A residential area, a not-so-large courtyard. A main house, a side house. This was Elder Fan's home.
Although there were two houses, only two people lived there: Elder Fan and a maid in her fifties, Wu Ma. Elder Fan lived in the main house, and Wu Ma lived in the side house.
After Lu Fan and Lin Fan escorted Elder Fan and his granddaughter, Fan Xue'er, back home, they intended to leave. However, to express his gratitude, Elder Fan insisted that the two stay for a meal. As the two men got along well with Elder Fan, they agreed.
During their conversation, they learned that Fan Xue'er had lost her mother as a child and her father had died mysteriously in her teenage years. Elder Fan then sent her to live and study abroad.
Fan Xue'er graduated from university, and Elder Fan felt his health declining. He called his granddaughter back, intending to transfer his assets to her.
Wu Ma prepared a table full of dishes to welcome Fan Xue'er. This was also the main reason Elder Fan asked Lu Fan and Lin Fang to stay for dinner, and to thank Lu Fan for his timely intervention that day.
*Bang...*
As the group had just started eating, the door was suddenly kicked open. A man and a woman, both looking furious, barged in. Fan Jian! Elder Fan's second son. Zhao Chunhua, Elder Fan's second daughter-in-law.
"Old Man! Xue'er is back, why didn't you tell us, her uncle and aunt, so we could welcome her?" Fan Jian said as soon as he entered, spotting Fan Xue'er. A hint of hostility flashed in his eyes as he spoke in a sarcastic tone.
"What are you doing here? You are not welcome!" Elder Fan's expression changed as he spoke to Fan Jian.
"Hmph! You can not welcome us, but the fact remains that we are your son and daughter-in-law. You actually want to hand over your assets to an outsider instead of your son. You are not being fair!" Fan Jian snorted and confronted Elder Fan directly.
"Exactly! You're so old, how many more days can you live! We are here today to reclaim what rightfully belongs to us. It just so happens that you have guests, who can serve as witnesses. We are your biological son and daughter-in-law, with direct inheritance rights!" Zhao Chunhua said from the side, her expression equally defiant.
"You... you... you are not human! I don't have a son like you, cough cough cough... cough cough cough..." Elder Fan was so enraged that he couldn't speak and started coughing incessantly.
Lu Fan and Lin Fang were astonished. These two were Elder Fan's son and daughter-in-law? Elder Fan had never mentioned it before. However, looking at them now, it was understandable why Elder Fan hadn't mentioned them; they were truly despicable.
"Uncle, Aunt! Are you trying to anger Grandpa to death? Get out!" Fan Xue'er said, patting Elder Fan's back while shouting angrily at Fan Jian and Zhao Chunhua.
"Kick us out? Who do you think you are? You haven't been back in so many years, who knows if you are the real Fan Xue'er. Perhaps someone is impersonating Fan Xue'er to trick this senile old man out of his fortune! You should be the one leaving." Zhao Chunhua, with her sharp, slanted eyebrows, glared at Fan Xue'er and started scolding her.
"Damn... what kind of thing limits my imagination? Such people exist in this world?" Lu Fan couldn't help but curse. Were these his own son and daughter-in-law? This was utterly inhuman!
"Get out! Whether I have assets or not, I will never give you a single cent!" Elder Fan, his face pale with anger, pointed at Fan Jian and Zhao Chunhua and roared.
"Old geezer! Don't try to fool us. We've all heard that you have an Emperor Jade Necklace worth over a million! We won't leave until we get that necklace!" Zhao Chunhua immediately shouted, lifting her foot.
"Damn it! They came prepared!" Lu Fan's mouth twitched. Even a fool could tell that these two inhuman beings were instigated by someone else. Lin Quan! It must be that bastard again!
"Get out! Get out of here right now!" Elder Fan suddenly turned around, pulled out a foot-long sharp knife from a cabinet behind him, and lunged at Fan Jian and his wife.
*Swish... swish...*
Fan Jian and Zhao Chunhua were startled and turned to flee.
"Old Man! We are definitely getting that Emperor Jade Necklace! Just you wait, we will never let you give that treasure to an outsider!" Fan Jian shouted as he ran out.
Watching Fan Jian and Zhao Chunhua flee, Elder Fan dropped the sharp knife with a clang, sat down on a chair, and panted heavily, his face even more ashen.
Lu Fan's heart sank. He quickly took out a small pill and put it into Elder Fan's mouth, then said, "Lin Fang! Take care of the old man. I'll go take a look."
With that, Lu Fan walked out of the room.
At the courtyard gate, Lu Fan pushed the gate open a crack. He saw a Porsche parked not far away. Inside the car was Lin Quan! Damn it! His guess was correct.
"Young Master Lin! The old man refuses to admit he has that Emperor Jade Necklace. Are you sure? Does he really not have such a treasure?" Fan Jian said, bowing and approaching Lin Quan.
"He definitely has it! It's just that your old man is unwilling to give it to you! How about this, I have something good here. You come tonight, and search this palm-sized area. Wouldn't it be easy to find?" Lin Quan said with a sinister smile, taking out a small bottle from his pocket and handing it to Fan Jian.
"This thing...?" Fan Jian's expression changed as he looked at Lin Quan in surprise.
"Don't worry, it's just a sleeping pill, it won't kill anyone. Besides, you are that old man's son, and you have legal rights to inherit property. Even if you're caught, it's a family property dispute and not a crime. As long as you can get that necklace, I'll give you 1.2 million!" Lin Quan said, a smile stretching his lips.
"1.2 million?" Zhao Chunhua's eyes lit up, and she excitedly tugged at Fan Jian's sleeve, "Let's do it!"
Lu Fan's face turned cold. Damn it! They were truly shameless!
Gently closing the gate, Lu Fan turned and went back into the room.
"Master! Elder Fan's health isn't good!"
As soon as Lu Fan returned to the room, Lin Fang said with a troubled expression.
Lu Fan hurried over, placed his fingers on Elder Fan's wrist to check his pulse, and his expression immediately turned grim.
Elder Fan, already frail due to old age and with a limited lifespan, had his condition worsened by Lin Quan's scheme. The anger had taken a toll on his body, making him very weak. Now, being angered by his son and daughter-in-law to this extent, if he hadn't taken his small pill, the sudden rage could have been fatal.
"Elder Fan! You should not get agitated right now. It's best to rest well! If you have anything to say to your granddaughter, talk to her more," Lu Fan said gently, helping him sit down.
"Alas! I know I don't have much time left. Lin Fang! Young friend Lu Fan! I have something I need your help with." Elder Fan sighed. He understood the unspoken meaning in Lu Fan's words; it was time to make final arrangements.
"Elder Fan! Please speak your mind! As long as we can do it, we will agree!" Lu Fan said quickly.
"Wu Ma! Go to the main gate and keep watch. Don't let that scoundrel come back," Elder Fan said to Wu Ma.
Wu Ma turned and left.
Seeing Wu Ma depart, Elder Fan said, "Lin Fang, Lu Fan! I want you to take care of Xue'er for me in the future! This courtyard is worth over four million. After I die, that scoundrel Fan Jian will surely come to fight with Xue'er. Let them have their way and give them the house.
However, my craft is passed down from my ancestors. I've been doing it my whole life and have saved some good things. Follow me!"
Elder Fan then said, trembling, he took out a key from his pocket, pushed the dining table aside, and revealed a lock beneath the table leg. He inserted the key into the lock, turned it, and pushed, revealing a hidden opening.