Best Young Master
Chapter 347 - 309: Fanning the Flames

Chapter 347: Chapter 309: Fanning the Flames

A mere trinket made on a whim?

Upon hearing Ye Fan’s words, recalling what Ye Wenhao had claimed earlier that the pair of jade beads was a priceless treasure, everyone from the fourth generation of the Ye Family, except for Ye Long, was so agitated that the corners of their mouths twitched!

In their view, Ye Fan was really too good at pretending!

They would rather believe in ghosts than accept that the so-called priceless treasure, the jade beads, was merely a casual creation by Ye Fan.

Not just them, even the third generation of the Ye Family, excluding Ye Wenhao, didn’t believe it.

Even Ye Zhen and Ye Yuanshan harbored doubts!

"Although you are a Magician and can store Pure Yang Qi in jade beads through Magic, Pure Yang Qi is extremely rare, and gathering it poses great difficulty. How can it possibly be ’casual’?" Ye Long coldly snorted.

Facing Ye Long’s provocation, Ye Fan ignored him.

And Ye Wenhao looked at Ye Long as if watching a clown—Ye Fan, being an Extremely Yang Body, an uncommon existence between heaven and earth, naturally contained Pure Yang Qi within his inner strength. As long as there was jade capable of storing the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, storing Pure Yang Qi inside was as simple as eating and drinking!

"Xiao Long, watch your words,"

Fearing that Ye Long’s words might upset Ye Yuanshan, Ye Wenhai immediately frowned and intentionally scolded, "You should learn more from Xiao Fan. Think of a way to get some Magic Artifacts that would be beneficial for your grandfather’s health."

"Understood, Dad."

Facing Ye Wenhai’s scolding, Ye Long did not dare to act rashly, though in his heart he secretly lamented. Magic Artifacts were the most precious treasures in the world, not something one could just obtain on a whim.

Even he, as the young generation’s number two genius of the Yanhuang Organization, only received a Magic Artifact as a reward from the organization after entering the Peak of Innate Realm!

"Alright, it’s getting late, let’s dine,"

Ye Yuanshan changed the subject with a smile, feeling very happy in his heart.

Firstly, as per what Ye Wenhao had said, the jade beads were greatly beneficial to his health, and secondly, Ye Fan’s gift of such a valuable item inadvertently deepened the contradictions with everyone else, allowing him to proceed more smoothly with his planned "Whetstone Scheme". How could he not be pleased?

As he finished speaking, Ye Yuanshan, supported by Ye Zhen, took the lead along the corridor towards the dining room.

The crowd withdrew their gaze from Ye Fan and followed behind the two elders, while Ye Wenhao and Ye Fan, father and son, waited until the elders had walked ahead before they started walking.

At the entrance of the dining room, Ye Yuanshan’s personal secretary had been waiting for a while already, and upon seeing Ye Yuanshan approaching with everyone, he quickly instructed the chefs in the kitchen to serve the food. The five chefs, each skilled in a different cuisine, hurriedly carried the prepared dishes to the two large tables, then he quietly exited through the side door of the dining room.

Although he was Ye Yuanshan’s personal secretary, he was not a member of the Ye Family and naturally did not qualify to join the Ye Family gathering.

Meanwhile, Ye Yuanshan, aided by Ye Zhen, headed towards the main seat directly opposite the door of the main table, while the other Ye Family members proceeded to their usual seats.

Seeing this scene, Ye Fan paused for a moment, turned his head toward Ye Wenhao, and signaled for Ye Wenhao to tell him where to sit.

"Mao Ying, you sit at that table today and let Xiao Fan sit at the main table."

Shortly thereafter, before Ye Wenhao could respond, Ye Yuanshan, noticing Ye Fan’s gesture and guessing his thoughts, promptly made arrangements.

Swipe!

Hearing Ye Yuanshan’s words, aside from Ye Zhen, Ye Wenhao, and Ye Fan, all other Ye Family members were stunned, their expressions changing with shock!

With the light shining down, it was clear to see that their faces were filled with astonishment!

