Not long after, Kong Jingguo's assistant, Yu Feng, personally came out and politely greeted Wan Yunting and Ouyang Zhixin with a smile, "Mr. Wan, Mr. Ouyang, our President Kong invites you. Please follow me."
"Alright, thank you for the trouble."
Ouyang Zhixin nodded with a smile, then glanced back at Wan Yunting. He nodded, and the two followed Yu Feng through the tall gate of the mansion…
The mansion, built in the style of a Suzhou classical garden, was vast. Yu Feng led them through the front corridor. Wan Yunting's gaze was constantly surveying the surroundings. The layout of the mansion was very orderly, clearly the work of a master, achieving excellent feng shui.
"This way, please…"
Yu Feng walked with a lowered posture, politely asking Wan Yunting and Ouyang Zhixin to go ahead. He led the way beside them, passing through a winding stone path dotted with strange rocks. As they emerged, their vision suddenly opened up. In a corner of the east wing courtyard, a plum garden had been created.
Dozens of plum trees, only two to three meters tall, were laden with snow on their branches. Some peach blossoms had already bloomed, while others were still in bud. In the cold snowy season, the resilient plum blossoms unfurled their proud spirit.
Beside the path, there was a long corridor and a pavilion. Bamboo curtains shielded the wind, and a tea set was placed on a stone table, with a stove beneath. Kong Chaoyu sat there, preparing tea. She was wearing a white cape with exquisite plum blossom embroidery and an ancient-style Hanfu dress underneath. Her every movement, every glance, and every smile displayed the dignified and elegant demeanor of a young lady from a good family, captivating the heart.
Kong Jingguo, dressed in casual wear and a coat, stood on the other side. Before him was a large writing desk, complete with the Four Treasures of the Study. He was bent over, holding a brush and painting, clearly depicting plum blossoms.
Seeing this scene, Wan Yunting and Ouyang Zhixin exchanged a glance and walked forward under Yu Feng's guidance. Kong Chaoyu, who was brewing tea nearby, had been watching Wan Yunting with her beautiful eyes since he appeared. As he entered, a smile appeared on her face, and she nodded slightly as a greeting.
"President Kong, Mr. Wan and Mr. Ouyang have arrived."
Yu Feng whispered to Kong Jingguo, who was engrossed in his painting.
Having just added the final stroke to a plum blossom, Kong Jingguo straightened up and turned to face Wan Yunting and Ouyang Zhixin. He smiled and said, "Dr. Wan, Mr. Ouyang, I've been expecting you for a long time. Please sit."
Ouyang Zhixin's heart was startled by his words; it seemed Kong Jingguo had anticipated their visit today.
"Director Kong, please," Wan Yunting said with a calm expression and a polite smile, waiting for Kong Jingguo to sit first before he and Ouyang Zhixin took their seats. Kong Chaoyu by their side slowly served them two cups of hot tea. Wan Yunting smiled gently and said, "Thank you."
Kong Chaoyu smiled shyly at him and said, "My father knew you were coming today, so he specifically asked me to prepare some tea for you. I hope it suits your taste."
Wan Yunting took a small sip of the tea, but being unfamiliar with tea, he frankly said, "I'm sorry, I don't know much about tea, so I can't tell good from bad."
Kong Chaoyu covered her mouth with her jade hand and smiled slightly, but it wasn't a mocking smile. Instead, her eyes revealed a hint of admiration.
As Kong Jingguo's daughter, countless young talents had broken down his door hoping to visit him, but Kong Chaoyu found none of them appealing. This was because those people were not interested in her, but rather in the high threshold of the Kong family.
Therefore, even if they were offered dog feces, they would praise it to the skies.
In contrast, Wan Yunting before her gave Kong Chaoyu a sense of genuine substance!
Wan Yunting put down his teacup and presented the calligraphy he had prepared with both hands to Kong Jingguo, saying with a smile, "I've visited you unannounced today to present you with a piece of calligraphy written in the Shoujin style. I hope you'll forgive its shortcomings."
