The vermilion gate of the old house opened to the south.
On the white tile walls on both sides, there were dozens of large glazed palace lanterns with auspicious symbols of good fortune, good fortune, good fortune, good fortune, good fortune, good fortune, and good fortune. The gentle light scattered evenly on the bluestone ground and also illuminated the luxury cars parked by the roadside.
Baskets of flowers were placed in the courtyard from the gate. At this moment, there was a hubbub of voices.
Tonight, it was the 80th birthday of the Fang family in Hangzhou.
A middle-aged man in a splendid Tang suit and a young man welcomed the guests with smiles on their faces at the entrance.
"Uncle Zhang, please come in!"
"Uncle Chen, you're here!"
"Mr. Zhao, we're honored by your presence. Sorry for not coming out to welcome you!"
"Oh, Mr. Wang, you're here in person. The Old Master was just talking about you!"
"Please come in..."
When Zuo Yi stood in front of the high threshold of the Fang family's old house, the faces of the two men in charge of welcoming the guests changed!
The middle-aged man swallowed. He couldn't help but bend down and greet him warmly. "Xiao Yi, you're here. The Old Master is waiting for you inside. Come in!"
Zuo Yi said lightly, "Mr. Fang, I'm not that familiar with you. Please call me by my name. My surname is Zuo Yi!"
This was Zuo Yi's uncle, Fang Chengdong, who was also one of the Fangs that he hated the most!
A few days after Zuo Yi returned from Sadeya, Fang Chengdong took his son to the police station in Linjiang Town to get Zuo Yi's death certificate. They were plotting to get Zuo Yi's property.
Last time, Fang Chengdong acted as a henchman of Jiangnan New City Group to negotiate with Zuo Yi. He was really greedy and shameless!
In the face of Zuo Yi's cold eyes, Fang Chengdong, whose skin was thicker than the city wall, squeezed out a flattering smile. He rubbed his hands and said, "How can you say that? We're family..."
However, Zuo Yi ignored him. He stepped over the threshold and stepped into the Fang family's old house.
Fang Chengdong didn't dare to chase after him. He stood there and laughed dryly to hide his embarrassment.
"What's so great about that?"
The young man next to him said indignantly, "Isn't he just a martial artist? He's so arrogant!"
Zuo Yi had at least said a few words to Fang Chengdong, but he had treated him like air. How could he feel good?
Pa!
Fang Chengdong slapped the back of his head and scolded, "What do you know?"
The fact that Zuo Yi had become a certified martialist by Wu Meng was no longer a secret in the Fang family. No matter how isolated the Fang family was, they had still heard of the recent actions of this disciple who had been wandering outside for a long time.
Among them, Fang Chengdong knew the most.
He knew very well that Zuo Yi was not just a martial artist!
Zuo Yi didn't even give face to the Chen family in Beijing and the Ye family in Tianjin Hong Kong. The latter couldn't do anything to him, and the Jiangnan New City Group even planned to give up on the project in Linjiang Town.
The Chen family in Beijing and the Ye family in Tianjin Hong Kong were major projects worth tens of billions, but Zuo Yi had single-handedly blocked them!
The Chen family and the Ye family were unreachable existences to the Fang family. They could easily crush the Fang family with a flick of their fingers. Fang Chengdong didn't even have the qualifications to be their henchman.
What kind of power did Zuo Yi possess?
Fang Chengdong didn't dare to think about it now. What he regretted the most was that he didn't build a good relationship with Zuo Yi in the past. He even went to Linjiang Town to get Zuo Yi's death certificate …
Just thinking about it made him feel like his sphincter was about to go out of control.
Fang Chengdong also knew very well that the real purpose of Zuo Yi's visit to the old house tonight was not to celebrate the old master's birthday.
The young man, who had been slapped, touched his head gloomily and watched Zuo Yi enter the hall with shame and anger.
At this moment, the hall of the Fang family's mansion was decorated with lanterns and colored banners, and it was very lively. Flower baskets and longevity peaches were placed in a circle, and a huge "longevity" character hung high on the wall. On the left and right sides of the hall were two big lanterns of the Eight Immortals' birthday wishes.
An old man dressed in brand-new gauze sat in an old-fashioned wooden armchair, receiving the blessings from the guests with a ruddy face.
The main members of the third branch of the Fang family, big and small, were gathered in the hall. They were like stars surrounding the moon as they gathered around the birthday boy. Everyone's face was full of smiles.
