Guests surnamed Li or Su were all politely refused.
Just as Li Qianfan arrived at the entrance of the Helan family's residence, Helan Tingmei, who had just come out to relay the family head's instructions, spoke these words to Helan Longqi right in front of him!
What did that mean?
Or rather, what was Li Qianfan's surname, and what was Su Nanyin's surname?
After hearing Helan Tingmei's words, Li Qianfan smiled kindly at Helan Longqi, who had instinctively become nervous upon seeing him, and turned to leave.
No matter how thick Li Qianfan's skin was—
He would never, in the Helan family's presence, insist on seeing the Helan family head after being told he and Su Nanyin would not be received!
Watching Li Qianfan's retreating back, Helan Tingmei let out a contemptuous laugh and then turned, her hips swaying gracefully, back into the courtyard.
Li Qianfan got into the car.
Although Su Nanyin hadn't heard Helan Tingmei's words, she could infer something from Li Qianfan's action of returning immediately after reaching the entrance.
She said nothing.
She just quietly watched Li Qianfan restart the car and slowly turn it around.
The wheels rolled, moving forward.
"Qianfan, let's not go to the Tang family anymore," Su Nanyin said in a low voice as the car passed an intersection. "I don't like seeing the pillars of my Su family being repeatedly refused when they personally visit. It makes me feel very distressed."
"We must go," Li Qianfan replied. "Knowing we will be rejected, but still striving, leaves a glimmer of hope. Not going means no hope at all."
Sigh.
Looking at Li Qianfan's increasingly mature profile, Su Nanyin sighed softly.
She rested her heels on the seat, hugged her knees, and rested her chin on them, gazing forward, lost in thought.
Buzz, buzz buzz.
Li Qianfan's phone rang.
He casually swiped his finger, activated the speakerphone, and said, "Zhizhi, Happy New Year."
The call was from Chu Yazhi.
Li Qianfan thought Chu Yazhi was calling to offer New Year's greetings again.
"Master, Happy New Year," Chu Yazhi, whose calling him "Master" had become instinctive, asked nervously, "My father asked me to ask you. When you have time, can the Chu family send someone to visit you at the Su family's residence in Si Jiu?"
Huh?
Li Qianfan was stunned.
Su Nanyin's eyes, however, lit up.
As the saying goes, good deeds don't go beyond the door, while scandals travel a thousand miles.
Especially in modern society, with its high-speed information flow.
An event in one place, if deliberately spread, could reach all corners of the country within minutes.
The matter of "Mr. Li" and "Ms. Su" walking arm-in-arm to wish Manager Zhao a Happy New Year was currently a massive scandal within the circle! Its spread speed was virtually light speed.
The Chu family of Tiannan had undoubtedly learned of it. They could also deduce that Li Qianfan had become a target of public criticism!
So, why was the Chu family now having Chu Yazhi call Li Qianfan to express their desire to visit the Su family in Si Jiu?
Li Qianfan remained silent for a long time. A wave of warmth washed over him.
The Chu family was willing to swim against the tide and proactively offer to visit him when he most needed support, which surely meant Chu Yazhi had made great efforts. But she wouldn't tell Li Qianfan the price she paid for it. Chu Yazhi only needed to make Li Qianfan understand that the Chu family of Tiannan supported him!
After not receiving a reply from Li Qianfan for a while, Chu Yazhi said nervously, "Master, if it's inconvenient for you, the Chu family doesn't have to come."
"Zhizhi," Li Qianfan smiled. "On behalf of the Su family, I sincerely welcome the Chu family to visit Si Jiu as guests at any time."
"Whoosh." Chu Yazhi let out a long sigh on the other end and said with a smile, "Master, you must be busy. I'll call you then!" She couldn't wait to share this good news with the Chu family of Tiannan.
After their call ended, Su Nanyin remarked emotionally, "Who would have thought that the plaything Li Dashao was forced to accept would become his most loyal follower?"
"Plaything?" Li Qianfan frowned. "You're already an old woman, why can't you speak properly!"
Damn it.
Who was calling her an old woman? Su Nanyin raised her foot and kicked his knee.
Li Qianfan said coldly, "Dare to lay a hand on me again, and I'll put you in shackles tonight!"
Su Nanyin blushed—
Li Qianfan's phone buzzed again.
It was Murong Mingyuan.
The "little mare" spoke directly: "I'm at the Murong family for New Year's. My grandfather brought me back this morning, officially reinstating me in the family. My grandfather wants my second uncle (Murong He) to represent the Murong family of Si Jiu in visiting the Su family of Si Jiu. Make the arrangements and call me. That's all."
Before Li Qianfan could say anything, the "little mare" hung up.
Damn little mare—
Just because she carried Li Qianfan across the Arctic snowfields for several days and nights, her tone when speaking to him was becoming more and more imperious.
Li Qianfan lit a cigarette.
This time, Su Nanyin didn't make any sarcastic remarks about Murong Mingyuan being a plaything.
