Lin Quan's shout at the entrance immediately drew the attention of all the guests.
The patriarch of the Bai family, seated at the head of the table, was having tea and chatting with an important guest. He couldn't help but frown upon hearing the commotion. On such an important occasion, with the hall full of guests, who dared to be so boisterous?
Below the patriarch Bai were his four sons. Including Bai Xuemei's father, who was once known as one of the "Five Tigers" of the Bai family in the business world, all of them were present to celebrate their father's birthday.
At this moment, the second son, Bai Cheng, was chatting with Lin Quan's father, Lin Xiaohu. Upon hearing the noise, they both turned to look. Seeing Lin Quan blocking the entrance and shouting for a plainly dressed young man accompanying Bai Xuemei to leave, Lin Xiaohu smiled faintly and took a sip of his tea. He seemed quite pleased with his son's arrogance.
Bai Cheng couldn't help but frown slightly.
"Lin Quan! This is the Bai family's residence, not yours! Move aside!" Bai Xuemei's face turned unpleasant, and she immediately shouted.
"Hmph! The Bai family isn't a place for some bumpkin from a mountain village to enter and exit as they please! Look at this kid, dressed like a beggar. He's just an embarrassment coming in here. Hurry up and get him out of here!" Lin Quan, blocking the entrance, sneered dismissively.
This was the Bai family, and moreover, it was the patriarch Bai's birthday. Although Lu Fan was a formidable fighter, he didn't believe Lu Fan would dare to make a move here. Besides, the Bai family wouldn't allow this kid to act out; offending the Lin family would bring them no good.
"Hmph! Lin Quan! Are you a dog raised by the Bai family? Or do you want to lord it over the Bai family and show off your Lin family's might? Bai Xuemei, the patriarch's own granddaughter, returns to celebrate her grandfather's birthday, and she needs your permission to enter? Hahaha! Do you think the Bai family has no one left?"
Before Bai Xuemei could speak again, Lu Fan burst into laughter beside her.
*Bang...* Lin Xiaohu, who had just lifted his teacup, slammed it onto the table, his face instantly changing.
Lin Quan, who was blocking the entrance, also twitched his lips. Lu Fan's words were too sharp, leaving him at a complete loss.
"Lu Fan! I am the Bai family's son-in-law, Bai Xuemei's fiancé. Naturally, I must protect the Bai family's reputation! Stop your glib talk and get lost right now." Lin Quan roared in exasperation.
"Hmph! How could Sister Xuemei possibly marry someone like you? If you want to be the Bai family's son-in-law and climb the social ladder, I'll mention it to the patriarch later and see if there's any unmarried maid or old woman who might take you. No need to thank me, I just like doing good deeds." After speaking, Lu Fan suddenly reached out, grabbed Lin Quan by the collar, and lifted him up.
"Lu Fan! Don't make a move!" Bai Xuemei was startled and quickly warned him from the side. Making a scene at the Bai family's entrance, especially on the patriarch's birthday, would undoubtedly cause significant trouble.
*Swish...* All the guests' eyes lit up. Although they usually acted like brothers, everyone enjoyed a good spectacle. And the more exciting, the better!
*Whoosh...* Lin Xiaohu suddenly stood up. If someone dared to hit his son, hmph! Even in the Bai family, that wouldn't stand!
Lin Quan's expression changed instantly, but a hint of schadenfreude flickered within him. If this idiot dared to make a move, hmph! The Bai family would surely not let him off.
However, the faces of Patriarch Bai and the other members of the Bai family changed slightly. Although they all felt an urge to give Lin Quan a good beating, it was better not to easily offend the Lin family. The Lin family was currently gaining significant momentum in the provincial capital.
As everyone watched with anticipation, Lu Fan's other hand swiftly patted Lin Quan's body a few times. Then, he lifted Lin Quan, turned around, and placed him by the door.
"Hehe! Since you're so willing to guard the door, then stand here! Remember, when guests arrive, shout 'Welcome'!" Lu Fan chuckled and helped Lin Quan tidy his clothes.
Lin Quan stood there rigidly, his face filled with rage. He wanted to move but couldn't. He couldn't even speak. Only his eyeballs rolled around erratically, like a living puppet.
Lin Xiaohu was about to seize the opportunity to make a scene and assert his dominance, but he couldn't find any grounds to do so...
