So much time has passed, yet An Qiuyan and Shen Mingjue remain entangled. Old Master Shen's health has declined with age and his energy is waning.
Since my own strength has grown and I no longer fear An Qiuyan and Shen Mingjue, it's time to return this string of beads and end the entanglement.
After paying the bank's custody fees for over two years, Jiang Ling retrieved the string of jade beads using the voucher.
Indeed, this string of beads was truly beautiful.
A faint purple, lustrous and glistening, dreamlike and ethereal, possessing a clarity and translucence superior to the finest mutton-fat jade.
In an era of increasingly scarce jade resources, such a treasure is even rarer, worthy of being a heirloom.
The following afternoon, Jiang Ling, carrying the string of jade beads, arrived at a high-end private tea house in Modu.
Before Jiang Ling even arrived, someone inside had already heated water, scalded the teacups and teaware, and was quietly awaiting the arrival of her guest.
As she pushed open the door, she saw the tea master performing the ritual with fluid grace, a truly pleasing sight.
Jiang Ling had just entered when Old Master Shen followed closely behind.
Old Master Shen glanced over, and the tea master, understanding his cue, quietly withdrew.
“Little Jiang, it’s been over two years since we last met. Have you been well?” Old Master Shen looked at Jiang Ling with a kindly expression.
“Thank you for your concern, Grandpa Shen. I’ve been doing well these past two years. How about you?”
Old Master Shen picked up a Jian ware cup and took a slow sip of tea. “I’m alright, though my family has been quite restless. As the saying goes, ‘A foolish wife brings disaster to the home.’ For years, I’ve hoped Mingjue would marry a proper wife. I didn’t ask for a distinguished family background or exceptional beauty, only that she be honest, decent, and not cause trouble within the household. Who knew…”
He sighed deeply. “Children grow beyond their parents’ control, let alone grandchildren. But these past few years, the household has been in constant disarray. How can I not worry…”
Jiang Ling smiled. “Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes. Why should you worry so much? You should just enjoy your old age.”
“The tree desires stillness, but the wind will not cease. I’ve toiled my whole life, and the older I get, the more I worry. To be able to quiet down and enjoy life, how easy is that!” Old Master Shen said with a wry smile.
“As for Shen Mingjue… I can’t say much. But if you feel you can’t manage him, perhaps you could consider other children. You do have other grandsons, after all.”
Jiang Ling’s implication was that if the main account was unusable, one should try a sub-account.
If Shen Mingjue was disobedient, wasn't there Shen Minghuang?
Old Master Shen was momentarily stunned, then shook his head. “The elder one is no good, and the younger one is even less so!”
It wasn’t that he hadn’t considered cultivating Shen Minghuang, but the thought of the child’s mother having such a poor background made him give up.
The older generation placed great importance on lineage. That woman was of questionable character. If his younger son hadn’t been too ‘exhausted’ by women in his youth and ruined his health, rendering him unable to have more children, he wouldn’t even have acknowledged Shen Minghuang as his grandson.
Jiang Ling detested Shen Mingjue’s character and had hoped that Old Master Shen would change the heir due to An Qiuyan.
Unexpectedly, after so many years, he still looked down on Shen Minghuang.
Such blatant favoritism would surely sow discord within the family, leading to irreparable regrets.
However, as an outsider, she had no need to meddle in others’ family affairs. A hint was enough.
If Old Master Shen couldn't listen, there was nothing she could do.
Old Master Shen took another sip of tea. “Although I don’t concern myself with the muck of the entertainment industry, I often see your news. I didn’t expect that after terminating your contract with Huohua Media, your life would get better and better.”