The Beautiful Boss's Personal Bodyguard
Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Chapter 97

Old Master Tang sat facing south, positioned at the head of the table, his red, large-happiness-character Tang costume radiating festivity. Despite not having fully recovered from a serious illness, his spirit was remarkably strong, and his complexion quite rosy. To his right, the first to take a seat was none other than Old Mr. Tan of the Tan Family—Tan Yaozong, who, despite being retired, still wielded considerable influence in the political arena. To his left were Tang Guoqing and Tang Guoyao, the two sons of the Tang Family, with the rest of the guests scattered around the surrounding dinner tables. The men of the Tang Family had come out in full force, creating an unprecedented grand occasion.

"Ladies and gentlemen, amidst your busy schedules, you’ve taken the time to come celebrate the old man’s birthday at our Tang Family; for this, I thank you all." As the eldest son and the pillar of the Tang Family, Tang Guoqing rose to speak. The former secretary, who had made reports on television, once again addressed the crowd on today’s birthday banquet.

"Clap clap clap!" Applause thundered, filling the entire living room.

"Hehe, alright, alright," Old Master Tang waved his hand, his facial wrinkles squeezing together into a happy smile, "A few words and you’re clapping, making it seem like one of Guoqing’s meetings. No need for that, no need."

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

"Old Tang, that’s where you’re wrong. All Guoqing wanted was to liven up the atmosphere for you, but look at you picking faults. I can’t bear to watch this. How about this—you don’t like it, then lend Guoqing to me for a couple of days to be my son."

"That’s absolutely out of the question."

"What, can’t bear to part with him?"

"It’s not that I can’t bear to. I’d give him away to anyone as a son, just not you."

"Why not?"

"You still owe me that cigarette from ’51."

"Fifty years and you still remember!"

Once again, the living room erupted into laughter, the atmosphere exceedingly joyful.

Chen Pingyue was sitting beside Tang Guoyao, with a smile on her face but muttering, "Look at that, they wouldn’t even lend you a son." Tang Guoyao pretended not to hear, continuing to smile while listening to the others talk.

Tan Xin and Tan Xiao, being the younger generation, sat at another table but were only separated by one person’s distance from Old Master Tang’s table.

"Grandpa Tang, I have a gift here for you. I’m not sure if you’ll like it." As the eldest daughter of the Tan Family and a business prodigy, she naturally had the significance to speak for the younger generation of the Tan Family.

Upon hearing this, Old Master Tang immediately became interested, "Oh, is it Tan Xiao? Come, let Grandpa Tang see what gift you’ve prepared?"

Tan Xiao took out a small box from the backpack behind her, wrapped in yellow brocade silk and tied with a beautiful butterfly knot, delicate and clever.

"That’s wonderful, Tan Xiao. When I was celebrating my birthday, you couldn’t bear to give me this, but now you’ve taken it out. You’re really playing favorites!" Tan Yaozong saw the yellow brocade silk package, his eyes immediately greedy, and he insisted on competing with Old Master Tang for it.

Old Master Tang didn’t know what the item was, but seeing Tan Yaozong’s greedy look, the mischievous temperament in him rose. While laughing, he took the gift, "Old Tan, it’s a present from the kids, why the greed? Get out of the way, don’t touch it. If you damage it, you won’t be able to afford it."

"I’m just going to have a look..."

"You can’t even look. I go first."

The two old men bickered back and forth while Old Master Tang unfolded the brocade silk packaging.

"Ah! Little Tan, this is Rosewood, isn’t it?"

"Grandpa Tang has good eyes. This is genuine Yunnan Sandalwood. But please don’t just focus on this wooden box; the real treasure is inside." Tan Xiao winked, feigning mystery.

Old Master Tang leaned close to Tan Yaozong’s ear and said, "Old Tan, this girl of yours, she’s not simple."

"Grandpa Tang!" In a huff, Tan Xiao stamped her foot, then sat down, eliciting another round of laughter from everyone.

The intricately carved Rosewood box was adorned with two intertwined dragons along its sides, and the mechanism to open the box was a dragon pearl chased by the two dragons. With a gentle push on the dragon pearl, the box could be opened.

Old Mr. Tang of the Tang Family in the main seat suddenly froze, staring blankly at the contents of the box. The others, unaware of the details, were greatly curious about what was inside.

"Is this... is this real?"

Tan Yaozong nodded affirmatively, "Indeed, it’s Zheng Xie’s personal seal, inscribed with ’Inheriting Ancient Virtue.’"

Tang Guoqing’s deep voice rose, as though explaining to those present, "It’s said that Zheng Banqiao, Zheng Xie, was known for his calligraphy and painting, but few know that one of the most famous inscriptions among his calligraphy and bamboo paintings is these four characters ’Inheriting Ancient Virtue.’ Lost to the world until now, this seal would qualify as a national treasure even in the National Museum in Beiping."

It dawned on everyone why the well-informed Old Master Tang couldn’t take his eyes off the seal after seeing it.

Everyone in Tianhe City knew that the Secretary of the Municipal Committee’s old man had no other love than for seals, especially those ancient ones passed down through generations. He was nearly obsessed, often mumbling about a beloved seal day and night. It is said that in his youth, he once knelt for a day and a night outside someone’s door to obtain a seal. Although he didn’t get the seal in the end, his persistence caught the attention of an old craftsman who took him in as a closed-door disciple and imparted all his seal-making skills. This forged Old Mr. Tang’s stature as "Tianhe’s Number One in Seals," sometimes even having experts from the National Museum come to consult him.

As the old saying goes, fame brings trouble just as fatten pigs are slated for slaughter. An old father with a love for seals and a son who was climbing the political ladder smoothly meant many people were eager to offer gifts, and numerous seals came pouring in, all of which were turned away. So when discussing this particular seal, even though Tang Guoqing’s voice seemed unchanged, there was a slight apprehension in his heart.

"Little Tan, this gift of yours is a bit too valuable. This old man really dares not accept it. If I do, your grandfather would surely have it out with me!" As he spoke, Old Master Tang quietly pushed the Rosewood box back. Though the laughter continued in the room, it was no longer as intense as before.

Tan Xiao stood up with a smile, still as quick-witted as before, "Grandpa Tang, if you truly won’t accept it, then I’ll really start crying." As she said this, Tan Xiao’s adorable little mouth turned downward, clearly feigning upset. Yet everyone was watching her; they all knew the Tan Family had produced a female general as formidable as Yang Pai Feng. Therefore, people present were all eager to hear how this "Tan" would respond.

"You girl, you really know how to be slick."