The appraisal master, Zhang Mingshi, proceeded to assess both the diamond ring and the vase.
The diamond ring received Zhang Mingshiâs affirmation, not because it was real, but because the forgery was done with a considerable degree of effort.
Therefore, Zhang Mingshi valued this ring at 100 yuan.
As for the vase, the forgery was so badly done that Zhang Mingshi angrily deemed it worthless.
Yet, this diamond ring was claimed to be worth a million!
And this vase, claimed to be worth 500,000!
The disparity was quite overwhelming.
Wei Zihanâs face turned pale, while Zhu Xiaolongâs face was flushed.
Elder Wei couldnât help but ask, "Master Zhang, is there any possibility itâs real? Could you please carefully appraise it again?"
This question irked Zhang Mingshi: "Such trash, and you want me to appraise it again? Brother Wei, are you looking down on me?"
Elder Wei hurriedly replied, "I wouldnât dare, it was presumptuous of me. Please, Master Zhang, calm your anger."
Elder Wei truly didnât dare offend Zhang Mingshi; his circle in the antiques world was full of rich and influential people.
Since Zhang Mingshi said it was fake, then it must be fake!
He didnât believe Lin Fan, but he couldnât not believe Zhang Mingshi.
Seeing Elder Wei apologize, Zhang Mingshi chose not to pursue the matter.
"Zihan, what on earth is going on?" Elder Weiâs expression darkened as he looked at Wei Zihan.
It was all because Wei Zihanâs items were fake, leading to such public embarrassment!
All the members of the Wei family fell silent, with a touch of awkwardness on everyoneâs face. They had all been praising Wei Zihan and Zhu Xiaolong before, and now it was a slap in the face.
Wei Zihanâs face was ashen as she trembled and said, "I... I donât know what happened either. Darling, please explain this!"
Wei Zihan looked toward Zhu Xiaolong.
Zhu Xiaolongâs face was flushed red: "Itâs impossible for them to be fake. I spent a lot of money on these. I must have been deceived."
Wei Zihanâs eyes reddened as she pleaded tearfully: "Grandpa, weâre innocent, Xiaolong was deceived, we didnât mean to gift you fake items."
Lin Fan smiled and said, "Deceived? Young Master Zhu, didnât you just claim that this diamond ring was an heirloom of yours? What, your heirloom is fake, and several generations didnât realize it? How foolish can you be?"
Zhu Xiaolong, angrily, "You..."
Wei Zihan snapped, "Lin Fan, can you shut up!"
Lin Fan chuckled, "You really believe he didnât know? Such a fool?"
Wei Zihan replied, "So what if I believe it!"
Lin Fan laughed, wondering how else he could respond. If Wei Zihan chose to believe Zhu Xiaolong, surely sheâd suffer more consequences, but she brought it on herself. Lin Fan found entertainment in seeing her face setbacks.
At this moment, Wei Qingxue couldnât help but burst into laughter: "Wei Zihan, looks like your precious vase, along with your engagement diamond ring, are no match for my 30,000 yuan gift."
Wei Zihan was livid: "Wei Qingxue, what right do you have to mock me? Even if this diamond ring is fake, Master Zhang still said itâs worth 100 yuan. And you, what has your deliveryman husband ever given you, not even a dime!"
Everyone burst out laughing.
Indeed, itâs embarrassing enough for Wei Zihanâs items to be fake, but Wei Qingxue was even more so, having received nothing upon marriage!
Just then, a servant brought in a box wrapped in red silk, clearly a dowry gift.
Soon after, a middle-aged man entered.
The dowry was brought by this middle-aged man.
Elder Wei asked curiously, "Who might you be, and what does this mean?"
The middle-aged man replied, "My name is Zhang Dafu, and my boss, Mr. Lin, sent me. These are dowry gifts for a young lady from the Wei family, with wishes for a happy union between Mr. Lin and Miss Wei!"
The moment these words were said, everyone was stunned.
Elder Wei asked, "Mr. Lin? May I ask which Mr. Lin, and which young lady from the Wei family is it for?"
Zhang Dafu replied, "Mr. Lin, the new richest man in Yun City, as for which young lady, Mr. Lin did not specify. My task here is done, goodbye!"
Zhang Dafu gave a small bow and turned to leave. As he left, he caught a glimpse of Lin Fan sitting in the corner.
Lin Fan was casually munching on a chicken leg.
Zhang Dafu was puzzled, wondering what kind of plan his boss was devising.
Today, Lin Fan contacted Zhang Dafu, asking him to prepare this dowry. What Zhang Dafu just said was according to Lin Fanâs instructions.
He had no idea what Lin Fanâs intention was.
Zhang Dafu couldnât be detained and hurried off. By the time everyone reacted, he was already out of sight.
Elder Wei still had questions to ask but had to drop it. He then instructed, "Quickly, open it and see whatâs inside."
The servant removed the red cloth, opened the box, and everyone was astonished at what they saw inside.
"A pair of perfectly matching jade bangles!"
"Blooming flowers, a pair of diamond necklaces!"
"A golden lock symbolizing a perfect union!"
"..."
"500,000 in cash!"
"Oh my god!"
Listening to the servant announce the dowry items one by one, everyone was left in a state of shock, especially upon hearing about the 500,000 cash; they were practically green with envy!
These dowry items, just one of them, starts at a million, and added together, theyâre worth over ten million!
Everyone gasped in disbelief, wondering who could be this generous, and which young lady of the Wei family was the fortunate recipient?
Elder Weiâs eyes lit up: "Mr. Lin, indeed the richest man in Yun City, such generosity, yet which of our Wei family is fortunate enough to catch Mr. Linâs eye!"
Mr. Lin, their Wei family, could never dream of associating with someone of such status!
But this question had no answer.
Wei Tang laughed and said, "Let me handle this, we can use the process of elimination. Firstly, rule out our dear president, since itâs dowry gifts, naturally it must be for someone unmarried, and our president already has her good-for-nothing husband."
"Both having the surname Lin, but such a vast difference. One receives dowries worth millions, and he requires the president to compensate!"
This remark caused uproarious laughter.
Indeed, the Wei family does have a son-in-law with the surname Lin, Lin Fan, though this guy is just a deliveryman from the bottom rung, a poor sap from the countryside!
Wei Qingxue had no comeback. The harshest reality wasnât the ridicule, but the fact that the mockery was true. Looking at the abundant dowries, how could she not be envious, yet thinking of her own circumstances, she realized how truly unfortunate she was!
Wei Tang continued, "Secondly, we can rule out Sister Zihan, since she already has Young Master Zhu."
Wei Zihan looked at the million-worth dowries, filled with jealousy towards the recipient, not knowing which little vixen it belonged to!
The unmarried girls of the Wei family were all excited at this moment, for if it wasnât Wei Qingxue or Wei Zihan, it could be one of them!
"I think itâs for me!" said a rather attractive girl, her face full of confidence.
Wei Zihan retorted, "You think? Iâm not married either, canât I have another suitor?"
This left Zhu Xiaolong standing awkwardly beside them.
Wei Tang laughed, "Sister Zihan makes a good point, thatâs also a possibility!"
Wei Zihan glanced at Chu Mengyu: "Anyway, all the girls here are possibilities, except for Wei Qingxue!"
Hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.