292 Face Smacking!!
At this moment, Shen Wanying’s voice rang out. “Grandfather-in-law, don’t be angry. I’m to be blamed. My grandfather has two of Madman’s calligraphy pieces, but he treasures them so much that others aren’t allowed to look at them. That’s why I have a stronger yearning to take a look. It’s because Zhongzhang found out about this that he acted impulsively.”
The moment Shen Wanying spoke up, Matriarch Bai, who never really had much interest in other things but cared a lot about her, immediately said, “Since everyone wants to take a look, just show it to them! It’s just a calligraphy piece. It’s not as if it’d be gone if others were to look at it!”
After Matriarch Bai said that, her old eyes turned toward Yun Wei. “Or is Yun Wei unwilling to show it to others?”
Yun Wei. “!!”
The troublesome ball was thrown back into her court.
Yun Wei had seen the situation in the Bai Family clearly.
The first grandson’s status was firm, and none of his siblings dared to vie with him. However, even though Bai Xiaojiu kept a low profile, he was still targeted because Old Master Bai liked him.
Old Master Bai was protective of Bai Xiaojiu, which then led to Bai Zhongzhang, who was the oldest in their generation, feeling increasingly jealous.
On the other hand, while Old Master Bai was extremely strict with Bai Zhongzhang, Shen Wanying was doted on by Matriarch Bai because of the matter with Bai Xiaojiu’s second uncle.
Matriarch Bai didn’t say anything when Bai Zhongzhang was chided.
However, when Shen Wanying jumped out to say that she wanted to have a look at the calligraphy piece, Matriarch Bai immediately stood up for her
Yun Wei then bit her lips and looked at Bai Xiaojiu once again
Bai Xiaojiu’s countenance also became grim, and he said, “Grandmother, it’s not that we don’t want to show it to Eldest Sis-in-law, but we haven’t had the chance to frame it, so the proper protection isn’t done yet. If everyone were to see it and couldn’t help but want to touch it, the calligraphy piece would be damaged easily.”
Matriarch Bai said, “It’s not as if everyone here doesn’t know any better. Why would they intentionally destroy the calligraphy piece? Stop finding excuses. Hurry up! Open it and show it to me as well!”
Bai Xiaojiu didn’t dare to retort any further.
At this moment, the old master suddenly said, “That won’t do. What if someone gets careless? A calligraphy piece that hasn’t been framed mustn’t be taken out like that! Hurry up and give it to me! I’ll show it to you guys after I’ve framed it!”
If the old master was to act shamelessly, the matriarch wouldn’t be able to do anything either.
Only then did Yun Wei heave a sigh of relief.
She exchanged a glance with Bai Xiaojiu. The two of them then went up with the box, handing it to Old Master Bai.
Since Old Master Bai already knew that there was a problem with this calligraphy piece, he’d definitely not open up the box to check it in front of everyone. He then handed it to the butler next to him. “Hurry up and bring it to my study. Tonight, I shall carefully study it by myself!”
“Yes.”
The butler took the box and headed down.
Yun Wei and Bai Xiaojiu felt that they had finally passed this stage.
However, at this moment, something unexpected happened!
For some reason, Bai Xiaojiu’s fifth cousin walked to the butler’s side. After that, all of a sudden, he seemed to have lost his balance and lunged toward the butler.
The butler held the box and wanted to dodge carefully, but it was too late. He was pushed to the ground by Bai Xiaojiu’s fifth cousin, and the box he was holding dropped too.
The lid opened from the impact and the paper fragments fell out!
When Old Master Bai saw that, his heart shrank. He felt his heart aching so much as if a piece of meat had been cut off from it!
The rest of the people also looked over and all of them exclaimed in shock.
“Aren’t these paper shreds? Where’s Madman’s calligraphy?”
“That’s what I was saying. How can the Ford City’s Yun Family be able to buy a calligraphy piece that I couldn’t buy? After all that, it turns out to be fake!”
“Trying to feign to be more than what you’re capable of by putting on a front. What a joke.”
Everyone spoke softly amongst themselves. However, both Yun Wei and Bai Xiaojiu’s countenances turned pale.
Matriarch Bai also frowned, looking at Fourth Madam Bai with a displeased expression. “This is so embarrassing!”
Fourth Madam Bai’s body trembled and she was so angry that she found it difficult to breathe.
