Chapter 408 There are Few Visitors in His Shop!
It wasn't only Zhao Yougen who recognized this Director Zhang, but also some of the guests from the top floor of his tea shop. An official sitting by the window whispered, "The minister of the Provincial Party Committee's Organization Department and the director of the Health Department have also come. Awesome! Two senior cadres have come! Who is the guy who runs that tea shop?"
Although Mayor Zeng had been sitting steadily in one spot, he was a little worried in his heart. He thought to himself, "Should I go over the street and say hello?"
He was listening to the officials next to him and counting the guests on the opposite side, who said, "Hey, look, it's a car from the Provincial Party Committee Military Region! Wow, there's a golden star on his shoulder, doesn't that mean he's a major general?"
"Hey, isn't that Major General Luo?"
When Mayor Zeng heard this, he could not help but feel a small jolt of fear run through him. He thought to himself, "He even has a military background? That's amazing!"
"Hey, this time it's a car from the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection!"
"What's more, the car of the Provincial Department of Culture is behind it!"
"Why are there so many provincial officials? What is the background of the owner of the other tea shop?"
As the official cars all shuttled past Li Yundong's shop one by one, the guests in Zhao Yougen's teahouse lose their ability to sit still. They felt as if they were sitting on pins and needles, all of them whispering fervently to each other.
"Hey, do you want to go over and take a look?"
"Yes, so many higher-ups are coming. It'd be inappropriate not to say hello to them! What if they remember and punish you later?"
"Bah, who are you to say such a thing? You think these high-ranking officials would remember you?"
"Hey, don't say that! Isn't that the way to be an official in China? Being careful is always a good thing!"
"Everyone shut up. If Mayor Zeng goes into the opposite shop, we'll go too!"
Mayor Zeng's heart was also shaking severely at this time. While he was hesitating, the officials next to the window suddenly exclaimed in unison. One of them stammered, "The... the car of the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee. Mayor Zeng. Come and see quickly!"
At this point, Mayor Zeng could no longer sit still. He jumped up and went to the window to take a look, suddenly inhaling sharply.
A middle-aged man in a gray Chinese tunic suit with some wispy grey hairs dotting his head walked out. He looked very dignified. He was Li Yuanbo, the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee.
"It's really Secretary Li!" Mayor Zeng turned his head and ran downstairs. After a few steps, he steadied himself and neatened his clothes before he legging it downstairs as fast as he could.
When the other officials saw Mayor Zeng leading the way, they looked at each other and got up one after another, pattering down the stairs noisily.
The guests upstairs were not only officials from the government of Tiannan City, there were also some celebrities from the business world, and there were even some second-tier stars like Wang Li who was involved in the entertainment business.
When they saw Mayor Zeng heading downstairs in a hurry, they began to hesitate and wondered if they should also go downstairs to have a look.
Wang Li in particular had attracted everyone's attention as soon as she appeared. After all, even a hundred officials couldn't be more sensational than a movie celebrity.
But it hadn't take long for Liu Fei'er to beat her down. How could she not be feeling angry and jealous? At the same time, she was also curious about the background of the opposite shop's owner. "How could they have invited such a big star? Was she also lured in by money like me? But Liu Fei'er, such a famous star, really came to such a small shop? Isn't it said that she is a notable young lady of a wealthy family? Why would she be short of money now?"
At this time, Zhou Qin also laid eyes on Li Yuanbo. She asked in surprise, "Uncle Li, why are you here?"
Li Yuanbo chuckled and said, "Shouldn't I have come? Do you think I'm an old man and not worthy of welcome? Well, in that case, I'll leave now!"
Zhou Qin said in a hurry, "No, no, Uncle Li, please come in. I don't mean that!"
Li Yundong had also realized that Li Yuanbo was not an ordinary person. This middle-aged man had an air of superiority similar to Zhou Keqiang's, but he was more elegant and modest. He whispered to Zhou Qin, "Who's this guy?"
Zhou Qin fixed his eyes on him and said, "The Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, the top leader!"
Li Yundong was shocked. He knew that if they were in the ancient world, the person in front of him would be a military commander in charge of an entire province. He was extremely powerful.
Li Yuanbo's gaze fell on Li Yundong. He looked Li Yundong up and down and nodded slightly, thinking "Well, he has a heroic spirit. I wonder whether his character is also worthy of praise."
Li Yuanbo smiled at Li Yundong and stretched out his hand. "And you must be Li Yundong?"
Li Yundong shook hands with the commander. He smiled, looking neither humble nor overbearing. "Yes, Uncle Li, it's nice to meet you. I'm Li Yundong."
Li Yuanbo could feel that Li Yundong's palm was warm and powerful, not giving the slightest sense of fear. He thought in his heart, "Well, newborn calves are not afraid of tigers. He has courage and guts."
