Chapter 194


    After a brief restructuring, Fatty Huang took over the Guo Family enterprises at Hanover City. In less


    than a week, they were reopened for business.


    Fatty Huang wanted a quick boom for his enterprises, so he made an effort to invite Hanover City''s


    rich and powerful, through Big Brother Qian, for a grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.


    After the lively ribbon- cutting ceremony, a banquet was prepared for them to feast, drink, and be


    merry.


    This banquet was attended by more than seventy percent of Hanover City''s elite. Most of the who''s


    who of the town were present, to pay their respects to Fatty Huang, and of course many were there


    in deference to Hubert Qian. After all, Hubert Qian was one of the two elders of Hanover City.


    At the outset of the banquet, Fatty Huang made a simple toast. Thereafter, the various guests


    prepared to make toasts of felicitations in return.


    They held up their wine sses and walked over with smiles stered on their faces.


    After toasting to Fatty Huang by downing their wine and clinking their sses, they proceeded to his


    side, where Hubert Qian and Fade Chen were sitting.


    The invited guests walked respectfully towards the both of them, taking the initiative to introduce


    themselves and also giving them toasts in veneration, expressing their deepest congrattions to


    them.


    By this time, everyone was aware of the rtionship between Big Brother Qian and his guest of


    honor, Mr. Chen. Therefore, they did not hesitate to give theirpliments in the hopes of gaining


    favor with them.


    As the guests were toasting and making their rounds, there was a small interruption. As Chessca


    Tan and her father came by to make their toast, Chessca Tan suddenly knelt down and groveled


    before Fade Chen, apologizing fervently and begging him for forgiveness.


    In actual fact, Fade Chen had already forgotten about Chessca Tan. However, her actions


    reinforced Fade Chen''s feeling of revulsion towards her. He felt that she was way too pretentious.


    Therefore, Fade Chen did not ept the drink when she toasted him, but directly made a gesture


    with his hand for her to leave.


    Seeing this, Chessca Tan and her father instantly turned pale and left the banquet crestfallen.


    Although this was only a minor slight on his part, Mr. Chen''s attitude was seen as an indicator of


    Hubert Qian''s inclinations. Many people of power and status would be hesitant to coborate with


    the Tan family in the future.


    After this episode, the toasting of the guests continued, round after round. Although Fatty Huang


    was considered good at holding his liquor, he became rather drunk and his face was flushed bright


    red. In the end, he required assistance to be carried home for a rest.


    Hubert Qian and Fade Chen were still sober as a judge, able to hold their liquor without a problem.


    In particr, Fade Chen, after downing many sses of wine, still did not turn red, nor did his


    heartbeat quicken at all. He remainedpletely unaffected.


    Observing this, Hubert Qian''s sense of shock was amplified, and his admiration for the abilities of


    Lunatic Chen increased.


    Finally, after the toasting ceremony was over, Hubert Qian stood up and raised his ss. He said in


    a clear voice, "I would like to thank all of you foring today. You are all here to witness


    something extraordinary."


    Everyone felt a sense of curiosity and could not understand Hubert Qian''s words.


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    Then, they saw Hubert Qian with his raised ss, turning around to face Fade Chen. He proceeded


    to bow in a deferential manner. Finally, he sped the ss with both hands and said, "I, Hubert


    Qian, would like to propose a toast in honor of Mr. Chen."


    With those words, Hubert Qian downed the wine in his raised cup in one big chug.


    Witnessing this, the crowd was stunned and looked on with an expression of incredulity.


    Although they had heard that Hubert Qian treated Fade Chen like a venerable guest of honor and


    had the utmost respect for him, they were not expecting him to be so respectful towards Fade


    Chen. They did not anticipate such a personal toast to Fade Chen from him in the presence of the


    rich and powerful of Hanover City.


    This gesture seemedparable to an explicit announcement to the crowd of the fact that Hubert


    Qian saw himself as subordinate to Fade Chen. This was Hubert Qian putting Fade Chen on a


    pedestal.


    Instantly, spection about the truth behind Fade Chen''s identity, which had died down for a while,


    resurfaced. The crowd started to buzz and chatter amongst themselves.


