Chapter 993: Just Simply Looking Down on You

Noon.

Deng Tianwen invited Xu Shaochen for a meal.

Having just two people felt too dull.

Deng Tianwen called a few people from the company to join them.

Among them were his secretary, a few attractive female executives, two vice chairmen, and a general manager.

“Chairman Xu, I propose a toast to you. It’s an honor to finally meet you, I’ve admired you for a long time.”

“I’ll drink first, feel free to drink as much as you’d like.”

The speaker was one of Deng Tianwen’s company’s vice chairmen. He stood up and raised his wine glass, offering a toast to Xu Shaochen.

Once he finished speaking, he downed the contents of the glass in one go and even turned the cup upside down to show everyone.

As a vice chairman, he was truly someone high up in the company.

“Good!”

“Impressive drinking skills.”

The others clapped and cheered.

“You’re too kind.”

Xu Shaochen smiled slightly, raised his glass in acknowledgment, and drank a sip.

Soon, others formed a circle around Xu Shaochen, taking turns offering him toasts.

In China, there’s a custom at banquets that no one knows where it started from.

When offering toasts, everyone seems determined to force the other person to get drunk, as if doing so enhances their own standing.

After drinking several glasses in a row, Xu Shaochen was starting to struggle. He wasn’t a fan of the feeling of being drunk and losing his clarity.

“Chairman Xu, I also propose a toast to you.”

After one round, a middle-aged man who had been sitting beside Deng Tianwen stood up with his wine glass.

He was the CEO of Deng Corporation. In reality, he was in charge of most of the company’s affairs. On paper, he had the most power within the corporation.

Why only on paper?

Because Deng Corporation was a family-run business. In the end, he was merely an employee.

“I really can’t drink anymore. If I drink any more, I’ll burn a hole in my stomach. How about skipping this one?”

Xu Shaochen waved his hand, his face flushed red, and spoke gently to the middle-aged man.

If it were red wine, it would have been bearable.

But in China, people usually drink strong baijiu at such banquets.

He really couldn’t handle that.

Hearing this, the middle-aged man’s face darkened a bit. Feeling embarrassed, he replied, emboldened by the alcohol: “Chairman Xu, that’s not right. You drank everyone else’s toasts, but you won’t drink mine? Doesn’t that mean you’re looking down on me?”

As soon as he said this, the entire table fell silent.

“Chairman Chen, you’re drunk.”

Deng Tianwen’s brow furrowed, and he scolded sharply.

Realizing he had said something out of line, the middle-aged man tried to rephrase, “Chairman Xu, I really want to drink with you. Please, could you give me this opportunity? You’re not really looking down on me, are you?”

There was still a hint of aggression in his tone.

As the CEO of Deng Corporation, even Deng Tianwen was usually respectful towards him. Naturally, this inflated his ego.

Xu Shaochen had taken everyone’s toasts but refused his, which, in his view, was disrespectful.

Xu Shaochen chuckled, tilted his head, and gave the middle-aged man a sidelong glance. “What if I am looking down on you? Hmm? Tell me, so what?”

Xu Shaochen didn’t care for the unwritten drinking customs. If he didn’t want to drink, not even the king of heaven could force him to.

Out of respect for Deng Tianwen, Xu had already been polite enough.

But the man seemed to lack self-awareness, pushing beyond the limits.

As soon as Xu Shaochen finished speaking, the atmosphere in the room cooled noticeably.

Everyone exchanged awkward glances.

The middle-aged man, holding his wine glass, froze. He hadn’t expected Xu Shaochen to slap him in the face so bluntly.

Yet he didn’t have the guts to confront him.

After a long moment, his expression turned awkward as he forced a smile and said mockingly, “Chairman Xu is an important figure. It’s natural for you to look down on us little workers. I was out of line. I’ll drink this glass myself.”

Once he finished speaking, he drank the entire glass in one gulp.

“I don’t look down on workers. I just simply look down on you. Understand?”

Xu Shaochen pointed at him calmly but coldly.

“Shaochen, give me some face,” Deng Tianwen interjected.

“Chairman Deng, Chairman Xu is right to put me in my place. I accept it. There’s no need for you to step in.”

The middle-aged man put on a fake smile. Though he claimed to accept the rebuke, it was obvious to anyone that he still harbored resentment.

“Smack!”

Deng Tianwen swung his hand, slapping the man hard across the face.

The crisp sound of the slap startled everyone.

The middle-aged man, feeling the burning sting on his cheek, clutched his face and stared at Deng Tianwen in disbelief, too shocked to respond.

“You think I’m going to let this slide? Pack your things and get out. Your severance will be according to the contract. My Deng Family’s temple is too small to house a big Buddha like you!”

Deng Tianwen pointed at his nose, yelling angrily, his gaze terrifyingly cold.

For someone like this, who didn’t know his place and didn’t know when to back down, letting him go was the right move.

Just moments ago, Deng Tianwen had gotten up to help him out of his predicament, yet the man still stupidly pressed forward. He was digging his own grave.

Instantly, the room felt heavy and tense, and everyone was on edge.

The middle-aged CEO’s face flushed pale and briefly grey. He bit his lip and stammered, “Chairman… Chairman Deng, I’ve worked for the Deng Family for so many years. Even if I haven’t made major contributions, I’ve put in hard work. You’re firing me over this one small issue? What… what will others think?”

“Are you threatening me?”

Deng Tianwen spat out those words coldly, a sudden flash of ferocity in his eyes, which he just as quickly concealed.

The CEO, terrified, promptly shook his head violently like a rattle drum: “No… no, Chairman Deng, please calm down. I didn’t mean it that way. I… I only want another chance.”

Now he finally remembered how Deng Tianwen had dealt with people to become the head of the Deng family. He was drenched in cold sweat, his shirt sticking to his back.

“I’m not giving you that chance. Get out!”

Deng Tianwen uttered each word clearly, then pointed at the door, kicking him out.

“Chairman Xu… I was wrong. I lost my sense after drinking too much of this trashy stuff. Please forgive me. I beg of you.”

The CEO turned to Xu Shaochen, pleading tearfully. If Xu Shaochen backed down, he could still keep his job.

“If you know you lost control, then take your leave and spend some time at home reflecting on it. Don’t waste Chairman Deng’s kindness.”

Xu Shaochen’s tone was aloof yet firm, as if to say there was no room for discussion.

The CEO was struck as if by lightning. He stood in the middle of the room, knowing there was no turning back now.

He looked around, hoping someone would help, but everyone avoided his gaze, pretending not to notice.

“Fine, I’ll go.”

The CEO gritted his teeth, turned, and left the private room, his tightly clenched fists revealing bulging veins.