It turned out that the younger generation of the Fu family had felt the birthday banquet was too solemn and somber, lacking the lively energy of youth. So they gathered together and suggested adding a fun little game—randomly selecting five gifts from all the guests’ congratulatory presents for on-site display and appreciation.
The Fu family was a top-tier family rooted in Shanghai, and the guests who came to offer their birthday wishes were all wealthy and influential; naturally, the gifts they brought were all carefully selected treasures. There was no fear of any embarrassing gifts being unpresentable. On the contrary, this activity would broaden everyone’s horizons and provide some topics of conversation.
Soon, the melodious background music paused briefly, and the spotlight shone on the small stage in the center of the hall.
Fu Siya, the youngest daughter of the Fu family, wore a light pink tulle dress, the hem adorned with delicate pearls, which accentuated her bright eyes and charming appearance. She lifted her skirt and walked onto the stage with a beaming smile, holding a microphone in her hand. Her voice was sweet and gentle: “Dear elders and guests, good evening! I am Fu Siya. Today is my grandfather’s 80th birthday. Thank you all so much for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend this banquet and celebrate my grandfather’s birthday!”
A warm and enthusiastic round of applause immediately erupted from the audience. Many elders looked at her with eyes full of affection.
Fu Siya bowed slightly in thanks, then raised the microphone and continued in a clear voice: “To make this birthday banquet more enjoyable, we younger generation have prepared a small interactive segment—we will now randomly select five gifts from everyone’s congratulatory presents for a live demonstration and appreciation! If any knowledgeable elders would like to come up on stage and share their insights, we warmly welcome them!”
As soon as she finished speaking, another round of applause followed, and the guests’ faces showed great interest. After all, a gift chosen by the Fu family must be extraordinary. This appraisal is far more interesting than a simple social gathering.
A low murmur arose from the audience, with guests whispering amongst themselves, their faces filled with curiosity and a touch of trepidation.
“The Fu family’s little princess really knows how to come up with ideas. This segment is quite novel, much more interesting than just sitting and drinking!” A lady in a cheongsam said with a smile to her female companion, her eyes full of approval.
“It’s exciting, but my heart is in my throat!” The middle-aged man next to her shook his head with a wry smile. “If my gift is chosen and it falls short compared to others, that would be so embarrassing!”
“That’s right!” another guest quickly echoed, his face showing some worry. “Although I put a lot of effort into choosing a precious gift, there are so many experts here today! Who knows what treasures everyone else has given?”
For a moment, many guests were secretly pounding with anxiety, clasping their hands together and praying that they wouldn’t be chosen. After all, in this kind of occasion, the value of the gift is somewhat related to face.
“Alright, let’s present the first gift now!”
Fu Siya’s clear voice rang out through the microphone, and the noisy discussion instantly quieted down.
As soon as she finished speaking, two maids dressed in matching uniforms walked steadily onto the stage, carrying a square sandalwood box. The box was entirely black, its surface carved with a lotus scroll pattern, the lines delicate and smooth, clearly made of high-quality sandalwood, exuding an ancient and dignified feel.
Fu Siya walked around the box, smiling as she asked the audience, “Esteemed guests, what do you think is usually stored in this kind of moisture-proof and light-blocking sandalwood box?”
Someone in the audience immediately exclaimed, “It looks like it’s for display pieces! Sandalwood is moisture-proof and insect-proof, perfect for protecting fragile treasures!”
“I also think it’s a jade ornament!” another guest chimed in. “A box of this size would be perfect for a finely carved jade ornament!”
“Everyone’s right~” Fu Siya smiled, her eyes crinkling, and gestured for the servants to open the box.
As the lid slowly opened, a lustrous green instantly caught everyone’s eye—a jade ornament lay prominently on a red velvet cloth. Although this jadeite isn’t the top-grade imperial green, it’s still a rare icy green with floating green hues. Its color is warm and translucent, its texture delicate and flawless. The pine and crane motif carved on the piece is incredibly lifelike, clearly indicating its high value.
“My goodness! This jadeite is absolutely stunning! Even if it’s not imperial green, it’s still top-grade among top-grade!”
“The person who gave this gift really spared no expense! The craftsmanship, the clarity—it’s overflowing with sincerity!”
Exclamations of praise rose and fell from the audience, and many knowledgeable guests’ eyes gleamed as they whispered among themselves, estimating the price of the piece.
Following this, the second and third gifts were presented—a string of agarwood beads, smooth and lustrous, exuding a rich and lingering fragrance when brought to the nose; its texture was oily and delicate, clearly made from old, aged material.
Another gift was a Hetian jade ornament, exquisitely carved, its jade warm and smooth as cream, the auspicious symbols of fortune, prosperity, and longevity lifelike, the details flawlessly handled. Both were rare treasures, drawing continuous praise and applause from the guests.
The fourth gift was a cloisonné enamel vase, vibrant yet elegant in color, its intricate and exquisite craftsmanship equally captivating.
It wasn’t until the fifth gift was carefully brought to the stage by two servants that Jiang Wenxi’s gaze flickered—it was a slender sandalwood box, its edges carved with simple cloud patterns, the very packaging for the calligraphy scroll “Pine and Crane Longevity” she had given to Old Master Fu.
She hadn’t expected her gift to be chosen.
The guests below the stage craned their necks, scrutinizing the unusual long, narrow wooden box, and murmurs arose again.
“This box looks like it’s for calligraphy and paintings, doesn’t it? The long, narrow shape is just right to hold the scroll.”
“It’s definitely calligraphy and paintings! This kind of sandalwood box is moisture-proof and insect-proof, best for protecting calligraphy and paintings, and it exudes an elegant charm. The person who gave this gift is very thoughtful!”
Fu Siya nodded with a smile, her tone full of anticipation: “You all guessed correctly! Let’s open it now and see whose masterpiece it is~”
As soon as she finished speaking, the entire hall fell silent, all eyes focused on the box.
A servant quickly stepped forward, carefully wiping his hands before gently opening the clasp of the box and slowly taking out the calligraphy scroll. He held the scroll with both hands, gently unrolling it little by little, afraid of accidentally damaging this precious item.
Grandpa Fu sat upright in the main seat, his smiling gaze suddenly brightening as it fell upon the slowly unfolding scroll. He stroked his white beard and couldn’t help but exclaim, “Excellent calligraphy! This calligraphy possesses both strength and elegance; the strokes are powerful yet graceful—truly rare! Truly rare!”