Ch 309: Betrothal Gifts
In the blink of an eye, three days passed. The Huo family, except for Huo Xinghai, who was still filming on the set, all went to the Mystical Arts Association to participate in the marriage proposal.
It was understandable that Huo Xingchen went, but what surprised Gu Qingyin was that Huo Xingye would put aside his work and run over to join in the fun.
To this, Huo Xingye explained: “It’s my brother’s first marriage proposal, so as his older brother, I naturally have to be there to show my respect for the woman. Moreover, I personally prepared the betrothal gifts, so of course I want to see if the Mystical Arts Association is satisfied.”
Gu Qingyin curled her lips, thinking he could have just said he wanted to watch the excitement. A true Dominant President never explains! Yet he even found two reasons!
Entering the Mystical Arts Association for the first time, Huo Xingye was indeed an eye-opener. The time-space-bending entrance method and the sci-fi movie-like interior decoration all amazed him, but on the surface, the Dominant President remained as calm as ever.
Gu Qingyin couldn’t help but praise, “My son is quite something, remaining unfazed. Worthy of being the person in power of the Huo family.”
Huo Xingye smiled indifferently, “It’s nothing more than that.”
Huo Xingchen gave a thumbs up, “Big Brother is indeed Big Brother! You’ve seen more of the world than I have!”
Huo Yunjing, however, seemed to see through him and chuckled softly without saying a word.
Before they had walked far, Liu Ergou led the reorganized Council of Elders to greet them.
Not only Elder Miao, but the previous older elders had all retired in disappointment. The current Council of Elders were all middle-aged mainstays. Although their strength was not as strong as the older generation, their thinking was very unified and selfless. It was believed that in a few years, the Mystical Arts Association would undergo refreshing changes.
“Master Gu!” Liu Ergou extended his hand to Gu Qingyin with a formulaic smile on his face.
Gu Qingyin blinked, a little unaccustomed to it, but still extended her hand out of respect. However, before she could grasp it, a large hand quickly reached out from her side, replacing hers to shake Liu Ergou’s hand, giving it two very perfunctory shakes, “President, hello.”
Gu Qingyin’s hand paused, and she silently retracted it, glancing sideways at Huo Yunjing, whose expression was as usual, and said nothing.
Liu Ergou was also stunned for a moment, but quickly smiled again, “The banquet has already been prepared, please come in, everyone. We can chat while we eat.”
The group continued to walk inside.
Huo Xingchen was a little nervous and stayed close to Huo Xingye, trying to make conversation, “Big Brother, do you think today will go smoothly?”
Huo Xingye also lowered his voice to respond: “Of course it will. Don’t think so much, just let it be. Mom, Dad, and Big Brother are all here.”
Huo Xingchen nodded, looked around, and asked again, “Why isn’t Weng Yun here?”
Huo Xingye frowned and glanced at him, “Didn’t you say that her commission hasn’t been completed yet?”
“Oh, right.” Huo Xingchen scratched his head, “I forgot.”
Huo Xingye was quite disgusted and simply ignored him. It was just a marriage proposal, why was he so nervous? Useless.
The banquet was prepared in the Mystical Arts Association’s banquet hall, which was not open except for important events, which was enough to prove the Mystical Arts Association’s emphasis on this marriage proposal. After all, Gu Qingyin and Huo Yunjing had come in person, so they had to give them the respect they deserved.
The group took their seats one by one, and the banquet began, with all kinds of delicacies being brought to the table.
The Huo family watched silently. When the dishes were all served, Huo Xingye suddenly spoke, “If I’m not mistaken, most of the things here are not allowed to be eaten, right?”
Liu Ergou’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said, “No, no, no, you’ve misunderstood. These are all self-raised, not wild. You can eat them with confidence.”
Huo Yunjing raised his eyebrows, “These things are allowed to be raised privately?”
Liu Ergou’s eyelids also began to twitch, and he said with a chuckle, “There are always more solutions than problems.”
Gu Qingyin clicked her tongue twice and muttered in a low voice, “All the prestige is gone.”
