Read Novel Full Chapter 50.1 – Birthday Banquet: Second Part (I)
Chapter 50.1 – Birthday Banquet: Second Part (I)
The first floor of the residence was furnished with numerous booth-style seating areas and small tables for people to rest and converse. In the very center, several large sofas were arranged and already filled with people. Seventy-year-old Old Master Ning, with graying hair but a vigorous spirit, sat in the middle, dressed in a dark red Tang suit with an intricate ‘福’ (fortune) pattern, surrounded by his guests.
Among them were Huo Pengyi and his wife, along with a few other peers. They were currently engrossed in a conversation about stamps.
“Is it really the ‘The Red Landscape of China?” Huo Pengyi was visibly excited.
“Yes,” an elderly man responded. “I even brought the cash with me to bid for it, but then I was told that the owner isn’t selling.”
“If they’re not selling, why bring it out at all?” Huo Pengyi complained. “Just to tease people?”
“Apparently, the owner likes courtyard houses,” the elderly man explained. “They want to trade the stamp for a few good courtyards.”
Old Madam Huo’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively glanced at her husband.
Huo Pengyi furrowed his brows in thought. “We do have a few courtyards…”
The elderly man shook his head. “Too late! Otherwise, you might’ve had a chance. I have a few courtyards too, but by the time I got word, someone had already made the trade.”
Disappointment was written all over Huo Pengyi’s face. Old Madam Huo, however, breathed a slight sigh of relief. If Huo Pengyi had considered trading courtyards for the stamp, then the claim that their ancestral home was ‘not for sale’ was clearly just a bluff to fool Ning Shaobai!
“Uncle, you are too slow with the news!” A young woman in her twenties said with a bright smile. “The new owner of that stamp isn’t into collecting. It’s back at the auction house and will be up for bidding in the next session!”
Everyone instantly perked up.
Huo Pengyi chuckled, “None of you better compete with me.”
The young woman, unfazed by the group of sly old foxes around her, laughed. “Uncle Huo, that’s a bit domineering, don’t you think? We all should rely on our own abilities. My mother wants that stamp too.”
Old Master Ning interjected, “That’s right! Pengyi always gets the best deals every time, but this time, I’ll make the call—you all can compete fairly.”
Laughter filled the room just as Ning Shaobai and Ning Shaoyun entered.
“Grandpa,” Ning Shaobai greeted.
Old Master Ning’s face lit up with joy. “Xiao Yun, Xiao Bai, you’re back! Come over here.”
As the siblings walked to their grandfather, Ning Shaobai asked, “Grandpa, you were the one who told us not to bring Chenchen today because there would be too many people around, right?”
Old Master Ning wasn’t aware of the conflict that had occurred outside, but he certainly wouldn’t contradict Ning Shaobai in front of so many people. Without hesitation, he seamlessly replied, “Yes, the child is still young. I was worried he wouldn’t be well looked after today. You can bring him next time; it’s the same anyway.”
Ning Shaobai continued, “But Aunt Fan insisted that you missed Chenchen so much you couldn’t sleep, and that if we didn’t bring him, we’d be unfilial.”
Old Master Ning’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly as he met Ning Shaobai’s gaze.
Ning Shaobai didn’t back down, silently waiting for his response.
The old man glanced at his daughter-in-law and sighed inwardly before speaking. “Your Aunt Fan must’ve been too busy and got things mixed up. I never told her that. Don’t hold such trivial matters against her.”
Fan Xiuzhi smiled triumphantly. See how ridiculous Ning Shaobai is? The Old Master did not contradict his grandson’s words, so so why would he undermine her, the lady of the house?
Ning Shaobai gave a faint smile. Now that he had confirmed his grandfather’s stance, there was nothing left to worry about.
With the matter smoothed over, Old Master Ning shifted to warmly chatting with Ning Shaoyun and Ning Shaobai, his genuine care for his grandchildren evident. However, Fan Xiuzhi soon noticed something unusual.
