I changed the world.

Page 476

Volume Two: The Truth Hidden Behind the History Books: Chapter 1005 (The Tusi)

"No, the belt is too tight..." Wei Zhangli refused decisively.

"Then let's have some soup, there's some pretty good here..."

"No, it would be troublesome if I needed to go to the restroom... It would be hard to take it off..." Wei Zhangli pouted. She wasn't exaggerating; the dress she was wearing was indeed difficult to put on and take off without help.

In fact, women face far more difficulties than men at such banquets. Women's dresses are often inconvenient to wear, especially since many female guests wear corsets or similar items to accentuate their figures, making them even harder to remove. Therefore, many women choose not to eat at the banquet to reduce or avoid trips to the restroom, at most symbolically consuming some alcohol for social reasons.

It has to be said that this is quite a difficult thing, but for the sake of beauty, most women can overcome a little discomfort.

Wei Chengguang wore a jade hibiscus crown with his hair tied up, and a trendy blue-gold cloud-patterned robe. This type of robe was a very common men's robe in Dazhao. It was very popular among young men because it easily highlighted a man's neat and handsome appearance and also had a gorgeous style. There were also many different versions. There were quite a few people in the venue dressed similarly.

Wei Chengguang had already left his parents and didn't know anyone here. Seeing that the food around him looked good, he simply picked up a plate, took some of the exceptionally tender-looking steaks from the long table, and went to eat them.

He is currently in the initial stage of cultivation, and his body needs a lot of food to nourish him, so he eats much more every day than before. Even so, he still feels like he can't get enough to eat. Now that he sees so much delicious food, he can't help himself.

As for social interactions and such, Wu Genlin didn't care about these things. As a disciple of Kunlun, he had long since stopped caring about such matters. Rather than considering things like social connections and future prospects, he was now more concerned about the speed of his cultivation and not being surpassed by Zhu Yingwei, who had entered the sect at the same time...

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"Hi, how are you?" came a series of slightly affectedly soft and sweet voices.

Wei Chengguang was sitting in a chair against the wall, eating heartily with a plate in his hand. Hearing the sound, he looked up and saw a young girl standing next to him wearing an exquisite light blue silk jacket with a rabbit fur collar. She had a few freckles on her face and was quite pretty, looking to be around twenty years old.

"Oh, hello." Wei Chengguang had no choice but to put down the plate in his hand, stand up and exchange pleasantries with the woman.

"Did you come alone?" The girl was clearly quite interested in him, and asked with a smile, "I haven't seen you before. What's your name?"

"My name is Wei Chengguang, courtesy name Ximing. I don't participate in these kinds of activities much..." Wei Chengguang didn't really like the girl's slightly deliberately cute tone, but since she had greeted him, he couldn't be rude, so he patiently communicated with her and asked for her name.

The girl named Luo Minmin then started chatting with him, from today's guests to their attire. It has to be said that Wei Chengguang knew nothing about this; he didn't really understand these so-called prestigious families. The two didn't have much to talk about, and the girl quickly realized this, so they gradually changed the subject.

The two chatted for a while longer, during which they also talked about their families. In this kind of social gathering, there is basically no such thing as hiding one's family background, because many people come here to expand their social circle. So, after a brief conversation, they will ask about each other's family background or introduce themselves.

The young woman was a baron's daughter. After learning about Wei Chengguang's family background, although she was subtle, Wei Chengguang could still see a hint of regret on her face. After chatting about some other topics, the young woman politely took her leave.

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"Hey, Minmin, what's it like? Who's that handsome guy?" After the girl left Wei Chengguang, she walked a short distance before being surrounded by two female companions of similar age who came up to her and asked her.

"He's handsome, but his family background is just average. He's not from any noble or wealthy family. His family is in business..." The girl named Luo Minmin pouted and sighed.

Unlike Zhang Jing's previous life, this world did not experience those magnificent revolutions in modern history that broke down and reshaped everything. Therefore, the concepts of social status and class are still very important.

While the traditional social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants from classical times had been broken down, merchants remained relatively weaker within upper-class circles. In the struggle between power and money, power was clearly more valued by society; after all, many people viewed power as money, and this was indeed the case.

Because, in the eyes of many, the noble class and local prominent families and officials held a significantly higher status than merchant families who only possessed wealth.

