Chapter 198: The Su Family’s Birthday Banquet

“Happy New Year!”

Before the Rat Year Spring Festival Gala even started, Gao Jing received holiday greetings from many people.

Niu Jinxing, Zhang Ying, Zhang Hongyuan, and Ji Yu called from Lion City.

There were even more messages on WeChat.

Old university classmates, past clients, pretty sales staff from BMW and real estate companies.

Even Song Xue sent him an e-card.

To be honest, Gao Jing had completely forgotten about her until seeing the message.

“Uncle, Happy Spring Festival!”

The ever-present Zhong Yunxiu joined in the fun: “Don’t forget tomorrow’s premiere!”

“Happy New Year.”

Gao Jing replied grumpily: “I don’t have Alzheimer’s.”

Zhong Yunxiu giggled and ended the call.

“Who were you talking to?”

The beautiful woman beside Zhong Yunxiu asked curiously: “Who’s this ‘uncle’?”

“Um.”

Zhong Yunxiu rolled her eyes and said very seriously: “You misheard. It’s not ‘uncle,’ it’s ‘Great Heat.'”

“The ‘heat’ from ‘summer heat’! My classmate from Shanghai Film Institute. Just sending holiday greetings!”

The beautiful woman looked skeptical: “Liar, keep lying. ‘Great Heat’? Why not ‘Minor Cold’?”

She knew her cousin’s mischievous nature all too well.

“She’s always so bizarrely clever.”

“Confess now, have you secretly found a boyfriend? ‘Uncle’? Is he very old?”

“No, I haven’t, stop talking nonsense!”

“Then I’ll ask your mom.”

”Ah!”

Zhong Yunxiu grabbed her arm and shook it vigorously, whining: “Cousin, my dearest sweet cousin, you’re like my own sister, just don’t ask, okay?”

“Alright, alright.”

Su Yazhen, Miss Su, felt dizzy from all the shaking and quickly said: “I won’t ask.”

“Mwah!”

Zhong Yunxiu leaned over and kissed her cousin’s pretty cheek: “I know you’re the best to me!”

Su Yazhen glared at her sternly.

But she could do nothing about it.

Su Yazhen was sharp-tongued with others, but she was helpless against this beloved little cousin.

Still, she truly suspected Zhong Yunxiu had fallen for someone.

Zhong Yunxiu was already nineteen; dating or having a boyfriend was normal. But if the guy was much older…

That would be a huge problem!

Just then, the Rolls-Royce Phantom stopped smoothly in front of a grand mansion compound.

Above the vermilion doors studded with rows of gilded bronze nails hung a plaque made of golden nanmu wood. Under the lights, the large characters “Su Garden” stood out clearly.

This was Su Garden, one of the seven famous gardens in Gusu City.

It was also the ancestral home of the Su family!

Tonight, New Year’s Eve, the Su family old residence blazed with lanterns and decorations. Red characters for “Fu” (Fortune) and “Shou” (Longevity) were pasted everywhere.

The five main branches and dozens of side branches of the Su clan gathered together, hundreds of family members crowded the halls.

Many had come from across the country, some even flying back from overseas.

All together to celebrate the 80th birthday of the Su family matriarch, the Old Madam Su!

Old Madam Su, Ye Jinlan, was practically Gusu City’s Legend, an extraordinary woman.

At sixteen, she married Old Master Su. She bore him five sons and two daughters, managing household chores diligently and running the large family with perfect order.

When she turned forty, Old Master Su died of illness. With its pillar gone, the Su family descended into internal strife.

Just as it seemed the Su family was collapsing, Ye Jinlan, who had always stayed within the inner courtyard, resolutely stepped forward. Using overwhelming power, she quashed the disruptive uncles into complete submission.

Turning back the tide from near disaster!

She mended relationships within the family while expanding the Su family’s influence outward.

Forty years later, the Su family had become a massive conglomerate worth hundreds of billions. It owned hundreds of group companies involved in finance, internet, real estate, high-tech, entertainment, and more.

Though now eighty, Ye Jinlan still firmly held the reins of the Su family.

December 30th of the lunar calendar was Ye Jinlan’s birthday.

Every year at this time, the Su family held a grand birthday banquet for the Old Madam and celebrated the festival together.

This year was Ye Jinlan’s 80th birthday. So besides Su family members, many allied families and factions sent representatives to offer congratulations.

Su Yazhen was the eldest granddaughter of the third main branch. She came to Su Garden tonight, of course, to celebrate her Great-Grandmother’s birthday!