What a scene of flowers and brocade, a scene of burning oil.
But in Zuo Yi's eyes, such a scene was full of falsehood and decline.
The Fang family in Hangzhou had declined decades ago. The people in the family relied on the businesses passed down from their ancestors to support their vanity. Their lives were worse with each generation.
The head of the family, Fang Maocai, was considered a talent when he was young. He managed the family business well and made the Fang family flourish.
However, the good times did not last long. A global economic crisis broke out, and the Fang family, which was in the export business, suffered a heavy blow. It also defeated Fang Maocai's courage and ambition.
The head of the Fang family became more and more muddle-headed as he got older, and none of his descendants were successful.
When Zuo Qingyun married into the Fang family, she brought a large dowry with her, but when she left the Fang family, she left with nothing.
Because if she wanted to take away her dowry, she could not take away Zuo Yi!
One could imagine the situation of the Fang family at that time. To be able to survive until now, who knew how much ancestral property they had sold.
This mansion would be ruined sooner or later.
But Fang Maocai's birthday banquet was held very grandly every year.
Zuo Yi was completely raised by his mother. He did not eat half a bowl of rice from the Fang family for free, and did not have any sense of identity with the Fang family.
However, when Zuo Qingyun was alive, she had always believed that blood relations could not be separated. The Fang family was heartless, but she and Zuo Yi could not be disrespectful. So every year, Zuo Yi would attend Fang Maocai's birthday banquet.
After Zuo Qingyun passed away, Zuo Yi never stepped into the Fang family again.
It was said that a few years ago, Fang Maocai suddenly had a stroke. Although he did not die in time, he still had a lot of sequelae. He could not even walk.
After the guests in front of him finished paying their respects, he walked forward.
Zuo Yi first handed the birthday gift he brought with him to the banquet manager next to him. Then, he cupped his hands and bowed to Fang Maocai. He said lightly, "Old Master, I wish you happiness as great as the East Sea and longevity as long as the South Mountain."
Just like back then.
The hall instantly became very quiet. Everyone's eyes were focused on him.
Surprise, doubt, anger, curiosity, contempt, astonishment …
Fang Maocai's eyes lit up. He immediately revealed a benevolent smile and nodded. "Little Yi, long time no see. I heard that you went missing for three years. Everyone was worried about you. It's good that you're safe and sound. Don't go out again in the future."
Zuo Yi smiled. "Many thanks for Old Master's concern."
Everyone was worried about him?
What a joke. How many people in the Fang family would be worried about his safety?
There were a lot of people who wanted him to die!
"I hope you can still call me grandfather," Fang Maocai said meaningfully.
Great-Grandfather Fang said meaningfully, "Although Chengping did let you and your mother down, and it was all his fault, you are still a descendant of the Fang family. If you have the time, come back and visit this old man more often."
"This is your home after all."
A middle-aged man standing on the left had an extremely ugly expression. He looked like he had swallowed a fly.
He was Zuo Yi's father, Fang Chengping.
However, Zuo Yi had never admitted that he had such a heartless father.
Fang Chengping was only a few meters away from him, but he didn't even look at him — he was afraid of dirtying his eyes!
This kind of disdainful attitude was clearly felt by everyone present.
Zuo Yi didn't respond to Fang Maocai's sincere words. His face revealed an expression that said, "I'll just quietly watch your performance."
Zuo Yi knew very well what kind of person this Old Master was.
If he didn't know that Fang Maocai was different from before, Fang Maocai definitely wouldn't put on such an "amiable" expression.
When Zuo Qingyun chose to divorce Fang Chengping, it couldn't be separated from Old Master Fang's favoritism and harshness.
The atmosphere was inexplicably awkward.
Most of the guests looked at each other, but some were interested in watching a good show.
"Ahem!"
Fang Maocai coughed twice and forced a smile. "Oh right, your aunt is here too. She should be in the side hall now. You two haven't seen each other in a long time. Go and meet her."
"Mm."
Zuo Yi nodded and turned to leave the hall.
Once he left, the atmosphere in the hall finally recovered some liveliness.
Old Master Fang continued to smile and socialize with the guests, as if he didn't care about what had just happened.
However, his right hand gripped the armrest of his chair so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
Fang Chengping was without a doubt the most awkward person at the scene. Everyone around him was looking at him strangely.
Some mocked him, some took pleasure in his misfortune.
He wished he could find a hole to hide in!
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