While Hong Xiaofu recounted what had happened, Su Kuang was sweating profusely.
That guy's power was too strange! Making people kneel! Judging by that, his power was not hindered by distance. It would work as long as he could see the other person! Was he going to go easy on anyone? If anyone offended him, they would be getting on their knees. Who would be able to take it?
There was an old saying which went, "A man should have dignity and not bow down easily." There was also another saying which proclaimed, "You should only bow down to Heaven and Earth as well as your parents." Who would be able to stand it if they were to keep bowing to Hong Xiaofu? No wonder Li He had run away so quickly...
"Xiaofu's power…" Su Kuang kept quiet for a while, then finally interjected, "You have a great future, you will do well."
Everyone at the table nodded and agreed. He would only do well? He would have an amazing future. Unthinkable!
"Brother Fu is indeed Brother Fu!" Zhao Ming quickly poured a drink for Hong Xiaofu and said, "You can make everyone give in to you! Look at how Li He was talking earlier on, he was bragging! But then he met you, Brother Fu, and was intimidated!"
"Yup," Su Ying tried controlling her laughter and she said softly, "He was so arrogant! In the end he still lost to our Hong Xiaofu."
Shen Xiaoling was elated. Whenever she heard praises for Hong Xiaofu, she felt happy.
----
After Li He and Zhang Yang had gone back to their table, Li He was feeling depressed. He just kept drinking listlessly.
Even his dad could tell that something was off, so he asked, "He, what's wrong? Why do you look so upset?"
Li He was silent. How could he be happy? Seated there was an otherworldly figure, who could afford to offend him. A man could afford to break his head in a fight but he must not bow down. Hong Xiaofu was literally making people kneel down before him—who on Earth would be able to take it?
Yet, he couldn't mention it.
"Nothing, I was just thinking about some things." Li He blurted out a few words, but he was in a dilemma. Earlier on he had been confidently showing off his ego, saying that he could settle everything in Shencheng. Then, he had suddenly met someone who was more capable than him.
Zhang Yang was trying hard to control his laughter at the side. He quickly gave a toast to Li He and said, "Come on, Brother He, let's drink…"
"Okay, drink…" After meeting Hong Xiaofu, Li He felt depressed throughout the whole dinner. He wasn't even in the mood to continue boasting anymore.
Poor thing… although he had lost his drive, he still had plans in mind. He was going to wait for another chance to see if that guy really had such a dominating power.
----
At Hong Xiaofu's table, everyone was almost done eating by eight and preparing to go home.
"Erm… brother." Shen Xiaoling saw that there were many dishes which had been barely eaten left on the table, so she asked Hong Xiaofu softly, "There is so much left, can we…"
Children from poor families were good at managing the household. To Su Ying and Zhao Ming, leftover dishes were just leftovers. However, Hong Xiaofu saw them as wastage.
Hong Xiaofu quickly nudged Zhao Ming and said, "Zhao Ming, look, it would be a waste to throw these dishes away. Can I take them home?"
"Oh, I had forgotten about this!" Zhao Ming hit his head as he asked for the waitress, "Please bring a few boxes over and help me take these to-go, don't wanna waste anything."
Su Kuang and Su Ying were also aware that Hong Xiaofu and Shen Xiaoling did not have it easy. Su Kuang was nodding in agreement and he said, "Yes, that's right, it would be a waste to throw them away. It would be good to pack them home for supper."
Come to think of it, the waitress had never seen the young master take food to-go. After hearing Zhao Ming say that, she could not help but take a few more glances at Hong Xiaofu. She did not mean to look down on him, but she thought that if he was a guy that the young master respected so much, he must be someone who could not be offended! Success was independent of one's background. Although that young man dressed plainly, it was clear that he was a capable guy that should be attended to.
"Mister, let me do it. You can have some tea first." When the waitress saw that Hong Xiaofu was offering to help, she hurriedly said, "This is my job, just let me know which dishes you want me to pack up for you."
Zhao Ming was proud to see that the waitress in his hotel was offering such good service and had great manners. He immediately asked, "Not bad, what is your name?"
The waitress was surprised, but she quickly answered, "My name is Xiaohui."
Zhao Ming nodded his head and said, "Good job. I like people who are professional and have a good personality like you!"
He was not obliged to say it, but Xiaohui was too happy to stop smiling. "Thank you young master," she said. She was done packing the dishes and Xiaohui was definitely going to provide her best service until the end. She knew that they had all drank alcohol, so she offered, "Young master, do you need me to arrange for chauffeurs to send all of you home?"
"Yes please. You are good at handling people." Zhao Ming laughed with pride. His waitress was very observant—he was a proud host. He said, "Go get someone to do the job. They are all my classmates, you know the Awakeners, right? Serve them well and you will definitely reap the benefits!" Xiaohui went joyfully.
The arrangements were done quickly. Su Kuang and Su Ying took their own car back home while Hong Xiaofu and his sister took the hotel's Benz.
On the go, the driver initiated a conversation as he was driving, "Are both of you classmates of my young master? He instructed me to serve you well." As he said that, he handed over a name card and said, "My name is Li Wei and this is my personal card. Feel free to give me a call whenever you need me."
"Thank you, Brother Li." Hong Xiaofu took the name card and kept it carefully.
Li Wei continued, "Come to think of it, I rarely see our young master treating his friends so nicely. I think you are someone of great importance. I heard that you have been Awakened too?"
Hong Xiaofu was a little shy to admit it. He nodded his head and said, "I have been Awakened, but my power… it's hard to explain."
"It's good to be Awakened." Li Wei sighed as he said, "Today, the Awakeners are like those who passed in the imperial provincial examination in the past, achieving great success. When you become successful in the future, do help look out for our young master."
While Li Wei complimented Hong Xiaofu, he was trying to put his young master in good light as well. Having a friend who was an Awakener was like giving oneself more viable options to turn to. One never knew what was going to happen in the future, but having good relations would never be harmful.
Hong Xiaofu quickly refused the kind words, "There's no doubt in my friendship with Zhao Ming. I'm embarrassed by how you put it, Brother Li."
Li Wei laughed and said, "Ha! What is there to be embarrassed about? It's good that you are close friends. When you step into society, people who can work with you will nod and bow to you, otherwise they will turn their backs against you anytime."
Hong Xiaofu totally agreed, "That's right, friendships between classmates are the best."
They quickly arrived in the area where Hong Xiaofu lived. Li Wei took the boxed food and alighted from the car. When he saw the neighborhood, he did not say a single word.
He was extremely aware of the things he should or should not say. He only left after watching Hong Xiaofu and his sister enter the house.
After walking to the entrance of his house, he squatted down, lighting a cigarette. He sighed, "You really can't judge a book by its cover. Someone living in such an environment could actually be positive. Look at that useless kid in my house, they are not comparable at all…"
He quickly finished smoking and pinched the cigarette end firmly to put it out. He shouted angrily, "What is this! Watch how I'll punish you at home!"