Chapter 422 - 257: Wu Family’s Housewarming Banquet, Packed with Distinguished Guests
Chapter 422: Chapter 257: Wu Family’s Housewarming Banquet, Packed with Distinguished Guests
His father’s success was due not only to his own talent, but also inextricably linked to his mother’s family connections.
’It seems Wu Ting has probably taken the fast track by latching onto a rich woman, too. How else could he have become so wealthy at such a young age?’
Wu Liang himself was in the engineering business, which was already highly profitable. Over the years, he had managed to save up several tens of millions and had thought of himself as the role model for his generation of the Wu family. But now, in less than a year since Wu Ting had struck it rich, Wu Liang couldn’t even see his cousin’s dust.
"Dad, I get it. I’ll definitely attend Second Uncle’s housewarming banquet."
"It’s just that I have a dinner meeting today with Director Shou Haibing from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, so I’ll be there a little later."
"You know this, Dad. I’ve been pursuing that South Lake Lakefront Hotel project. The entire thing, across all three phases, is worth at least three hundred million. If my company can just win one of the contracts, we’ll be set for the whole year."
"Besides, this dinner is crucial. Director Shou said he’d introduce me to their Deputy Director, Ding Han. This is really important for me. I’ll rush over to the banquet hall the moment the dinner ends."
Just as Wu Liang was about to leave for the private club they had booked, he received a voice message from Director Shou.
"President Wu, I need to tell you something. Director Ding isn’t going to make it today. He was planning on coming, but something very important came up at the last minute. We’ll just have to schedule another time with him."
Wu Liang understood, of course. For an official at Director Ding’s level, "important matters" were a dime a dozen. Getting canceled on at the last minute was completely normal.
’To him, I’m a nobody.’ The whole point of the dinner, arranged by Director Shou, was just to get his face recognized.
Even though Director Ding wasn’t coming, Wu Liang still had to entertain Director Shou and the other guests at the dinner.
"What a shame. I’ll wait for you to arrange things next time, Director Shou... I’m heading over now. I’ll make sure you and your friends are well taken care of... So, Director Shou, are we feeling like ’foreign languages’ or ’history’ tonight?... You got it, you got it. All arranged..."
Wu Liang added a few more fawning remarks.
He grabbed a few bottles of fine liquor from a cabinet at home.
"Dad, since Director Ding isn’t coming today, I’ll just have to focus on entertaining Director Shou and his friends. Once they’re well-fed and liquored up, and I’ve arranged their ’evening program,’ I’ll head straight back to the banquet hall."
Wu Liang was a master at this type of hospitality. He was already planning to pick up a "foreign language tutor" to join them for drinks.
Wu Xin’s expression finally softened a bit. Businessmen like them might have some money, but they were nothing in the face of real power. A mere director from the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development was important enough to warrant this level of reception.
As for his wife’s family, those connections had dried up long ago after her father passed away.
At the banquet today, Wu Xin planned to have a serious talk with Wu Ting. When you suddenly come into a massive fortune, you have to be cautious. You can’t just befriend any scoundrel that comes along.
Wu Xin himself had stumbled on this very issue in the past. Once you have a great deal of wealth, all sorts of people come out of the woodwork calling you ’brother,’ just looking for a chance to set you up and swindle you. Wu Ting was so young and lacked a deep background or powerful patron; that made him an even easier target for those with ulterior motives.
Wu Ting had the good fortune to make his money, and as his eldest uncle, Wu Xin felt it was his duty to remind him how to protect it.
Furthermore, Wu Xin wanted to get a look at his nephew’s girlfriend and size her up for him.
Wu Xin arrived at the banquet hall.
The moment he arrived at the entrance, he saw Wu Mu and Zhang Qing greeting guests alongside a young woman who was dignified in appearance, with a stunning face and figure.
Deng Feifei wasn’t shy around strangers in the slightest; she greeted the guests alongside Wu Mu and Zhang Qing with capable composure.
"Big Brother."
Wu Mu came forward to greet him, introducing Deng Feifei to Wu Xin at the same time.
Wu Xin’s first impression of Deng Feifei was quite good. He smiled as she led him to a table inside to take his seat.
"Eldest Uncle, please take a seat. I’m going to go help Uncle and Auntie with the greetings."
Watching Deng Feifei return to the entrance with such poise, Wu Xin nodded to himself. ’This girl is really impressive,’ he thought.
A man like Wu Xin, who had dabbled in politics and weathered the storms of the business world, had seen every kind of person imaginable. This Deng Feifei had excellent bearing, was well-mannered, and clearly capable. She wasn’t even married into the family yet and was already helping Wu Mu and Zhang Qing run the show. She would clearly be a great asset to Wu Ting.
After Wu Xin sat down, the eldest sister and the fourth brother of the Wu family arrived as well.
The siblings all sat together and started to chat.
The uncles and aunts were all singing praises for Wu Ting and Deng Feifei, full of envy for Wu Mu and Zhang Qing.
As the saying goes: for the first thirty years of a man’s life, his father’s reputation defines him; for the next thirty, his reputation defines his father.
"Our Wu Ting has really made something of himself. You could even call him a minor celebrity now!"
"That’s right! It’s unbelievable. The last time we saw him was at Chu Jun’s wedding, and he was just a doctor with a bit of a reputation. How long has it been? And now, poof, he’s the boss of a pharmaceutical company. He even has shares in the Jin Pharmaceutical Group! His net worth is in the tens of billions!"
"Wu Mu is so blessed. And this future daughter-in-law is incredible!"
"Feifei, isn’t it? She’s really wonderful. With her looks and capability, if I had a daughter-in-law like that, I’d be smiling in my sleep."
"It looks like good things are on the horizon for Wu Ting and Feifei. I heard his future mother-in-law is coming today, too."
"You mean President Jin from the Jin Pharmaceutical Collection! I’ve seen her in the news. She’s a famous female entrepreneur here in Jin Province."
"You guys think Wu Ting’s fortune is all thanks to his future mother-in-law’s support?"
"Speaking of which, Feifei’s family is so powerful. Wu Ting’s career is probably built on their support. And from what I’ve seen, Feifei herself seems very capable and assertive. You don’t think our Wu Ting is going to end up as a live-in son-in-law, do you?"