Returning wealthy individuals develop their hometowns and become rich in the 1980s

After several rounds of drinks, the night grew even darker.

The sweltering heat on the open space had mostly dissipated, but the enthusiasm only intensified. Everyone was drinking heartily, one cup after another. When it was exactly seven o'clock, no one noticed that a yellow "Zhaoyebai" taxi had come to a steady stop under the banyan tree on the edge of the open space.

Some children, who had finished eating and were playing under the banyan tree with their drinks in hand, saw the taxi with its lights on. The bolder ones surrounded it. When a man in a white shirt and glasses got out of the car, Chen Rongwen, who was mixed in with the children, asked curiously, "Are you here for Rongfei's college entrance celebration? You're late. We've almost finished eating and left."

The secretary who got out of the car first glanced at Li Guangdong inside and said to Chen Rongwen, "We're here for the banquet. Do you know where Chen Zaidong is?"

"Uncle Dong, it's right there," Chen Rongwen pointed towards the main table. Li Guangdong, who had just gotten out of the car, looked in the direction Chen Rongwen was pointing and indeed saw Chen Dong chatting and laughing with someone.

Li Guangdong quickly said to his secretary, "Quickly take the souvenir out of the trunk, don't be impolite."

Upon hearing this, Chen Rongwen immediately ran towards the main table, came to Chen Dong's side, and tugged at Chen Dong, who was talking to several teachers, "Uncle Dong, there are two uncles over there who say they're here for the banquet and are looking for you."

Chen Dong stood up and looked over. Li Guangdong was already walking over with gifts. Seeing Chen Dong looking at him, he smiled broadly and nodded. When he got closer, he said, "Mr. Chen, congratulations!"

"I heard that a brilliant student has emerged from your family, so I've taken the liberty of coming to offer my congratulations," Li Guangdong said in Mandarin with a Southeast Asian accent, placing several bags of souvenirs on the table. "These are just a small token of my appreciation; I hope you won't find them offensive!"

Chen Dong looked at him, a smile appearing on his lips. "Mr. Li, you are indeed well-informed. Since you're here, you're a distinguished guest of the Chen family. Sit down and have a few drinks with us."

"Then I shall respectfully accept your offer," Li Guangdong said politely, bowing with his hands clasped. Cai Mangzi, who was sitting at a table not far away, saw the new guest arrive and immediately ran to the stove, moved another bench over, and carefully wiped it clean with a towel. "Please have a seat, sir."

"Thanks!"

Li Guangdong sat down, and Cai Mangzi ran up and down to get bowls, chopsticks and cups. Chen Xianggui saw this and smiled at Cai Mangzi, saying, "The peanuts are ready, you can go back and eat yours first."

"It's alright, Uncle, you eat yours. I'm already full, it's fine," Cai Mangzi said, then turned and walked over to Chang Liangming, who was eating at another chef's table. He whispered to Chang Liangming, "Chef Chang, this guest just arrived, and they've almost finished eating. Could you see if there's anything else you'd like to prepare, perhaps one or two more dishes for the main table?"

Upon hearing this, Chang Liangming chuckled and nodded at Cai Mangzi, "You're quite clever, kid. Okay, let me see what's left and bring up a couple more dishes."

"Oh! Thank you so much, Master Chang. If you need me to run any errands, just let me know," Cai Mangzi followed behind Chang Liangming, and Chen Xiangui saw him. He smiled and nodded, then looked at Li Guangdong, who was talking to Chen Dong.

"Uncle, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Li Guangdong from Nanyangpo County. He's here to explore investment opportunities in our Tuocheng," Chen Dong said meaningfully, and then introduced Chen Xiangui, Chen Zaiguang, and others to him.

The four teachers at the same table, including Fang Rusong, saw that the visitor was an overseas Chinese from Southeast Asia and politely nodded and greeted Li Guangdong. Li Guangdong, in turn, respectfully bowed to Chen Xiangui and said something like, "Uncle, how are you? I apologize for my intrusion."

Chen Xiangui nodded with a smile, "It's enough that you're here as a guest. There's no need for gifts. Today is my eldest grandson Rongfei's college entrance celebration banquet, so we don't accept congratulatory money. We appreciate your kind intentions."

"I know, Uncle, but according to the tradition of our Po County people, how can we go to a banquet at the host's house empty-handed?" Li Guangdong said, picking up the souvenirs on the table and taking out a transparent square box from the bag. Everyone around him stared in disbelief.

Inside was a small golden ruyi scepter, no bigger than an adult's palm, adorned with emeralds. Under the light, the ruyi gleamed brilliantly. Li Guangdong placed the box in front of Chen Rongfei. "Uncle, I came in haste and didn't prepare a grand gift, but it carries great meaning. This golden ruyi scepter is a wish for your son's future studies to be successful and all things to come!"

Chen Xiangui immediately waved his hand and said, "Nephew, this is too precious, I can't accept it!"

Chen Rongfei also spoke up, "Uncle, this gift is too extravagant. Today is a banquet specially arranged by my grandfather to celebrate my graduation, and all the guests are relatives and friends from the village. If we accept such a generous gift from you, the villagers might object and think that my Chen family values ​​money over loyalty!"

Chen Dong remained silent throughout. After listening to Chen Rongfei's words, he nodded in satisfaction. Rongfei was a steady and magnanimous young man, very good.

Li Guangdong was completely taken aback that a rural lad in his early twenties could say such a thing. He couldn't help but look at Chen Rongfei with newfound respect. "I was being presumptuous. Since you say so, my nephew, it would seem petty of me to insist."

"It's not entirely the guests' fault; it's that I, as the host, failed to remind them beforehand," Chen Zaiguang finally spoke. Li Guangdong immediately picked up his wine glass and said, "Brother, please don't say that. I've done it too. How about this, I'll punish myself with three cups!"

Seeing this, Chen Zaiguang also picked up his wine glass to join in, and drank two glasses with Li Guangdong. Not far away, the old lady Wei Shufen coughed lightly to remind him. When Chen Dong saw that the two of them were about to drink a third glass, he quickly stopped them, saying, "Mr. Li, you came here not just to attend my nephew's graduation banquet, right? Don't get drunk, otherwise it will be difficult for you and me to talk business later."

Upon hearing Chen Dong's words, Li Guangdong immediately put down his wine cup and said to Chen Zaiguang, "Since Mr. Chen says so, brother, consider this remaining cup as a debt I owe you. If there is an opportunity, I will definitely repay you."

"Alright, alright," Chen Xiangui waved his hand. This man spoke in a very pedantic way, which was tiring to listen to. Chen Zaiguang had already drunk quite a lot tonight, so he should drink one less cup.

Chang Liangming used the remaining ingredients to prepare two more main dishes and placed them in front of Li Guangdong. Chen Dongzuo accompanied him and drank a couple of cups, and the two began to probe each other.

"Mr. Chen, would you be interested in investing in our Singapore district?"

"I'm currently focusing my main energy on the two major markets of China and America. If I have any spare time, I'll also turn my attention to the European market," Chen Dong put down his chopsticks, his meaning quite clear.

Singapore is too small, and the stage is too tiny to be enough for a billionaire like him to wield.