Chapter 49: The Heirloom Jade Bracelet

After listening to Viper, Baldy’s lips curled into a sinister smile. He spoke coldly, “Yes, we need to teach them a lesson they won’t forget. Ideally, without any casualties on our side. Since that Shi Xiaocai always collects protection fees, let’s start with him. Find an opportunity and hit him hard!”

With that, Baldy crushed his cigarette with a vengeance, then pressed his smoky lips to the woman in his arms, his hands roaming freely. Viper, sharing the same understanding, launched his own full assault on the woman beside him.

As night fell and the two were ready to strike in secret, Ling Tian, Shi Xiaocai, and their group were raising glasses and exchanging banter in Lin Youya’s villa. The night sometimes stirs a strange excitement in men; Lin Youya and Song Xiaomei listened to their wild chatter while eating, occasionally shooting them scornful glances, which the men ignored completely.

“Shi Xiaocai, have you run into any trouble collecting from those venues lately?” Ling Tian asked, a little surprised. The path of a petty thug seemed oddly peaceful. By all rights, Viper and Baldy shouldn’t give up so easily, and weren’t they still looking for that Tiger Brother?

“With the few of us around, who would dare cause trouble? There were a couple who didn’t want to pay, but Yuanbao and I scared them off with our fists.” Before Shi Xiaocai could answer, Dai Jin was already boasting about himself.

“Cough, cough!” Song Xiaomei had just taken a sip of water and nearly choked at Dai Jin’s words.

Ling Tian doubted the truth of Dai Jin’s claims, so he smiled and said, “Will you die if you brag a little less? With you and Yuanbao, if Shi Xiaocai wasn’t around, you’d probably get beaten up again.”

“Ling Tian, don’t underestimate me. Yuanbao and I have been training hard these days—our skills have skyrocketed. I can take on three ordinary guys by myself!” Dai Jin had indeed learned a lot lately from Ling Tian and Shi Xiaocai, and both he and Yuanbao had improved.

“Those three are probably old men and children, right? Shi Xiaocai is still the most impressive,” Song Xiaomei interjected, giving Dai Jin no credit and praising Shi Xiaocai. In her eyes, Shi Xiaocai was unbeatable.

“Song Xiaomei, don’t look down on me,” Dai Jin grumbled, frustrated that no one believed he was stronger now.

Ling Tian watched their playful sparring with a smile but took the opportunity to remind them, “Be careful. I don’t think those guys will let this go. If anything happens, call me right away. If there are too many for you to handle, just run. Don’t get caught up in fighting.”

“Don’t worry, Ling Tian. I can handle dozens alone, and Dai Jin and Yuanbao have gotten better. We won’t be in danger,” Shi Xiaocai replied cheerfully. He’d collected plenty of money recently, enough to bring extra incense offerings to his master when he returned to Shaolin Temple.

“We’re not in danger, but it still feels like we’re missing something. Real gangsters have plenty of underlings, growing influence, and we haven’t recruited a single errand boy yet,” Yuanbao, who’d been silent, voiced his thoughts. He enjoyed collecting protection fees, but it was far from the underworld he imagined.

“I took Baldy in as an underling, but he doesn’t seem genuinely convinced yet. Once Youya is safe for a while, I’ll put him in his place and make sure he’s truly loyal,” Ling Tian said.

Ling Tian’s main concern was Lin Youya’s safety. That’s why he didn’t accompany Shi Xiaocai on collections but stayed by Youya’s side. When Shi Xiaocai was guarding Youya, Ling Tian would go see Li Youran, though he hadn’t yet found time to visit the beautiful policewoman Han Bing, whom he kept thinking about.

“Ling Tian, do you really want to join the underworld?” Lin Youya asked worriedly. She couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t choose a proper path and instead insisted on mixing with society’s darker side. Had they watched too many melodramatic movies?

“Yes, I think it’s fun—fighting, slashing, that sort of thing,” Ling Tian had no grand ambitions. Of course, once his strength was formidable, he’d still avenge past grievances. Whoever blew him up last time would pay, piece by piece!

“Just be careful, then. Oh, the day after tomorrow is my birthday. My family is throwing a grand party at the Grand Hotel, and I want you to pretend to be my boyfriend to fend off all those suitors. You must help me with this,” Lin Youya had given Ling Tian a chance precisely for this purpose. Her birthday party would attract many, including plenty of men vying for her attention—she needed a shield.

