Chapter 108: The Gift for the Homecoming Celebration

October 19th, the day of the return visit to the bride’s parents.

Pushing open the study window, a breath of moist, fresh air rushed in. Lu Liaoliao sipped his premium Xiangyu tea with effortless contentment. He glanced at the bustling servants outside, acting as if the upcoming return visit of Wang Liuli had nothing to do with him.

Dressed in a vibrant red gown and styled like a mature young matron, Wang Liuli was busy directing her dowry servants to load gifts onto a large carriage. She no longer bore any trace of the Lu Jiu he had once known.

"Hmph! A return visit isn't about what I, the married daughter, bring back. It’s about whether the gifts you, the son-in-law, offer can win the favor and hearts of my parents. Don't tell me you haven't prepared anything at all?"

Wang Liuli entered the study and, seeing Lu Liaoliao sipping his tea with such self-satisfied ease, couldn't help but snort in frustration.

"Rest assured, the gifts for my parents-in-law were ready long ago. Unlike you, still rushing about even as we're about to leave."

The more confident Lu Liaoliao appeared, the more uneasy Wang Liuli felt. She cast a worried look at him but decided to say nothing more.

Good fortune brings a glow to one’s face; after being meticulously groomed by Wang Liuli, Lu Liaoliao looked radiant and spirited, truly cutting a fine figure. Beside him, Wang Liuli in her bright red dress, wearing only a touch of powder, was dizzyingly beautiful. Standing together, they were a perfect match.

Inside the Wang family's "Virtue-Respecting Hall," with its sandalwood window frames and marble pillar bases, several elders sat in high seats. Seated beside his father-in-law, Wang Yuanbao, was a woman in her thirties, still possessing a lingering, graceful beauty—Lu Qingqing, Wang Liuli’s biological mother.

After the couple knelt and performed the customary bows to the elders, Lu Liaoliao gestured, and Zhou Liuzi brought forward several exquisite lacquer boxes. Starting from his father-in-law, Wang Yuanbao, to Yang Chongyi, Guo Wanjin, and the Wang family’s chief strategist, Elder Wang, each received a box. A smaller, more delicate box was presented to his mother-in-law, Lu Qingqing.

The elders opened their boxes casually, but upon seeing the glittering porcelain bottles inside, they exchanged awkward, silent glances before quietly closing them.

The reputation of the Lu family’s "Spirit-Nourishing Pill" was widespread—everyone knew it worked wonders. As billionaires, these old men had certainly used it before. But was it really appropriate to present such a thing to one’s father-in-law during a formal return visit?

"Mother-in-law, this bottle contains a secret medicinal pill passed down in my Lu family. It’s for nourishing energy and blood, and its effects are extraordinary. You already look so young; standing next to Liuli, you look like sisters. After taking these, people might even mistake you for her younger sister."

Lu Qingqing, having started her life as a famous courtesan in Yangzhou, knew exactly what other "wondrous" effects such pills were often used for. She was hesitant to accept the gift, yet the son-in-law’s sweet talk had her feeling both flattered and flustered, unsure whether to laugh or cry.

"And this bottle of 'Fragrant Dew' is specifically for the consorts in the Daming Palace. Just a few drops in your bath, and I guarantee it will leave Father-in-law so utterly spellbound that he’ll be begging to spend every day in your quarters."

Lu Liaoliao boasted triumphantly, oblivious to his mother-in-law blushing like a sunset or the murderous look his wife, Wang Liuli, was shooting at him.

"Haha, hahahaha! The gifts from my son-in-law for this return visit are truly extraordinary. He is indeed the eccentric genius who stands out among the hundreds of young talents in Chang'an!" Yang Chongyi couldn't hold it in and burst into laughter.

"Heh!" Wang Yuanbao let out a dry, awkward laugh, his face turning sour. He was beginning to suspect that this son-in-law was intentionally seeking revenge.

"I know Father-in-law appreciates calligraphy and paintings by famous masters, so I couldn't resist writing a copy of 'Viewing the Waterfall at Mount Lu' to offer you."

