Chapter Ten: A Joyous Move

After returning from Jiang Qin, Ling Feng made another trip to Chen Hei Bai’s place to sign the contract.

That evening, after buying groceries, Ling Feng came home intending to hand Chen Hei Bai’s contract to Chu Bi Yue and probe her attitude toward marriage.

But unexpectedly, as soon as he stepped through the door, Lin Fang unleashed a torrent of scolding.

“I’m so angry! Other families’ sons-in-law are so accomplished—someone even gifted a villa in the Rich Garden. But my three sons-in-law are hopeless, one worse than the other, and there’s even a useless one. I’m furious, absolutely furious!”

Ling Feng, carrying the groceries, asked Chu Bi Yue curiously, “Who is Mom angry with this time?”

“Don’t call me Mom. I’m not your mother. You have nothing to do with Bi Yue or our family. How dare a country bumpkin like you call me Mom?”

“Mom, could you please say less?” Chu Bi Yue replied, a bit unhappy. “This really isn’t Ling Feng’s fault—it has nothing to do with him.”

“If it’s not his fault, then it must be yours. Look at you, at your age, still unable to find a decent boyfriend and bring home a wealthy husband. What does Chu Imperial Concubine from your uncle’s family have that you don’t? Look, she’s about to marry the son of a listed company, and Ling Zheng even gave them a villa.”

Chu Imperial Concubine, the daughter of Chu Bi Yue’s uncle, was pampered from birth. To show off, her family named her Chu Imperial Concubine. In the Chu family, she always acted high and mighty, especially looking down on Chu Yang’s branch. Among them, she disliked Chu Bi Yue the most, simply because Chu Bi Yue was prettier.

Her fiancé, Ling Zheng, happened to share the same surname as Ling Feng. Thus, Lin Fang often made sarcastic comparisons between Ling Zheng and Ling Feng.

Both surnamed Ling—how could their lives be so vastly different?

Chu Bi Yue explained, “Just now, eldest sister and brother-in-law came over. They said Imperial Concubine’s fiancé gifted the uncle’s family a villa in Rich Garden, over two thousand square meters, worth more than a hundred million, fully furnished and ready to move in. They’re preparing for the housewarming tomorrow. That’s why Mom’s upset.”

“Eldest sister and brother-in-law are really something—they left after boasting, leaving us to suffer.”

Ling Feng noticed that Chu Bi Yue called her ‘my mom’ instead of ‘our mom,’ and couldn’t help but smile bitterly, thinking to himself how clearly she drew the line.

He pondered further. Was Imperial Concubine’s fiancé really that impressive? Something felt off. That listed company’s total assets were only five hundred million, so gifting a villa worth a hundred million seemed far-fetched.

Ling Feng mused silently.

“Oh well, I’ll go cook.”

Ling Feng had to escape, or who knew how Lin Fang would use him as her scapegoat.

In truth, with his current financial strength, buying a villa was no different from buying cabbage. But he still couldn’t reveal his true identity, which made things awkward.

“Useless.”

Ling Feng pretended not to hear Lin Fang’s insults, lowered his head, and chopped vegetables, washed them, and cooked. Only after an hour did he emerge from the kitchen.

Lin Fang, still fuming, said, “The eldest branch is really showing off now. They called to invite us to tomorrow’s banquet for their housewarming. Isn’t this just to annoy us?”

Ling Feng went to fetch the dishes, and his phone rang. It was Jiang Qin calling, so he answered.

“Your Majesty, the gift I sent to you and Imperial Concubine has arrived, hasn’t it?”

Gift! Imperial Concubine!

“What gift did you send?”

“Just a modest villa in Rich Garden, delivered directly to Chu Peng’s house. It’s a small token, not nearly enough to express my respect for you, Your Majesty. I hope you won’t disdain it.” Chu Peng was Chu Bi Yue’s grandfather.

“How did you present the gift?”

“I… I said it was a present from Mr. Ling to Miss Chu.”

Damn!

Ling Feng felt as if ten thousand wild horses were stampeding through his mind.

This was such an absurd coincidence.

“Your Majesty, is there a problem? You haven’t received my gift, have you? That can’t be—Chu Peng personally told my subordinate he would hand it to the Imperial Concubine.”

Jiang Qin was puzzled. He’d assumed the Chu family wouldn’t know the identity of the War Emperor, but Chu Peng mentioned ‘Imperial Concubine,’ which maybe meant he’d miscalculated.

“They’ve invited me to tomorrow’s housewarming banquet. Should I go?”

Hell no! This blunder had gotten Ling Feng scolded by Lin Fang.

Ling Feng wanted to curse him, but reconsidered—he couldn’t admit anything, nor retrieve the gift, or his identity would be exposed.

So Imperial Concubine, who looked down on others, would benefit for nothing.

Ling Feng was about to explode with anger. “Do as you see fit.”

He hung up, leaving Jiang Qin baffled. Why was the War Emperor so displeased?

Oh, he understood.

