Chapter 176 - Tang Hao’s Present
Chapter 176: Tang Hao’s Present
After the episode, the atmosphere in the courtyard was unsettling.
Everyone’s gaze toward Tang Hao was either full of hostility or envy.
“Are you going to let go of the matter just like that?” Qin Gang stood next to Tang Hao and said angrily. “The two people are despicable! How dare they pull off such an underhanded scheme?”
Tang Hao smiled. “Don’t worry, they won’t know what hit them.”
Qin Gang was surprised. He was about to ask further questions when a group of people came out of the house.
The group of people surrounded a bony, frail old man with white hair. He was slightly hunched and walked slowly with the help of a walking stick.
Unquestionably, that was Old Master Qin.
The atmosphere in the courtyard was once again festive. The people crowded all around and greeted him with celebratory messages and birthday presents.
Most of the birthday presents were antiques, especially calligraphic scrolls.
Old Master Qin was known to be fond of antique calligraphic scrolls.
“Ah, there’s no need to! Why are you giving me presents? Didn’t I say that I don’t want anything?” Old Master Qin said while waving his hand. “I’m happy that everyone is here.”
“You shouldn’t say that, Old Master. These gifts represent our thoughts for you. If you don’t accept them, does that mean that you don’t appreciate us?”
“That’s right. You should take them, Old Master!”
The people tried to convince Old Master Qin.
Old Master Qin laughed drily.
The Qin family members went around to collect the presents.
“Let’s go!” Qin Xiangyi noticed that fewer people were crowding around Old Master Qin, then pulled Tang Hao over to greet the Old Master. Qin Gang also followed along.
“Grandpa!” Qin Xiangyi smiled happily and greeted Old Master Qin with a sweet voice.
Old Master Qin smiled. His eyes were brimming with indulgence as he looked at Qin Xiangyi.
Then, he shifted his gaze to Tang Hao and slightly furrowed his brows, though he soon looked away as though nothing happened.
“Don’t tell me that you’ve prepared a present for me too, my dear granddaughter!” Old Master Qin pretended to pull a long face.
“It’s your eightieth birthday today, Grandpa! I’d be rude if I come here empty-handed!” Qin Xiangyi said and extended the hand that was hidden behind her. It was a scroll holder.
“I’ve prepared this painting for you, Grandpa. It’s from the Qing dynasty. Take a look!” As she spoke, she stepped forward and handed the scroll holder to Old Master Qin.
“Silly girl!” Old Master Qin muttered, then laughed heartily.
He opened the scroll holder and took the painting out. His eyes sparkled as he unfurled it. “Good! This is a good painting! You know what I want, my granddaughter! No wonder you’re my favorite!” He exclaimed.
“Isn’t that so!” Qin Xiangyi said with a smile.
“Look here, Grandpa. I’ve brought you a present too!” Qin Gang smiled as he stepped forward while holding a wooden box in his hand.
“There’s no need for presents, boy! If you can get married soon and let me carry my great-grandchild in my arms, that’ll be the best birthday present!” Old Master Qin said sternly.
Qin Gang scratched his head and looked a little awkward.
“Can you not mention that, Grandpa? It’s still too early!”
Old Master Qin glared at him, then turned his head to behold the wooden box. “What’s that?”
Qin Gang smiled. “It’s a pair of jade horses from the Song dynasty. Take a look!” He opened the box as he spoke.
In the box was a pair of identical white jade horses. They were delicately carved and looked real.
“You know what I want too! Good boy!” Old Master Qin laughed heartily.
Right after Qin Gang stepped back, Chen Yan and Zheng Haoyu squeezed their way to the front.
“Old Master, the Zheng family sends our regards to you. Haoyu has prepared a special birthday present for you and he hopes that you’ll like it,” Chen Yan said.
“Come here, Haoyu, give Old Master the present!”
Zheng Haoyu walked forward while carrying a classic-looking black wooden box.
“Old Master Qin, my father could not make it today because he is on official business. On behalf of the Zheng family, I wish you a long and prosperous life.” As Zheng Haoyu spoke, he went down on one knee and handed Old Master Qin the wooden box.
Old Master Qin grinned. “You don’t have to so formal. Get up! I haven’t seen you for several years and you’re already so tall and handsome. Not bad at all! Right, what’s this?”
“You can open and take a look for yourself, Old Master.”
Old Master Qin reached out and opened the lid of the wooden box. When he saw its contents, he was shocked.
“This is…?” He blurted.
“That’s right. It’s a set of jade inkwells belonging to my late grandfather. He knows that you like them, and now that he’s gone, it’s time that the inkwells find a new owner.”
Old Master Qin felt sentimental as he beheld the inkwells.
Then, he lamented, “Sigh! He’s gone too soon. If he could tough it out for a few more years, he’ll be celebrating his birthday with me today.
“Haoyu, these inkwells are too precious!” Old Master Qin was touched.
“You should accept them, Old Master!” Zheng Haoyu said.
“Alright, I’ll accept them! This is very considerate of you.” Old Master Qin nodded.
Chen Yan watched the scene with glee. She breathed a sigh of relief when the Old Master accepted the present.
Now that the Old Master was fond of Zhang Haoyu, their plan later was more likely to succeed.
Then, she glared at Tang Hao and shrieked, “Hey, Tang kid, why aren’t you giving him your present? Don’t tell me you didn’t bring anything when attending a birthday celebration?”
Everyone, including Old Master Qin, turned to look at Tang Hao.
Tang Hao smiled casually. “You don’t have to worry about that. Of course, I’ve brought something.”
“Heh! I wonder what did you bring? Let’s show it to everyone!” Chen Yan mocked.
“Alright!” As he spoke, he reached into his pants pocket and retrieved a small jade bottle.
Everyone was shocked when they saw that.
“Don’t tell me… the jade bottle is your gift?” Even Chen Yan also found it to be ridiculous.
She had thought that Qin Xiangyi would prepare a present for him. However, the jade bottle was too small and too plain to be a decorative antique.
Everyone frowned and looked at Tang Hao with condescension.
“What kind of trash is that? Doesn’t he have any dignity at all?”
“I think he must’ve picked it up from a flea market!”
Old Master Qin seemed unimpressed.
He did not care much for gifts, though he felt that Tang Hao was being insincere.
Tang Hao remained composed. “Of course, the gift is not the bottle, but its contents. I’ve prepared some medicine for you, Old Master. You’ll be healthy once you take the medicine.”
Everyone became silent after they heard that.
‘He made the medicine himself?’
‘Is this kid crazy? What if something goes wrong?’
“Whoa!” Everyone exclaimed. They began to look angry.
They thought that the kid was rude. How could one give handmade medicine as a birthday present?
In the worst-case scenario, the medicine would be poisonous to Old Master Qin!
Even Old Master Qin started to look angry.