their heritage – the old is the best, it belongs to their era!
On the day of Huangfu Weixia and Wei Qianyuan's engagement, Donghai Hotel stopped its public business and only served this engagement banquet.
This was specifically requested by the Huangfu family, not to show off their influence, but for the privacy and safety of the guests.
The engagement ceremony of Huangfu Weixia and Wei Qianyuan was scheduled to start at six o'clock, but from five o'clock in the afternoon, cars began to drive into the parking lot of Donghai Hotel.
These cars were either extremely expensive luxury cars or ordinary cars with special license plates.
The former were symbols of wealth, and the latter were symbols of power.
Their owners were either rich or noble.
By five-thirty, many people had already entered the banquet hall – apart from the direct members of the Wei and Huangfu families, over ninety percent of the guests had arrived.
This also reflected the status of the Wei and Huangfu families in Donghai.
As the engagement ceremony had not yet begun, the old man of the Wei family and the old man of the Huangfu family sat at a table chatting, with many people standing around, listening with smiles.
Guests who were not qualified to stand around the two elders stood in groups of three or five, talking in low voices.
Today, this banquet hall would gather the most influential figures in the Dragon Triangle.
For many people, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to strengthen relationships and expand their networks; they cherished the opportunity and time.
Meanwhile, the parents of Huangfu Weixia and Wei Qianyuan stood up and went to the entrance of the banquet hall to receive the guests who would arrive next.
For them, the guests arriving from now on were all distinguished guests.
"Mr. Chu Wansong has arrived!"
At twenty past five, a young man announced loudly from the end of the corridor opposite the banquet hall.
He was the secretary of Wei Xiang, Wei Qianyuan's father.
The guests who had arrived earlier were received by Wei Xiang's secretary.
As Wei Xiang's secretary finished speaking, Chu Wansong, dressed in a suit and tie, appeared at the turn of the corridor with Chu Feng, smiled slightly at Huangfu Qing and Wei Xiang, and then walked towards the banquet hall.
"Brother Wei, Brother Qing, congratulations!"
"Uncle Wei, Uncle Huangfu!"
Chu Wansong and Chu Feng spoke sequentially as they reached the entrance of the banquet hall.
"Wansong, welcome!"
Wei Xiang and Huangfu Qing responded with smiles, both very polite.
That politeness was not only the proper etiquette of hosts to guests, but also because Chu Wansong was no longer the same as before.
At the Qinghong Assembly, Jiang Wuming, as the Red Flower Double Club of the Qing family, helped the Qing family win the gamble. Afterward, he helped Chu Wansong kill Huang Xiong. Chu Wansong easily took over the Hong family and successfully merged the Qing and Hong families, becoming the Godfather of the Dragon Country's underground world!
Putting aside family influence, in terms of personal status, position, and the energy he could mobilize, Chu Wansong was now beyond the reach of Wei Xiang and Huangfu Qing.
After a brief conversation with Wei Xiang and Huangfu Qing, Chu Wansong entered the banquet hall with Chu Feng.
Huh?
As Chu Wansong and Chu Feng entered the banquet hall, almost everyone stopped talking and turned their eyes to them.
"Old Mr. Wei, Uncle Huangfu!"
"Grandpa Wei, Grandpa Huangfu!"
Under everyone's gaze, Chu Wansong led Chu Feng directly to the table at the front, greeting the old man of the Wei family and the old man of the Huangfu family.
Almost at the same time, the old man of the Wei family and the old man of the Huangfu family both stood up, smiling and responding to Chu Wansong and Chu Feng.
This was the first time they had stood up that day.
After a polite exchange with the old man of the Wei family and the old man of the Huangfu family, Chu Wansong took Chu Feng to a table nearby to be seated.
Given Chu Wansong's current status, he did not need to stand beside the elders of the Wei and Huangfu families and listen, like other guests.
After Chu Wansong and Chu Feng were seated, many guests came to greet and talk to Chu Wansong.
Chu Wansong handled them with ease, while Chu Feng kept his eyes on the entrance of the banquet hall, waiting for something.
A moment later, the arrival of another guest attracted everyone's attention.
Qin Linhai.
He was the person in charge of the Eastern Region Army of the Military Department in Donghai, and also the next head of the Qin family!
The elders of the Wei and Huangfu families stood up again to welcome him.
Qin Linhai politely responded to a few greetings, then ignored the guests who wanted to curry favor and walked directly towards Chu Wansong and Chu Feng.
For him, attending the engagement ceremony of Huangfu Weixia and Wei Qianyuan today was not because of the Wei family's power or the Huangfu family's wealth, but because of Huangfu Weixia!
On one hand, Huangfu Weixia, representing the Donghai Martial Arts Academy, fought a bloody battle with Sato No in Kyoto Martial Arts Academy in Japan, defending the honor of the Donghai Martial Arts Academy and the Dragon Country's martial arts community!
On the other hand, he had already learned that Ye Wentao was coming and judged that Ye Wentao wanted to use this opportunity to poach talent from the Military Department, so he could not let Ye Wentao succeed.
"Director Qin."
"Uncle Qin."
Seeing Qin Linhai approach, Chu Wansong and Chu Feng stood up and greeted him proactively.
This was not only because of Qin Linhai's status, but also because both father and son knew that Qin Linhai was Qin Xiaozhi's father, and Qin Xiaozhi and Jiang Wuming were the kind of brothers who could rely on each other's backs on the battlefield!
"Wansong, long time no see."
Qin Linhai smiled slightly, then patted Chu Feng's head. "I heard that you've made great progress since Wuming became a teacher at Donghai Martial Arts Academy."
Huh?
In the banquet hall, including the elders of the Wei and Huangfu families, everyone was paying attention to the situation over there. When they heard Qin Linhai mention Jiang Wuming, they were all moved.
Because that once unremarkable teenager had now become famous in Donghai, the Dragon Triangle, and even the entire Dragon Country!
He had even reached the forefront of the global martial arts world!
"Director Qin is right, this kid has indeed improved by following Wuming," Chu Wansong replied with a smile.
"This is the power of role models,"
Qin Linhai smiled, then sat next to Chu Wansong and chatted casually with him.
A few minutes later, the banquet hall quieted down again, and everyone turned their attention to the entrance.
Under everyone's gaze, Ye Wentao entered the banquet hall with Ye Rui, accompanied by Wang Lin and his son Wang Zhisheng.
"General Ye!"
Immediately, the elders of the Wei family and the Huangfu family stood up and went to greet Ye Wentao.
At the same time, whether it was the direct members of the Wei and Huangfu families or other important figures from the Dragon Triangle, they all followed behind the two elders.
They were expressing their respect for Ye Wentao and their awe of the Ye family in Yanjing in this way!
Only three people were exceptions.
Qin Linhai and Chu Wansong and his son Chu Feng.
They didn't even stand up but sat there and watched coldly.
Because they all knew that the Ye family, which was so powerful in Dragon Country, had ignored Jiang Wuming for the past twenty years. Moreover, after Jiang Wuming's background was exposed, they remained indifferent. There were even rumors that the head of the Ye family had explicitly stated: Jiang Wuming would never be allowed into the Ye family compound!
"Director Qin, what do you think it will be like when Wuming appears later?"
Immediately, as the elders of the Wei family and the Huangfu family led everyone to surround Ye Wentao and flatter him, Chu Wansong suddenly lowered his voice and asked Qin Linhai beside him.
...