Great Son-in-law/C6 The Tables Had Turned!
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Great Son-in-law/C6 The Tables Had Turned!
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C6 The Tables Had Turned!

His words left everyone in shock!

The entire Chen family stood there, mouths agape. No one had anticipated that Chu Fann, who had been the family's punching bag for three years, would speak with such eloquence today.

Disbelief was etched on every face.

Only Chen Mengyao was biting her lip, her gaze filled with sympathy as she looked at Chu Fann. She couldn't fathom the extent of his suffering that had led to his furious outburst.

In stark contrast, Chen Mengyu was seething, wishing she could take Chu Fann down right there and then.

Chu Fann had called her a harlot in front of dozens of people, leaving her feeling utterly humiliated. Prestige and decorum were paramount in their family, and any threat to their reputation was intolerable.

Yet, her relationship with Guo Chao was an open secret, witnessed by all; Chu Fann's accusations weren't baseless.

"Enough!" bellowed the Old Madam, "Get him out of here—I don't want to lay eyes on him again!"

"Take your belongings and get out!" Chen Mengyu, livid with rage, grabbed the bronze bracelet from the table, ready to hurl it at Chu Fann's head.

"Stop right there!"

A commanding voice suddenly echoed from the back of the room.

Chen Mengyu's arm froze mid-air.

A middle-aged man with reading glasses rushed forward, positioning himself in front of Chen Mengyu.

"You mustn't throw that bronze bracelet. If it hits the ground, it'll shatter," he said, mopping the sweat from his brow.

"And who might you be? What concern is this bracelet of yours?" Chen Mengyu demanded, her anger unabated, confused by the interruption.

"Mengyu, show some respect," the Old Madam chided sternly. "This is Master Zhang."

"Master Zhang?"

"Is he the same Master Zhang from the Treasure Appraisal show?"

"I've seen him there; he's a special guest."

"A special guest? Now I remember him! His name is Zhang Guiyan, a renowned treasure appraiser in the antiques world."

"They call him Ghosteye Zhang, famed for his ability to discern the age of antiques with just a glance."

"Why would Master Zhang be interested in that bronze bracelet?"

"Could it be that..."

The crowd's attention shifted, their eyes now fixed on the bronze bracelet in Chen Mengyu's grasp.

"Old Madam, if this bronze bracelet isn't to your liking, I'm prepared to offer a million dollars for it," Zhang Guiyan said, bowing respectfully. At this point, there was no use in keeping the secret any longer.

From the moment Chu Fann presented the bronze bracelet, Zhang knew its antiquity was significant. It was very likely a cultural relic from the Spring and Autumn Warring States period—an artifact of immeasurable value.

He had assumed the Old Madam would be overjoyed to receive such a valuable gift. Yet, to his surprise, not only did she fail to recognize its worth, she even considered ejecting the giver from her presence. And to make matters worse, Chen Mengyu was intent on destroying it. How could he stand by and allow that?

Was he serious about spending a million to secure the bracelet? The room fell into a stunned silence, everyone frozen like statues.

Old Madam, in particular, seemed mortified, having just declared the bracelet a fake in front of everyone. But Ghosteye Zhang's contradiction made it clear—even to the simplest mind—that Chu Fann's gift was indeed authentic.

"I never imagined Chu Fann would actually present Grandma with a genuine treasure," someone murmured.

"Talk about incredible luck," added another, as whispers filled the room.

Guo Chao squirmed with discomfort, his assumptions about the value of Chu Fann's gift now upended.

Chen Mengyu, defiant, retorted, "What does it matter if his gift is genuine? The 'Rise of the Moon' that Mr. Guo gave is no less valuable than the bronze bracelet."

"A piece worth over 800,000 yuan? I'd say it's worth no more than 8,000," Zhang Guiyan scoffed, unable to contain his disdain. He had never encountered such brazen shamelessness.

"Master Zhang, what are you implying?"

"Master Zhang, are you referring to Guo Chao's painting?"

The Chen family members were taken aback.

"He knows exactly what I mean," Zhang Guiyan said, casting a scornful look at Guo Chao, whom he despised for his deceitful ways.

Guo Chao was at a loss for words, his forehead beaded with sweat.

"Do you really think everyone here is a fool?" Zhang Guiyan asked with a cold laugh.

"I don't understand what you're getting at," Guo Chao said, denying the accusation through gritted teeth.

Just then, Zhang Guiyan stepped forward with a swift motion, lifting his finger, pinching, and pulling.

The painting, purportedly worth 850,000 yuan, was instantly ruined by Zhang Guiyan's hands.

Everyone's jaws dropped.

Guo Chao was both shocked and furious.

Zhang Guiyan, however, disregarded the stares of the onlookers and coolly extracted a thin thread from the painting, tossing it onto the table.

"Now, do you get it?" Zhang Guiyan said with a cold laugh.