Of course, this is not absolute. Top-tier wealthy and powerful families also hold a significant position in people's eyes. However, even the most powerful merchants are still inferior to those noble families who have been nobles for generations.

“It’s cold to start a business like this…” The chubby girl with a round and plump skirt, standing to the side, fell silent upon hearing this. Another girl turned to look at Wei Chengguang and lowered her voice, saying, “Those who can come here to participate in this event are business people, and they must be quite big. Maybe their families run a large business?”

“I asked around, and he’s in the trading business. I know several prominent families in Jiangling, but none of them have the surname Wei…” Luo Minmin also lowered her voice: “Besides, this guy is a country bumpkin. I tested him, and he probably hasn’t participated in these kinds of social activities before. He doesn’t know a lot about interpersonal relationships and common sense…”

In fact, as times have progressed, both the West and the East have developed relatively complex knowledge of aristocratic lineages. In the West, this is known as heraldry, while in the East, although there is no dedicated academic discipline, the descendants of various noble families are actually quite knowledgeable about these lineages.

Those privileged young men are all intimately familiar with who they can and cannot offend, which families are related by marriage, which powerful figures were born into which prominent clans, whose students they were once, and which families have long-standing friendships… In fact, knowing this kind of information does have practical uses in social circles; at the very least, it prevents you from offending people unnecessarily.

Volume Two: The Truth Hidden Behind the History Books: Chapter 1006 An Zhengquan's meteoric rise to fame

Those who are completely unaware of this are mostly the so-called "new rich" or nouveau riche with little background. These people are not uncommon. Most of them have become wealthy for various reasons and then try their best to squeeze into the so-called "high society." In some circles, these people are regarded as "country bumpkins."

Hearing Luo Minmin say this, even another girl who was initially somewhat interested hesitated. Social banquets like this are actually a great platform for young people like them to find a partner. In fact, many girls in the general public would do anything to get a ticket to a top-tier social banquet, hoping to catch the eye of some wealthy young man...

The Cinderella story from Zhang Jing's previous life has many similar versions in this world.

In reality, however, such stories are merely a way to fool ordinary people and are simply impossible. Girls without social standing, even if they catch the eye of a noble young man, are nothing more than playthings. They might have sex, but they would never enter into marriage. After all, marriages between wealthy families are based on more than just physical appearance; they are often just alliances between two families.

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Wei Chengguang quietly regained his composure. The girls' conversation, which they thought was inaudible to others, was clearly audible to Wei Chengguang's senses at this moment, provided he paid a little attention.

He couldn't quite describe his feelings. Although he wasn't interested in aristocratic girls and had no intention of pursuing them, being called a country bumpkin still made him feel uncomfortable.

He shook his head inwardly, deciding to ignore them, and continued eating his steak. But not long after, another glamorous, fashionable young woman came up to him...

After that, three or four more girls approached Wei Chengguang. Not all of them were like the girl before him. Some even dared to ask to exchange Qianluo accounts with him. Out of politeness, Wei Chengguang exchanged accounts with them.

It must be said that Wei Chengguang himself did not realize that he was indeed quite outstanding in appearance among his peers. In terms of physique and temperament alone, he could be described as a handsome man.

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"Mr. An, that's quite a move! You've become a major shareholder of Southern Bank without making a sound. You're truly a man of great talent..." On the other side of the hall, An Zhengquan was exchanging pleasantries with several well-dressed guests.

Unlike the last time he attended a social banquet, this time the attitudes of many guests, especially those of high status, had subtly changed. The change was not obvious, but An Zhengquan, who had been in the business world for a long time, clearly grasped the difference.

For example, the man he was talking to was Xu Hanjie, the president of the Jin'an Jiangling Chamber of Commerce. Xu Hanjie was born into the Xu family of Jiangling, a first-class aristocratic family in Jiangling, whose businesses included telecommunications, real estate, and other industries. He had known An Zhengquan before and had even cooperated with him in business.

When this person saw him today, he greeted him with a smile. Compared to the few days ago when they only exchanged a few polite greetings, the change in his attitude was truly something only he could discern.

As for why this is, An Zhengquan knows very well. Obviously, they have all seen the recent information and have reassessed the political resources of the Qianluo Group.