Li Yuanbo had seen many young people. Especially if they were aware of his identity, almost none of them could face him calmly like Li Yundong was doing.
Li Yuanbo smiled and nodded to Li Yundong. He turned his head and said to Zhou Qin, "Qinqin, you have good taste!"
Hearing his words, Zhou Qin's face immediately reddened. She glanced at Li Yuanbo and said, "Uncle Li, Li Yundong is my master. Of course I have good taste!"
"Master?" Li Yuanbo looked at Li Yundong in surprise and asked, "What did you teach her?"
Li Yundong smiled and replied, "Ah, nothing much. I just train her in some martial arts of cultivation."
"Martial arts of cultivation?" Li Yuanbo asked with interest. "Could you tell me what kind of martial arts they are?"
Li Yundong smiled slightly and said, "Every flower and leaf is a world, and every word and action is all about cultivation!"
Li Yuanbo's eyes lit up, as if he had recognized the boy in front of him. He took a step back and looked at Li Yundong more carefully, then nodded slowly. "Well! Well said!"
Li Yuanbo took a serious look at Li Yundong and said, "There are few young people who can keep calm as you. No wonder Old Zhou can't stop praising you."
As he said this, he looked at Su Chan, Zi Yuan, and the others behind Li Yundong and suddenly smiled. "He said that you are good at everything and your only flaw is that there are too many girls who are around you. It's not seemly!"
After that, he burst out laughing, and his voice was tinkling and bright.
Seeing that Li Yuanbo was standing at the door and keeping speaking without going through, Zhou Qin hurriedly grabbed his arm and said, "Uncle Li, are you finished? The people behind you can't get in!"
Li Yuanbo looked back and saw that there were still several cars behind him who couldn't drive in. Because the front car was the Provincial Party Committee's No. 1 car, they didn't dare to press the horn to urge them. They could only obediently line up at the rear and not say anything.
Li Yuanbo couldn't help laughing awkwardly. "Okay, okay, let's go in and talk!"
He was about to leave when he heard a surprised and anxious voice call from behind him, "Secretary Li, please wait!"
Li Yuanbo secretly frowned. He looked back and saw that Mayor Zeng was running towards him.
Mayor Zeng had swept away his previous air of reservation, his face full of excitement. He rushed forward and reached out to take Li Yuanbo's hands in his. He shook hands passionately and said, "Why didn't Secretary Li tell us in advance that you would be coming to Tiannan City? It's our fault that we didn't even welcome you upon arrival."
Li Yuanbo smiled civilly, staying reserved. He laughed lightly and said, "Oh, Little Zeng, it's you. You don't have to be so polite!"
Mayor Zeng said excitedly, "No, no, no. I know you're so busy, Secretary Li, but you're still taking the time to come to Tiannan City to guide our work. This is Tiannan's..."
Li Yuanbo directly interrupted him before he could finish. "Little Zeng, it's not your fault. I'm actually not here for inspection or guidance today. I'm just here to attend a little friend's opening ceremony."
Mayor Zeng looked at Li Yundong and said with a grin, "As soon as I saw this young man, I thought he was extremely extraordinary, nothing like a normal person!"
Li Yundong smiled slightly, not exposing what he knew. He just shook hands with him politely and said with a smile, "Thank you for your praise, mayor!"
Li Yuanbo smiled and asked Mayor Zeng knowingly, "So, Little Zeng, where do you want to eat?"
Mayor Zeng shivered and immediately smiled. "As your subordinate, of course, I'll follow your lead!"
Li Yuanbo turned to Li Yundong and said, "Li, do you have enough seats here?"
He replied without thinking, "Yes, of course!" Then he turned back and said to Su Chan and the others, "Go and tidy up the tables!"
Su Chan nodded and led the little foxes upstairs.
Zi Yuan pulled on Li Yundong's sleeve and whispered, "There are too many people here now. We weren't expecting this many guests. I'm afraid that there really aren't enough tables!"
Li Yundong smiled bitterly and said, "Are we going to drive them out then?"
After thinking for a while, the corners of Zi Yuan's mouth suddenly curled up. She winked at Li Yundong, indicating for him to look outside.
Li Yundong followed her gaze and looked out, only to see Zhao Yougen standing at the door of the shop with blank, staring eyes, looking like a statue.
Li Yundong asked in confusion, "What's wrong?"
"His store has a lot of empty tables!" Zi Yuan said.
Li Yundong couldn't help cracking up. "No way, is he willing to lend them to us?"
A smile slowly spread over Zi Yuan's face. "Would he dare not to?"
Li Yundong laughed and said, "Your idea is ruthless! It'll offend him completely!"
