The CEO’s Substitute Wife Is A Genius

Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Don’t touch my lady’s antique Pipa! Chapter 23: Chapter 23 Don’t touch my lady’s antique Pipa! Jiang Man had never had the habit of eavesdropping around corners, nor did she disdain doing so.

She continued to play games as if nothing was the matter.

On the other hand, the second aunt and aunt, hearing noises from beyond the wall, exchanged glances and quickly made their escape.

Jiang Man played a couple more games, but because she had been in the restroom for so long, the elderly madam of the Lu Family was worried and sent a maid to find her.

“Eldest young madam, the kitchen has prepared a refreshing sweet soup to relieve the heat. The elderly madam sent me to invite you to have some.”

“Got it,” Jiang Man nodded, turned off her phone screen, and held it in her hand.

As she entered the elderly lady’s courtyard, she noticed an extra wicker chair on the corridor, on which a Pipa was placed, sparking Jiang Man’s interest.

These days, it was common to see pianos, guitars, and violins in homes, but a Pipa was a first.

Especially since this Pipa was made of rosewood, with a face inlaid with fine silver decorations, both elegant and classical.

Jiang Man stepped forward, instantly recognizing the Pipa as an antique.

Upon seeing the antique, she couldn’t move her feet anymore.

She bent over and looked down, wanting to examine the details of the Pipa closely.

“Hey! Who are you? Don’t touch our young lady’s Pipa! What if you break it, can you afford it?”

A sharp voice rang out, interrupting Jiang Man’s appreciation.

She turned her head and saw a young girl yelling at her.

“What are you shouting about?” The voice of the young maid attracted the attention of the ladies inside the house.

“Someone on the corridor just tried to touch the young lady’s Pipa!”

On hearing someone was about to touch her Pipa, Wen Jingya immediately came out from the inside.

Following her were Lu Xingzhou’s second aunt and aunt.

Seeing that it was Jiang Man who wanted to touch Wen Jingya’s Pipa, they instantly said with a smile, “Manman, you can’t touch this Pipa, it’s an antique worth two million. If you break it, ordinary people won’t know how to fix it, and we would have to specifically find an Antiques Restorer, which is quite troublesome.”

“Manman, I heard you are also going to study at the Music Academy? If you are interested in the Pipa, I will buy a new one for you later,” said the second aunt.

“Godmother, aunt, you are too nervous, touching it a little won’t break it,” Wen Jingya said with a pursed smile, differently reacting from the strong resistance of the second aunt and aunt.

Her beautiful eyes lifted, looking at Jiang Man: “This must be Brother Zhou’s wife, right?”

“Little sister-in-law, hello, I’m Jingya,” Wen Jingya introduced herself gracefully and appropriately, moving towards Jiang Man and extending her hand.

“This Pipa was a gift from Brother Zhou when I was in college, so the godmother and aunt are anxious, not because of the value but because I cherish it a lot. This Pipa is my life.”

Wen Jingya didn’t utter a single curse word or show any excitement in her tone.

However, standing in front of Jiang Man, her presence was full of authority.

As if asserting her territory, Jingya’s eyes flickered with a challenging light.

Jiang Man was no naive fool, how could she not perceive the underlying meaning in her words?

Jingya wanted to shake hands, but Jiang Man ignored her completely, placed her hands in her pockets, and walked straight towards the elderly lady inside the house.

Jingya’s hand hung awkwardly in mid-air.

Seeing this, the second aunt quickly came to Jingya’s side, whispering, “Don’t stoop to her level.”

“I won’t,” Jingya’s face tensed for just a few seconds before a smile returned quickly.

The aunt also came over to comfort Jingya: “You don’t need to be so polite to her, she is just an ill-mannered country bumpkin!”

Jingya smiled wryly, saying nothing further.

With the backing of her godmother and aunt, she naturally wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.

As for Jiang Man, she probably had some tough times ahead.