Passing through Su Garden’s main gate, crossing the front courtyard and walking along a long corridor, the two arrived at the Gathering Sages Hall in the central garden.

Su Garden covered 57 acres, divided into five gardens: east, south, west, north, and center. Each garden had its unique charm. It was a very classic Gusu-style garden. Were it not privately owned by the Su family, it would have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site long ago.

The Gathering Sages Hall was the largest hall within Su Garden. Its plaque bore the calligraphy of Old Master Su himself.

Decades ago, this Su family patriarch received guests here, building the family business into great prosperity.

Now, hundreds of relatives and guests gathered under the same roof to celebrate Old Madam Su’s birthday!

Splendid paintings of the Queen Mother of the West adorned the walls. A large character “Shou” (Longevity) cut from gold paper hung right in the center of the hall. Before it stood a ceremonial table laden with items like longevity peaches, longevity cakes, longevity noodles, fragrant flowers, and fruits.

A red kneeling cushion also lay on the floor, prepared for younger generations to bow in respect.

Dressed in grand attire of red silk embroidered with symbols of fortune and longevity, the Old Madam Su sat in the seat of honor, receiving the felicitations of her juniors with a happy smile.

Compared to ancient times, modern birthday celebrations were significantly simplified.

Before, feasting close friends and family started days before the birthday itself, called “warming the celebration.” Lunch featured noodles as a “longevity” good omen. A grand banquet followed in the evening. Another feast thanked the helpers the next day.

Now, just the evening banquet was held to receive relatives and guests.

But though simplified, the grandeur of the ceremony remained undiminished.

One by one, the arriving Su family juniors and guests stepped forward to bow and greet the Old Madam.

Gifts were also supposed to be presented.

But the Old Madam Su had a rule: she only accepted birthday gifts from the five main branches at her celebrations. One gift from each main branch was enough.

All others were refused.

Even if presented, gifts would be returned untouched after the banquet, along with a token of appreciation.

For the five main branches, New Year’s Eve was the prime opportunity to curry favor with the Old Madam.

If she was pleased, it guaranteed substantial benefits would come their way next year.

Thus, the annual birthday feast became a showcase battle for the five main branches!

When Su Yazhen and Zhong Yunxiu walked into the Gathering Sages Hall together, many eyes turned their way.

Focused squarely on Su Yazhen.

This eldest granddaughter of the third main branch was currently the great-grandchild dearest to Ye Jinlan’s heart.

Beloved by the Old Madam, the recently returned-from-abroad Su Yazhen had already been handed a company.

According to the Old Madam, this multi-billion yuan company was just for Su Yazhen to “practice with”!

Such immense favor couldn’t help but breed envy, resentment, and jealousy.

Under the watchful eyes filled with these mixed feelings, Su Yazhen walked calmly towards Ye Jinlan, knelt gracefully on the cushion, and respectfully kowtowed to the Old Madam: “Great Grandmother, I wish you boundless Fortune as deep as the Eastern Sea, eternal Longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountain!”

“Good girl.”

Ye Jinlan beamed, reaching out to help her rise, and looked her over closely: “My Yazhen becomes more beautiful every time I see you. Hard to say which fortunate young man will have the blessing to marry you.”

Quite a few “young men” were present; hearing this, hopeful expressions flickered across their faces.

Su Yazhen had been renowned as a beauty since childhood.

A blind fortune-teller in Gusu City once read her fate, declaring she would have been an Empress if born in ancient times!

Partly because of this fortune-teller’s ironclad prophecy, Ye Jinlan cherished this great-granddaughter especially.

Not only supremely beautiful, Su Yazhen excelled academically. After graduating from a top university in the imperial capital, she went to America’s Wharton School for Business and earned a master’s degree in finance.

She was only twenty-four this year!

Responding to the Old Madam’s playful words, Su Yazhen said softly: “I don’t wish to marry. I want to stay and keep Great Grandmother company more.”

Ye Jinlan grinned wider: “Your heart is good, but a girl should marry eventually. If you meet someone you love, don’t let him slip away. Just remember to bring him to me first.”

Su Yazhen agreed obediently: “Mm-hmm.”

Seizing the moment, Zhong Yunxiu quickly stepped up to kowtow and offer her birthday wishes.

However bizarrely clever she usually was.

She dared not be the least bit disrespectful before Ye Jinlan.

The Old Madam was quite fond of her.

She offered her a few words of encouragement.

After Su Yazhen’s arrival, the five main branches were complete.

Proceeding with the ceremony, representatives of the five main branches each stepped forward to present their meticulously prepared birthday gifts.

This was undoubtedly the most fascinating part of the evening’s festivities!