Chapter 10
Should I help you recall what you did back then—how Bethel was expelled from the Klein family?
When the elderly lady of the Klein family celebrated her birthday, members of the entire Klein family, young and old alike, came to wish her a happy birthday.
Duff Klein's a truly promising kid; this blood coral plant must be worth several tens of millions already!
As they say, Dafu Klein truly shows filial piety—he knew his grandmother's birthday and took great care to design this Snow Mountain Lake. It's clear he put considerable thought into it!
At this very moment, in the main hall of the Klein family, I listened to the praise from their collateral relatives and Mrs.Klein's approving gaze.
Duff Klein's parents were the family of Bethel Klein's younger sister's husband. They weren't cheerful at all; their faces showed evident pride.
Daph Klein was even more provocative, casting a glance at Belice Klein and Alan Yager as if to say something.
See? This is the gift I gave to Grandma! Can yours compare to mine?
Alan Yager paid no heed to such provocative glances at all, while a look of embarrassment flashed across Bethel Klein's face.
Among the gifts sent by all relatives during the upcoming holiday, there were both the East Sea Night Pearl and century-old wild ginseng from Changbai Mountain.
Even these items alone make the famous painting in my possession seem inferior by far.
Not to mention the nine-foot-tall blood coral gifted by Daf Klein.
Finally, it was Bethel Klein's turn to give the gift.
Under the watchful eyes of all her relatives, Miss Klein mustered her courage and approached with both hands holding the famous painting she had taken from her father's study.
Grandma, my granddaughter Bethel Klein wishes you that every year brings this joyous occasion, and every season offers such a wonderful moment!
This is a famous painting by Qing dynasty artist Zheng Banqiao; I hope you enjoy it!
To their surprise, the object Miss Klein presented was actually a painting by Zheng Banqiao. Many relatives of the Klein family nodded in agreement.
Alas, little Bethel Klein has had no easy life. Her parents died young, and the entire Klein family relied on her for survival; yet she has managed to acquire a renowned painting by Zheng Banqiao. That truly shows her determination!
Indeed, as a woman, one should naturally rely on her husband after marriage. Yet who would have thought she'd end up with a man who lives off her without contributing anything—truly a difficult situation!
Alan Yager's marriage into the Klein family has long ceased to be news within the household.
Thus, wherever they go, Bethel Klein and Alan Yager are always intertwined—themselves bound together in shared triumphs and shared setbacks.
As for the mixed opinions from distant relatives, Mrs.Klein took note and offered a reassuring remark.
Belis Klein, you've really had a tough time these past few years!
The value of a gift lies not in its price, but in the sincerity behind it!
Although her grandmother had said so, Beth Klein could clearly tell that the other person wasn't particularly thrilled about receiving Duff Klein's snow fox history book.
Anyway, we finally managed to get through the gift-giving part of my grandmother's birthday celebration.
Just as Bethel Klein was about to retire after achieving her goals, Duff Klein suddenly stepped forward and shouted something.
“ wait a minute ！”
When Beth Klein suddenly heard Duff Klein call her over, she was confused, yet a sense of unease flickered through her mind.
Duff Klein, what's wrong with you?
In response to his cousin's cold question, Duff Klein gave a somewhat malicious smile.
"Cousin, everyone knows that things have been tough for you ever since your uncle passed away."
Today is a joyous occasion marking Grandma's 80th birthday. If you don't have money to buy a gift, there's no need to resort to lies just to fill the gap, right?
Duff Klein's words seemed to stir up a storm of reactions instantly. All the collateral relatives of the Klein family began whispering among themselves.
"What! This is a fake painting?"
As she listened to the gossiping onlookers, Bethel Klein Frost's charming face made it seem as if the temperature around her had dropped several degrees.
Duff Klein, what nonsense are you talking? You claim this is a fake painting—what evidence do you have for that?
"The fingerprint of Belice Klein," Duff Klein said with a sly smile.
"Cousin, everyone in Seattle knows that the Klein family is a top-tier lineage—and we've also amassed numerous masterpieces by renowned artists."
And our Klein family also owns numerous famous paintings by Zheng Banqiao!
Throughout all his paintings, the brushstrokes used for signing are exclusively in wild cursive script.
And the signature on your painting is actually written in regular script. If it's not a fake, then what could it possibly be?
“ I ……”
As the eldest daughter of the Klein family, Belissa Klein was naturally well acquainted with Zheng Banqiao's paintings.
At that moment, she also noticed the signature mentioned by Daf Klein.
As expected, it was indeed written in regular script.
"No way—this painting was taken from my father's study. Could it be that my father's judgment isn't as good as yours?"
Finally, Bethel Klein discovered her trump card and began counterattacking Duff Klein.
Yet Daf Klein remained completely calm throughout the entire process.
"Cousin, you know my uncle runs an antique business. In this line of work, it's inevitable to face setbacks or missteps from time to time!"
“ you ……”
As Duff Klein insisted that the painting was a forgery, Beth Klein opened her mouth but could not find any reason to refute him for a moment.
After all, it bears a signature that everyone can see clearly. Indeed, it differs significantly from Zheng Banqiao's usual painting style.
And as Duff Klein rightly pointed out, it's completely normal to get rejected when dealing in antiques.
Just as Belice Klein didn't know how to step down from her position, a voice suddenly approached her from behind, growing louder as it drew nearer.
Honey, this painting is definitely fake!
By this point, Belis Clay was already overwhelmed with stress; when she identified who was speaking, her situation only worsened.
"Alan Yager, what the hell are you saying!"
Belleth Klein never expected that it would be her own incompetent husband who would stab her in the back when she was already in a deeply embarrassing situation.
It is often said that a man is a woman's support.
Although I hold Alan Yegel in low regard, they are indeed a legally married couple registered at the civil affairs bureau.
Even if he's just a nominal husband, his relationship is purely formal.
In front of so many strangers, he still chose to add insult to injury. What kind of man is that?
Duff Klein never expected Alan Yager to step forward and speak up in his defense at that moment.
The current person cast a playful, admiring glance at him.
"Oh, I really couldn't tell. Alan Yegel, as a son-in-law, you do have some discernment after all. You're not completely a complete failure!"
"Hahahah!"
A shameless, subservient young man who lives off others' success. He uses defaming his own wife to gain praise from the other members of the prestigious Klein family.
To the peripheral collateral relatives of the Klein family, this scene appeared as absurdly ridiculous as it could be.
Then Alan Yager cast a look at Dav Klein that was utterly foolish.
"I'm talking to your cousin—what does that have to do with you?"
"What a complete lack of respect!"
With that, Alan Yager ignored Duff Klein's reaction and walked straight to Bethel Klein, took the fake painting from his hand, and continued speaking.
"Honey, I'm telling you that what you're holding is a fake painting. Actually, I want to point out that Zheng Banqiao's work is counterfeit. Yet beneath it lies a truly priceless genuine artwork!"
