"Otherwise what? Become unemployed and drive for Didi like you? Get fired and open a clothing store like your sister-in-law? Do you realize that degrees are losing their value? You can't just get a master's or doctorate. Once you graduate with a bachelor's, even from the best university, you still might not find a good job! Without a good, stable job, you're just like Xiao Shu and Xiao Yan will be in the future."
"You!"
"Enough! No more arguing! Eat!"
Jiang Xiangrong slammed his hand down on the table.
In the Jiang Household, Jiang Xiangrong had absolute authority.
After all, he had personally arranged all three of his sons' marriages. He had seen to the construction of their houses and prepared whatever else they needed. Now all three sons had started families of their own, but in front of him, they still couldn't stir up much trouble.
The dining table fell silent at once.
Everyone ate in silence.
"Mom, Dad, we're leaving. I'm full."
Seeing that Jiang Yanyue wasn't reaching for any more food, Jiang Shu suddenly stood and spoke.
His parents were his parents.
His younger sister was his younger sister.
But he didn't necessarily consider the other relatives family.
Even if they were close blood relatives.
The fact that he hadn't blown up on the spot was already giving them plenty of face.
"Rare chance for us all to get together. Sit a little longer."
Seeing Jiang Xiangrong's face stiffen, Jiang Yongyi hurriedly pressed Jiang Shu back down into his seat.
They stayed at the table and ate for another half hour.
The entire gathering ended in a ridiculously anticlimactic fashion.
And because of the argument during the meal, the group split up as they left the private room.
Each little household gathered together on its own.
"Huh? Hongfei, isn't that your boss, Section Chief Guo?" Jiang Yongren's eyes lit up as he came down the stairs. He pointed at a chubby, middle-aged man by the entrance to the lobby.
"Dad, don't say anything. Let's go home." Jiang Hongfei tugged at Jiang Yongren's sleeve.
If this had happened before, he would have made a point of standing out in the crowd, striding over to Section Chief Guo and striking up a conversation.
But now...
All he wanted was to go back and get a good night's sleep.
Jiang Hongfei never expected that the moment he finished speaking, Section Chief Guo would look up and wave at them in greeting.
"See? You didn't even go over, and Section Chief Guo spotted you. He's coming to find you."
Jiang Yongren looked smug as he said to those around him, "Hongfei's just too low-key. He's actually very highly regarded by the leaders in his department."
Jiang Xiangrong nodded at that. Looking over at Jiang Yongyi's family, he said, "All of you, wait here. You never listen when I lecture you, so watch Hongfei instead. He joined a department at such a young age and built a good relationship with the section chief. Even the section chief comes over to greet him when he sees him."
"Xiao Shu, you got into a university. Even if you graduate from one, will a section chief come shake your hand?"
"That's the difference."
"Watch closely and learn. Going to university is only the first step. Once you enter society, you'll understand what status and position mean."
Jiang Xiangrong and Jiang Yongren straightened their collars. Jiang Hongfei alone stood frozen in place. He knew Section Chief Guo was most likely not there for him.
Sure enough, the next second, Section Chief Guo's voice rang out:
"Brother Jiang, what a coincidence! We meet again. You're welcome to drop by the Culture and Tourism Bureau anytime. Just give me a call. I'm there on weekdays."
Section Chief Guo took the steps two at a time. He didn't look at Jiang Xiangrong, Jiang Yongren, or Jiang Hongfei.
Instead, he headed straight for Jiang Shu, who stood in a corner by the hallway, his plump face creasing into the broadest smile.
He held out both hands, gripped Jiang Shu's right hand firmly, and shook it with gusto!
"You're too kind, Section Chief Guo."
Jiang Shu extended one hand, his voice calm.
"Come on, we're not at the office. There's no need for all that talk about titles and positions. From now on, just call me Brother Guo. If there's anything I can do for you, I'll take care of it."
Section Chief Guo waved his hand, his face wreathed in smiles. While they'd been sitting in the private room, he'd seen all too clearly how highly Director Zheng regarded the boy in front of him, who hadn't even grown a beard yet.
Someone as busy as Director Zheng was hard to meet, even for him, a section chief.
If he couldn't meet him or get close to him, how could he keep climbing the ladder?
So if he wanted to advance, he had to take the roundabout route.
As soon as Director Zheng left, he'd waited in the lobby.
Patience had paid off.
He'd made a good connection with Jiang Shu.
Wasn't that an indirect way of getting acquainted with Director Zheng?
Section Chief Guo chuckled, completely oblivious to the shock his actions had caused among the Jiang family.
No one could have imagined that Section Chief Guo, Jiang Hongfei's boss—and a section chief doing exceptionally well by ordinary standards—would clasp Jiang Shu's hand in both of his!
In official circles, offering both hands to shake someone's was a sign of respect!
If Section Chief Guo hadn't mistaken him for someone else...
Then Jiang Shu must have some standing they didn't know about!
The Jiang family watched the scene before them, their eyes darting back to Jiang Hongfei every now and then.
No one was stupid.
By now, they could more or less figure it out. Jiang Hongfei definitely knew something; he'd just never said anything.
"This is my card. Brother Jiang, get in touch whenever you need anything. It's getting late, so I won't disturb your family gathering any longer."
Section Chief Guo knew when to leave on a high note. He smiled and walked away.
His figure grew farther and farther away.
But the atmosphere around the Jiang family turned as gloomy as an overcast sky.
Jiang Xiangrong fell silent.
Jiang Yongren couldn't get a single word out.
His earlier lecture to Jiang Shu seemed to have become a series of slaps, landing hard across his face.
His son, whom he was always telling people was beloved and valued by the leaders...
Couldn't even speak with Section Chief Guo.
Meanwhile, his nephew Jiang Shu, whom he'd always thought was nothing special, could talk to Section Chief Guo as an equal.
Jiang Shu... What gave him the right?
"Mom, Dad, I've called a car. We're leaving."
Everyone fell silent.
But Jiang Shu spoke up.
He knew the Jiang family were waiting for him to explain.
But why should he explain?
Should he tell them that Section Chief Guo treated him with such respect because he knew Director Zheng?
Or explain that he'd completed the Full Body Vital Energy Circulation and might become a martial artist in the future?
They wouldn't understand.
In their eyes, there was only power and money.
They didn't know that in this world, a fist was power!
When Mystic Star underwent its great transformation and the Xia Kingdom announced everything, they would naturally understand what martial arts represented.
Ji City.
Xishan Kaiyuan Hotel.
"Ah, Jiang Shu, I'm dead!"
Ye Zhenzhen couldn't help crying out. She glanced at Jiang Shu, who was still standing in his stance, then rubbed her legs, which had gone a little weak. Even her voice sounded feeble as she said, "I'm done standing. I'm taking a break." After three days together, she'd gotten a general sense of what Jiang Shu was like.
She'd thought he'd play the same push-and-pull games as other men.
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