For those willing to support, here's the link:
patreon.com/Eden_Translation
I am now back to 60 thanks for the support guys đ€§
{Chapter: 181 Imperial green jade!}
At this very moment, nestled carefully inside the exquisite gift box Lin Yuan held in his hand, was a half-hand-sized jade Buddha sculpture.
At first glance, one might have mistaken it for an ordinary trinket.
After all, similar Buddha figurines could easily be found along street stalls, selling for just around twelve yuan.
They were common enoughâcheap, mass-produced souvenirs that barely attracted a second glance.
However, what sat before Lin Yuan and the gathered guests was anything but ordinary.
Everyone quickly realized that this particular Buddha sculpture wasn't made of typical jade.
Instead, it was carved entirely from imperial green jade.
Imperial greenâthe most revered and highly coveted form of jadeâwas often referred to as the "Emperor of Jade."
Its color was the purest, richest green, and its value surpassed all other types of jade by a wide margin.
At this moment, the Buddha sculpture in Lin Yuan's hand seemed almost alive, its vibrant green hue so vivid that it appeared ready to drip like molten emerald.
The richness of its color, the silky smooth texture, and the transparency of the jade were breathtaking.
It was clear to anyone with even a little knowledge of gemstones that this was an exceptional treasure.
The price of imperial green jade was astronomical.
If an expert were to appraise this piece, the tiny sculpture would be valued at tens of millions of yuan, easily.
Though tens of millions might not be an earth-shattering amount to the elite gathered hereâmany of whom had impressive family backgrounds and staggering wealthâit was still enough to draw audible gasps from some of the guests.
After all, Mei Yuxian had already given expensive gifts to the other juniors, each gift worth several hundred thousand yuan.
Yet, compared to what Lin Yuan had just received, those gifts seemed almost modest.
This single jade Buddha sculpture was not merely a symbol of wealth.
It represented something far more valuable: favor.
Many of the guests felt a sharp sting of jealousyânot for the sculpture itself, since most of them could easily afford a few imperial green jade pieces as their door stoppers if they wishedâbut for what the gift represented.
Mei Yuxian had clearly shown preferential treatment toward Lin Yuan.
The disparity between the gifts made it abundantly clear: Mei Yuxian valued Lin Yuan far more highly than the other juniors.
And in the Mei family, Mei Yuxian's opinion carried enormous weight.
Unlike many other large families where power was fragmented among various elders and branches, Mei Yuxian held the reins of the Mei family almost single-handedly.
Once she made a decision, it was final.
Thus, Mei Yuxian's favor was, in a sense, equivalent to securing the support of the entire Mei family.
The implications were staggering.
The Lin family was already a top-tier powerhouse in Jiangbei.
Now, with the looming support of the Mei family as well, Lin Yuan's influence would rise to even more terrifying heights.
To many observers, Lin Yuan had simply been known as the young heir of a prestigious family.
But now, in the blink of an eye, his future prospects seemed limitless.
The connections he was building were laying the foundation for something far greater than anyone had anticipated.
Holding the gift box carefully, Lin Yuan smiled warmly and spoke with genuine gratitude, "Thank you, Sister Yuxian, for the gift. It is truly extraordinary."
He gently closed the box again, taking care to show his appreciation through his demeanor.
"It's nothing, really," Mei Yuxian replied with a soft, enchanting smile. "Did you like it?"
"I liked it very much," Lin Yuan said sincerely, smiling once again.
Then, he casually slipped the box into his pocket, treating the priceless jade Buddha with the calm ease of someone accustomed to wealth and responsibility.
Seeing Lin Yuan's satisfaction, Mei Yuxian felt a wave of relief and happiness.
She gave a small, approving nod, preparing to turn around and leave.
The surrounding guests also prepared to shift their attention elsewhere, believing the exchange to be over.
However, just as Mei Yuxian was about to take her first step away, Lin Yuan's voice called out sharply, "Sister Yuxian, wait!"
His tone was gentle but firm enough to make everyone pause.
