The fifth day of the Lunar New Year.
News of Li Wujiang's immediate display of dominance at the Lin family's residence, without even returning to Li Village after arriving in Si Jiu, spread through Si Jiu's elite circles with unprecedented speed.
Immediately—
Some were astonished, some enraged, some secretly pleased, and others gloated.
The Helan family of Si Jiu belonged to the gloating faction: "Let them fight, let them fight. It's best if Li Wujiang, representing the Li family's interest group, and the interest group led by the Shen family, create utter chaos and bloodshed! That would best serve the interests of our Helan family and other neutral parties."
Thus.
Helan Qunxing, sitting comfortably at home, canceled all his engagements and dispatched numerous disciples to closely monitor Li Wujiang's movements.
Due to the "significant implications" of this matter, Helan Qunxing specifically summoned his grandniece, Helan Tingmei, known as the "female Zhuge Liang," back to the Helan family.
The Helan family intended to analyze the severity of Li Wujiang's actions based on the scale of his disturbance, hoping to find opportunities for the family to benefit.
Upon receiving the call, Helan Tingmei also returned to the Helan family with the utmost speed.
When she learned that Li Wujiang, after leaving the Lin family, had gone to his in-laws' (the Lu family), she abruptly stood up.
The Lu family was her family.
Li Wujiang actually went to the Lu family to cause trouble; as one of the mistresses of the house, she was naturally very angry and needed to go back to assess the situation.
She even considered directly confronting Li Wujiang!
Others might fear Li Wujiang, but she did not.
First.
The Helan family had not participated in any of the minor schemes orchestrated by the thirteen elite families against Li Qianfan.
Second.
Her grandaunt, Helan Xiaoxin, was the fourth matriarch of Di Wang Valley; her aunt, Helan Xuejing, was a member of Long Xu Tong Que Tai; with the relationship the past two generations of grandaunts had with the Li family, Li Wujiang would not dare to do anything to Helan Tingmei!
What kind of impact would it have if Helan Tingmei rushed back at this moment and directly confronted Li Wujiang in front of the Lu family and everyone else?
Others would certainly be surprised: "Oh, I never expected anyone to dare to confront that divine beast. Truly worthy of being a Helan family grandniece, the most formidable young madam of the Lu family."
As a result.
Helan Tingmei's influence within the elite circles would soar; her voice within the Lu family would also grow stronger!
But just as Helan Tingmei stood up, she calmly sat back down.
She recalled how, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Li Qianfan had cursed her to get out when she was at the Miao family, and how the Lu family head had publicly reprimanded her for not leaving (basically saying she was afraid of Li Qianfan to the point of being driven away publicly, and that if she always had her heart set on the Helan family, she should go back to the Helan family).
Although afterwards—
The Lu family head had also specifically apologized to her, subtly explaining that his words were out of necessity due to the situation, and asked for her forgiveness; and she had accepted the two percent stake in the family business from the Lu family head (as compensation for emotional distress) and forgiven the Lu family head's foolish actions.
However, this incident had always been a knot in Helan Tingmei's heart.
She would never forget it in her lifetime!
So.
What would happen if, when the Lu family needed Helan Tingmei more than ever, she deliberately refused to return home?
It would only make the entire Lu family clearly realize that they couldn't do without her.
Their attitude towards her in the future could only be better.
Her influence within the Lu family would also become even greater!
Since she wouldn't return home and would gain the greatest benefit by watching the Lu family be tormented by Li Wujiang, why should she go home?
If she didn't make the short-sighted Lu family head suffer a bit, he would never understand how important a Helan family grandniece was to the Lu family!!
As expected.
Just as Helan Tingmei figured all this out and gracefully sat down, picking up her teacup, the Lu family head called.
The Lu family head, facing an urgent crisis, hoped his daughter-in-law would return home as quickly as possible to stand with the Lu family against the impending threat of a breach.
But Helan Tingmei—
Ignored the ringing phone, allowing the calls from the Lu family head, her husband, and even her brother-in-law to cheerfully flash across the phone screen.
"The jasmine tea tastes noticeably better today than usual."
Helan Tingmei, crossing her elegant legs and gently swaying her short boots, had a look of contentment in her eyes.
She mused, "Can I use this incident to fan the flames even hotter? This would force the 'Guanyin of Southern Jiangsu' to quickly resign voluntarily and give me that chair. After all, a woman with such a disgraceful private life is truly not qualified to sit in that chair."
As Helan Tingmei subconsciously calculated a certain plan, a rare charming curve appeared on her lips.
Meanwhile, the core members of the Helan family, led by Helan Qunxing, were engaged in lively discussions, calculating and analyzing how many elite families Li Wujiang's current rampage would trample.
In short.
The Helan family, which remained uninvolved and aloof, was in a decidedly cheerful atmosphere.
Even more so than on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
However—
"Grandfather!"
Helan Longqi suddenly burst into the living room, his face filled with terror, and shouted, "Li Wujiang's car is parked at our family's gate!"
What?
Li Wujiang's car is parked at our gate?
What is she doing here?
Whether it was Helan Qunxing, who was engaged in lively discussions, or Helan Tingmei, who was gently swaying her short boots, they were both stunned upon hearing this.
