Chapter 148: The Father's Astonishment

Upon seeing this person, the later-arriving bosses immediately stood up. "Ah, Boss Tian is here too!"

The newcomer was none other than Tian Xiangqian, the richest man in Yun County.

The crowd of minor bosses also stood up in surprise and greeted Tian Xiangqian.

The elderly clan elder was even more thrilled, hastily hurrying forward. "Boss Tian, I never imagined that Hanpeng could even invite someone of your stature!"

Chen Hanpeng also rushed over, inwardly shaken to the core. This was Tian Xiangqian, the wealthiest man in Yun County!

He immediately extended his hand, eager to shake Tian Xiangqian's hand.

"Mr. Tian, hello. I am Chen Hanpeng. May I ask if you are here today to attend our Chen family's ancestral hall banquet?" He assumed some prominent tycoon had kindly pulled strings on his behalf to invite this supreme billionaire.

However, Tian Xiangqian completely ignored his outstretched hand, saying indifferently, "It is true that I am attending your ancestral hall banquet, but the person I am looking for is not you. It is Mr. Chen!"

Chen Hanpeng awkwardly withdrew his hand and scratched his head. "Almost everyone here shares the surname Chen. Which Mr. Chen are you referring to?"

At this moment, the prominent bosses standing near him were also somewhat surprised. Looking at Tian Xiangqian, they wondered if they had mistaken the person.

Meanwhile, the people seated around Chen Hongda had already recognized Tian Xiangqian. A cry of exclamation burst out among them. "Hongda, your son is extraordinary! He managed to invite even the richest man in our county. Incredible, simply incredible!"

Chen Hongda and his wife were also startled, half-doubting how their son could possibly command such a figure. Yet, aside from their son, who else present could possess such capability? Thus, they immediately beamed and laughed aloud. "Not at all, not at all! The brat made connections with such a towering figure without even telling us. Haha, wonderful, simply wonderful!"

The flattering gazes of those around them grew even warmer, and someone chimed in, "For our Chen family to produce someone like Hanpeng is truly the blessing of our ancestors!"

Tian Xiangqian seemed to lack the patience to deal with Chen Hanpeng any further. He did not know Chen Yuyi's real name, and even if he did, he would not dare to address Chen Yuyi by his given name casually.

He cast his gaze around for a moment and finally spotted Chen Yuyi in a corner.

Pushing past Chen Hanpeng and his entourage, he strode quickly over.

"Mr. Chen, so you are here!" His expression could not have been more delighted. He had feared that Shi Qiang's information might be mistaken, but now that he finally saw Chen Yuyi, he could naturally no longer suppress his inner excitement.

Chen Yuyi had previously spoken with Shi Qiang over the phone, instructing him not only to look after Yan Jieming but also to do everything possible to ensure his father's safety in the future.

Naturally, Shi Qiang had thus learned about Chen Yuyi's family situation and quickly found out that the Chen family was holding an ancestral hall banquet. He had thought about whether he could use this opportunity to send a gift to Chen Yuyi—a gift that, of course, meant bringing several major bosses from Yun County to show up and support Chen Yuyi.

Hearing that Tian Xiangqian had come for this person, those big bosses realized they had indeed mistaken their target. They quickly straightened up and respectfully called out in unison, "Hello, Mr. Chen!"

"Oh, did you all come for me?" Chen Yuyi asked with a calm expression.

"Chen Yuyi, how can you be so ill-mannered? In front of Mr. Tian, you don't even stand up!" Although Chen Hanpeng did not know why Tian Xiangqian was looking for Chen Yuyi, nor why those tycoons had suddenly changed their tune, seeing Chen Yuyi's nonchalant attitude made him unable to hold back his rebuke.

Without a word, Tian Xiangqian walked up and slapped him hard across the face, shouting angrily, "Do you have any right to raise your voice in front of Mr. Chen? Get lost out of my sight right now!"

This strike left the Chen clan members dumbfounded. They never expected that the dignified richest man in Yun County would actually resort to hitting someone. Yet, they dared not utter a word; the man had immense wealth and ways to make someone disappear without consequence, let alone merely delivering a slap.

Clutching his cheek, Chen Hanpeng wore an expression of utter disbelief, coupled with a profound incomprehension as to why this was happening.

Tian Xiangqian completely ignored him and instead looked toward Chen Yusong, asking, "This must be Elder Chen, am I correct?"

Chen Yusong was stunned. He did not know any richest man, but this man was only a few years younger than him—why was he suddenly addressing him as an elder uncle?

