According to Lin Guanghach, the number of people on the other side was increasing.
Lin Wanru was also becoming more and more worried.
On her side, there was still no one.
She even saw the person who had initially agreed to invite Lin Guanghach to his birthday celebration.
Lin Wanru pursed her lips, her face looking very pale.
"How could this happen?"
She unconsciously looked towards Zhou Yi.
Zhou Yi, however, gave her a reassuring gesture, signaling her not to worry.
Lin Wanru thought to herself, how could she not worry?
She was completely at a disadvantage now.
Even if the birthday celebration had been good, it couldn't compare to the current extensive network of connections!
At this moment, Lin Guanghach approached her, grinning.
"Sister Wanru, are you free now?"
"I have so many friends coming over here. Why don't you help me call them?"
Lin Wanru angrily said, "I'm sorry, I'm not free!"
Lin Guanghach laughed, "I see you have a lot of free time! After all, you don't have many friends coming to wish you a happy birthday!"
He was hinting that Lin Wanru didn't have many connections.
At the main table...
The high-ranking members of the Lin family all shook their heads.
Although Lin Wanru's birthday gifts were very sincere,
their connections were far inferior to Lin Guanghach's.
Uncle Zhao was also full of worry, seemingly sweating for Lin Wanru.
"Haha, it seems I've won!" Lin Guanghach looked at Lin Wanru triumphantly, as if he had already won.
Just then, someone suddenly pushed open the door.
Then, an extremely loud voice echoed through the hall.
"Feng Qian, chairman of the Qian Yuan Merchant Association, has come at the invitation of Miss Lin to offer his congratulations to the esteemed Mr. Lin on his birthday!"
As soon as the words were spoken, Lin Guanghach's smug expression froze.
Then, he looked sharply towards the entrance.
Feng Qian, accompanied by his entourage and countless birthday gifts, slowly entered the hall.
The guests inside the hall all widened their eyes.
A chorus of discussions erupted throughout the hall.
"What? Chairman Feng of the Qian Yuan Merchant Association has arrived? And he's here at the invitation of Miss Lin?"
"Oh my, this is a powerful figure who can wield immense influence in Dongling!"
"Don't underestimate Lin Guanghach's entourage; Chairman Feng alone is enough to crush them all! They're even trying to flatter him!"
"To be able to invite Chairman Feng, Miss Lin's influence is truly immense!"
Seeing this, Lin Guanghach gritted his teeth.
"How could this be!"
"How did she manage to get close to Feng Qian?"
On the other side, Lin Wanru was also very shocked.
When did I invite Chairman Feng?
Then, she recalled Zhou Yi and suddenly realized.
Could it be that he invited him along?
Lin Wanru looked at Zhou Yi and saw him giving her a meaningful smile, his brows furrowed.
It looked like he was trying to take credit.
Lin Wanru glared at him.
This rotten old man.
I thought he was just boasting before.
But I never expected that Chairman Feng was actually invited by him!
I really can't understand him anymore!
Seeing Feng Qian himself arrive for the birthday celebration, even the patriarch couldn't help but be moved, quickly standing up and bowing.
The other high-ranking members of the Lin family were also shocked by this move.
Not to mention the Lin family.
Even those who had just arrived to offer their congratulations, which one didn't want to be the first to flatter Feng Qian?
To be able to climb such a network of connections is simply the entire Lin family's fortune!
"I didn't expect Wanru to be so patient!"
"As long as we can maintain this relationship, our Lin family will definitely prosper endlessly in the future!"
Lin Guanghe heard these words and was almost dying of impatience.
He never imagined that Lin Wanru would have such a trick up her sleeve!
Since that's the case.
Then don't blame him for using his trump card!
Just as the entire hall was discussing Chairman Feng's arrival...
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the hall.
"The second son of the Yang family from Nan Province, at the invitation of Young Master Lin, has come to offer his congratulations to the esteemed elder on his birthday!"
Upon hearing this, a commotion immediately arose.
Wow!
The Yang family from Nan Province!
This is an even more powerful force than Chairman Feng!
It could be said that any one member of the Yang family could walk around Dongling with impunity!
Young Master Lin actually managed to invite them!
Lin Guanghe felt relieved upon hearing this.
Finally, they've arrived!
Meanwhile, Zhou Yi learned more information from the guests.
"You said that the Li family is behind this Yang family from Nan Province?"
"That's right, everyone knows that the entire Nan Province is under the control of the Li family! Otherwise, how could the Yang family have such great power?"
"So that's it, thank you for the explanation!" Zhou Yi glanced at the smug Lin Guanghach, crossing his legs slightly.
"You've finished your cards.
Then it's my turn to play the king card!"
On the other side, Lin Guanghach hurriedly greeted him.
"Young Master Yang! Thank you for personally attending our patriarch's birthday banquet!"
