Chapter 22: Finally
The lively meal took two or three hours to finish. The Xu and Fu families both left early with tacit understanding, leaving only Zhao Qian and Xin Yulan’s couple as well as Su Ning.
After all, the two of them had tasks at hand, and since they now resided in Shanghai City to accompany her in finishing the matters, they naturally had to coordinate their time to catch the evening train back.
Signing the documents was not complicated. As the witness, Zhao Qian only needed to follow the process step by step.
“This is what your maternal grandfather entrusted to me back then. Now I’ve finally fulfilled my duty, and the item returns to its rightful owner.”
After reading the will and exchanging signatures on several related documents, Zhao Qian took out a large leather bag from his small rattan box while speaking, “Take a look first to see if there’s anything improper or any questions.”
Smiling and thanking him, Su Ning stood up and took it with both hands, opening it on the spot without hesitation to carefully examine it.
Just as her maternal grandfather’s will stated, most of the Su Family’s assets on the surface had been donated to the government in the early days of nation-building.
What remained were only real estate in Beijing City, Shanghai City, Xiangnan, and Hong Kong City, as well as certificates and keys for a batch of gold, silver, and jewels stored in overseas bank safe deposit boxes.
As for the Su Family Ancestral Home that her maternal grandfather had singled out and repeatedly mentioned in the will, thinking of the old house, Su Ning already had some guesses in her heart.
The Su Family, which had been passed down for nearly three hundred years and accumulated wealth through generations of business, must have astonishing riches, far more than what those with ulterior motives could imagine.
……
After sending the two elderly people to the guesthouse to rest, Su Ning took Zhang Ze and Mao Jinqian, who were secretly following to protect her, and hurried to several places in succession without stopping.
The independent household registration book, the transfer of grain and oil relations, various proofs from the neighborhood committee—these Mao Jinqian had already handled almost all of them, now only needing her to sign and stamp to complete everything.
Finally, going to the bank with household registration proof to retrieve the things Mom had stored.
Only after all these were collected into the space and properly placed did Su Ning feel her entire body and mind relax and free.
“Brother Zhang, Brother Mao, you’ve worked hard these two days. Once we get to Xiangnan, I’ll definitely reward you well!”
“Hahaha, that’s great, I’m looking forward to it!”
Zhang Ze followed with hearty laughter. It was clear he had no aversion to moving to an unfamiliar city and was instead quite expectant.
On the contrary, Mao Jinqian had some hesitation in his eyes. After a moment of hesitation, he swallowed the words that had reached his mouth.
Consider it thoroughly, and speak when you’ve truly decided.
“I’m also waiting, hehe.”
“No problem.”
……
Standing across the street, He Yue spotted her ‘good friend’ at a distance, chatting and laughing brightly with someone at first glance.
The two who had traveled halfway with her were alumni from the same school. Following her line of sight, they naturally discovered and recognized Su Ning as well.
“That’s Su Ning, right? Haven’t seen her for days—how does she seem even prettier?”
“Be more confident, change the question to an affirmation. By the way, I saw this blouse at the department store, over thirty bucks, and she looks great in it!”
“He Yue, aren’t you friends? Going to say hi?”
Hearing the two chattering with all sorts of sincere praises, He Yue’s smile vanished completely in an instant.
Ever since the unhappy parting on the day Su Ning was discharged from the hospital, the frightened He Yue had begun deliberately avoiding her.
How someone who used to be inseparable had become like this—He Yue still couldn’t figure it out even now. Why exactly?
Thinking of this, with her mind made up, He Yue put on a pure and innocent smile again, explained a few sentences to the two companions, waved her hand, and ran quickly toward her.
“Ning Ning!”
It’s… He Yue.
After these two days of simple integration, Zhang Ze and Mao Jinqian both had a tacit understanding with her that needed no words.
When they saw the subtle eye signal she gave, the two naturally parted ways and blended into the crowd, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
“Huh, those two people just now…”
“He Yue, I think I’ve made myself very clear. There’s nothing more for us to say.”
Being directly pointed out again like this nearly made it impossible for He Yue to maintain the smile on her face. “Ning Ning, I don’t understand. We were so close—why are you suddenly treating me like this?”
“Did I do something to make you unhappy or dislike me?”
“Tell me, I’ll change, okay?”
Raising her hand to interrupt her chatter, Su Ning didn’t want to waste time on her.
Besides, even two girls tugging and pulling like this on the street would draw unwanted attention.
“Just say it—do you have business or not? If you do, discuss matters. If not, I’m leaving.”
He Yue’s hand hanging at her side clutched the hem of her clothes, wrinkling the fine dacron fabric with small creases.
“Say it again: where do you want me to accompany you?”
“Minxiang Back Street.”
Minxiang Back Street, Minxiang Back Street…
Why Minxiang Back Street?
Could it be that things have advanced ahead of schedule?
Even this time they changed the set method?
Su Ning, with her eyes downcast, quickly pondered in her heart for a moment and immediately understood: Xu Zixin knew.
……
Minxiang Back Street.
In the dilapidated small courtyard, waist-high weeds grew lushly, and several thriving clusters of wild roses poked their heads out, crawling over the entire wall.
Without the eerie silence of night, under the sunlight it had a unique sense of beauty.
“Exactly where did it go wrong?”
“You ask me? Who am I supposed to ask!?”
Xu Zixin growled lowly, his gaze toward Qian Huiru carrying a chilling coldness, “If it weren’t for that damn yatou Shanshan causing trouble…”
All the anomalies started from the day Su Ning was rescued.
Qian Huiru’s face was full of grievance as she incredulously retorted, “What do you mean by that? Now you’re blaming me for not raising Shanshan properly? Back then who was it…”
“Shut up!”
After taking several deep breaths, Xu Zixin, caught off guard by the beating, tried hard to suppress the anger boiling in his heart, and his reason gradually returned.
The two faced each other in silence, and after several moments of quiet, they finally both calmed down.
“Is He Yue certain she can bring Su Ning over?”
“That yatou…”
He Yue definitely couldn’t bring her over, but Su Ning herself might still come.
Xu Zixin knew his own daughter well; he was all too familiar with that fearless spirit of a newborn calf not afraid of tigers.
This small courtyard in Minxiang Back Street held significance for Su Jinglei that both father and daughter knew.
Thinking that without household registration in the area, abandoning it in the volunteer form, and not caring about outsiders’ opinions meant there was nothing to hold against her?
Naive, too naive!
“Brother Xin, Su Ning is after all your biological daughter; are you really going to do that?”
“What? Have you, Qian Huiru, played the charitable stepmother for so long that you’ve forgotten your true nature! Heh~”
As he slowly rolled up his sleeves, the expression on Xu Zixin’s face was no longer masked by gentleness, like a venomous snake hiding only in the shadows.
Seeing the ruthless malice on his face, Qian Huiru instinctively clutched her abdomen, feeling uncertain and hesitant for the first time.
“Who am I doing this for, myself? It’s for our son! Don’t you go soft like a woman!”
As her hands stroked her abdomen again and again, the last remnants of conscience in Qian Huiru’s eyes were completely devoured, leaving not a trace behind.