"Haha, you flatter me... It's not as exaggerated as Chairman Xu makes it out to be..." An Zhengquan said with a smile, "This investment is actually a normal business investment. Our group has developed to a certain level, and our demand for finance is quite obvious. In addition, the Southeast is a prosperous and wealthy place, which has always been of great help to the group's profit improvement. We also hope to increase our investment here."

"Mr. An is still so humble. Look, what do you call this? This is called the demeanor of a great general, hahaha..." Xu Hanjie pointed at An Zhengquan and laughed exaggeratedly. Immediately, some of the people around him joined in the flattery and echoed him, and the scene was peaceful and joyful.

“I’ve heard that Mr. An has quite a connection with Yunxiao Temple. There are two seats on the board of directors of the Southern Bank, which belong to Yunxiao Mountain…” At this moment, another middle-aged man spoke up, also with a smile on his face. This man was a member of the Jiangdong Provincial Council of State Affairs named He Xiang.

An Zhengquan did not know this councilor He before, but the other party took the initiative to come up and chat with him for a few words, so they became acquainted. This is a social banquet, where many people and things are met or introduced in such occasions.

Similar to this abdication ceremony at Yunxiao Mountain, many guests from all over gathered here. In addition, it was also the social season, so various social banquets were held here in recent days. An Zhengquan did not attend every banquet. Some of them he sent some senior executives to attend on his behalf. However, he would definitely attend the banquet hosted by the Duke of Wu's mansion today.

"My family has always been devout followers of Taoism, and Master Li of Yunxiao Temple has always been an elder whom I greatly admire. However, as for this matter, let's keep it business as it is, hahaha, let's keep it business as it is..." An Zhengquan could tell what Councilor He wanted to ask by bringing up this topic. He didn't know whether the other party was genuinely curious or whether someone behind him was pushing him to ask this question, but that didn't matter. An Zhengquan naturally wouldn't honestly reveal everything, so he gave an ambiguous answer, leaving enough room for the other party's imagination.

“Mr. An, Qianluo Group has now acquired a stake in Southern Bank, making its funds even more abundant. I wonder if you have any investment intentions recently? The prices of many investment targets on the market have fallen quite a bit recently…” Before Councilor He could even speak, another short, stout middle-aged man with gray hair spoke up with a hint of urgency.

An Zhengquan glanced at him but didn't recognize him at first. As he pondered, his assistant Su Yunlai, who had been following him, whispered a few words in his ear. He immediately remembered that this person was the chairman of a medium-sized venture capital firm named Wang Fuming. He had some investment targets in startups, but these targets had fallen sharply in the current economic climate. In addition, his investment fund was facing redemption pressure from its investors. Therefore, it was obvious that this person was looking for someone to take over his losses.

Volume Two: The Truth Hidden Behind the History Books: Chapter 1007 The Old Man Has Arrived

Furthermore, money is the lifeblood of business. In the current economic environment, many of his investment targets are extremely difficult to secure further investment. Without financial support, many startups will face bankruptcy once their money runs out. Therefore, finding further investors, especially when he himself has no money left to invest, becomes particularly important.

For this kind of person, the game of monopoly, the subtle changes brought about by Qianluo Group's investment in Southern Bank, are all too distant. He simply can't be bothered with such things.

"Haha, I've never been directly involved in investments. I've always believed in letting professionals handle professional matters. My personal vision is limited, and the world is developing so fast these days. Many things are beyond the reach of younger generations; they see things more clearly and thoroughly. So, I always delegate to them..." An Zhengquan continued with a smile, "Of course, in general, I'm extremely optimistic about the future economy. Setbacks are only temporary; after the storm comes the rainbow... So, investment will definitely continue, and this is one of the foundations for Qianluo Group's future..."

In An Zhengquan's mind, future investments are definitely in the future, but that will be when the market is bottoming out. At this point in time, investing in Southern Bank is a strategic move, not just a simple investment. As for other investment targets, now is not the time to act. Even the best projects must wait until the market declines further and the bubble is squeezed out before making a move.

As for the current situation, it's far from over. Of course, it's not appropriate to say anything discouraging in this situation, even if it's true, so the necessary polite words still need to be said...

As soon as An Zhengquan finished speaking, a chorus of sycophants erupted from the surrounding crowd. In many people's eyes, this was the future money-giving boy, especially at this point in time; saying a few more nice words wouldn't hurt them...

