My Co-renting Lady Boss
Chapter 304 - 0304: Sister Zhou Xiaoqian

Chapter 304: Chapter 0304: Sister Zhou Xiaoqian

Zhou Haotian, although displeased about Tang Ming’s arrival, remembered that today was the Zhou Family’s birthday banquet and his own turf, thus he didn’t take it too seriously.

The Zhou Family’s birthday banquet was held in the form of a Western-style buffet reception, similar to the previous high-society cocktail party in Songlan City, except that there was an added seat of honor for the celebrated elder.

After entering the banquet hall, Liu Gaoze had a brief chat with Tang Ming before immediately engaging with other business magnates.

For businessmen like Liu Gaoze, this was a golden opportunity to expand their social circles and accrue resources and connections.

Su Xiaoxi, on the other hand, stayed with Tang Ming the entire time, the pair completely exuding the air of a couple.

Zhou Fatty, having settled Zhou’s mother, eagerly began fetching food for Tang Ming. Fatty was in a great mood, having thought that he would be bullied at the door, but instead, Tang Ming turned out to know Su Xiaoxi, and Zhou Haomin was the one who ended up embarrassed.

Once Tang Ming sat down, he launched an assault on the various foods; with Fatty, such a considerate underling, he only needed to focus on eating.

"We haven’t seen each other for so long, can’t you pay attention to me?"

Seeing Tang Ming preoccupied with eating, Su Xiaoxi protested dissatisfiedly.

"Paying attention to you can’t fill me up, better to eat!" Tang Ming responded without lifting his head.

"You, see, Sun Zhuangjia has come too, but he seems to be afraid of you now, he hasn’t come over to bother me."

Su Xiaoxi, who had figured out that Tang Ming was somebody who loved food more than beauties, reluctantly changed the subject.

Tang Ming glanced up and noticed that not only was Sun Zhuangjia there, the Ma brothers and the Qin brothers were there too, now seated at a table, apparently discussing something.

Tang Ming merely glanced and then continued to eat, knowing that since it was the Zhou Family’s birthday banquet, these people wouldn’t trouble him even if they had a grudge.

"Brother Ming!"

Just then, Chen Cang came over with two large plates of food, eagerly running over to please him.

"Fly, you are here too!"

Tang Ming quickly took the food from Chen Cang’s hands and said with satisfaction, "You sure know how to be useful. Otherwise, Zhou Dafu alone might not have managed."

"Hehe, our Chen Family is a considerable business family in Songlan, so naturally we were invited."

Chen Cang shamelessly sat down next to Tang Ming, looking forward to asking, "Why didn’t Meng Ting come?"

"She’s in class, and today is not a holiday, so it’s only you good-for-nothings who would skip classes."

Tang Ming commented without lifting his head.

Chen Cang opened his mouth but felt a wave of regret inside. He had come thinking Liu Mengting would attend the banquet. Had he known she was at school, he would have gone to class himself, especially with Tang Ming not around to compete for Liu Mengting’s attention.

"Aren’t you also skipping class? Do you have the nerve to talk about others?"

Su Xiaoxi looked at Tang Ming speechlessly and rolled her eyes.

"Hehe, Brother Ming is right, I am indeed a good-for-nothing!"

It was only then that Chen Cang noticed Su Xiaoxi and thought to himself, "Tang Ming sure has a way with women. On one hand, Xia Wei’er is dangling, and on this side, he’s hooked up with such a stunning heiress. Impressive!"

"Where’s Zhou Dafu?"

As the group was chatting idly, a girl in a pink dress appeared abruptly by the table, asking coldly.

The girl had a sour look on her face as if someone owed her money, her eyes filled with hostility as she stared at Zhou’s mother.

"Who are you?"

Tang Ming looked at the girl, puzzled.

"Xiaoqian, your brother is over there getting food," Zhou’s mother said nervously, looking at the girl.

"He’s already so fat, yet all he knows is eating, never learns."

Xiaoqian muttered discontentedly, as though frustrated with the lack of improvement.

"Xiaoqian, how did you get here?"

Zhou Dafu had just returned with food and quickly set down the items to greet her, explaining, "Brother Ming, this is my, my sister, Zhou Xiaoqian. This is my boss, Tang Ming."

"Sister?"

Tang Ming was taken aback for a moment, looking over Zhou Dafu and Zhou Xiaoqian, and reflected inwardly, "Are these siblings really that different from each other?"

"At such a young age and you’re already going astray, even recognizing a ’big brother’. How could you be so thoughtless?"

Zhou Xiaoqian gave Tang Ming a cold glance, took out a beautifully wrapped gift box, and handed it to Zhou Dafu, "When it’s time to present the congratulatory gifts, give this to Grandpa so you’re not embarrassed by having nothing to offer."

"I have..."

Zhou Dafu received the item and wanted to explain.

"You’ve offended Zhou Haotian, and he’ll definitely give you trouble; be careful on your own."

Zhou Xiaoqian interrupted Zhou Dafu, nervously looking around, "I’m going to leave now, or else if my mom sees me, she’ll scold me again."

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhou Xiaoqian hurried off, seemingly afraid of being seen with Zhou Dafu.

Zhou Dafu held the gift box in his hand with a bitter expression on his face.

"What’s going on here?"

Tang Ming, with his mouth full of food, asked in confusion.

"Xiaoqian is my half-sister from the same father but different mothers, the daughter of the official wife."

Zhou Dafu forced a wry smile and explained, "Although my father’s wife looks down on my mother and me, Xiaoqian is kind-hearted and has always been good to us, but unfortunately..."

"Unfortunately, she doesn’t have much status in the Zhou family either, so she’s afraid of being ostracized because of you, right?"

Tang Ming had already guessed the gist of the situation.

"My father originally forbade Xiaoqian from associating with us, and every time it was discovered, she would be scolded."

Zhou Dafu looked in the direction of Zhou Xiaoqian and sure enough, he saw a full-figured woman, adorned with jewelry, scolding Zhou Xiaoqian.

"Your father really is something, having no ability yet still making a mess and causing suffering to several people."

Su Xiaoxi said with a contemptuous sneer.

"Do you know how to speak?"

Tang Ming shot Su Xiaoxi a glare and looked away.

"Ah! I didn’t mean that, sorry!"

Su Xiaoxi realized her mistake and quickly looked at Zhou’s mother apologetically.

"It’s okay."

Zhou’s mother replied with a bitter smile, already accustomed to it.

"Fatty, don’t worry; tonight, I’ll make you the star of this banquet and ensure that the Zhou family never looks down on you again."

Tang Ming wiped his mouth and promised solemnly.

"That’s right, there’s no problem hanging out with Brother Ming."

Chen Cang, while munching on food, nodded again and again in agreement.

After the host’s warm-up, the birthday banquet officially began, with the Zhou family’s patriarch, Zhou Zhen, dressed in a green Tang suit, smiling as he sat in the place of honor ready to accept the congratulations from all directions.

"Thank you to all the guests for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend Elder Zhou’s 70th birthday celebration. Now comes the time for us to witness the Zhou family descendants presenting their congratulatory gifts to Elder Zhou."

The host announced with fervor.

A round of enthusiastic applause immediately filled the banquet hall. This was an important part of a Martial Arts Family’s birthday celebration and also a good opportunity to showcase the family’s strength to the guests.