Kong Jingguo looked at the scroll in his hand, smiled, and took it with his large hand, slowly unrolling it. Kong Chaoyu, unable to contain her curiosity, also stood up and moved beside her father to admire the calligraphy. Written in the Shoujin style, a poem made her eyes widen in amazement. She exclaimed, "Slender shadows pity themselves, reflected in clear water; the side strokes are like bamboo, the sharp edges reveal all like iron hooks on silver, a celestial beauty, the script of an emperor!"
Wan Yunting's expression froze, and he waved his hand, humbly saying, "Miss Kong, you've praised me too much. I can't bear the title 'script of an emperor'."
Kong Chaoyu looked at him and smiled again, covering her mouth, "Dr. Wan, you are too modest."
Kong Jingguo held the calligraphy in both hands. Although he didn't comment, his gaze clearly showed his intense liking for Wan Yunting's Shoujin calligraphy. Finally, he nodded and said, "Good calligraphy."
These two simple words surpassed any other praise.
"Are you here about the matter of the Lingnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Association?"
Kong Jingguo put down the calligraphy, looked directly at Wan Yunting, as if he could see through his purpose for visiting today.
Wan Yunting, however, shook his head and replied with a smile, "Director Kong, I'm not here regarding tomorrow's National Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference, but about my master's affairs!"
"Ghost Hand Medicine Saint!"
Kong Jingguo's eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Wan Yunting. "It seems the rumors from yesterday were true. You are indeed the sole successor of the Ghost Hand Medicine Saint."
Ouyang Zhixin and Kong Chaoyu, sitting beside them, looked confused and unfamiliar with the title "Ghost Hand Medicine Saint," having never heard of it.
"Yes."
Wan Yunting nodded and admitted it.
Besides being rumored to be Ouyang Zhixin's lost son, sensational news had also spread through the traditional Chinese medicine community: Wan Yunting was the direct disciple of the Ghost Hand Medicine Saint, who had vanished overnight and had his reputation ruined!
Kong Jingguo understood his intention and said, "I was young back then and didn't understand much about that incident. If you truly want to know more details, you should go to Wudang Mountain!"
Wan Yunting nodded, knowing that the former patriarch of the Kong family, Kong Liancheng, was at Wudang Mountain, and he was involved in his master's incident.
He had come to visit today hoping to learn more details about the past from the Kong family. However, Kong Jingguo was only in his teens at the time and didn't know much about the incident. It seemed he would have to go to Wudang Mountain immediately after returning to the capital.
"Alright, thank you for telling me, Director Kong," Wan Yunting cupped his hands and smiled at him, then stood up and said, "We shall take our leave then."
Ouyang Zhixin also stood up. Kong Chaoyu, by his side, looked slightly taken aback, not expecting him to leave so soon. Her eyes showed reluctance, but in the next moment, Kong Jingguo also stood up and called out to him, "Wait, I have something to discuss with you!"
Wan Yunting blinked in surprise, nodded, and followed Kong Jingguo away from the pavilion, walking into the plum garden, leaving Ouyang Zhixin and Kong Chaoyu in the pavilion. It was clear that Kong Jingguo did not want them to overhear.
This made Ouyang Zhixin frown, and he couldn't help but worry.
Kong Chaoyu, beside him, narrowed her beautiful eyes, seemingly guessing what her father was about to say to Wan Yunting, causing her to grip the handle of the teapot tighter with her jade hand.
Upon entering the plum garden, Kong Jingguo turned back and directly asked Wan Yunting, "Do you want to be the chairman of the Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Association?"
Wan Yunting was stunned by his directness and abruptness, surprised by Kong Jingguo's straightforwardness. He said, "I know you and Gu Yuanbai created the Lingnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Association to replace the Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Association, but I'm giving you the opportunity now to directly become the chairman of the Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Association!"
Wan Yunting, after recovering, frowned and asked doubtfully, "Why did Director Kong choose me?"