“Manman, are you interested in the Pipa?” Inside the house, the elderly lady set down the cooling sweet soup, took Jiang Man’s hand, and asked kindly.

Jiang Man shook her head with a smile, “No, I’m just interested in antiques.”

“Oh?” Mrs. Lu looked surprised, “I didn’t expect someone so young to have such a unique interest!”

Jiang Man smiled without a word.

She had wanted to study archaeology in university, but her father had repeatedly stopped her, so she studied physics and became a scientific researcher instead.

Actually, what she wanted most was to be an archaeologist!

“If you really like antiques…” Mrs. Lu paused, musing, “I have a jade twist bracelet in my storeroom, I’ll give it to you.”

Saying this, she beckoned, “Uncle Fu, go get the bracelet.”

As Mrs. Lu’s words fell, the whole room suddenly burst into an uproar.

They only dared to mutter quietly, no one dared to shout, and they certainly didn’t want Wen Jingya to overhear.

“Wasn’t that bracelet supposed to be passed on to the Lu Family’s mistress? After Zhou’er’s mother passed away, the bracelet had always been kept by Mrs. Lu. Meng Lian asked for it several times, but Mrs. Lu never gave it to her.”

“I thought Mrs. Lu was going to give the bracelet to YaJing, but in the end, she gave it to a country bumpkin?”

“That bracelet is worth two hundred million, it’s our Lu Family’s heirloom! Mrs. Lu’s intentions are clear, she plans to let Jiang Man take over.”

The crowd buzzed, but since everyone spoke in hushed tones, Jiang Man couldn’t make out what was being said.

She just felt like there were many flies buzzing around her ears.

“Mom, you’re not joking, right? There are plenty of antiques in the storeroom, you could give her that Shakespeare pocket watch instead.”

“Exactly, besides the pocket watch, aren’t there also numerous jewelry pieces from the Qing dynasty concubines?”

Aunt Meng Lian and Aunt Lu Xuemei vigorously persuaded her.

Wen Jingya’s face turned ashen, she couldn’t believe her ears.

Grandma is really biased, isn’t she?

She had been the Lu Family’s child bride for over twenty years, and grandma had never thought of giving her the heirloom.

Now Jiang Man had just arrived at the old mansion, and the heirloom was given away?

What were those twenty years as a child bride then? A joke?

Wen Jingya trembled with anger.

But being of low influence and junior rank, it wasn’t her place to protest.

So, despite her immense dissatisfaction, it could only manifest as silent complaints.

“Enough! What are you all fussing about? Uncle Fu, haven’t you gone to fetch it yet?” Mrs. Lu suddenly asserted authority, her voice not loud, but enough to dominate the room.

Uncle Fu nodded and hurried toward the old lady’s storeroom.

The women looked at each other, furious but daring not to speak out.

Jiang Man didn’t think much about the meaning behind the bracelet; she just thought her aunts were protecting Wen Jingya, looking down on her as a country girl, believing that giving a piece of antique jewelry was too extravagant.

“Grandma, I don’t deserve this gift without merit.” Jiang Man politely refused.

However, the old lady’s eyes crinkled with a smile, her grip on Jiang Man’s hand even tighter, “How can you say you have no merit? Agreeing to marry Xingzhou is the greatest merit! Keep the bracelet, if you don’t, I will be upset.”

“Alright then.” Jiang Man nodded, thinking to herself that she would return the bracelet to Lu Xingzhou when they divorced.

The old lady’s kindness now had to be accepted to avoid hurting her feelings.

Before long, Uncle Fu came over carefully carrying a safe.

After the safe was opened, Mrs. Lu smilingly took out the bracelet and placed it on Jiang Man’s wrist in front of everyone.

Jiang Man was unaware of the significance of this moment.

The bracelet was like a crown, and Mrs. Lu was crowning her.

With this crowning, it signified that she was the heir to the position of mistress of the Lu Family; once Mrs. Lu was gone, Jiang Man would be the new mistress of the Lu Family!