"Ji Fanghua is also back."
A social elite man in his early thirties, dressed in a suit, walked into the backyard.
Some Ji family members and others from outside families looked at the man with varied expressions.
"Ji Fanghua? Isn't he the district chief of Bailan District in Fengcheng?"
"He's only just turned thirty?"
"Remarkable, to be a district chief of Fengcheng at thirty. Your Ji family has so many talented individuals."
"Heh, you're too kind. Fanghua has been in the district chief position for three years. Next year, he's due for a transfer, likely to become a secretary for a mayor in Feng Province."
"Wow, incredible, a mayoral secretary at thirty."
"After he gains some experience down there, this old bone of mine will arrange for him to return to Fengcheng."
"Return to Fengcheng to do what?"
"Perhaps as the secretary for the Chief Constable of the Six Doors or a secretary for the Prefect of Fengcheng."
Ji Hengmin's words carried significant weight, making people gasp.
"Come, Fanghua, sit next to me." Ji Hengmin beckoned to Ji Fanghua, smiling.
Ji Fanghua was naturally gifted and academically inclined. After completing his undergraduate studies, he pursued a direct doctoral program, bypassing master's degrees. He graduated with a doctorate at twenty-five and then legitimately passed the Fengcheng civil service exam. Subsequently, with the Ji family's backing, he rose rapidly, becoming the district chief of Bailan District in Fengcheng at twenty-eight. His resume and qualifications were impeccable, and he was a person of great expectation for Ji Hengmin and the entire Ji family.
Whether the Ji family could make a comeback depended on Ji Fanghua.
He was clearly a rising star in the officialdom.
Could ordinary people achieve such qualifications?
No.
This was another display of Ji Hengmin's power and influence.
Most importantly, Ji Fanghua was still unmarried. Rumor had it he was pursuing Yun Jingbai, the daughter of Yun Tiancheng, the Prefect of Fengcheng. They were a well-matched couple, both from scholarly families.
Ji Hengmin's calculations were meticulous.
As soon as Ji Fanghua arrived, the Ji matriarch stood up, vacated her seat, and had Ji Fanghua sit in the prime spot. Then, the Ji matriarch began to hobble around with her cane.
Chen Jiuyang was eating the food on the table with Ji Lengyue and Ji Shangxiu, listening to others discuss Ji family gossip and boasts.
Then, the Ji matriarch ambled over to their table, followed by several Ji family members. These Ji family members were clearly acquaintances of Ji Shangxiu and immediately sat beside them.
The Ji matriarch said to Ji Shangxiu and Ji Lengyue, "Seeing the prosperity of my Ji family, what do you think?"
Ji Shangxiu and Ji Lengyue remained silent.
Luxury cars like rain, dignitaries like clouds – this was the network and prestige of the Ji family, a scholarly lineage of several hundred years in Feng Province.
Being able to cultivate a mayoral secretary at thirty meant limitless potential.
The Ji matriarch intended to intimidate them with her influence.
Chen Jiuyang said indifferently, "Just average."
"Average?" The Ji matriarch glared at Chen Jiuyang. "Young man, your words are quite bold."
"It's alright," Chen Jiuyang replied calmly.
The Ji matriarch scoffed, "Young man, I don't know what gives you the confidence to be so arrogant, but every guest at my Ji family's home is worth tens of millions, even hundreds of millions, or billions!"
"In life, one is not a saint. To live with dignity, to live well and comfortably, connections are indispensable."
"Finding the right people is crucial, otherwise, life will be filled with dissatisfaction."
"What's the use of connections?" Chen Jiuyang said lightly. "As long as one's own life is stable and comfortable, that's enough."
The Ji matriarch looked at Ji Lengyue and Ji Shangxiu with disappointment, her gaze cold, as if they had failed to live up to her expectations. "Is this the person you found? Truly disappointing."
"A frog in a well, unaware of the vastness of the sky."
Other members of the Ji family watched Ji Lengyue and Ji Shangxiu with schadenfreude.
At this moment, an announcement was heard: "Chairman Huang of Tenglian Group, Fengcheng, has arrived!"
Immediately, a middle-aged man in a suit walked in. As he passed Chen Jiuyang and his companions, his eyelids twitched. He thought he might have seen an important figure just now?
