The next day.
Li Yan announced his appointment as acting mayor.
It seemed his difficult times had passed.
Another day.
Commander Chu announced the new wedding date.
For several consecutive days, people from the Jiangcheng Xiao family's special operations brigade, led by "Po Hou," were constantly active around the Lin family's residence but did not launch any attacks.
This was at Commander Chu's instruction.
In Commander Chu's eyes, as long as his military forces turned a blind eye, it would only take minutes for the Xiao family's special operations team to wipe out the Lin family and Ye Zixiao.
The reason he didn't resort to assassination was his uncontainable arrogance. He wanted to act openly on the wedding day, to tell everyone in the city that his Chu family was the king of this city.
Those who dared to provoke the king.
Would ultimately meet a gruesome end!
On the day before the wedding, at a checkpoint of a garrison in Beihai City, a mayor ordered the gates opened, allowing in nearly a thousand outsiders, all with neat buzz cuts and carrying large travel bags.
These people were Chinese and foreigners, all strong and healthy, with determined eyes.
December 28th, a clear and sunny day.
The city's long-awaited wedding finally arrived.
Early in the morning, hundreds of staff members busied themselves within the magnificent Four Seas Manor. On the vast lawn, two venues were decorated, one on the east and one on the west.
The Lin family's wedding was to the east.
The Chu family's wedding was to the west.
The Lin family opted for a traditional Chinese wedding.
The Chu family chose a Western-style ceremony.
Everyone knew that this wedding had lost its true meaning. There were no blessings to be had, and hardly any love. This was an overt war between the Lin and Chu families.
It was a competition of wealth.
A contest of power.
A battle of who was more ruthless…
In reality, the entire Lin family was not optimistic about this wedding, as their financial and political strength was no match for the Chu and Li families.
The reason for holding the wedding concurrently.
Was for the Lin family to save face.
And to thoroughly investigate.
What exactly was Ye Zixiao?
At eight in the morning, dignitaries and celebrities from all over the city began to enter in orderly fashion. Upon entering through a gate, they were directed to the east for the Lin family's wedding or to the west for the Chu family's wedding.
This was a declaration of allegiance.
An allegiance concerning life and death!
"Mr. Zhang, owner of the Department Store, congratulates the Lin family on their happy union and presents a gift of five hundred thousand."
"Mr. Huang, owner of the Beihai Leather Factory, has arrived with his sister-in-law and presents the Lin family with a gift of eight hundred thousand."
"Mr. Zhao, owner of the Snow Country Hotel, along with his wife, congratulates the newlyweds and presents a gift of one million."
The first to announce was a master of ceremonies for the Lin family, standing at the entrance of the Lin family's wedding venue, holding a microphone and speaking clearly.
Over thirty guests arrived.
They were mostly local small business owners.
"How is it? Have any important figures arrived?"
The composed Lin Feng anxiously stepped forward to ask.
"Young Master, this is not good!"
The master of ceremonies put down the microphone and whispered, "None of the major families who were on good terms with our Lin family have arrived yet. They all promised to be here, but there's not a soul in sight!"
"Damn it, they're all scared?"
Lin Feng was so angry that sweat beaded on his forehead.
"Husband, how is it?"
"Brother, where are all the people?"
Jiang Chunmei and Lin Bin also walked over.
"Damn it!"
Lin Feng glared at the procession entering the Chu family's venue and gritted his teeth, cursing, "They were all calling themselves brothers and promised to be here on time. What time is it now, and not a single influential person has shown up?!"
"Isn't that President Sun?"
"Hey, isn't that Director Jin?"
"Chairman Zhou, why is he going over there?"
As the Lin family members complained, they watched with their own eyes as the influential figures who had promised to support the Lin family yesterday were all heading towards the Chu family's location.
"Distinguished guest arrives, Chairman Liang of Beihai City's Tianxi Group, congratulates the Chu family on their happy union and presents a gift of two million."
