Gray tiles and red walls, courtyard after courtyard.
The car stopped outside the compound, and Zhang Yang and Chen Zhang entered on foot, making their way into the deep courtyard.
"Brother Zhang is here!"
"Long time no see, Brother Zhang!"
Hearing the news, everyone came over with smiling faces. They were all Zhang Yang's friends from Beijing's elite circles.
Most of these friends were descendants of prominent families and highly valued within their clans. Given time, a considerable number of them might become the pillars of their families—their future heirs.
In an instant, the deep courtyard became immensely lively.
At that moment, outside the courtyard, a so-called wealthy businessman visiting Beijing from another city happened to pass by in the distance and could not help stopping his car to look.
"I heard there's a private club inside this grand compound? Apparently, it's something special." He turned to his Beijing friend beside him. "I want to book a table here to entertain some clients. It'd definitely look impressive. Do you have any connections?"
"Forget it." His friend smiled. "They're not short on money."
"They won't make money even when it's offered to them?" The newly wealthy businessman laughed. "Even your reputation isn't enough?"
"My reputation?" His friend's expression changed. "It's fine for the two of us to say that in private, but don't ever bring it up in public. Forget me—even my big brother's big brother wouldn't dare claim he had any standing here."
As he spoke, he leaned closer and quietly told him about the origins of the compound before them.
The newly wealthy businessman's expression instantly changed.
"It has such an enormous background!"
"What do you think?"
The car silently drove away, while inside the compound, the welcome banquet had only just begun.
At the banquet, Zhang Yang raised