Urban's Fury: The War Dragon God
Chapter 106: Family Disgrace

Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Family Disgrace

"Yes, uncle, Li Feng really went too far this time, and he even pushed Xian’er to the ground."

"He really lacks upbringing, such a person is not fit to marry into our Wang Family."

Wang Tiandao scanned the room with his eyes, and those who had just spoken all shut their mouths. Wang Tiandao didn’t immediately speak either; he glanced at Li Feng and stepped into the hall.

"Mother."

"Mother," the Wang brothers also rushed to pay respects to the elderly lady sitting at the head.

"Since you’re here, I’ll leave this matter for you to handle."

The elderly lady spoke directly, as her eldest son was now the head of the Wang Family, and the one causing trouble was Li Feng, whom he strongly advocated for the marriage alliance.

"Yes, mother."

Wang Tiandao nodded and suddenly turned to face Li Feng.

"You are Li Mingrui’s son, Li Feng."

"Yes!"

Li Feng nodded and sized up his future father-in-law—compared to his own father, this future father-in-law had an air of scholarly refinement. However, to be the head of a family, he bore a significant imposing aura.

"Tell us the whole story from beginning to end without exaggeration."

The members of the Wang Family, upon hearing their uncle’s "biased" protection of Li Feng, felt indignant, yet no one dared to speak out.

"Yes!"

Li Feng didn’t complain but began directly, "The situation is simple. When I visited the elderly lady, I brought a painting. But as soon as I presented the painting, everyone claimed it was a forgery."

"They also said that the Wang Family had a genuine version, and I couldn’t accept it, so I asked the elderly lady to appraise it to verify its authenticity. However, it seemed everyone was dissatisfied and felt there was no need for that, so an argument ensued."

"Is that so?"

Wang Tiandao glanced at Li Feng and then scanned the other Wang Family members.

Wang Jin’er secretly heaved a sigh of relief; he really feared that Li Feng would argue fiercely, even confronting his own father.

Moreover, Li Feng’s explanation was quite neutral and did not involve complaining; even if others were displeased with Li Feng, they had no choice but to accept his explanation.

After all, everyone cared about their dignity.

"Is that the case?"

Wang Tiandao surveyed the room, and seeing no one contradicting, his gaze fell on the painting in his younger sister’s hand: "It is this one."

"Yes, elder brother."

His cousin nodded and handed the painting to Wang Tiandao: "Elder brother, this Scroll of the Eighty-Seven Immortals has been collected in our Wang Family for many years, and mother especially loves this painting."

"Who doesn’t know the genuine painting is with our Wang Family? Now this son-in-law brings a painting, claiming his is genuine, which would suggest that our family’s is fake."

The cousin spoke, her eyes fiercely glaring at Li Feng.

"Isn’t this deliberately an insult to our Wang Family’s face?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Tiandao meticulously examined the painting by Wu Daozi, while a middle-aged man behind him showed sweat on his forehead.

Wang Tiandao just glanced a few times before tucking the painting away.

"Is the authenticity of the painting that important? The intention is what matters."

Wang Tiandao finished speaking and stepped forward, patting Li Feng’s shoulder: "Knowing the elderly lady likes Wu Daozi’s paintings, you have shown thoughtfulness, young man."

The Wang family members present turned red with embarrassment at Wang Tiandao’s statement—it was clear favoritism.

"Elder brother."

"Uncle, we know you strongly support the marriage alliance with the Li Family, but you shouldn’t be so biased toward this young man. He just insulted our Wang Family, his tone extremely arrogant."

Seeing Wang Tiandao trying to minimize the issue, Wang Jin’s aunt stood up discontentedly.

"Exactly, this isn’t just about authenticity, it’s about sincerity. If he truly were sincere, he wouldn’t have brought a fake painting."

Another aunt joined in.

"When my elder brother is speaking, what place do you women have to interrupt?"

Wang Tianyi, Wang Tiandao’s younger brother, turned and glared at his wife.

"Why can’t I speak? I’m concerned about the reputation of the Wang Family."

Wang Tiandao’s expression darkened. He was well aware of the thoughts harbored by his sisters-in-law—it was nothing more than their discontent with his decision to ally with the Li Family through marriage, cutting off their own factions’ chances at inheritance.

"Jin’er, take Li Feng down to rest for now."

Wang Tiandao turned and instructed Wang Jin’er.

Wang Jin’er nodded; she could see her father’s face was very stern, and with Li Feng there, the situation could only become more uncontrollable.

Wang Jin’er quickly grabbed Li Feng’s arm: "Come with me."

Wang Jin’er, fearing Li Feng’s stubbornness would worsen the situation, held onto his arm and pulled him outside. The younger members of the Wang Family naturally had no say in the matter, but they were eager to see how their uncle would resolve this issue.

As Li Feng was pulled out of the main hall by Wang Jin’er, they left the courtyard.

Wang Tiandao, who had been silent until then, finally spoke.

"Elder brother, what a fine son-in-law you’ve chosen—creating such a commotion on his very first visit really is something."

"Yes, and I see a defiant look on this young man’s face. Marrying him into our family, I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a disaster."

"Elder brother, although I hesitate to say this, perhaps it’s better to reconsider this marriage. Even if you wish to introduce a son-in-law, I have no objections—but as for a son from the Li Family."

Wang Jin’er’s aunt also shook her head.

