Chapter 63: Slapped You in the Face

The faces of these people were unfamiliar, causing Uncle Ling to frown slightly. With his hands clasped behind his back, he spoke coldly and arrogantly:
“Who sent you here? Was it Deputy Mayor Chu, or Director Cao?”
The newcomers glanced at him with faint disapproval but ignored him entirely, walking straight past toward Ling Xiao and Old Master Ling.

Uncle Ling was momentarily taken aback, then, flustered, barked,
“Insolence! How dare you disregard me? You…”
Before he could finish, the group had already reached Ling Xiao and the old master, bowing deeply before them.
“Zhang Daochu from the Zhang family, Jiangzhou.”
“The Black Rose of Jiangcheng.”
“Ma Chenglong, Ma Group, Jiangzhou.”
…
“At the behest of Young Master Ling, we come to wish Old Master Ling a happy birthday! May your fortune be as boundless as the Eastern Sea, your years as enduring as the Southern Mountain!”

“What?”
Uncle Ling and Third Uncle Ling both felt their cheeks flush with heat.
They had thought it was their own guests arriving, only to find these people had come for Ling Xiao!
It was a stinging slap to the face.

The villagers, too, were stunned. They had assumed these people were trying to curry favor with Uncle Ling, not that they were here on Ling Xiao’s orders!
In that instant, the crowd looked at Ling Xiao with new eyes.
They had always thought him just a brute skilled in martial arts, but now he seemed to possess unexpected depth.

Amidst the awkward silence, several more cars arrived in the distance—Audis and BMWs alike.
The crowd grew lively once more.
Uncle Ling breathed a sigh of relief, loosened his tie, and shot a glance at Ling Xiao.
“What’s so impressive? Just a handful of petty businessmen—not even fit to carry my shoes! Nothing worth showing off about.”
Third Uncle hastened to agree,
“Big Brother is right. Those cars must be your friends! Once they step out, these minor characters will pale in comparison!”
Uncle Ling nodded in smug satisfaction.
“Exactly. Let’s go meet our guests.”
“Yes!”
The two took several steps forward just as the BMWs and Audis came to a halt.
Uncle Ling was about to speak when several bosses climbed out of the cars, leaving him momentarily stunned.

More unfamiliar faces?
One of them shot him a cold glance, then barked,
“Out of the way! Good dogs don’t block the road!”
With that, they brushed past Uncle Ling and Third Uncle without hesitation, stopping at the entrance to the Ling family home to bow before Ling Xiao and the old master.
“Kong Linyu, head of the Kong family, Jianglin.”
“Chen Tianhua, Chen Group, Jiangzhou.”
“Liu Yanshun, Liu family, Jiangcheng!”
…
“At the command of Young Master Ling, we come to pay our respects to Old Master Ling!”

The scene grew hushed, even Old Master Ling himself was bewildered.
Mu Yiren had told him earlier that Ling Xiao had invited many distinguished guests to celebrate his birthday, but he had scarcely dared to believe it.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, so many formidable figures had indeed appeared, all to wish him longevity!

The villagers stood dumbfounded.
Were not all these prominent people supposed to be trying to ingratiate themselves with Uncle Ling? Why would they be seeking out Ling Xiao instead?

But the most stunned of all were Uncle Ling and Third Uncle Ling.
Never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined that Ling Xiao—the boy whose parents had been killed and whose legs were once broken—could, in just three years, forge ties with so many influential people!
And perhaps these were not simply friends.
For they looked upon Ling Xiao with the utmost respect—like subjects before an emperor.

Yet this was not the end—on the contrary, it was only the beginning!
Every two minutes or so, yet another wave of luxury cars would arrive. One after another, the tycoons and their illustrious names bowed before Old Master Ling!
Luxury vehicles filled every path in and out of Ling Village, some forced to park in the wheat fields for lack of space.
The area occupied by this fleet of cars was even greater than that of the entire village!
Old Master Ling was utterly dumbstruck.
The villagers were left speechless with terror and awe.
Even Uncle Ling and Third Uncle were left completely bewildered.
“How… how on earth did that boy pull this off?”
“Every wealthy figure in Jiangzhou, great and small, has gathered here! Even I could never muster such influence!”

The crowds of magnates, after paying their respects to Old Master Ling and Ling Xiao, obediently formed neat ranks at the side—showing not a trace of a tycoon’s arrogance, as docile as students awaiting inspection.

The villagers could hardly believe their eyes.
Any one of these people was worth more than all the villagers of Ling family village combined—a being to be worshipped.

Yet now, they behaved more meekly than the villagers themselves!
Heaven help us, this was truly beyond belief!

Just then, as everyone stood in a daze, Uncle Ling’s phone rang abruptly.
After answering, his face lit up with joy.
He put away his phone, clasped his hands behind his back, and strode toward Ling Xiao.
“Ling Xiao, have your people move their cars and clear a path. My guest is coming through.”
Ling Xiao glanced at him indifferently.
“If your guest wishes to enter, they can walk in. Why should my people move aside for them?”
Uncle Ling’s voice thundered in anger.
“Insolence! Do you know who is coming? Let me tell you—it’s Deputy Mayor Chu of Jiangzhou!”
A gasp swept through the villagers.
“My goodness, Deputy Mayor Chu himself!”
“To think that Old Master Ling’s birthday could attract someone of such stature!”
“In the end, Uncle Ling is still the more powerful! No matter how many businessmen Ling Xiao invited, they are nothing compared to the guest Uncle Ling has brought!”

In this country, since ancient times, scholars have been revered above merchants!
And now, the guest in question was a deputy mayor!
The difference in prestige was simply worlds apart—like the chasm between an immortal and mere mortals!
Uncle Ling regained his arrogance. No matter how impressive Ling Xiao had seemed moments before, he could now defeat him in a single stroke!

Yet Ling Xiao merely smiled coolly.
“A petty official, making such demands. If he wants to come, let him walk. If not, he can leave. He is not qualified to have my people make way for him!”
“Insolence!”
Before Uncle Ling could speak, Third Uncle was already shouting,
“Ling Xiao, don’t be so arrogant! Deputy Mayor Chu coming to wish your grandfather a happy birthday is an honor to our whole family! How can you be so disrespectful? Do you have any idea how serious the consequences of your reckless behavior could be?”
Ling Xiao gave him a brief, indifferent glance.
“One sentence: he may come or not as he pleases. If he won’t come, let him leave!”