Chapter 101

Early the next morning, Lin Meng went to find her aunt and, half-serious and half-joking, said to her:

"Aunt, Grandfather always thought of you while he was alive; this time I brought his spirit tablet. Otherwise, you, your husband, and your cousin could kowtow to him at home and burn some paper money for him."

If anyone else heard this, they would surely find it ominous.

No matter how filial, bringing an elder's spirit tablet to visit relatives—what is that supposed to be?

Someone with a suspicious mind might even think Lin Meng was deliberately stirring trouble, indirectly blaming them for not returning to the village to honor their ancestors.

But Lin Cuihua had always dreamed of returning to the village to pay respects at the ancestral graves; however, these years her health was poor, and her older brother deliberately obstructed her, leaving her willing but unable.

Now, Lin Meng actually thought to bring her father's spirit tablet here; she not only wouldn't find it ominous, but would feel grateful to Lin Meng.

Lin Cuihua immediately exclaimed excitedly:

"Good, good, good—I'll go tell your uncle right away; today we both have the day off, so we'll get things ready immediately."

The aunt quickly brought the good news to Xu Hong; hearing it, he naturally supported.

"Thanks to Xiao Meng, this time not only did I get a share of the luck, the stone‑gambling venue awarded us twenty thousand yuan in prize money, and bringing your father's spirit tablet also counts as settling one of your worries."

The couple hurried out to shop, and Lin Cuihua, following Lin Meng's instructions, bought some ready‑made ingots and a sheet of tin foil, intending to fold more herself in a rush.

Her father had been dead for many years; although she burned paper money for him every New Year in Li Shi, she had heard that the deceased don't recognize the roads, so the burned money wouldn't reach him.

This time Lin Meng brought the spirit tablet over, so her father should finally be able to receive her paper money.

Lin Cuihua knew these were merely the thoughts and comforts of the living; after death, people disperse, so there's no such superstition.

But one should still do what's proper, just in case.

The items were quickly procured, and Lin Meng had already taken her grandfather's spirit tablet from the third space and placed it on the aunt's square table.

At noon, the aunt's household closed the doors, lit incense and candles, and set out a full table of dishes.

Lin Meng watched her aunt's excited expression, feeling a mix of emotions.

Perhaps Grandfather's education had its shortcomings, but at least the aunt turned out well.

Some people live comfortably, even gaining benefits from the elders, yet after the elders die they forget all kindness, unable to perform even the simplest rites.

Meanwhile, some children, despite being overlooked by their parents due to favoritism while the parents were alive, turn out to be the most filial.

"Dad, you needn't worry about me in the underworld; my brother‑in‑law Xu Hong treats me well, your grandson Xiao Xiao is a filial and sensible child, and our family is doing well in Li Shi."

"Third Brother is gone; I really have no desire to keep in touch with those brothers and sisters back home, so let's just cut it off here."

"By the way, Third Brother's daughter Xiao Meng came to see me; Xiao Meng is now quite capable—Third Brother really fathered a good daughter."

"……"

The aunt, eyes red, knelt before her grandfather's spirit tablet and poured out the thoughts of these years.

Xu Hong saw this, silently wiped his own eyes, then invited Lin Meng outside, as some things could only be told to her in private.

"Xiao Meng, the year your parents passed, your aunt fell ill; I kept it from her, and after she improved a bit I went back with her, but your great‑uncle drove us away."

"By the way, these years your aunt has been entrusting your grandaunt to send you money; after your parents died, your aunt has always worried you weren't doing well, but she could never find you, so she could only ask your grandaunt to act as an intermediary."

Lin Meng heard this and stared; her aunt had asked the grandaunt to send her money for years, yet she knew nothing about it.

It seems the grandaunt embezzled the money; if not for the aunt's father bringing it up, would those funds have remained monopolized by the grandaunt?

The aunt had always been thinking of this orphaned niece, but because the grandaunt was greedy, Lin Meng remained completely unaware all these years.

After thinking, Lin Meng smiled without changing her expression and said:

"Mm, I'll always remember my aunt's kindness to me; and, uncle, what illness did my aunt have? Is she better now?"

Lin Meng changed the subject, not wanting her uncle to know the ugly side of the Lin family; the money the grandaunt had stolen was the aunt's hard‑earned cash, and no matter what, she couldn't let the aunt's efforts go to waste.

She would find a way to get the money back from the grandaunt.

Xu Hong didn't think much; as long as the money was Lin Meng's to spend, he only feared that his wife's brothers and sisters had swallowed it—they didn't deserve it.

Hearing Lin Meng ask about the condition, Xu Hong couldn't help but sigh.

"These past few months, your aunt's health has been all right, but that year she was gravely ill, almost at death's door; after seeing an old Chinese doctor, they said her heart meridians were damaged, making full recovery difficult, and she must avoid exertion and sorrow, or it would worsen."

Lin Meng heard this and already had an idea in mind.

After burning some ingots for her grandfather with the aunt's family, Lin Meng made an excuse to leave and called Sun Yao.

Sun Yao had been handling affairs for the Ye Group; seeing Lin Meng's call, he immediately set aside everything he was doing.

"Miss Lin, may I ask what instructions you have?"

Lin Meng hadn't expected the other party to be so polite right away, and she felt a bit embarrassed.

"Assistant Sun, I'd like to ask a favor: among the four people in that private room that day, weren't two of them actually the backers of the stone‑gambling venue?"

"Are you referring to Director Jiang? He is indeed one of the main organizers of the Stone‑Gambling Convention and a major shareholder behind the stone‑gambling venue; do you need me to arrange a meeting with him?"

Being a top‑tier assistant under Ye Chenjing, he acted swiftly; not long after Lin Meng hung up, he sent the exact meeting time and place.

Lin Meng immediately went to keep the appointment.

The other party arrived before Lin Meng; in the antiquated tea room, Director Jiang had personally brewed tea for the guests.

He had previously asked Sun Yao about the mysterious master's taste preferences; Sun Yao, thinking Lin Meng was a girl who would surely like sweets, had Director Jiang prepare desserts to await her.

Director Jiang wondered, 'Do elderly people still like sweets?' but he did as instructed.

Yet when Sun Yao led Lin Meng into the tea room, Director Jiang froze on the spot.

He could never have imagined that the mysterious stone‑gambling master who had helped the Ye Group crush all opponents at the Stone‑Gambling Convention would be a yellow‑haired girl.

Moreover, seeing her appearance so beautiful, he immediately thought of the phrase 'flower vase.'

This young beauty hardly seems to match stone gambling at all; could it be that the Ye Group refuses to reveal the master, and Ye Chenjing deliberately found someone to put him off?

No, that's not right; even if it were a pretense, at least they'd have to find an experienced old hand to hold up the front.

What does it mean to push out a little girl to brush him off?

Lin Meng anticipated that he would initially doubt and look down on her, so when she saw Director Jiang's reaction she wasn't surprised; upon entering, she followed the chair Sun Yao had pulled out and sat down.

Director Jiang stared, gave a dry laugh twice, and the composure on his face was about to break.

But just as Director Jiang had finally readied himself for a mental showdown, intending to meet Lin Meng, a fluctuation came from the second space—Ye Fan had come out of seclusion!

"Fairy sister, I've broken through to the sixth layer of Qi Refining!"

Lin Meng's eyes lit up immediately, and she raised her hand, saying:

"Director Jiang, wait a moment, I have more important matters to attend to!"

With those words, Lin Meng ceased all speech and action, like an old monk entering meditation, sitting motionless in the chair.