Chapter 157: Exchanging Conditions

Zhu Xueya, Old Master Zhu, and everyone around them turned to look at Ling Yao.

They all wanted to know what Ling Yao meant by suddenly stopping.

Ling Yao smiled and said, “I know this bracelet is of great significance to your Zhu family. So, I can make another request in exchange.”

Zhu Xueya and Old Master Zhu looked at each other, a flash of surprise in their eyes.

This bracelet was a family heirloom of their Zhu family. It would be best if they didn’t have to give it up.

 Now that Ling Yao was willing to exchange conditions, they were naturally happy.

Zhu Xueya looked at Old Master Zhu. Seeing him nod slightly, she turned to Ling Yao,

 “What condition do you want to exchange?” As long as it wasn’t the bracelet, anything was fine.

“I heard that your Zhu family has a piece of land in the western suburbs. I want that land.” Ling Yao said.

That piece of land would undergo large-scale development in a year. At that time, it would become a hot spot in the capital.

Now that she had this opportunity, she naturally had to seize it.

In her previous life, she had heard people say that a treasure was unearthed when that land was developed.

However, the treasure was taken away by the Zhu family, and no one but the Zhu family knew what it was.

Once that land became hers, she would definitely go and dig up that treasure. Actually, her goal from the beginning was that piece of land.

Old Master Zhu didn’t even think twice before readily agreeing, “No problem! I’ll have someone send the deed to that land tomorrow.”

 Their Zhu family had several pieces of land, and the one in the western suburbs didn’t have much economic value.

In his eyes, using such an insignificant piece of land to exchange for the Zhu family’s heirloom was undoubtedly a good deal.

“Then thank you, Old Master Zhu!” Ling Yao smiled and thanked him.

Old Master Zhu smiled and waved his hand. He turned to Old Master Ji, “Old Master Ji, your granddaughter is truly impressive.”

 He had admired Ling Yao before, and after this conversation, he liked her even more.

She was a child who knew her limits and knew when to advance and retreat.

Knowing that the bracelet was of great significance to their Zhu family, she was willing to step back.

This was completely unlike someone who grew up in the countryside.

 No wonder even the boy from the Lu family was smitten with her. His granddaughter didn’t lose for nothing.

Lu Qingyun walked over, greeted the old masters, and looked at Ling Yao with gentle eyes,

“Are you hungry? I’ll peel the shrimp for you. Let’s go back and eat.”

“Okay.” Ling Yao smiled and nodded, following Lu Qingyun towards their seats.

Zhu Xueya watched their retreating figures, feeling a mix of emotions, sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty, all swirling in her heart, leaving her feeling incredibly bitter.

This was the first time she had seen Lu Qingyun treat a woman so gently. That doting look, those caring words, all seemed to pierce her heart.

She bit her lip, trying to keep the tears from welling up in her eyes.

Old Master Zhu saw his granddaughter’s sad expression and felt heartache. He reached out and gently patted Zhu Xueya’s shoulder, “Child, let it go.”

He knew his granddaughter’s deep affection for Lu Qingyun, but love couldn’t be forced, especially since Lu Qingyun already had someone in his heart.

Zhu Xueya silently lowered her head, tears finally spilling from her eyes. She wanted to let go, but how easy was it to let go of this feeling?

She had liked Lu Qingyun for almost ten years.

Lu Qingshuang saw Lu Qingyun return with Ling Yao and excitedly greeted them, “Big Sister-in-law! You’re amazing!” She smiled and gave Ling Yao a thumbs-up.

Ling Yao smiled faintly and playfully replied, “Just average.”

“Yaoyao, your calligraphy and piano skills are so outstanding. Who taught you?” Lu’s mother was curious.

 Ling Yao grew up in the countryside, where conditions were tough, and she had little to no exposure to these elegant arts.

“I was taught by a teacher at my school. She was a talented person, a young intellectual who had been sent down to the countryside during the Cultural Revolution. I heard she was from a prominent family in Shanghai.”

There was indeed such a legendary teacher at the high school she attended. Sadly, not long after she finished teaching her senior year, she passed away.

There were many rumors about the reason for her death, but the most common one was that it was caused by emotional turmoil.

She heard about her passing several years later in her previous life.

Lu’s mother nodded knowingly. In those days, there were indeed many talented and skilled people who were sent down to the countryside.

Even her parents were sent down to the North Great Wilderness for several years.

 If she hadn’t married into the Lu family, she would have been sent down with them.

Fortunately, her parents were rehabilitated and returned to the capital after a few years with the help of the Lu family.

 Thinking back to that time, Lu’s mother sighed inwardly. Thankfully, it was all over.

After Ling Yao sat down, Lu Qingyun handed her the shrimp he had just peeled, “Eat first.

 I’ll peel some more for you.” He knew Yaoyao loved shrimp and had saved a lot for her.

“Okay.” Ling Yao smiled faintly and picked up her chopsticks to eat. After all that commotion, she was indeed hungry.

Lu Qingyun saw that Ling Yao’s hair fell over her forehead as she lowered her head. He reached out and gently brushed it behind her ear.

“Wow!” Lu Qingshuang exclaimed in astonishment, her eyes filled with envy. Everyone said her brother was a cold stone, but it wasn’t like that at all.

 Look at how doting he was on his wife. It was truly enviable.

She wondered if she would ever find a man who would spoil her like her brother did his wife.

A tall, imposing figure flashed through her mind, and Lu Qingshuang couldn’t help but blush. Oh my! Why am I thinking of him?

Ji Youran looked at Ling Yao with jealousy, her eyes filled with resentment, “Mom, she wants my jade pendant. What should we do?”

Ji’s mother patted Ji Youran’s back, her gaze cold as it fell on Ling Yao, “Don’t worry, Mom won’t let her take your jade pendant.”

 She was Ling Yao’s elder, and she didn’t believe that Ling Yao would dare to disobey her.

Ling Yao keenly caught the gaze of the Ji mother and daughter. Her lips curled into a playful smile as she looked at them.

 She provocatively raised her eyebrows, her eyes filled with mockery and disdain.

After the banquet was over, everything that belonged to her, she would take back without hesitation.

“Mom! Look at her arrogant look.” Ji Youran gritted her teeth in anger, her eyes wide with fury. She wished she could tear Ling Yao’s face off right now.

“Don’t be afraid, Mom is here. She can’t do anything.” Ji’s mother glared fiercely at Ling Yao.

She dared to disregard her elder. She would teach her a lesson and make her understand the order of seniority and the difference between superiors and inferiors.