Chapter 31

Not long after, the dishes were ordered, and a few more classmates arrived one after another.

During this time, Ma Leyou kept chatting with Li Yi. To everyone's surprise, the colder Li Yi became, the more enthusiastic Ma Leyou became. His manner was almost as if he was about to call Li Yi his father.

"Shameful!"

Chen Kai, seeing Ma Leyou's behavior, felt extremely frustrated. After so many years of being classmates, he only discovered today that this guy was just a cheap talker.

Xin Li, however, felt uneasy and leaned over to Chen Kai, asking, "Do you think that guy's talk about the conglomerate could be true?"

"True my ass. Does he look like a rich man to you?" Chen Kai shot Xin Li a glance. "They'll expose themselves at the antique exhibition tonight. I'll call them and give them a good scolding!"

"Alright, don't forget to tell me after you scold them. I'll make sure everyone knows about it!" Xin Li nodded with a full heart of resentment, then touched his face.

That guy hit really hard; his face still hurt!

Actually, Ma Leyou wasn't deliberately trying to flatter Li Yi. It was just an instinctive reaction in the political arena. When you encounter a big shot who doesn't bother with you, you have to at least smile and chat a bit. After all, smiling doesn't cost anything. Otherwise, if they don't like you, you won't even know how you died.

Li Yi, however, was somewhat surprised by this Ma Section Chief. He wasn't here to brag today. The conglomerate and investment were all part of his plan. He just mentioned them earlier to give his aunt some face, nothing major.

But these things were too bizarre, and most people wouldn't believe them at first, like Chen Kai and Xin Li. This Ma Section Chief, however, not only believed it in his heart but also showed it on his face. He even enthusiastically helped Li Yi analyze how to spend the ten billion.

"Ma Section Chief, you're only in charge of a department under the Land Bureau? That's a bit of a waste of your talent, isn't it?"

As they chatted, Li Yi casually remarked.

If someone else said this, Ma Leyou would have laughed it off and not taken it to heart. Flattery, who doesn't know how to do it? But Li Yi's words, for some reason, stirred his heart. Li Yi's demeanor was too much like a leader, and leaders never speak without reason!

If a leader says your talent is wasted in your current position, then you're likely to get a promotion!

Holding his breath, Ma Leyou waited for Li Yi's next words. Unexpectedly, Li Yi changed the subject and never mentioned it again, as if he had never praised Ma Leyou!

Ma Leyou's breathing became more rapid because the feeling of a promotion seemed even more real.

If an ordinary person flattered someone by saying their talent was wasted in their current position, they would definitely follow up with something grand. Even if they didn't exaggerate, they would at least say you could be a big bureau chief. If they were even more sycophantic, they would praise you as a mayor or governor, making you smile from ear to ear.

But Li Yi wasn't like that. He just casually said your talent was wasted and then stopped talking, another manifestation of authority.

Again, leaders never speak without reason and never give explicit promises. If they mention you, it means there's a chance for a position adjustment. It's up to you to understand!

But, this guy said he was just a board member of a conglomerate, not an official! How could he give me a promotion?

Ma Leyou's sense of strangeness grew stronger.

"Who cares, as long as he's not an official, I won't lose anything." With this thought, Ma Leyou became even more attentive and even cautiously brought up work matters, clearly acting like a subordinate reporting to a superior.

When a leader wants to promote you, they usually look at two things: first, your character, and second, your work. Sometimes there's a third point: whether you understand the unwritten rules.

Li Yi, who started with ten billion, wouldn't care about a small amount of money for Ma Leyou, so there was no need for the unwritten rules. The previous conversation was an affirmation of his character, and now he needed to show his work ability.

Sure enough, after listening to Ma Leyou's "work report," Li Yi nodded and casually said, "Not bad, it seems you can indeed do your job well."

This time, Li Yi didn't even mention a promotion. He just affirmed Ma Leyou's work, but it made Ma Leyou's heart bloom with joy. He didn't even know why he was so happy, as the other party clearly wasn't a leader!

While Li Yi and Ma Leyou were chatting enthusiastically, another person entered the private room.

This was a very thin woman, so thin that she looked almost skeletal, with a sickly appearance and a particularly haggard look.

"Di Huiqiu, you're here? Come, sit down, sit down!" Gu Ruicong immediately stood up and helped her sit down.

"Really sorry to trouble everyone!" Di Huiqiu nodded apologetically to her classmates.

"Huiqiu, what happened to you?" Some people asked in surprise at her appearance.

In school, Di Huiqiu had always been a quiet girl, not very talkative or noticeable. After graduation, they had little contact with her, and no one expected her to look so haggard.

"Hehe." Di Huiqiu smiled shyly, lowered her head, and felt a bit embarrassed.

"Let me explain for Huiqiu." Gu Ruicong straightened up. "There's another matter today. Huiqiu has cancer and no money for treatment. Her husband has also divorced her, and the situation is very difficult. I suggest we all donate to help Huiqiu. Whatever you can give, it will help, as we are all classmates."

After Gu Ruicong finished speaking, some people immediately frowned. Though they were classmates, they weren't very close in school, and after so many years, their bonds had faded. Everyone had their own problems; they weren't willing to part with their money.

Gu Ruicong knew he couldn't force anyone, so he said, "It doesn't matter how much you give, as long as your heart is in it!"

He then took out a red envelope and handed it to Di Huiqiu, saying, "Here's three thousand. It's not much, please accept it."

"Class President!" Di Huiqiu's eyes instantly welled up with tears.

In school, she hadn't liked Gu Ruicong much, thinking he was just a show-off and not practical.

After graduation, Gu Ruicong indeed didn't achieve much, as she had expected.

But she never thought that when she was in despair, Gu Ruicong would warmly offer help, organize this class reunion, and ask classmates to donate for her!

"Class President, this is too much, I can't accept it! I still owe you five thousand!"

Di Huiqiu shook her head, having seen the dark look on Gu Ruicong's wife's face.

Gu Ruicong's wife was indeed very upset. Their family wasn't well-off, and they had two children to educate. Her husband liked to show off.

A few days ago, he met this old classmate and, upon discovering her terminal illness, immediately gave away the only five thousand in cash they had. Though it was a loan, with her condition, how could she ever pay it back?

It was like throwing money into a black hole!

What was even more infuriating was that after giving away five thousand, her husband still felt it wasn't enough and organized this class reunion. Though he said he would only ask other classmates to donate, she sensed something was wrong.

Sure enough, before anyone else had contributed, her husband had already given away three thousand!

Do you think the money at home grows on trees?

Though her anger was boiling, Yu Cuimei didn't say anything.

Speaking now wouldn't change her husband's mind; he was always very stubborn. It would be better to cause a big scene at home, call in all the relatives to judge, and let her in-laws see their wasteful son!

She had decided that this time, she wouldn't stop until Gu Ruicong knelt and begged for mercy, and wrote a guarantee.

"Take it, everyone has their hard times. If you keep being so formal, it means you don't consider me your classmate anymore!"

Gu Ruicong forcefully handed the money to Di Huiqiu, glanced at his wife Yu Cuimei's face, and immediately knew a storm was waiting for him at home!

"Ah!" Gu Ruicong sighed heavily.

Life is so realistic and cruel. No one can be a savior. But some things, even if you know the cost will be high, you still have to do them!