Chapter 194: Chapter 186: The Embarrassed Wang Family
When Qu Yongbo left, no one paid attention. After all, Qu Yongbo deliberately avoided others’ eyes, and it was exactly when Hua Muyun and Elder Chen entered together. Everyone outside was watching Hua Muyun and Elder Chen, so naturally, no one noticed Qu Yongbo’s departure.
But the Wang Family’s departure shocked those outside for quite a while. Isn’t there supposed to be a marriage alliance between the Xia Family and the Wang Family? Why did the Wang Family leave at this time? Not to mention the marriage, Elder Xia’s birthday banquet hasn’t even started.
Moreover, the expressions of the four members of the Wang Family looked gloomy, as if someone owed them 800 bucks. The relatives and friends who accompanied the Wang Family were also puzzled at this moment. Wang Zhantian’s sister-in-law, relying on her status, asked Fatty Wang from behind, "Ah Min, what’s going on? Isn’t today the day you’re engaged to Xia Xue? Why are you leaving now?"
"Shut up, tell everyone to leave immediately!" Wang Zhantian’s ears were keen, and upon hearing his sister-in-law’s question to Wang Shumin, he immediately reprimanded her with a stern face.
In the Wang Family, Wang Zhantian is a person whose words carry weight, especially when he’s angry. No one in the Wang Family dares to touch his nerves at this time. Wang Zhantian’s sister-in-law, being reprimanded by him, didn’t dare to ask further and hurried to gather other Wang Family members to leave the Xia Family.
Initially, only those near the villa hall knew that the Wang Family had left. Now, Wang Zhantian’s sister-in-law was looking for other Wang Family relatives. In less than five minutes, the whole venue knew. The originally bustling place felt a bit quieter, with everyone whispering about something, looking at the Wang Family members’ backs as they walked towards the door, feeling puzzled and confused.
"Why is the Wang Family leaving? Wasn’t there supposed to be the engagement ceremony for Fatty Wang and Xia Xue after Elder Xia’s birthday banquet? The birthday banquet hasn’t even started yet. Could the engagement have already been completed inside? That’s too quick. If I were Xia Xue, I wouldn’t agree!" said a young girl, feeling that such a quick engagement in such a beautiful setting was a waste of the venue.
"Indeed, it’s strange!" Others looked at Wang Family head Wang Zhantian and the others not far away, noting their unpleasant expressions but couldn’t figure out why. "Although I don’t know why, I don’t think they have completed the engagement. Do they look like they’ve completed an engagement? Their expressions look very angry!"
"I’ve heard that Xia Xue never showed Fatty Wang a good face. Could it be that Xia Xue refused to marry into the Wang Family?"
"Even if Xia Xue wants to refuse, do you think it’s possible? Born into such a wealthy family is nice, with a much higher starting point, living a life free from worries. But I think it’s very limiting; do you think Xia Xue can just decide not to marry? It’s not that simple; if Xia Xue were like that, there wouldn’t be rumors of a marriage between the Xia Family and the Wang Family."
Considering the influence of the Xia Family and the Wang Family, although they’ve never directly said that the two families would marry, such rumors almost guarantee an engagement. Neither the Xia Family nor the Wang Family could afford to lose face, especially the Wang Family, which is one of the four major families in Yanjing, albeit ranked last, but still much stronger than the Xia Family. Moreover, the marriage alliance this time is largely due to the Xia Family’s business troubles and needing the Wang Family’s rescue. Xia Xue marrying Fatty Wang is the condition.
"Did you see Hua Muyun from the Hua Family and Elder Chen from the Chen Family come over earlier? Even Elder Xia personally greeted them. Could it be that the Hua Family and Chen Family’s arrival angered the Wang Family towards the Xia Family?"
"You’re thinking too shallowly; I disdain speaking with you. Something must have happened inside the hall that we don’t know about. Didn’t you notice just now that Qu Haobo from the Qu Family seemed to have been escorted out by a few people? I don’t even know why!" This person happened to see Qu Haobo being escorted out, although Wu Shuang tried to conceal Qu Haobo’s identity, surrounding him. And Qu Haobo walked out with his head down, but still, some vaguely recognized Qu Haobo.
"Could it be that the Hua Family and Chen Family together are suppressing the Wang Family? Heard that Wang Family’s strength has increased significantly in recent years, almost surpassing the third-ranked Sun Family, and the Sun Family hasn’t sent any significant figures this time, just a few juniors!"