However, Mr. Wang, the chairman in front of him, clearly didn't want to miss this opportunity, and immediately added, "Mr. An, I have a few projects in hand, I wonder..."

"Chairman Wang, it's like this, our group has a professional investment department. You can contact them to take a look at your project first. Let me introduce you to our vice president in charge of investment business..." Su Yunlai immediately stepped forward and politely gestured for Chairman Wang to step aside.

As a result, even several other people with the same idea were drawn over, and many guests hoping to secure investment from the Qianluo Group surrounded Su Yunlai...

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"The old man has arrived, the old man has arrived, the young master has arrived..." Just as An Zhengquan was chatting with the people around him, a commotion came from the other side of the venue. The commotion spread like waves in the water. Usually, such a situation means that some important person has arrived, so many people turned their attention to it.

But then, at the east entrance of the hall, an elderly man with a refined appearance slowly entered. He was dressed in a Taoist robe and wore a bamboo crown, exuding an extraordinary air. Several attendants followed behind him, and beside him, talking to a middle-aged man with a square face and large ears, was wearing a bright red brocade robe embroidered with fish, dragons, and sea patterns, which looked extremely luxurious.

Anyone with an eye for such things will immediately recognize that this garment is called the Fish-Dragon Robe. It is not something that everyone can wear; rather, it is a garment that the "Royal Guards" are specially permitted to wear.

According to the primogeniture system established by the founding emperor of this dynasty, theoretically, the succession to the titles of duke and marquis should also follow the principle of "if there is a legitimate heir, the legitimate heir shall be established; if there is no legitimate heir, the eldest son shall be established." Before inheriting the title, the "legal" heir to the title of duke or marquis would be granted the title of Xunwei or Sanqi Sheren. These were personal guards appointed by the sons of meritorious officials, and their salaries were not high, but no one took this position for the sake of the salary.

These sons of noble families would use this identity to serve as guards around the emperor, gain experience, and cultivate relationships with him, making it easier for them to be entrusted with important responsibilities after inheriting the title.

The person in front of us is wearing this kind of clothing, which means that he once served as a "meritorious guard" by the emperor's side.

"I never expected that you would come in person. It is truly an honor to have you here. My father specifically instructed me to do my best as a host..." This middle-aged man with large ears was none other than Hou Linyi, the eldest son of the Duke of Wu.

"@I, Liu, have been friends with the Duke for many years. There's no need for such formalities... By the way, is the old Duke still in good health?" This man, known as "Old Man of the Mountain," is Shen Bicheng, the head of the Shen family in Linzhou and the Earl of Chengyi. The Shen family of Linzhou is a top family in Jiangnan. Unlike ordinary military families, they are known for their literary and scholarly traditions, and have produced many high-ranking officials throughout the ages. This "Old Man of the Mountain's" cousin is Shen Biguang, a minister in the current cabinet.

The Shen family wielded immense power in Linzhou, possessing both the status of a noble and aristocratic clan, and had numerous protégés and friends throughout the Jiangnan region, as well as a thriving business empire. Therefore, although they were only earls, even the Duke of Wu treated them with utmost respect.

“My father has been in poor health ever since he fell last winter and has been recuperating in the hospital. Sigh…” Hou Linyi lowered his head and sighed softly upon hearing this.

Upon hearing this, Shen Bicheng sighed, "Good people are always blessed by Heaven. The old Duke has always been gentle, unassuming, and kind to others. He will surely get better gradually..."

"Then let's take the old man's good wishes..."

Shen Bicheng and Hou Linyi chatted for a while, during which the surrounding guests all paid attention to the two, but they all wisely refrained from speaking up. It wasn't until the two finished talking and went their separate ways that many people began to gather around them...

An Zhengquan had been keeping a close eye on Shen Bicheng and Hou Linyi ever since they appeared in the hall. However, there were simply too many guests exchanging pleasantries around them, and besides, he didn't know either of them before. In addition, he was also surrounded by a circle of guests, so he couldn't make a move. He thought to himself that he would try to go over and strike up a conversation with them later when there was more free time around them.

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“Sister, Ziling and I have both spoken with Chairman An about this matter. We’re thinking that if it works out, the profits will be enormous…” In another corner of the hall, Wen Zaide, the heir of the Marquis of Changping, was smiling broadly beside Zhu Yingwei, chattering on about his plans…