Chapter 69: Ye Family
"Good condition." An old man took away the magnifying glass in front of him and rubbed his eyes. He smiled and said to the man in a suit sitting opposite him: "This gold-inlaid gemstone gourd bottle is authentic and was made during the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. Congratulations, Mr. Zheng, for your discerning eye for gemstones."
The man in the suit smiled casually: "I feel relieved when you say that. To be honest, I feel a little guilty when buying such high-end goods in Chang'an without your approval."
"Aren't you flattering me? Everyone knows that the two directors Dong and Lin have the brightest eyes in Chang'an. When it comes to antiques, I can't compare with them." The old man smiled and stood up, and the man in the suit stood up at the same time. He shook hands and said, "I don't think Mr. Ye's eyesight is inferior to theirs. This is just a thank-you gift, but it's not a respectful gesture. Please accept it, Mr. Ye."
When they separated their hands, there was already an extra card in Mr. Ye's hand. He didn't even look at it, but put it directly on the table next to him, raised his hand and made a "please" gesture: "I'll give you a ride."
A few minutes later, the old man returned to the room. In front of the antique table, a young man in his twenties was fiddling with the card. He didn't even raise his eyelids when he heard the voice. "Where did this nouveau riche come from? He actually gave me a card as a thank-you gift? I've been appraising for so many years, but this is the first time I've seen such a peculiarity. That gold-inlaid gemstone gourd bottle is not a top-notch item. Grandpa, you can't raise the price if you appraise people like this."
"Shut up." Before he could finish, the old man snorted and opened his eyes. He looked at the young man sternly and said coldly: "After so many years...you still can't change your arrogant temper!"
"I……"
"What do you mean by 'you'?" The old man shook his head and said coldly, "You haven't learned your lesson from Ling Xiaozi's incident? Who do you think you are? Others have gone from being penniless to being wealthy now, but what about you? You are a specialist in the Archaeology Bureau of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and I found you a position like that! What qualifications do you have to look down on others? You really have high aspirations but a fragile life!"
The young man dared not say anything more. However, there was a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes. The old man closed his eyes in disappointment and shook his head: "Do you think you are being wasted? Haha... Although my Ye family is not as good as Chaohaitang, it is the ancestor's family. If it weren't for your impatient temper and the group of pictures of Ling Xiaozi serving tea to me, how could Master Xu be in such a difficult situation? How could the Ye family have come to this point?"
"Do you think that only our Ye family is precious? Others have been in charge of the mountains and seas for two thousand years and have continued to do so under such extreme circumstances. They are much more experienced than us... Master Xu doesn't want to fall out with others. We are the ones who have to bear his wrath! Haven't we suffered enough these past few years?"
"If it weren't for Directors Dong and Lin's mediation, we wouldn't even have the chance to come to Chang'an... Go down, study hard at the Academy of Social Sciences, temper your temper, and don't show up in front of me for no reason!"
At this moment, there were a few knocks on the door, and the housekeeper came in quickly and whispered, "Mr. Ye, Director Lin is here."
The old man stood up immediately: "Please come in!"
The housekeeper pursed his lips, hesitated for a few seconds, and spoke nervously: "But... he brought Mr. Jiang here..."
The old man didn't react for a moment: "Mr. Jiang? Which Mr. Jiang?"
Without waiting for an answer, he shuddered and gasped, "Lan Shanhai?!"
………………………………
Jiang Xian and Lin Fangruo stood in front of a wooden door.
This is a full moon archway with continuous blue bricks on both sides. Inside is an elegant villa. However, the villa is not big, and the continuous creepers spread on the wall, giving the wall a more time-honored charm.
"Will he meet us?" Jiang Xian finally said, "It's been ten minutes since he knocked on the door."
“Yes.” Lin Fangruo said calmly, “He owes me a favor. If I hadn’t mediated back then, the Ye family would probably be gone now.”
Jiang Xian didn't say anything, but his brows were slightly furrowed. Lin Fangruo looked straight ahead, as if he had seen everything, and said, "Are you worried that he can't solve your puzzle?"
Without waiting for Jiang Xian to speak, Lin Fangruo continued, "If it's about principles and laws, there's really nothing he can't do. Even though he lives in a small house now, the Ye family has produced some great figures. Have you ever heard of Ye Jiusheng?"
Jiang Xian nodded. Of course he had heard of this name.
It can even be considered the beginning of their enmity with Master Xu.
"Ye Jiusheng... a master of geomancy, feng shui, numerology, Nine Palaces, and the imperial teacher of the Qing Dynasty..." He smiled bitterly and said, "Back then, there were only some signs of conflict between the Minzhou School and the Jiangxi School. But at that time, Longhu Mountain was still the orthodox Taoism. However... just because Ye Jiusheng was from the Minzhou School, he achieved enlightenment and the whole school rose to prominence."
"Minzhou practices numerology, while Jianggan practices physiognomy. They have the same origin but different qualities... After Ye Jiusheng became a grandmaster, he constantly attacked the Jianggan faction, which led to the rise of the Minzhou faction. The two factions have since become mortal enemies. If it weren't for him, Ling Xiaozi offering a cup of tea would actually be nothing."
Lin Fangruo nodded: "Ye Xiaozu is the direct descendant of Ye Jiusheng. In terms of logical strength and extensive knowledge, he is not weaker than Master Xu. The two are on par with each other. What a pity..."
