Chapter 73: Talk Sense!
Even Chen Sien’s expression flickered.
"Old Madam, you mustn’t!"
Qin Hongshu and the others paled, hastily kneeling on the ground. The rest followed suit. The Old Madam’s status within the Qin Family was far too high. If she were truly to fight someone to the death, wouldn’t the people of River City scorn them and curse their family name?
"Old Madam, this..."
Hearing the Old Madam call Patriarch Chen a "youngster" and even talk about fighting to the death was a clear threat to the Chen Family. Chen Sien’s expression turned ugly, and he was about to speak.
"I didn’t ask you, so you’d best keep your mouth shut."
The Old Madam interrupted Chen Sien directly. Though her tone was placid, Chen Sien clamped his mouth shut, not daring to speak. His eyes, however, turned grim.
"What? Are you not convinced?" the Old Madam snorted, striking her cane on the ground. "Even Chen Ruoping wouldn’t dare interrupt me when I am speaking, let alone a junior of the Chen Family like you."
Chen Sien’s expression shifted. The Old Madam’s words were grave; she had just thrown a heavy accusation at him.
"I wouldn’t dare," Chen Sien gritted his teeth, his expression awkward.
"You wouldn’t dare?" the Old Madam countered. "I think you’re quite bold. You came to my Qin Family with such a large entourage, intending to take away our son-in-law. Did you ever ask for my permission?"
The Old Madam spoke with extreme slowness. Her voice was hoarse, but her words were distinct. The invisible authority they carried made everyone’s expression change.
"If I get the chance, I’ll have to personally ask Chen Ruoping if this is how the Chen Family raises its children," the Old Madam said, her voice suddenly rising in apparent anger.
Chen Sien’s hand trembled, a flash of fury crossing his face. He replied coolly, "Old Madam, that’s an unreasonable accusation. Lin Mu insulted the Patriarch of our Chen Family. Is it wrong for us to come seeking an explanation?"
The Old Madam kept calling him ’youngster’ and speaking of Chen Ruoping by name, showing no regard for the Chen Family whatsoever. As the Second Master of the Chen Family, Chen Sien represented their honor. If he were to back down now, outsiders would say his family was inferior to the Qins.
"Reason?" The Old Madam suddenly laughed, a cold glint in her eyes. "You Chen Family members are as shameless as ever. Chen Lingxian was like that, Chen Ruoping is like that, and you, boy, are just the same! It’s truly in the Chen family blood."
Her words dripped with contempt and mockery.
Some of the Qin family members were surprised. The Old Madam seemed to hold a deep grudge against the Chen Family. But that didn’t stop them from cheering for her inwardly. The Old Madam was still the Old Madam, and her words were utterly domineering.
Chen Sien’s face grew so dark it looked like it could drip ink, and the other Chen Family members also looked grim.
"Since you all want to talk about reason, let’s have a proper discussion today," the Old Madam said, slowly walking towards Lin Mu. With a cold voice, she said, "You, boy. Seeing an old woman like me, at my advanced age, and you don’t even know to offer your seat?"
The others’ expressions shifted slightly, but a flicker of joy appeared in the eyes of Qin Hongshu and his faction. The Old Madam had always detested disrespectful people like Lin Mu, who showed no regard for their elders.
"Lin Mu, hurry up and give the Old Madam your seat! Do you have no respect for her at all?" Qin Hongshu immediately chided.
Qin Luoli also shot Lin Mu an urgent look, signaling for him to get up.
Lin Mu looked at the Old Madam, then smiled faintly and rose. "Old Madam, please, take my seat."
The Old Madam simply snorted.
Qin Luoli’s face fell. It’s over. The Old Madam is truly angry now.
The joy in the eyes of the others grew even more pronounced.
However, the Old Madam suddenly broke into a wide grin. "Good boy. Truly worthy of being our Qin Family’s son-in-law. You haven’t brought shame upon us. Come stand by my side with my dear Luo Li."
As soon as the Old Madam spoke, everyone’s expression changed.
Good boy? He didn’t bring shame to the Qin Family? And he was to stand by her side?
This wasn’t the Old Madam they knew—the one who couldn’t tolerate a single speck of dust in her eye, who despised it when juniors were disrespectful to their elders. Just moments ago, everyone had knelt to greet her, yet Lin Mu hadn’t even stood up, remaining seated with an air of utter composure. And now, not only did the Old Madam not reprimand him, she was praising him.
Something about this scene feels completely off, doesn’t it?
"Luo Li, my girl, you tell me what happened." The Old Madam ignored the crowd, looking at Qin Luoli with an affectionate gaze.
"Old Madam, please take it slow." Qin Luoli helped the Old Madam sit down before she began to slowly recount the events at the Four Seas Hotel.
She concealed nothing. Besides, there were witnesses to the entire affair; anyone could be asked for confirmation.
As Qin Luoli spoke, everyone finally understood. From the very beginning, it was Patriarch Chen who had targeted Lin Mu, even claiming that the Qin Family had no manners or upbringing.
Hearing this, some of the Qin family members shot dissatisfied looks at the Chens. The Chen Family truly is shameless, trying to turn the tables and blame us.
When they heard that Lin Mu had not only shown no fear but had spoken with such unyielding dignity, their perception of him began to shift.
And when they heard how Lin Mu had defeated Chen Ruoping’s bodyguard and been called a Grandmaster by his opponent, the way everyone looked at him changed completely.
Even the Old Madam looked at Lin Mu in astonishment. "You’re a Martial Arts Grandmaster?" She was genuinely surprised. She had initially stepped in simply because she was displeased with the Chen Family. She never expected that her family’s new son-in-law was a hidden Martial Arts Grandmaster. The Qin Family has really struck gold!
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Qin Hongshu exclaimed. "Every Grandmaster has trained in the Martial Way for decades. Lin Mu isn’t even thirty years old. There’s no such thing as a Martial Arts Grandmaster that young!"
Even the startled Chen Sien recovered, agreeing with Qin Hongshu. The news of a Martial Arts Grandmaster under the age of thirty was simply too shocking.
Lin Mu nodded lightly and said, "I am not a Grandmaster."
If defeating someone like Han Wen, who hasn’t even properly crossed the threshold of the Martial Way, makes one a Grandmaster, then this so-called title isn’t so special after all.
Hearing his denial, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. Of course. It’s impossible for such a young Martial Arts Grandmaster to exist.
Although Qin Luoli didn’t understand the Martial Way, she could tell from their expressions that Lin Mu was probably not a so-called Martial Arts Grandmaster. She then continued her account.
"As the younger generation, even if Patriarch Chen’s words were somewhat inappropriate, we respected him as an elder and chose not to take offense. But I am the president of Qin Corporation, and Lin Mu is my husband. Patriarch Chen’s words were an insult not only to us as juniors, but to the entire Qin Family.
"In front of so many people, Patriarch Chen denigrated our family like that. If we didn’t argue our case with reason, others would look down on the Qin Family," Qin Luoli finished, her tone even.
After she finished speaking, everyone understood that the fault in this matter lay not with Lin Mu, nor with the Qin Family.
It lay with Chen Ruoping