Chapter 17: Nouveau Riche Yang

"Hey, if you want to eat, go somewhere else. I need this space."

Ye Tian was wondering whether to apologize when the middle-aged man, arm around a young girl, walked up to him, took out a hundred-yuan bill from his pocket, and tossed it at Ye Tian's feet. His expression was full of arrogance as he waved Ye Tian away impatiently as if commanding him:

"This is a tip for you. Now get lost."

Ye Tian frowned slightly, feeling annoyed. It was obvious that this middle-aged man, hugging a woman in a secluded corner, had other intentions. Clearly, he mistook Ye Tian for a waiter hired by the Su family, flaunting his money to impress his companion.

However, Ye Tian's mind was still on the system's lottery draw, and he had no time to bicker with such people. Despite his annoyance, he stood up, ready to move elsewhere.

But the middle-aged man, not satisfied with Ye Tian's reaction, called out coldly:

"Stop right there!"

"Is there a problem?" Ye Tian was extremely annoyed at this point, wishing he could slap the man, but he restrained himself, remembering the celebration for Elder Su's recovery.

"Why aren't you picking up the money? Is it not enough?" the middle-aged man asked coldly, evidently angered by Ye Tian's lack of deference in front of his companion.

"You should be thankful that our boss Yang is giving you money. A hundred yuan is enough for you to carry plenty of plates!" The woman with Yang added in a condescending tone, pretending to be considerate.

"Sorry, I'm not a waiter, and I don't need your money." Ye Tian, who had just received ten taels of gold from the dog food system, certainly didn't need such an insulting offer. Deciding to ignore these nouveau riche, he prepared to leave, but Yang blocked his way, furious:

"You're not a waiter? Then how did you sneak in here? This is a celebration for Elder Su!"

"And what's it to you?" Ye Tian retorted, annoyed.

"I have every right to care!" Yang seemed excited, seeing an opportunity to curry favor with Elder Su, loudly declaring, "This is a celebration for Elder Su's recovery. People like you sneaking in to freeload is our responsibility to deal with!"

Yang's outburst attracted the attention of many guests. Seeing Ye Tian in his cheap clothes, they began to gossip:

"Who is this poor soul daring to freeload at Elder Su's banquet? He must be out of his mind. He'll be thrown out by the security for sure."

"Indeed, the Su family is one of the top families in the province. Even the governor respects Elder Su. This guy, with his attire, can't be someone of influence. Daring to sneak into the Su family's banquet is suicidal!"

"There's going to be a scene now. Although Elder Su isn't known for being harsh, he won't let this slide. But there are plenty of people here eager to please him. This Yang is a prime example. This guy is done for. Many will ensure he learns his lesson for trying to freeload here."

As the crowd enjoyed the spectacle, Yang, basking in their attention, fully embodying the nouveau riche attitude, boasted to a waiter:

"What kind of service is this? Didn't you see someone sneaking in to eat and drink for free? Get him out of here."

"Sir, could you please show your invitation to the banquet?" the waiter asked, approaching Ye Tian nervously.

"I came with my wife, and I don't have an invitation," Ye Tian replied, looking around for Li Chenglin to resolve the situation.

The waiter, aware of the significance of the banquet and the influential guests, including Yang, knew the gravity of the situation. A top-tier private club's waiter, he calmly asked:

"May I know who your wife is? Can she verify your identity?"

"My wife is Su Mei. She went to change her clothes; just ask her when she's back!"

Su Mei?

The crowd murmured in shock.

In Haicheng, Su Mei was the chairwoman of the Meishi Group, dominating the cosmetics industry and the dream of countless men. More importantly, she was the pearl of the powerful Su family.

This man in cheap clothes claimed to be married to Su Mei, leaving the crowd stunned.

"Haha, you must be out of your mind!" Yang laughed derisively. "Miss Su is not someone you can claim relations with. Look at yourself. Even the salary of a Su family janitor is several times yours. Security! This man is slandering Miss Su. Throw him out!"