He sighed, looked at the closed door, and suddenly said, "You'd better get ready."
"Oh?" Jiang Xian blinked and asked in confusion.
"Wowokeng has been sealed." Lin Fangruo said in a very low voice: "The Academy of Social Sciences attaches more importance to it than we thought. I heard that... more than a hundred exploration team members have entered the underground palace. All of them are armed with live ammunition. The Central Military Region is escorting them. In addition... Lao Long, Lao Dong, Master Ma of Heming Mountain, and Lao Zhu of Yili Autonomous Region have all joined the exploration team."
"There are more than a dozen casualties now. But I called Lao Long's home this morning and heard that he had returned last night. He was very tired and was resting."
Jiang Xian took a deep breath and nodded seriously.
The government's first propaganda offensive will arrive in at least one month. If he cooperates perfectly, he will gain a lot of fame!
Some things don't need to be said clearly. Lin Fangruo nodded slightly. Just as he was about to continue, the door opened with a rustling sound, and Ye Xiaozu came out in person, smiling: "Mr. Lin, long time no see."
He bowed deeply, then looked up at Jiang Xian, smiling as he said, "Mr. Jiang, nice to meet you. You are truly a hero in your youth."
After a brief greeting, Ye Xiaozu led the two into the house. As soon as they walked in, Lin Fangruo twirled his beard and smiled, "Where is your grandson Ye Chengan? I've heard that your collection is all-encompassing, Old Ye. I want to take a good look today . Just ask him to take me there."
This was to give the two of them space to talk. It was obvious that he was very familiar with Ye Xiaozu, so he went straight upstairs. Only Ye Jiang and Ye Xiaozu were left downstairs.
For a moment, both of them were silent. After a full minute, Ye Xiaozu finally laughed, filled a cup of tea, and handed it over with both hands: "Mr. Jiang, please have some tea."
Apology tea.
The old man held the teacup in his hands, and lowered his head to the same level as his arms. He sighed and said in a deep voice: "Although it's a little late, I'm sorry for what happened back then."
"My grandson is naughty, and I just wanted to make a joke. He doesn't know Ling Xiaozi's identity, and he doesn't know how terrible Tongtian Mansion is... I didn't teach him well enough, so please forgive me, Master Jiang."
Jiang Xian stood there in a daze for a moment.
Did Ye Xiaozu think that he came here to call for punishment?
Otherwise...why would I, at my old age, personally offer him apology tea?
But... he had no such intention at all. Instead... he truly realized Ye Xiaozu's hatred for Ye Chengan, and his mixed feelings of love and hate. For a moment, he felt pity for the love of parents in the world, and was stunned.
"Mr. Jiang." Seeing that Jiang Xian didn't answer, Ye Xiaozu gritted his teeth and said, "The Ye family is no longer the same as it was back then. We have already left Wuyi Mountain..."
"Grandpa!" Before he finished speaking, an extremely angry voice came from upstairs: "What are you doing!"
Jiang Xian looked up and saw a young man in his twenties standing at the entrance of the corridor, watching the scene in disbelief.
He was not handsome, but he was very heroic, but his eyes never looked at anyone, as if everyone in the world was inferior to him. However, at this moment, these high and mighty eyes were staring at his grandfather.
"Why do you offer tea to this grandson?!"
"Even if our Ye family is in decline, we still have to maintain our dignity..."
"Shut up!" Before he finished speaking, Ye Xiaozu suddenly raised his head. Jiang Xian then realized that he was already blushing with shame, his eyes were red with anger, and the beard on his chin was trembling slightly.
"You want face?! The Ye family has already lost all its face!"
"We can't even leave Wuyi Mountain if we have the face!"
"If you had any shame, you wouldn't be in Chang'an right now!"
The voice was getting louder and louder, and Ye Xiaozu's chest was rising and falling sharply. He said in a trembling voice: "Do you know how to save face now? What did you do back then? If you do something wrong, you must admit it! If you can't admit it, I will help you admit it! If you know the word shame, get out of here!!"
After saying that, he turned around, as if he had made up his mind, raised the teacup with both hands, and placed it in front of Jiang Xian: "Mr. Jiang, please have some tea! "
The voice was resolute. Jiang Xian sighed, held the other person's hand, and put down the teacup: "I'm not here to ask for punishment."
In one sentence, Ye Xiaozu and Ye Chengan both stayed where they were.
"There are some things I want to ask Mr. Ye." Jiang Xian smiled bitterly and said, "You are not the only one who offended Master Xu back then."
Ye Xiaozu's eyes moved, and then he chuckled. After a few seconds, he laughed loudly, shook his head and retracted his hand: "When people get old, they will worry. When they worry too much, they will be afraid of things and see enemies everywhere. I'm sorry to make you laugh, Master Jiang."
"Hmph!" Ye Chengan snorted coldly, turned around and disappeared on the second floor.
"Master Jiang is very generous. I admire him." Ye Xiaozu bowed and said, "I wonder what it is that made Master Jiang put aside his grudges and come here in person?"
Jiang Xian pursed his lips and said word by word: "See, God, not, bad!"
These four words were like four nails that nailed Ye Xiaozu to the spot, and his pupils shrank slightly.
“I want to know all about it!”
Ye Xiaozu stopped smiling and looked at Jiang Xian deeply with eyes like a tiger.