"Distinguished guest arrives, Director Jin of Dajiang Bank, along with his wife, congratulates the Chu family on their happy marriage and presents a gift of five million."
"Distinguished guest arrives, Mr. Qian, owner of Baima Entertainment City, presents a gift of ten million, congratulating the Chu family on their happy union and wishing them a hundred years of happiness."
The Chu family's master of ceremonies announced loudly.
As the Lin family received a trickle of small business owners, the influential figures of Beihai City began to arrive one after another at the Chu family's venue. As their status increased, so did the amount of their gifts.
"They're all ungrateful wretches!"
"Damn it, how shameless!"
"Alas, forget it, we admit defeat!"
Lin Feng, Lin Bin, and Jiang Chunmei, watching their former friends who had promised to come to the Lin family now bringing heavy gifts to the Chu family, were filled with anger but felt powerless.
Although Ye Zixiao was a formidable fighter.
Although Ye Zixiao was very wealthy.
And even though his background seemed very powerful.
However, when it came down to it, the wealthier people were the ones who chose sides. Those who had called themselves brothers with the Lin family showed no loyalty and all chose to curry favor with the Chu family.
Conversely, it was some small business owners, and even some minor distributors with only a general relationship with the Lin family, who, on this critical day, did not forget their roots and came to the Lin family's side, risking danger.
The Lin family's relatives gathered together.
Discussing what to do next.
"It's over, we're finished!"
"Less than fifty people have arrived in total!"
"They're all ungrateful wretches, damn it!"
"Alas, it's not their fault. We can only blame this world. Whoever has money and power, that's who gets the crowds. Besides, coming to our house now is equivalent to opposing the Chu family!"
The Lin family's relatives were angry and helpless.
"What's going on?"
Suddenly, Ye Zixiao's voice rang out.
"Brother-in-law, something big has happened!"
Lin Bin shouted and rushed towards Ye Zixiao.
"What is it?"
Ye Zixiao nonchalantly lit a cigarette.
"Brother-in-law, originally, our family should have had at least five to six hundred guests, many of whom were high-ranking officials. They all promised, and our family members personally invited them."
"And then?"
"Then, as you can see, fewer than fifty people have arrived now. The people coming to our side are of lower and lower status, while those going to the opposite side are of higher and higher status. All the important figures have gone to the other side!"
"Damn, let them go!"
Ye Zixiao seemed completely unconcerned.
"I'm saying, brother-in-law, you're really too carefree. If our family has no presence today, let alone fighting, we'll lose in terms of morale. I think there's no point in holding the wedding."
"Zixiao, why don't we just run?"
"I think that's a good idea, let's run!"
"If we don't run now, it'll be too late!"
The Lin family's relatives were truly panicking.
They had initially thought that as long as more than half of the invited guests showed up, the wedding's prestige wouldn't surpass the Chu family's, but the Chu family wouldn't dare to openly threaten them.
But now, it was all over.
All the important figures had gone to the other side.
Was there any point in continuing with the wedding?
If they insisted on continuing, it would be a head-on collision. With the Chu family having no reservations, even if they launched an attack during the wedding, the Lin family could only accept their fate.
"Why panic? We're not short of people!"
Ye Zixiao still appeared arrogant.
"Brother, I'm here!"
Suddenly, a boisterous voice rang out.
The Lin family members stiffened and all looked towards the entrance. They saw a scruffy young man leading a group of over a hundred flamboyant men and women, laughing and entering the venue.
That's right.
The number one tough guy from the North Gate had arrived!
"What's the use of this?"
"They're all small-time hooligans!"
"Alas! This is truly disheartening!"
The Lin family members had been full of anticipation, but when they saw that it was a group of ruffians led by Young Master Leng, their last shred of hope vanished. They were all small-time hooligans; no matter how many there were, it was useless!
This highly anticipated battle wedding.
Was it destined to be a joke from the start?
Did the Lin family deserve to compete with the Chu family?