Then he mused, it was unlikely such an important figure would be seated on the periphery. Besides, that person seemed completely unrelated to the Ji family. He must have misseen.
However, he felt a hint of hesitation and wanted to turn back to confirm. But Ji Fanghua, who was already there, stood up to greet him. "Mr. Huang, I didn't expect to trouble you to travel so far for a meal. Thank you for your effort."
"It's no trouble," Chairman Huang said with a smile.
Ji Fanghua introduced, "Chairman Huang's younger brother is the deputy district chief of Bailan District, and his father is the Marquis Feng Teng of Fengcheng's martial arts world, with a net worth of billions."
Ji Hengmin wore a very satisfied smile. "Chairman Huang, your father's name is well-known, but I've never had the opportunity to meet him. However, seeing Chairman Huang today, I believe Marquis Feng Teng must be a heroic figure."
Chairman Huang chuckled with a forced smile, a flicker of disdain in his eyes, while maintaining a smile on his face. "Old Master Ji, you are too kind."
As Chairman Huang sat down, the atmosphere became even more lively, and the table grew more boisterous.
The Ji matriarch suddenly remembered something and looked at Chen Jiuyang. "Last time you claimed to be the Marquis Xuanyang of Feng Province. Young man, this Chairman Huang is the son of Marquis Feng Teng of Feng Province. You should know him, right? Would you like to go up and offer him a toast?"
Chen Jiuyang glanced at Chairman Huang and said coldly, "What kind of person is he? Is he worthy of me toasting him? Even if his father were here, he wouldn't be worthy of my toast."
Sons of those who were enfeoffed as marquises, if they had any ambition, would join the army and contribute to the country, ideally becoming famous marquises like their fathers. Those with martial arts talent would be meticulously trained in martial arts. Only those who were utterly useless, like this one, would become group chairmen and indulge in pleasure. Chen Jiuyang truly didn't regard such people highly.
"Young man, you are too arrogant. I wish to know where you get your confidence from, to the point where you deem even Marquis Feng Teng unworthy of your toast."
The Ji matriarch's eyes were filled with mockery. She didn't bother to expose his claim of being enfeoffed as a marquis and even wanted to use this matter to trouble Chen Jiuyang. Ideally, she wanted Ji Lengyue and Ji Shangxiu to see through Chen Jiuyang through this incident and leave him, returning to the Ji family.
At this moment, an announcement rang out: "Marquis Feng Teng of Feng Province is here!"
As the voice faded, everyone was stunned. Ji Hengmin's face lit up with joy, and Ji Fanghua looked even more surprised. "Brother Huang, why are you being so polite? You've even invited your father!"
Ji Fanghua immediately changed his form of address.
A hint of confusion flickered in Chairman Huang's eyes. "My father is coming? I had no idea."
The Ji matriarch sneered, "Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. Young man, now that Marquis Feng Teng himself is here, let's see if you can maintain your composure."
As the words fell, a man in his early fifties, with white hair and dressed in luxurious martial robes, strode in with a beautifully packaged gift.
Ji Hengmin, Ji Fanghua, and Chairman Huang immediately stood up to greet him.
"Greetings, Marquis Feng Teng!" Ji Hengmin and Ji Fanghua said respectfully.
Marquis Feng Teng – this was a true high-ranking dignitary in Feng Province.
However, Marquis Feng Teng completely ignored them.
Chairman Huang approached Marquis Feng Teng respectfully and said, "Dad, why are you here?"
Marquis Feng Teng saw his son was also present and showed a hint of surprise. Then he said, "You're here too? That's good, come with me to present the gift."
"Yes, Father." Chairman Huang's face showed a hint of confusion. Who was the important figure here that his father would personally come to deliver a gift?
Ji Hengmin and Ji Fanghua exchanged glances, not understanding what was happening.
Marquis Feng Teng's gaze swept across the entire venue. After a moment, he locked onto someone and slowly walked to the table in the most secluded corner of the courtyard, near the restrooms. He approached Ji Lengyue, his face beaming with a bright smile, and said with great warmth, "Madam Ji, this is your engagement gift. Please accept it."
As the words fell, the scene instantly fell silent, followed by utter astonishment and gaping mouths.
The Ji matriarch's cold smile froze, and a tempest of shock surged within her.
What on earth was going on?