Chapter 15: Celebration Painting

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Xie Nian looked at Xie Zhizhi’s smug face and smiled.

“Who said that I didn’t bring a gift for Grandpa? Isn’t that because everyone didn’t want to give me the chance to present my gift?”

Xie Cheng stood beside Xie Nian, his tall figure blocking in front of her. His broad shoulders gave Xie Nian a strong sense of security, and his eyes seemed to be filled with stars. Xie Nian was the brightest one at that moment.

“Chengcheng is here too. Is this the gift that Chengcheng personally chose for Grandpa? Hurry up and come up. Let Grandpa look at you. Chengcheng has grown taller again.”

There was such a vast difference in treatment. She had always known that the Xie family’s old master was conservative and valued men over women. It seemed like it was true.

“Grandpa, this is a gift that Elder Sister and I have prepared for you. Elder Sister has put her heart into it too. Take a look, Grandpa.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll take a good look later. Come and stand beside me first. I heard that we are going to take a family photo later. You can just stand beside me.”

“But, Grandpa, Elder Sister—” Xie Cheng still wanted to say something, but he was interrupted by Old Master Xie.

Xie Nian did not feel any discomfort in her heart. She had already experienced such treatment more than ten years ago, so why would she care about this? She would just ignore them.

“So Elder Sister and Brother Chengcheng actually shared a congratulatory gift. It seems like Elder Sister hasn’t been doing well all these years. Why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped you out.”

It was almost as if the words ‘poor wretch’ were written on Xie Zhizhi’s face. She looked so happy. She just wanted to see her, Xie Nian, make a fool of herself.

“Younger Sister, what are you talking about? I specially implored a master for this congratulatory gift behind Chengcheng’s back. Although it’s not like Younger Sister’s gift that was personally made.

“But it’s also with the best of my intentions. I hope that Grandpa will like it.”

When Tan Xiaoshuang saw this, she quickly went forward and said, “Then I really have to take a look. Who was the master that created this masterpiece that made my eldest niece implored him for this personally?”

“This is Zhuang Jie, Master Zhuang’s work. It’s not easy to obtain it. However, I should listen to Grandpa’s thoughts about this. If Grandpa doesn’t like it, I can just return it.”

Xie Nian had a look of pity on her face. She looked like she was really going to return the item. She lowered her eyes and noticed Old Master Xie’s restless feet. She sneered in her heart.

Old Master Xie loved Master Zhuang’s paintings the most. This was no secret in the Xie family. However, it was rumored that Master Zhuang only composed one painting a year, so it was very hard to obtain one.

Xie Zhizhi bit her lower lip. She didn’t expect that this b*tch, Xie Nian, would actually find this master and even get her hands on his work. Back then, she had spent a lot of effort to find this master, but she didn’t manage to get a single piece of work. Instead, she had lost a lot of money.

“Elder Sister, at that time, I had also gone to beg Master Zhuang, but Master Zhuang seemed to have said that he had already completed a painting. So it was this painting that Elder Sister brought.

I was very depressed at that time, but Master Zhuang said that he couldn’t break the rules, so he didn’t agree to my request. I didn’t want to force him, so I gave up. I didn’t expect Elder Sister to succeed.”

Everyone looked at the eldest daughter of the Xie family skeptically. Who didn’t know that Master Zhuang had already made a painting at the start of the year and that it was world-famous? Now, the eldest daughter of the Xie family had taken out another painting. Could it be fake?

Xie Nian looked around and said weakly, “I haven’t even taken out the painting and Younger Sister has already declared me guilty. There’s still an appeal period for unpardonable criminals, let alone someone like me who’s all alone.”

Indeed, a coquettish woman had the best life. A child who knows how to cry will have candy to eat. This was not a lie. Xie Nian’s aggrieved look attracted everyone to defend her. All of them were filled with righteous indignation and stared at the people of the Xie family with unkind eyes.

Xie Zhizhi saw that everyone was bewitched by Xie Nian to turn the blame to her. She gritted her teeth and said with a twisted expression, “Why don’t you take it out and let everyone see if the painting was truly composed by Master Zhuang Jie? I believe everyone would have their own judgment on this.”

“In that case, I’ll have to trouble the security officer at the door. Just now, when I was outside, I was refused entry. If not for Chengcheng, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to enter.”

The crowd looked at the people from the Xie family even more unkindly. No matter what, Xie Nian was the eldest daughter of the Xie family. How could she be refused entry? The people from the Xie family were really petty.

On the other hand, the eldest daughter of the Xie family didn’t seem to be as bad as the rumors made her out to be. Her demeanor slightly resembled that of Madam Jiang. Madam Jiang had praised this daughter of hers greatly in the past, and her skills had probably been taught to her by Madam Jiang.

Before long, this pair of siblings would accomplish great things in Jiang Capital. By then, it would be too late for the Xie family to regret..