Chapter 724
Former Classmates
Yao Junchi also saw Xu Bo'an at the same time, which surprised him greatly.
Looking at Xu Bo'an with great confusion, he asked, "Xu Bo'an, what are you doing here?"
Yao Junchi now works for a large listed company in Jiangcheng City. The company mainly deals in manufacturing and is as well-known in Jiangcheng City as Qu Feifan's family.
Yao Junchi's main position is secretary to Li Shengming, the chairman of this manufacturing company. He has done a very good job in the past few years and is well-liked by the chairman. The company is currently holding elections for the position of general manager, and Yao Junchi feels that he has a good chance of winning.
As a result, he has been under a lot of pressure recently, and his ambition has also increased significantly.
Xu Bo'an glanced at Yao Junchi with disdain, then said indifferently, "What kind of question is that? Why can't I be here?"
After saying that, Xu Bo'an ignored Yao Junchi and went straight back to his seat.
When Yao Junchi saw the disdainful look Xu Bo'an gave him, a surge of anger instantly rose in his heart.
However, the leader had already told him beforehand that today's banquet would be attended by top giants from various industries in the city.
Although Yao Junchi disliked Xu Bo'an, he didn't dare to be too flamboyant in this situation.
Because he didn't know Xu Bo'an's identity or why he was dining in the same private room as such a high-class person. Before Yao Junchi figured out Xu Bo'an's situation, even though he was extremely annoyed by Xu Bo'an's disdainful attitude, he didn't dare to take any real action.
Seeing Xu Bo'an return to his seat, Yao Junchi suppressed his displeasure and walked into the private room. He respectfully handed the items to Chairman Li Shengming before preparing to leave.
However, those present had just overheard Yao Junchi and Xu Bo'an's conversation and knew that the two knew each other. They were already curious about Xu Bo'an's unfamiliar face. One of them, Cheng Ruihang, a giant in Jiangcheng's internet industry who was very familiar with Chairman Li Shengming, pointed at Xu Bo'an and asked Yao Junchi, "Little Yao, it seems you know this young friend?"
Yao Junchi stopped in his tracks and said, "I do know him!"
Upon hearing Yao Junchi's words, everyone showed gossipy expressions. Cheng Ruihang then asked, "Oh, what a coincidence! This young friend looks unfamiliar to all of us. We've never seen him before. To be so accomplished at such a young age, he must be an outstanding person. Please introduce him to us!"
When Yao Junchi heard that none of the bigwigs present recognized Xu Bo'an, he felt a surge of joy. It seemed that Xu Bo'an was just an insignificant nobody, and it was even possible that he had infiltrated the group on his own.
Thinking of this, Yao Junchi pointed at Xu Bo'an and said, "Oh, this is Xu Bo'an, he's my college classmate! After graduation, we all went our separate ways, and I don't really know what industries we're in!"
After Yao Junchi finished speaking, he pretended to be very enthusiastic and said to Xu Bo'an, "Bo'an, since you can sit at the same table with giants from all walks of life today, it means that your strength is not to be underestimated. Why don't you introduce yourself to everyone!"
Cheng Ruihang, who works in the internet industry, said, "So this young friend and Xiao Yao were college classmates! The friendship that developed during their college years was the purest and most passionate!"
Because Yao Junchi had taken his spot for postgraduate recommendation during their university years, Xu Bo'an had always disliked him. So, Xu Bo'an directly and bluntly said to Yao Junchi, "Yao Junchi, don't you know what good things you've done? You still have the nerve to say we're classmates? I don't have a classmate as ruthless as you!"
Hearing Xu Bo'an belittle him in front of so many prominent people, and especially in front of his boss, Yao Junchi was extremely angry. He said to Xu Bo'an, "Xu Bo'an, we've been classmates, and I've been very lenient with you. Don't you dare slander me!"
Upon hearing Yao Junchi's words, Xu Bo'an calmly replied, "You know perfectly well what you've done!"
After saying that, he ignored Yao Junchi and addressed the people in the private room: "Everyone here is an elite from all walks of life. Since you all see that I am a stranger, let me introduce myself. My name is Xu Bo'an, I am from Dongjiang, and I am currently a freelancer! It is an honor to meet you all, and I hope you can give me more guidance in the future!"