“Wife, you’re being too distant. What do you mean by pretend boyfriend? I’m your real boyfriend; even your parents and grandpa have accepted it. If any fool tries to chase you, I’ll deal with him!” Ling Tian, hearing someone wanted to compete for his girlfriend, quickly asserted his claim. Lin Youya was his alone. He was delighted that she wanted him as her shield, as it meant no other man mattered to her—something that satisfied Ling Tian greatly.

“Don’t call me wife; call me Youya. I say you’re a pretend boyfriend, and that’s what you’ll be. All of you should come to my birthday party. Ling Tian, remember to prepare a gift. In everyone’s eyes, you’re my boyfriend, so don’t look cheap. You have all day tomorrow to get ready. I’m going to bed.” Lin Youya turned and went to her room, deliberately making Ling Tian prepare a gift and warning him not to be stingy, just to make things difficult for him. She still thought Ling Tian’s family was only slightly better off than most, so she doubted he could come up with anything impressive.

However, to make sure people believed Ling Tian was worthy of her, Lin Youya had prepared a diamond necklace to wear at the party, ready to claim it was a gift from Ling Tian if needed. She’d never tell him this, preferring to let the flirt struggle for her sake.

“Wife, don’t worry—I won’t let you down!” Ling Tian called after Lin Youya’s retreating figure, but she didn’t look back.

“Cough, cough. Brother-in-law, don’t say I didn’t warn you. All the guests at my cousin’s party are top young talents. You really can’t be too casual. Need me to sponsor you some money?” Song Xiaomei offered kindly, worried Ling Tian would be outshone. She liked him as her cousin’s future husband—despite his flirtatious ways, he was capable, and, most importantly, Shi Xiaocai’s brother.

“Ling Tian, if you need money, just ask your brothers. You have to help us save face this time—make those rivals jealous!” Dai Jin was excited, loving any chance to stand out. He was determined to attend Lin Youya’s party.

“Thank you all, but I really don’t lack money. Tomorrow, I’ll disappear for a day. Shi Xiaocai, protect Youya. I need to prepare a proper gift.” Ling Tian knew he had to show those rivals they couldn’t match him in any way.

…

The next day, Shi Xiaocai didn’t go out collecting. They all accompanied Lin Youya: first shopping, then back to her home. After all, she needed to prepare for her eighteenth birthday party—her grandfather, now recovered, would attend, along with other relatives, her parents’ friends, and even some social luminaries.

Most of the guests, however, were single young men, many with impressive backgrounds. Rumor had it that Li Feng would also attend. Everyone hoped to win Lin Youya’s favor and her family’s approval.

Ling Tian hurried home, where his mother had been waiting eagerly for his return. Seeing him, she was delighted and fussed over him.

“Mom, is there any family heirloom for a daughter-in-law?” Ling Tian asked, sipping tea.

“Son, have you found your wife? That’s wonderful! Wait, I’ll look for your grandmother’s jade bracelet,” Li Meijun’s face lit up when she heard Ling Tian wanted a family heirloom for his future wife. She bustled off to her room.

“There really is a family heirloom? A jade bracelet? It’s just like in TV dramas—most gifts for daughters-in-law are jade bracelets.” Ling Tian felt a surge of anticipation. Gold has a price, but jade is priceless. If it was top-quality, it would make a fine gift. Of course, he’d prepare other things as well.

Still, Ling Tian felt uneasy. If he gave the jade bracelet to Lin Youya, he’d feel sorry for Li Youran. Li Youran’s temperament suited jade perfectly, and she was his true woman. Ling Tian was torn—should the heirloom go to Lin Youya or Li Youran?

Lin Youya? Li Youran?

As Ling Tian struggled with his decision, his mother, Li Meijun, emerged from her room, followed by two maids carrying a sizable chest.

Ling Tian was momentarily stunned. Wasn’t it supposed to be a bracelet? Why such a large chest? Was it some enormous bracelet?

The maids set the chest on the coffee table and quietly withdrew. Li Meijun smiled warmly, sitting beside her son and opening the chest.

“Mom, what’s going on?” Ling Tian stared, bewildered. Inside the chest were many small jewelry cases, neatly arranged.

“Son, look. These are all jade bracelets—a hundred in total. Each is valuable. This one’s glass-grade imperial jade, this one’s Hetian mutton-fat jade, this one’s Kunlun mountain green jade…” Li Meijun opened each box in turn, introducing her family’s treasures to her son.