Returning after 10000 Years Cultivation - Chapter 53

Early morning.

Knock, knock, knock!

“Jiang Tian, wake up! Breakfast is ready!”

The crisp, pleasant voice of Zhao Xueqing came through the door, accompanied by the sound of knocking.

“Coming!”

Jiang Tian opened his eyes and responded.

Zhao Xueqing had prepared a simple breakfast—a pot of millet porridge, a few steamed buns, and a plate of smashed cucumber.

But to Jiang Tian, it was nothing short of a gourmet feast.

“It’s Saturday today. After breakfast, come with me to pick out a gift,” Jiang Tian said with a faint smile.

“I should really go to work overtime…” Zhao Xueqing insisted.

“Listen to me,” Jiang Tian chuckled.

In their past life, Zhao Xueqing had often worked late into the night just to earn extra pay. But in this life, Jiang Tian had already improved the formula for the Nourishing Cream, which was worth tens of millions. The benefits he had given the Zhao family were more than enough.

“Jiang Tian, what kind of gift are you getting me?” Zhao Xueqing’s curiosity got the better of her.

“You’ll find out when we get there!” Jiang Tian smiled faintly. Soon after finishing breakfast, the two of them headed out together.

…

Linzhou, Financial District — The Socialite Club

In Chinese society, connections and networks are everything. Different social circles exist for different groups of people.

The Socialite Club, operated under the Linzhou Female Entrepreneurs Association, was the core social circle for elite women in Linzhou. Its honorary president was Chen Xin, the wife of Secretary Tang and the director of the Municipal Women’s Federation.

Joining the Socialite Club allowed women to forge valuable connections, meeting female officials and entrepreneurs from all walks of life.

But more importantly, young women could also meet influential older women, leaving a good impression and indirectly securing introductions to wealthy heirs and young masters.

Inside an elegantly decorated tearoom within the club, a young woman in a cheongsam expertly prepared tea.

Her jade-like hands moved with effortless grace, fluttering like butterflies—a clear sign of her mastery in the art of tea.

Her delicate features and refined demeanor made her resemble a noble lady from the bygone era of Jiangnan. Every gesture carried an enchanting charm.

Sitting across from her was another young woman, dressed in a stylish Prada outfit, her sharp black stilettos adding to her sophisticated, businesslike aura.

Though barely in her twenties, her face—a blend of innocence and allure—carried a maturity beyond her years. Yet, at this moment, her brows were slightly furrowed, as if weighed down by an unshakable gloom.

“Biyao, you seem troubled lately. I haven’t seen you smile much,” the tea-serving woman remarked gently as she handed over a delicate antique purple clay cup filled with clear, emerald-green tea.

Lu Biyao, the beloved daughter of Lu Haitao, head of the Lu family in Linzhou. The Lu family’s assets exceeded hundreds of millions, placing them among the city’s elite.

Not only was Lu Biyao strikingly beautiful, but she was also highly capable, running a multimillion-dollar import-export business with remarkable success.

Alongside Zhao Xueqing, Tang Linglong, Zhou Xianya of the Zhou family, and the woman serving tea—Fu Lanjun—Lu Biyao was known as one of Linzhou’s “Five Golden Flowers.”

Lu Biyao took a sip of tea and sighed. “Sister Jun, do you remember two years ago when the Jiang family from Jinling approached my father, proposing a marriage between me and Jiang Tian?”

“Oh, him? I know of him…” Fu Lanjun chuckled dismissively.

“Sister Jun, I rejected him without hesitation back then. But now… I kind of regret it,” Lu Biyao murmured.

“Why the regret? Because Liu Wangfeng died under mysterious circumstances?” Fu Lanjun asked knowingly.

Fu Lanjun was the eldest daughter of the Fu family in Linzhou. Though the Fu family wasn’t particularly powerful (ranking only in the twenties or thirties in the city), Fu Lanjun herself was exceptionally capable. She ran a high-end fashion brand called “Junzilan,” with assets exceeding a hundred million.

Moreover, she was a master of social maneuvering—charismatic, well-connected, and influential. Before even turning thirty, she had become the vice-chairwoman of the Linzhou Female Entrepreneurs Association.

Among the socialites, only Tang Linglong outranked her. But since Tang Linglong was more interested in martial arts than social affairs, Fu Lanjun had naturally become the idol and spiritual leader of Linzhou’s elite women.

Whenever these young socialites faced emotional or professional dilemmas, they often sought advice from Fu Lanjun, treating her like an elder sister.

“Exactly! I’d heard Jiang Tian was just another good-for-nothing, so of course I refused!” Lu Biyao said bitterly. “Then I got engaged to Liu Wangfeng… only for him to end up murdered, with the police still clueless about the killer!”

“Jiang Tian is no catch,” Fu Lanjun scoffed before elaborating:

“He’s not just lazy and incompetent—he’s also impulsive and hot-tempered. Back in college, he was publicly humiliated when a prominent family from Yanjing called off their engagement with him. Instead of swallowing the insult, he went and beat up the young master who delivered the news. The Jiang family couldn’t handle the backlash from Yanjing, so they disowned him.”

“Jiang Tian has no real skills, no survival instincts. That’s why the Jiang family was so desperate to marry him off—just to pawn him off on some other family.”

