Qin Long instantly grabbed the teacup, stopping it from being thrown. Old Master Tang glared at Tang Xuewu, scolding her furiously. They had clearly become the target of everyone's criticism.
"Get out now and stop making a fool of yourself!" Tang Chuchu pointed viciously at Tang Xuewu's nose and cursed.
The onlookers watched in secret amusement. No one pitied Tang Xuewu in the slightest.
"Grandfather, Long isn't that kind of person. Let me find out the truth, and I'll come back to apologize properly," Tang Xuewu said, shaking her head helplessly as she helped Qin Long slowly out of the hall. To attend my own grandfather's birthday banquet, only to be doubted and humiliated like this... The thought made her want to burst into tears.
Wang Ming's heart ached seeing Tang Xuewu's state, but he didn't ask her to stay. His goal was to drive Qin Long away.
"Alright, alright, that's enough of the cripple's little drama! Everyone, eat and drink up!" Tang Yuxiang boomed with laughter, raising his glass of red wine and downing it in one gulp.
A wave of cheerful laughter and chatter spread through the crowd. Zhang Meilan was also beaming with joy. In her heart, she had never given Qin Long a second thought and would certainly never allow her daughter to marry him. Whether he lived or died was of no concern to her.
"Dear Father, today is your birthday banquet, and I'd like to ask something of you," Zhang Meilan said, looking at the old master with a flattering smile.
"What is it?" Old Master Tang frowned slightly.
"Now that the deadbeat cripple Qin Long has his memory back, isn't it time for him to leave? For the past three years, our Xuewu has had to be both a father and a mother to him, all while rejecting countless proposals from wealthy young masters. It's because of that cripple, Qin Long, that Xuewu's reputation is in tatters, making it impossible for her to marry into a prominent family. Now that he's awake, there's no reason for him to keep dragging Xuewu down. As her mother, it breaks my heart to see it."
At her words, the Tang family members nodded silently. Even the prestigious families of Jiangzhong cast pitying glances. They felt the Tang family had done more than enough for the cripple Qin Long over the past three years. Now that his memory was back, kicking him out was only right and proper.
"Meilan, I understand your pain. For years, he has dragged the reputations of both the Tang family and Xuewu through the mud," Old Master Tang said, shaking his head and sighing helplessly. "Now, who in all of Jiangzhong would dare to pursue Xuewu?"
The young masters from the prominent families were secretly delighted to hear this. They would absolutely be willing. Tang Xuewu was widely recognized as the number one beauty in Jiangzhong. Her face and figure were both top-class. Even if Qin Long had slept with her, there were definitely men who would still want to marry her. The mere thought of Xuewu's curvaceous figure made them gulp.
"Old Master Tang, I, Wang Ming, have admired Xuewu for a long time and wish to take her as my wife," Wang Ming said, stepping forward with a serious expression. "If the old master has no objection, I will have my father come to propose marriage immediately."
Old Master Tang couldn't help but tremble with joy. The Wang Family was one of Jiangzhong's most prominent families and absolutely the best choice. If Xuewu married into their family and gave birth to a son, the Tang Family would surely be restored to its former glory and become a new powerhouse! Without a second thought, he was about to agree.
Just then, the voice of the attendant at the door rang out. "President Zhao of the Yaolong Group presents a snow lotus, valued at 1,800,000!"
Everyone was stunned. The Yaolong Group was a mega-conglomerate in Jiangzhong! They held a monopoly on nearly every economic sector and owned the largest traditional medicine production base. Even the Wang Family was nothing compared to the Zhao Family. Furthermore, the Zhao Family practiced medicine to help the world, training countless disciples to treat the sick. They had won the hearts of the people and were deeply respected by the local community.
Soon, a middle-aged woman in magnificent silken robes entered the hall, followed by an old man.
"Old Master Tang, this is a ninety-year-old natural snow lotus," Madam Zhao said with a smile, slowly handing over a wooden brocade box. "It can regulate the body, nourish one's essence, and even grant a second spring of youth."
