As night fell, the stars scattered across the sky like chess pieces that had been nudged, appearing slightly weary.
However, Mr. Gu Bei was full of energy, pulling out an indigo Tang suit he hadn’t worn for a long ti. It took three servants to help button up the intricate frog buttons one by one.
"Sir, you look so vibrant today. Is there a special guest coming to celebrate your birthday?"
"Of course, my granddaughter has finally co to the capital. It’s been nineteen years since we’ve seen each other; I have to make a good first impression on her."
"Didn’t you secretly go to the countryside to see her six months ago and take a lot of supplies with you?"
"Well, I didn’t see her that ti. She went with her adoptive parents to the mountains to offer incense for so Brother Dog next door..."
"Brother Dog? The young lady is really down-to-earth..."
"Thinking of my poor granddaughter, it brings tears to my eyes. I warn you all, even though my granddaughter is from the countryside and doesn’t know anyone in the city or the ways of the world, you are not to bully her. Treat her well!"
"Yes, sir, we wouldn’t dare."
Mr. Gu was giving the servants so warnings.
"Grandpa!"
A sweet call echoed from afar.
Gu Pinting, wearing the new dress given to her by Gu Shiyin, burst in like a brilliant fla.
Mr. Gu’s eyes lit up, "Pinting, you’re dressed so festively today."
"Grandpa, are you talking about a granddaughter, are you talking about ?"
"Ahem, you’ll know in a mont. Grandpa will introduce you to a relative tonight."
"Grandpa, are you going to marry a new grandma?"
"Hey! What are you thinking, silly girl, I’m introducing you to an elder sister."
Gu Pinting looked puzzled.
Following Gu Pinting’s steps, Gu Shiyin entered with a vague sense of unease, "Dad, isn’t tonight your birthday banquet?"
"Yes, it’s to introduce you to that girl, and to have a birthday banquet in passing. I was afraid she wouldn’t co otherwise..." Mr. Gu paused mysteriously, "Don’t ask too many questions, you’ll understand later."
Gu Shiyin: "..."
Gu Pinting: "..."
What kind of important person made the old man host a birthday banquet just "by the way"?
mbers of the Gu Family’s close relatives gradually arrived.
Apart from the eldest brother Gu Yuzhi who couldn’t make it back from Qingcheng, and the fifth sister Gu Qiusha who was kicked out of the family years ago, the second brother Gu Xizhi and his wife Qin Tao, the third brother Gu Pingzhi and his wife Sun Jiao, the fourth sister Gu Mingzhu, and the sixth sister Gu Shiyin all showed up.
The younger generation, the second brother’s son Gu Jingyan, and the third brother’s daughter Gu Pinting, also arrived.
These relatives weren’t very close in their usual interactions, and there was so undercurrent of competition between the second brother, third brother, and fourth sister for the inheritance of the Gu family business, leading to secretive tensions upon eting.
Only Gu Shiyin, the youngest and well-esteed Boss of Ma Jia, stood aloof from all this, having her own career and capabilities, garnering respect from the entire Gu family.
At this mont,
Gu Shiyin, seeming like the mistress of the Gu family, welcod the brothers and sisters-in-law on behalf of Mr. Gu, and was just about to return to the hall to arrange for the start of the birthday banquet.
When she heard the sound of wheels rolling outside the door again.
Another guest?
Wasn’t tonight supposed to be a family gathering?
An elderly man with gray hair descended from the car, holding a jar of wine, smiling as he walked in without even glancing at Gu Shiyin.
"Professor Feng Tang?" Gu Shiyin was surprised.
Feng Tang was a proud archaeologist who didn’t show face to anyone at yesterday’s auction. Yet today, he had co to wish her father a happy birthday?
Could it be that at yesterday’s auction, he was too strict and harsh on her, so he’s here today in private to smooth things over?
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