390: The Real Inkstone (2)

The Real Inkstone (2)

Shen Bailian raised the inkstone up high and took a good look at it before carrying it over to the table and placing it right next to the inkstone Shi Yao had prepared.2

"Aiya, these two inkstones are really identical to one another! If that's the case, wouldn't that mean one of them is authentic whereas the other one is a fake?

"… But Mumu, I was with you when you bought the inkstone. You spent 300,000 RMB on it, so it's definitely the real deal. Does that mean that… Yaoyao gave an imitation to Old Master Lin for his birthday?

"Old Master Lin dotes on her so much, but she actually gave him a fake good? She's the fiancée betrothed to Lin Jiage, the future matriarch of the Lin Family! How could a person like that give an imitation to Old Master Lin? This is really…" 

"Bailian, what in the world are you talking about?! Don't you know that this is Grandpa Lin's birthday banquet?" Liang Mumu stomped her foot angrily as she quickly rushed forward to cover Shen Bailian's mouth in order to stop her from running her mouth any further.

Taking this entire scene into sight, the look on Lin Jiage's face turned a little cold.

What are you acting for? It's obvious that you're her accomplice! If you really didn't want that what Bailian woman to run her mouth, you could have stopped her earlier. Yet, you only chose to step forward after she had spat out everything to play the role of the mediator here!

After Shen Bailian fell silent, Liang Mumu discreetly shot a glance at Jiang Wangui.

She knew that Jiang Wangui was a conventional and prideful woman, and just as she had expected, the latter's face had already darkened by quite a bit.

Knowing that she had managed to achieve her aim, her heart trembled in glee. However, on the surface, she still maintained an apologetic expression as she said, "Grandpa Lin, please don't get angry. I didn't expect our gifts to be identical to one another. I only shot a glance at Yaoyao's gift earlier, so I didn't think that it would turn out like that. Bailian has always been forthright with her words, so don't take what she had said to heart. Allow me to apologize in her stead… 

"Besides, as you have said, it's the sincerity behind the gift that counts. Yaoyao has always been very filial to you, so even if she got you a fake inkstone, I'm certain that she doesn't mean any disrespect to you. After all, she's limited by her background…"

In truth, Grandpa Lin didn't pay this matter any heed. Even if Shi Yao had given him a fake inkstone, he would still treasure it well.

It was just that Liang Mumu's words had too many implied meanings in there.

On top of that, Shen Bailian's agitated and loud outburst earlier had brought the attention of many people over, and Liang Mumu's voice wasn't particularly soft when she apologized either.

Due to that, these words were heard by practically the entire banquet hall.

As such, Liang Mumu's seemingly earnest apology ended up incurring quite a bit of discussion within the room.

"In the end, the inkstone which Old Master Lin has placed on the table so happily turns out to be an imitation good?"

"Isn't that granddaughter-in-law of his a little too unfilial? How could she give away an imitation as a gift?"

"Based on what I heard from the young lady from the Liang Family, it seems like Old Master Lin's granddaughter-in-law comes from a humble background. I really wonder why Old Master Lin betrothed his grandson to such a woman. No matter what, shouldn't the Lin Family find someone worthy of their standing?"

"…"

These discussions swiftly made their rounds in the banquet hall. Putting aside how Jiang Wangui's face was turning more and more awful by the moment, even the relatives of the Lin Family were starting to show awkward and displeased looks too.

And at this very moment, Shi Yao really couldn't bring herself to continue eating anymore.

It was not as if she had never wondered about why Liang Mumu had talked about how she had prepared an inkstone for Grandpa Lin as his birthday present.

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