Super Soldier in the City
Chapter 111 Clouds Clear and Breeze Light

Chapter 111: Chapter 111 Clouds Clear and Breeze Light

Cao Yingbo was already a rather flamboyant person in high school, his father being the Deputy Director of the Environmental Protection Bureau in Mile City’s Minghu District.

Over the years, environmental protection has become increasingly valued by people, and the power of the Environmental Protection Bureau has grown. When Cao Yingbo’s father was just a minor section chief, he was already impressive, but now as a Deputy Director with significant authority, his father even arranged a civil servant position for him at the District Transportation Bureau after graduation.

Having become a civil servant and having such a powerful father, Cao Yingbo always considered himself to be rather important in his circle of classmates; he didn’t claim to be the top one, but he certainly ranked among the top few. He generally looked down on others, and while he could be a bit more modest toward those classmates who were doing well, he was completely unapologetic when talking to someone like Li Yifei, a low-level employee.

Su Peng hurried to smooth things over, saying, "Li Yifei, Yingbo is just joking with you."

Li Yifei smiled faintly and responded, "It’s nothing."

Back in high school, Li Yifei had some conflicts with Cao Yingbo, but after so many years, Li Yifei hardly took it seriously anymore. However, Cao Yingbo obviously still held a grudge. Even now, Cao Yingbo seemed like a nonentity to Li Yifei, so even if Cao Yingbo was mean with his words, Li Yifei couldn’t be bothered to mind.

Yet, Li Yifei had not expected Li Xinyue and Song Lianyao to hold such high status in everyone’s mind. He had met many great stars and artists and didn’t really think much of these two hosts from the city-level TV station.

Having insulted Li Yifei and seeing that he got no retort, Cao Yingbo felt incredibly self-important. Although he didn’t continue with his mean words, he still spoke with the tone of a leader lecturing an employee, "I say, Li Yifei, although you might not like what I said just now, we’re all old classmates, and I’m just telling it like it is. We’re not kids anymore and need to be responsible for what we say. How can you achieve great things if you brag without substance?"

Li Yifei found it amusing and replied, "Leader Cao’s lesson is taken. I will stop bragging."

Cao Yingbo felt even prouder and smiled, "That’s good, that’s good. Since you’re so receptive, if you ever run into any trouble, you can come to me. I will surely help you solve it."

Li Yifei played along with his words, "That would be great. You must stick to your word, Leader Cao." Li Yifei didn’t see any need to argue with such a petty person.

Without encountering any confrontation from Li Yifei, others quickly stepped in to smooth things over, and Cao Yingbo, who had gained some face, started chatting with a few people he liked.

After a few casual conversations, the topic naturally drifted back to Li Xinyue and Song Lianyao. Most of them were around twenty-five or twenty-six, and over eighty percent weren’t married yet. Having been working for only two or three years, many still held onto the star-chasing passion of their student days.

Though big stars were also a hot topic, they were too distant, while Li Xinyue and Song Lianyao were locals, their programs quite popular, and their actual presence occasionally seen. This made everyone feel more affinity for them, so their discussion was enthusiastic.

Cao Yingbo then asked smugly, "Do you guys know how much Li Xinyue and Song Lianyao’s appearance fees are now?"

"How much?" Qian Feifei immediately asked out of curiosity.

Feeling everyone’s gaze filled with a gossipy eagerness, Cao Yingbo was all the more proud as he said, "While their fees aren’t as high as those of the big celebrities, they’re not low in Mile City either. A while ago, a rich relative of mine wanted to hire them for a wedding, and they flat out refused."

Someone immediately chimed in to ask, "Why? Wasn’t the offer good enough?"

Cao Yingbo flicked his hair and said, "No, it’s not about the money. They don’t just take any job willy-nilly. Even with a lot of money, ordinary people couldn’t get them, as it would lower their status. Only the rich and noble can afford to invite them, and that’s what reflects their status. Besides, it’s said their fees range from ten to twenty thousand per appearance."

Qian Feifei added, "Ten to twenty thousand isn’t that much, you know. Even regular wedding hosts charge a few hundred."

Cao Yingbo lit a cigarette and blew a smoke ring, saying, "What’s the point of regular wedding hosts? If I could get Li Xinyue or Song Lianyao to host my wedding, that would really give face. You only get married once in a lifetime, and if you don’t make it impressive, then what’s the point? I’ve already decided, when the time comes, I must get one of them to host my wedding."

