Chapter 289 Your family's banquet, you definitely won't be nervous!
She quickly declined, "I'm an outsider, so I shouldn't bother you. How about this, it's not far from my shop. If you have some time, could you wait for me for a moment? I'll go back and pack a gift, and I'd appreciate it if you could pass it on to me?"
Mo Chen thought for a moment and said, "I drove here, let me take you home. That will save time."
Jiang Ling thought about it and then agreed.
The two then returned to the general store together.
Jiang Ling asked Mo Chen to sit on the first floor for a while, and then quickly went up to the second floor.
Giving gold and silver jewelry as gifts to an elderly person's birthday banquet is rather tacky.
I've heard Mo Chen mention that his grandmother was a young lady from a wealthy family when she was young.
Jiang Ling thought of the old lady in the TV series who had a privileged childhood and remained elegant and dignified even in her old age.
She carefully searched through the cabinet where important items were kept, and her gaze finally fell on the set of shimmering brocade that Qin Zhao had given her.
This fabric is shimmering and of exceptional quality; it was an extremely precious tribute item in the Great Yu Dynasty. As a birthday gift, it is both special and not too flashy.
This is it!
She carefully packed the brocade into a specially made gift box and tied it with a ribbon.
Just as she was carrying the gift box down the stairs, Mo Chen, who was waiting on the first floor, happened to answer the phone.
"Grandpa... um, I just finished taking care of things here."
As he listened to the phone call, his gaze inadvertently swept over Jiang Ling, who was coming down the stairs, and he added casually, "I'm with Jiang Ling right now, at her shop."
On the other end of the phone, Old Master Mo said something, and Mo Chen's face showed a subtle expression.
He responded a few times, then covered the microphone, looked up at Jiang Ling, handed her the phone, and whispered, "My grandfather wants to talk to you."
Jiang Ling's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively tightened her grip on the gift box.
Looking at the phone Mo Chen handed her, she was momentarily at a loss.
But since it was Old Master Mo calling personally, she couldn't afford to be impolite. Taking a deep breath, she temporarily placed the gift box on the nearby counter, took the phone, and tried to keep her voice steady:
"Hello, Mr. Mo."
The voice of Grandpa Mo came from the other end of the phone, cheerful and full of energy: "Jiang girl! I heard from Xiao Chen that you two are together? Perfect! It's my birthday tonight, just a simple family gathering, no outsiders, you should come and join in the fun! Don't refuse, it's just a casual meal!"
"Grandpa Mo, this...this is too much of a disturbance..." Jiang Ling tried to refuse tactfully.
"What's the big deal! We're such good friends. I really liked the things you sent last time, and I haven't thanked you properly yet! It's settled then, Xiao Chen will bring you along! We've all been waiting for you!"
Grandpa Mo didn't give her a chance to refuse. All of Jiang Ling's words of refusal stuck in her throat.
The Mo family has helped her a great deal, and even Old Master Mo personally invited her. It would be impolite for Jiang Ling to refuse again.
"...Alright, then I'll trouble you and the old lady."
After hanging up the phone, Mo Chen took the phone, looked at her flustered appearance, a smile flashed in his eyes, and he said gently:
"Don't worry, it's just a family dinner, relax. Let me hold the gift for you."
Jiang Ling looked down at her simple casual clothes and murmured, "I...I might need to change my clothes."
It would be extremely impolite to attend a birthday banquet like this.
As dusk fell, the Mo family's car slowly drove into a tranquil manor.
It's less of a residence and more of a meticulously maintained, tranquil garden amidst the hustle and bustle.
Outside the car window, pavilions and towers are hidden among the lush greenery, with winding corridors and soaring eaves. As the lights come on, they outline a dignified yet elegant silhouette.
There is no ostentatious display of wealth, only a low-key and dignified presence accumulated over generations.
Jiang Ling had changed into a well-fitting, light purple modified cheongsam, with a simple and elegant design.
