Chapter 142: Treasure, a Peerless Treasure!

"Yan Laoyezi, this is a token of our family's goodwill; please accept it with a smile."

Zhang Yuzhen also sensed that Yan Laoyezi was not averse to Xu Tian.

She didn't want Xu Tian and his party to steal the spotlight, so she hurriedly presented the birthday gift she had prepared in front of everyone.

"This is the Ice-type Jadeite Guanyin we sourced from the Ancient Relics Market; I hope you, Grandfather, will like it."

Zhang Yuzhen only managed to acquire this Guanyin through the connections of a close sister; the jade's quality is good, fetching at least several hundred thousand in market price.

The Yan Family is a great tree to them; they must ingratiate themselves with Yan Laoyezi.

Because Xu Tian's earlier actions embarrassed their family, Zhang Yuzhen hopes to win Yan Laoyezi's favor with this rare jade ornament.

"Well, at least the intention's there."

Yan Laoyezi didn't reach out to take the Guanyin; instead, he had his attendant place it on the nearby table piled with gifts.

Although he gave no explicit response, Zhang Yuzhen could still discern from his reaction that the elder was pleased with the gift.

Zhang Yuzhen let out a slight sigh of relief, straightened her back, and felt a surge of triumph.

Su Weixin stared contemptuously at the empty‑handed Xu Tian and retorted:

"Xu Tian, this is your first visit to see Grandfather today, and you came empty‑handed—are you here to mooch?"

"Weixin, you must never be as clueless about etiquette as he is. No matter the gift's value, it's the sincerity that counts. Even if our presents seem ordinary to Yan Laoyezi, he can feel your filial devotion and won't reject it."

Seeing Xu Tian without a gift, Zhang Yuzhen naturally seized any chance to trample him.

"Grandfather?"

Xu Tian let out a cold laugh, turned to Su Weixin, and said, "Why didn't I know you also changed your surname to Yan?"

When Xu Tian said that, the guests' glances toward Su Weixin and the others grew subtle.

Su Weixin and Zhang Yuzhen both wore pale, awkward expressions.

In truth, Zhang Yuzhen's family has little connection to the Yan Family.

Yet Su Weixin openly calls Yan Laoyezi "Grandfather," which indeed hints at seeking favor.

Earlier Zhang Yuzhen subtly mocked Xu Tian, the Godson, as an outsider, but in fact even Xu Tian is less entitled than Su Weixin to call Yan Laoyezi "Grandfather."

"Xu Tian, you!"

Zhang Yuzhen was about to erupt, but Su Mingli grabbed her.

How many of them have the nerve to argue before Yan Jia Lao Yezi?

Zhang Yuzhen, stopped by Su Mingli, finally realized what kind of setting they were in; recalling how she almost quarreled with Xu Tian, a cold sweat instantly crawled up her spine.

"Su Weixin, Aunt, it's better not to randomly claim kinship, or others will mock our family for lacking propriety," Xu Tian said, then ignored Zhang Yuzhen's side.

A clan like the Yan Family truly values protocol.

Compared with Zhang Yuzhen's brazen attempts to curry favor, even though Xu Tian is merely Yan Jin's Godson, being acknowledged by Yan Laoyezi makes him practically half a Yan family member, granting him far more legitimacy.

Moreover, no one can mock Xu Tian for seeking influence, since Yan Jin is merely an unloved eldest son who was even expelled from the Yan Company.

If Xu Tian truly wanted to climb using the Yan family's power, he wouldn't choose him.

Zhang Yuzhen and Su Weixin stood awkwardly among the crowd, feeling the guests' scornful or contemptuous gazes, yet daring not to defend themselves.

After Zhang Yuzhen's opening, guests gradually presented the gifts they had brought.

However, these gifts were either prized supplements like ginseng and deer antler, or common gold and jade ornaments—nothing remarkable.

Initially Yan Laoyezi would make a few perfunctory remarks, but gradually he grew impatient.

Except for the high‑status guests who exchanged a few words while presenting gifts, the rest were handled entirely by the nearby steward.

Today Xu Tian truly found no rare items on the antique street, so he finally selected century‑old gold‑splashed xuan paper and supplements like bird's nest and ginseng from a shop near the street, packaged them together; though lacking sentiment, at least they wouldn't be wrong.

Since Yan Jin hadn't presented a gift yet, Xu Tian couldn't be the first to give his prepared offering to Yan Laoyezi, so he stood beside Yan Jin, not moving to the seat to take out the gift box.

However, at that moment, Steward Xiao suddenly entered from outside the banquet hall, holding a gift box.

"Sir, this is Young Master Xu Tian's birthday gift for you; I don't know why it was left in the security room outside the courtyard, but I happened to see it and brought it over for him."

Xu Tian's smile froze for an instant upon hearing that.

That was the gift box he had deliberately left in the security room, a trinket bought from that strange young woman; at the time he merely chose a flashy dagger to placate her persistent demands.

Such an inauspicious item obviously couldn't be given to Yan Laoyezi as a birthday present, so to avoid trouble he placed the box in the external security room, intending to retrieve it after the banquet.

He didn't expect Steward Xiao to discover the box and, on his own initiative, bring it into the inner residence.

He glanced sideways without a hint of reaction, noticing in his peripheral vision the torn packaging of his box.

