Chapter 69: Master Murong

“Nonsense, I know it definitely wasn’t you who made it. I’m well aware of your abilities. It must have been that brat Lin Feng, right?” Old Master Murong declared with certainty to Old Master Lin.

“Since you know it was Lin Feng, why are you coming to me?” Old Master Lin looked at Old Master Murong in bewilderment.

“If I don’t come to you, should I go to a youngster and ask for something? Wouldn’t that be bullying him? At least you’re his grandfather and a notorious wine lover. I refuse to believe you didn’t get a share!” Old Master Murong insisted, looking at Old Master Lin with righteous indignation.

“Heh, don’t laugh, but I can’t do anything with that boy. He’s grown wings and can fly now. In this house, he’s the only one who dares to go against me. Don’t talk about getting something from him—even if I so much as approach his room, he’ll chase me away!” Old Master Lin said helplessly. It wasn’t anything to be ashamed of—everyone in Beijing knew about Lin Feng’s strong will.

“What? Old Lin, you’re a failure as a grandfather. You can’t even handle a youngster. So what am I supposed to do?” Old Master Murong said, looking at Old Master Lin in exasperation, not expecting such an outcome.

“How should I know? I suggest you give up. Honestly, Lin Feng only made ten jin of that wine. We drank five jin last night at dinner, and he has only half left now. Just drinking five jin was already like cutting his flesh. Do you think anyone else could take more from him?” Old Master Lin revealed Lin Feng’s details to Old Master Murong, hoping to get rid of him more quickly.

“What? You guys are ruthless! Ten jin and you drank half in one sitting. Couldn’t you save something for us latecomers? Judging by the changes in your family, the wine’s effects are obvious—beautifying, strengthening the body. Seeing your complexion and transformation, I’m sure it also cures illness and prolongs life. This is divine wine! You’re truly blessed!” Old Master Murong said sourly, his face the very picture of envy.

Seeing Old Master Murong’s jealous expression, Old Master Lin felt a secret satisfaction, and a proud smile gradually appeared on his face. Old Master Murong, noticing the pride on the other’s face, said sourly, “Go ahead, be proud. Old Lin, I mentioned before about my granddaughter Xue’er and Lin Feng’s marriage—what do you think? I still believe a union between our families would be great. Lin Feng and my Xue’er are a perfect match!”

“Hmph, don’t bring it up again. Didn’t I already give you an answer before? Murong, are you trying to set me up? Don’t tell me you don’t know Lin Feng brought his girlfriend home for us to meet. Now you’re proposing a marriage alliance—if he finds out, who knows how he’ll hate me? So let’s drop it. Don’t mention it ever again!” Old Master Lin glared at Old Master Murong. If they weren’t so familiar, he would have suspected Murong of trying to sow discord between him and his grandson.

“Fine, let’s pretend I never said it. What is this, really? My granddaughter is so outstanding, yet your Lin family still turns her down!” Old Master Murong grumbled, feeling a little disgruntled at being refused a second time. If word got out, how would people view the Murong family?

“Hey, Murong, don’t get carried away. Is your granddaughter the only talented one? Come on, be honest—can my grandson’s girlfriend, Ruo Xi, really be considered inferior to your granddaughter? Aside from her background, is she lacking in any way? In terms of looks, she’s on par with Murong Xue. In terms of character, she comes from hardship, and is more sensible than girls from big families. As for business skills, she’s far superior to your granddaughter!” Old Master Lin retorted, comparing the two young women for Old Master Murong.

“Hmph!” Old Master Murong said nothing more. He knew Old Master Lin spoke the truth. Objectively, Lin Feng’s girlfriend was indeed superior to his own granddaughter, but he would never admit to something so humiliating.

“I know you’re too proud to admit it, but I’m just stating the facts. You don’t have to acknowledge it, but there are plenty of sharp-eyed people in Beijing—everyone can see the truth clearly!” Old Master Lin pressed on, further deflating the other.

“Alright, alright! Old Lin, that’s enough. Do you have to spell it out so clearly? Can’t you hold a conversation properly?” Old Master Murong said, growing impatient and cutting him off.

“Heh, feeling upset now? But you just said something I quite agree with—a marriage alliance between our families would indeed be appropriate!” Old Master Lin suddenly shifted the conversation back to the topic of marriage.