She gently pulled her long hair up, revealing her smooth neck, and applied a light layer of powder to her face, giving her a more gentle and serene look than her usual casual style.
She held the gift box containing the shimmering brocade in her hands, looking somewhat hesitant.
"Don't be nervous, just be yourself." Mo Chen walked beside her, saw through her thoughts, and comforted her softly.
He had also changed into a dark suit with subtle patterns, his posture upright, and his every move exuded the composure and demeanor of a scion of a prominent family.
Nonsense! It's your family's dinner party, you certainly wouldn't be nervous!
Gazing at the pavilion so close before her, Jiang Ling had nowhere to retreat and could only sigh inwardly. Summoning her courage, she took a step forward.
Upon entering the main hall, a warm and rich sandalwood scent greets you.
The interior furnishings are not extremely luxurious, but every piece of furniture and decoration exudes an antique charm and extraordinary taste.
Although Jiang Ling didn't understand much about traditional Chinese ink paintings, she could still sense the profound skill in their brushwork and that they were definitely not ordinary works.
Many guests have already arrived. The men are mostly dressed in dark Chinese-style formal wear or suits, while the women are dressed elegantly, adorned with jewels but not in an overly flashy way.
As the heir of the Mo family, Mo Chen naturally became the center of attention wherever he went. He attracted everyone's gaze the moment he entered the door.
Jiang Ling, who was standing next to Mo Chen at that moment, was undoubtedly affected.
All the laughter and conversation came to an abrupt halt in that instant, replaced by curious and scrutinizing gazes that fell upon her.
"Xiao Chen is here." A graceful middle-aged woman walked over with a smile, her features bearing a resemblance to Mo Chen's.
Her gaze swept gently over Jiang Ling, without excessive enthusiasm or the slightest hint of disdain.
“Mom,” Mo Chen introduced, “this is Jiang Ling, Miss Jiang. Jiang Ling, this is my mother.”
"Greetings, Madam Mo." Jiang Ling bowed slightly, greeting her with a dignified yet respectful demeanor.
Madam Mo smiled and nodded, her gaze lingering on the woman's face for a moment, a fleeting glance revealing her scrutiny.
"I've often heard the old man mention you; you really are a bright and clever child. Come on in, your grandparents are waiting inside."
Jiang Ling entered the inner hall, drawing the gazes of everyone.
The atmosphere here is more intimate, clearly a place where the core family gathers.
These were all important figures who had seen it all before. Their surprised gazes lingered on Jiang Ling for a moment before they looked away.
At the head of the table, Mr. Mo was talking to an elderly lady wearing a dark red silk cheongsam, who was none other than Mrs. Mo, the birthday celebrant of the day.
Her face was kind, but her eyes were clear and bright, and she had a warm smile on her lips as she spoke to the person next to her.
Mo Chen led Jiang Ling forward, "Grandpa, Grandma. Your grandson wishes you boundless happiness and longevity!"
Then he handed over the gift he had prepared.
Grandma Mo looked at her eldest grandson with affection: "Good, Xiao Chen is very thoughtful."
Next up is Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling stepped forward, presented the gift box with both hands, and said in a clear and gentle voice, "Grandma Mo, I wish you boundless happiness and longevity. This is just a small token of my appreciation."
"Oh? You're Jiang Ling?" Old Madam Mo smiled as she accepted the brocade box, but didn't open it immediately. Instead, she carefully examined her for a moment.
"My husband talks about you a lot at home, saying you have a good eye and have found many things he likes. Please sit down and let me take a closer look."
The guest list for this banquet had already been submitted, so she wasn't too surprised to see Jiang Ling.
Just as Jiang Ling sat down in the empty seat next to Mo Chen, a pretty figure approached her.
The newcomer appeared to be about eighteen or nineteen years old, dressed in a peach-pink evening gown, with pink beaded flowers tucked into her hair, and had bright, expressive eyes.
"So your name is Jiang Ling?"
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