Kong Jingguo looked directly at him and said, "First, the Sima family has controlled the Beijing Traditional Chinese Medicine Association for so many years, and the higher-ups have long noticed their behind-the-scenes actions. Therefore, the next chairman definitely cannot be someone from the Sima family!"
"Second, it's about my daughter!"
"Your daughter?"
Upon hearing his second reason, Wan Yunting turned to look at Kong Chaoyu in the pavilion, but Kong Jingguo shook his head slightly and said, "It's my eldest daughter, Kong Yijin!"
Wan Yunting looked utterly confused, indicating he didn't recognize the name.
Kong Jingguo looked at him and said, "Her Taoist name is Ziqing!"
"Ah, Senior Sister Ziqing is your daughter?" This time, Wan Yunting's mouth fell open in astonishment.
Kong Jingguo nodded and said, "The last time I went to Huadu City, I visited Ziqing at your home!"
Wan Yunting, having recovered from his shock, nodded and said, "Senior Sister Ziqing came to Huadu City to spar with me, so I kept them to stay for two days. After the National Traditional Chinese Medicine Conference tomorrow, I'll be going to the Wudang Sect with them…"
"Therefore, I hope you will take good care of Ziqing!" Kong Jingguo said to him with great seriousness.
Wan Yunting's expression froze. He looked at Kong Jingguo and suddenly understood, his mouth agape, asking, "Director Kong, you don't think I have feelings for Senior Sister Ziqing, do you?"
Kong Jingguo turned and walked into the plum garden, looking at a budding plum blossom. He said, "Ziqing's temperament is like a plum blossom, resilient and stubborn, with a somewhat solitary nature. Ordinary men really can't catch her eye. But the fact that she came down from Wudang Mountain to seek you out for a spar this time shows she admires you. Therefore, I want you to marry Ziqing!"
This time, Wan Yunting was completely stunned by his words, unable to react for a long time. Kong Jingguo turned back to look at him and continued, "Dr. Wan, I admire you greatly. Whether it's your calligraphy or your own abilities, you have surpassed your peers. Your future achievements are immeasurable. But you are now also a member of the Ouyang family. A marriage alliance with our Kong family would be a great benefit to both you and the Ouyang family…"
"Wait, Director Kong, let me interrupt you first!"
Finally reacting, Wan Yunting waved his hands repeatedly and said, "Director Kong, I thank you for your appreciation, but you are mistaken. It is impossible between Senior Sister Ziqing and me. Never mind whether I have feelings for her; I already have a girlfriend. I cannot agree to your proposal."
Kong Jingguo raised an eyebrow and said, "The Fang family in Huadu City is not even on the table. In our major families, it's even less likely. You should think about the long term!"
Wan Yunting understood his meaning, but his gaze was firm, and he shook his head with absolute certainty, "Director Kong, I understand that in your position, you may consider so-called romantic feelings as naive and immature behavior, but I, Wan Yunting, am not a person without principles, nor have I ever thought of climbing a position by relying on anyone."
"Let alone whether I will return to the Ouyang family in the future, but I find the idea of me marrying Senior Sister Ziqing ridiculous!"
These words caused Kong Jingguo to stare deeply at him for ten seconds. Finally, he nodded and said, "You are indeed different from others. Perhaps, I was mistaken."
Seeing that he had relented, Wan Yunting felt relieved. He had truly feared that Kong Jingguo would force him to marry Senior Sister Ziqing!
After all, the Kong family's status in Beijing was unmatched by any other family. If Kong Jingguo was determined to do so, he could directly pressure the Ouyang family to achieve his goal.
But Kong Jingguo was not that kind of person. He admired Wan Yunting and therefore would not resort to tactics to make things difficult for him. He said, "But I still hope that if you have the chance, you will take good care of Ziqing."
Wan Yunting's expression froze. He smiled and nodded, "Director Kong, rest assured, I will if I have the chance."
Kong Jingguo nodded and said nothing more, as his greatest concern was his eldest daughter, and he didn't want her to spend her entire life on Wudang Mountain.