Du Feiyang disdained to hide his disgust. He was about to discard the business card, saying, "Who knows? Like a weasel, I find it disgusting just looking at it."
"Don't throw it away, it might be useful! With your attitude, if someone sees it, they'll say you look down on people. After all, it's the Liu family, we have to maintain appearances."
Du Feiyang snorted coldly, "This is just my temper. If I don't like something, I won't tolerate it. Brother Xie, you don't need to be polite to them either. The Liu family are all bad people, and I don't want anything to do with them in the future."
Xie Sui shrugged, "You're right, but I have my uses."
Who among the young didn't have a temper? Living as they pleased, not wanting to deal with someone they disliked, not wanting to feign politeness, it was all about living freely.
If Xie Sui were truly in his twenties, he would be like Du Feiyang, perhaps even more arrogant. However, having lived another life, Xie Sui's youthful sharp edges had been smoothed down. He wasn't sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing.
Liu Kai watched Xie Sui put away the business card, a flicker of malice in his eyes. This Xie Sui, how dare he come back?
He had no direct conflict with Xie Sui, it was just last time when greed got the better of him and he schemed against Xie Sui with the Li family. Xie Sui was too busy to retaliate, but he had been harboring resentment.
With a petty heart, he believed that Xie Sui would definitely not let him off. It was either a handshake and peace, or he would be utterly annihilated. Liu Kai had already regarded Xie Sui as a thorn in his side.
Old Master Du's death was timely. He could win over Du Feiyang, support him in seizing the family fortune, and pull him to his side. Xie Sui would be isolated and powerless. What good was money if it was to be carved up by various prominent families?
Liu Kai had made an even more significant move, intending to utterly crush Xie Sui in Hong Kong this time.
Guan Zhizhi had come with him, standing alone in a corner. Without a proper status, she, a celebrity like her, was not welcomed by the wives' circle. Since she couldn't integrate, she hid away, not bothering to curry favor with them, to avoid humiliation.
The funeral scene reflected countless matters. Few people were genuinely grieving for Old Master Du; everyone had their own agenda.
"The auspicious hour has arrived, the family will offer their thanks."
Du Feiyun and his first wife, with red eyes, stepped forward, followed by their younger siblings and three concubines.
The fifth concubine was absent. She knew the old master was fine and had truly let loose. Together with Hu Pan, she was learning to manage the factory and had found the meaning of her life.
The fifth concubine was a graduate of a prestigious university and had been the old master's secretary. She was pure and sweet-looking, could dance, and had a somewhat innocent and adorable charm. The old master had never encountered anyone like her, so he pursued her and eventually took her into his harem.
Now, the fifth concubine felt she had wasted too many years, dedicating so much time to vying for favor, and hadn't even raised her son well. Fortunately, it wasn't too late, and she was learning from Hu Pan with admirable skill.
She hadn't returned, and this led to another round of nagging from the first wife. The old master doted on her the most. If she didn't even come to see him one last time, it would be another handle against her. How would she have the nerve to divide the inheritance later?
The family bowed and thanked everyone. Du Feiyun said, "Thank you to all the uncles and elders for attending my father's funeral. My father was a strong-willed man throughout his life, and he wished for a glorious departure. As his son, I have done my utmost to fulfill his dying wish and allow him to rest in peace."
"Young Master Du is truly filial. The old master is fortunate to have such a good son, and he can rest assured."
"Indeed, Young Master Du, please accept my condolences. The Du family will need you to lead them to greater glory in the future."
"Why haven't we seen the fifth young master? And the fifth concubine? Is no one from the fifth branch here?"
The crowd exchanged strange glances. Du Feiyun's hired provocateurs were deliberately stirring up trouble, and some people were already beginning to slander Du Feiyang for being unfilial, calling him utterly wicked.
The older generation looked displeased. They had thought the fifth young master had improved, but they hadn't expected him to be so ill-mannered, which was deeply disappointing.
"What a lively affair. I also thank everyone for coming. My life has not been lived in vain."
The main gate opened, and Du Feiyang, supporting the Old Master Du, walked in. Everyone was dumbfounded, their jaws almost hitting the floor.
"Du, Old Master Du, is that really you?"
"My God, he's come back from the dead."
"What are you talking about? Coming back from the dead is rising from the coffin. This is walking in from outside, not rising from the dead."
"It's not a ghost either, there's a shadow."
"What's going on? Damn it, this is exciting. What is the Du family playing at?"
"He's not dead. Are they playing us for fools?"
Everyone was discussing amongst themselves. Du Feiyun and his first wife were so terrified that their souls had flown out of their bodies. The old man was actually not dead!
The rest of the Du family had mixed feelings of joy and worry. The third concubine was the first to step forward and profess her loyalty: "Master, you're not dead! That's wonderful! Why did you keep it a secret from me? Aren't I your favorite little mistress?"
Xie Sui covered his mouth, unable to suppress his laughter. This third concubine was truly a little mistress who would be reviled decades later.
A momentary crack appeared in Old Master Du's stern expression. Du Feiyang chuckled, "Third Mother, don't cause trouble. We're discussing important matters. If you want to act cute, do it at home. You're not young anymore; even if you don't feel embarrassed, consider how others feel."
The third concubine twisted her waist and snorted, "You child, you're the most disobedient. Third Mother has doted on you in vain."
"Yes, I'll apologize to Third Mother when we get back."
Du Feiyang didn't dare to provoke her. This third mother was a bit feisty. Although she bickered with the fifth concubine normally, they stood together when facing a crisis.
The first wife trembled, "Master, is it really you? That's wonderful! I knew Master was blessed with good fortune and couldn't possibly have died. Those people must have found a corpse from somewhere and deceived us all."
"Is that so? Or was it you who hoped I would die and deceived others? If my body couldn't be found, you found another to disguise, and you actually managed to fool them? I never knew my good eldest son was so capable."
Du Feiyun: "Dad, it wasn't like that. I didn't. Don't listen to their nonsense. I've always been very filial to you."
"I don't listen to others, I only look at evidence. Bring them up."
The two makeup artists from yesterday were as pale as paper, scared to death. The money of the wealthy families wasn't that easy to take. Du Feiyun wouldn't let anyone know his secret. Once used, he would silence them. Fortunately, Du Feiyang had saved them.
"Old Master, please spare us. We were forced into it. The eldest young master even tried to silence us. Who did we offend? We beg you to let us off."
The old master sat in the middle of the mourning hall, with his portrait behind him. He was wearing a black Tang suit and holding a cane, appearing majestic yet strange, exuding an aura of terror.
"Tell me the truth, and I won't make things difficult for you."
"Yes, we promise not to lie..."
They revealed how Du Feiyun had instructed them to put makeup on a corpse to resemble the old master and offered them five million, only to try and silence them later. Everyone was amazed and found him too ruthless.
Du Feiyun was still unwilling to give up, saying, "Daddy, they are slandering me. Tell me, how much did you receive to frame me? You can't just believe their side of the story. What kind of evidence is this!"
Du Feiyang sneered, "Big Brother, you truly are stubborn. I was prepared. Look, do you recognize this person?"
He clapped his hands, and his subordinates brought forward a coffin. It was indeed the corpse, not yet cremated.
"Remove his makeup."
The makeup artist quickly fetched water. In a moment, a different face was revealed. Damn, to be a makeup artist to this extent was unprecedented in history. If they lost their jobs, they could become morticians and wouldn't lack for food.
Du Feiyun had nothing to say. He had sent it to the crematorium. The old master had been watching him scheme all along, wanting him to fall.