Chapter 5: Awareness
“Yatou, what exactly happened to you? Tell Grandpa Fu, let’s grandfather and grandson talk it over properly.”
How could she just say she’s not going to university and not go? From childhood to now, this girl’s grades have always been exceptionally good, always the greatest pride in Old Partner’s heart.
Fu Chenggong looked at her full of disapproval, anxious in his heart while couldn’t help secretly speculating.
Clearly just over a month ago, she had confidently told him she was going to apply to the best university in the country. How long has it been? How did she suddenly come up with this idea!
His eyes, full of vicissitudes, suddenly flashed with a chilling cold intent: Could it really be as that old thing worried before dying?
Xu Zixin…
“Grandpa Fu, I’ve thought it through.”
She knew the old man was worried she was acting on impulse and would make a decision she’d regret later.
But after thinking it over, going to Xiangnan for work might not be the best arrangement right now.
First, in a few days she would inevitably tear into Xu Zixin, and before her wings were full, the best way to preserve herself was to avoid the sharp edge.
Xiangnan is her maternal grandfather’s hometown, and if she remembered correctly, there’s still the Su Family Ancestral Home there, plus several pieces of real estate. She didn’t need to worry about having no place to settle if she went in a hurry.
Second, since she knew Grandpa Fu would run into trouble there, how could she remain indifferent? If she was there to take care of him at that time, it would be more reliable than the person Fu Uncle found.
Given his personality, even if she tricked him now, when the time really came, he would still make the same choice and would never selfishly preserve himself.
Stubbornly adorable, resolute to the point of being admirable.
Regarding her seeing the future, even though they were as close as grandfather and granddaughter, she couldn’t reveal it all.
So to convince him and get help…
“Grandpa Fu, the night before the incident, I was almost murdered outside the Family Courtyard.”
“Bang—”
“What?!”
Ignoring the fallen chair, Fu Chenggong’s expression changed like Sichuan opera face-changing upon hearing this.
First shock, then fear, then understanding, then fury beyond measure, “Fu Xingguo, you little bastard! Such a big thing happened and you dared to hide it from me!”
“Ning Yatou, who exactly was it? Who ate bear heart and leopard gall? I’ll shoot him!”
He wasn’t too old to pick up knife or stick yet!
Furious with his chest heaving violently, Fu Chenggong gritted his teeth inwardly: When that little bastard comes back, I’ll beat him three times a day!!
Helping the chair back up and pulling his arm to make him sit again, Su Ning raised the corners of her mouth, revealing sweet little dimples.
“Grandpa Fu, don’t get agitated. I’m fine now, aren’t I? The person has already been caught by Fu Uncle.”
“Don’t mention that waste! Letting someone get bullied right at our doorstep, what a waste of that skin! Your dad, is he dead? Is his grave too far to drift back in time?!”
“Pfft~”
Gently stroking his back, Su Ning was amused by the old master’s words and couldn’t help bursting out laughing, almost choking, “Cough, Grandpa Fu!”
“Alright, alright, you talk, continue.”
“The night before the incident…”
……
Fingers tapping on his leg a few times, Fu Chenggong narrowed his eyes to hide the icy killing intent rising inside.
After a long time, he broke the silence, “Ning Yatou, your suspicion is probably not wrong.”
She accidentally overheard Xu Zixin and the other’s plot just before, and then was kidnapped right after, nearly losing her life.
No coincidence could be this timely.
Moreover, all these years later, he still remembered what that old thing Su Ting said, and the entrustment at the end.
Jinglei was someone he failed to take care of well, gone at such a young age. Now the Su Family only has Ning Yatou as the only seedling. If anything else happened, he wouldn’t have the face to see that old thing even in death!
“Back then your maternal grandfather said your dad Xu Zixin, whether in character or in handling affairs, appeared too perfect. Either he had mental illness or he was scheming something bigger.
He told your mom to consider carefully, but your mom was pure and naive, already bewitched, nearly angering your maternal grandfather to death and still insisting on marrying…
With no other way, your maternal grandfather could only reluctantly agree, taking the chance to make harsh demands, that Xu Zixin enter the family and any children born, boy or girl, must take the Su surname.
For such excessive demands, he agreed without hesitation. No wonder your maternal grandfather didn’t dare close his eyes until death!”
Sure enough, wasn’t it exactly as that old thing prophesied? Ambitious wolf with great schemes.
The Su Family property, even just the ones on the surface, were enough to make people greedy and red-eyed.
For money, couples turn against each other, brothers slaughter one another—it’s been common since ancient times.
If not for that old thing’s sharp insight and keen eye for people.
If not for making many arrangements before dying and leaving enough backup plans, Ning Yatou probably couldn’t have grown up so safely.
But… he didn’t know if Jinglei and that child’s death back then was really an accident, or if Xu Zixin had a hand in it?
People in the world only wish to believe what they see with their own eyes, and even if doubtful, they constantly persuade themselves otherwise.
Yet they don’t know that sometimes, what is seen with one’s own eyes and heard with one’s own ears isn’t necessarily the truth.
And his family’s silly big son wasn’t also one of the great many blinded by the leaf? Swearing solemnly to vouch and guarantee for the man.
“You leaving Beijing City for Xiangnan, Grandpa Fu agrees, but not going to university…”
“Grandpa Fu, I don’t want to deceive you. Not going to university is after careful consideration.”
“Sigh, you, from small to large you’re good in every way, just stubbornly tempered. Once you set your mind, nine oxen couldn’t pull you back. Who did you take after exactly?”
“Of course I took after you!”
Hearing this, the furious-turned-amused Fu Chenggong poked her head, sighing heavily, “Fine, since you say it’s after careful consideration, Grandpa Fu won’t be the annoying one anymore.”
“The household registration matter you mentioned, I’ll entrust someone else to handle it without letting Fu Uncle know.
As for the job, your Grandpa Fu still has some thin face in this area and can say a few words. I’ll try to arrange it properly in these few days.”
“Grandpa Fu…”
The old man had been proudly straight-backed for most of his life, even if knowing it was wrong, his bones were hard. Yet in the end, for her, he set aside face to beg others…
The sourness in her nose made Su Ning’s throat ache uncontrollably, choking her so she couldn’t speak.
“Ning Yatou, don’t cry. You finally came to see this old man, don’t use up a whole year’s tears!”
“Mm.”
“That’s the well-behaved one.”
The heavy rain had stopped at some unknown time, misty fog, faintly revealing the darkening night sky.
Fu Chenggong glanced at the sky outside, estimating it was almost time for the workers to get off.
He wanted her to come home with him for a few days, but that was still her nominal father, the only legal guardian. He was indeed getting old, afraid he couldn’t handle a cornered mad dog.
“Yatou, you must be careful these few days. If anything happens, don’t confront directly. If things are lost, we can still think of ways to get them back! Nothing is more important than your personal safety, alright?”
“I know, Grandpa Fu. Rest assured.”
Raising her head and nodding obediently, Su Ning stood up accordingly, “Grandpa Fu, I still want to go to the Old House. I’ll head out today, and come accompany you for dinner another day.”
Hesitating slightly for a moment, Fu Chenggong still swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue. The child was grown and had her own ideas.
After the incident, the girl had clearly grown a lot. Not saying she considered everything thoroughly, but she had order and knew to plan before acting.
He wouldn’t meddle, just repeatedly enjoined, “Don’t stay there too late. A little girl like you, pay more attention to safety!”
