The scene was chaotic.
It took a full ten minutes before the juniors kneeling on the ground, clutching red envelopes of two hundred yuan, scrambled up with joyful faces.
Who among those present, besides Li Nanfang, cared about two hundred yuan?
But this two hundred yuan was no ordinary money.
It held great significance—
It was lucky money personally given by the Li family patriarch!
In the future, they could brag: "I paid respects to a scumbag of the highest caliber, and he even gave me a red envelope. Envious? Who else dares to provoke me?"
Li Nanfang, however, felt his heart bleeding.
He glanced at Li Qianfan, asking with his eyes: "Qianfan, do me a favor. I've given these juniors face. Afterwards, can you discreetly get these red envelopes back for me?"
Li Qianfan remained unmoved.
Giving out lucky money publicly and then secretly taking it back.
No matter how despicable he was, he couldn't bring himself to do something so classless.
"Damn it, unfilial brats."
As Li Nanfang cursed inwardly, Li Qianfan led him to Old Man Su and Madam Lan.
These were genuine guests!
Li Nanfang immediately dropped his flippant demeanor—
He still had stubble, his hair was a mess like a bird's nest, and he looked unkempt, like a homeless man.
But as he shed his casual expression, he gave everyone present a tremendously powerful illusion: "An incredibly sharp, peerless divine weapon, suddenly surged up from the ruins. Under the deep blue night sky, it emitted a dazzling cold light that dared not be directly gazed upon, sending shivers down one's spine!!"
Presence.
This was the true presence of the current Li family patriarch, Li Nanfang.
"Mr. Su, Ms. Ning."
Li Nanfang extended his hand first, shaking hands with the dazed Old Su and his wife, then said softly, "My unfilial grandson Qianfan, I ask for your continued indulgence and care. After Ziyu and Qianfan hold their wedding banquet, I will personally invite you both to Diwang Valley as guests."
A declaration.
Following Li Wujiang and Li Xiao's formal visits to Old Man Su and his wife, Mr. Nanfang, the Li family patriarch, also used this occasion to solemnly declare to Old Man Su and his wife; Diwang Valley, like Longxu, recognized the legitimate marital relationship between Su Ziyu and Li Qianfan!
The dazed Old Su and his wife could only nod repeatedly, unable to utter a single word.
After all, upon realizing who Li Nanfang was and perceiving his status from everyone's demeanor, they genuinely feared the Li family patriarch would look down upon them.
Yet, Li Nanfang offered them ample respect.
Especially by officially representing Diwang Valley and solemnly acknowledging Su Ziyu as the legitimate granddaughter-in-law of the Li family.
Anyone in the Su couple's position would be moved at this moment.
Su Nanyin, however, felt a pang of sadness: "Alas, my Su family was almost 'annihilated' by Li Qianfan, yet it still doesn't compare to a single Su Ziyu."
As this thought arose, she suddenly found Li Qianfan utterly displeasing to the eye.
In fact, she felt immense disgust—
While Li Nanfang was mingling with Elder Tang and others, drawing everyone's attention, Su Nanyin quietly slipped away to the backyard.
The front and middle courtyards were in disarray.
The backyard, however, was tranquil.
Dressed in a white Hanfu, with a large red cloak draped over her shoulders, Su Nanyin sat on a long bench in the small pavilion, gazing at the setting sun in the west, lost in thought for a long time.
Creak.
The door of the backyard living room opened.
Sleepy Su Maomao finally perked up, ready to go join the excitement in the front.
As she stepped out of the living room, she saw her mother sitting alone in the pavilion, a look of dejection on her face, staring blankly at the setting sun.
Su Maomao was a little curious and quickly walked over, whispering, "Mom, what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Pulled from her deep, inexplicable melancholy, Su Nanyin realized her mindset was off.
She was about to give a perfunctory answer when she couldn't help but ask, "Maomao, is it right for me to place all our family's happiness on Li Qianfan?"
"Why wouldn't it be right?"
Su Maomao blinked, quickly asking, "Mom, what happened?"
Su Nanyin hesitated.
She still recounted truthfully to Su Maomao how Li Nanfang treated Old Man Su and his wife, and how her own mindset had shifted instantly, making her quite disgusted with Li Qianfan.
Finally, she gritted her teeth and asked coldly, "In Li Nanfang's and Li Xiao's eyes, are Mao Mao's bite and my purity worth less than a single Su Ziyu!?"
Su Maomao finally understood.
She gave a bitter smile, "Mom, you're overthinking it."
Su Nanyin glanced at her sideways, "How am I overthinking it?"
Su Zui sat beside her mother.
Patiently coaxing her—
"Mom, don't forget. Whether it's Old Master Li, or Lord Li Long, or even Lieyan Valley! They don't represent the Li family village of Si Jiu."
"And the Li family village of Si Jiu will only recognize Yao Yao as the village chief's wife."
"That's the first point."
