In name only: I will break the chess game in Handong

"Dad, I'm all alone at home now. My brother said he's going to have dinner with Xinyue's grandparents tonight, so he'll probably be back very late. My mom flew to Shanghai this morning to handle some work."

Sigh, I'm home all alone...it's so boring.

Chen Luo smiled and patted Chen Zhengxi on the shoulder.

"Put my bag in the room for me first."

Chen Zhengxi quickly took his bag and went inside.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

Chen Luo walked to the front door and opened it himself. He was somewhat surprised when he saw who it was.

"Renli, what brings you here?"

Jia Renli scratched his head, looking somewhat awkward and hesitant. He seemed to want to speak but was held back, his face growing increasingly red, which amused Chen Luo.

"No, just say what you want to say, do we need to be so polite?"

Upon hearing this, Jia Renli breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's like this, Secretary Chen, tonight is my father's 100th birthday. We hadn't planned to celebrate, but this morning my father said that it's not easy for a person to live to be 100, so we should still have a celebration."

We've already invited some people, but it just so happens that Secretary Chen was away on a state visit, so we didn't inform you in advance. You've just returned, and you must be very tired, so I didn't feel comfortable bringing it up."

"Celebrating Old Master Jia's 100th birthday?"

"Well, Comrade Renli, you kept this from me without telling me beforehand. Now look what's happened—I didn't prepare any gift."

"Secretary Chen, there's no need to prepare any gifts. Your arrival is the best gift."

Upon hearing this, Chen Luo smiled and nodded.

“Okay, it’s perfect timing since there’s not much people at home today. I was just thinking of taking Zhengxi out to eat later, but now I don’t need to. We’ve made it to the event.”

Soon Chen Luo returned to the house, washed up briefly, and then took Chen Zhengxi to the birthday banquet.

The birthday banquet was held at a high-end hotel.

Although the Jia family's courtyard house was not small, it could not accommodate too many people, and there would definitely be a lot of people coming.

The car was parked in the hotel parking lot. After Chen Luo and Chen Zhengxi got out of the car, Chen Zhengxi was clearly pouting.

"Dad, why don't you carry it?"

Chen Luo shook his head.

“I’m your father, you can bring it up if I tell you to.”

Chen Zhengxi rolled his eyes, shook the nutritional supplements he was carrying, and felt goosebumps all over his body.

"You're afraid of losing face, aren't you..."

Chen Luo coughed lightly twice.

Jia Renli notified him too late, so he could only take some health products from home as a gift.

To say it's cheap isn't quite accurate; it depends on the occasion. Those attending Mr. Jia's birthday banquet this time are definitely not ordinary people.

Anyway, Chen Luo is no longer embarrassed... the one who is embarrassed has changed to Chen Zhengxi.

"Girl, your Grandpa Jia won't care what gift you give him; he'll be happy with whatever you bring..."

"I don't even want to talk to you..."

"Hahaha!"

Chen Luo walked towards the hotel with a smile, and Chen Zhengxi followed him, though he grumbled his dissatisfaction.

Upon arriving in the hall, Jia Renli was already greeting the guests.

"Secretary Chen, didn't I say we didn't need to bring gifts?"

Looking at Chen Zhengxi, who was puffing up in anger behind Chen Luo, Jia Renli found it both amusing and enviable.

He only has one son and doesn't love his daughter at all.

"The gift is just a token of my appreciation. Girl, quickly give the gift you gave to your Grandpa Jia to your Uncle Jia."

Chen Zhengxi was visibly unhappy.

She still managed a smile and handed the health supplements to Jia Renli.

"Uncle Jia, please don't be disgusted. It's all my dad's fault. Why did he have to bring these health products?"

"Haha, it's alright, Zhengxi. It's not your dad's fault. I told him too late. There was no need to bring any gifts anyway. Your Grandpa Jia is already very happy that you came."

Hearing this, Chen Zhengxi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Girl, let's go upstairs and see your Grandpa Jia first."

Chen Luo walked ahead, and Chen Zhengxi hurriedly followed.

Upon reaching the upper floor and stepping out of the elevator, Chen Luo was greeted by an acquaintance.

"Secretary Aimin!"

At that moment, Old Jia was sitting in a grand chair not far from the elevator, and the retired Secretary Aimin was sitting next to him, the two of them chatting.

Upon seeing Chen Luo, both Elder Jia and Secretary Aimin stopped.

"Comrade Chen Luo, it's not easy for you to come. We originally predicted that you would stay in the United States for another two days."

"Grandpa Jia, I wish you boundless happiness and longevity!"

"And Grandpa Zhang, it's been a long time! Grandpa Zhang, you're still in great health!"

Just then, Chen Zhengxi's congratulations caught the eye of both Old Jia and Secretary Aimin, stealing their attention away from Chen Luo.

"Oh my! Zhengxi is so sensible. Come here and let Grandpa Jia see you. Tsk, you've grown taller and even more beautiful!"