"You can’t defame people like that. You might say this about the Hua Family, but you better not say it about Elder Chen. Elder Chen has always been unconcerned with family disputes, focusing on Huaxia’s educational undertakings. Elder Chen is one of Huaxia’s few educators. There are seldom people who can be called educators nowadays, and Elder Chen’s noble character is not something you can insult!" The person retorting seems to admire Elder Chen greatly, and could likely be a student from Yan University, possibly taught by Elder Chen himself, naturally supporting Elder Chen’s reputation.
No matter how these people speculate, no one guessed what happened inside the hall, and those who could enter the hall were all celebrities known in Yanjing. Even before the banquet began, some bored individuals made statistics that those entering the hall had an official status not below actual authority at the main department level, and for business elites, assets would not be less than one billion, qualifying them to enter the hall for Elder Xia’s birthday wishes.
Those with such status are tight-lipped, and as for the Xia Family’s servants and juniors, they naturally dare not speak about what happened inside the hall, leaving everyone guessing.
Regarding the mood of Wang Zhantian and the other three, it was evident from their expressions, especially Fatty Wang and his mother. If not for the onlookers around, she would have surely cursed right away. The composure of brothers Wang Zhantian and Wang Zhanting was quite good, but facing such public embarrassment, the expression of anger was still clear on their faces.
"Does the Wang Family think it’s so easy to bully? Even Hua Family and Chen Family can’t take on the Wang Family’s wrath just like that!" Wang Zhantian thought viciously, wondering how he could reclaim the lost face today. Although the rumors didn’t get it right, they at least saw that the alliance between the Xia Family and the Wang Family was a bust.
If it were the Wang Family rejecting the Xia Family, that would be better, but now it’s not just the Xia Family’s rejection. Xia Xue’s engagement will proceed tonight, and as soon as the engagement ceremony starts, what happened in the hall will spread far and wide. It’s estimated this matter will be within circles in less than twelve hours, even by tonight; everyone in Yanjing, even all of Huaxia involved with the Wang Family in business or politics will know. If the Wang Family doesn’t reclaim their honor, they will be mocked for a lifetime.
The four, harboring anger, went out the front door. The Xia Family juniors at the gate naturally knew what happened inside and greeted the Wang Family cautiously, fearing they’d bear the Wang Family’s wrath. Fortunately, the Wang Family cared about their identity and didn’t want to become a laughingstock, leaving without a word.
"Master!" The Wang Family’s chief steward waiting with the convoy saw Wang Zhantian and the others come out looking displeased but did not ask much, quite responsible, asking only what was necessary, simply greeting as they arrived!
"Zhan Ting, Shumin, come to my car!" Wang Zhantian said in suppressed anger, wanting to find ways to recover their reputation; otherwise, the Wang Family would become a joke in high society, having been slapped in the face by the Xia Family.
Wang Zhanting’s expression wasn’t good either. Though he’s just the Minister of Organization in Yanjing, not on the same level as the Hua Family, he isn’t to be toyed with either. Yet, the Xia Family, without a background in Huaxia’s official circles, dared to offend him. He was displeased, listening to Wang Zhantian’s instructions, nodding his head: "Alright!"
Wang Zhantian’s car was spacious enough, prepared for Elder Xia’s birthday banquet and his son Wang Shumin’s engagement ceremony. To show respect, they used a stretch Rolls-Royce, perfectly accommodating four people.
Getting onto the car, Wang Zhantian’s wife was the first to express anger: "What kind of things are these, does the Xia Family think they can disregard our Wang Family for backing Hua Family and Chen Family? Pulling such a stunt, I hope that Elder Xia doesn’t live past tonight, it’s enraging me. Zhan Tian, if you don’t let the Xia Family face ruin within three months, the Wang Family will be mocked by Huaxia’s high society. I’m embarrassed to say I’m the Wang Family’s daughter-in-law!" Wang Zhantian’s wife was brought in through a political marriage, though back then, the Wang Family hadn’t reached such heights, and she was a daughter from a prominent family in the capital area, albeit not a significant figure in her family, still she had pride and, for the first time, felt this level of shame.
Wang Shumin wanted to complain too but hearing his mother’s complaints, he obediently took out a bottle of red wine and four glasses from the car’s small fridge, serving his parents and uncle, pouring red wine for them, while Wang Zhantian let his wife rant without reacting, waiting calmly till she quieted down, then comforted her: "Xiao Lan, don’t worry, anyone who stomps on the Wang Family’s face won’t survive three months. With the Xia Family’s current state, if they don’t have the resources from Hua Family and Chen Family, they’ll collapse within two months. If we do something, I believe within half a month, the Xia Family will be thoroughly bankrupt without any resistance!"
"What if the Hua Family and Chen Family form a strategic partnership with the Xia Family?" Wang Zhanting asked calmly.
With that question, Wang Zhantian and the other two were left stumped. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, welcome to visit Qidian () to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)