Dongjiang City is a small fourth or fifth-tier city. Although it sounds like a city, it is actually not as developed as some of the top 100 counties. Especially in the eyes of those who consider themselves the provincial capital, Dongjiang is no different from a small rural place.
Those present inwardly scoffed at Xu Bo'an's self-introduction. They were all prominent figures in Jiangcheng, and dining with such a person felt beneath them. However, given their current status, they were all intelligent enough that they didn't show it on their faces.
After Xu Bo'an finished his greetings, the assembled dignitaries neither praised nor belittled him, but simply nodded slightly in acknowledgment.
After listening to Xu Bo'an's self-introduction, Yao Junchi learned that Xu Bo'an was currently in Dongjiang and was a freelancer. This led him to speculate that Xu Bo'an was not a big shot, at least not comparable to the big shots from Jiangcheng City present at the event.
Moreover, he's the same age as me, in his thirties, and has been working for over a decade. If he were doing well, why would he be stuck in a small, third-tier city like Dongjiang? Everyone knows that anyone with a bit of ability strives for a better life in a big city, not just a small town.
I don't even deserve to be here. How could Xu Bo'an be here? It seems most likely that Xu Bo'an, that fool, went to the wrong place.
Upon realizing this, Yao Junchi exclaimed as if he had discovered something new, "Xu Bo'an, Xu Bo'an, so that's why you're at such a high-end banquet. You must have gone to the wrong place, or perhaps you had some other purpose in sneaking in?"
Yao Junchi didn't have much of a problem with Xu Bo'an at first, but seeing his former classmate, Xu Bo'an, who was even less capable than him, sitting at the same table with his boss made him feel very uncomfortable. He thought, "If I don't even have that qualification, how could Xu Bo'an possibly have it?"
This is impossible, absolutely impossible. Jealousy and resentment kept churning in his mind, which led him to suspect that Xu Bo'an must have sneaked in.
Upon hearing Yao Junchi's words, those who already looked down on Xu Bo'an suddenly realized that Xu Bo'an, dressed so cheaply and of such low status, must have either wandered into the wrong place or deliberately sneaked in with ulterior motives, just as Yao Junchi had said, and was completely unworthy to sit at the same table as them. Although they all thought this, these old foxes knew that the Zhong family was in charge today, and even if such a person had sneaked in, it should be handled by Zhong Hou. They didn't want to cause any trouble at Zhong Hou's banquet.
Only one of them, who had long disliked Xu Bo'an, couldn't help but speak up: "You young man, I was wondering why you seemed so unfamiliar when you came in. So you sneaked in! You're really bold. This isn't a place for you! Get out of here right now, or you'll be sorry!"
The person who spoke was Yao Qingshan, Yao Junchi's maternal uncle. He had already disliked Xu Bo'an for speaking rudely to his nephew, but he was concerned about Zhong Hou's reputation. He was worried that if he had wrongly accused the wrong person, it would be difficult to handle the situation. So he had been sitting quietly without saying a word.
Now, hearing his nephew Yao Junchi say that Xu Bo'an had infiltrated the area, and the more he thought about it, the more convinced he became that his nephew's guess was correct.
With my help, my nephew has already achieved this position at his age, which makes him one of the best among his peers.
How could a freelancer from a small, third-tier city, the same age as his nephew, possibly sit at the same table as people from Jiangcheng who are at the top of the pyramid?
You have to understand that these industry leaders have been working in their respective fields for nearly 30 years. The average age of everyone here is over 50. How could they possibly be on equal footing with someone who is about the same age as their child? It's just absurd!
Upon hearing Xu Bo'an speak rudely to his own nephew, Yao Qingshan could no longer contain his anger. How dare someone who had infiltrated the family be so arrogant and bully the Yao family? If he didn't speak up, it would be a slap in the face to the Yao family.
Upon hearing his uncle's words, Yao Junchi chimed in, "Xu Bo'an, you're my classmate. Don't I know what kind of person you are? Back in school, you were a nobody, a nobody. How dare you sit here now? Do you know that your insignificant position sitting here is an insult to all the leaders present?"
