Volume 1, Chapter 62: The Jade Pendant is Real, the Calligraphy and Painting are Fake!!

"Auntie, I don't have a job!"

"I've also thought about it. Once I marry Ruoxue, I'll just stay home and take care of her!"

Su Ming said this with a very serious expression. This time, he was genuinely serious. Because he had already realized that his master's arrangement was precisely to have him uncover the secrets of the Xuanlong Art from Lin Ruoxue! Just this reason alone was more than enough! "Humph!"

"In your dreams! My daughter doesn't need you to take care of her!"

"Besides, I haven't even given you permission to enter our family yet!"

Zhang Meiling said with an icy expression! "Then, what does Auntie mean?"

Su Ming pondered for a moment. "This matter will have to wait until I consult the Matriarch."

"The old master is currently unconscious, so he can't make the decision on this. Don't get any lucky ideas; tomorrow you might just be thrown out of my house!!"

With that, Zhang Meiling stood up and strode toward her bedroom! Then she slammed the door shut heavily! At this moment, Lin Dalong also stood up and let out a sigh.

"Su Ming, you're a man, and I can tell that your feelings for my daughter are sincere. But sincerity can't put food on the table!"

"You need to start a business and succeed so you can win a woman's heart. I'm the best example of this—without a career, you have no status at home!"

After saying this, Lin Dalong shook his head, walked outside, and began tending to the flowers and plants in the courtyard! Su Ming rubbed his nose. It seemed that this prospective father-in-law was quite satisfied with him? How interesting!

Night fell... Lin Ruoxue called, and Su Ming drove Zhang Meiling and her husband toward the old Lin family residence!

At this moment, the courtyard of the old Lin family residence was bustling with activity!

Lights illuminated the entire area. An open-air buffet was set up, and bonfires blazed, casting a brilliant glow. On the second floor, young people were hosting an electronic music pool party, making the atmosphere extremely lively and vibrant! Hundreds of luxury cars were parked at the entrance.

In the main courtyard, seats of honor flanked a table, where an elderly woman with white hair sat. Despite her advanced age, the structure of her bones and facial contours suggested she must have been a great beauty in her youth. She was the Matriarch of the Lin family and its current head!

The coming and going guests all presented lavish gifts, which piled up like small mountains.

"Mr. Zhu, head of the Longzhou branch of Douyin, presents a two-thousand-gram golden longevity peach!!"

"Thanks to Director Zhang of Wanhai Group for presenting one hundred thousand yuan in cash!!"

"Lü Dongshi of Tiandi Group presents a set of antique calligraphy and paintings."

"President Zhou of Zhou Qifu Jewelry presents thirty-two pearls and a pair of jade bracelets!"

As the announcements echoed from the entrance, the faces of the arriving bigwigs beamed with smiles. It could be said that by announcing the gifts in this manner, the Lin family gave each executive an immense amount of face. The members of the Lin family also warmly welcomed everyone!

It was a house full of friends, showcasing the Lin family's social standing and commercial foundation in Longzhou!

"Mom, Ruoxue and her family haven't arrived yet!"

Lin Dahai walked over and whispered into the Matriarch's ear!

"It doesn't matter whether they come or not. Pay them no mind," the Matriarch replied, waving her hand dismissively upon hearing this.

"Even if their family isn't important, their absence shows a complete lack of respect for you, Mother!!"

"It seems that this time, Lin Ruoxue is truly setting herself up against you!!" Lin Dahai began adding fuel to the fire.

"Setting herself up against me? Humph!"

"Without the old master's favor back then, would she have the status she enjoys today?!"

"The Ye family isn't a place where a mere young girl can call the shots! With so many guests here today, they all came out of respect for your father's prestige. Is there a single one of them here for Lin Ruoxue?"

At this, the Matriarch slammed the table and let out a cold snort!

"Mom, please don't get angry. Today is your seventieth birthday, after all."

"It's not worth harming your health over this."

"The foundation of the Ye family is the blood and sweat of you and Father; no one can ever replace you!" Lin Dahai quickly added a flattering remark.

Instantly, a trace of a smile appeared on the Matriarch's face.

"They're here, Mom! Lin Ruoxue and her family have arrived!"

At that moment, Lin Dahai looked up and saw Lin Ruoxue's family walking through the entrance. Furthermore, Lin Ruoxue was already exchanging greetings with other executives!

"Grandmother, I wish you boundless longevity and eternal prosperity!!"

"This is a small token of your granddaughter's affection, and I hope you like it!"