"Ah, Madam Zhao, please, take the seat of honor!" Old Master Tang said excitedly, immediately offering his own chair.
The Tang family members were utterly shocked. A gift from the Yaolong Group was undoubtedly a priceless treasure!
"Is that the scent of Spiritual Wine?" Suddenly, the old man beside Madam Zhao rushed to the side, sniffing the air intently. "Where is it?" he muttered, leaving everyone baffled. "Where is it? Yes, that must be it..."
The old man followed the scent, stooping low as he searched the hall. He eventually kicked Wang Ming aside and knelt on the floor. His eyes widened and his body trembled as he stared at the shards of the white porcelain bottle Wang Ming had smashed.
"AH! Heavens above!" he cried out. "This is Spiritual Wine! Which son of a bitch broke it?! Damn his soul! What an idiot!"
His face a mask of grief and fury, the old man carefully tried to gather the remnants of the Spiritual Wine. When he found it impossible, he simply bent down and began to lick the puddle off the floor. Seeing this, everyone stared in disbelief.
Holy hell, is this old man out of his mind?
"Madam Zhao, this...?" Tang Yuxiang asked, raising an eyebrow in her direction.
Madam Zhao, however, ignored him completely, her eyes fixed on the old man with intense excitement.
"Who brought this Spiritual Wine?" the old man finally asked, his gaze sweeping across the crowd.
"It was some poison sent by a cripple," Tang Yuxiang replied with a disdainful sneer, and the other Tang family members chimed in to agree.
"Poison my ass!" the old man roared. "If this is poison, then the wine you normally drink is horse piss, you understand? And this snow lotus is utterly worthless in comparison!"
Everyone froze. The snow lotus from Madam Zhao was an indisputably rare treasure. A similar one had once sold for a staggering 100,000,000 at auction! And this old man was saying it was worthless compared to the wine from Qin Long? Did this mean the wine's value far exceeded 1,880,000? Had Wang Ming just smashed something worth nearly two million? At this thought, everyone turned to stare at Wang Ming in utter shock.
Feeling everyone's strange stares, Wang Ming quickly retorted, "Old man, don't spout nonsense!"
Before the old man could reply, Madam Zhao fixed her cold, piercing gaze on Wang Ming. "Master Wang, this is Divine Doctor Huarong Dao, the chief elder of our Yaolong Group. He comes from a long line of medical experts and has saved the lives of countless important figures. He has dedicated his entire life to the study of traditional medicine. He would never speak recklessly."
Wang Ming flinched. After a moment's hesitation, he steeled himself and insisted, "It was poison. I graduated from a prestigious medical university; there's no way I could be mistaken!"
"Then tell me, what are its ingredients? How was it refined?" Huarong Dao's sharp questions left Wang Ming speechless.
"Tell me! Who was the damn fool who broke this Spiritual Wine?" Huarong Dao's expression was glacial. He clenched his fists, and everyone could clearly feel the waves of rage rolling off him, as if he were about to attack someone.
No one dared to speak. Wang Ming felt like he was sitting on pins and needles.
Huarong Dao sighed softly. "I came today to celebrate the old master's birthday with the intention of possibly taking one of his descendants as my disciple. But now it seems you're all a bunch of fools who can't recognize a treasure right in front of you. I am utterly disappointed."
Cradling the broken shards of the white porcelain bottle with extreme care, Huarong Dao slowly turned and walked away.
Madam Zhao's expression darkened. She said slowly, "You said this was a gift from that cripple in your family?"
"Yes, that's right," Old Master Tang replied respectfully, still stunned.
"Very well. I have matters to attend to today, but I will pay him a personal visit in a few days." Madam Zhao turned and walked out, her eight bodyguards trailing behind her.
After they had all departed, the great hall fell deathly silent. Where on earth did a good-for-nothing like Qin Long get such a treasure? Even Divine Doctor Huarong Dao, the chief elder of the Yaolong Group, treated it like a priceless gem...
At that moment, Wang Ming suddenly...