Chapter 111 Clouds Clear and Breeze Light
Chapter 111 of "Super Soldier in the City" unveils: Chapter 111: Chapter 111 Clouds Clear and Breeze LightCao Yingbo was already a rather flamboyant... Continue the story!
Chapter 111: Chapter 111 Clouds Clear and Breeze LightCao Yingbo was already a rather flamboyant person in high school, his father being the Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Bureau in Mile Cityâs Minghu District.
Over the years, environmental protection has become increasingly valued by people, and the power of the Environmental Protection Bureau has grown. When Cao Yingboâs father was just a minor section chief, he was already impressive, but now as a Deputy Director with significant authority, his father even arranged a civil servant position for him at the District Transportation Bureau after graduation.
Having become a civil servant and having such a powerful father, Cao Yingbo always considered himself to be rather important in his circle of classmates; he didnât claim to be the top one, but he certainly ranked among the top few. He generally looked down on others, and while he could be a bit more modest toward those classmates who were doing well, he was completely unapologetic when talking to someone like Li Yifei, a low-level employee.
Su Peng hurried to smooth things over, saying, "Li Yifei, Yingbo is just joking with you."
Li Yifei smiled faintly and responded, "Itâs nothing."
Back in high school, Li Yifei had some conflicts with Cao Yingbo, but after so many years, Li Yifei hardly took it seriously anymore. However, Cao Yingbo obviously still held a grudge. Even now, Cao Yingbo seemed like a nonentity to Li Yifei, so even if Cao Yingbo was mean with his words, Li Yifei couldnât be bothered to mind.
Yet, Li Yifei had not expected Li Xinyue and Song Lianyao to hold such high status in everyoneâs mind. He had met many great stars and artists and didnât really think much of these two hosts from the city-level TV station.
Having insulted Li Yifei and seeing that he got no retort, Cao Yingbo felt incredibly self-important. Although he didnât continue with his mean words, he still spoke with the tone of a leader lecturing an employee, "I say, Li Yifei, although you might not like what I said just now, weâre all old classmates, and Iâm just telling it like it is. Weâre not kids anymore and need to be responsible for what we say. How can you achieve great things if you brag without substance?"
Li Yifei found it amusing and replied, "Leader Caoâs lesson is taken. I will stop bragging."
Cao Yingbo felt even prouder and smiled, "Thatâs good, thatâs good. Since youâre so receptive, if you ever run into any trouble, you can come to me. I will surely help you solve it."
Li Yifei played along with his words, "That would be great. You must stick to your word, Leader Cao." Li Yifei didnât see any need to argue with such a petty person.
Without encountering any confrontation from Li Yifei, others quickly stepped in to smooth things over, and Cao Yingbo, who had gained some face, started chatting with a few people he liked.
After a few casual conversations, the topic naturally drifted back to Li Xinyue and Song Lianyao. Most of them were around twenty-five or twenty-six, and over eighty percent werenât married yet. Having been working for only two or three years, many still held onto the star-chasing passion of their student days.
Though big stars were also a hot topic, they were too distant, while Li Xinyue and Song Lianyao were locals, their programs quite popular, and their actual presence occasionally seen. This made everyone feel more affinity for them, so their discussion was enthusiastic.
Cao Yingbo then asked smugly, "Do you guys know how much Li Xinyue and Song Lianyaoâs appearance fees are now?"
"How much?" Qian Feifei immediately asked out of curiosity.
Feeling everyoneâs gaze filled with a gossipy eagerness, Cao Yingbo was all the more proud as he said, "While their fees arenât as high as those of the big celebrities, theyâre not low in Mile City either. A while ago, a rich relative of mine wanted to hire them for a wedding, and they flat out refused."
Someone immediately chimed in to ask, "Why? Wasnât the offer good enough?"
Cao Yingbo flicked his hair and said, "No, itâs not about the money. They donât just take any job willy-nilly. Even with a lot of money, ordinary people couldnât get them, as it would lower their status. Only the rich and noble can afford to invite them, and thatâs what reflects their status. Besides, itâs said their fees range from ten to twenty thousand per appearance."
Qian Feifei added, "Ten to twenty thousand isnât that much, you know. Even regular wedding hosts charge a few hundred."
Cao Yingbo lit a cigarette and blew a smoke ring, saying, "Whatâs the point of regular wedding hosts? If I could get Li Xinyue or Song Lianyao to host my wedding, that would really give face. You only get married once in a lifetime, and if you donât make it impressive, then whatâs the point? Iâve already decided, when the time comes, I must get one of them to host my wedding."
