Chapter 563: Chu Family Banquet (5)

Qin Hao looked at Chu Zhengwei and smiled. He had, of course, understood the meaning behind Chu Zhengwei’s words, but he paid them no mind.

Had this been the Chu Family of old, the Qin family certainly wouldn’t have been so dismissive. But compared to the current Qin family, the Chu Family of today had long since ceased to be a worthy opponent.

‘So what if the Chu Family found an adopted grandson? He’s just a young man. So what if he has talent and potential? Who knows if he’ll ever get the chance to rise to a high station, or how long it would even take him!’

‘Even if that day ever came, by the time the Chu Family finally had a chance to get back on its feet, the Qin family would have already ascended to a level far beyond their reach.’

Never mind Qin Chongming—even he, Qin Hao, held little respect for the Chu Family. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have just said what he did in front of so many people.

After Qin Hao stepped forward, the surrounding guests all fell silent and stood aside. They were no match for either the Qin family or the Chu Family.

Some could certainly sense the tense confrontation between Qin Hao and the Chu Family Head, but not a single person dared to step forward and say anything. Instead, they all steered clear, afraid of being dragged into the affair.

The Chu Family wasn’t afraid of the Qin family, but they were.

However, not everyone was willing to shy away from the Qin family. As the crowd retreated in silence, one person emerged from among the guests and walked directly to Qin Hao’s side.

Shen Nian saw Gu Hengzhi emerge from the crowd. She was surprised for a moment, but then she remembered Gu Hengzhi’s status, and it all made sense.

‘Gu Hengzhi must be here representing the Gu family at today’s banquet. Although both he and Qin Hao were from the younger generation of their respective families, Gu Hengzhi’s presence carried a completely different significance than Qin Hao’s.’

The Chu and Qin families were both well aware of the Gu family’s situation, as were many of the guests to some degree. The Gu Family Head hadn’t attended a banquet in a very long time.

It wasn’t just the Gu Family Head; the entire Gu family hadn’t sent a representative to any of the other prominent families’ banquets in a long time. It was as if the Gu family had vanished from high society altogether.

But this time, someone from the Gu family had come to the Chu Family’s banquet. And it was none other than Gu Hengzhi, the man now in charge of the entire Gu family.

Gu Hengzhi walked to Qin Hao’s side and stopped. After a glance at Qin Hao, he turned his head to face Chu Zhengwei.

“Mr. Chu, on this, my first visit, I, Hengzhi, am here on behalf of the Gu family to offer congratulations!”

A complete departure from the look he’d given Qin Hao, Gu Hengzhi’s expression was one of genuine respect as he faced Chu Zhengwei.

“Good. I wonder, how are Elder Gu and that boy, Yaohui, doing these days?”

Upon seeing Gu Hengzhi, the look on Chu Zhengwei’s face softened considerably, the anger he’d shown Qin Hao vanishing.

“Grandfather is the same as always. Father has been at home, looking after Grandfather and Mother.”

At home, Gu Hengzhi addressed Gu Yaohui as his uncle, but in public, he always called him Father.

“Sigh, it hasn’t been easy for Yaohui.”

Chu Zhengwei let out a sigh. ‘Compared to the Gu family, our Chu Family is really so much better off.’

“Come, Hengzhi, let me make some introductions. This is my grandson, Chu Yunze; my granddaughter, Chu Lingxiu; my adopted grandson, Lu Cheng; and my adopted granddaughter-in-law, Shen Nian. You’re all of a similar age, so you should get to know one another!”