Jiang Qin was no longer part of the regiment and had become a shrewd businessman over the years. After thinking for a moment, his eyes lit up.

It was too modest—a gift to the War Emperor should be grander. This needed immediate remedy.

Luckily, tomorrow would provide the opportunity.

“Quick, fetch me a top-spec Maybach 62s.” The three essentials for gift-giving: car, house, woman. The woman wouldn’t be accepted, the house was already gifted, so only the car remained. Tomorrow, he would personally deliver it to the banquet.

The next day, the front of Villa No. 1 in Rich Garden was bustling with joy. The Chu family patriarch, his three sons, two daughters, and their children were all present.

Chu Yang’s three daughters and sons-in-law also arrived at the gate. Ling Feng, carrying bags of gifts, lagged behind.

“Mom, why did you bring that useless guy? What an embarrassment.” Chu Yao Yu complained to Lin Fang upon seeing Ling Feng.

“That’s right. The uncle’s family always looks down on us. Now they live in a hundred-million villa, they’ll be even more arrogant. Bringing him along will only make us lose face!” Chu Dong Mei chimed in.

Hearing her daughters, Lin Fang became irritated, “Blame me, will you? Bi Yue insisted on bringing him. What could I do?”

“Mom, I just wanted Ling Feng to broaden his horizons. After all, he works as a driver—maybe it’ll be useful for him in the future,” Chu Bi Yue said, somewhat displeased.

“What use is he? Even if you put a country bumpkin in a palace, he’ll still be a bumpkin. Being a driver won’t impress anyone. Can a driver gift a villa? Will anyone respect him?” If it weren’t for the occasion, Lin Fang would have caused a scene.

“In that case, I won’t go. I don’t want to be looked down upon.” Chu Yao Yu suddenly turned to her husband, “Zu Wen, let’s leave.”

Qian Zu Wen, Chu Yao Yu’s husband, was an executive at a listed company, earning over a million a year, holding a high status in the Chu Yang branch.

He frowned, tossed his cigarette butt to the ground, and said, “Mom, Dad, you can’t blame Yao Yu. Ever since our brother-in-law married into the Chu family, he hasn’t worked and is constantly looked down upon. He really shouldn’t attend this kind of event, otherwise the aunt and Imperial Concubine will seize the opportunity to make trouble and drag us down.”

“Yao Yu, don’t be so stubborn. I believe Mom and Dad know we mean well, but their hands are tied. We should be understanding.”

Only then did Chu Yao Yu turn back. “Fine, but let him keep quiet once inside. If he says anything, I won’t attend.”

Lin Fang had no choice but to pull Chu Bi Yue aside and whisper something to her. Then, they entered the villa courtyard ahead.

Chu Bi Yue and Ling Feng trailed behind. At the door, Chu Bi Yue said quietly, “You know what the uncle’s family is like. Once inside, try not to speak, eat what you can, avoid crowds, and don’t stoop to their level. We’ll leave soon.”

Though they’d spoken at a distance, with Ling Feng’s abilities, nothing within thirty meters escaped his notice—not even a passing mosquito. Naturally, he heard every word. But he couldn’t be bothered to care.

Ling Feng hadn’t expected Chu Bi Yue to preserve his dignity so gently. He was deeply moved.

“Alright.”

Seeing Ling Feng so obedient, Chu Bi Yue felt reassured and led him inside.

The villa was enormous—just the fountain alone was as vast as a football field, with lawns and greenery, and the main building resembled a palace. Lin Fang had only seen such luxury on TV, so she wandered about, marveling and sighing in envy.

But when Uncle Chu Tian and Aunt Liu Xiang Yun approached, Lin Fang immediately lifted her chin, feigning indifference.

“Oh, Second Aunt, you’re here! Sorry to keep you waiting. The courtyard is so big, I didn’t see you. Please don’t take offense.” Liu Xiang Yun greeted Lin Fang with exaggerated politeness.

What nonsense—the courtyard was too big to notice them, as if they were beneath her.

But now, living in such a grand villa, it was hardly surprising they looked down on others.

Lin Fang was furious inside, but kept her composure. She knew the more upset she seemed, the more pleased the other side would be, so she forced herself to respond with a few perfunctory words.

Chu Tian’s family wasn’t overly warm either—just a token greeting and a few polite words before turning to entertain other guests. As for Ling Feng, they didn’t even bother with formalities; he was utterly ignored.

Chu Yang led his family into the dazzling villa hall, paid respects to Grandpa Chu Peng, exchanged greetings with relatives, and found seats. Afterward, hardly anyone interacted with them; Chu Peng’s children all gravitated around the uncle’s branch.

Such was fate—the Chu Yang branch was the least successful in the whole family.

Originally, Lin Fang thought the uncle’s family was just showing off among relatives, but upon entering, she realized all the Chu family’s distant relations were present.

Not only relatives came, but many unfamiliar guests, rumored to be Ling Zheng’s business associates, all appearing wealthy.

No wonder Chu Tian’s family was so proud today.