"This is a thread!"

Gasps of astonishment filled the room, followed by a wave of confused murmurs.

Anyone with a bit of common sense knew that this type of synthetic fiber only came into existence in 1983, barely three decades ago.

Yet, Rise of the Moon was a masterpiece by Wu Daozi, crafted over 800 years prior.

Everyone was stunned.

At that moment, Guo Chao's face turned a shade that could only be described as hideous. He had never anticipated Zhang Guiyan's bold move to unmask him.

Chen Mengyu's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She was mortified that Mr. Guo, the man she had so admired, had presented a counterfeit painting to her grandmother.

"Master Zhang, what is the meaning of this?" Old Madam asked, her voice tinged with discomfort. Zhang Guiyan had not only shamed Guo Chao but had inadvertently shamed her as well.

"I'm not singling anyone out," Zhang Guiyan retorted with a dismissive twist of his mouth. He glanced at Chu Fann, who had maintained his composure throughout, and added, "I simply can't stand by and watch him be bullied."

"Master Zhang, there's no need for you to interfere; this is a family matter," Old Madam said, barely containing her rage. Had Zhang Guiyan not been a person of significant influence, she would have already sent him packing.

"Family matter?" Zhang Guiyan scoffed. "Old Madam, if this involves the bronze bracelet, then it ceases to be merely a family affair."

"Do you realize the consequences for the Chen family if your granddaughter were to damage that bracelet today? During the Spring and Autumn Warring States Period, only three pairs of mother-son rings were made. The other two pairs have long vanished, lost to wars and the passage of time."

"This is the last remaining pair of mother-son rings in the world."

"Therefore, the mother-son ring is a national treasure."

"Old Madam, if your granddaughter were to break such a treasure, do you think the nation would charge her with the crime of damaging cultural relics?" Zhang Guiyan asked with a smirk.

Old Madam's face soured. If things were to come to that, not only would Mengyu face imprisonment, but the Chen family might also be hit with astronomical compensation.

"Mengyu, hand me the bronze bracelet," Old Madam commanded sternly. A flustered Chen Mengyu quickly nodded and, with reverence, passed the bronze bracelet to Old Madam.

Meanwhile, she seethed with resentment towards Chu Fann. Why had he given such a valuable gift to Old Madam? He had nearly caused her harm.

Old Madam secured the bronze bracelet. Zhang Guiyan realized he had no chance of getting his hands on it. His eyes roamed the crowd, searching for Chu Fann, only to find that Chu Fann had already slipped away from the hall.

As night fell and the banquet concluded, the members of the Chen family began to leave. In the inner hall, only a few key family members remained.

"The three-year term is up in a month. If we expel him now, we risk being criticized. Mengyu, you were in the wrong. You shouldn't have gotten so close to another man before breaking off your engagement, even if the Guo family is indeed respectable," Old Madam mused before speaking up.

"I just feel so aggrieved. Why should I be the one engaged to Chu Fann?" Chen Mengyu retorted, feeling indignant.

"I understand your frustration, but my hands are tied. The elder who brought him to our Chen family three years ago had once aided us. He has shown us kindness. And through him, we've established connections with Mingzhu Group, which has helped our Chen family rise to success. We mustn't mistreat him, nor can we afford to be criticized behind our backs," Old Madam explained.

She continued, "We have an upcoming project with Mingzhu Group, and I've decided you'll lead it. Consider it compensation for the hardships you've endured these past three years."

Upon hearing this, envy filled the room. If Chen Mengyu were to lead the project, she would undoubtedly reap substantial benefits.

Even Chen Wenjie couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy toward Chen Mengyu.

In a burst of elation, Chen Mengyu leapt up and hurried to grasp the Old Madam's hand, eagerly seeking her favor.

Her resentment toward Chu Fann and the injustices she had endured vanished in that joyful moment.

To the side, Mengyu's parents exchanged knowing smiles. Had the setting been less solemn, they would have been jumping for joy.

It appeared that Mengyu's hardships over the past three years had been well worth it. In a month's time, they could finally cut ties with Chu Fann, paving the way for Mengyu to marry Guo Chao. The prospects for their family's future were bright indeed.

Chu Fann, of course, was oblivious to the Chen family's private discussions. Nevertheless, he had reached a decision of his own.

With the family's restrictions now lifted, he had a multitude of tasks ahead of him, starting with the takeover of assets in Yunhai City.

The Chu family might not boast the wealth of a nation, but their numerous companies dwarfed even the world's top 100 conglomerates.

Given the Chu family's extensive lineage, each descendant was required to undergo three years of trials. Only those who emerged successful would gain control over a portion of the family's wealth. And high seniority offered no exemption, not even for someone like Chu Fann.

At the heart of Yunhai City, atop the Tianmen Mansion, Chu Fann pushed open the door to find the building's executives already assembled in anticipation of his arrival.

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