Chapter 156: Failing neither the Tathagata nor you!

Hearing that Elder Qin had an announcement to make at his own birthday banquet, everyone perked up and listened attentively.

Anything specially mentioned on an occasion like this was bound to be of extraordinary importance.

Elder Qin gestured for Qin Zongheng to step to his side, patted him on the shoulder, and smiled at the crowd, saying, "We Chinese love to talk about having virtuous children and filial grandchildren, and I am no exception. This is my grandson, Qin Zongheng. He is a wonderful grandson of mine, and an excellent corporate successor for the Qin family. The announcement I want to make is this: Qin Zongheng is about to take full charge of the Qin family's domestic operations."

There was not a single fool present, and everyone understood the full implications of the phrase "take full charge of the Qin family's domestic operations." For families of their veteran standing, the center of gravity had always remained domestically. Although there were overseas businesses, they were ultimately not as far-reaching or deeply rooted as the domestic ones.

For Qin Zongheng to take over the domestic enterprises was equivalent to controlling the economic lifeline of the Qin family.

Following Wenren Ting of the Wenren family choosing Wenren Muyue—who had just turned twenty—to become the family heir, this was yet another prime example of a giant financial conglomerate choosing a young successor.

In this year, Qin Zongheng was only twenty-seven years old, right in the prime of his high-spirited youth.

For people like them, a single simple leap could reach a height that ordinary people could scarcely hope to attain in a lifetime.

First, Qin Zongheng's staunch supporters reacted, blending into a chorus of cheers, blessings, and applause. Then, the other guests joined in with spontaneous applause.

The applause echoed through the entire venue. Qin Zongheng stood at the front of the stage, radiating brilliance. Although he projected extreme modesty and restraint, he was dazzlingly scorching.

Qin Luo also smiled and clapped. In his heart, however, he was calculating that thanks to Li Qingcheng's advance payment scheme, his own assets were not insignificant, totaling several hundred million. Yet, compared to the wealth Qin Zongheng now commanded, it was like a pitiful little lamb standing before a majestic lion; they were simply not competitors in the same league.

This dampened Qin Luo's mood slightly, causing him to eat two fewer chicken drumsticks during the meal.

It had to be said that their Comrade Qin Luo was not as magnanimous as the outside world imagined. Although it did not show on his face, after Qin Zongheng had invited him over and delivered a condescending threat, he truly did not hold much fondness for the guy.

Besides, whether he liked it or not, because of his connection with Wenren Muyue, he had already become a rival secretly competing with Qin Zongheng.

Who would want their opponent to be too much stronger than themselves?

"The revolution is not yet successful; comrades must still work hard," Qin Luo thought to himself.

Elder Qin waved his hand to signal everyone to quiet down and smiled, saying, "In the future, Zongheng will inevitably have to deal with everyone here. He is still young, so if there is anything he does that is not comprehensive enough, I ask that you all give me some small measure of face and be a bit accommodating."

As he spoke, Elder Qin actually bowed ninety degrees toward the audience.

Such a bow was no small matter. With his noble status, advanced age of eighty, and being the birthday star of the day, a rustling sound of chairs being pulled back rippled through the audience as everyone stood up in unison.

Although it felt somewhat troublesome, one had to admit that the old man was exceptionally skilled at handling interpersonal relationships.

With this bow, he gave the people present the utmost respect. Everyone felt both flattered and thoroughly comfortable all over.

People varied, and so did the effect of a bow. Could the effect of an ordinary peasant bowing be the same as that of a prime minister?

"I bow today to spend a bit of my old face to ask a favor from everyone on behalf of my grandson. You may accept it with ease. Please sit," Elder Qin said with a hearty laugh, waving his hand to signal everyone to be seated.

"Now, let Zongheng say a few words," Elder Qin said, handing the microphone to Qin Zongheng and motioning for him to speak.

Qin Zongheng took the microphone, looked at Elder Qin with deep respect, and said, "Thank you, Grandpa, for everything you have done for me. I will surely work hard and not live up to your high expectations."

Elder Qin nodded and patted his shoulder firmly.

Then, with a gentle gaze, he swept his eyes over the crowd and smiled, saying, "As a friend, I hope everyone will think of me when drinking. As a partner, I hope you will think of me when making money. Of course, I will also strive to play both roles of your friend and partner well. Let us drink our wine together and make our money together."

Qin Zongheng was also a smooth and versatile businessman; he did not utter too much empty rhetoric or cliché. Aside from his grandfather, he did not even offer a word of thanks to the people in the audience.

He knew what others cared about. They only cared whether you treated them as friends and whether you gave them opportunities to make money. That was all.

Anything else, such as expressions of gratitude—could speaking ten thousand expressions of gratitude ever exchange for a single order?

"Once again, thank you all for coming to attend Grandpa's birthday banquet. Cheers to your arrival. Cheers to Grandpa's health." Qin Zongheng picked up a glass of red wine from the waiter's tray behind him and raised his glass to everyone.

"Cheers to Elder Qin's health," someone in the audience said.

"Cheers to Elder Qin's health."

