"What do you mean by that?" Deric sneered."Are you only boasting? You have no real business?"Cecilia angrily retorted, "Young Master Pierson, you're the one boasting here. Henry's abilities are far beyond your imagination.""Show me," Deric said, his anger growing as Cecilia defended Henry.Since they first met, Cecilia had been an extraordinary figure in his eyes. He would not let anyone steal her from him.Seeing the escalating tension, Michael, Cecilia's father, quickly intervened. He said, "Let's not quarrel. We're hungry. Let's find somewhere to eat."Deric decided to bide his time, planning to show Henry the vast difference between them later.Unfazed by the situation, Henry thought it did not matter if Deric was dealt with—the meal would still happen. It might even be less awkward if he waited until after dinner to deal with Deric and then leave quickly.With Michael's intervention, everyone set off together.However, since Henry's car only had five seats and Deric wa
Henry was surprised by Harvey's position in the county's local government. Even though it seemed high to the average person, it meant little to him.Henry thought of the powerful figures in Aurelia City, the influential people under the Golden Liberty, and the Holy Clan's high-ranking members. Even Brad, the governor of South Valley Province and a close associate of Henry's family, was a significant figure, too. Brad was the leader in South Valley Province, and his close ties with Henry made Deric's uncle's role seem insignificant by comparison.Seeing Henry lost in thought, Michael mistook it for shock and said, "Yes, so you must be cautious!"When we get to the restaurant, offer him a few drinks and apologize.""That's not necessary." Henry shook his head."Yeah, don't worry, Dad. Henry will be fine," Cecilia said quickly.She knew Henry's capabilities were impressive. Although she was not sure about his connections, she knew that with his control over the Hood Group and its ec
Amy supported her husband. She did not know Henry well enough to make a judgment but believed Cecilia would be well cared for by someone like Deric. At least Cecilia would not have to struggle as much for the rest of her life.Amy said, "Henry, it's not that I have anything against you. It's just that Young Master Pierson is genuinely exceptional and a good match for Cecilia. You may be a good person, but the difference between you two is quite significant."Henry was a little amused. He pretended to be Cecilia's boyfriend, but her parents looked down on him.He glanced at Cecilia with a smile.Cecilia was anxious and quickly defended Henry. "Says who? Well, I got my current job because of Henry.""Ridiculous! Cecilia, you've never lied to us! Now you're making things up. You think you can fool me so easily?" Michael scolded."It's true!" Cecilia protested."Stop lying. You're working for the Hood Group, right?""Yes.""The Hood Group belongs to the Hoods, and they're very pow
After driving for a while, they finally arrived at the East River Restaurant parking lot in Erstonia District.The East River Restaurant was a top-tier restaurant in Eastonia, renowned for hosting gatherings of the wealthy and influential. Ordinary people often found it nearly impossible to secure a reservation there.Even though Michael and Amy were not used to such places, they could tell it was far superior to the venues they were accustomed to in their county.Amy said, "Henry, this place looks quite fancy. Will the meal be expensive?"Not wanting them to feel uncomfortable, Henry replied casually, "Not really. We'll just have some simple home-cooked dishes. It'll probably cost about 100 dollars per pax.""That's good to hear. You look ordinary, so you mustn't overspend. By the way, your clothes may seem plain, but they fit well and look nicely-coordinated," Amy said after examining Henry closely.Henry chuckled and said, "Just something I picked up casually."Although his c
"Hmph, of course, he's not!" Deric sneered."He's just ignorant and fearless. He'll eventually kneel in front of my amazing abilities!" Deric continued with a cold smile."Yes, yes, Young Master Pierson. Let's go inside," Michael said, his heart filled with worry.Henry's sudden appearance had complicated things. Michael was afraid they might anger Deric, especially since the guy was arrogant and ignorant, making him even more dangerous.Henry shook his head, ignoring the remarks, and walked in.Michael and Amy were both displeased, so Cecilia hurried to catch up. However, she felt guilty for putting Henry in such an awkward situation.Deric followed them in. The group entered the venue, which was not lavishly decorated. It only had some simple and rustic decorations. That was a preferred style for some high-ranking officials and wealthy people.Deric looked around with a frown and shook his head. "What a crappy place. People in big cities spend less than 100 per person here. Th
Amy felt somewhat apologetic when she saw Henry in a daze. For Austin's sake, she hoped her daughter would marry Deric. Henry was the innocent party.She tried to smooth things over, saying, "Young Master Pierson, you must be kidding. This is just an ordinary restaurant. How can they possibly have such high-quality liquor?""Let's switch to another place then. Otherwise, I can't eat here," Deric said haughtily, thinking he could scare Henry by spending a few thousand dollars for a meal.Henry, however, glanced at Deric and said nonchalantly, "You weren't invited anyway. You don't have to eat here."Those words made Deric's face darken further.Michael hurriedly said, "Henry, how can you speak like that? It's a privilege and honor for us to dine with Young Master Pierson."Henry frowned.Cecilia hurriedly said, "Dad, how can you say that? Henry's treating us to this meal. Whatever he decides to serve is fine. How can a guest make such demands?""Henry, let me check what liquor t
"Henry, didn't you bring some liquor? Take it out. Cecilia's dad loves a good drink," Amy said.Michael wanted to say something, but Amy's stern look held him back. Deric noticed that Michael and the others were siding with him. He was confident that Henry would humiliate himself.Henry nodded and took out a bottle. It was only a bottle of ordinary white wine, unlike Maotai. However, it did appear to have some age to it.Michael paused when he saw the bottle. He was a fan of white wine. He had heard stories during drinking sessions with friends and knew a bit about it.That particular bottle looked like a 50-year-old National Collection white wine. A similar bottle had fetched over 300,000 dollars more than ten years ago at an auction in Aurelia City. Its current value would be even higher.Deric was not convinced that that was the same wine.He glanced at the bottle and sneered, "I knew it—it's not Flying Fairy Maotai. He just brought some trash from home."Deric noticed Michae
Michael had initially thought about downplaying the value of the wine, but when he realized that Henry knew its worth. So, he reluctantly said, "Indeed, at an auction in Aurelia years ago, this wine fetched over 300,000 dollars per bottle!""No way!" Deric exclaimed. He could not accept the idea that someone as unremarkable as Henry could possess such valuable wine.Amy and Cecilia were also curious about the authenticity of the wine.Henry shook his head and said calmly, "Mr. Leon can tell.""Alright, I'll give it a try!" Michael was eager.As a lover of fine liquor, he could not resist tasting such a rare find. He poured himself a small glass and savored it, feeling a sense of bliss that resonated deeply in his soul.Such fine wine!Even though he had never tasted that particular one, his experience told him it was genuine. The satisfaction on his face left no doubt for the others.Knowing her husband's deep knowledge and passion for liquor, Amy was taken aback.'Is the wine