Chapter 147: Inferior Beings

"Such a total lack of breeding and manners!"

Hearing the words of the Elder of the Chen family, Chen Jianwei immediately turned his gaze toward the table out in the courtyard.

At that moment, several children were seated at the table, and Hong Yu was indeed already eating.

Although everyone had taken their seats and some dishes had already been served, this was a birthday banquet after all. The guest of honor hadn't spoken yet, no gifts had been officially received, and the host hadn't invited anyone to eat. Yet Hong Yu had actually started eating first. No matter where one went, this was considered deeply impolite.

"Dad, isn't that Uncle Ye?"

Chen Yingying chimed in from the side to remind them, pointing as a middle-aged man carrying a box walked through the front gates of the Chen residence.

"Oh my, President Ye! I thought you weren't coming! Why are you so late?" Chen Jianwei immediately stood up and hurried over to greet him.

President Ye chuckled. "How could I possibly not come? But there was an important meeting today, so I was held up for a bit. I rushed right over the moment it finished."

"That's fine, that's fine. If you'd been any later, we would have already started. Come on in and take a seat!" Chen Jianwei smiled as he escorted President Ye inside.

Stepping into the main hall, President Ye caught sight of the Elder of the Chen family, walked right over, and smiled. "Elder, how is your health?"

The Elder of the Chen family nodded and responded with a smile, "Good, good, good. You're very thoughtful."

President Ye immediately placed the box in his hands beside the Elder. "Elder, this is a Jade Buddha I specially commissioned someone to carve for you."

"Of course, I can't afford luxury items like Imperial Green jade, but this Jade Buddha has been consecrated by an eminent monk. It will definitely bring benefits to your health."

Upon hearing this, the Elder immediately beamed.

In recent years, with nothing much to do at home, he had taken up Buddhism. This President Ye must have investigated beforehand; he was genuinely thoughtful.

"Hahaha, thoughtful, truly thoughtful. It's just a birthday, you coming to share a meal is enough, there's really no need to be so polite," the Elder of the Chen family said with a hearty laugh.

"Elder, how can that be?" President Ye smiled and shook his head. "You are President Chen's father. Today is your major milestone birthday; if I didn't show some token of respect, President Chen wouldn't do business with me anymore in the future."

Seeing that Chen Jianwei had attracted such a slick and capable guest, Chen Shufen immediately frowned.

Dai Yanqiu watched from the side and smiled, "What's wrong? What's there to compare? We're all one family."

Chen Shufen sneered, "A family makes it all the more important to distinguish who stands higher and who stands lower. Look at my sister—knowing she has no face left, she didn't even dare to show up today."

Dai Yanqiu nodded and said, "What you said actually makes some sense. Don't worry, I've had preparations made long ago."

Chen Shufen asked excitedly, "Who's coming? I thought all the guests you invited had already arrived."

Dai Yanqiu chuckled, "You silly goose! The higher a person's status, the later they arrive, obviously. Otherwise, how could they showcase their prominence?"

As they spoke, Dai Yanqiu suddenly pointed smilingly toward the entrance. "Look, aren't they here now?"

Chen Shufen quickly looked over to see an imposing middle-aged man walking in, followed by two bodyguards.

Dai Yanqiu stepped forward to greet them. "Chairman Wang, why are you so late!"

"Hahaha, traffic jam," Chairman Wang replied casually, then waved a hand toward the people behind him. "Bring all the birthday gifts right over."

The two bodyguards were both carrying items in their hands. Catching sight of the Elder of the Chen family and realizing he was the birthday star, they hurriedly brought the gifts over.

"Oh my, why so courteous!" The Elder of the Chen family was a shrewd old fox. The moment he laid eyes on the boxes carried by these men, he knew the gifts inside were worth a small fortune.

When the aforementioned President Chen had presented his gift earlier, the Elder had remained seated in his chair. But seeing that these gifts were immensely valuable, he immediately stood up.

"Elder Chen, may your fortune be as vast as the Eastern Sea and your life span as enduring as the Southern Mountains!" The middle-aged man bowed slightly to offer his congratulations.

"Good, good, good!" the Elder of the Chen family laughed heartily, then asked, "You're very thoughtful. You must be a friend of Yanqiu's? You look a bit unfamiliar, may I ask..."

Chairman Wang smiled. "We are friends, but also business partners. The Elder should have heard of my family's enterprise."

The Elder of the Chen family asked with curiosity, "What enterprise?"

Chairman Wang stated proudly, "Jinding Group, ranked 22nd in Huazhou, with a market value that just crossed three billion this year!"

"Holy shit! It's actually Wang Shiren!" The Chen family relatives and guests immediately gasped in exclamation.

"No wonder he's throwing money around so lavishly! Just looking at that box, the gift inside has to be worth at least a million!"

"Awesome! I was starting to suspect Dai Yanqiu was just blowing hot air earlier, but seeing Wang Shiren show up to give face, nine times out of ten it's the real deal."

"Now that is a truly big shot!"

Some of the sharper guests from the Chen family had already rushed over to the Elder's side to offer their congratulations.

"Elder, you have a truly wonderful son-in-law!"

"With Yanqiu being this successful, you really don't have to worry about a thing for the rest of your life."

The Elder of the Chen family was brimming with joy, and seeing the gift-giving commence, the other guests hurriedly placed their own presents onto the two empty tables beside the Elder.

In less than ten minutes, the two empty tables prepared by the Elder of the Chen family were piled high with gifts.

The cheapest items among them were worth tens of thousands each; it was fair to say they were all treasures.

Some of the neighboring villagers invited by the Elder had simply brought red envelopes containing money. After all, Chen Village was not a wealthy place, and based on past experience, they had thought attending the banquet and bringing a red envelope was already a big deal.

Now, seeing these exorbitant gifts, the nearby neighbors felt waves of intense envy.

"Sigh, even though the Chen family has always lived right here in Chen Village and seemed so low-key, I thought they were just an ordinary well-off family."

"Who would have guessed? If I hadn't come today, I would never have known the Chen family was this formidable."

"There are so many people here. I never expected so many wealthy folks to come celebrate the Elder's birthday. Good thing my dad didn't come, or he'd be nagging me about it all day again."

"No choice there. Who would have thought the Chen family would hook such a golden turtle son-in-law? If not for Dai Yanqiu, I wouldn't be looking at the Chen family with such envy!"

The well-wishes of the crowd and the envy of the neighbors made the Elder's face flush with excitement, his aged features radiating pride and arrogance.

Seizing the moment, Chen Shufen suddenly scurried over to the table where Hong Yu was sitting.

Seeing that Hong Yu and Lin Shuyu showed not a shred of manners, failing even to stand up when she—their aunt—approached, she flew into a rage. "Such utterly ill-bred trash! Could it be that you're pissed off?"

"Heh, it's useless for you to be angry. Did you see what's going on in the main hall?"

"Those guests are all here because of me and my husband. They are immensely wealthy people! And what about you two? Did anyone come here to wish the Elder a happy birthday for your sakes?"

"Sigh, you two really need to face reality."

"This is the difference between the poor and the rich. If you have no money, you're just bottom-feeder trash, and you'll never be able to hold your heads high!"

"Shuyu, this is the last time I'll call you that. When you hit rock bottom in the future, don't you dare come looking to me as your aunt. Of course, if you're willing to get a divorce and marry Wang Qi, I might still tolerate you as my niece."

Seeing Lin Shuyu nod and remain stubbornly silent without uttering a word, Chen Shufen gritted her teeth and said, "Fine! As long as you're willing to marry Wang Qi, I'll buy your mother a villa in Fengzhou!"

"Well? Give me your answer right now!"