Chapter 86: Will You Leave on Your Own, or Must I Throw You Out?

His Hanwei Beer had always drifted along without much success. This time, after finally managing to climb aboard the great ship that was Jiamei, its sales over just three days had nearly matched an entire month's usual volume.

Lu Jianping was beside himself with joy. If this kept up, he would never have to worry about sales again; the only question was whether he could brew enough to keep up.

As he spoke warmly with Huo Xiuzhi, his heart was full of exhilaration.

He had gone deep into debt to build this brewery, yet sales had always been poor, leaving him overwhelmed and anxious every day.

Getting his products into Jiamei Supermarket had been a lucky accident, but he had never imagined Jiamei could be this formidable. It could be said that the Jiamei Group had saved him. He had to seize this opportunity with both hands, and if he could establish ties with Jiamei's upper management, so much the better.

...

At that moment, in the grocery shop.

Lu Ming was still pondering the connection between Feng Xifan and the hijacking of the Phineas when his phone suddenly rang.

He picked it up and saw that it was Huo Yutong.

Smacking his forehead, he finally remembered that he had promised to attend the celebration banquet.

"Hello," Lu Ming answered at once.

"Brother Lu, you still haven't arrived?" Huo Yutong said in a plaintive voice.

Lu Ming shook his head and quickly said, "I'm on my way now. I'll be there at once."

"I know you don't like crowded places," Huo Yutong said gently. "Miyu and I are waiting for you on the second floor."

"All right, got it."

After hanging up, Lu Ming got into his battered car and drove straight to the villa by Returning Heart Lake.

Twenty minutes later, he finally arrived. After parking, he entered Villa Twenty-Seven.

When he stepped into the hall, he saw that some twenty or thirty people were already there, gathered in little groups of three or five, chatting and laughing.

Lu Ming merely swept his gaze across the room before heading upstairs.

At that moment, Huo Xiuzhi, who had been talking with Lu Jianping and showing off his learning before two beauties, suddenly caught sight of Lu Ming.

He froze for a moment, wondering how this detestable fellow had ended up here.

Then understanding dawned on him.

It seemed the brat, like Lu Jianping, must be one of Jiamei's suppliers.

At the thought, a smile spread across Huo Xiuzhi's face.

Jiamei's three-day trial opening had shattered industry records and achieved dazzling success. Countless manufacturers were fighting to squeeze their way in.

But Jiamei already had stable suppliers; getting in now was exceedingly difficult.

Since he was one of Jiamei's suppliers, then it was time to reclaim the face he had lost on the plane.

Just then, Lu Ming happened to pass by him. Huo Xiuzhi reached out and stopped him.

"How did you end up at this reception too?"

Lu Ming looked at him and recognized him as the man from the plane who had been trying to pick up women.

Seeing the malice on Huo Xiuzhi's face, Lu Ming lifted a brow and said, "I'm here to see Huo Yutong. Is that a problem?"

"Impudent!" Huo Xiuzhi barked. "My cousin's name is not for the likes of you to call."

Lu Ming said in puzzlement, "A person's name is meant to be called, isn't it?"

"It is," Huo Xiuzhi said arrogantly, "but not by you."

Huo Yutong had already entered the ranks of the nation's wealthiest; her status was anything but ordinary. For some insignificant supplier to address his cousin so casually was simply laughable.

Lu Ming shook his head. "Move aside. I'm going upstairs."

"The upstairs is where my cousin receives honored guests. Do you think you're fit to go there? And coming to a reception dressed like this is downright disrespectful to the Jiamei Group."

Looking at Lu Ming in his T-shirt and shorts, Huo Xiuzhi spoke with lofty disdain.

At that moment, Lu Jianping chimed in as well.

"Young man, this is the general manager of Jiamei Group's Capital Branch, President Huo's cousin. Watch the way you speak."

After introducing Huo Xiuzhi to Lu Ming, Lu Jianping smoothly slipped in a bit of flattery toward him.

Huo Xiuzhi adjusted his tie and looked at Lu Ming with haughty satisfaction.

As long as someone was a Jiamei supplier, he could knead and twist him however he liked. There were plenty of manufacturers waiting in line to get into Jiamei.

Ignoring Huo Xiuzhi, Lu Ming looked at Lu Jianping and smiled. "Life really is full of chance encounters. Fancy running into you again, you fat bastard."