    Some of the guests were shrewd, and quickly came to their senses on how they should react to


    this. They imitated the gesture, raising their wine sses and bowing respectfully at Fade Chen.


    The rest of the guests began to take the cue and follow in gesture. Another round of toasting began


    at that time, and Fade Chen did not restrain himself but drank up all the wine. He still seemed well,


    calm, and unaffected, without any change to his demeanor.


    Just as the round of toasting wasing to an end, a middle-aged man, who was around his forties


    or fifties, suddenly emerged from the crowd.


    The man was dressed in a smart-looking suit and wearing shiny leather shoes. In his tow were two


    others, and he stepped forward with a smile on his face.


    Noticing this man, the guests had a surprised expression. They fixed their gazes on him.


    "Why is he here?"


    "The Hu family actually sent someone as representative to the banquet. What do you think this


    means?"


    "It''s alright to send a representative, but why arrive sote? Won''t the banquet be ending soon ?"


    "This is obviously an insult towards Big Brother Qian!"


    Amidst the crowd''s discussion, Hubert Qian''s face fell. Seeing Fade Chen beside him with a


    puzzled expression, Hubert Qian exined, "This man is the butler of Shawn Hu. The Qian family


    and the Hu family have long been at odds with each other, and in recent years, there has hardly


    been any contact between us. But now, he has sent a representative to the banquet."


    Fade Chen nodded, understanding the situation. The history between the Qian Family and the Hu


    Family was simr to that of the Long Enterprise and the Wan Family in Bay City. There were all


    sorts of conflicts and grievances between both elders and the families. After all, they were both


    based in the same territory, so it was inevitable.


    The fact was that for a very long time, there had been no contact between the two families.


    However, now out of the blue, a representative had arrived. One had to seriously consider the


    motives behind this action.


    The butler walked up to Hubert Qian, made a cordial gesture of greeting, and said, "Mr. Qian, it''s a


    pleasure to meet you. When Old Master was informed that a friend of Mr. Qian is opening a


    business and having a ribboncutting ceremony, he sent me to congratte Mr. Qian. Unfortunately,


    there was a traffic jam on the road, which caused me to bete. Many apologies, Mr. Qian."


    This excuse was so preposterous that one could not believe it. The Hu Family had a high status in


    the city, therefore it was impossible for a traffic jam to be of any hindrance to them. It was obvious


    that they had arrivedte on purpose.


    Hubert Qian was of course aware of this fact. His face was solemn and he said, "Since you were


    dyed, it would have not been necessary for you to be in attendance. I am in no need of extra


    gifts."


    At these words, the butler''s expression did not change. He gestured his hand and let the two men


    behind him bring forward two gifts, one which wasrger and the other smaller in size.


    The butler still had a smile on his face as he said to Hubert Qian, "Old Master has given the


    command that I must ensure that the gifts are delivered and received."


    "Just leave the gifts and go!" Hubert Qian knew that they had deliberately arrivedte in order to


    insult him. In such cases as these, Hubert Qian would not be so gracious, therefore he asked them


    to leave immediately.


    However, the butler did not move. Instead, he looked at Fade Chen, who was beside Hubert Qian,


    and continued with a smile, "This time, Old Master heard that Mr. Qian is graced by the presence of


    an honored guest, Mr. Chen, therefore he prepared two gifts."


    He pointed to the two gifts behind him, one which was bigger and the other smaller. He proceeded


    to speak with a simper, "Originally, ording to the master''s instructions, the bigger gift belongs to


    Mr. Qian, and the smaller gift to Mr. Chen."


    "But I just observed Mr. Qian giving a toast to Mr. Chen. At this moment, I can''t tell who is of higher


    or lower status. I am not sure who should I present the bigger gift to, and for who the smaller gift


    should be given. Mr. Qian and Mr. Chen, please assist me in this matter." The butler made a polite


    gesture in obeisance, continuing to smile ingratiatingly at Hubert Qian and Fade Chen.


    The crowd had bepletely silent, and everyone was gazing at Hubert Qian and Fade


    Chen.