Seeing that he was being ignored, Chen Luo smiled and thought, "Never mind, I won't be jealous of my own daughter."

After chatting for a while, Chen Luo led Chen Zhengxi to the rest area.

Although it was called a rest area, it was actually full of familiar faces. When they saw Chen Luo arrive, they were all eager to go up and say hello, but seeing that Chen Luo was constantly serving drinks and snacks to Chen Zhengxi, they didn't disturb him.

Only after Chen Zhengxi had finished enjoying Chen Luo's services did the others come forward to greet him.

"Hello, Minister Chen! I'm from the Ministry of Civil Affairs..."

These people are all of high rank, starting as department-level cadres, and the vast majority are deputy provincial-level cadres.

Of course, there are also ministerial-level officials.

Chen Luo had anticipated their arrival; there was no way to avoid attending such a banquet.

You can't just stand there smiling and greeting people while you act cold and indifferent, can you?

Watching his father shake hands and deal with the visitors one after another, Chen Zhengxi felt a strange sense of satisfaction.

However, after a while, she also got bored.

Just as he was getting bored, Chen Zhengxi suddenly saw a familiar figure: Qin Wanwan, Qin Siyuan's daughter.

"Sister Wanwan! What brings you here too!"

Chen Zhengxi got up and walked towards Qin Wanwan.

Qin Wanwan was also taken aback when she saw that it was Chen Zhengxi.

"Jung-hee, you're here too?"

"Oh, of course I have to come to Grandpa Jia's birthday banquet. Sister Wanwan, where's Uncle Qin?"

Qin Wanwan shook her head and explained, "My dad didn't have time. I happened to be in Whale City to handle some work. When I learned that Old Master Jia was going to celebrate his birthday, my dad asked me to come and offer my congratulations on his behalf."

At this point, Qin Wanwan felt a little sad, even though Jia Renli welcomed her arrival and let her go upstairs.

But all around her were cadres of the same rank as her father, so she had no choice but to stand there in a daze.

Fortunately, I met Chen Zhengxi.

"Haha, I see. Sister Wanwan, let's go downstairs for a walk. The atmosphere upstairs is just... well, I don't like it. We'll come back later."

Chapter 516 There are always some clueless guys

Seeing Chen Zhengxi excitedly pulling her arm to go downstairs, Qin Wanwan opened her mouth.

I wanted to say that the people downstairs were a mixed bag, full of shrewd businessmen, and I shouldn't get tricked if I wasn't careful. But when I thought of Chen Zhengxi's identity, I decided against it.

And so, the two of them went downstairs. The space downstairs was much the same as upstairs, the only difference being that downstairs was full of educated youth whom Old Jia had once taken care of.

Among these people were businessmen, officials below the provincial level, and technicians. At a glance, the number was about two or three hundred. This was only a temporary notice, and the number of people who could know about Lao Jia's birthday was ultimately limited.

"Sister Wanwan, the atmosphere downstairs is so lively! Unlike upstairs, it's full of uncles and elders, with white-bearded old men making up half of the crowd."

Listening to Chen Zhengxi's blunt and incessant complaints, Qin Wanwan frowned and a black line appeared on her brow. Only Chen Zhengxi would dare to describe someone like that. Any one of them would be a prominent figure in any area, at least a deputy provincial-level cadre!

As for the so-called white-bearded old men... they are all retired senior officials.

Putting everything else aside, Qin Wanwan knew several retired deputy-level cadres, not to mention others she didn't know...

It's fair to say that for an ordinary person, simply choosing any old man with a white beard as a godfather would guarantee their livelihood for life.

However, Qin Wanwan was also self-aware. She was allowed to go upstairs only because Jia Renli gave her special permission out of respect for her father. She could forget about becoming godparents, and even if she tried to talk to them, they might not be willing to pay attention to her.

Qin Wanwan has come to understand the differences between people more clearly over the past few years.

Taking a deep breath and forcing a smile, Qin Wanwan let Chen Zhengxi lead her around.

"Wow! Sister Wanwan, look!"

Soon, Qin Wanwan was pulled by Chen Zhengxi to a place where young people were gathered, and she pointed like a curious child to a group of people talking in the crowd.

"Sister Wanwan, that person looks like Principal Wang, who's quite popular online!"

With a slight pout, Qin Wanwan glanced up and confirmed that Chen Zhengxi was right; it was indeed Wang Xiao, the son of Lao Wang from Yida Group. However, Qin Wanwan had no interest in this playboy.

"Hey Jung-hee, what's with the surprise...?"

"Tsk, Sister Wanwan, this is different. Putting aside my father's position and status, I, Chen Zhengxi, am just an ordinary college student. Although Principal Wang also relies on his family, he has made a name for himself on the internet."

In this respect, most people simply can't compare.

Just out of curiosity, Qin Wanwan took a look and, after thinking about it, stopped arguing and let Chen Zhengxi go, as long as he was happy.