Another person came to offer condolences. What was different was that this visitor not only lit incense but also presented a bouquet of white chrysanthemums, a gesture undoubtedly more considerate given "Su Huaishan's" many years living abroad.
The visitor was Jin Feng, known to outsiders as Beile Jin, or Master Jin.
This time, he insisted Su Ning call him uncle: "...We are in-laws by marriage, there's no need to be distant."
Su Ning did not decline.
Every hero needs support, and she had already intended to reconnect with the Su family's old connections. So, shedding her previous listlessness, she began conversing with Jin Feng with a smile.
One was willing, the other eager.
They hit it off immediately, talking for a long while. Su Ning had already agreed to visit the Jin family as a guest after the funeral was over, which also meant acknowledging their kinship. She also asked Jin Feng to keep an eye out for houses and land, saying she wanted to acquire some property.
—The truth was, the rewards received from the funeral were too plentiful, and her sense of crisis had kicked in. She was terrified of getting another timed death-spending task.
Jin Feng, of course, agreed.
At that moment, Lin Sen came over and whispered something. Su Ning nodded to indicate she understood and explained, "...An important guest has arrived. The servants weren't sure and notified me."
Jin Feng was rather intrigued:
"What guest is worth such attention from my niece?"
After all, Su Ning hadn't seemed particularly moved even when the Minister of Finance came earlier.
"It's nothing major," Su Ning said while waving for Su Zhenzhu, who was nearby, to come over. "It's my cousin's fiancé's family arriving."
Ah, so it was the Fang family.
Jin Feng nodded in understanding and teased Su Zhenzhu, "It seems the happy event is approaching. Don't forget to invite your uncle then; the dowry gift I prepare will surely be substantial."
Su Zhenzhu lowered her head, feigning a blush, and didn't reply.
"Alright, please stop teasing her," Su Ning said with a laugh, affectionately sending Su Zhenzhu out to greet the guests.
She soon went out.
She also took with her countless gazes that had been focused on this area. Knowing it was the Fang family, most people muttered a few envious words but didn't feel Su Ning was showing favoritism.
The fiancé's family, naturally, should be treated with closeness.
However, moments later, a commotion broke out outside.
Hearing the noise from outside, Su Ning's heart stirred. She first waved for Lin Sen, intending to send him to check, but halfway through changed her mind:
"...Never mind, I'd better go see for myself."
She apologized to Jin Feng and asked Half-Immortal Su and the others to handle the situation for now.
"You go ahead, we have things here."
Half-Immortal Su was also worried. After all, Zhenzhu outside was his own daughter. Coupled with his thoughts on the Fang family's character, hearing the noise gave him a bad premonition.
He then comforted himself.
Times were different now. Even if the Fang family had been arrogant before, anyone with a brain should know it was now their family begging his family.
…………
That might not necessarily be the case.
Some people's thought processes are quite peculiar, always capable of doing the unexpected, Su Ning couldn't help but think.
Outside the main gate.
Su Zhenzhu was crying, tears streaming down her face like rain on pear blossoms. Her wrist and cheek bore red marks, clearly indicating she had been wronged. Many people had already gathered around to comfort her.
Opposite them were three people.
A woman wearing a white Western-style dress, though exquisitely made-up, had only a thin coat over it in the severe cold. Her features were nice, but anger distorted her face,
making her appear somewhat mean.
Next to her was a middle-aged couple, also impeccably dressed, their expressions grim.
The woman frowned, looking at Su Zhenzhu with pity and compassion in her eyes, as if tolerating a misbehaving child, while whispering something to her daughter.
Su Ning only caught snippets as she drew nearer:
...Qingqing, child, you're so immature. What kind of occasion is this? Making a scene, whether you're right or wrong, only brings shame to our Fang family.
"It's all because Su Zhenzhu is so disgusting," Fang Qingqing glared, eyes almost shooting flames. "That little wretch not only stole my bracelet but also sneaked over here furtively. I think she's up to no good."
As for what kind of "no good,"
the Fang couple understood perfectly well.