My uncle is a very influential figure in Jiangcheng City. Even he said, "If you get out of here quickly, I'll consider our past friendship and ask the high-ranking officials not to hold it against you. But if you're slow to leave, don't blame me for disregarding our friendship!"
Upon hearing Yao Junchi's words, Xu Bo'an realized that the person who had spoken earlier was Yao Junchi's uncle. It seemed that this guy was the one who sabotaged his chance to be recommended for graduate school years ago.
When Xu Bo'an first saw Yao Junchi, he was only disgusted by Yao Junchi taking his graduate student spot back then, and he didn't actually intend to settle scores with him.
After all, so much time has passed, and Xu Bo'an later passed the postgraduate entrance examination based on his own hard work and talent.
More importantly, now that Xu Bo'an possesses the treasure trove that is Bonsai World, he wouldn't even consider a nobody like Yao Junchi.
But this guy just had to be so reckless as to try and step on him. Since they did this, how could Xu Bo'an possibly let the uncle and nephew off the hook?
After hearing what Yao Junchi and his nephew said, Xu Bo'an stood up from his chair, sneered, looked down at them, and said slowly and calmly, "You two are really a family. Your styles are exactly the same. You have no evidence, so why do you judge that I sneaked in?"
Originally, I didn't intend to confront you directly, but since you've repeatedly spoken rudely to me and even dared to bully me, I have no choice but to have a serious talk with you.
Back then, your uncle used his connections and some shady methods to steal the graduate school spot that was rightfully mine. I haven't even exposed your crimes yet, and you're already trying to bully me instead! You're all birds of a feather!
Upon hearing Xu Bo'an's words, Yao Qingshan realized that the person standing in front of him was the one he had used his position to squeeze out his nephew Yao Junchi from graduate school years ago.
However, those who were squeezed out of graduate school spots back then only have poor family backgrounds, so what waves can they make now?
Moreover, anyone in the upper class who can help their own family will do the same thing; everyone knows this.
Therefore, when Xu Bo'an said these words, Yao Qingshan did not feel that there was anything shameful about it.
Hearing Xu Bo'an say this, Yao Junchi quickly said, "That's pure slander. I got into graduate school based on my own abilities. Don't talk nonsense!"
Sitting to the side, Yao Qingshan didn't take the matter seriously at all. He could easily accomplish this with a little effort. Although his status in Jiangcheng was far inferior to that of the Zhong family, he was still one of the few big shots standing at the top of the pyramid. If he couldn't even handle such a small matter, that would be truly shameful.
This is such a trivial matter. Even if you admit it to someone so lowly, what can he do to you?
Yao Qingshan immediately looked at Xu Bo'an with disdain and said, "Heh, little Xu, right? You weren't recommended for graduate school back then, which only means you weren't capable enough. Who told you not to have an uncle like me? Luck is also part of ability. Who can you blame for your bad luck? You're just a nobody who dares to shout here! You're simply courting death!"
Hearing his uncle's words, Yao Junchi became even more unrestrained, his eyes filled with contempt as he looked at Xu Bo'an, saying, "Does a nobody like him think he can turn the world upside down?"
Then he said to his uncle Yao Qingshan, "I'll go and call someone right now to take this arrogant fellow away, so as not to spoil everyone's enjoyment!"
Yao Qingshan nodded to his nephew Yao Junchi in agreement.
A man who was on good terms with Yao Qingshan kindly advised, "Old Yao, if you ask me, you'd better not do this. If something goes wrong, it'll be hard to explain. Let's wait for Chairman Zhong to come back before making any plans!"
Yao Qingshan said, "It's alright, he's just a nobody who snuck in. Even if Chairman Zhong comes later, he'll do the same thing. It's better to get rid of him now to avoid getting Chairman Zhong's hands dirty!"
Those around Yao Qingshan didn't say anything more after hearing what he said!
After speaking, Yao Qingshan instructed Yao Junchi to go out and call for someone to drive Xu Bo'an away. (End of Chapter)