On this side, Half-Immortal Su and the others were already waiting so anxiously that they couldn't sit still.
As time ticked by and the sun overhead gradually moved westward, no one could sit still anymore. Su Zhenzhu was the first to speak:
"Father, it's getting so late. Do you think Cousin will come tomorrow instead?" As the person who had the most contact with the Fang family, she considered herself the most knowledgeable about the ways of wealthy families.
She was also the one most looking forward to Su Ning's arrival, yet also the most doubtful.
Half-Immortal Su was anxious too.
However, he couldn't show it. He knew that quite a few malicious people were waiting to see them make a fool of themselves right now. Hearing his daughter's words, he opened his mouth to comfort her.
Just then, a commotion broke out outside.
Several tough-looking men dressed in underworld attire rushed in aggressively.
Before the residents of the crowded courtyard compound could react,
they hurriedly kicked and shoved aside all the randomly placed coal piles, baskets, torn clothes, and broken wood along the way, tossing them aside out of sight.
Even a few clucking chickens were grabbed and, without a second glance, casually thrown into someone's house.
"Hey, hey, hey! What are you doing?"
"That's my Dahua... you threw her in the wrong place!"
Seeing this, everyone finally grew anxious. These things were all useful to them, but they didn't have the courage to reach out and stop the men. They only dared to shout a few words, shrinking back the moment they were glared at.
The leader, seeing that the clearing was mostly done, ignored the hostile glares from the courtyard residents and focused solely on directing the others to take their positions.
"You, go stand at the entrance of the alley."
"You, Four-eyes, yes, I'm talking to you. Go stand outside the courtyard."
After a flurry of commands, there were men guarding every set distance from the alley entrance to the courtyard, eliminating any potential danger that could threaten Miss Su.
A moment later, the sound of a car horn honking drifted over.
......
Sitting in the car, traversing this bumpy and rugged small road once again, a wave of emotion swelled within Su Ning.
The last time she came, she was anxious and uneasy, not knowing where her future lay. Returning this time, she already possessed the confidence to establish a firm foothold in this Republican era.
Turning a corner, the vehicle slowed down.
They were almost there.
When the first car came to a stop, the crowd exploded into an uproar. Even if they couldn't get close, they stood on their tiptoes, desperately peering inside:
"An automobile! It's an automobile!"
"Half-Immortal Su's relative is here. It must be her; no one else is this wealthy."
"Wealthy, yes, but also a bit too domineering." This sentence was spoken in a very low voice and faded into the crowd. Half-Immortal Su narrowed his eyes and searched around a few times but couldn't pinpoint who said it.
Others, however, secretly cheered in their hearts.
Wasn't it incredibly domineering? Having dozens of people stand guard just to visit a relative. It wasn't as if their place was a dragon's den or a tiger's lair.
Hmph, she must have done too many guilty deeds.
That's why she's so scared!
Suddenly, someone sharp-eyed noticed another car behind it and screamed at the top of their lungs, "Car! Car, car, car!"
"We know, we know, the car is right here," someone laughed mockingly.
In the next second, their eyes also widened in shock.
They saw two more luxurious automobiles driving down the street one after another.
Three cars, something ordinary people rarely ever saw, were lined up together, exuding a heavy sense of oppression that made one's breath hitch at a single glance.
After the cars parked steadily, over a dozen people stepped out of the front and rear vehicles, surrounding the middle car in a protective stance. Everyone understood immediately, the main figure was in this car.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
Jian Ren stepped out of the driver's seat, bent down, and opened the car door for Su Ning, speaking softly:
"Miss Su, we've arrived."
Su Ning didn't deliberately stall for time. She stepped out of the car gracefully. As her clear, cold gaze swept over them, even though she hadn't said a word, the onlookers couldn't help but hold their breath.
Suddenly, she spotted Half-Immortal Su at the front of the crowd.
A smile bloomed on her ice-cold face, like flowers blossoming in the warmth of spring. To the bystanders, this was an affection reserved exclusively for family.
In fact, it was pretty much true.
There was no one in this world that Su Ning liked more than this villainous family of the Su household.
"It's only been a few days, does Uncle not recognize me anymore?" Su Ning walked over with a beaming smile. The "encirclement" automatically parted, allowing Half-Immortal Su's family inside.
"How could I not remember!"
Half-Immortal Su said excitedly. After speaking, he realized his loss of composure. Afraid of embarrassing Su Ning in front of so many people, he took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down:
"I mean, it's so rare to see another member of the Su family. After you left, I thought of you day and night, terrified that it was all just a dream..."
As he spoke, he genuinely became emotional.
Yes, it had been many years. The only Su family members left in Peiping City were him and his two children. He never expected that one day he would see someone else with Su family blood flowing in their veins.
And such a successful one at that.
Su Ning was somewhat surprised to see his eyes redden. She reached out, holding Half-Immortal Su's hand to comfort him:
"How could it be a dream? Look, I'm standing right here, alive and well. We are all family. There is no one in this world who should be closer than us.
We'll be seeing each other every day from now on."
As soon as these words were spoken, the listeners' minds raced.
What? Seeing each other every day?
Did this mean that this relative of the Su family was going to live with them? Even if not exactly living together, they had to live close enough to see each other daily.
The Su family had actually met someone who valued family ties.