It was clearly after Steward Xiao opened the box, examined its contents, and found a dagger that he deliberately took, intending to frame him.

Presenting a dagger at an elder's birthday banquet is a grave breach that would surely enrage Yan Laoyezi.

Xu Tian watched Steward Xiao's smug, scheming expression, and a chill flashed through his eyes.

It seemed that Steward Xiao must have received considerable favor from Hongyu, prompting him to act this way.

It was his first time at the Yan household; the other Yan members were surely watching him cautiously, and only Hongyu—the one constantly trying to outdo him—would devise ways to trap him and embarrass him.

Xu Tian tried to retrieve the gift box, but Steward Xiao moved faster, delivering the box into Yan Laoyezi's hands before him.

"Young Master Xu Tian, on his first visit today, must have prepared a generous gift,"

Steward Xiao, without a flicker of emotion, heightened everyone's anticipation: "I'm also curious what's inside."

"Sir, please open it quickly and let us have a look as well?"

The other guests, hearing Steward Xiao, all wore expectant faces and focused their attention on the box in Yan Laoyezi's hands.

Since entering, Xu Tian had been overturning their expectations, and they were eager to discover what birthday gift he would present to the Yan patriarch.

Thus, under everyone's anticipation, Yan Laoyezi opened the delicate gift box in his hand.

The moment the lid lifted, guests a few steps away from Yan Laoyezi inhaled a sharp gasp.

Seeing what lay inside, everyone's complexion turned sour.

Yan Jin and Su Xiuya leaned forward curiously, and upon seeing the item in the box, their bodies shivered, their eyes filled with despair.

In the exact center of the gift box lay a jet‑black, gleaming dagger, its blade engraved with intricate patterns, looking eerie and grim.

The moment the dagger entered everyone's view, all eyes turned in horror toward Xu Tian, as if looking at a monster.

Yan Laoyezi's breath quickened and his body trembled slightly after he saw the dagger; he lifted his head and stared at Xu Tian with an eagle‑sharp gaze.

Before Yan Laoyezi could speak, Zhang Yuzhen struck first.

"Xu Tian, this scoundrel thing—on the joyous occasion of Yan Laoyezi's birthday banquet, you actually present a weapon to the old man to celebrate his birthday. What are you thinking?"

"Xu Tian, you are far too vicious; even if he isn't your own grandfather, you still cannot curse him like this!"

Su Weixin also shouted, as if fearing peace, his face twisted in such heart‑wrenching anguish that even the best actor in Huaxia would have to bow in defeat.

The few elders seated beside Yan Laoyezi were all prominent figures in Jiangshui City.

They also looked at Xu Tian with great confusion, as if they could not believe this well‑mannered young fellow could commit such a heinous act.

It's not just on a joyous birthday; even during ordinary festivals, one should never give a frightening weapon like a dagger.

Xu Tian sensed Yan Laoyezi's fury, felt a weight in his heart, and calmly began to explain:

"Grandfather, what's inside this gift box is not a gift I intended to give you.

"You still dare to argue?"

Zhang Yuzhen leapt out again: "Xiao Guanjia just said earlier that this is a gift you gave to Yan Laoyezi; are you now trying to deny it?"

"I never expected you to be so malicious; the old man was happily celebrating his birthday, yet you gave him such a disgusting item. Isn't that deliberately causing trouble?"

Zhang Yuzhen pressed aggressively, even trying to drag Yan Jinsong and Su Xiuya into the fray.

"Sister, brother‑in‑law, how do you usually discipline your children? Their behavior is just too outrageous!"

"Or perhaps Xu Tian's actions were incited by you, and you still hold a grudge over what happened back then…"

"Enough!" Yan Jinsong interrupted Zhang Yuzhen, unable to bear it any longer: "Stop slandering me; how could I have urged Xiao Tian to give a dagger to curse my father?"

He also did not expect Xu Tian to give such an item, and with a solemn expression turned his head and asked:

"Xiao Tian, what's going on?"

All eyes fell on Xu Tian, as if waiting to hear his explanation.

Xu Tian's complexion darkened slightly, yet outwardly he remained as calmly as ever, showing no sign of panic.

Yan Hongyu would scheme against him in such a setting, catching him off guard.

If he cannot provide a reasonable explanation for giving the dagger, there will be no way to resolve today.

While Xu Tian's mind raced, devising a plan, Song Lao, seated beside Yan Laoyezi, suddenly spoke:

"Bring my reading glasses over here."

Song Lao took the reading glasses handed to him and reached toward the box, apparently trying to extract the dagger inside.

"Song Lao, don't hold onto that ominous thing; let us throw it away!"

Zhang Yuzhen, taking matters into her own hands, moved forward and reached for the gift box, but Song Lao slapped it forcefully: "Don't move!"

Zhang Yuzhen withdrew her hand with a scornful expression, muttering softly in a tone of dissent:

"It's just scrap metal, what's so impressive…"

Yan Laoyezi and the other elders beside him stared at Song Lao in bewilderment, seemingly unable to grasp his intention.

At this moment, Song Lao had already taken the dagger out of the box and, wearing his reading glasses, examined it carefully.

After a moment, Song Lao slapped his thigh and exclaimed excitedly:

"A treasure, a peerless treasure!"