Chapter 1708: Chapter 1708

The people below didn’t expect Li Yifei to use such straightforward and almost colloquial language for his opening remarks. Moreover, it was so brief that some people were momentarily stunned after hearing it, but more people just cheered and shouted outright. When they saw Li Yifei drinking, they also emptied their glasses in one go, not for any other reason than the sentiment in Li Yifei’s statement: since they all came, they are all friends. For these people, they came for a reason, even though Li Yifei might not remember them, they certainly would remember this sentence.

This sense of recognition drove them to drink as if they were partying hard. They weren’t only toasting Li Yifei and these clan chiefs from great families but also with each other. After all, knowing more people never hurts. These people, brimming with a strong sense of identity, drank merrily together while also devouring skewers—a rare sight indeed. These individuals are not ones to abstain; on their own turf, they are local celebrities who must maintain their image and influence. At least at banquets with people of the same level, they always mind their manners—never would they roll up their sleeves, grab a bottle, and chow down on skewers.

However, seeing Li Yifei, head of a prominent clan, casually eating skewers, no pretenses involved, how could anyone remain reserved and holding back? With one person leading, a few others followed suit. Eventually, even some of the ladies in evening gowns, meticulously dressed, joined in the skewer-eating. The tender meat, amazing flavor, juicy oil from one bite of the big skewers had many clan chiefs and ladies’ appetites greatly aroused. As alcohol began to take effect, reddening their cheeks, the delicious aroma of the skewers made their mouths water.

On the other side, several clan chiefs from the provincial city gathered together, Li Yifei and Old Master Ye among them. This was the focus of those behaving as if frenzied and no matter how much they ate and drank, or how intoxicated they became, they always snuck peeks at this scene here.

These clan chiefs, the youngest was five or six decades old, someone like Old Master Ye was much older, whereas Li Yifei, about thirty years old, stood there highly conspicuously, especially as he was in the middle, seemingly as if being surrounded by those clan chiefs.

Li Yifei didn’t intend to stand in the middle, but the attitude the clan chiefs took now was completely different from before, especially those from the Zheng and Chu families, who previously had ambiguous stances and were friendly to those unlucky families that now needed to curry favor with Li Yifei. Although they knew doing so served no real purpose, they had to do it anyway. As for the Hu family, who hadn’t lost anything, their attitude towards Li Yifei was neither servile nor overbearing, but they also wouldn’t provoke the Li family.

Thus, of the Eight Great Clans in the provincial city, three have already gone, two vanished into smoke and dust, and another struggling to survive. The remaining five each had their own feelings, yet counting the Li family headed by Li Yifei, there were only six families.

After the six drank together, Old Master Ye and Elder Wang exchanged glances and understood each other. Both elders were already over seventy but were in excellent health, able to keep up with younger folks when drinking, so Li Yifei didn’t hold Old Master Ye back from drinking.

Elder Wang, by which Wang Chunlai was known, still sported his Tang Suit today, paired with black-bottomed white-topped cloth shoes. He sat with an exceptionally straight back, even straighter than the younger ones. After taking a bite of meat from the table and wiping his mouth, Elder Wang laughed heartily and said, "Tonight, this meat is cooked well, fatty enough, flavorful enough, and the meat chunks are big enough, haha!"

Old Master Ye chewed with vigor, swallows the contents of his mouth, smacks his lips, seemingly unsatisfied, and said, "Indeed, it’s good. Yifei’s suggestion is spot on. I initially thought of having a Western-style dinner. Tsk, chomping on big mouthfuls of meat is indeed more satisfying!"

Opposite, the Hu family head tossed his skewer onto the table and said, "Just afraid that after eating, my blood pressure and blood sugar will rise, oh, getting old, wanting to eat some meat and even the family has to control me. They’re very afraid of us dying!"

"Such words are not right. Who does not want a peaceful life, but with the few useless ones in our families, who would feel at ease handing over this family business to them!" Elder Chu from the Chu family chimed in. This old man too had a mouthful of grease and didn’t bother to wipe it off, seemingly completely unconcerned about his image, nor afraid of being seen by those far away.

Elder Wang raised his eyebrows and said, "Your kid seems to be doing quite well. I heard he’s doing an impressive job."

"Well, if only he were like Clan leader Li, I’d be willing to go to die now." Elder Chu appeared quite excited as he spoke.

Li Yifei shook his head, took a skewer in his mouth, chewed a few times, and swallowed. Seeing everyone shift the topic onto him, Li Yifei shook his head and said, "You elders should not say that. Your children have already achieved enough, no need to be like me. I idle about all day, and this family business was all earned by my wives. Not to hide from you, I even have to apply for cigarette money now."

"Hahaha." The old men burst into laughter. People outside all believed Li Yifei idled about daily, yet these gentlemen never did. Knowing what Li Yifei had done over the years, they could only describe it with one word—terrifying! Although he was smiling and unserious all evening long, never putting on the airs of the leader of the foremost clan, even Old Master Ye wouldn’t say anything harsh to him, let alone others. Read complete versıon only at 𝖓𝖔𝖛𝖊𝖑~𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖾~𝖓𝖊𝖙

From afar, upon hearing the laughter from this side, people inevitably glanced over here, wondering what made them so happy. Some even secretly plotted how to quickly lean towards the Li family, as nobody at the banquet caused trouble, allowing them to step out and show some presence.

Here, several old fellows shifted the topic to matters related to family rankings, like a round table meeting without any government officials around. The six individuals around the table had a combined age of almost four hundred years, discussing a new round of provincial family rankings.

"There’s no doubt, though I am slightly unwilling to admit it, but Clan leader Li, the Li family you represent is unquestionably the number one in the province!" Said Elder Wang. Li Yifei specifically glanced at him, everything beyond words, though this wasn’t his intention, seeing Wang Chunlai and Old Master Ye’s exchange earlier, Li Yifei already gleaned their relationship.

Indeed, at least this titled number one family’s reputation has landed. It’s something nobody assigns you, nor does it come with any medal, but there inherently exists a difference between first and second. Whereas the Li family was unrated before, at banquets then, Li Yifei belonged to those drinking afar—not as now, not only participating in the Eight Great Clans’ top-tier meetings but seated in the primary position.

This, is the change, a new provincial landscape has been born!