Yes...

Astonishment!

As the premier wealthy family of Huaxia, the Ye Family had very strict family rules!

According to Ye Family rules, the seating at meals was highly particular.

In past Ye Family gatherings, aside from Ye Yuanshan, Ye Zhen, Ye Wentao, Ye Wenhai, Ye Wenhao, and Ye Wenjun, only Ye Wentao’s wife, the lead daughter-in-law Mao Ying, and the family’s only son-in-law Lu Zheng could sit at the main table.

Beyond that, all other Ye Family members sat at the secondary table!

This included Qin Yan, who was unofficially higher in status than Mao Ying, and the eldest young master of the Ye Family, Ye Long!

In such circumstances, for Ye Yuanshan to allow Ye Fan, an illegitimate son, to sit at the main table, one can only imagine the shock this brought to everyone else!

While everyone was shocked, Ye Zhen and Ye Wenhao, who were deeply aware of the "Whetstone Scheme", silently marveled at Ye Yuanshan’s determination and intensity in tempering everyone, such that he even broke the family rules!

Even Ye Fan was surprised by Ye Yuanshan’s determination and, amidst his surprise, felt much more relieved in his heart.

Although he had already vented quite a bit of the resentment in his heart previously, thinking of his mother Ling Yun being humiliated and leaving the Ye Family Mansion in distress, he naturally enjoyed watching Ye Wentao and the others being put in their place!

"Understood, Grandfather!"

After the initial shock, Mao Ying was the first to bow and accept the order, with no apparent dissatisfaction on her face—she only had a seat at the main table because of her status as the lead daughter-in-law of the Ye Family after Ye Zhen’s wife passed away, a status that couldn’t compare to that of Qin Yan, Ye Wenhao’s wife and manager of a state-owned enterprise!

As she finished speaking, Mao Ying turned and headed to the secondary table, and everyone else took their usual places as well.

"It really is maddening to compare oneself to others,"

After taking his seat, Lu Zheng, the husband of Ye Wenling and the only son-in-law of the Ye Family, couldn’t help but glance at Ye Fan and sighed quietly to himself.

Being a son-in-law allowed him to sit at the main table solely because he was a man.

In terms of status and position, he was the lowest among the third generation of the Ye Family, even worse than the fourth generation, not to mention compared to Ye Fan, who had taken a seat at the main table on his first return to the Ye Family.

As Lu Zheng quietly sighed, Ye Long, as the eldest young master of the Ye Family, kept his gaze on Ye Fan, his eyes filled with envy and jealousy. onCreateViewHolder, there was also a hint of resentment flickering subtly across his face.

Although he knew there must be a reason why the Ye Family elders valued Ye Fan so highly, he couldn’t accept that this illegitimate son, upon returning to the Ye Family, received better treatment than him, and even took the seat at the main table that he had long dreamed of!

As an Innate Mage, Ye Fan had extremely sharp sensing power. He detected Ye Long’s overwhelming hatred the moment it emerged but said nothing, only silently noting it in his heart.

"I’m delighted that our whole family is gathered together again. For the first toast, let’s welcome Xiao Fan home!"

As delicious dishes were served, Lu Zheng, as usual, thoughtfully filled everyone’s glasses at the main table. Ye Yuanshan picked up his glass and proposed a toast.

Perhaps because of what had happened before, everyone already knew about the special place Ye Fan held in Ye Yuanshan’s heart, so they found nothing odd about Ye Yuanshan’s first toast welcoming Ye Fan home.

"Today is the New Year. At the beginning of the New Year, I hope that each of you performs your duties well, contributing to our family and the nation’s fresh spirit!" Ye Yuanshan then picked up his second glass and proposed another toast.

After two drinks, Ye Yuanshan put down his glass and was the first to pick up his chopsticks and select some dishes. According to the rules of the Ye Family, if he didn’t start, the others at the Ye Family couldn’t either.

"Dad, for the third toast, let us all wish you a happy birthday, with longevity surpassing the southern mountains!" After Ye Yuanshan had a few bites, Ye Zhen stood up, raised his glass, and said with a smile.