Who’s well-groomed young woman sitting beside the Old Master? Could it be…
Sure enough, moments later, Old Master Ning took the young woman’s hand and introduced her to Ning Shaobai. “This is Qiongying. She’s been abroad for many years and has only recently returned. She’s still adjusting, so take care of her for me, will you?”
A bad premonition rose in Fan Xiuzhi’s heart. She hesitated and asked, “And this young lady is…?”
Old Master Ning chuckled. “This is my old friend’s granddaughter. Her family is also in the pharmaceutical business. Xiao Bai, aren’t you a doctor? You and Qiongying should have plenty to talk about.”
The young woman was indeed poised and confident. She stood up and greeted Fan Xiuzhi. “Hello, President Fan, I’m Gao Qiongying.”
Fan Xiuzhi was momentarily stunned, searching her mind for relevant information before making a guess. “You’re from Gaokang Pharmaceuticals…?”
Gao Qiongying smiled. “That’s right, Gaokang Pharmaceuticals is my father’s company.”
Fan Xiuzhi glanced at Old Master Ning, trying her best to suppress the resentment welling up inside her. So, this old man had even prepared this kind of fallback option for Ning Shaobai!
It was well known that the owner of the Gaokang Pharmaceuticals had only one daughter, and the company would eventually be passed down to her. If Ning Shaobai were to marry into the Gao family…
Gao Qiongying extended her hand toward Ning Shaobai with a bright smile, clearly quite satisfied. “Hello, can I call you Shaobai?”
Xia Mian’s eyes widened in surprise—‘Wow! A live matchmaking session!’
It was hard to tell whether Old Master Ning was trying to compensate Ning Shaobai or simply protect him from the overbearing Fan Xiuzhi.
However, Ning Shaobai showed no appreciation for his grandfather’s painstaking effort. He merely shook hands briefly out of politeness and said, “As you like, Miss Gao.”
Sensing his formal and distant tone, Gao Qiongying adjusted her demeanor accordingly. “Nice to meet you.”
Fan Xiuzhi immediately let out a lighthearted chuckle, pretending to smooth over the situation. “Let’s put making friends aside for now. Xiao Yun and Xiao Bai rarely come back—Dad, don’t you want to see what gifts they’ve brought you?”
One guest echoed, “That’s right! Old Master Ning, you’re truly blessed. Just now, Xiao Yang gifted you a beautifully carved piece of warm jade—such a thoughtful present.”
“Life is about cherishing family moments like these. It doesn’t matter what the gift is—as long as it comes from the younger generations, it’s something to be happy about!”
Old Master Ning grinned from ear to ear.
Ning Shaoyun turned and pulled out a scroll from the box in Rong Xin’s hand. “I painted a birthday tribute for Grandpa. May you have blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea and a life as enduring as the Southern Mountains.”
“Wonderful, wonderful!” Old Master Ning proudly told the crowd. “My granddaughter has had a talent for painting since she was a child.”
With that, he slowly unrolled the scroll on the spot. It depicted a serene rural scene featuring a longevity deity modeled after Old Master Ning himself, reclining leisurely in a deck chair amidst picturesque countryside scenery. Around him, a group of lively children frolicked about.
Even those unfamiliar with art could sense the warmth and liveliness radiating from the piece.
“Excellent, excellent,” Old Master Ning praised again, his joy evident.
The surrounding guests immediately began to flatter:
“This is truly impressive! Did she paint this herself? So thoughtful.”
“The artistic expression is remarkable…”
“Your granddaughter’s still young, but her skill is already this exceptional…”
Fan Xiuzhi wore an expression of beaming pride. “Of course! Our Xiao Yun is an amazing artist. Just recently, one of her paintings, [Guardian], was exchanged for a project in Chengbei area for the Huo family.”
As she spoke, she turned to look at Huo Pengyi and Hu Cuihua, who were seated beside Old Master Ning. “Isn’t that right, in-laws?”
‘Wow. Another move from contestant Fan Xiuzhi!’
The Huo couple, maintaining their polished facade in public, smiled and nodded in agreement.