Liu Ergou pretended not to hear and invited everyone to eat.
How should I put it? As expected of things that were not allowed to be eaten, the taste was indeed very good. After everyone had their fill of food and drink, the dishes were cleared away, and everyone finally began to get down to business.
Huo Xingye, as the representative, took out a small red booklet from the inside pocket of his suit and handed it over, “This is the betrothal gift list, please take a look.”
A young elder behind Liu Ergou stepped forward and took the booklet. The people of the Mystical Arts Association originally didn’t pay attention to this small booklet, until this elder casually opened it, and suddenly, neatly stacked sheets of paper slid out of it, directly drooping to the ground.
The people of the Mystical Arts Association were stunned. How could it be so long? Glancing at it, um… the words weren’t big either, even a bit small! The people of the Mystical Arts Association imperceptibly took a breath. How much stuff had they prepared!
The young elder frantically tried to tidy it up, but the more anxious he became, the worse he did. Liu Ergou couldn’t stand it anymore and took the list from his hand, reading it himself while tidying it up. By the time he was done, he had also read most of it.
Liu Ergou had a rough idea in his mind. He cleared his throat and said, “It is indeed very generous, but they are all worldly things, not very useful to Taoist Masters.”
Huo Xingchen’s heart immediately rose to his throat.
Huo Xingye also frowned slightly. Was he dissatisfied? He was about to speak when Gu Qingyin held him down.
Gu Qingyin said with a smile, “There are naturally more betrothal gifts, but whether or not they can be written on the list depends on the Mystical Arts Association’s attitude.”
Liu Ergou maintained a composed expression on his face, but he exclaimed in his heart: Here it comes!
“What does Master Gu mean?” Several elders looked at each other and finally put forward a representative to speak on their behalf, “We’re not receiving these betrothal gifts for nothing. After receiving them, we will naturally prepare corresponding dowry gifts. In the end, it’s still saving up for the children’s future.”
Gu Qingyin smiled slightly, “I’ve heard that the orphans raised by the Mystical Arts Association cannot regain their freedom even after they get married. I would like to ask why? Did they sign a contract of indenture? If they don’t sign, they won’t be raised?”
“Of course not! We just don’t want to see talented people being buried!”
“And then?” Gu Qingyin pressed aggressively, “After being cultivated, they become a knife in the hands of the Mystical Arts Association?”
“That’s slander!”
“The Mystical Arts Association has never thought that way!”
“Don’t use your own thoughts to speculate about us!”
……
Several elders refuted with excited expressions.
Liu Ergou thought to himself, speak, say more, the more you say, the easier it is to make mistakes.
Sure enough, Gu Qingyin soon laughed, “So I misunderstood the good intentions of the association. In that case, after Weng Yun gets married, she can officially leave the Mystical Arts Association, right?”
As soon as these words came out, everyone fell silent.
Gu Qingyin blinked, “Is it not possible? Since she has formed a family, naturally everything must be prioritized for her own family. She is first Weng Yun, and then a Taoist Master, isn’t she?”
After a few seconds of silence, an elder opened his mouth dryly, “There’s no need to divide it so clearly. Weng Yun is, after all, a Taoist Master, and she will have to take on commissions in the future…”
“That’s right!” Gu Qingyin clapped her hands, “From now on, Weng Yun will be a nominal Taoist Master of the association. Considering that she’s one of our own, please give her more commission fees. This is a child raised by the Mystical Arts Association with its own hands, you can’t just watch her suffer losses, right?”
“Naturally, naturally…”
The elders nodded in agreement, but they felt that something was not right.
Before they could react, Gu Qingyin delivered the final blow, “Since we’ve reached an agreement, we can send out this last betrothal gift ━ a portion of the Candle Dragon’s tendons and bones, ten pieces of dragon scales, and some flesh.”
She raised her eyes to look at the completely stunned crowd opposite her and smiled slightly, “Are you all satisfied with this betrothal gift?”
（End of Chapter）