"Happy birthday, Grandfather (Old Master Ye), may your life surpass the southern mountains!" Members of the third and fourth generations of the Ye Family stood up and offered their blessings.

Ye Fan also stood up but did not speak — he had already given his blessing when he presented his gift earlier.

Faced with everyone’s blessings, Ye Yuanshan did not stand but merely raised his glass with a smile.

"Thank you for your blessings."

Ye Yuanshan smiled, then tilting his head back, he downed the drink in one gulp, a typical military style.

Seeing Ye Yuanshan finish his drink, including Ye Fan, everyone else also drained their glasses, even Ye Cang, Ye Feng, and Ye Tian, the three student kids, were no exception.

This was a rule set by Ye Yuanshan.

At the Ye Family gatherings, children over ten years old also had to drink alcohol, though they only did so during the proposed toasts, not afterwards.

After the toast, the formal dinner began.

This year’s gathering, different from previous years due to Ye Fan’s return and everything that had occurred, had an air tinged with eeriness.

At the main table, only Old Master Ye spoke, with Ye Zhen occasionally echoing him.

At the secondary table, almost no one spoke, everyone just focused on their food.

"No need for further toasting today, if you guys feel bored after eating, you can head out to the courtyard first." When Ye Yuanshan saw that Qin Yan and others were barely eating anymore, he gave this directive.

"Grandfather, then you continue drinking slowly, we’ll head out first." Mao Ying respectfully responded, then led the people at the secondary table out.

"I propose a toast to you, sir."

After Mao Ying and the others left, Ye Fan was the first to pick up his glass and propose a toast.

Hmm?

Seeing this, including Ye Wenhao, all the third-generation Ye Family members were slightly startled, with Ye Wentao, Ye Wenjun, and Ye Wenhai muttering curses about Ye Fan breaking protocol.

"In a hurry to leave?" Ye Yuanshan picked up his glass and asked with a smile.

"Not leaving, I’ll go with my dad, just stepping out for some air," Ye Fan responded with a smile, "Otherwise, I might disrupt your conversation here."

"Hmph~"

Seeing Ye Fan as good as breaching the unspoken rule, Ye Wentao, Ye Wenhai, and Ye Wenjun were quite upset, while Ye Zhen and Ye Wenhao, having anticipated this, were not surprised. Ye Yuanshan, however, kept his smile and said, "Fine."

As his voice fell, Ye Yuanshan pushed his glass forward, and seeing Ye Fan down his drink, he too briskly finished his.

Meanwhile.

In the outer courtyard.

With swollen cheeks, Ye Cang expressed his frustration, "Brother Long, what exactly is going on? Why does that bastard get so much attention from Old Master Ye?"

"Yeah, even Brother Long, you didn’t qualify for the main table, yet that outsider did, it’s infuriating!" Ye Wenling’s son, Ye Tian, also felt annoyed.

"Who knows what demon technique that kid used to bewitch the Old Master."

Ye Long spoke darkly, then casually mentioned, "That being said, I didn’t really qualify for the main table anyway, so it’s not a big deal. It’s just unfair to you, little Cang."

Hearing Ye Long’s words and feeling the pain from his face, Ye Cang felt not only aggrieved but also furious!

"Little Cang, that scoundrel won’t take advantage of being favored by your dad and Old Master Ye to bully you, right?" Ye Tian couldn’t help but ask.

Crack!

Without answering, Ye Cang clenched his fists in anger, wishing he could storm in and beat Ye Fan up right then!

"Little Cang, don’t worry, if that bastard dares to bully you, even at the risk of being punished by the family rules, I’ll stand up for you!" Seeing Ye Cang so enraged, Ye Long gently patted his shoulder and hooked a subtly sinister smile at the corner of his mouth.

He knew his strategy of fanning the flames had succeeded, but he didn’t realize walls have ears.

His words fell into Ye Fan’s ears without a single letter missing!

...

...(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to cast recommendation tickets and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)