The Cinnabar Mole of a Beijing Circle Tycoon

Then, Uncle Fu continued chanting, "Perform the bowing ceremony."

Meng Jiangyu walked to the prayer mat in front of the memorial tablet and knelt down, his back straight without bending at all.

He first kowtowed once, his forehead lightly touching the prayer mat, then raised his head and kowtowed again, repeating this three times in a row. His movements were swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

Upon seeing this, the members of the clan also stepped forward in order of seniority to perform the kowtow ceremony.

For a moment, only the sounds of kowtowing and the crackling of candlelight filled the main hall, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

"Serve tea." Uncle Fu's voice rang out again.

A servant brought forward a tea tray with eight cups of clear tea, Longjing tea brewed with spring water, the aroma of which was refreshing.

Meng Jiangyu picked up the first cup of tea, walked to the ancestral tablet, poured the tea on the ground, and said in a deep voice: "Jiangyu, a descendant of the Meng family, respectfully invites the ancestors to protect the Meng family and ensure its lasting prosperity."

His voice wasn't loud, but it possessed a unique magnetism, echoing through the main hall through the wisps of incense smoke. Every word landed clearly in everyone's ears, carrying an undeniable power.

As he poured cups of tea and recited prayers, Meng Jiangyu's movements were methodical and his expression solemn, without the slightest hint of perfunctoriness.

The people of the clan stood aside, watching his figure, their hearts filled with emotion.

They never expected that Meng Jiangyu could single-handedly turn the tide, not only stabilizing the Meng family but also elevating its prestige to a new level.

Today, Meng Jiangyu is no longer that naive young man, but the head of the Meng family, the helmsman of the Meng family's business empire, and the true king of the capital's business world.

The last item in the ancestral worship ceremony is the distribution of blessed food.

The fruits and pastries offered as sacrifices were handed to each person, a custom of the Meng family, signifying that they would receive the blessings of their ancestors and enjoy peace and safety year after year.

Meng Jiangyu's gaze swept over the crowd, and he said in a deep voice, "Today, during the ancestral worship ceremony, everyone is here. The Meng family's century-old foundation relies on ancestral precepts and unity. From now on, if anyone dares to cross the Meng family's bottom line or harm the family's interests, don't blame me for showing no mercy."

"We will certainly follow our ancestral teachings, unite as one, and protect the Meng family," everyone said in unison, their tone respectful.

After the ceremony, everyone went to the Lu family's old residence for a gathering.

The cold fog gradually dissipated, and the winter sun pierced through the clouds, shining on the bluestone slabs and bringing a touch of warmth.

Only Meng Jiangyu and Uncle Fu remained in the main hall.

Uncle Fu tidied up the offerings in front of the memorial tablet and said softly, "Sir, if the old man could see this scene today, he would be very pleased."

Meng Jiangyu's gaze fell on the old man's memorial tablet, which was made of ebony and had the old man's name engraved on it.

His eyes softened slightly, but there was still no smile on his lips. He said softly, "I can't let him down."

Uncle Fu sighed and said, "Sir, you've had a tough time all these years."

Meng Jiangyu did not respond, but simply raised his hand and gently brushed over the old man's memorial tablet, his fingertips slightly cool.

"I heard that the gentleman has a fiancée. With the one he loves by his side, there is hope for the future."

"I wish you all the best right now." Meng Jiangyu's mind conjured up the image of Shen Qingyao. "Uncle Fu, I'm going for a walk in the backyard."

"Yes, sir." Uncle Fu nodded.

Meng Jiangyu turned and walked out of the main hall, through the courtyard, and towards the backyard.

The backyard is a plum garden, and it is the season when winter plum blossoms are in full bloom. The whole yard is full of winter plum blossoms, with tender yellow buds adorning the branches, blooming passionately and fragrantly under the winter sun.

In the center of the plum garden, there is a small pavilion with a stone table and four stone benches. It was the old man's favorite place to stay. In his spare time, he would brew tea and admire the plum blossoms here.