"Who are you calling a fat bastard?" Lu Jianping exploded at once, glaring viciously.

Lu Ming laughed out loud, shoved Huo Xiuzhi aside with one hand, and headed for the second floor, too lazy to waste words on the two of them.

Huo Xiuzhi was stunned for a heartbeat after being pushed aside, then flew into a rage.

This brat actually dared lay hands on him. The audacity was outrageous.

"Stop right there, boy. What exactly do you supply to Jiamei?" Huo Xiuzhi said darkly.

To be so slighted before two beautiful women, and even pushed aside, was something he could not endure.

Lu Ming paused and slowly turned back. "What is it?"

"What is it?" Huo Xiuzhi sneered. "Do you know that with a single word from me, I could have you thrown out of Jiamei?"

"What is wrong with you?" Yang Yiwen said from the side, looking at Lu Ming with displeasure. "On the plane, you refused even to change seats. And now, at a formal occasion like this, you're actually putting your hands on people. How crude."

Lu Jianping also said, "Kid, you even dare offend Manager Huo? Looks like you don't want to survive at Jiamei anymore."

Looking at Huo Xiuzhi, anger had already begun to stir in Lu Ming's heart.

He had not intended to bother with him, but the man was bent on making trouble.

Lu Ming began to consider whether he ought to teach him a lesson.

Just then, Huo Yutong came hurrying down from the second floor.

She had been waiting a long while for Lu Ming and had grown anxious, intending to go outside to have a look.

Who would have thought that as soon as she reached the staircase, she would see her own cousin blocking Lu Ming and arguing with him?

Huo Yutong was instantly enraged and rushed downstairs.

When she reached them, she looked at Huo Xiuzhi and asked, "What's going on here?"

Huo Xiuzhi smiled. "This man actually came to our reception dressed like this. It's far too disrespectful to the Jiamei Group. I was just instructing him in a few points of etiquette."

His tone was calm and polished, every inch the gentleman.

But Huo Yutong's expression changed at once, and she slapped him across the face.

Smack.

The crisp sound rang out, and Huo Xiuzhi was struck dumb.

"Who are you to point fingers at Mr. Lu?" Huo Yutong said coldly, her lovely face frosted over.

Covering his cheek, Huo Xiuzhi could not recover for a long while.

His own cousin had actually slapped him in front of so many people, all for this slovenly man?

He could hardly believe it.

Lu Jianping and Yang Yiwen were equally stunned.

Huo Yutong then turned to Lu Ming and said, "Mr. Lu, are you all right?"

"I'm fine," Lu Ming said, shaking his head.

Then Huo Yutong looked back at Huo Xiuzhi. "You're fired. Get out of Jiamei immediately. Don't let me see you again."

Lu Ming had done the Huo family a tremendous kindness. Not only had he saved them when they stood on the brink of ruin, he had also raised them into one of the foremost families in the nation. She would never permit anyone from the Huo family to show him even the slightest disrespect.

Even if Huo Xiuzhi was her cousin, a top graduate from a prestigious university and a valuable talent within the group, it made no difference.

When Huo Xiuzhi heard those words, he could scarcely trust his ears. Because of this man, his cousin had slapped him and was now firing him. It was utterly unbelievable.

"Cousin, listen to me," Huo Xiuzhi hurriedly said as he finally came back to himself.

"It was only a small misunderstanding..."

Before he could finish, Huo Yutong cut him off.

"There's no need to say anything. Anyone who shows disrespect to Mr. Lu is not allowed to remain in the Jiamei Group. You are no exception. Get out at once."

Only then did Huo Xiuzhi realize that his cousin was not merely speaking in anger, and panic struck him immediately.

If Jiamei dismissed him, his reputation would be ruined. It would be difficult enough to find another respectable job after that.

What major corporation would want someone who had been expelled by the Jiamei Group? It would be a glaring stain on his résumé.

And once he was fired, all his plans for gaining both wealth and beauty would collapse, directly affecting the rest of his life.

"You can't fire me, Cousin. I'm your cousin!" In his panic, Huo Xiuzhi played the family card.

At that, Huo Yutong's face turned even colder, and she lifted her eyes toward the upper floor.

Miyu Noki, who had been upstairs watching the commotion below, immediately came down.

Huo Yutong looked at Huo Xiuzhi and said, "Are you leaving on your own, or do you want me to have someone throw you out?"