Completely oblivious, Lu Liaoliao gestured again. Hu Laoda put down the boxes he was holding and presented the scroll.

With a few simple strokes, the majestic Mount Lu waterfall was depicted with great power, the rushing water seeming to leap off the paper. However, the figure admiring the waterfall was painted as a delicate, alluring beauty, which felt somewhat strange.

"Sunlight hits the incense burner, creating purple mist; looking from afar, the waterfall hangs like a river. It rushes down three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way fell from the nine heavens." Elder Wang recited the poem while admiring Lu Liaoliao’s bold, sweeping calligraphy, nodding repeatedly.

"Hehe!" Guo Wanjin, who knew little of literature, tried to appear sophisticated as he admired the painting. "I don't know much about poetry or calligraphy, but this Miss Ziyan in the poem is painted quite beautifully."

Wang Yuanbao’s face stiffened. His second daughter, a woman with a fiery temper, was named Wang Ziyan. Years ago, while working the Lingzhou trade route, she had clashed repeatedly with Li Guangbi, the son of the Deputy Protector-General of Shuofang, Li Kailuo. The two rivals eventually became husband and wife. Fearing his family’s low status, Wang Yuanbao had asked his second daughter to be adopted by Elder Wang, a member of the Taiyuan Wang clan, so she could marry into a prestigious family.

He shot a glare at Guo Wanjin. The more he looked at the poem, the more bitter he felt. His plump body trembled as he ordered his servants to put the scroll away, secretly vowing never to hang it up.

"You’ve met these elders before," Wang Yuanbao said, shifting to a formal tone as he introduced the guests at the return banquet. "There is a reason you see them here today. Elder Wang hails from the Taiyuan Wang clan; he is a man of great learning and talent, yet because he favored the teachings of Laozi, he never entered officialdom. By chance, we became brothers-in-arms. Half of my current wealth and status is due to his help. He is not only my chief strategist but also the godfather of my second daughter, Ziyan."

After putting away the gifts, Wang Yuanbao introduced the special guests. Lu Liaoliao bowed to the stroking-bearded Elder Wang, then looked at his father-in-law with curiosity.

"If such a brilliant man as Elder Wang contributed half your success, then the other half must have been your own hard work, Father-in-law."

Wang Yuanbao shook his head with a smile. "You once invented a story about a 'God of Wealth' helping me succeed. Truth be told, I truly was guided by a wise man, which allowed me to grow and become the richest man in the Tang Dynasty. Do you know who this wise man was?"

Lu Liaoliao muttered to himself, *I’m no immortal, how would I know who helped you get rich? You were already wealthy before I was even born.*

Feigning an expression of deep admiration, Lu Liaoliao shook his head.

"Actually, you are well-acquainted with him. I, Wang Yuanbao, am originally from Shu. It was the guidance of Master Taibin, Zhao Rui, that allowed me to rise from a common merchant to the tycoon of the Tang Dynasty." Wang Yuanbao laughed with pride.

Lu Liaoliao’s face turned ghastly. *You old ghost. You have such a deep connection with my master, yet you show me no mercy when you torment me.*

"Now that I’ve married my most precious daughter to Master Taibin’s disciple, I suppose I’ve finally repaid that debt of guidance." Wang Yuanbao bowed toward the southwest, sighing with emotion.

Lu Liaoliao felt as if he had swallowed a whole egg—choking and frustrated. Only a cunning old ghost like this could raise a freakish daughter like Wang Liuli.

"This is Yang Chongyi, my long-time partner and rival in business, and also a relative by marriage. My fifth daughter, Manao, is married to his third son, Yang Shouyi."

As Wang Yuanbao introduced them, Lu Liaoliao bowed accordingly.

"And Guo Wanjin—that stinking old ghost has spent his life competing with me. I must have been blind to marry my fourth daughter, Chequ, to his spoiled son, Guo Da." Wang Yuanbao’s face was dark, leaving Guo Wanjin completely bewildered, wondering when he had offended this fat old man.

