Qi Xiaowei didn't care too much about being ignored.

He knew that Zhou Xuemin was deliberately humiliating him.

Those in positions of power initially showed him great interest, but once they learned of his lowly status and lack of background, their fake smiles quickly faded, replaced by indifference and neglect.

Having been in this industry for so long, he already knew all the unspoken rules.

The weak have no right to be on the dinner table, nor do they have the right to be respected.

In the past, although he wouldn't have shown his dissatisfaction on his face, he would definitely have felt resentful inside.

However, his status is different now, and he simply laughs off the behavior of these clowns.

At the dinner table, Zhou Xuemin, surrounded by Hou Liang and others like stars around the moon, couldn't help but glance at Qi Xiaowei with a mocking expression. Seeing that the other party was surprisingly calm, he couldn't help but feel a little surprised.

He then addressed the people at the table, saying, "Gentlemen, please pause for a moment, I have something to say."

"Please speak, Commander." Everyone put down their wine glasses and looked serious.

Zhou Xuemin waved to the two armed men below.

Upon seeing this, the armed men immediately stepped aside, and Xu Yun's face appeared before everyone at the dining table.

Everyone was shocked to see his haggard face.

"This... Sister-in-law?" Hou Liang looked surprised.

"Commander, what exactly is going on?" Old Sha also looked puzzled.

"Heh, this brings us back to Qi Xiaowei," Zhou Xuemin sneered.

"Didn't I just tell you? Qi Xiaowei is the son of a farmer. Do you think someone with no connections became the bureau chief?"

"Uh...it must be because of his outstanding personal abilities. After all, he became a 'drug-fighting hero' twenty years ago, right?" Hou Liang answered tentatively, but his words revealed a hint of uncertainty.

Zhou Xuemin shook his head and said calmly, "If that's the case, he would have been promoted twenty years ago instead of being kicked out of Haidu."

"That must be because he found a virtuous wife, right? As the saying goes, it's better to marry well than to be born well. If he has the support of his father-in-law, he can have a smooth career." A middle-aged man who looked somewhat honest interjected, trying to ease the tense atmosphere at the dinner table.

However, as soon as these words were spoken, the scene fell into a deathly silence.

Several people, including Zhou Xuemin and Hou Liang, looked at Li Kang with a cold gaze.

The honest-looking middle-aged man seemed to realize something was wrong and quickly patted his mouth, saying, "I'm talking nonsense, I'm talking nonsense!"

"Haha~! District Chief Sun, well said!" Zhou Xuemin suddenly laughed. "That's right, it's better to marry well than to be born well! Take me for example, my father was the deputy director of the Haidu Police Station before he retired, while my father-in-law retired as the deputy mayor. So, at most, I can only be the deputy mayor. There will always be someone who is superior to me."

Hou Liang, upon hearing this, hurriedly stood up and said, "I don't agree with what you're saying. Why does everyone always think about climbing the ladder by relying on others? Although my father-in-law held a high position back then, he never helped me in any way. I got to where I am today entirely through my own efforts. As the saying goes, with great power comes great responsibility, I..."

"Let me finish what I have to say! Let me finish what I have to say, okay?" Zhou Xuemin interrupted Hou Liang's explanation.

Seeing this, Hou Liang could only shut his mouth and sullenly returned to his seat.

Zhou Xuemin glanced around at everyone present and continued, "In the past, I was indeed a gigolo, after all, my father-in-law was half a rank higher than my father, so being a gigolo wasn't shameful. What I hate most is someone who takes advantage of others and then denies it, that's even more despicable. Without my father-in-law's help, what would he be? As for me, even without my father-in-law, my father wasn't bad either. What could someone of humble origins have to compare with me?"

At this point, Zhou Xuemin glanced at Hou Liang meaningfully.

Hou Liang slammed his fist hard on the table.

"Old Hou, do you have any objections to what I said?" Zhou Xuemin squinted his eyes and said with a mocking expression, "Feel free to voice your opinions. After all, you are the mayor, and I am just a deputy."

Hou Liang took a deep breath, trying to suppress his dissatisfaction, and said in a deep voice, "I have no objection."

Zhou Xuemin sneered at this and turned his attention back to Qi Xiaowei.

"No matter what, relying on your father-in-law is not shameful. We're all just using each other, right? People will only help you if you have something to offer, don't you think?" Zhou Xuemin paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping across the faces of everyone at the table.

"Heh, but some do. He actually managed to get his mistress's father to act as a pimp for him and get his father-in-law to help him climb the social ladder. That's immoral, isn't it?" Zhou Xuemin's eyes suddenly sharpened as he stared intently at Qi Xiaowei.

The crowd gasped in surprise, seemingly understanding what Zhou Xuemin was trying to say.

“Zhou Xuemin, don’t talk nonsense. Xiaowei and I have always been completely innocent! As for the things I asked my dad to do for him, he knew nothing about them! Don’t you know what you did to him back then? I just wanted him to have a better life in his later years!” Xu Yun’s voice was firm and clear. She looked directly at Zhou Xuemin, her eyes shining with an undeniable light.

"Zhou Xuemin, are you even a man? You're throwing mud at Yun'er like this, don't you feel ashamed?" Qi Xiaowei said coldly.

"Haha~!" Zhou Xuemin laughed arrogantly, "I'm ashamed? What am I ashamed of? Today, I'm going to expose the true colors of you adulterers in front of everyone."

"This vile woman has been in love with someone else for over twenty years. Even after marrying me, her thoughts were still on other people. Tell me, does such a person deserve to be my wife? What should I do with this adulterous couple?"

Everyone present fell silent upon hearing this, their heads bowed. Zhou Xuemin now held considerable military power, and they dared not interfere in his affairs.

The atmosphere was so oppressive it was almost suffocating, with only Zhou Xuemin's arrogant laughter echoing in the restaurant, sounding particularly jarring.

"No one can take what's mine! Whether it's resources, power, or women, anyone who tries to lay a finger on it should pay a terrible price." Zhou Xuemin's face darkened as he surveyed the crowd. "I've decided to strip those two scoundrels naked, throw them onto the rooftop, and let them freeze into two ice sculptures, becoming an eternal disgrace! What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, the air in the entire restaurant seemed to freeze. Everyone looked up at him in astonishment, their faces deathly pale.

Seeing this, Zhou Xuemin nodded inwardly; this was exactly the effect he wanted.

On the one hand, it caused Qi Xiaowei and Xu Yun even greater humiliation; on the other hand, it served as a warning to Hou Liang and others.

Now, all he needs to do is add fuel to the fire, so that Qi Xiaowei and Xu Yun can die in humiliation in front of everyone, and his two objectives will be achieved.