Fu Lanjun took a sip of tea and added with a smirk, “Between you and me, the Jiangs even approached me about him.”

“What?! The Jiang family really cast a wide net, huh?” Lu Biyao burst out laughing.

But then she grew serious again. “Sister Jun, even if Jiang Tian is mediocre, the Jiang family is one of the four great families of Jinling. So I can’t help feeling a little regret…”

“Did Liu Wangfeng never tell you?” Fu Lanjun sneered.

“The Jiang family is surrounded by enemies. Their business is struggling—I doubt they’ll last another five years.”

“He did mention it, but is it really that bad?” Lu Biyao asked, stunned.

“Worse. Aligning with the Jiangs could even put your life at risk.”

Fu Lanjun’s expression turned grave. “Biyao, let me give you some advice: A wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall. If you’re looking for a partner, keep your eyes open. Don’t settle for someone with no future. Incompetence is the original sin.”

“Ugh, with Liu Wangfeng gone, where am I supposed to find another promising young man in Linzhou?” Lu Biyao sighed.

Linzhou was, after all, just a small city—nothing compared to metropolises like Yangcheng or Donghai. The upper-class circle was tiny, and Lu Biyao had already met most of the eligible bachelors. None impressed her.

“Still, you’re right. A wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall. Anyone’s better than Jiang Tian,” Lu Biyao conceded.

“What about Tang Jianfeng, the eldest son of the Tang family?” Fu Lanjun suggested with a meaningful smile.

“Tang Jianfeng? Tang Wannian’s son?!”

Lu Biyao frowned. “He’s a notorious playboy! Three years ago, he beat the son of a district mayor so badly he broke his leg. Old Tang managed to hush it up, but the scandal was huge. I haven’t seen him in ages—did the Tang family exile him or something?”

Fu Lanjun merely smiled enigmatically. Oh, Biyao… if you think the Tang family would exile him over a few fights, you severely underestimate their influence.

He was secretly sent to the Southern Tiger Special Forces for three years of training. He’s now a decorated soldier, a true elite, with the rank of captain. One day, he might even become a general.

But since, as you said, Linzhou lacks promising young men… I think I’ll keep him for myself.

“Actually… Fan Tao, the son of District Chief Fan, has been pursuing me lately. What do you think, Sister Jun?” Lu Biyao suddenly asked, a hint of shyness in her voice.

“Fan Tao? Not bad. He may not be rich, but his political connections are solid.”

Fu Lanjun smiled. “In China, business and politics go hand in hand. He works in customs, you’re in import-export. With his help, your business will soar. Once you become Mrs. Fan, you’ll have to look out for me!”

“Sister Jun, stop teasing me!” Lu Biyao playfully pinched Fu Lanjun’s arm, though her eyes sparkled with delight.

“Honestly, I’m not even that into him. But since you say so, maybe I’ll give him a chance.”

“Who knows? You might just click,” Fu Lanjun said warmly.

Lu Biyao nodded, then asked, “By the way, since you’re so well-informed, did Jiang Tian ever find a wife in Linzhou?”

“He did. And you know her, too,” Fu Lanjun replied mysteriously.

“Who?”

“Zhao Xueqing.”

“Her?!”

Lu Biyao’s face twisted in shock before curling into a sneer. “Well, that’s a perfect match. Trash belongs with trash.”

“Now, now, that’s a bit harsh. Do you have history with her?” Fu Lanjun chided lightly.

“Pfft. As if I’d waste my time on someone like her!”

Lu Biyao wrinkled her nose in disdain, though a flicker of hatred flashed in her eyes.

When Liu Wangfeng was dating her, he had secretly pursued Zhao Xueqing. Lu Biyao had known all along.

In her mind, Zhao Xueqing—aside from being pretty—was nowhere near her league. She was convinced Zhao Xueqing had seduced Liu Wangfeng.

With a cold laugh, she added, “Still, even if the Zhao family is third-rate and Zhao Xueqing has no standing in it, she’s at least decent-looking. How could she be blind enough to settle for Jiang Tian?”

“She is blind…”

Fu Lanjun sighed. “The Jiang family’s pharmaceutical company is struggling financially. They can’t even support Jiang Tian, so Zhao Xueqing has to work to fund his extravagant lifestyle!”

“What?!”

Lu Biyao nearly spat out her tea. “If a man can’t provide, what’s the point? What a waste of life! If it were me, I’d have divorced him ages ago. How shameless can Jiang Tian be, living off a woman?”

“And that’s not even the worst part.”

Fu Lanjun’s face darkened with pity. “Rumor has it Jiang Tian’s mentally unstable now. He beats Zhao Xueqing regularly—twice so badly she ended up in the hospital.”

“What a monster!”

Lu Biyao’s lips curled in disgust. “How does the world produce such trash? Useless and abusive? Disgusting. If I were him, I’d just jump off a bridge!”

Fu Lanjun merely smiled without comment.

Suddenly, Lu Biyao checked her phone and brightened. “Fan Tao’s here to take me car shopping!”

“You’re rich enough to buy any car you want. Why bother with him?” Fu Lanjun teased.

“It’s different. Men need to be kept on a hook. They have to spend money, or they won’t value you,” Lu Biyao said slyly before rising from her seat and leaving the tearoom.