"Hmm?" Mei Yuxian turned her head, looking back at Lin Yuan with a curious expression.
The guests, too, looked at Lin Yuan in puzzlement, wondering what he would say next.
Under the focused gazes of the crowd, Lin Yuan lifted the bamboo scroll painting he had been holding.
With a casual yet elegant smile, he announced, "Sister Yuxian's gift was too precious. I can't possibly accept it without offering something in return. I also have a small gift for Sister Yuxian."
A ripple of laughter spread among the guests.
They found Lin Yuan's words amusing.
It was highly unusualâalmost unheard ofâfor a junior to attempt to return a gift given by an elder.
Traditionally, gifts flowed one way: from elder to junior.
For a junior to reciprocate was considered unnecessary, even improper.
Moreover, what could Lin Yuan possibly offer?
The imperial green jade Buddha was worth tens of millions.
Could Lin Yuan really produce something of equivalent value on the spot?
It seemed better not to try.
Mei Yuxian herself was amused by Lin Yuan's words.
With a soft chuckle, she said warmly, "Xiao Yuan, you don't need to return anything. Gifts from elders are given freely. There's no need for juniors to give anything back."
Her words were gentle yet firm, maintaining the traditional sense of hierarchy between the two.
In the eyes of everyone present, Mei Yuxian was clearly much older, much more senior.
But Lin Yuan's actions had a deeper meaning.
He wasn't merely trying to return a gift.
He was subtly working to close the gap of seniority between them.
And breaking down that barrier of status would be crucial for Lin Yuan's plans moving forward.
He wanted to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Mei Yuxianâas equals.
That was the real reason Lin Yuan was so insistent on returning the favor with a gift of his own.
If he simply accepted Mei Yuxian's generosity without offering anything in return, it would solidify the dynamic of elder to junior, placing him a step below her.
And Lin Yuan didn't want that.
He wanted their relationship to move toward one of peers, of equals, not one defined by age or traditional seniority.
Thus, no matter what Mei Yuxian said, Lin Yuan had no intention of backing down easily.
He wasn't in a hurry.
With a relaxed smile, Lin Yuan said, "Sister Yuxian, why don't you take a look at the gift first, and then decide whether you want to accept it? Is that alright?"
He spoke gently, his tone polite but firm.
If Lin Yuan had bluntly insisted that Mei Yuxian must accept the gift, she would surely have refused out of principle.
But by asking her to at least look at it first, he placed her in a polite dilemmaâhow could she reject something without even seeing it?
And given her naturally warm feelings toward Lin Yuan, it would be even harder for her to turn him down outright.
After all, Mei Yuxian had a particularly favorable impression of this young man.
Lin Yuan called her "sister" so sweetly and naturally that, if not for the matter involving Lin Yuan and Gui Qingtong, Mei Yuxian might have truly wanted to treat him as a real younger brother.
Faced with Lin Yuan's sincere smile, Mei Yuxian could only nod helplessly and agree, "Alright then, I'll take a look first before deciding."
Her voice was indulgent, filled with a soft kind of affection, as if she were humoring a persistent younger sibling.
The surrounding guests, meanwhile, were largely amused.
They didn't think much of it.
In their eyes, Lin Yuan's gesture was just youthful enthusiasmâan earnest but probably insignificant attempt to return an elder's kindness.
None of them believed Lin Yuan could present something truly valuable, certainly not something to match Mei Yuxian's imperial green jade Buddha.
Even Mei Yuxian's tone suggested that she was just playing along, not really expecting much.
But Lin Yuan didn't mind their thoughts.
He knew something that the others didn't: just how precious this gift would be to Mei Yuxian personally.
Lin Yuan had done his homework.
He understood Mei Yuxian's long-standing passion for a particular piece of artâa piece she had tried and failed to acquire for a long time.
And now, Lin Yuan was holding it in his hands.
With a slight flourish, Lin Yuan lifted the scroll and gently shook it open.