“What? You agree with that now? Are you planning to change your mind and accept a marriage between Lin Feng and my granddaughter? If so, let’s hurry up and get it done, before dreams drag on and things go wrong,” Old Master Murong said excitedly.

“Stop—hold it right there! I said a marriage alliance would be good, but not between Lin Feng and Murong Xue. Our eldest son’s boy, Lin Yu, isn’t married yet. I’m thinking of arranging a match between Lin Yu and Murong Xue. Our family’s third generation isn’t in government because business held us back and Lin Yu had to enter commerce. Now that we have Lin Feng, business is no longer an issue. I plan to have Lin Feng take over all the family business, and let Lin Yu enter officialdom,” Old Master Lin explained.

“What? Not Lin Feng, but Lin Yu?” Old Master Murong replied, somewhat disappointed. He had thought Old Master Lin had changed his mind, but it turned out he was just switching the candidate.

“What’s with that look, Murong? Is our Lin Yu not good enough for you?” Old Master Lin said, displeased at Old Master Murong’s obvious disappointment.

“It’s not what you think. I know Lin Yu is accomplished, but compared to Lin Feng, the difference is stark!” Old Master Murong quickly explained, realizing his anxious expression had caused a misunderstanding.

After hearing the explanation, Old Master Lin shook his head with a wry smile. “Forget about Lin Feng. That boy is a freak of nature. Look at the third generation of all the families in Beijing—there are plenty, but who can compare to Lin Feng? Even among the second generation, few dare say they can keep him in check. With what he’s already achieved, he can speak to us old men as equals, and who knows what he’ll become in the future!” Old Master Lin’s words were a subtle warning to the Murong family—Lin Feng had made the Lin family’s future limitless. Now that he already had a girlfriend and made his own decisions, if the Murong family still wanted an alliance, it could only be with Lin Yu.

“Alright, Old Lin, you’ve convinced me. But I can’t decide this alone—I’ll have to discuss it with the family. Still, in my heart, I really wish for Lin Feng,” Old Master Murong said helplessly. Lin Feng had stirred up the stagnant waters of Beijing, and for their family to thrive, they had to choose their allies wisely.

After a long conversation with Old Master Lin, not only had he failed to achieve his goal, but now Old Master Lin had presented the Murong family with a new dilemma. Unable to sit still any longer, Old Master Murong hurriedly took his leave and returned home.

Upon his return, his son, daughter-in-law, and the rest of the family crowded around, all eager for news.

“Forget about those wines. The effects are just as you guessed, but the total output is only ten jin. Last night, the Lin family drank five jin at dinner, and the remaining five jin are all in Lin Feng’s hands,” the old man said helplessly to his gathered family.

“What? So little? I thought the aroma wafting through the neighborhood meant there was plenty. No wonder it’s so potent. If this divine wine could be mass-produced, it would truly defy the heavens!” Murong Wenjun, the eldest son, sighed after hearing the news.

“Yes, divine objects are destined to be rare! What a pity that such a miracle didn’t fall into our Murong family’s hands, but instead benefited the Lin family,” Old Master Murong grumbled sourly.

Murong Xue heard her grandfather’s words with deep disappointment. No woman could refuse the chance to become more beautiful, especially not a stunning beauty like Murong Xue. Still unwilling to give up, she asked, “Grandfather, is there really no way to get even a little? Didn’t Grandpa Lin have any left?”

“Old Lin said he had none. I don’t know if it’s true, but I believe him. The dissatisfaction and helplessness on his face were genuine. It seems the rest is all hidden by Lin Feng, who doesn’t even give Old Lin face—let alone to me, a stranger. So I didn’t ask to see Lin Feng. At this point, the only people in the Lin family who might possibly get something from him are his parents, but Lin Chuanzhi and his wife left Beijing ten years ago and have lived in Zhanhai ever since. We don’t know them and have no way in,” Old Master Murong explained to his granddaughter.

“I’m quite close with Lin Xue’er. Do you think I could try through her and get a little?” Murong Xue still refused to give up and asked her grandfather.

“That’s almost impossible. Lin Xue’er has no say in the family. I heard she once asked Lin Feng for a car worth around one hundred thousand, and Lin Feng just handed her a bank card with a billion on it—a billion! That boy really doesn’t care about money. Now, Lin Xue’er obeys his every word. Xue’er, don’t dwell on it,” Old Master Lin said with a hint of jealousy. To give away a billion so casually—even he wouldn’t dare—but Lin Feng could.