Chapter 16 Not Giving Face

Jiang Liu walked into the room as he spoke, as if he had known Hua Sheng and her grandmother for a long time. He did not really have much to chat about with Hua Sheng's parents and sisters; they did not have much in common. After talking with them for a short while, Jiang Liu cooked up an excuse that he wanted to visit Grandma Hua and walked into the backyard. He did not expect to hear Hua Sheng and her grandmother speaking about him the moment he stepped in; it was entirely coincidental. Hua Sheng was a little embarrassed to be caught red-handed, so she remained silent. The old lady, on the other hand, was a little happy. She waved her hand and gave instructions to the attendants. "Bring a chair over for this child now." "How are you feeling, Granny?" "Good, good, good... I've been feeling good recently. You two are really fated to be together. Sheng has already told me that your family has been treating her really well." "Oh? She said that?" Jiang Liu replied, amused. He turned his head sideways to steal a glance at Hua Sheng. She was expressionless as she tried her best to remain calm. "Your grandparents had some dealings with us while they were still alive. The Jiangs have always been good and upright people. I can rest well knowing that Sheng has married into your family." The old lady was from a reputable household after all. The words she used sounded pleasing to Jiang Liu's ears. Of course, she did so to help secure a better future for her granddaughter in the Jiang household. "You're far too kind, Granny. However, you're right in saying that we're fated to be together. I'll definitely take good care of Sheng." Was he making a promise to the old lady? "Fetch me my brocade box, Xia." "Yes, Madam." The attendant known as Xia walked quickly to another room in the old lady's suite and carried over a dark red, embroidered, square brocade box that looked exquisitely well-made. A discerning eye would be able to tell that it was valuable. The old lady's arms trembled as she took out a bronze key from a drawer beside her pillow to open the box with. She then took out a pair of newly made gold locks from within. "Here, take them," she said as she stuffed them into Hua Sheng's hands. "I don't want them, Granny. You've already given me the Villa of Abundant Youth... My sisters have been complaining that you treat me far too well. I can't possibly take anything else from you. Please keep them for yourself." Hua Sheng anxiously tried to return the gifts. "It's not for you. I hired a craftsman more than a decade ago to make these miniature gold locks, and he only managed to craft out this pair due to the difficulty involved. I wanted to give them to my great-grandchildren after you've married and got kids of your own, but unfortunately... my body won't hold out till that day, I'm afraid. Keep them... Take it as though I'm giving your children a present in advance." Hua Sheng could not possibly reject her grandmother's goodwill. "Please keep them, Fifth Young Mistress. The old madam is being really sincere about this," the caretaker beside them added. Hua Sheng eventually accepted the pair of miniature gold locks, her eyes already turning slightly red. Jiang Liu was a little moved as well. "Thank you, Granny. However, you'll be fine. We'll bring our child over to visit you and thank you personally," he said. The old lady smiled and did not answer. She knew fully well how bad her situation was. "It's getting late, and you too should head to the dining room for a meal. According to traditional custom, you cannot stay here for the night. Head back earlier, before the sun sets." "Granny..." Hua Sheng was a little reluctant to leave. "Go. You can always come over to visit me another day," the old lady consoled Hua Sheng as she patted her hand. The young lady eventually left reluctantly. They did not really have a pleasant meal. Hua Sheng did not speak much and left quickly with her husband soon after eating. On the way back, Jiang Liu received a phone call. He even purposely put the call on speaker phone. A man's voice began shouting. "Damn, you got married just like that, Jiang Liu. It's a disgrace that you didn't inform your brothers... You have to treat us to drinks tonight, otherwise we'll never recognize you as one of us anymore." "Fine, fine, fine. I'll treat you guys to some drinks." "Bring your wife over as well, the boys would like to take a look at her," the voice said. Jiang Liu didn't dare to reply. Instead, he glanced instinctively at Hua Sheng. She immediately rejected him in a cold voice. "I'm not going. Go yourself if you want to." "Oh my... She's not giving me face at all," Jiang Liu thought, feeling as though he had been slapped.