Meng Jiangyu walked into the pavilion and sat on the stone bench.

In Yu Garden, Shen Qingyao was leaning against the bay window in the living room, basking in the sun.

Just as she was closing her eyes to rest, the doorbell rang. Zhang Ma answered and went to open it, and Linda walked in.

Linda's assistant, carrying several exquisite apricot velvet gift boxes and wearing a polite smile, walked up to Shen Qingyao: "Ms. Shen, your custom-made New Year's clothes are finished and I've brought them to you. This is the final version, with minor adjustments made to the previous one."

"Let me see." The moment Shen Qingyao opened the gift box, a touch of gentle pink caught her eye.

The new Chinese-style suit features a short cheongsam-style top with a slanted placket. The collar and cuffs are embroidered with lotus scroll patterns, outlined in silver thread, and made of pink satin, giving it an elegant and lively feel. The collar, cuffs, and hem are also decorated with a soft white fox fur collar, adding a touch of charm. The bottom is a long skirt in the same color scheme, embroidered with delicate pearl buttons.

Shen Qingyao reached out and stroked the fabric. It felt delicate and soft to the touch. The embroidery stitches were fine, and the fur collar was fluffy and soft. It was exquisite in every way, just the way she liked it.

"It's so beautiful, Linda, thank you." She couldn't hide her smile, her eyes crinkling.

Linda smiled and said, "I'm glad you like it. I've also sent over Mr. Meng's New Year's clothes."

"it is good."

Meng Jiangyu's New Year's outfit was a black Zhongshan suit made of pure black satin fabric. It had a high-quality feel and shimmered faintly under the light. The collar and back were embroidered with dragon patterns in gold thread. The dragons were winding and the gold thread was shimmering. It was understated but exuded majesty.

As dusk settles, all the red lanterns in Yu Garden are lit up, their warm yellow glow enveloping the courtyards, making the festive atmosphere of the New Year even stronger.

A fruit platter with the character "福" (fortune) was placed on the coffee table in the living room, complete with fruits, pastries, and nuts. The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen, and the whole place exuded a warm feeling of family reunion.

Shen Qingyao sat on the sofa in the living room, turned on the TV, and the opening theme of the Spring Festival Gala started playing cheerfully. The familiar melody instantly made the festive atmosphere of the New Year even stronger.

This is the New Year's Eve scene that Shen Qingyao had imagined countless times: warm lights, delicious food, the Spring Festival Gala, and the person she had been longing for. Now, all of this has come true, and she is filled with happiness.

She leaned back on the sofa, watching the lively program on TV, her gaze always unconsciously drifting towards the door, hoping that familiar figure would appear.

At eight o'clock in the evening, there was a slight turning sound from the door lock. Shen Qingyao immediately looked up and saw Meng Jiangyu walk in.

He had just returned from the old house, still wearing the dark formal attire he wore for the ancestral worship ceremony. The weariness between his brows melted away the moment he saw her, replaced by gentle ripples.

"Honey, have you been waiting long?"

Shen Qingyao ran towards him, and he reached out and pulled her into his arms. The warmth of his palm seeped through his clothes, carrying a reassuring power.

Shen Qingyao shook her head, leaned against his chest, listened to his steady heartbeat, and felt the faint scent of cedar mingling with a hint of incense emanating from him: "No."

Meng Jiangyu lowered his head and placed a light kiss on her forehead, then raised his hand and pointed to several large bags in the entryway, "I brought you some things."

Shen Qingyao followed him to the entrance hall, opened the bag, and found it contained all sorts of fireworks, including large fireworks, small handheld fireworks, and a bunch of exquisitely packaged sparklers in pink, blue, and silver—they were quite beautiful.

Her eyes widened in surprise: "Why did you buy so many fireworks?"

"Because you like it." Meng Jiangyu ruffled her hair, his tone calm but full of doting affection.

He remembered the last time he passed by Shichahai, she saw others setting off sparklers and her eyes were full of envy. He kept it in mind and this time he made a special detour to buy some, thinking of staying up late with her to set off fireworks.