Uncle Zhao somehow sensed a bad omen. Normally, before something was brought up to the former master of the Zhao family, that thing would be subjected to inspection first. Even if he did not open it now, he would need to open it later.
After thinking about it, Uncle Zhao opened the box. The moment he saw what was inside the box, he was so scared that he almost flung the box away.
A green tortoise poked its head out and was crawling around inside the silk-lined wooden box.
Before Uncle Zhao returned to his senses from his surprise, he heard the person beside him grin as she added, “This is a hundred-year-old tortoise, I went the extra mile to get it for Grandpa. I wish he could live long until a hundred years old just like this tortoise!”
Uncle Zhao fell speechless.
“Little tortoise!” Joy was originally leaning against the car window, looking at the scenery. When he heard their conversation, he turned his head and exclaimed with joy when he saw the little tortoise inside the box.
“Mhm, this is a birthday present for Great-grandpa.” Zhao Youlin hugged Joy, pushed his outstretched hand back to him and said earnestly.
Uncle Zhao thought to himself, ‘Eldest lady, are you sure you want to be so upfront to the young master of the third generation about this?
“Great grandpa’s birthday present? Why did you give the little tortoise as a birthday present for him?” Joy looked at the tortoise inside the box regretfully. ‘Sobs… What a pity to give away a little tortoise.’
Zhao Youlin cast a glance at Uncle Zhao who was looking awkward. She smiled with malicious intent. “Don’t belittle the little tortoise. It has lived longer than the total ages of your great-grandpa and Uncle Zhao. As such, I give it to your great grandpa. I wish he could live long just like the little tortoise.”
Joy seemingly understood her words and nodded. His expression was cute when he looked amazed.
Meanwhile, Uncle Zhao did not know if he should laugh or cry when he heard them. The eldest lady had not only indirectly prodded the former master in her teasing, but he was also one of them. It looked like the former master had provoked her much during their conversation that day.
Zhao Youlin teased Joy and chatted a while with him. Finally, Joy seemed to realize something and asked, “Mommy, where are we going?”
“We’re going to your great grandpa’s birthday banquet. Haven’t I told you just now? We’re giving the little tortoise as a birthday present for him.”
Uncle Zhao had wanted to hide the little tortoise without anyone noticing it. When he heard Zhao Youlin’s words, he instantly felt like crying out, ‘Eldest lady, can we just forget about it? Let’s not bring it up again.”
He could already imagine the old master’s expression the moment he saw the tortoise.
“Oh, it’s a birthday banquet! Will there be any good food?” Joy puffed up his cheeks and looked thoughtful.
Zhao Youlin let out a bark of laughter. She reached out and caressed her son’s soft hair. She smiled faintly as she said, “You little glutton, of course there will be many good food at the banquet. But, it will be crowded as well. So, you have to be a good boy, Joy. Don’t stuff your face full, otherwise, people will laugh at you, okay?”
Joy was deep in thought for a brief moment. Then, he nodded his head obediently.
The mother and son chatted on along the way. Soon, the car arrived at the Zhao family’s main residence.
As soon as Zhao Youlin carried Joy and came out of the car, she was greeted by the sight of a majestic and grandeur European architecture style gigantic mansion, just like the smaller version of a palace.
Zhao Youlin had initially thought the villa of the Mu family’s house was already one of the most spacious and luxurious residences. Little had she thought that the villa was nothing compared to the Zhao family’s house. It was located in such a high-class area. No wonder it functioned as the main residence.
The residence was surrounded by lush greenery. Zhao Youlin roughly calculated that the car had probably driven for twenty minutes from the main entrance.
It took twenty minutes for them to arrive from the main entrance. So, the cliche setting of the images appeared in the television dramas did exist in reality as well. ‘Darn it. Such evil capitalists! They are just like vampires!’
When Zhao Youlin saw the mansion, she inevitably hated wealthy men all over again.
“Eldest lady and Young Master of the third generation, this way, please.”
“This way?” Zhao Youlin looked in the direction where Uncle Zhao had pointed. Her gaze was cold. ‘What did the old man mean? Does he mean that Joy and I don’t deserve to walk in through the main entrance?’
Uncle Zhao was startled by Zhao Youlin’s sudden outburst of hostility. He then realized that she might have misunderstood him and hurriedly said, “Mr. Zhao has instructed me to bring you to the lady of the house before the banquet starts.”
‘The lady of the house? Isn’t she her eldest aunt?’
The lady of the Zhao family referred to the wife of Zhao Youlin’s eldest uncle. She was also Zhao Youlin’s eldest aunt.
As far as she remembered, ever since Zhao Youlin’s mother passed away long ago, the eldest aunt was the only woman who had treated her very well.
There was no reason other than the fact that Zhao Youlin’s mother had been very close to the eldest aunt. They were just like siblings who talked about everything even before the eldest aunt was even married into the family by accident. Their relationship was so close that it was beyond friendship.
The eldest aunt had been devastated when Zhao Youlin’s mother passed away due to illness. Therefore, she particularly doted on Zhao Youlin who had lost her mother at a very young age.
The eldest uncle and eldest aunt had been married for more than twenty years. They had not conceived a child even to this day. Therefore, the eldest aunt passed on all her expectations and love for a child to Zhao Youlin and treated her as if she was hers.
Unfortunately, there was more or less a gap between the relationship of an aunt and her niece. The eldest aunt intended to treat Zhao Youlin as her own child but with the presence of Zhao Shuncheng and Li Hongyu, everything was beyond her ability.
Li Hongyu was especially the one who had occasionally impeded their relationship and drove a wedge between them.
The eldest aunt and the third aunt were the potential competitors who had a solid chance of inheriting the Zhao family’s fortunes, especially the eldest aunt who held resolute power.
If Zhao Youlin was supported by her eldest aunt, Li Hongyu’s children would have a hard time trying to occupy a higher position in the company in the future.
As such, both of the parties had been in a deadlock situation until the year when Zhao Youlin turned sixteen years old.
Apart from the former master of the Zhao family, the eldest aunt was the next who did not appreciate Zhao Youlin and Mu Tingfeng’s wedding.
At that time, the eldest aunt had earnestly tried to guide Zhao Youlin for a long time. She hoped Zhao Youlin could give up on Mu Tingfeng as there were many nice men in the upper-class society. There was no need for her to be so stubborn and only fall for that one guy who did not love her.
However, Zhao Youlin had been like a woman bewitched at that time. She actually listened to Li Hongyu when Li Hongyu egged her on for the sake of owning Mu Tingfeng. As a result, she resented the elder who had been loving her the most.
Zhao Youlin had even remained quiet when Li Hongyu mocked the eldest aunt for being so nosey and butting her nose into other people’s affairs. As such, her eldest aunt’s heart was deeply hurt, especially when Zhao Youlin was the one she doted on the most.
Therefore, the eldest aunt had never seen Zhao Youlin since she married into the Mu family. Even so, she occasionally assigned someone to pass some gifts to Zhao Youlin. Apparently, she was still very worried about Zhao Youlin.
The moment Uncle Zhao mentioned her eldest aunt, Zhao Youlin immediately fell silent. She thought for a while before she gave in to him. Then, she held Joy’s hand and walked in the direction where Uncle Zhao had indicated to them.
“Mommy…” They did not enter through the main entrance as they had expected. The child who had grown sensitized to such social cues realized something was wrong. He was so nervous that he pulled the hem of Zhao Youlin’s shirt.
