16 The Perverted Old Man

Hearing, elder Lu, Lu Qiang held the gift in his hand, instead of keeping it on the table.

"Father, you never gave Lu Chen or me anything special from your collection," Lu Junhai said with a sly smile. He turned to his younger brother and asked, "Am I right, Lu Chen?"

"Huh? I mean, yes...yes, you are right, elder brother,"

Lu Chen answered with a forced smile. This sudden question from his elder brother had startled him. It took him some time to process the words thrown at him and reply as he thought, 'Why are you dragging me into this matter, elder brother? I have a bad feeling about this.'

"Is that so?" Questioning, elder Lu continued. "It's not too late to give you such gifts either. I'll give you some other ones and you'll be able to use it for quite some time," Elder Lu replied with a contemplative look on his face.

While the others spoke, Lu Qiang peered inside the white packet to see what was inside. There seemed to be an old book. Lu Qiang was about to slide it out of the packet when he put it back immediately the moment he caught a glimpse of the cover and recognized the book.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, annoyance was written clearly on his face, Lu Qiang couldn't help but call out elder Lu's name out in frustration. "Grandpa!"

Elder Lu stopped the conversation short when he heard the loud voice of his grandson and turned to him with a huge smile.

"Did you like it? I knew you would!"

Elder Lu laughed and turned back to talk to the others without giving Lu Qiang a chance to retort as if he didn't notice the frustration on Lu Qiang's face.

Lu Qiang had clearly read the word 'Fangzhongshu' written at the top of the cover when he tried to see which book it was. He slipped the book back in, hurriedly doing so and hoping no one had caught a glimpse of it.

'This perverted old man,' Lu Qiang thought as he ground his teeth. (Fangzhongshu- Chinese sexual art)

The others were curious but at the same time scared of the object inside the packet. No one could guess what this old man was up to.

Lu Jinhai, who had somewhat guessed what was in the packet, spoke up, "What did you get as a gift, Lu Qiang?"

Lu Jinhai knew his father well after the years of cohabiting with him. He couldn't help but play along. It was his motto: 'If my father is okay with it, then there is nothing bad in being shameless.'

"Father, I need to go somewhere. I had an important appointment," Lu Chen said, looking at his watch. He didn't want to witness the outrageous actions of his father as he too could guess that there was something dangerous in that packet.

"What's more important than family? Wait and see what gift father has prepared for your nephew. Do you want to disrespect our father?" Lu Jinhai said with the hidden smile on his face. He enjoyed seeing his simple-minded brother shocked because of their father.

"What? No, brother. I—I didn't mean that. I am sorry." Lu Chen sat quietly in his seat.

Su Hui looked at her husband with a consoling gaze. 'My poor husband,' she thought.

"Father, you can continue," Lu Jinhai said with a mischievous smile on his face.

"It's nothing, father," Lu Qiang said from between clenched teeth and turned to look at his grandfather and softly said, "Grandpa, thank you so much for your gift, but I really don't need it."

Lu Qiang moved forward to keep it back on the table, but he stopped as he heard his grandpa.

"What? You don't need it. Did you know how much I struggled to find it and that to the best one of all?" Elder Lu raised his voice to a higher pitch.

"Don't lie, honey! That thing was lying on the bottom shelf of your wardrobe. Don't makeup things," his wife, Zhao Shuang said with no expressions on her face.

Her eyes were closed as she leaned back into the sofa. She knew it was impossible to stop her husband from doing silly things, so there was no point in reacting and paying attention to his actions.

"Whatever it may be. A gift is a gift," elder Lu stuttered out the words. "I am giving him my blessings with this gift, and one should always accept blessings from elders," Elder Lu said, startled by his wife's straightforward words.

"That's right! But your way of giving blessings is outrageous," Zhao Shuang countered with a sigh. She massaged her temple with one hand, an image of unease.

"Lu Qiang, accept it. Aren't you getting late?" Ning Jiahui was firm in her words, hoping that the matter would end there. She urged her son to let the matter go and  leave.

"But I am curious. What kind of  blessings lay inside that gift?" Lu Jinhai said with a sly smile on his face, not wanting to let this live entertainment show end so soon. After saying this, Lu Jinhai received an angry gaze from his wife and a displeased look from his son.

"In that packet, there are various ways to please a wild cat and make my wish come true," Elder Lu said as he pointed at the white packet, having a pleasant smile on his face as he mentioned his earnest wish.

Everyone realized what was within the packet. They had more or less guessed the same, but now their suspicions were confirmed. Everyone present thought of ways to escape this situation, but this did not include grandma Lu and Lu Jinhai.

"Grandpa, I don't need it. I know how to please a wildcat," Lu Qiang replied.

"To please a cat? Are we really bringing a cat to our home, brother?"

Everyone turned to look toward the sweet voice. Lu Lijun was standing right behind Lu Qiang, holding a small gift box in his hands.