Once the greetings were finished, they stepped out of the Virtue-Respecting Hall. Wang Liuli saw Hu Laoda struggling to carry another pile of lacquer boxes behind them, her face darkening so much it seemed as if it might drip water.

"Lu Liaoliao, just how many of your 'Lu family treasures' did you bring? Presenting such gifts at my parents' home, you’ve made me lose all face!"

"Hmph!" Lu Liaoliao retorted defiantly. "Your family has wealth spanning the four seas—what could you possibly lack? Aside from these Spirit-Nourishing Pills, what else could my Lu family offer? You have eight sisters and brothers-in-law; what’s wrong with me preparing a bit extra?"

Wang Liuli thought about it and realized it was indeed difficult for her husband to choose gifts. She covered her forehead in agony, not knowing what to do.

"Hehe!" Lu Liaoliao laughed happily again. "Thinking of your sisters' names makes me laugh. Your father is truly greedy for wealth; not only is he named 'Yuanbao' (Ingot), but all his daughters are named after jewels and jade—Liuli (Glass), Manao (Agate)..."

"What do you know? After my eldest sister Yueqiu and second sister Ziyan were born, nobody expected the third to be a girl too. Others say daughters are cheap, but my father loved us dearly, so he named us after the Seven Treasures of Buddhism. He just didn't expect to have seven daughters in a row, truly using up all the names."

Wang Liuli glared at him, though by the end, she couldn't help but smile herself.

"Hehe, hehehe!" Lu Liaoliao laughed out loud, feeling not a shred of sympathy for his cunning father-in-law.

"Speaking of which, my eight sisters are married far and wide. Even with me, the youngest, getting married, it’s usually impossible for us all to gather. But as it happens, the ones least likely to come to Chang'an have all arrived for various reasons. It’s perfect for you to meet them." Wang Liuli smiled, clearly delighted by the family reunion.

"Your sixth sister, Wang Shanhu, came with her husband, Zhang Xun, who finished his term and returned to the capital to report. Your eighth sister, Wang Ruyu, likely followed An Renzhi to Chang'an. But why did your second brother-in-law, Li Guangbi, come to the capital?" Lu Liaoliao asked curiously.

"Hmph!" Wang Liuli looked at him with dissatisfaction. "Don't look down on my second brother-in-law just because he’s Khitan; he treats my sister Ziyan very well. The Protector-General of Shuofang, An Sishun, liked his talent and wanted to marry his daughter to him. But for my sister, he would rather resign than marry An Sishun’s daughter. It was only after the great General Geshu Han petitioned the Emperor that he was transferred to a post in Chang'an."

"Hmph hmph!" Lu Liaoliao grunted uncomfortably. "Look at your brothers-in-law—all rich, powerful, and from prominent families. I wonder what went wrong with you, Wang Liuli, that you insisted on marrying a common, poor guy like me."

"None of your business! If I, Wang Liuli, misjudged a man, I’ll take it as being blind and foolish, and I won't blame anyone else." She looked at him with pride, completely unfazed by his words.

Lu Liaoliao didn't know whether to feel depressed or smug. He felt as if he had walked right into Wang Liuli’s trap to marry her as his primary wife. But having a woman with almost no flaws as his wife, he really had nothing to complain about. Otherwise, he’d be tempting heaven's wrath.

"I know what six of your brothers-in-law do, but what about the other three? What kind of 'extraordinary' families are they from?"

"You'll see for yourself at the banquet," Wang Liuli teased.

Turning to look at Zhou Liuzi and Hu Laoda trailing behind, Lu Liaoliao gestured to them.

"Make sure the gifts are enough for eight portions so I can present them to my wife’s sisters and brothers-in-law shortly. I, Lu Liaoliao, cannot let them look down on me."

"Don't worry, Young Master, Zhou Liuzi and I brought plenty. We can prepare even more if needed," Hu Laoda said with a fawning smile.

Wang Liuli lowered her head in agony, deeply regretting letting Lu Liaoliao prepare the gifts for his own return visit.