The crowd was equally bewildered.

Though perplexed, Chen Yusong sensed that this person was extraordinary, so he stood up and replied, "That's right, I am Yuyi's father!"

Tian Xiangqian hurriedly bowed respectfully. "Hello, Elder Chen!"

Seeing this, the wealthy bosses quickly followed suit and offered their greetings.

Then, supporting Chen Yusong with both hands as if tending to an elder, Tian Xiangqian urged, "Please, take a seat!"

Assisted by him, Chen Yusong sat down, filled with boundless confusion. He glanced at his son, who looked as though nothing unusual had happened, and felt an urge to question him.

At that moment, however, the elderly clan elder walked over. "Mr. Tian, what is the meaning of this?"

"You must be the head of the Chen clan, I presume?" Tian Xiangqian asked before continuing, "I am merely here specifically to pay my respects to Elder Chen!"

Seeing this scene, the minor bosses who had arrived earlier felt equally perplexed, but they were exceptionally shrewd individuals. Immediately abandoning their seats, they sprinted over to Chen Yuyi.

"Hello, Mr. Chen! I am..." One by one, they eagerly began introducing themselves.

Seeing this, Chen Hanpeng was frozen as a wooden chicken.

His father, Chen Hongda, rushed over to the group and shouted, "Didn't you all come here for my Hanpeng? What is going on here?"

Pointing at Chen Yuyi, he shrieked, "What right does this brat have to command such treatment from you?"

Before he could finish, however, his arm was seized by someone. "To act so presumptuously in front of Mr. Chen—do you have a death wish?"

The newcomer was none other than Shi Qiang. He grabbed Chen Hongda and tossed him aside as if throwing away garbage.

The entire gathering was cowed by his overwhelming presence.

Shi Qiang then immediately approached Chen Yuyi, bowed, and offered a respectful greeting before addressing Chen Yusong in the same manner.

Chen Yuyi glanced at him, instantly guessing that today's spectacle was orchestrated by him. He merely nodded slightly without uttering a word.

Overjoyed by this acknowledgment, Shi Qiang obediently stepped aside.

Moments later, wave after wave of people began pouring into the Chen ancestral hall—all of them figures of renown in Yun County and even neighboring counties.

Upon arrival, they did not linger; each of them bowed deeply before Chen Yuyi to shout "Mr. Chen," paid their respects to Chen Yusong, and promptly departed.

Witnessing these events unfold, the Chen clan members felt their minds completely overwhelmed. What on earth was going on here?

Chen Hanpeng's family stood frozen in place. Were these people truly here for the university graduate they had dismissed as good for nothing?

At this moment, the clan members no longer cast their gazes toward them, instead turning their awestruck eyes entirely upon Chen Yuyi and his father.

Chen Yuyi remained calmly seated throughout. The motive of these people was simple enough—they merely wished to present themselves before him. Yet, this served a purpose, granting his father a measure of prestige in front of the local kin. Thus, facing his father's questioning look, he merely offered a reassuring nod.

The ancestral hall banquet had now completely transformed into the domain of this father and son, surrounded as they were by a sea of minor and major bosses from Yun County.

It was only when Chen Yuyi calmly uttered the words, "You may disperse," that the crowd bowed once more and quickly vanished of their own accord.

The Chen clan members watched in stunned silence.

Amidst the bewildered gazes of the crowd, Chen Yuyi led his father away from the ancestral hall.

Chen Hanpeng's family collapsed to the ground, their eyes filled with intensely complex emotions.

Gazing at their departing backs, the elderly clan elder murmured softly, "So the truly remarkable one in our clan was him all along..."

...

Upon returning home, Chen Yuyi decided the time had come to reveal certain matters to his father. The first thing he brought up was his marriage.

"What? You're married?" Chen Yusong was utterly shocked.

"Dad, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to keep it from you; I just didn't know how to bring it up."

Chen Yuyi felt that it was still not the right time to tell his father the complete truth, as the old man might not be able to handle it. Revealing things bit by bit was safer.

"Who is she?" After a long silence, Chen Yusong asked.

"Her name is Shen Zhujun. She runs a company in Jiangcheng. Her family treats me very well, so you don't have to worry!"

"After all this, you went and became a matrilocal son-in-law!" Chen Yusong shook his head and sighed for a moment, then seemed to realize something. "Yuyi, tell your father the truth—did you become a live-in son-in-law because of my illness last time?"