Minister Liu had climbed to his current position with a bit of cunning, and though he was highly displeased with Xiao Zheng who had followed Mu Yiqing, when he sat back down, he did not show it and still had a smile on his face.
Upon seeing Xiao Zheng and Mu Yiqing seated, he raised his glass jovially, proposing a toast and even cracked a few jokes, enlivening the atmosphere at the table in a short span of ti.
Xiao Zheng was there to accompany Mu Yiqing, so naturally, he wasn’t going to cause any trouble. Therefore, he cooperated with Minister Liu, although he barely spoke, quietly drinking and eating.
Then the conversation turned to the business deal at hand.
Once the discussion entered professional territory, Mu Yiqing was spirited, shedding her usual shyness, and began to expound at length on the topic. Her logic was clear and convincing, making a powerful argunt.
The listeners all nodded inwardly; Qianqiu Group was extrely stringent in hiring, one had to be an elite to join. Clearly, Mu Yiqing, being one of them, was soone of true talent.
In contrast, the sales staff from the other companies paled in comparison after speaking about their specialties and so even spoke to no listeners at all.
However, everyone didn’t care about this because they knew that the primary decision about whether the order would be taken lay in the hands of Minister Liu.
As long as Minister Liu was happy, even a complete fool could successfully land the contract!
Gradually, the professional discussions at the table concluded, and as people beca better acquainted, they started chatting idly amidst toasting and clinking glasses, creating a lively scene.
Mu Yiqing felt quite out of place in this setting, her cheeks flushed red, but after her previous impressive performance and with Minister Liu harboring so ulterior thoughts towards her, she beca the star at the dinner table.
Others not ntioned, even Minister Liu himself served her several tis.
Mu Yiqing naturally wanted to reject it, but with her inherently gentle nature, she begrudgingly accepted.
On the other hand, Xiao Zheng, seated next to her, was completely ignored, with hardly anyone paying him any attention.
Mu Yiqing couldn’t stand it and tried several tis to speak with Xiao Zheng, but was imdiately interrupted by others. Inexperienced and anxious, she felt helpless.
Xiao Zheng, seeing this, just smiled slightly and didn’t care. This young lady had just entered society and needed to be toughened up in these situations. With Mu Yiqing’s capabilities, she would soon be able to handle such scenes with ease.
Ignored by everyone else, he found comfort in enjoying his al in peace.
At this mont, however, soone beca displeased with Xiao Zheng because earlier, Mu Yiqing had shown him affection several tis and now signaled to a few people nearby.
These people imdiately understood the cue, and a heavily made-up woman, with eyes fixed on Minister Liu, said in a sickly sweet voice, "Minister Liu, I really admire you. You’re so young and have already climbed to your current position, basically outperforming ninety percent of your peers."
"Yes, yes," chid in a young man with a sycophantic smile, laughing "heh heh" and saying, "Minister Liu, among the younger generation in Zhonghai City, you’re ranked at the top!"
"I rember once, at our company’s annual eting, one of the bosses said that among the young people in Zhonghai City, he admires Minister Liu the most, for his shrewdness and strategic wisdom, a top choice indeed!"
Minister Liu was actually in his thirties and could barely be considered a youth. Moreover, he was a bit worn for his age and appeared more like a middle-aged man.
Another person said, "My company’s boss has ntioned that in Zhonghai City, aside from the rich second-generation who rely on their background, the number of people who have achieved what Minister Liu has at his age is very few, not even a handful."
People began to flatter Minister Liu, their fawning phrases gushing forth like a tidal wave, leaving the minister chortling heartily and feeling light as air.
"You flatter too much," Minister Liu chuckled.
"Speaking of which, Minister Liu, you’re so young with money, power, and connections, truly a dragon among people. Compared to you, we are far behind," said the heavily made-up woman dramatically heaving a sigh, then casting her eyes towards Xiao Zheng with a sneer, "When compared to so greenhorns, it’s like comparing heaven and earth."
Whoosh.
At that mont, everyone’s gaze turned towards Xiao Zheng.
Xiao Zheng, who was busy devouring a large fish, certainly felt everyone’s stare but was completely unfazed, continuing to indulge in his al.
Mu Yiqing, on the other hand, was upset. She could tell that the heavily made-up woman was targeting Xiao Zheng, and with her character, she might have endured it if it were about anything else.
But this involved Xiao Zheng, and sohow, Mu Yiqing found courage welling up from within, and she protested, "You ladies are wrong to say that!"
Everyone was taken aback, noticing Mu Yiqing’s deanor was unlike her usual self.
Minister Liu, being astute, grasped the situation, realizing Mu Yiqing was standing up for Xiao Zheng, which irritated him even more.
The heavily made-up woman just laughed and said, "Xiao Mu, what I said was the truth. How can so greenhorns compare to an accomplished Minister Liu?"
"What about you, Brother Xiao Zheng?" she asked, turning her head to look at Xiao Zheng with a teasing smile.
Mu Yiqing angrily retorted, "Judging a person is never about their wealth or status but their character. If soone is successful but has a vile and despicable character, then they are harmful to society instead!"
The sycophantic young man replied, "Xiao Mu, you’ve misunderstood. In this world, there are no purely bad people, everyone is just ordinary. Only children seven or eight years old divide people into good or bad.
"Of course, in today’s society, people aren’t judged by their wealth, power, or status, but by their capability. With ability, all these things like wealth and power naturally follow."
The heavily made-up woman nodded, "Exactly, that’s the principle. Xiaozheng, what do you do for work? How much money do you make each month?"
This was a clear provocation against Xiao Zheng, as everyone waited eagerly to see how Xiao Zheng would respond to the jeers, with only Mu Yiqing anxious beside him.
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