Li Ruizhe’s brows also furrowed. They had just personally promised seats were available. But now, with people at the doorway, they were told there were no seats. Was this not a slap in the face?
Grandpa and Dad were already welcoming the honored guests and about to enter.
"Hmph, the Li Family? Never heard of them." Another cold snort ca from the other side. Gu Duoduo’s little face turned pale with anger, and she let out a sneer. She had reserved this spot three days in advance and really hadn’t expected that soone, so unobservant, would dare to fight with her over the table.
"You’ve never heard of the Li Family? How do you even survive in Beijing?" Li isu arrogantly raised her head. Although the Li Family had fallen from political grace, with their wealth, they did not need to bow to anyone. Moreover, the Li Family’s influence still carried so weight, and with the support from their main branch, she believed the Li Family would soon rise again.
"Such big words. Gu here has been in Beijing for decades and has never heard of any Beijing Li Family. The Beijing Li Family—what kind of entity is that? Daring to compete with Gu for a table?" A heavy voice rose, and Gu Weixiong followed, his large beer belly preceding him as he walked over with an air of authority.
Although Gu Weixiong was just a stone-gambling tycoon, in Beijing, who didn’t show him so respect? Who didn’t know that behind Gu Weixiong stood the Yu Family? Gu Weixiong himself wasn’t particularly fearso; what was truly to be feared was the Yu Family backing him.
"Hmph, the Gu Family? Since when did such a figure erge in Beijing that even I am not aware of?" another aged voice rang out. Following this, a group of people approached, surrounding a central figure like stars around the moon.
As words were exchanged between the two parties, those who had been watching the drama instinctively stepped back, clearly aware of the impending clash of titans. The manager wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He wished he could step back himself, but his position did not allow him to retreat.
Two factions faced off: on one side, the Li Family, which had declined in Beijing, and on the other, the Gu Family, backed by the Yu Family.
Shangguan You, watching from a distance, couldn’t help but let the corners of her mouth curl up slightly. Perfect. Both sides were familiar people; they couldn’t be more familiar.
"Hmph, old man, the waters of Beijing are deep. It’s not a place for soone like you, with one foot already in the grave. You should return where you ca from. This kind of place isn’t sothing your old body can withstand. Better to go ho and enjoy your retirent," Gu Duoduo said, looking at the white-haired Elder Li with disdain, her lips twisting into a sneer. She added a derisive chuckle. With one foot already in the coffin, he still shalessly cos out to mingle. Does he not know how to spell ’death’?
The mont Gu Duoduo’s mocking words fell, they provoked a fresh wave of laughter from the crowd. Originally, everyone had been sowhat intimidated by Elder Li’s presence, but Gu Duoduo’s remarks made them realize he was just an old man. What was so remarkable about him anyway?
"Watch your mouth! My grandfather’s status isn’t sothing you can insult. What do you think you are? You don’t know life from death!" Li isu took a sharp step forward, her face turning steely with anger. In the past, wherever the Li Family went, they were the object of flattery. Now that the tree had fallen and the monkeys had scattered, those who had once fawned over them were now indifferent, or even acted with an air of superiority. This was sothing the perpetually proud Li isu could not accept. And now, to be arguing with soone over a re table, causing the Li Family to lose all face!
Elder Li’s wrinkled face turned livid with anger, his body trembling so violently it seed he might faint at any mont. Gu Duoduo’s remark about him having one foot in the coffin had indeed hit its mark.
Li Wanying and Li Junjie stood on either side of Elder Li, supporting him. Since their release, the Li Family had effectively vanished from the political scene, with only the business-savvy Li Ruizhe propping up the family fortunes. After several months in confinent, the once-spirited Li Junjie seed to have aged a decade. He no longer possessed his forr arrogance and had beco much more restrained. At that mont, he rely stood by Elder Li’s side, not uttering a word. These squabbles of the younger generation were beneath his dignity.
Standing beside them were Shangguan Rou, Li Zhaohong, and Li Zhaolei. These latter two were the "honored guests" the Li family had ntioned.
"Young lady, the waters of Beijing are deep, and certainly not a place where a young girl like you can afford to be arrogant. Why don’t you return to where you ca from? As for what was said tonight, we will pretend we didn’t hear it. Let’s each take a step back," Li Wanying said, casting a casual glance at Gu Duoduo. What audacity, for this girl to be so arrogant in front of her! However, there was no denying Gu Duoduo’s words were incredibly harsh. If this had happened a few months earlier, there would have been no place for the Gu Family in Beijing. But Li Wanying, too, had learned restraint.
"That’s right! She’s still wet behind the ears and yet dares to look down on the Li Family. Perhaps she should inquire around Beijing to find out just who the Li Family is. Don’t think you can disparage the Li Family just because you have so nobodies backing you up," Shangguan Rou scoffed disdainfully.
"Hmph, what exactly is the Li Family? I truly haven’t heard of them. Now, I’ll give this... ’fine lady’ a chance to explain. What is this Li Family? And another thing, our backers aren’t just ’anybodies.’ You should think that over carefully. Do you really want to compete with us for this table?" Gu Duoduo laughed coldly, her eyes brimming with contempt as she looked at the people before her. Could the Li Family possibly compare to the Yu Family?
"’Thing’? ’Fine lady’? Are you blind? My mother is young and beautiful! Are you truly blind, you dog, rely borrowing soone else’s might?" Shangguan Rou took a sharp step forward, raising her hand to slap Gu Duoduo’s face.
"Girl, don’t get too worked up. So people are not to be trifled with by the likes of you," Gu Weixiong interjected, quickly grabbing Shangguan Rou’s arm and flinging her aside. He was furious. How dare soone try to hit his daughter right in front of him? That was asking for death!
Gu Weixiong had organized a banquet that evening for so friends from the jade industry and hadn’t expected such a confrontation. He had barely arrived and was already clashing with these people, causing him to lose all his face.
"Mr. Gu, why don’t we move to another private room?" Shi Jianjiang suggested, glancing at the Li Family’s imposing presence. He couldn’t help but try to diate. They were here to dine, not to fight.
"Yes, Mr. Gu. Look at them—so are old, so are young. Let’s be magnanimous and not stoop to their level." Seeing his father intervene, Shi Ruiming also urged moderation. He was subtly reminding Gu Weixiong of the current gathering’s purpose: Gu Weixiong was hoping to win over their Jade Pavilion.
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