Chapter 169: The Big Shot Was Beside Me All Along

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These were the people who had firmly decided to follow Chen Jianjun into the city for work. Those who were still hesitating, or who could not bear to leave home, had already been filtered out.

Their uncertainty about the future had left them anxious, but Chen Huajiang’s words were as reassuring as a dose of medicine.

“I understand. Thank you, Brother Huajiang.”

“We’ll be counting on you to look after us in the future, Brother Huajiang. Let me toast you.”

“Come on, everyone, raise your glasses. A toast to Brother Huajiang.”

Everyone began laughing and raised their glasses to Chen Huajiang.

“Huajiang, I… I didn’t realize you were doing so well in Nanming City before, so…”

“Anyway, I’m truly sorry. Thank you for being generous enough to let bygones be bygones. I’ll drink three as punishment.”

Chen Jianjun also raised his glass and spoke with great solemnity.

At that moment, he had completely abandoned any thought of competing with Chen Huajiang for prestige. Even Zhao Sanquan, a major figure in his eyes, had to curry favor with Chen Huajiang.

If he continued opposing Chen Huajiang, would that not be overestimating himself and asking for trouble?

He drank one glass after another, but when he was about to drink the third, Chen Huajiang reached out and stopped him.

“Jianjun, what are you doing? We’re all brothers from the same village. If you act like this, how am I supposed to conduct myself? Anyone who didn’t know better would think I was some petty man who held a grudge.”

“It’s hardly a big deal, don’t you agree?”

Chen Huajiang put on an expression of displeasure as he looked around the table.

“Exactly. Jianjun, you’re being too formal. We all grew up together. What does a little thing like this matter?”

“Brother Huajiang is truly magnanimous. Brother Jianjun, don’t take it to heart. What’s that saying? Ignorance is no offense.”

“Brother Huajiang has already said so. If you keep this up, you’ll be disrespecting him.”

Seeing this, everyone urged Chen Jianjun to let the matter go, trying to smooth over their relationship.

Looking at Chen Huajiang’s smiling face and sincere eyes, Chen Jianjun pressed his lips together, deeply moved.

He had never imagined that, at a time like this, Chen Huajiang would still think of him and spare him embarrassment.

If their positions had been reversed, Chen Jianjun was certain he would have flaunted his success and trampled the other man beneath his feet.

The thought filled him with embarrassment and guilt, and his impression of Chen Huajiang rose sharply.

What did he have to be so smug about? Chen Huajiang was doing so well, yet he remained humble and considerate of their pride. The more Chen Jianjun thought about it, the more admiration and gratitude he felt.

“All right. I’ll make the arrangements when the time comes.”

Chen Huajiang nodded with a smile, then said, “I’ll pay for this meal today. Does anyone want to order a few more dishes?”

Only scraps and leftover soup remained on the table. If they continued eating and drinking, they would have to order more food. They could hardly sit there staring at bowls of soup and leftovers.

“I’m full.”

[Page 2 of 3]

“Me too.”

“Then shall we call it a night?”

Everyone looked at one another. By then, they had eaten their fill.

“All right. Waiter, bring us the bill.”

Chen Huajiang nodded and waved over a waiter to pay.

“Sir, your table has already been paid for. Boss Zhao settled the bill for you before he left. There’s also…”

The waiter smiled as she spoke, but then her expression changed.

“What else? Don’t be nervous.”

Seeing the tension on the waiter’s face, Chen Huajiang comforted her.

“He also ordered a bottle of liquor for you, but I was so busy earlier that I forgot to bring it. I’m sorry—truly sorry.”

The waiter looked embarrassed and uneasy.

It was a matter that could be either serious or trivial. If the customers chose to make a fuss, she would undoubtedly be held responsible by the owner.

After all, Zhao Sanquan was the richest man in their township and Prosperity Restaurant’s most important customer. The owner certainly would not offend him over a mere waiter.

“It’s no big deal. We still have liquor left here. Even if you brought it out, we probably wouldn’t be able to finish it.”

“All right, let it go.”

Chen Huajiang smiled and reassured her.

When the waiter saw that he would not pursue the matter, she quickly thanked him with a smile.

When they left, Chen Huajiang was carrying an extra bottle of Maotai. The Maotai of this era did not have the refined packaging of later years; it looked plain and old-fashioned.

In another twenty or thirty years, it would be worth a fortune. A single bottle could sell at auction for hundreds of thousands, even over a million.

Should he stockpile some Maotai?

Holding the bottle, Chen Huajiang could not help thinking of the later legend surrounding Maotai.

Chen Jianjun and the others looked at him with admiration. They had come for a grand meal and not only paid nothing, but had even received a free bottle of liquor.

After only a moment’s thought, Chen Huajiang abandoned the idea of hoarding Maotai.

Being reborn and stockpiling Maotai was simply too tacky.

“Chen Hu, you take it. I remember Big Head Uncle likes to drink.”

Chen Huajiang handed the bottle to Chen Hu.

“No, no, Brother Huajiang, you should keep it. We have plenty of liquor at home.”

Chen Hu hurriedly waved his hands, embarrassed to accept it.

Maotai was expensive. At eight yuan a bottle, it was equivalent to half a year’s income from farming for an ordinary villager.

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“If I tell you to take it, then take it. Why are you wasting words?”

Chen Huajiang thrust the bottle straight into Chen Hu’s hands, and only then did the other man accept it awkwardly.

When they returned to the village, they found a crowd gathered at the entrance.

“Hit him! Hit him!”

“Come on! Take him down!”

“Jianbing’s amazing—he’s got the upper hand! No, wait, how did he get thrown again?”

They were mostly older children, ranging from ten to fifteen or sixteen, clapping and cheering for the two sides fighting.

“Huashan, stop! Jianbing’s brother is back!”

“Run! Brother Jianjun is here!”

“This is going to be bad.”

Before long, everyone noticed the group returning, and several faces changed at once.

The two boys fighting were Chen Huashan and Chen Jianbing. They were locked together, rolling across the ground, each taking the upper position in turn.

Both were covered in mud. Hearing the people around them, Chen Jianbing’s spirits soared. He suddenly flipped Chen Huashan onto his back and pinned him down.

“You bastard, still feeling cocky? My brother’s back. I’ll kill you!”

“Do you surrender? Do you surrender?”

Chen Jianbing clamped one hand around Chen Huashan’s neck and used the other to hold down his arms, speaking with arrogant triumph.

Chen Huashan, meanwhile, had lost some of his spirit. He struggled frantically, but he was no longer a match for his opponent.

“Stop!”

Chen Huajiang walked over and spoke in a deep voice.

“Damn you, Chen Huajiang! Don’t talk to me, you bastard!”

“My second brother said we don’t have to be afraid of you anymore. You’ve been fired from the factory. You’re nothing now.”

“You dare try to scare me? My second brother will kill you. What are you staring at? Hey, Second Brother, come beat him up!”

Chen Jianbing spoke arrogantly. As he continued, Chen Jianjun’s face turned utterly black with fury.

The people around them also looked at him strangely, and quite a few gazes held a trace of disdain.

It had taken only a few words for everyone to understand. They could tell that Chen Jianjun had probably encouraged his younger brother while basking in his own arrogance.

“You little bastard! When did I ever say that?”