Because she knew very well—
Even if Murong Mingyuan, who always claimed she would marry someone else, hadn't strived her utmost for Li Qianfan to gain the support of the Murong family of Si Jiu; solely based on her performance in the Arctic snowfields, no one, including Su Nanyin and even Su Ziyu, was qualified to call her a plaything!
Li Qianfan's phone rang for the third time.
It was Jiao Yin, the eldest madam of the Bai family in Tiandong, who wanted to represent the Bai family in visiting the Su family in Si Jiu on a chosen date.
Regarding the Bai family—
Li Qianfan was very excited, repeatedly praising her, "Mei Nu, you truly are my favorite woman!"
Looking at the feigning Li Qianfan, Su Nanyin made a gagging gesture with her mouth.
The Tang family of Si Jiu.
Old Master Tang, his seven sons, and over a dozen grandsons were gathered together.
They were arguing heatedly about something!
An hour earlier, Old Master Tang had received a call from Manager Zhao.
Manager Zhao had told Old Master Tang in a roundabout way: "Li Qianfan might come to the Tang family to pay his New Year's respects."
To help Li Qianfan stabilize his foundation!
Manager Zhao had gone all out, disregarding his status, to personally intervene. He had successively called the Helan family and the Tang family.
Because of Manager Zhao's call, the core members of the Tang family had engaged in a heated discussion. The discussion (debate) was divided into two main factions: for and against.
Regarding the future prospects of the Tang family of Si Jiu, no one present dared to stand aside; everyone spoke enthusiastically, stating their views honestly. Excluding Old Master Tang, the "referee," his seven sons and thirteen grandsons totaled twenty people. The opposing and supporting sides were exactly ten people each. They were in a stalemate, with neither side willing to yield.
"I still say the same thing," the representative of the opposing faction, the eldest son of the Tang family, stated. "There's no need for our Tang family to make a statement at this juncture! Because the reputations of Li Qianfan and Su Nanyin have soured to the extreme. Supporting them will lead to severe retaliation from the eleven influential families."
The seventh son, who supported him, nodded vigorously. "Most directly, the Ding family of Si Jiu, who should be supporting him the most, has remained silent. Even the richest couple, Ding Facai and Su Hongye, unable to make a choice, flew to Longxu via private jet over an hour ago! What does that mean? It means the Ding family, unable to make a decision, has had to avoid the situation."
"Yes," said the sixth son of the Tang family. "And the person we sent to visit the Ding family also said that after Li Qianfan and Su Nanyin openly paid their respects to Manager Zhao, Ding Xiaolang immediately ended all New Year's greetings. It's certain she's canvassing for Li Qianfan, urgently lobbying the Gao family of the Northwest, and so on. But I don't expect much! Because Su Nanyin's identity is too extraordinary. That woman is untouchable! Anyone who touches her signifies their decline!"
Old Master Tang's brow remained furrowed, his fingers tapping irregularly on the table.
Tang Xiuming (Tang Xiaoni's father), on Li Qianfan's side, said slowly, "Eldest brother, sixth brother, what you say is all true. But there's a saying. Adding flowers to the brocade is far less valuable than sending charcoal in the snow! This is precisely when Li Qianfan needs support the most. If our Tang family can provide the greatest support, the future rewards will be astonishing."
"Right, right, right," Tang Wenyuan, who already knew that Xiao Niti Tang had been corrupted by a certain man and now considered himself an elder brother-in-law, also stepped forward. "I wholeheartedly support our Tang family giving Li Qianfan our utmost support."
Tch.
What does a dandy like you, who only knows how to eat, drink, whore, and gamble, know? Many of the Tang family disciples subconsciously curled their lips.
Tang Wenyuan's phone rang.
The call was from Fang Chuqing: "Wenyuan, the Fang family of Tianbei has decided. We will follow your lead and support Li Qianfan."
"Good wife—" Tang Wenyuan was overjoyed. "I knew you could successfully complete the important task I entrusted to you (canvassing the Fang family to support Li Qianfan)!"
All the debates within the Tang family—
Came to an abrupt halt with the call from Fang Chuqing.
The Fang family of Tianbei! Although it was merely a local influential family, its strength should not be underestimated. The opposing faction truly hadn't expected that the Fang family of Tianbei would be persuaded by Tang Wenyuan, a dandy, to decide to support Li Qianfan. The joining of the Fang family was a heavy blow to the opposing faction!!
Everyone looked at Old Master Tang.
Old Tang retracted his fingers tapping the table. He said slowly, "Tang Xiushan, Tang Xiushui, Tang Xiuming, Tang Xiuhe, Tang Xiujiang, Tang Xiuchuan, Tang Xiulin."
His seven sons stood up in unison and boomed, "Here!"
"The Seven Sons of the Tang family—" Old Master Tang looked towards the door. "Together, on behalf of our Tang family of Si Jiu, welcome the soon-to-arrive Li Qianfan at the main entrance."
"Yes!" The Seven Sons of the Tang family boomed in unison again.