The onlookers felt a twinge of sour jealousy in their hearts.
"Ding..."
The corners of Su Ning's lips curled up again. She looked at the two people standing behind Half-Immortal Su and spoke amiably, "Are these my two younger cousins?"
"That's right." Without bothering about who was older or younger, Half-Immortal Su naturally accepted this hierarchy. He stepped aside to present his children and said modestly:
"The older one is Su Chen, and the younger one is Su Zhenzhu. Neither of them amounts to much."
"Hello, Cousin," Su Chen greeted first.
Su Zhenzhu's cheeks were flushed red. She blinked her moist eyes, her usual cleverness and wit seemingly vanished. It took her a beat longer to react and greet her.
Her voice was soft, gentle, and sweet.
It was very pleasing to Su Ning's ears. As expected of the existence who single-handedly fought against the male and female leads as well as the supporting characters, becoming the greatest villain of this story arc.
"Since we've met, as your older cousin, I should give you a meeting gift." Su Ning smiled very reservedly.
"It's enough that you came. There's no need for any meeting gifts."
"Yes, Cousin, you've already sent so many things to our family before. You've spent more than enough," Su Zhenzhu declined, genuinely meaning it this time.
Those things had filled up an entire courtyard, complete with food, drinks, clothing, and daily necessities. It was enough to last them for years!
Su Chen nodded silently by her side; what his sister said was exactly what he was thinking.
It really was enough. They weren't that greedy.
"When did I..."
Su Ning was confused at first, but then she realized what had happened. She didn't explain that she wasn't the one who sent those things. She just smiled:
"...The meeting gifts are already prepared. How can I not give them to you?"
Saying this, she didn't wait for them to refuse and turned to Jian Ren. "Could I trouble Bureau Chief Jian to help fetch the three boxes from the car?"
Bureau Chief Jian?
The surrounding people turned their gazes to Jian Ren, who was dressed in a crisp and clean police uniform. Those with quicker wits were already dumbfounded.
This, this, this... Could he be the Chief of the Police Bureau?
Good heavens...
Not to mention them, even Half-Immortal Su's family was stunned.
Although Jian Ren was striking in appearance, he had just opened the car door for Su Ning and then stood quietly to the side without a word. No one had paid him much attention.
Let alone guessing that he was the dignified Police Chief.
Half-Immortal Su reflexively wanted to slip away. He ran a street stall, so seeing the police was like a mouse seeing a cat, not to mention this was the top boss of the police.
He only calmed down after his daughter secretly gave him a hard pinch.
He remembered that the people who delivered things to them earlier were a group of police officers, and Iron-Crutch Li, who came to deliver the message, was also a cop.
Oh, then it was fine.
He had, after all, experienced wealth and had been guided by the elders in his family in the past, so what was there that he couldn't understand?
It was just collusion between officials and businessmen!
However, his niece Ning was truly capable. She had just returned from abroad and had already managed to establish a connection with the Police Chief.
From the looks of it, she even seemed to have the upper hand.
Her methods were truly masterful. She was indeed worthy of the Su family's bloodline.
At this thought, Half-Immortal Su regained his composure and feigned a polite refusal:
"There's no need to trouble Chief Jian with such a trivial matter."
Before he could finish his sentence, Jian Ren had already taken the boxes out of the car. After handing them to Su Ning, he smiled at Half-Immortal Su as amiably as possible:
"It's just lifting a finger. No need to be so polite."
This man was the shrewdest of the shrewd. He had long noticed the importance Su Ning placed on this family, so his attitude was naturally excellent.
Su Ning opened a box. On the black velvet lining lay a pair of exquisite gold filigree shrimp-whisker bracelets, inlaid with two rubies as vibrant as pigeon's blood.
"Is... is this for me?"
Su Zhenzhu even lightened her breathing, afraid that a single puff of air would shatter the gold threads on the bracelets.
She remembered that Fang Qingqing had a similar pair of bracelets.
They were Mrs. Fang's dowry. After getting her hands on them, she had deliberately flaunted them in front of her for a long time, mocking that her family could do hard labor for a lifetime and still wouldn't be able to afford such bracelets.
Those bracelets weren't as beautiful as the ones right in front of her.
Nor were they inlaid with gemstones.
"I didn't bring any good jewelry back with me when I returned. I hope you don't feel slighted, Sister Zhenzhu."
Su Ning nodded nonchalantly, looking affectionately at the extremely excited Su Zhenzhu, as if giving her such bracelets really was slighting her.
I want to be slighted like this too!
The bystanders screamed silently.
Even Jian Ren took a few extra glances at the bracelets. They were the finest of the fine. Just by looking at the craftsmanship, one could tell they were items that had come from the imperial palace; ordinary folk goldsmiths couldn't make them.
Su Ning did not play favorites.
To Su Chen, her newly acquired cousin, she gave a bracelet strung with eighteen jadeite beads, the green color so rich it almost spilled over. The plain jade pendant, on the other hand, was given to Half-Immortal Su.
"As your uncle, I should be the one giving you a meeting gift... How, how could I accept this, hahahaha."
Older ginger is indeed spicier.
Half-Immortal Su, as the father, had the thickest skin. Even as he said he was embarrassed to accept it, the plain jade pendant had already been stuffed into his pocket.