Behind Patriarch Bai, two other elders with equally white hair had their eyes light up, their faces showing surprise. If they weren't mistaken, this inconspicuous young man was using acupoint striking techniques. Even among them, the old fellows, few could use such techniques.
"Sister Xuemei! Please!" Lu Fan moved aside and made a gesture of invitation to Bai Xuemei.
Bai Xuemei let out a long sigh of relief and stepped into the hall. Lu Fan followed closely behind Bai Xuemei, and the two walked towards Patriarch Bai.
"Grandfather! Your granddaughter wishes you boundless fortune, as vast as the East Sea, and longevity as enduring as the Southern Mountains!" Bai Xuemei knelt and kowtowed before Patriarch Bai.
"Hmph! Xuemei! Today is my eighty-fifth birthday. You didn't come empty-handed, did you?" A voice, neither male nor female, drifted over from the side.
Bai Xuemei's heart trembled. She recognized the speaker as her fourth uncle, Bai Zhen. When her father had died in an accident, it was her fourth uncle who insisted that since she was a girl, family assets could not be passed down. He had forced her and her mother to move to the county town. Because her father's assets were substantial, the grandfather had tacitly agreed. She hadn't expected her fourth uncle to still be targeting her after so many years.
"Patriarch Bai! Young Lu Fan wishes you a better year every year, and may your fortune and longevity increase with each passing season!
Sister Xuemei said you are highly respected and have cultivated your character, long disregarding worldly possessions. Therefore, she has asked me to seek a gift from the Queen Mother of the Heavenly Palace, hoping you will remain strong and healthy, and live another hundred years." As Lu Fan spoke, he casually reached out and grabbed the air. *Swish...* A glistening peach instantly appeared in his hand.
"What the heck! Is this a magic show?" Everyone present looked astonished. Even if it were a magic trick, where did this glistening peach come from? It wasn't peach season.
*Whoosh...* Bai Xuemei let out a long sigh of relief. She glanced at Lu Fan. This kid certainly had plenty of tricks up his sleeve. But he brought a peach and didn't tell her? Hmph! And he claimed to have gotten it from the Queen Mother? What was he thinking?
She, of course, didn't know that Lu Fan had specifically saved three for himself and kept them in his storage ring, so she was unaware. After all, who wouldn't like such delicious fruit? Lu Fan was only human.
Someone immediately came forward with a tray to receive the peach and then presented it to Patriarch Bai.
"Patriarch! This is a gift bestowed by the Queen Mother. Take a bite, and it will bring you blessings and longevity!" Lu Fan said with a grin.
"Heh heh! Good!" Patriarch Bai was overjoyed by the words and nodded to someone nearby. Someone immediately took the peach away.
"By the way, what's your name? And what do you do?" Patriarch Bai suddenly looked at Lu Fan and asked calmly.
"My name is Lu Fan, and I am Sister Xuemei's personal bodyguard. The most personal kind! Hehe!" Lu Fan said with a chuckle.
Bai Xuemei immediately shot Lu Fan a glare. Since when did he become her bodyguard? And the "most personal kind"? How personal was that?
At this moment, the peach was brought back. It had clearly been washed. Whether it had been tested for poison was not something anyone was pursuing.
Patriarch Bai took the peach and took a symbolic bite. His eyes immediately lit up, and he began to eat it with large bites.
All the guests were stunned. Patriarch Bai had seen all sorts of delicacies, rare delicacies, and precious items. His current eating posture was absolutely surprising to everyone.
"Good... Good! Xuemei! This is Grandpa's favorite gift! Come... Come, come, get up, and sit beside Grandpa." After eating the peach, Patriarch Bai said, still wanting more.
Bai Xuemei quickly got up and obediently sat beside Patriarch Bai. Lu Fan stuck out his tongue. What was the meaning of this? He hadn't mentioned himself at all... Well, it was his own fault for being glib and saying he was Bai Xuemei's bodyguard. It seemed he wouldn't even get a seat. He swallowed and followed, standing behind Bai Xuemei.
"Kid! What did you do to my son?" Suddenly, a furious voice boomed. Lin Xiaohu roared at Lu Fan, his face full of anger. He had just found his son acting strangely, and upon closer inspection, he saw his son standing there like a wooden statue, unable to move. Lin Xiaohu was instantly enraged.