Master Guan stood at the very front. As luck would have it, a clump of mud mixed with grass leaves was flung right onto his face, missing his mouth by just the width of a fingernail.
It almost went right in!
The others were not in a much better situation. They were both jealous and disgusted by Su Ning, the descendant of that eunuch, who was now enjoying boundless glory, yet they also wanted to curry favor with her.
Their complex emotions were all mixed together.
This resulted in them standing very close, their bodies eagerly leaning forward—and as a result, they were all splattered with quite a bit of mud.
Ah, how vulgar, far too vulgar.
Is she blind? Didn't she see us standing here?
Bah, her roots are bad to begin with. Growing up in the land of foreign devils, she truly has no upbringing...
This sentence was left unfinished, because the dozen or so burly men following the car had already stopped. Their cold, ferocious gazes fell fiercely upon the faces of the Guan family:
Go on, keep talking if you have the guts?
They began cracking their knuckles, as if their fists would meet the Guan family's faces in the next second. Seeing this, the Guan family's expressions smoothed out, and their mouths stopped their incessant grumbling.
It was just a little mud, after all.
A quick wipe would do... The servants were truly detestable, failing to sweep the path at the entrance clean.
This is the Guan family residence, not Miss Su's territory. Driving straight in without even greeting the hosts will not do her reputation any good if word gets out.
As the head of the family, Master Guan still had some sense of responsibility.
He immediately stepped forward.
However, the mud on his face had not been wiped clean, and the stain wiggled around as he spoke.
It was somewhat comical.
Su Ning's subordinates exchanged glances, not without muttering in their hearts about what their lady was up to—they were unaware of the Guan family's intention to raise the price.
However, these men understood one thing perfectly well.
You speak for the one who feeds you.
The leader looked askance, crossed his arms, and said with disdainful arrogance: Hah, how could Miss Su's reputation be bad?
As long as no one spreads it, who would know?
There are only so many people here. We won't say a word, so if even a slight rumor gets out, it will be because you leaked it... He reached out and pointed at them one by one.
Gritting his teeth with a ruthless smile:
A subject dies for his master's humiliation. If that happens, we will have no choice but to properly teach certain people's loose lips a lesson!
This, this, this.
Too arrogant, too domineering.
The Guan family's faces flushed red with grievance, yet they dared not step forward to confront them directly. The family's circumstances had been worsening year by year. For the sake of their reputation, they hadn't sold off their servants.
But they didn't provide for their living either.
People need to eat and drink to survive, so most of the servants had found their own ways out and were currently outside doing odd jobs.
Without servants to embolden them.
How could their precious bodies clash head-on with street thugs?
They could only curse inwardly: like master, like servant. Su Ning was no good, relying on her wealth to bully her former masters, and her running dogs were also throwing their weight around!
............
Ding...
When the reward chime sounded, Su Ning's face remained completely expressionless, her brows unmoving. It was the Rich and Heartless System that popped up, softly but actively broadcasting the situation:
Host, your subordinates just intimidated the Guan family. Their emotional fluctuations are huge, so the rewards are plentiful.
It was a little scared.
Why had the host changed so drastically after using Deshun's memories just once?
Other taskers had used them before.
But they hadn't acted like Su Ning!
As expected.
Hmm?
The Guan family is old-fashioned and conservative, unable to forget their past status and glory. What such families hate the most is being humiliated and looked down upon by those they consider of lower status.
How did you know?
It's very obvious.
Su Ning's inner voice was calm, peaceful as a seemingly placid great river.
Yet underneath, dark currents surged and tumbled endlessly.
She had just cast a casual glance earlier. The Guan family members were still dressed decently, but their accessories, clothing, and even the fabrics were all in the style of the previous dynasty.
They were quite excellent, second only to tribute goods, and some top-tier pieces were even better than tributes.
When Deshun was in power, the clothing materials offered by his subordinates were also like this—but that was more than twenty years ago!
Details reveal everything.
The Guan family's decline, as well as their nostalgia for the family's past glory, were already vividly displayed through their clothing materials...
On the other side, the system hesitated to speak.
Just one glance, and she could analyze so much? Those were clothes, not hyperlinks.
Miss, should we keep going forward?
Su Ning looked up. They had driven quite a distance along the central axis. The driver's skills were very good, but even he was powerless before the narrow festooned gate.
Behind the festooned gate was a large garden. Although the flora had been neglected, that charm of a traditional Chinese garden remained. Su Ning saw a branch of red plum blossoms slanting out from a diamond-patterned lattice.
She grew even fonder of it in her heart.
She ordered her subordinates to get out of the car.
Su Ning paused for a moment in front of the red plum branch. The others waited quietly. Lin Sen misunderstood; he secretly measured the height and, feeling he could reach it, offered eagerly:
Shall I pluck it for you?
No need.
Flowers blooming vigorously on the branch are the most beautiful. Su Ning stepped into the garden. A garden designed by a master possessed its own unique beauty in spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Sure enough, besides the few red plum blossoms braving the snow by the window.
There were also evergreen pines and cypresses, large patches of dark bamboo, and turning a corner, one could pleasantly discover a small cluster of heavenly bamboo bearing red berries, auspicious and lovely.
A group of people followed behind Su Ning.
When she stopped, they stopped; when she walked forward, they followed. Suddenly, Su Ning sighed lightly:
Unworthy descendants. Such a fine garden has been ruined.
The others were completely baffled.
Following Su Ning's gaze, they saw nothing special, just a few shrubs of indistinguishable variety. It was winter, the leaves had all fallen, and they looked rather ugly.
They didn't understand, but the people not far away heard it and stopped in their tracks.
Old Madam Guan's eyes were complicated.
Earlier, when Su Ning and her entourage barged in, a servant immediately went to report to them. Her granddaughter Xiunian had stood up anxiously, ready to rush out, but Old Madam Guan managed to pacify her.
She was naturally angry.
Her disappointment in her descendants and her disgust at Su Ning's behavior of trampling on the Guan family's face were all mixed together.
For a moment, Old Madam Guan wanted to wash her hands of everything and just let it be.
But the situation was right there in front of them.
Not only did she have to manage it, but she also intended to sell her old face to make Su Ning cool down so the house could be sold smoothly. Her grandson's idea of raising the price seemed like a joke to an old and shrewd person like her.
That set of reasoning sounded quite feasible.
But it ignored one truth: they were the ones anxious to sell, whereas Su Ning had plenty of other options!
Unexpectedly, upon arriving, she heard these words.
The children in the family are incompetent, making Miss Su see a joke.
Old Madam Guan said loudly as she walked up to Su Ning. She smiled amiably and discreetly sized her up a couple of times, feeling extremely astonished inwardly.
Didn't they say she grew up entirely abroad?
To her eyes, she carried an imposing aura cultivated by the very feng shui of Beiping City!
It's not so much a joke, Su Ning replied, as if unaware, and then sharply changed the subject, speaking quite bluntly: In the past, camellias and oriental paperbushes must have been planted here. Blooming in winter, they complement the garden scenery best.
They aren't even very valuable plants, and yet they were all sold off?
Old Madam Guan's aged face flushed red. Guan Xiunian, who was supporting her, felt her hand being squeezed tightly. She was just about to say something to smooth things over when she heard Su Ning speak again.
"But that works too. It saves me the trouble."
What?
A look of confusion appeared in everyone's eyes, as none of them understood the meaning behind Su Ning's words.
