Chapter 66: The Ye Family of the Capital, Ye Lang

Chen Xiong’s face was full of anger. He hadn’t quite caught what Su Zheng had said, but he could guess it wasn’t anything pleasant. So, hastening his steps, he blocked the path of Su Zheng and his group.

“A pauper like you probably doesn’t know, right? You need an invitation to get in here—one per person. I can’t help but wonder, how exactly do you four plan to get in? Hah!”

Chen Xiong flaunted the invitation in his hand with pride, casting a look of disdain at Su Zheng and the others.

“Uh… one invitation per person? But there are four of us…”

Lu Hongmei had come here with great trepidation, nervous and uncertain if they’d even be allowed in. Now, hearing Chen Xiong’s words, she unconsciously looked toward Su Zheng.

“Su Zheng, why is your invitation different from your uncle’s? And you only have one! How are the four of us supposed to get in?”

She couldn’t help but question Su Zheng. Chen Jianguo also shot Su Zheng a hateful glare. In his eyes, it was obvious—Su Zheng was lying again; he didn’t have a real invitation at all!

“Hahaha… Did you hear that? Your invitation is different from ours. Hahaha… Now I’m really curious, did the Li family specially prepare a unique invitation for you? Made of gold, perhaps? You think one invitation will let all four of you in?”

Chen Xiong mocked them with a laugh, thoroughly enjoying watching Chen Jianguo and his wife scold Su Zheng. It filled him with satisfaction.

“You’re right, Uncle,” Chen Muxue retorted coldly, her face tinged with icy disdain. “Su Zheng’s invitation is indeed inlaid with gold, completely different from the one in your hand!”

In truth, she was just as nervous, afraid that Su Zheng’s invitation was a fake. But at this moment, she naturally stood by Su Zheng, unable to stomach her uncle’s smugness.

“Hah! Unless it’s an official invitation from the Li family, it doesn’t matter if it’s inlaid with gold or even diamonds—it’s useless!” Chen Xiong was momentarily startled, but quickly dismissed it with scorn. He’d noticed that everyone else entering the Li family estate held invitations identical to his own; that could only mean Su Zheng’s so-called invitation was a forgery.

“Ignorant fool,” Su Zheng shot him a glare, then turned to Chen Xue Mei and the Chen Jianguo couple. “Ignore him. Let’s just go in.”

With that, he drew from his pocket a gold-inlaid invitation that resembled a token—only palm-sized, much smaller than everyone else’s, and of a completely different design.

“Oh, you really went all out. But fake is fake. I’d like to see how you plan to get in!” Chen Xiong sneered, utterly unconcerned. He didn’t bother to proceed, instead standing aside, gesturing for Su Zheng to go ahead.

Su Zheng paid him no mind and led Chen Muxue and the couple forward. Chen Muxue was nervous; though she trusted Su Zheng, she was still uneasy. The same went for her parents—if not for their daughter blindly following Su Zheng, they might have turned back already.

“Sir, may I see your invitation, please?” The Li family servant at the gate greeted them with utmost courtesy.

Behind them, Chen Xiong and his son Chen Peng watched expectantly, waiting for the Li family to throw Su Zheng and his group out.

“Excuse me, sir—please wait a moment!” Upon seeing the invitation in Su Zheng’s hand, the Li family servant’s expression changed. He politely asked the four to wait, then hurried off at once.

“Hahaha, see that? They’re going to call someone over. Trying to sneak into the Li family isn’t a small matter. You won’t get away easily. It’s too late to run now!” Chen Xiong crowed with delight as he watched the servant dash away.

Even passersby shook their heads, unable to fathom why Su Zheng’s group would risk pretending their way in. Hadn’t they heard of the Li family’s ruthless reputation?

“What do we do now? This is all your fault! Didn’t you say the invitation would work? Look at us—now we can’t even leave. What a disgrace!” Lu Hongmei whispered angrily at Su Zheng, her face burning with shame under so many staring eyes.

“Su Zheng, you good-for-nothing, just wait till we get home!” Chen Jianguo fumed, though he dared not make a scene in front of everyone. He planned to settle accounts with Su Zheng later.

“Be honest—your invitation is really a fake, isn’t it?” Chen Muxue, though less panicked than her parents, also frowned and questioned Su Zheng.

“Oh, why won’t you believe me? Look—someone’s coming to greet us.” Su Zheng shrugged helplessly, then gestured off into the distance.

From within the Li family estate, a luxurious electric car sped toward them, the occupants visibly anxious as they raced to the gate. The servant who had left now led an elderly man from the car directly to Su Zheng.

“Mr. Su, greetings. I am the steward of the Li residence—just call me Uncle Fu. Apologies for the wait. Please, come aboard.”

With that, the old man known as Uncle Fu bowed respectfully, inviting Su Zheng’s group onto the car with impeccable etiquette.

Everyone at the gate was left dumbfounded, even many prominent figures in Qingyang. None had expected the Li family would treat a plainly dressed young man with such ceremony—especially by sending out their steward, Uncle Fu, in person.

At this banquet, there was no shortage of distinguished guests, and the Li family had made arrangements in advance to greet them at the entrance. For example, when Ye Lang—being from the Ye family in the capital—arrived, the Li family sent someone to escort him in.

But for the Li family’s steward, Uncle Fu, to come out personally—this was utterly unprecedented. Even Li Yanze and Li Yanjun themselves would greet Uncle Fu with the utmost respect, never daring to slight him.

As Su Zheng and his companions boarded the car and disappeared from view, Chen Xiong stood as if choked, his face flushed, unable to utter a word.

His mind buzzed with confusion. He racked his brains, but couldn’t comprehend why the Li family would send Uncle Fu to personally receive Su Zheng. It simply defied reason.

Soft chuckles and muffled snickers rose from the crowd, their gazes toward Chen Xiong filled with mockery. Even for those accustomed to all manner of spectacles, Chen Xiong’s eagerness to humiliate himself was enough to unsettle them.

“Dad, what are you all doing just standing here? Hurry up and go in—the banquet’s about to start!” At that moment, Chen Wenli approached, arm in arm with a young man. Seeing her father rooted to the spot, she couldn’t help but urge him on.

“Big Sis, Brother-in-law—Su Zheng just went in too. He was picked up by the estate’s car. Dad’s still mad about it,” Chen Peng explained in a low voice.

“What? That loser got in too? How is that possible? On what grounds? Wait—did you say he was driven in? Qingyuan, what do you make of this?” Chen Wenli was first shocked, then frowned and turned to the young man beside her, her tone sickly sweet.