How… How could that be possible?
She thought that the Yun Family really did have Madman’s calligraphy piece!
After her visit, in order to raise Yun Wei’s status, they then came to an agreement. However, it turned out that they didn’t have anything?
The favorable impression that Yun Wei had accumulated at the beginning almost dissipated at this moment.
However, Fourth Madam Yun still felt that Yun Wei didn’t seem like such a person.
After all, after the calligraphy piece was given to the old master, it’d be found out sooner or later.
She immediately asked, “What’s going on?!”
Bai Xiaojiu took a deep breath. “Grandfather, the calligraphy piece inside was real. We just don’t know who destroyed it!”
His fifth cousin immediately said, “What is real? If it’s a real piece, won’t you keep a careful eye on it? There was probably nothing inside. You guys didn’t manage to buy Madman’s work and are trying to put on a front here! Miss Yun, if you have it, you have it. If you don’t have it, just say you don’t. Sometimes, people mustn’t be too pretentious.”
Bai Zhongzhang spoke up as if in a fair manner, “Fifth Bro, how can you talk like that? It’s definitely not Miss Yun’s intention to have the calligraphy piece turned out like this. But what Xiaojiu said could be true too. However, even if we manage to find out the one who tore it, there’s no way to prove if the calligraphy piece is a real one. So why not do this? If you can bring out evidence that the calligraphy piece is real, then we won’t consider it as you deceiving the elders. I think that grandmother and grandfather won’t continue to pursue this matter.”
The calligraphy piece was real! Old Master Bai was the evidence!
But could he say such things now?
Of course he couldn’t.
Everyone could only swallow the bitterness they felt.
Yun Wei clenched her fist tightly.
Pursue the matter…
Matriarch Bai was reminded by these words and she looked at Bai Wei. “I don’t recognize a granddaughter-in-law like this!”
Matriarch Bai then threw the head accessory that Yun Wei had gifted her onto the floor and said to the others too, “Return all the gifts she gave you guys earlier! Let’s forget about this marriage! No one in our Bai Family should marry such an unpresentable person!”
Bai Xiaojiu’s eyes opened wide and he stood defensively in front of Yun Wei. “Grandmother!”
Matriarch Bai sneered. “Why? Are you going to go against your elders as well? If you really want to marry her, that’s fine too! You can split away from the family! Our Bai Family doesn’t want a grandson and a granddaughter-in-law like the two of you!”
Bai Xiaojiu’s face turned black.
Old Master Bai’s face also turned black. “That’s enough! It’s such a small matter, but you guys are all making a big fuss out of it! Isn’t it just a calligraphy piece?”
“Isn’t it just a calligraphy piece? I wonder who was talking about this calligraphy piece all the time. A few days back, when he heard that she was giving him one, he was so happy that he couldn’t hold it in. But now, you are being defensive of them?” Matriarch Bai stood up. “I said that marriages can only happen with the capital’s influential families and the four great families. You didn’t believe me then. Do you see it now? No matter how capable they are, they are still petty!”
After saying that, she looked at Fourth Madam Bai. “And you, we got you to pay a visit to check them out. After coming back, you had nothing but praise for her. But how did things turn out? Back then, you didn’t have the capability of keeping my second son by your side, and now you can’t even have good judgment of your daughter-in-law. You’re clearly blind!”
She then pointed to the paper shreds on the floor, saying suggestively, “Sweep out all these thrash!”
A servant came in and started sweeping at Yun Wei with a broom.
Yun Wei’s face flushed red from embarrassment. Bai Xiaojiu stood defensively in front of her, but it was in vain.
The Bai Family was very particular. The men took care of outside matters, and the women took care of family matters. So, the servants at home listened to Matriarch Bai’s words the most.
Old Master Bai was enraged and was about to speak for them when a cold voice rang out from the door. “What is going on here?”
Everyone turned and saw Shen Ruojing and Chu Cichen coming in like a perfectly-matched couple. As they entered, their gazes first landed on Yun Wei. After that, a hint of fury appeared on their faces when they saw what was going on.
Bai Xiaojiu’s fifth cousin sneered and said, “This is a gathering to meet relatives. Why are you guys here?”
Shen Ruojing took out the two sets of calligraphy pieces in her hands and said, “I’m here to bring the calligraphy pieces. Cousin, you came in a rush and left these two pieces in the guest room earlier.”