Chapter 124: Mutual Respect Among Heroes

Under the mahjong table, she began fidgeting with her legs again. She intended to hook her foot around his calf, but as she moved, he happened to shift his left leg over his right. The hard bone of his calf struck her. Reflexively, she pulled back, only to inadvertently brush against his other leg.

*Oh no,* she thought, *what goes around comes around.*

Just as Guan Yujing picked up his phone, he felt a light, tingling brush against his leg. It was delicate, almost electric. Yet, his reflex to the intrusion remained sharp. He was just about to lift his white sneaker to retaliate when he caught a glimpse of the woman’s expression: she looked as if she were suppressing a laugh, yet at the same time appeared utterly tongue-tied. The resemblance between this look and that of a certain person from his past was startling—uncanny, really. Last time, he hadn’t paid much attention, but now he realized how strikingly similar her expressions were to those of the eldest daughter of the Zhong family. He pulled his foot back.

He had always been competitive and held a deep respect for the strong. He had felt genuine regret over the death of Zhong Huayan years ago; after all, their life experiences were mirrors of one another—both had lost their parents young, both had faced relatives coveting their family fortunes, and both had stood firm to keep their corporations afloat. In the end, it was a case of heroes recognizing heroes.

"Mr. Wang, dinner is served," a servant said, walking up from behind with a knowing smile.

Wang Yudong tossed his walnuts onto the rosewood tray with a crisp clatter and turned to the people crowded around the mahjong table. "Stop looking at the tiles. Let's eat first. We can play all night; there's no rush."

The group chimed in, "Oh, it's such a pity the nephew lost this round. We should make him pay for the meal as punishment!"

Fu Yanyan rose casually and took off his gray jacket, revealing a black sweater that outlined his well-built physique. His white jade prayer beads clicked against the mahjong table. He glanced at the game with a sidelong look and tossed his tiles onto the board. With a cool, inscrutable expression, he remarked with a hint of sarcasm, "I'm broke. If I had money, why would I come crawling to my grandfather?"

He turned his gaze toward Wang Yudong. The silent exchange between the grandfather and grandson was hard for the others to decipher, though they caught the mocking undertone. They quickly shifted the conversation to the woman in the blue, ankle-length dress.

"Alright, the winner pays for the meal. Who won? Well, it's all in the family anyway! The nephew's wife won."

Zhong Huayan possessed a mysterious and elegant air, yet her behavior was bold and capricious. She took the joke in stride, casually pulling a cigarette from the table and resting it on the edge; even the way her hair fell seemed imbued with a carefree spirit. "It’s fine, I’ll treat. Everyone, eat and drink to your heart’s content. It’s just a meal. Is a few million enough?"

Her enthusiasm ignited the room. In the Northeast, it was common for women to smoke; they were known for their bold, spirited nature. Still, no one expected this young woman, born in the water towns of the South and possessed of such a gentle appearance, to be so magnanimous. If Fu Yanyan was the type to kill the mood, Zhong Huayan was a person of innate, effortless spontaneity.

"Oh, so the nephew’s money is all with his wife. What a blessing," Wang Yudong said. He sat at the head of the table, sipping his ten-thousand-dollar golden milk tea, and began to lecture the group of youngsters. "You uncles and cousins, have you no shame? A joke should have its limits. Today, I’m the host. Day in and day out, you only care about the nephew’s money—look at you, acting like vultures. Do you have any dignity as elders? It’s disgraceful! From now on, whenever you come to my house for dinner—even if it costs millions or you’re eating gold—it’s just a trifle! Don’t listen to their nonsense, my dear. Sit down and let’s eat."

The uncles didn’t look chastened; instead, they began to talk about the generation gap. "Dad, what do you know? Can’t we even make a joke? You sit there with a stern face every day. The nephew hasn't been back in a long time; we’re just trying to have some fun. You clearly have a generation gap with us."

Wang Yudong, whose hair was streaked with gray, remained silent, stroking his beard and choosing not to argue with the younger generation. "Grandson, come sit by me. Xiao Jing, you sit here too. I’m quite fond of you two kids."

Soon, local dignitaries and elites began arriving from outside the courtyard, all invited for the dinner. The area outside was soon packed with luxury cars worth millions, their license plates just as impressive. Fu Yanyan’s aunts and great-aunts also arrived, laden with gifts, dressed in finery, some even draped in sable. Most spoke in local dialects, exchanging pleasantries before eventually clustering around Wang Yudong.

"Mr. Wang, you’re truly blessed to have your grandson back to visit!"

"My, and he’s brought his wife too. The nephew has brought so many precious gifts; he’s so filial."

Fu Yanyan and Guan Yujing found themselves surrounded, peppered with questions. When they proved unresponsive, the crowd turned their attention to Zhong Huayan and the secretary. Even at the dinner table, the relatives’ interrogation was unavoidable.

"Young lady, what do you do for a living?"

"I... I do live-streamed antique appraisal."

As soon as she finished speaking, the room fell silent. Wondering if she had said something wrong, she awkwardly added, "I mean, I identify antiques and handle acquisitions. I do both."

The uncles and cousins were curious. They exchanged looks and asked, "I never would have guessed. Unless it’s a family trade, how can someone as young as you be so accurate?"

She hesitated, sipped her tea, and said slowly, "It... it is a family trade. My uncles and father have always done this. I’ve been exposed to it since I was a child."

The room’s interest piqued instantly. Previously, they hadn't cared much for this girl who bore a resemblance to the Zhong family’s old rivals. But upon hearing she came from a family of appraisers—and noting her easygoing nature—they grew warmer.

"Then, my dear, take a look at this. It was a gift from a brother who runs a hardware factory. Tell me, what is this called? What era is it from? And what’s it worth?"

Zhong Huayan found this to be a simple task. She had grown up playing with artifacts; her father’s obsession with collecting antiques had ensured she was immersed in the field from birth. It was a skill passed down through the bloodline.

"This is a Qing Dynasty bridge-ear censer with the ‘Le Qin Shu Yi Xiao You’ mark. The golden filigree on the rim is truly exquisite, and it’s in remarkable condition. While it may look ordinary, given the period, it’s easily worth several hundred thousand."

The crowd erupted in murmurs of praise. She had inherited the family business and was a talent in her own right. At the very least, she wasn't some idle socialite wasting her life away.