With a whoosh.
Helan Qunxing stood up from his grand tutor chair and asked his grandson in alarm, "She's coming to our house? What is she coming here to do?"
"I don't know."
Helan Longqi replied truthfully, "I just saw 'Little Guanyin's' car parked at our gate. I personally saw Li Wujiang open the door and get out, clearly intending to come to our house. So I rushed in to tell you."
Someone said, "Perhaps Li Wujiang is coming to our house to offer New Year greetings to the Helan family on behalf of our two grandaunts in the Li family?"
Helan Qunxing heard this and slowly nodded.
That made sense, it made a lot of sense.
After all, our Helan family did not participate in any despicable acts against that little beast.
No matter how crazy Li Wujiang gets, she wouldn't find trouble with our Helan family.
As Helan Qunxing's expression softened, he looked at his niece, Helan Tingmei.
Click.
Helan Tingmei's delicate short boot, which had been hovering in mid-air, gently landed. She slowly stood up.
She slightly parted her red lips.
And said lightly, "Although our Helan family remains neutral, since Li Wujiang is visiting voluntarily, our Helan family should still treat her with courtesy. More importantly, if our Helan family can use this opportunity to persuade Li Wujiang not to continue her rampage, then our Helan family's prestige and status will rise dramatically."
Makes sense!
How did I not think of this?
Truly the female Zhuge Liang of our Helan family.
Helan Qunxing and the others' eyes lit up, and they all nodded in unison.
In the blink of an eye, Helan Qunxing and the others thought of at least eighteen ways to persuade Li Wujiang to cease her thunderous wrath, and how to do it to gain the greatest benefit.
"Let's go, we'll go and welcome Li Wujiang."
Helan Tingmei said, and then, swaying her voluptuous waist, she walked out of the living room first.
Helan Qunxing and more than ten other core members of the Helan family also quickly followed out.
As they just stepped out of the living room—
Rumble!!
A dull thud suddenly came from the direction of the gate.
Helan Tingmei and the others all shivered, then instinctively stopped in their tracks and hurriedly looked up.
Whoosh—
They saw a "sandstorm" sweeping towards them from the direction of the gate!
The screen wall.
The screen wall behind the main entrance of the old Helan family residence had collapsed!!
This screen wall—
Had been built by Helan Qunxing's grandfather when he built the old Helan residence.
Four meters wide and six meters high.
It was built with large blue bricks, and a most famous painter of that era had been invited to depict majestic mountains and pine trees welcoming guests!
This screen wall was forty to fifty years older than Helan Qunxing.
It had long since become the most prestigious feature of the Helan family.
But now—
The Helan family's prestige had crumbled with a bang.
"Ah, why did the screen wall collapse?"
Helan Longqi, after a moment of stunned silence, shouted in alarm.
Yes.
Why did the Helan family's prestige suddenly collapse?
Helan Qunxing's old eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as he stared intently at the "sky-covering" dust, as if he had seen a ghost.
The dust gradually settled.
Then, the stunned Helan family members saw a woman standing quietly before the ruins.
Li Wujiang.
This woman, dressed in a black trench coat and habitually wearing high-waisted military boots, was none other than that "divine beast" who had broken the family.
Helan Qunxing and she made eye contact for a full thirty seconds. Only when his eyeballs rolled slightly did Helan Tingmei, her voice trembling, sternly shout, "You! It was you, you kicked down our family's screen wall!?"
This screen wall, both wide and thick, was not something that would collapse from the wind or a person's push.
It was very sturdy!
Without sufficient impact force, it was impossible to make it collapse with a bang.
Yet—
Li Wujiang possessed the fierce brute strength to make this screen wall collapse with a single flying kick!!
Therefore.
Helan Tingmei, reacting the fastest, immediately guessed that Li Wujiang had kicked down the Helan family's screen wall.
Facing Helan Tingmei's stern interrogation—
Li Wujiang, her black trench coat covered in dust, calmly nodded, "It was me."
Ah?
It really was her who kicked down our family's screen wall!
She didn't come to our Helan family to offer New Year greetings.
She came to make trouble!!
Helan Qunxing and the others finally came to their senses.
"Li Wujiang."
Helan Tingmei trembled with anger and walked forward quickly, "On what grounds did you trespass into my Helan family and destroy our family's facade? You must give me a reason today. Otherwise."
As soon as she said this, her words were taken over by Helan Qunxing.
Helan Qunxing's face contorted, and his voice was hoarse and sharp, "Otherwise, our Helan family will be at irreconcilable odds with you!"
During the Lunar New Year.
Li Wujiang's trespassing into the Helan family and destroying the screen wall in the most overbearing and brutal manner was not only slapping Helan Qunxing in the face but also provoking the ancestors of the Helan family!
When Helan Qunxing said they would be at irreconcilable odds with her, he wasn't just making empty threats.
"You want a reason? Fine. Then I'll give you a reason."
Li Wujiang smiled coldly, "On the first day of the Lunar New Year, my son Li Qianfan came to offer New Year greetings to the Helan family. But he was told face-to-face, 'No Li surname allowed'!"