"It's just a modern handicraft, Elder Qi. Why are you so surprised?" Lin Fang couldn't help but ask.
Elder Qi's eyes narrowed. "A modern handicraft? Who told you it was a modern handicraft?"
Lin Fang said playfully, "Elder Qi, this is Lin Wan'er's birthday gift to Grandpa. She said she won it in a bet. We have plenty of these in the south. They're only worth a few thousand yuan at most."
Everyone nodded in agreement, not paying any attention to the pumpkin pot gifted by Lin Wan'er.
"Heh heh, a few thousand yuan?" Elder Qi couldn't help but laugh.
The old man grew more suspicious. He knew his old friend's personality and quickly asked, "Elder Qi, could this be an antique?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Dehong's expression stiffened, and he looked astonished.
The middle-aged man standing beside Lin Dehong, however, said disdainfully, "Father, what are you joking about? In my opinion, Elder Qi just doesn't want Wan'er and third brother to lose face. This broken thing, how much can it be worth?"
Lin Dehong's lips twitched. Although he was angry, he also knew that things won in a bet couldn't be worth much.
However, Elder Qi's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. "Broken thing? If this is a broken thing, then the gifts you've given over the years are trash!"
"What?" Hearing Elder Qi say this suddenly, everyone was shocked.
"Elder Qi, aren't you joking a bit too much? The gifts we give Grandpa every year are worth at least a million. Are you saying these things are trash?" The young man's expression was quite displeased, and more so, defiant.
Elder Qi said solemnly, "I'm not so bored as to joke with you. Your things are indeed trash compared to this, even worse than trash!"
After these words, everyone's expressions turned extremely awkward. They hadn't expected Elder Qi to defend Lin Wan'er so vehemently.
Lin Fang questioned, "Elder Qi, then please tell us, how are our gifts trash in front of this broken purple clay pot given by Lin Wan'er?"
Everyone looked at Elder Qi with ill intentions, their respect diminishing. Old Master Lin also looked at Elder Qi with confusion.
Elder Qi stepped forward and carefully took the purple clay pot from the old man's hand. He then lifted the lid and glanced at the inscription inside.
"You can all take a look and see whose name is inscribed here."
Everyone leaned closer. Lin Fang read out the three characters: "Chen Ziqi?"
Elder Qi nodded. "That's right, this is Chen Ziqi's pumpkin pot! And according to my appraisal, this is a genuine piece!"
"Chen Ziqi? Pumpkin pot?!" Hearing this, Old Master Lin's eyes widened.
"Indeed, you old man are truly blessed," Elder Qi praised again.
Lin Fang asked with confusion, "Who is Chen Ziqi? Is this pumpkin pot very valuable? Is it worth hundreds of thousands?"
Elder Qi glanced at Lin Fang but didn't speak. However, Old Master Lin said, "Hundreds of thousands? If this is truly a genuine piece as Elder Qi says, then add three zeros after hundreds of thousands."
Boom!
"What!" As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was struck by lightning and froze on the spot!
"Old man, are you joking? This thing is worth hundreds of millions?" The middle-aged man standing not far from Lin Dehong stared with wide eyes in shock.
Elder Qi carefully examined the pumpkin pot. "That's right, this pumpkin pot is worth at least hundreds of millions!"
Everyone looked at each other, all in disbelief. Even Lin Dehong and Lin Wan'er, who were standing by, were stunned.
Lin Wan'er covered her mouth, her eyes wide as saucers. She finally understood why Chen Mo was willing to lose money to take this pumpkin pot away. It turned out this pumpkin pot was worth so much.
Chen Mo, equally stunned, couldn't help but ask the ancestor, "Ancestor, did we… did we lose out?"
The ancestor remained silent. Perhaps he also thought Chen Mo was a prodigal son. An item worth hundreds of millions was given away for twenty million! Chen Mo suddenly felt his heart bleeding.
Elder Qi couldn't help but ask, "Dehong, where did this come from?"
Lin Dehong finally snapped out of his shock and quickly looked at Lin Wan'er. Lin Wan'er then looked at Chen Mo and recounted what had happened earlier, of course, omitting the part where she was cheated, as she was afraid of losing face.
When everyone heard that Chen Mo had won it in a bet, no one wasn't filled with envy.
"Young man, your discerning eye is truly admirable, Elder Qi," Elder Qi said with admiration.
Old Master Lin, holding the pumpkin pot, handed it back to Chen Mo amidst everyone's shocked gazes.
Chen Mo was taken aback and asked doubtfully, "Old man, you…?"
Old Master Lin smiled and replied, "This gift is too precious. You should take it back."
Chen Mo quickly waved his hands. Although the item worth hundreds of millions made him ache, there was no reason to take back something that had been given away.
"Old man, Wan'er gave me twenty million. She already bought this item from me, so it naturally belongs to her. Moreover, you said before that gifts aren't about how much they cost, but about the thought behind them. Isn't this the thought from Wan'er and Uncle?"
Old Master Lin fell into thought upon hearing this. Elder Qi quickly said, "It's a junior's thoughtful gesture, just accept it. Why make things so complicated?"
Old Master Lin then became enlightened and nodded with satisfaction. "Good, very good. Grandpa accepts Wan'er's filial piety."
Looking at the scene before them, Lin Fang and the others' expressions turned very unpleasant. They had originally wanted to make a good impression on the old man, but unexpectedly, all the attention was stolen by Lin Wan'er.
Afterward, Old Master Lin's gaze fell on Chen Mo again. "Wan'er, haven't you introduced this young man to Grandpa yet?"
Before Lin Wan'er could speak, Lin Dehong preempted her, "This young man's name is Chen Mo. He's the boss of a real estate company, and just a casual friend of Wan'er." He even emphasized the word 'casual.'
"Dad!" Lin Wan'er glared at Lin Dehong displeasedly. Lin Dehong pretended not to see.
Then Lin Wan'er explained, "Grandpa, this is my good friend Chen Mo. Not only is he the boss of a real estate company, but he's also a doctor with excellent medical skills. I invited him here today to check on your health."
"Doctor?" Hearing Chen Mo's profession, everyone exchanged glances.
Immediately after, Lin Fang let out a cold sneer. "Lin Wan'er, I think you're confused. Him? Excellent medical skills? I think you mean excellent *skills*, don't you? If something happens while he's treating Grandpa, can you afford the responsibility?"