"The second point—"
Su Zui slowly asked, "If Yao Yao had married Qianfan as promised half a year ago, then I'd like to ask you a question. Would you allow Su Ziyu, Mo Hongti, Chu Yazhi, Murong Mingyuan, and the others to be by his side?"
Su Nanyin answered without thinking, "Of course not! Qianfan belongs to our Su family, why should others share him?"
Su Zui then asked, "Then when the scandal between you and Qianfan surfaced, forcing you to create a new faction with Qianfan as the core. Do you think so many people would have come to congratulate the Su family on establishing their domain?"
Su Nanyin froze.
"Not so many would have come."
Su Zui shook her head, "And there wouldn't be Dai Paipai helping Qianfan activate 209. There wouldn't be Su Ziyu and Mo Hongti maintaining internal affairs for Qianfan in Longxu; there wouldn't be Chu Yazhi who fully supported him; nor Murong Mingyuan who dragged him for days in the Arctic snowfield to save his life. Without these people, how could Qianfan possibly have stayed peacefully with our Su family?"
Su Nanyin fell silent.
She finally realized that her mindset was the problem.
Su Zui continued, "Old Master Nanfang achieved his current status and position because of Yue Zhitong's magnanimity; Uncle Li Xiao created Longxu because of Lu Ziqi's broad-mindedness; for Qianfan to surpass his predecessors, he needs a wife like Su Ziyu, comparable to Yue and Lu."
Su Nanyin's tightly clenched fists slowly relaxed.
Su Zui continued to guide her, "Whatever you want to gain, you must pay an equal, or even several times, the price. That's a certainty."
Alas.
Su Nanyin sighed softly, followed by a bitter smile.
She had been blinded by a certain mindset, but her Maomao had always remained clear-headed.
Why was this happening?
"Mom, your current unwillingness is not because you are narrow-minded. It's not because you don't understand these principles. It's because the influence of 'Four Phoenixes Surrounding the Beam' on you is growing stronger."
Standing behind Su Nanyin, Su Zui put her arm around her neck and smiled, "I can guarantee that as soon as you step out of this misunderstanding, you will still be that super scheming woman, capable of playing a certain little rogue to death, holding him firmly in your palm. When he's told to kneel, he'll feel uncomfortable standing."
Su Nanyin—
Damn it.
This brat dares to spout such nonsense about this matter!
Don't say anything about the Empress in the backyard being blushed by Su Maomao.
Meanwhile, in the middle courtyard.
Li Nanfang, who had become the absolute center of attention, finally shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with all the guests present.
Truly exhausting.
Li Nanfang, who was actually well aware that his exhaustion stemmed from too many debts and an unhappy mood, raised his wine glass and invited everyone present to drink together.
"Everyone, have you all eaten and drunk your fill?"
Li Nanfang asked with a smile after setting down his wine glass.
Shen Huiteng was the first to nod, indicating he was full.
"As the Su family head has gone to the backyard, I will temporarily usurp the host's role and invite all guests except Mr. Su and his wife from Qingyun, and the seven second gentlemen from the seven coastal families."
Li Nanfang paused, then said with a apologetic smile, "Our establishment is closing, please depart."
The people present—
Li the Scumbag was kicking them out!
However, no one was particularly offended by Li Nanfang because of this.
Firstly, the banquet was nearing its end, and their mission to congratulate the Su family on establishing their domain was complete, so it was time to take their leave.
Secondly, they dared not harbor any dissatisfaction towards this scumbag.
The crucial third reason was that everyone realized Li Nanfang intended to personally deal with the seven wealthy families who had come to cause trouble!!
Thus.
Elder Tang smiled contentedly (the decision to defect to Li Qianfan this time was absolutely correct, the Tang family would surely reap great rewards) and left first with Zhao Tingshan and others.
The faces of the second gentlemen from the seven wealthy families also showed obvious apprehension.
Li Qianfan was already so arrogant, let alone his scumbag grandfather!?
They all wanted to make a swift exit, but they truly didn't dare.
Old Man Su and his wife also wished to leave.
After all, they were not qualified to participate in matters of this magnitude.
But Li Nanfang had specifically asked them to stay, so they could only sit in their chairs.
A few minutes later.
The middle courtyard, once crowded, was now left with only the seven wealthy families and the Su couple—these nine VIPs (and Su Xin, along with Luo Huayin and others, waiting in the distance to clear the tables).
And the Li family grandfather and grandson, and Su Nanyin who had come from the backyard, along with her Maomao Yao.
"Mr. Su, I will personally escort you and your wife out."
Personally escorting Old Man Su and his wife out of the Su residence was the reason Li Nanfang had specifically kept them.
The Su couple immediately and deeply understood what it meant to be truly honored.
Especially when they got into the car, and Li Nanfang personally closed the car door for them, Old Man Su began to dream again, lost in his own world.
Waving goodbye to Old Man Su and watching their car drive away.
Li Nanfang then led Li Qianfan and the four Su beauties back to the middle courtyard.
Looking at the second gentlemen from the seven wealthy families.
He asked faintly, "If I let you leave the Su family intact, how much would you be willing to pay?"