"If he truly reaches a high position one day, after all, this young man is his son; aren’t you afraid that the dove will take over the magpie’s nest?"

The authenticity of the painting was never the issue.

It was the alliance with the Li Family that mattered.

Wang Tiandao could clearly see that each of his younger brothers and his sister had their own schemes. He only had one daughter, and in the past, as a woman, Wang Jin would not have been entitled to inherit the position of Family Head.

The solution was either to pass the headship to another branch of the family after his death or to adopt a son from another branch. Either option, however, would have provoked envy from the other three branches and weakened his own branch’s position.

As for finding another son-in-law.

Without the power of the Li Family, any son-in-law he welcomed would merely be for show. How could his daughter alone contend with the more numerous and powerful other three branches?

Only Li Feng.

The man was a son of the Li Family, albeit illegitimate. But he still had blood ties, and having interacted with Li Mingrui, Wang Tiandao knew that the latter had a special affection for this outsider son and had agreed to this marriage arrangement.

He was probably considering his own interests too, after all, there was no place for him in the Li Family. Marrying into the Wang Family, though somewhat less prestigious, promised a lifetime of riches.

Wang Tiandao ignored the comments from those around him and turned to walk toward Lady Wang.

"Mother, you are the one who loves the paintings of Wu Daozi the most, is this painting really a fake?"

Wang Tiandao, who was in his fifties, had grown up in the wealthy Wang Family and was an expert in antiques and painting as a result of his environment.

This painting, Wu Daozi’s ’Scroll of Eighty-Seven Immortals,’ was his mother’s beloved artwork. He had seen it countless times; if it was a counterfeit, how could he not tell?

Especially since there was proof whether the painting was genuine or fake: it bore a private seal, the ’Wang Family Jing He Tang Seal.’

"Big brother, what do you mean by that?"

"That is, are you suggesting that the painting in the young man’s hands is genuine? This painting has been in our Wang Family for decades. Is it possible that everyone in the Wang Family has been blind all these years, mistaking a fake for the real thing?"

The members of the Wang Family also glanced sideways at Wang Tiandao, clearly displeased.

"Fourth brother, you just said it yourself, this painting has been secretly kept by our Wang Family for decades. What about this seal then?"

"Seal?"

Almost no one present had looked closely at the painting because they believed the original was in the Wang Family’s possession, so when Li Feng presented the painting, everyone assumed it was a counterfeit.

"The ’Wang Family Jing He Tang Seal,’ Mother only added this seal after Father’s death. After that, Wu Daozi’s ’Scroll of Eighty-Seven Immortals’ was sealed away and not shown to anyone."

"Even among these juniors, there are probably very few who know about this. Fourth brother, do you know about it?"

Wang Tiandao turned to question the fourth brother.

"Is that so?" Wang Family’s fourth brother really shook his head, he did not know about this.

At this point, if Lady Wang did not understand, then she really has lived in vain. With a stern expression, she declared, "Bring me the painting."

Lady Wang gave the order, and no one dared disobey; the painting was brought directly to her. Lady Wang looked at the private seal.

She had sealed it herself; she would know immediately whether it was genuine.

"You all should leave now."

Lady Wang, stern as water, ordered the juniors. Seeing the situation, the juniors knew the matter was serious and left one after another.

Once the juniors had cleared out, Lady Wang slammed down her dragon-headed cane.

"Who did it, come forward now while there’s still time."

"Does no one want to admit it? Very well, someone go to the private vault and bring me the ’Scroll of Eighty-Seven Immortals.’"

Lady Wang was clearly furious.

It wasn’t long before the painting was brought out.

"There is no seal."

This painting was sealed in a special vacuum glass case, and it was clear at a glance that there was no seal in the corner; Lady Wang immediately raised her dragon-headed cane and smashed it.

"Tiandao, investigate this. I am not senile yet. A thief lurks right beneath my eyes," Lady Wang fumed. Wu Daozi’s painting was not only extremely valuable but also a beloved item of her late husband.

The people present exchanged glances; it seemed Li Feng, the boy, had brought the authentic painting. This would be quite the spectacle.

Could there really be a traitor in the family?

"Why are you so impulsive? They told you to hold back, and what do you do? You turn around and antagonize our whole family."

Wang Jin’er looked at Li Feng, extremely frustrated.

"Even if you don’t want to be this son-in-law, you could at least use some tact."

Li Feng turned to look at Wang Jin’er, who had just moments ago been clinging tightly to his arm, but now shot him a frigid look; this woman’s face really did change as quickly as flipping a page.

Talk about a face change.

"Otherwise what? I shall be a coward trampled under your family’s feet, smiling after being slapped on one cheek and offering the other?"

Wang Jin’er looked at Li Feng: "I just asked you to endure a bit, not to be servile."

Li Feng curled his lips and hooked his hand under the furious Wang Jin’er’s chin.

"But I don’t want to be a ’Ninja Turtle.’"

"You!"

Wang Jin slapped Li Feng’s hand away: "I was too hopeful about you; you’re just a hoodlum."

"You got that right, so don’t provoke me."

Wang Jin’er glared fiercely at Li Feng: "Get lost; I don’t want to see you again."

"Fine, I’ll go, but what about the compensation you promised me before? That’s what you owe me. Are you planning to welch?"

Li Feng advanced menacingly, and Wang Jin’er retreated nervously: "Compensation, what compensation?"