As soon as Lin Ruoxue appeared, she instantly became the center of attention. Her evening gown accentuated her flawless elegance to the absolute limit. Holding a wooden box, she walked up to present it. The Matriarch nodded, accepted the wooden box, and casually placed it to one side!

Right at that moment, Lin Zhicheng rushed over, a bandage wrapped around his head, glaring at Lin Ruoxue with a gloomy expression!

"It's Grandmother's grand birthday, and what on earth did you bring?"

"I hope it's not some piece of junk, because Grandmother certainly doesn't need it!"

With that, Lin Zhicheng snatched the wooden box and flipped it open directly. This caused Lin Ruoxue's expression to turn icy cold.

"This is a token of my affection for Grandmother. It's not about the value, but the sentiment behind it," Lin Ruoxue said with utmost solemnity.

"Oh, oh, oh! How nicely spoken. You dug up some broken jade pendant—this thing is worth at most a few thousand yuan!!"

"How do you even have the face to present something like this?"

"Grandmother, you might as well throw this thing away. I'm afraid it will dirty your eyes."

Lin Zhicheng pulled out a jade tablet from inside and immediately spoke with a face full of disdain! Upon hearing this, the Matriarch furrowed her brows as well.

Seeing this, Lin Ruoxue's heart tightened. Originally, she had planned to take the opportunity today to talk to her grandmother about company matters and try to prevent her second uncle and the others from interfering. But she hadn't expected that her gift would fail to satisfy her grandmother! Coupled with Lin Zhicheng fanning the flames from the side, she feared her grandmother was about to lose her temper.

"Is that true, Ruoxue? A jade pendant worth just a few thousand yuan?" The Matriarch raised her head and looked at Lin Ruoxue, asking!

"No, Grandmother, this jade tablet cost me over one hundred thousand yuan!"

"It's the genuine article!" Lin Ruoxue hurriedly explained.

"Ah? Over one hundred thousand?"

"I must say, Lin Ruoxue, you've been a president for all these years and surely pocketed plenty of cash, yet you're so stingy when it counts?"

"Today is Grandmother's seventieth birthday, and I personally brought a masterpiece of calligraphy and painting worth one million yuan!"

As he spoke, Lin Zhicheng produced a scroll, placed it on the table, and unrolled it to reveal a painting of a hundred flowers. This immediately drew many members of the Lin family over to take a look.

"Zhicheng really knows how to spend money on Grandmother!"

"That's right! Although Zhicheng is usually loose with his money, he doesn't skimp when it comes to Grandmother!"

"This looks like the work of the renowned Master Wang!!"

"Indeed! This 'Hundred Flowers Painting' once appeared at an auction. Who would have thought the mysterious buyer was our second brother Zhicheng?!"

The members of the Lin family all murmured in admiration, sighing with praise.

"Matriarch, I envy you so much for having such filial descendants!"

"Yes, indeed! With such a fine grandson, you are truly blessed!!"

For a moment, several executives also stepped forward with words of flattery. The Matriarch beamed with joy, her mood exceptionally good. As for Lin Zhicheng, he wore an expression of triumph, throwing a provocative glance at Lin Ruoxue. It was obvious that Lin Zhicheng wanted to seize this opportunity to win the Matriarch's favor and wedge his way into the company. After all, when the old master was conscious, he had strictly forbidden anyone other than Lin Ruoxue from managing Jun Tianxia!

By now, Jun Tianxia had grown into a well-known enterprise, arousing the covetous eyes of many in the Lin family!

At that very moment, Lin Ruoxue felt a splitting headache. Originally, the one-hundred-thousand-yuan jade pendant already represented her entire savings. For all these years, every member of the Lin family assumed that managing the company meant she had lined her pockets with plenty of grease. But the reality? She hadn't bought a single luxury item in three years, pouring her heart and soul entirely into building the company. She simply didn't want to disappoint her grandfather or become a laughingstock for the Lin family.

Now that she had finally built it up to scale, her grandfather was lying unconscious, and the Lin family was in complete internal chaos, with everyone scrambling to seize control of Jun Tianxia! For a moment, a sense of powerlessness washed over her.

"A one-hundred-thousand-yuan jade pendant might at least be real, but a one-million-yuan painting? That's far from certain!"

Just at that moment, a voice suddenly rang out amidst the crowd!

Every gaze immediately followed the direction of the voice. Lin Zhicheng, in particular, shouted with a face as dark as thunder, "Who the hell is farting out there? If you dare to say my painting is fake, stand right up!"