After the pleasantries with the Bai family, Old Master Lu's demeanor visibly cooled. He looked at the other two families with a smile that was not quite a smile, and both Fu Wenwen and Lu Chengsen immediately understood his stance. Old Master Lu did not wish to engage with the Jiang and Luo families.
"Old Master Lu, it has truly been a long time," the Luo family patriarch stepped forward, extending his hand for a handshake. Old Master Lu offered a slight smile.
"I apologize, my hands just touched some pastries and are not clean. I won't shake, lest I soil your hand."
"To shake hands with Old Master Lu is a great honor for this junior, how could I possibly feel soiled!" the Luo family patriarch said enthusiastically, pressing forward as if oblivious to Old Master Lu's visible rejection.
Old Master Lu frowned. Lu Chengsen stepped forward and took the Luo family patriarch's hand. "My apologies, my grandfather hasn't washed his hands and fears being impolite, so I will stand in for him..."
Could a handshake be substituted? The surrounding people glanced at Lu Chengsen, but no one dared to question it.
"Old Master Lu, you don't still hold a grudge, do you?" The Jiang family was represented by an elderly woman who smiled slightly upon seeing Old Master Lu.
Seeing the Old Madam Jiang, Old Master Lu ceased even the pretense of social politeness. Fu Wenwen, witnessing this, stepped forward to respond on his behalf.
"Of course not, my grandfather is the most magnanimous," Fu Wenwen smiled at the old madam. "He is very respectful of elders and generally doesn't argue with them."
"You little chit, what right do you have to speak when we elders are conversing?" Old Madam Jiang's face darkened immediately, as if reprimanding a junior for interrupting.
"Oh, Grandma, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Lu Chengsen's wife, Fu Wenwen," Fu Wenwen offered a gentle curtsy to Old Madam Jiang, her face displaying a smile of gracious understanding. This made it seem as though she, in her magnanimity, was choosing not to bicker with an elder. In an instant, this put Old Madam Jiang at a disadvantage.
Old Madam Jiang struck her cane heavily on the ground. "You, a young wife married into the family, what right do you have to speak?"
"Old Madam Jiang, do you perhaps have a mental illness? If you are unwell, you should see a doctor. Although current medical technology isn't advanced, I believe they should be able to cure your condition," Fu Wenwen said with a smile to Old Madam Jiang.
"Nonsense, I am perfectly healthy, I am not ill," Old Madam Jiang stated coldly.
"How can that be? Delusional disorder is also an illness, and it needs treatment," Fu Wenwen said, pointing to her own head as she looked at Old Madam Jiang.
"You dare insult me!" Old Madam Jiang roared, banging her cane forcefully.
"Oh, I'm not insulting you, I'm just kindly reminding you! It's best to take care of your own affairs before meddling in others', after all, I married into the Lu family, and you married into the Jiang family; there's really no connection between us whatsoever!" Fu Wenwen looked at Old Madam Jiang, her smile composed and generous.
Old Master Lu glanced at Fu Wenwen with amusement in his eyes. This girl had a way with words. She married into the Jiang family, so what right did she have to interfere in their Lu family's matters? Truly, give her an inch and she'd take a mile.
"Lu, are you going to indulge her to bully me like this?" Old Madam Jiang said furiously, looking at Old Master Lu.
"Excuse me, what is your relationship with my grandfather? Were you perhaps his old flame or something?" Fu Wenwen asked curiously, observing her indignant demeanor.
"You dare say anything, you little girl. How could I possibly have any relation with her? I only love your grandmother," Old Master Lu lightly tapped Fu Wenwen's head, speaking with mock annoyance.
"The organization back then wanted to introduce her to me as my wife, but I refused, saying I had your grandmother. She then called me a heartless scoundrel," Old Master Lu explained with a sigh, seeing Fu Wenwen's curious gaze.
"Oh... so that's how it was." Fu Wenwen had thought they were romantically involved! "I thought there was some affection between you two! Turns out it was one-sided."
Old Madam Jiang's face changed drastically, as if her fig leaf had been ripped away. Old Master Lu's eagerness to explain showed just how much he disliked her. Even though she was dead, he still showed her no respect, just as before.
"Lu..." Old Madam Jiang attempted to fly into a rage. Seeing that he had already spoken, Old Master Lu decided to be even more blunt.
"The reason I indulged your Jiang family back then was not because I feared you, but because my wife told me that my refusing you so publicly had, in the end, caused you to lose face, so she asked me to indulge you as compensation," Old Master Lu stated directly. "Don't think for a moment I harbor any lingering feelings for you; absolutely not, and never will. It was my 'little firecracker' who told me not to bother with you."
Having said this, Old Master Lu, without waiting for Old Madam Jiang's response, took Lu Chengsen and Fu Wenwen by the arm and left. Old Madam Jiang's face turned ashen. Having her pretense completely stripped away by Old Master Lu made her a complete laughingstock in Jiangcheng, and the Jiang family too became a subject of ridicule. For years, when the Lu family encountered issues with the Jiang family, they had indulged them. It turned out it wasn't because the Lu family feared the Jiang family, but merely because the old master listened to his wife, thus creating such a misunderstanding.
"That old woman glared at me with a 'heartless scoundrel' look every time she saw me. For years I've wanted to put her in her place, but I never found the opportunity," Old Master Lu explained to Fu Wenwen and Lu Chengsen.
"...Oh!!!" Fu Wenwen and Lu Chengsen exchanged a glance, blinking in silent agreement.
"I only love your grandmother!" Old Master Lu glared at them.
"We know, we know, Grandpa only loves Grandma!" Lu Chengsen and Fu Wenwen exchanged smiles and nodded in unison.
"..." Seeing their perfunctory responses, Old Master Lu really wanted to give each of them a good whack.
As soon as the Lu family's banquet concluded, the entire Jiangcheng knew that Old Madam Jiang had been thoroughly humiliated. With the Lu family shedding their pretense, there was no longer any need to indulge the Jiang family. Instantly, those seeking to curry favor with the Lu family voluntarily severed their cooperation with the Jiang family. For the Jiang family, this was a devastating blow.
Equally disastrous for the Jiang family was the Wang family. When Wang Hexian's distinguished guest, who had targeted Old Master Lu, was expelled from the Lu family banquet, the Wang family had lost all hope of ascending. All families swiftly broke off cooperation with the Wang family, fearing implication. Wang Hexian became like a stray dog, cast out of his own home by the Wang family.
Wang Hexian never imagined he would one day be unable to produce even five cents. In his desperation, he had no choice but to seek out his former friends. However, upon seeing Wang Hexian, they would pretend not to know him or chase him out of their homes.
"Wang Hexian, stop bothering me! Consider this money charity from me, now leave! Don't drag me down and get me kicked out of my home."
"When you were in debt before, I lent you several thousand yuan. Now that I am in trouble, you treat me like this?"
"You said it was in the past! That was between us. This is now about the family. You've been kicked out by the Wang family, do you still think you're a young master of the Wang family?"