"His store is already finished!" she said derisively. "Don't you know that it's human nature to give a push to someone who is going down-hill?"
After she had finished speaking, she saw that almost everyone with at least a little fame rushed out of Zhao Yougen's teahouse. They all wanted to greet Li Yuanbo. Even if they couldn't speak to him, they at least wanted to show up in front of him!
But by this time, the smile on Li Yuanbo's face had disappeared, and his expression had become dignified and a little angry, making people afraid to approach him. He said to Zhou Qin beside him, "Qinqin, your father wants me to tell you that he has taken office and can't come to celebrate your and Li Yundong's opening ceremony, so he asked me to give you a gift instead. I'm afraid I've forgotten it."
As soon as he said that, the people around him were shocked and thought, "Sure enough, Zhou Keqiang is back! The Zhou family has turned things around! No wonder there are so many high officials and noble lords here!"
As Li Yuanbo spoke, the driver next to him smoothly handed him two red packets decorated with gilded letters.
Li Yuanbo took them and solemnly handed them to Li Yundong, saying, "This is a small gift. Please pay it no mind. After all, it's the thought that counts!"
Li Yundong looked at the two red envelopes being offered to him and hesitated for a moment. "Are you kidding me? The Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee is sending red envelopes to me?"
When the people around them saw that Li Yundong hadn't answered, they swore in their hearts. "D*mn it! There are some who are desperate to get close to the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and will never have such a chance. You are daring to put airs on now!?"
Seeing this, Zhou Qin subtly tugged on Li Yundong's clothes, urging him. Li Yundong then took the gift with both hands and said with a smile, "Secretary Li, please come in!"
Li Yuanbo laughed and walked inside.
Mayor Zeng had wanted to follow them in, but as soon as he took a step, he suddenly realized that he had brought no gift at all. How could he enter the door without anything to give the host?
Mayor Zeng quickly turned around and called over his driver, who quickly took a gift box out of the car and handed it to Mayor Zeng.
The mayor secretly wiped away the sweat from his brow and thought to himself, "Fortunately, there are some gifts from my subordinates in the car. Otherwise, it would have been seriously embarrassing today!"
Mayor Zeng presented the gifts to Li Yundong and said with a face full of smiles, "Little brother, I hope these are to your taste!"
Li Yundong laughed in his heart when he saw the dignified mayor actually presenting a gift to him with both hands, but he didn't give him a hard time. He just smiled and said, "No, no, no. Our small shop is honored just by your presence. Please come in!"
Mayor Zeng still felt a little uneasy. He had been working in the official world for many years, so how could he not see the misgivings between Zhao Yougen and Li Yundong? He was also afraid that he would be hated by this mysterious young man because he had chosen the wrong side, but at the moment, he felt that Li Yundong was very magnanimous!
Mayor Zeng was truly overjoyed. "This young man is really a nice person!"
Smiling broadly, Mayor Zeng walked in. Outside the store, Zhao Yougen was staring at him with eager eyes, his neck craned, but Mayor Zeng didn't even look back.
Zhao Yougen's heart was contorting with hatred, but what irked him most was the ruthless attitude of Mayor Zeng. However, he didn't dare to hate Li Yundong anymore.
By this point, he fully understood that he had kicked a powerful person this time. He had provoked someone that he could not afford to offend!
In Zhao Yougen's mind, he kept going over a few questions. "Why did the Zhou family suddenly rise again overnight? Why did I have to go and provoke Li Yundong?
"In China, those who have offended an official are more pitiful even than those who offended King Yama, especially when it's a local businessman like him. Unless he can abandon his family and escape to a new city, it'll be easier for them to kill him than it would be for them to crush an ant!"
The more Zhao Youjin thought about this, the colder his heart grew, and the more scared he became. Although the sun was shining brightly above his head, he felt as if he were in a dank ice cellar as a chill ran over him from head to toe.
The beautiful women in Qipao, who had witnessed everything behind him, looked at Zhao Yougen's drooping figure and sighed secretly. Some of them looked back at the cold and cheerless teahouse, and then looked at the lively building opposite. They all sighed secretly to themselves, thinking, "The ups and downs in business are so fast!"
At this time, Li Yundong suddenly glanced at the teahouse opposite, and then looked at Zhao Yougen. He suddenly whispered to Zi Yuan with a smile, "You're right!"
Zi Yuan was distracted by greeting the endless guests and asked in confusion, "What?"
Li Yundong smiled and said, "We watched him raise the building, entertain the guests, and now we're witnessing his building verge on collapse!"
Only then did Zi Yuan realize that Li Yundong was talking about Zhao Yougen. She gave him a meaningful smile and didn't say anything.
Li Yundong sighed and said, "His teashop was busy in the morning, but now there is nobody there at all. What is retribution? It's this! He deserves this!"