Because Su Peng had a good relationship with Li Yifei and didnât think much of Cao Yingbo, he interjected, "Didnât you say even your relative couldnât get them? What makes you think it will be different for your wedding?"
Cao Yingbo smirked confidently, "My relative is my relative, not a close kin, just a distant one. My wedding will be different. Just let my dad ask someone, how could they refuse then?"
Considering Cao Yingboâs fatherâs official position, everyone seemed to believe him. The men were less impressed, while the women were full of envy. Women care more about weddings and have a stronger sense of vanity than men. Having a famous host for the wedding was naturally their dream.
Qian Feifei was rather bold and said half-jokingly, "Look here, Cao Yingbo, since you have such capabilities, when Iâm getting married, can you get them to host my wedding?"
Cao Yingbo shook his head and stated, "Feifei, itâs not that I donât want to help you, but this isnât something you can secure with money alone. The most important thing is status. If your husband has that kind of power, they might attend, but if you marry an ordinary person, no matter how much money you offer, they wonât show up."
Upon hearing this, everyone felt a bit uncomfortable. Cao Yingbo, from time to time, would talk about his family and his father as if no one else mattered but him.
But, after all, he was quite influential, and no one could quite compare to him, so everyone simply changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on it anymore.
Li Yifei did not interject. He truly hadnât expected that Li Xinyue and Song Lianyao held such high status in the eyes of ordinary people and had such a powerful aura about them. Yet, in Li Yifeiâs opinion, these two werenât that splendid. At least, in an effort to advance further, it was clear they were trying to please him, this fake Young Master, by selling their looks.
At this moment, Su Peng leaned in and asked Li Yifei, "Yifei, do you have a girlfriend now?"
Li Yifei shook his head, saying, "Not yet."
Lowering his voice, Su Peng asked, "Youâre not still hung up on Ye Yunzhu, are you?"
Li Yifeiâs mouth twitched. The Ye Yunzhu Su Peng mentioned was Li Yifeiâs first love, and only Su Peng vaguely knew a bit about their relationship. "I havenât been in touch with her for a long time," he said.
Patting Li Yifeiâs shoulder, Su Peng said, "Let it go. Ye Yunzhu is no simple figure now. Sheâs already the Township Chief."
This was the first time in many years that Li Yifei had heard news of Ye Yunzhu. Unexpectedly, she had already become a Township Chief, indeed achieving great things.
"Ye Yunzhu is currently attending the Party School, so sheâs tied up and wonât be able to come this time. I have her phone numberâdo you want it?"
Li Yifei shook his head and responded, "No, let the past be the past."
Understanding, Su Peng nodded, "Right, you should move on. In a few years, sheâll be a Deputy County Head, then a County Head and County Party Secretary. The gap is too big."
Li Yifei gave a wry smile and said, "Yeah, us ordinary folks canât reach such high branches."
Just then, the groom, Tao Yizhong, came over, loudly greeting everyone. They all offered their blessings. After exchanging a few words with everyone, Tao Yizhong had a special exchange with Li Yifei. He had the chance to meet with other classmates regularly, but he hadnât seen Li Yifei for many years, so his presence at the wedding was a surprise and warranted extra conversation.
Everyone ate and drank, and after the meal they went to sing and play cards, making a racket until midnight before settling into the hotel arranged by Tao Yizhong.
Li Yifei shared a room with Su Peng. Lying in bed with the lights off, Su Peng said, "Yifei, today you really kept your cool. If it were me, I would have wanted to cuss out Cao Yingbo right there."
Li Yifei laughed softly, lit a cigarette, and remarked, "Itâs no big deal. Whatâs the use of making a fuss? Besides, itâs Yizhongâs wedding. If I started arguing with him, it would have made things difficult for Yizhong."
"That makes sense. Youâve really changed a lot, you know. I remember back in school, you were nowhere near this patient."
"People change. After slugging it out in society for so many years, you canât stay as carefree as you were when you were young."
Lighting a cigarette himself, Su Peng cursed, "Society is a big dye vat; even the best people can get tainted. I know that since I became a civil servant, I often look down on others. To be honest, when I first saw you and knew you were just a low-level employee, I looked down on you too. But seeing Cao Yingboâs behavior today was a wakeup callâthat kind of attitude is just too ugly."
Li Yifei chuckled, "I didnât feel you were looking down on me. Weâre still good classmates, arenât we?"
Su Peng chuckled as well. After a moment of silence, he added, "Yifei, in our class, the one who has really made it big is Ye Yunzhu. We are just civil servants. Itâll take us years to climb the ladder, but sheâs already a Township Chief. Her future is boundless."