The Hall of Good Fortune.
All the ceremonial procedures for the newlyweds had been completed.
Master Jin, along with his son and daughter-in-law, was busy toasting the guests who had come to offer their congratulations.
Normally, the newlyweds would start making rounds to each table only after most of the dishes had been served. But Master Jin had many friends, and the guests filled over a hundred tables. Waiting for all the dishes to arrive would take far too long.
So, the toasting began earlier than usual.
"Your presence here today brings immense honor to our humble gathering. Please, eat and drink to your heart's content!"
"........."
Master Jin, his face glowing with delight, led the newlyweds through the hall, raising his glass and exchanging greetings at every table.
When they reached the table where the local bosses of Wushui County were seated—Lame Kun, Hua Mao, and others—Master Jin lingered noticeably longer.
Master Jin's son, though usually brimming with arrogance, visibly toned it down in the presence of these county bosses. Still, deep in his eyes, there was a hint of disdain for these so-called uncles.
After all, as impressive as they seemed, they still paled in comparison to his father.
After the toasts and brief pleasantries, Master Jin moved on to the next table with the newlyweds in tow.
Lame Kun and the others couldn’t help but grumble with envy.
"Master Jin is really riding high these days. Seems he’s dead set on taking over Niu Ben’s nightclub and the bridge construction project in the south."
"And that’s not all. Did you see those men in black outside? Miss Liu might not have shown up, but her stance is clear—she’s backing Master Jin."
"Wonder if we’ll even get a scrap from the feast."
"Success breeds success. Master Jin’s about to soar."
"........"
Most of Niu Ben’s businesses had been shut down, and plenty were eyeing the spoils. But rumors were spreading that Master Jin and Miss Liu had struck a deal to divide Niu Ben’s empire between them.
If the rumors were true, the rest of them might end up with nothing.
The more they thought about it, the more resentful they grew. They all knew the source of Master Jin’s confidence.
Ever since he and a few others had visited Miss Liu with gifts a while back, the old man had become bolder, more ambitious.
Once Niu Ben was arrested, his seized assets would eventually be auctioned off—the government wouldn’t hold onto them forever.
The highest bidder would win, but everyone knew that without Miss Liu’s approval, no one would dare make a move.
Master Jin’s boldness stemmed from the gift he had given—a luxury car worth over a million. None of the others, whether in the first, second, or third wave of gift-givers, had come close to matching it.
Of course, some had mocked him behind his back, calling him a reckless spender.
Now, they realized the fools were themselves.
They had suddenly found Miss Liu to be an insurmountable obstacle.
At first, though formidable, she hadn’t commanded their absolute obedience.
Her youth had made it hard for them to take her seriously.
Had Niu Ben not suffered at her hands, they might not have even bothered courting her favor.
Besides, in their world, brute strength alone didn’t earn respect. The modern underworld wasn’t just about violence—connections mattered more.
Then Liu Yutong had demonstrated just how deep her connections ran. Not only had she openly taken out two of Niu Ben’s men in broad daylight, but she had also silenced Niu Ben’s long-standing political allies in Wushui County.
That had stunned them.
Niu Ben had ruled Wushui County for years not just through ruthlessness but through his well-established network.
Yet, that network had crumbled before Miss Liu.
What did that mean? It meant her backing was even stronger.
No wonder she had risen to power so swiftly in just three months.
Perhaps seeking solace in their bitterness, someone brought up the topic of gifts.
"Honestly, I never expected Master Jin to have the guts to give a car."
"Yeah, wish I’d thought of it first."
"Hindsight’s 20/20. If I’d known, I’d have sworn loyalty to Miss Liu right away. What’s the point of talking about it now?"
"..."
"Who’d have thought the old man would play such a masterstroke? That investment paid off big time!"
"No kidding."
"By the way, what did you all give Miss Liu?"
"Sigh, a limited-edition handbag."
"High-end skincare products."
"..."
Their gifts had all been expensive, yet each of them spoke with regret.
Then, one man awkwardly admitted, "Well... I gave her a calendar."
The others: "???"
Someone nearly spat out his drink, staring in disbelief.
"A calendar? What were you thinking?"
"Did she even accept it?"
"Y-yes."
The group fell silent.
"Don’t worry. Miss Liu probably doesn’t even remember you."
"..."
Moving past the gift discussion, they clinked glasses and drank.
Then, they finally noticed something odd.
The liquor and cigarettes were on the tables, along with two cold appetizers. But where were the rest of the dishes?
Had someone stolen them?
Minutes passed, yet no servers appeared with more food. Murmurs of confusion spread through the hall.
"What’s going on? Is this wedding banquet just two cold dishes?"
"I’m starving. This isn’t enough to fill anyone up."
"..."
Master Jin, still making his rounds, also sensed something amiss.
Dishes should have been arriving nonstop. How could the tables still only have two appetizers after all this time?
Frowning but keeping his smile intact, he apologized to the guests before pulling the hotel manager aside.
"What’s the meaning of this? Where’s the food?"
The manager looked just as baffled. "Master Jin, I followed your instructions—the hotel prepared the finest banquet possible..."
Master Jin’s voice turned icy. "Then explain this. If you don’t fix it, this shabby hotel of yours won’t stay in business!"
This was his son’s wedding, attended by countless friends and dignitaries from Wushui County. Running out of food would be a humiliation beyond repair.
Sweat beaded on the manager’s forehead. Everyone knew Master Jin’s influence in both business and the underworld. He didn’t dare slack off.
"I’m so sorry, Master Jin! I’ll check the kitchen right away!"
He spun around and rushed toward the kitchen, nearly tripping over the carpet in his haste.
Moments later, the manager came sprinting back, drenched in sweat—not from heat, but terror.
"Master Jin! Disaster—something terrible has happened!"
Seeing the hotel manager rush back in a flustered state, Master Jin’s face darkened with anger. "What’s going on? Why are you so panicked? I told you to check on the dishes—where are they? Where’s my food now?"
The hotel manager stammered, "Master Jin, the dishes were served as usual, but they were intercepted by the banquet hall next door."
Hearing this, Master Jin flew into a rage. "How dare they! Even my son’s wedding banquet isn’t spared! I’ll see for myself who’s behind this!"
But the manager frantically waved his hands. "Master Jin, you mustn’t go! The people over there... they’re not to be trifled with."
Yang Yue, standing nearby, couldn’t hold back and cut in, "What are you saying? How dare a mere manager like you speak to Master Jin like that? Do you even know his standing in Wushui County? ‘Not to be trifled with’—you’re overestimating them! No matter how powerful they are, could they possibly outmatch Master Jin?"
"Master Jin, this is a direct insult to you! Today is Xiang Ming’s wedding, and all these guests are watching. If we let this slide, how will we ever hold our heads high in Wushui County again? We have to go over there and teach them a lesson!"
