Zhou Chaoming quickly explained, "Mr. Su is away on a journey and not in Lin Jiang."
At this point, Lin Zhiyuan jumped out and said, "Who says he’s not here? He was at my company yesterday and is currently living in Villa No. 1. However, he is a man of pride and arrogance who looks down on others, so I don’t think he would take the initiative to visit Elder Xu."
Lin Zhiyuan was stripped of his power in the Lin Family by Su Chengyu and was not allowed to leave Yulong Bay Community. His hatred for Su Chengyu was engrained deep within his bones.
"Dad, what nonsense are you talking about! Brother Yu just returned and knows nothing about Elder Xu’s affairs." Lin Huanfeng quickly restrained Lin Zhiyuan.
"Humph! Just a Grandmaster Realm, what’s there to be proud of? Hasn’t seen the world! Fit for being a frog in the well at Lin Jiang." Xu Shenghe’s granddaughter, Xu Qianxue, sneered disdainfully.
"Boss Lin, isn’t Mr. Su your future son-in-law? Is this how a father-in-law should behave? Slandering Mr. Su in front of others! As far as I know, if it weren’t for Mr. Su, your Lin family would have been destroyed in Lin Jiang long ago!"
Zhou Chaoming retorted with a hint of disgrace towards Lin Zhiyuan’s ingratitude in his words.
"Because I am his father-in-law, it is my responsibility to teach him how to behave! What’s the status of Elder Xu? He is an elderly figure returning to Lin Jiang, why should Su Chengyu refuse to come and pay him a visit? Just yesterday, I told him that he should vacate Villa No.1 for Elder Xu to stay in, but he wasn’t pleased." Lin Zhiyuan stated.
"Lin Zhiyuan! Shut your mouth! Have you no end to this madness? Go back right now!"
Lin Huanfeng was furious, he quickly explained, "Elder Xu, please don’t listen to my father’s nonsense. He has made a mistake; my brother-in-law stripped him of his powers and made him reflect on his actions. He bears a grudge against my brother-in-law, hence the nonsense."
Xu Shenghe calmly said, "I’m not interested in your family matters, but as for what kind of person Su Chengyu is, I have my own conjecture. He refrained from coming, obviously, because he doesn’t regard me highly."
Lin Huanfeng, worried that Lin Zhiyuan would cause more trouble, tried to take him back to the Lin Villa, but Lin Zhiyuan refused, leaving Lin Huanfeng helpless.
"Elder Xu, please don’t misunderstand! Mr. Su is absolutely not the person Lin Zhiyuan described him to be. He has done many good deeds in Lin Jiang which are widely praised, and even established a charity foundation to help the impoverished people of Lin Jiang."
Zhou Chaoming explained.
Stone Sword Edge also added, "Mr. Su is talented and upright, with a righteous heart, these qualities are indeed rare. Conversely, Lin Zhiyuan is double-faced, narrow-minded and his words should not be taken lightly."
Besides Stone Sword Edge, the City Governor Feng Qian along with a couple of others stood up to explain on behalf of Su Chengyu. Even though Xu Shenghe remained silent, he felt slightly uncomfortable at heart. He hadn’t thought that such a young newcomer would hold such esteem, honor, and prestige in Lin Jiang.
Xu Shenghe, who had long occupied a high position and was used to adulation and flattery, felt displeased that a junior’s prestige could stand shoulder to shoulder with his.
Xu Shenghe, settling into a Taishi Chair and waving his hand said, "Alright, alright! You need not explain for his sake anymore, I’ve returned to Lin Jiang just for retirement and I’m not bothered about worldly matters. This person, whether good or bad, it has nothing to do with me."
However, Xu Qianxue, quite understanding of her grandpa’s thoughts, stepped forward and suggested, "Since you all are well acquainted with Su Chengyu, why not make a trip to Villa No. 1 and ask him to come and pay his respects."
"Qianxue, there’s no need to trouble yourself! If he doesn’t want to come, we can’t force him," Xu Shenghe sipped his tea and spoke dispassionately, while his tone carried a hint of sarcasm.
All the people present were clever individuals skilled in figuring out each other’s thoughts and motives. They immediately understood that Elder Xu was feeling displeased.
Zhou Chaoming volunteered willingly, he too understood that at this point Su Chengyu must pay his visit, else the Xu family would be offended.
"Wait! Since we are asking someone to pay a visit, we should also demonstrate some sincerity. Qianxue, give him a token." Xu Shenghe told.
Xu Qianxue nodded, went inside and brought out a turquoise token. It was a Sparrow, rustic and exquisitely crafted.
"Ask him to bring this token when he comes to pay his respects." Xu Qianxue said arrogantly.
Zhou Chaoming held the token with both hands and hurried towards Villa No.1, while Lin Huanfeng dragged Lin Zhiyuan to the corner and furiously said, "Dad, is there any point to what you are doing? Brother Yu has been a huge benefactor to our Lin family!"
"So what? He took away my power and put me under house arrest, why should I save face for him!" Lin Zhiyuan snorted coldly!
"You’re really beyond help! From now on, I won’t let you attend such gatherings!" Lin Huanfeng furiously said.
Zhou Chaoming drove into Villa No.1 and yelled loudly, "Mr. Su..."
Su Chengyu and Fang Qing came out and asked, "Uncle Zhou, why are you here? Weren’t you going to Villa No.2 to pay a visit to some big shot?"
"So, you already know about the heavyweight at Villa No.2?" Zhou Chaoming said.
"Just heard it from Fang Qing." Su Chengyu nodded slightly.
"Elder Xu asked me to deliver a token to you, expecting you to come and pay your respects." Zhou Chaoming pulled the token out of his pocket.
"What is this? What does it mean?" Su Chengyu took a glimpse at the token and asked doubtfully.
"This is called a ’Hall Sparrow’. It’s a token of the Xu family and all the servants of Xu family possess one. An ancient poem says: Sparrows of old in front of Wang and Xie’s hall, flew into ordinary people’s homes, it means that the rich and powerful gentry granted favors to ordinary people, giving them a chance to associate with the powerful. Handing you the Hall Sparrow symbolizes that the Xu family wants to take you under their wing. But there are three levels of the Xu family’s Hall Sparrow, they are gold, silver, and bronze. The one you have is bronze, the lowest level."
Zhou Chaoming was frank and straightforward.
Upon hearing this, Su Chengyu smiled lightly and replied, "So it seems that Elder Xu intends to bestow upon me a heavenly fate, by allowing me to attach myself the Xu family and to become their dog?"
Zhou Chaoming coughed dryly and said, "It’s roughly that meaning. While the Hall Sparrow is indeed invaluable to ordinary people and getting bestowed is sure to receive Xu family’s favor, presenting you with only a bronze one is somewhat inappropriate."
"Bronze? Even if it was gold, I wouldn’t be interested."
Would he, Su Chengyu, submit to the Xu family and become a dog for them?
"By the way, how did they know I had returned and wanted me to pay a visit?" Su Chengyu inquired.
Zhou Chaoming relayed the situation, causing Fang Qing to immediately retort, "How could Lin Zhiyuan do such a thing? Isn’t he deliberately trying to sow discord?"
Su Chengyu laughed, "He bears a grudge against me and wants to give me a taste of my own medicine, to stir up trouble for me, but I can understand him! In fact, even without Lin Zhiyuan’s instigation, the Xu family would eventually seek me out. It’s a matter of ’One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers’, with my high prestige in Lin Jiang, how could Elder Xu bear it?"
Su Chengyu was able to look through the matter’s surface, grasping the essence of the problem.