Chapter 19 A Show of Force
Childhood sweethearts, a perfect match in terms of social standing, and her fiancée was arranged by her family.
Isn't this just a standard female supporting character challenging the main character?
Ignoring the glare that seemed to want to devour her whole, she stepped forward, bowed slightly to the two elderly people in the armchair, and spoke in a clear, neither humble nor arrogant, voice.
"Grandpa, Grandma, I am Su Wantang."
Grandma Lu didn't even lift her eyelids. She picked up the blue and white porcelain teacup beside her, turned her head away, and faced away from her.
"snort."
A cold snort escaped from his nostrils, contemptuous yet loud.
This was a clear demonstration of power.
Su Wantang's smile remained unchanged, but she was calculating in her heart. Getting past the old lady wouldn't be easy.
At the head of the table, the imposing old man, Mr. Lu, finally raised his eyelids.
His gaze, like two sharpened military daggers, swept over Su Wantang without any emotion, yet it sent chills down her spine.
"sit."
He uttered a single word and pointed to the empty sofa next to him.
Su Wantang readily agreed and sat down, her back ramrod straight.
Grandpa Lu picked up his teacup and gently skimmed off the foam with the lid. His movements were unhurried and slow, and the only sound in the living room was the crisp clinking of the porcelain.
"I've heard about the Su family in Shanghai," the old man said, his second sentence hitting the nail on the head. "You certainly have some tricks up your sleeve."
It's impossible to tell whether this is a compliment or an insult.
It can be interpreted as praising her decisiveness, or it can be interpreted as scolding her for being ruthless.
That's enough pressure.
Su Wantang didn't reply, but just sat quietly.
She knew that if she spoke now, explaining would be seen as covering up, and arguing would be seen as a sign of her guilty conscience.
The best response is silence.
She didn't say anything, but someone next to her couldn't hold back any longer.
"Grandpa Lu, please don't frighten Wan Tang."
Ye Manrou stood up and gracefully walked to the old man's side, reaching out to refill his water. Her posture was intimate and natural, as if she were the mistress of the house.
Her voice was so soft it seemed to melt water, and she wore a gentle and graceful smile.
“Wantang is still young. She came to Beijing alone from Shanghai, and she doesn’t know anyone there. It must be tough for her. Unlike me, I grew up with you and I know your temper. You have a sharp tongue but a soft heart.”
What a clever move, adding fuel to the fire with a strong hint of green tea.
In just a few words, he both boasted about his unparalleled close relationship with the Lu family and completely categorized Su Wantang as an "outsider" who didn't know the rules and needed to be "understood".
This tea ceremony is quite sophisticated.
Su Wantang kept her eyes down, seemingly oblivious to Ye Manrou's unspoken message.
Her public persona today is that of a pretty vase.
A qualified capitalist knows best when to lie low and when to leave the stage to his trump card.
And her trump card was standing right beside her at that moment.
Lu Jingyan's brows furrowed into a deep frown.
Looking at Ye Manrou's hypocritical face, the temperature in his eyes dropped to freezing point.
"grandfather."
He spoke, his voice as deep as iron.
“I brought Wan Tang back to inform you, not to ask for your permission.”
"boom!"
These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the quiet living room!
Old Master Lu stopped spitting out the tea foam.
Grandma Lu's already stern face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
Ye Manrou's gentle smile froze on her lips, and the shock and embarrassment in her eyes almost overflowed.
This is a slap in the face to her face, without any mercy!
Lu Jingyan didn't even glance at her. He took a step forward, his tall frame completely protecting Su Wantang behind him.
"She is my wife, my only wife whom I, Lu Jingyan, legally acknowledge."
“From now on, she will also be a member of this family.”
It was a resounding statement, leaving no room for argument.
This is no longer protecting his wife; this is declaring war on his entire family.
Su Wantang leaned against his broad back, smelling the faint scent of tobacco and his sharp, masculine aura, and felt as steady as a rock.
Hmm, this husband of mine is alright, we can get along, and he really goes the extra mile when things get tough.
"presumptuous!"
Grandma Lu finally couldn't hold back any longer. She slammed her teacup heavily on the table, making a loud "bang".
"Lu Jingyan, is this how you talk to your elders?!"
The old lady was so angry that her chest heaved violently, and her hand trembled as she pointed at Lu Jingyan.
"Are you going to turn against your family for this woman of unknown origin?!"
Lu Jingyan said expressionlessly, "She has an innocent background and is my lawfully wedded wife. Grandma, watch your words."
"I was careful with my words?" Grandma Lu laughed in anger. Her sharp gaze passed over Lu Jingyan and fixed on Su Wantang. "Someone from a merchant family reeks of money! Our Lu family is a military family, full of loyal martyrs. When did it become the turn of a capitalist's daughter to step into our home?"
"You can come in," the old lady said coldly, her words as sharp as knives, "but the Lu family rules cannot be broken. Our family doesn't need those pretentious, tasteless actors-turned-businessmen!"
An actor!
merchant!
In this era, for the old lady of the Lu family to utter these two words was the most vicious insult.
The air in the living room seemed to freeze completely.
Two terrifying flames of anger instantly ignited in Lu Jingyan's eyes.
That murderous aura, honed on the battlefield and as thick as mountains of corpses and seas of blood, spread uncontrollably.
"grandmother!"
His voice, as if squeezed out from between his teeth, carried a chilling edge.
Just as he was about to explode, a soft little hand gently pressed down on his clenched fist.
Su Wantang stood up.
She walked past Lu Jingyan to the center of the living room, facing Grandma Lu's critical and disdainful eyes.
There was no anger, no resentment, and even a faint smile on his face, polite yet distant.
"Grandma is right."
She spoke, her voice not loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.
Lu Jingyan was taken aback.
A hint of smug satisfaction flashed in Ye Manrou's eyes.
See? He got scolded so badly he gave in.
Su Wantang continued, "I'm new here and don't know the rules, please forgive me. I brought you and Grandpa a gift, but I don't know if it's appropriate... according to the Lu family's 'rules'."
She deliberately emphasized the word "rules".
After saying that, she turned around and took out a square package wrapped in dark blue velvet from a cloth bag that Lu Jingyan had brought in.
She held the package in her hands, walked to the mahogany coffee table in the center of the living room, and gently placed it on it.
His movements were elegant and unhurried.
This composure caused a strange glint to flash in the eyes of the usually silent Old Master Lu.
Everyone's attention was drawn to the mysterious blue package.
A disdainful sneer welled up in Ye Manrou's heart.
A gift to mark our meeting?
What good stuff could it be?
People from places like Shanghai, at best, produce some tacky gold and silver jewelry, or some low-class local specialties.
Is he trying to bribe the elders of the Lu family with something like this?
How naive and ridiculous!
She was waiting to see how Su Wantang would embarrass herself and how she would be humiliated even more mercilessly by Grandma Lu.
Facing everyone's gaze, Su Wantang stretched out her slender fingers and pinched a corner of the velvet cloth.
Then, gently lift it up.
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