As the birthday banquet concluded, Zhang Yiyi took her daughter's small hand and said, "Jiujiu, do not wrong yourself too much."

"I know," Wang Jiujiu said, looking in Qin Luo's direction and gently nodding.

"If you feel wronged, then scold him. There is no shame in it," Zhang Yiyi said with a pang of heartache. Watching her daughter fall into unrequited love was painful for a mother as well.

Wang Jiujiu patted Zhang Yiyi's similarly small hand and said, "Comrade Zhang Yiyi, rest assured. What is this little bit of suffering? Your daughter can handle it."

"You stubborn girl. It is this strong-willed nature of yours that worries people," Zhang Yiyi's eyes turned red. "There is no helping it. You take after me in this regard. Alas, go on. Go early and return soon. Take your phone. If anything happens, notify me promptly. No matter how late, Mom will come pick you up."

"I know," Wang Jiujiu nodded, stood up, and walked outside.

Just as Qin Luo was preparing to catch a ride back in Wenren Muyue's car, Wang Jiujiu suddenly ran up to him.

"Teacher Qin, do you have time?" Wang Jiujiu asked, looking at Qin Luo with a pretty face full of smiles.

She was a girl who knew very well how to hide her inner sorrow in front of outsiders. At this moment, her face bloomed with smiles, and no one could tell what kind of pain and torment her heart had experienced.

Naturally, Qin Luo was unaware that attending the banquet together with Wenren Muyue had already caused many misunderstandings.

Of course, he also knew that some people would misunderstand—for instance, those whom Wenren Muyue wanted to reject. However, those people did not include Wang Jiujiu.

"What is it?" Qin Luo asked.

"Can you walk with me for a bit? I have some things I want to tell you," Wang Jiujiu said.

Qin Luo looked at the snowflakes dancing in the sky and asked with a smile, "Are you sure?"

"Sure," Wang Jiujiu replied firmly.

"Alright then," Qin Luo nodded. He turned to Wenren Muyue and said, "You guys go ahead first. Jiujiu and I are going out for a walk."

Wenren Muyue glanced at Wang Jiujiu and said, "Watch the wound."

Then, she climbed into her vehicle surrounded by a large group of bodyguards.

This was a rare heavy snowfall in recent years, which had been falling for an entire day and night almost without stopping.

The accumulated snow on the highway was crushed by tires, making a crisp crunching sound as it splashed to both sides. Where no one had walked, the snow had piled up in a thick layer, covering the plants underneath so thoroughly that not even a single tip could poke through. Icicles hung in rows from the tree branches, sparkling like crystal-clear pearls under the illumination of the streetlights.

Winter in Yanjing was already bitterly cold, and by nightfall, the temperature dropped even further. Walking in this snow-white world of ice and snow felt almost enough to freeze one's thoughts solid.

The breath exhaled immediately turned into mist before vanishing into the air. Qin Luo and Wang Jiujiu walked shoulder to shoulder, hearing only each other's breathing and the crunching sound of their shoes sinking deep into the snow.

Before they knew it, they had strayed from the main road, walking down a quiet, unfamiliar side path where Qin Luo could even see a river flowing quietly ahead like a winding silver snake.

Could this be the choice that single men and women instinctively made when walking together?

Wang Jiujiu had said she had something to discuss with him, but all along the way, she had maintained silence without any intention of speaking.

Qin Luo finally could not help himself and asked with a smile, "Jiujiu, aren't you cold?"

"What?" Wang Jiujiu had been immersed in the mood of this snowy night walk and had not heard clearly what Qin Luo said.

"Are you cold?" Qin Luo asked again. In this ghostly weather, a stream of urine would freeze into an icicle before hitting the ground; his constitution was different from ordinary people's, so he didn't have to worry about catching a chill. But Wang Jiujiu was dressed far too thinly.

Only then did Wang Jiujiu feel waves of chill piercing into her body. Snow had piled up over her leather boots, and her two feet felt as numb and devoid of sensation as if they no longer belonged to her body. Her hands suddenly had nowhere to put either, feeling cold no matter where she rested them.

"Cold," Wang Jiujiu said.

Qin Luo reached out, pulled Wang Jiujiu into his arms, and said, "My body is warmer. Staying closer might help a bit."

He added, "If nothing's pressing, we should head back. In weather this cold, you'll freeze to death."

Qin Luo found that whenever he was with Wang Jiujiu, this girl always suggested taking a walk. It gave him the feeling that walking was the thing the two of them did most often.

Wang Jiujiu obediently leaned her body against Qin Luo's chest, and soon her hands were grasped by Qin Luo's.

Just as he had said, his embrace was so warm. It felt like a burning fireplace—not scorching, but making one reluctant to leave. His hands were not large, but they were equally warm. Wang Jiujiu wished this path would never end and that she could be held by him like this for a lifetime.

The two of them embraced and held hands like a couple, making Wang Jiujiu's heart flutter like a startled fawn, given her secret intentions toward Qin Luo. Hearing Qin Luo urge her to go back, she quickly said, "There is something. Teacher Qin, I have something to tell you."