The painting unfurled with a soft rustle, revealing its contents for all to see.
It was a black-and-white ink painting of plum blossoms.
The scene captured within the brushstrokes was striking: the plum blossoms hung upside down from densely scattered branches.
Each branch was adorned with clusters of blossomsâsome in full bloom, others still budding.
The front branches leaned backward with a natural, unforced elegance, creating a dynamic composition, almost as if the flowers were dancing in the winter wind.
The delicate petals, pale as white jade, seemed to drip from the slender branches, like thousands of tiny pearls strung along silver threads.
The interplay between the dry, rough branches and the soft, snowy blossoms was masterful.
The air around the painting seems clearer, crisper, carrying the silent fragrance of the imagined plum blossoms.
The dry, twisted branches were depicted with powerful strokes, resembling a bow pulled taut under the autumn moon, full of energy and vitality.
The composition of the branches was rhythmic and alive: long branches were sparsely populated with blossoms, while short branches were densely packed, creating a vibrant, almost musical arrangement.
Where the branches crossed, the clusters of stamens were portrayed with such simple yet precise brushwork that the viewer could almost feel their texture.
Most of the guests stared at the painting in polite disinterest.
They didn't see anything extraordinary.
To the untrained eye, it was just another traditional ink paintingâelegant, yes, but hardly something to rival the value of imperial green jade.
Only a few guests, those with true appreciation for art and history, felt a twinge of curiosity, sensing that there was something unusual about this piece.
But one person reacted differently.
From the moment the painting was fully revealed, Mei Yuxian's gaze locked onto it.
Her beautiful eyes widened slightly, and she leaned forward unconsciously.
She studied the branches, the blossoms, every brushstroke with an intense, almost reverent focus.
Her heart pounded faster.
She could feel itâthis was not an ordinary painting.
After scanning the entire composition with careful eyes, Mei Yuxian's gaze quickly moved to the lower corner of the scroll, searching for something.
And there, in the traditional spot, was the artist's red seal.
A single glance was enough.
Mei Yuxian recognized it instantly.
Her chest tightened with excitement.
There, pressed proudly in crimson ink, was the signature seal of Wang Mian.
Her hands trembled slightly.
There was also an ancient poem elegantly inscribed in the upper left cornerâa poem she knew by heart, one famously associated with the artist's masterpiece.
Unable to suppress the emotion in her voice, Mei Yuxian asked, her tone trembling with disbelief, "This...this is Wang Mian's Ink Plum Blossom?"
Hearing her reaction, Lin Yuan smiled calmly, completely unsurprised.
He had anticipated this.
He knew very well that Mei Yuxian had been obsessed with acquiring this painting for years.
She had searched high and low, sparing no expense, but had never been able to find a genuine copy, let alone secure the original.
And now, Lin Yuan was offering it to her.
With a soft nod, Lin Yuan replied, "Yes, it's the real one."
Hearing Lin Yuan's confirmation, Mei Yuxian's emotions surged like a rising tide.
She stretched out her slender, jade-like hand and, with almost reverent care, lightly brushed her fingertips against the painting.
Her fingers hovered delicately over the ink plum blossoms, as if afraid that touching them too firmly would cause the artwork to disappear like a dream.
It was clearâshe truly loved this painting.
In this moment, Mei Yuxian was no longer the composed, untouchable figure of the Mei family.
She was simply a woman overwhelmed by joy at seeing a long-cherished treasure finally within her grasp.
Without hesitation, Mei Yuxian turned her radiant face toward Lin Yuan.
Her voice was urgent, almost pleading, "Sister Yuxian truly loves this paintingâthe Ink Plum Blossom."
She paused for half a second, then added sincerely, "This painting is worth at least fifty million yuan... Xiao Yuan, could I buy it from you?"
Without waiting for Lin Yuan's reply, she quickly declared, "Sister Yuxian is willing to pay one hundred million!"
*****
You can support me by joining my Patreon and get upto 60 chapters in advance.
patreon.com/Eden_Translation