Nothing more than having found out that Miss Su regarded their family with special favor, fearing the engagement might change, and thinking to establish her identity as the future young mistress of the Fang family in front of so many people!
Mrs. Fang let out a soft sigh and said to Su Zhenzhu tactfully:
"Zhenzhu, I know you're a good child. You just had a momentary lapse in judgment leading to this mistake. Alright, you can keep the bracelet to play with for a few days, but don't ever do such a thing again."
She paused, then added:
"Ah, your mother passed away too early. Perhaps some things weren't taught to you. Taking something without asking is theft."
"Our family will let it go this time and won't hold it against you."
"This dress looks quite valuable, probably a cherished item of its original owner. They likely won't let it slide. Return it now, and I'll put in a good word for you. Maybe nothing will come of it."
She thought her words were very appropriate. Firstly, they ruined Su Zhenzhu's image.
Who would believe a thief?
Secondly, they explained her daughter's outburst—naturally angry after having something stolen—so that Miss Su Ning wouldn't get a bad impression of their family.
Little did she know, everyone outside the Fang family thought they were talking nonsense.
Had the Fang family gone mad?
The sister of the immensely wealthy Miss Su would steal someone's bracelet and dress?
Su Zhenzhu also had a strange look on her face.
An inconceivable thought suddenly occurred to her: Could it be that the Fang family still didn't know Su Ning was her cousin? Impossible...
—Everyone in Beiping with any capability and brains knew this news by now.
Not to mention others.
The several burly men following Su Ning were already rolling up their sleeves, ready to deliver a few slaps to teach this mother and daughter how to speak properly—
Who didn't know Miss Su valued her few relatives the most?
Su Ning was also seething inside. These people must be the Fang family.
The people matched up.
But they didn't match the descriptions in the original story.
Fang Qingqing was one thing; she didn't appear much, only described as somewhat spoiled, not getting along with Su Zhenzhu, helping her brother break off the engagement and then matchmaking him with the female lead.
As for the Fang couple, they were even more "good people," portrayed as being pressured by Su Zhenzhu and the Su family, shedding tears for their son, and incapable of doing anything else.
In the real world, however, each one of them was downright mean!
Su Ning's face turned cold. She walked over with her entourage and raised her voice:
"What's going on here?"
Upon seeing her, everyone reacted differently.
Su Zhenzhu's expression changed. Her cousin had been disturbed after all. She didn't hate the Fang family as deeply when she was being bullied as she did now—this was her uncle's funeral!
Meanwhile, Lin Sen had already learned the whole story from bystanders and summarized it clearly in a few sentences.
Naturally, it was quite biased in favor of Su Zhenzhu.
Su Ning nodded, her cold, indifferent gaze falling on the Fang family members. She sneered, "I wondered what kind of impressive family this was, daring to falsely accuse my sister for no reason—and with such a ridiculous excuse at that!"
The crowd nodded one after another.
It really was laughable. The entire Fang family, inside and out, sold off wouldn't amount to half the cost of this funeral.
"What, what sister?"
The Fang family thought they must have misheard. Mrs. Fang, in particular, vaguely recalled that Su Chen, who had come by some time ago, had said the family had gained a wealthy relative.
She thought he was boasting and chased him away, not giving it another thought.
Could that relative be Miss Su?!
A bolt from the blue.
Mrs. Fang began to tremble, her lips quivering as she tried to say something to ease the tension.
But her daughter beat her to it.
Fang Qingqing gritted her teeth. During the earlier clash, it might have looked like Su Zhenzhu was the one injured, but she herself was the one who had been hurt more severely.
That bitch, aiming specifically for the most hidden spots.
Heavy and vicious.
The pain was excruciating, yet she couldn't speak of it!
"Miss Su, you must have been deceived by this lowlife. The Su family are no good—the father is out there swindling and cheating, the son is all about fighting and killing, and the daughter is an expert at playing the victim and stealing things..."
She spoke with relish.
But she failed to notice that the room had fallen deathly silent, as if everyone was holding their breath.
Su Ning listened with an expressionless face.