Because Su Peng had a good relationship with Li Yifei and didn’t think much of Cao Yingbo, he interjected, "Didn’t you say even your relative couldn’t get them? What makes you think it will be different for your wedding?"

Cao Yingbo smirked confidently, "My relative is my relative, not a close kin, just a distant one. My wedding will be different. Just let my dad ask someone, how could they refuse then?"

Considering Cao Yingbo’s father’s official position, everyone seemed to believe him. The men were less impressed, while the women were full of envy. Women care more about weddings and have a stronger sense of vanity than men. Having a famous host for the wedding was naturally their dream.

Qian Feifei was rather bold and said half-jokingly, "Look here, Cao Yingbo, since you have such capabilities, when I’m getting married, can you get them to host my wedding?"

Cao Yingbo shook his head and stated, "Feifei, it’s not that I don’t want to help you, but this isn’t something you can secure with money alone. The most important thing is status. If your husband has that kind of power, they might attend, but if you marry an ordinary person, no matter how much money you offer, they won’t show up."

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a bit uncomfortable. Cao Yingbo, from time to time, would talk about his family and his father as if no one else mattered but him.

But, after all, he was quite influential, and no one could quite compare to him, so everyone simply changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on it anymore.

Li Yifei did not interject. He truly hadn’t expected that Li Xinyue and Song Lianyao held such high status in the eyes of ordinary people and had such a powerful aura about them. Yet, in Li Yifei’s opinion, these two weren’t that splendid. At least, in an effort to advance further, it was clear they were trying to please him, this fake Young Master, by selling their looks.

At this moment, Su Peng leaned in and asked Li Yifei, "Yifei, do you have a girlfriend now?"

Li Yifei shook his head, saying, "Not yet."

Lowering his voice, Su Peng asked, "You’re not still hung up on Ye Yunzhu, are you?"

Li Yifei’s mouth twitched. The Ye Yunzhu Su Peng mentioned was Li Yifei’s first love, and only Su Peng vaguely knew a bit about their relationship. "I haven’t been in touch with her for a long time," he said.

Patting Li Yifei’s shoulder, Su Peng said, "Let it go. Ye Yunzhu is no simple figure now. She’s already the Township Chief."

This was the first time in many years that Li Yifei had heard news of Ye Yunzhu. Unexpectedly, she had already become a Township Chief, indeed achieving great things.

"Ye Yunzhu is currently attending the Party School, so she’s tied up and won’t be able to come this time. I have her phone number—do you want it?"

Li Yifei shook his head and responded, "No, let the past be the past."

Understanding, Su Peng nodded, "Right, you should move on. In a few years, she’ll be a Deputy County Head, then a County Head and County Party Secretary. The gap is too big."

Li Yifei gave a wry smile and said, "Yeah, us ordinary folks can’t reach such high branches."

Just then, the groom, Tao Yizhong, came over, loudly greeting everyone. They all offered their blessings. After exchanging a few words with everyone, Tao Yizhong had a special exchange with Li Yifei. He had the chance to meet with other classmates regularly, but he hadn’t seen Li Yifei for many years, so his presence at the wedding was a surprise and warranted extra conversation.

Everyone ate and drank, and after the meal they went to sing and play cards, making a racket until midnight before settling into the hotel arranged by Tao Yizhong.

Li Yifei shared a room with Su Peng. Lying in bed with the lights off, Su Peng said, "Yifei, today you really kept your cool. If it were me, I would have wanted to cuss out Cao Yingbo right there."

Li Yifei laughed softly, lit a cigarette, and remarked, "It’s no big deal. What’s the use of making a fuss? Besides, it’s Yizhong’s wedding. If I started arguing with him, it would have made things difficult for Yizhong."

"That makes sense. You’ve really changed a lot, you know. I remember back in school, you were nowhere near this patient."

"People change. After slugging it out in society for so many years, you can’t stay as carefree as you were when you were young."

Lighting a cigarette himself, Su Peng cursed, "Society is a big dye vat; even the best people can get tainted. I know that since I became a civil servant, I often look down on others. To be honest, when I first saw you and knew you were just a low-level employee, I looked down on you too. But seeing Cao Yingbo’s behavior today was a wakeup call—that kind of attitude is just too ugly."

Li Yifei chuckled, "I didn’t feel you were looking down on me. We’re still good classmates, aren’t we?"

Su Peng chuckled as well. After a moment of silence, he added, "Yifei, in our class, the one who has really made it big is Ye Yunzhu. We are just civil servants. It’ll take us years to climb the ladder, but she’s already a Township Chief. Her future is boundless."