"On behalf of the entire Lin family, I offer you our most sincere gratitude and appreciation!"
His obsequious demeanor was such that he almost knelt down before Young Master Yang.
His words pleased Young Master Yang greatly.
"Haha, no need for such formality. You're also considered my friend, and I wouldn't let anyone bully you, would I?"
Lin Guanghach laughed, "With you here, no one dares to be reckless!"
Young Master Yang snorted coldly, "That's not necessarily true."
"It's inevitable that some people will be short-sighted!"
While saying this, he turned his head to look at Feng Qian.
Feng Qian immediately felt immense pressure.
Although he claimed to be unparalleled in Dongling,
in the presence of the Yang family of Nan Province, he still seemed somewhat insignificant.
There was no way around it, Feng Qian could only bow his head and say, "Young Master Yang, what are you saying?"
"I merely came to attend the Lin family's birthday banquet, nothing more."
"It's best not to!" Young Master Yang frowned.
Then, he led his men straight to the table next to the Lin family patriarch.
The Lin family's high-ranking members, seeing such a figure, naturally dared not be disrespectful and all stood up in reverence.
Even the old patriarch couldn't help but stand up and offer his greetings.
Even so, the guests didn't feel anything was amiss.
After all, this was the Yang family of Nan Province!
Some people wouldn't even have the chance to kneel!
Young Master Yang didn't say anything more, but instead pointed out to the patriarch that Lin Guanghe was the most suitable successor.
If he wasn't chosen, he would forever lose this connection.
He might even offend the Yang family!
Seeing this, Lin Guanghe's tail practically wagged in the air.
It seemed his becoming the designated successor was settled!
As for inviting distinguished guests and paying the Yang family a high price... that wasn't a big problem.
It would simply be a matter of selling some family benefits.
He walked over to Lin Wanru, his attitude extremely arrogant.
"Cousin, you're still a bit naive compared to me!"
"Don't worry, I won't kick you out of the family. After all, we still need you to form alliances with other families, haha!"
Lin Wanru pursed her lips, her hands turning white.
She was very unwilling in her heart.
Could it really just end here?
Just then, she suddenly heard someone shouting outside.
"Master! Someone else has come to the door, saying they've come to offer their birthday wishes!"
Another birthday wish?
Lin Guanghach glanced at the people he had invited.
They've all come? Who else could it be?
Could it be someone Lin Wanru invited?
Thinking this, he couldn't help but laugh: "With Young Master Yang here, no matter who comes, they'll have to bow down to me!"
Young Master Yang also laughed: "That's only natural!"
At this moment, a voice came from the entrance of the banquet hall.
"Li Zhitian, the fourth son of the Li family from Nan Province, has come at the invitation of Miss Lin to offer his best wishes to the old master of the Lin family!"
"What? The Li family from Nan Province!"
Upon hearing this title, Lin Guanghach's expression suddenly changed.
The originally smug Young Master Yang was instantly terrified.
"The Li family has arrived?!"
If it had been someone else, Young Master Yang wouldn't have been afraid at all.
But now it was the Li family...
It was fortunate that they hadn't made him grovel before them!
Then, two rows of men in sunglasses and black suits led the way, with Li Zhitian following behind, slowly entering in front of everyone.
He immediately spotted Zhou Yi, nodded in greeting, and then looked towards the old Lin family patriarch.
"This junior, Li Zhitian, has specially accepted the invitation to come here to offer his congratulations to the old Lin family patriarch!"
"I have prepared a small gift to show my sincerity!"
For a moment, the entire hall fell silent.
It wasn't until Li Zhitian finished speaking that the murmurs of discussion erupted.
"Damn! The Li family from the Southern Province! It's the Li family from the Southern Province again!"
"The Li family is a powerful force that many people would fight tooth and nail to get close to, yet Lin Wanru managed to get their help!"
"This time, the Lin family is truly going to rise like a kite in the wind!"
The high-ranking members of the Lin family weren't just shocked, they were terrified.
The Li family's young master had humbled himself to come to the Lin family's birthday celebration.
This was truly overwhelming.
They never imagined that Lin Wanru knew such important figures!
The Lin family patriarch didn't even dare to stand still, but instead stepped forward and bowed in gratitude.
However, Lin Wanru was completely bewildered.
She could hardly believe it.
The Li family from the southern province actually humbled themselves to attend our Lin family's birthday banquet?
Moreover, they came in their own name, accepting the invitation!
What on earth is going on?!
She glared at Zhou Yi, only to see that the old man's attention was entirely focused on the food.
It seemed that devouring the oysters in front of him was the real priority.
"These oysters taste pretty good. Eat more, it'll be good for your health!"
Otherwise, waiting a while won't be enough, and you'll be embarrassed!
Look at his demeanor.
He's incredibly smug.