A hundred meters from the Tang family's residence, Li Qianfan saw a group of people standing at the entrance of the old Tang house.
He immediately spotted Old Tang and his cheap brother-in-law. He stepped on the brakes.
Parking dozens of meters away from someone's doorstep and walking the rest of the way was a basic courtesy.
"Qianfan, for the sake of me being a woman, I won't accompany you to lose face. Even if I don't get out of the car, people will know I'm inside. They know that Li and Su share honor and disgrace. I just don't like the feeling of being slapped in the face with contempt."
Su Nanyin's words made sense.
"Alright."
Li Qianfan didn't care about losing face or not.
The men of the Old Li family—
Starting from Li Nanfang's generation, they were basically all thick-skinned and never cared about losing face.
They only sought to act according to their personal preferences, as long as it did not harm the interests of the Eastern Land!
As Li Qianfan opened the door, got out, and walked towards the Tang family's main entrance with a smile, he was mentally prepared to be rejected.
A miracle happened—
His cheap brother-in-law actually ran over and grabbed his hand.
Tang Wenyuan said in a low, proud voice, "Brother-in-law, welcome to the Tang family for the New Year. This is the first time my seven elders have lined up at the entrance to welcome guests! Heh heh, to tell you the truth, I made great contributions to the Tang family's support! Even the Tian Beifang family's clear support for you, I am the biggest contributor!"
What?
Li Qianfan was stunned.
He really hadn't expected the Sijiu Tang family to support him.
And for the seven sons of the Tang family to line up to welcome him.
Especially when Tang Wenyuan said that the Tian Beifang family, who had been harmed by Li Qianfan, had also openly supported him!
Inside the car.
Su Nanyin stared blankly as Li Qianfan engaged in a warm conversation with the Tang family at their doorstep and was then led into the old house.
She could hardly believe her eyes.
She quickly raised her hand and rubbed her face, and after confirming that she wasn't hallucinating, she let out a long sigh.
She closed her eyes, tilted her head back, and murmured, "In the end, there are still people who can see that Qianfan is no ordinary person, just like me."
As soon as Li Qianfan stepped into the Tang family's old house,
Those who were secretly monitoring his movements immediately sent the news back to the Sijiu Helan family.
In the main hall of the Helan family.
The family head, Helan Qunxing, was no longer the impetuous youth who dared to confront Li Nanfang forty years ago.
He wasn't even the Helan family head who had vigorously suppressed Li Xiao twenty years ago.
After Helan Fusu, the most outstanding family head of the Helan family, passed away, Helan Qunxing made it his mission to oppose the Li family.
However, the Helan family, which never stopped seeking trouble, had always remained in Sijiu without falling.
It wasn't because the Li family's two generations were incompetent.
It was because during the two generations of the Helan family, they had successively produced Helan Xiaoxin and Helan Xuejing, both married women who had been "taken" by two generations of the Li family; and the Helan family also produced a mixed-race beauty from the dark web who had the most direct connection to the Dragon Ruins.
It was precisely because of these marital alliances that the Sijiu Helan family "feared no" the Li family.
They never bowed to the Li family!
They didn't bow forty years ago, they didn't bow twenty years ago, and they still don't bow now!!
However, to be fair.
When President Zhao personally called Helan Qunxing, he was very moved.
He immediately convened a core meeting.
For this purpose, Helan Tingmei, the most outstanding woman of the Helan family at present (married into the Lu family, one of the eleven influential families), was specially invited to participate in this decision.
After all, President Zhao had already let it be known that he thought highly of Helan Tingmei.
But the one who resolutely opposed Li Qianfan coming to the Helan family for the New Year was none other than Helan Tingmei, whom President Zhao valued the most!
It was Helan Tingmei who, citing various classics and arguments (and crucially, the unshakeable rule that anyone who touched Su Nanyin, whose identity was too special, would be ruined), made the Helan disciples feel that supporting Li Qianfan was an act of foolishness.
Moreover.
Helan Tingmei also stated with the most absolute certainty that the Sijiu Tang family would also refuse Li Qianfan's visit unceremoniously!
And the result?
The Tang family not only allowed Li Qianfan to pay respects to Old Tang but also welcomed him with seven sons!
This level of reception.
This treatment—
It was almost comparable to President Zhao's personal visit!
"Are the Tang family's brains malfunctioning?"
After hearing this news, Helan Tingmei, whose judgment had been severely flawed, furrowed her beautiful eyebrows almost into a knot: "Don't they know that Li Qianfan has become a discarded son of the Li family? And Su Nanyin, known as the beautiful empress of the influential families, has lost her reputation and become a notorious slut? What qualifications do such a discarded son and a slut have to make the Tang family risk their entire future?"
Yes.
A discarded son and a slut really didn't have the qualifications to make the neutral Tang family risk their entire family's future.
After all, influential families like the Northwest Gao family, who were staunch supporters of Li Qianfan, had also expressed their strong dissatisfaction through various channels.
Helan Tingmei's phone rang.
It was her husband, Lu Daolin, calling: "Tingmei, do you know that Li Qianfan and Su Nanyin have received the support of the Tang family?"
"I know."
Helan Tingmei said indifferently, "But the door of our Helan family will never open to a discarded son and a slut. Even if he is Li Wujiang's only son, the beautiful empress of the influential families."
"Heh heh."
Lu Daolin sneered, "It seems the Tang family is tired of their good life. Have they forgotten that their family will be destroyed when the tall building collapses?"
"What do you know?"
Helan Tingmei's face darkened, and she reprimanded him coldly without politeness, "If the Sijiu Tang family collapses, is that something you can say? Or do? Just manage your dirty mouth."
Lu Daolin on the other end of the phone—
It took him a full seven or eight seconds before he smiled obsequiously, "Tingmei, I'm at the Miao family now. We were also very surprised and angry when we learned that the Tang family was going against the tide. We are preparing to hold an expanded meeting. Dad's intention is for you to attend."
"Hmm, I understand."
Helan Tingmei nodded, "I'll be there later."
"Oh, right, there's one more thing."
Lu Daolin lowered his voice, "I can't confirm the authenticity of the news. The Shen family also got the news from somewhere that you are highly valued by President Zhao. Even before Su Nanyin had an accident, he wanted to transfer you to a certain unit and give you an important position. Now that she has had a great scandal, you have a very high chance of replacing her!"
"What?"
Helan Tingmei was stunned.
She really didn't know that President Zhao had highly valued her and wanted to transfer her to a certain unit to hold an important position.
If she had known this earlier.
Then when Li Qianfan came to visit according to President Zhao's wishes, even if Helan Tingmei still insisted that the Helan family would not get involved in the mess, she would not have directly said, "People named Li and Su are not allowed in."
"But don't worry."
Lu Daolin continued, "Patriarch Shen said that the eleven families will strongly support you in replacing Su Nanyin!"
"Hmm, I know."
Helan Tingmei's voice softened, "I'm on my way."
After ending the call with her husband, Helan Tingmei briefly recounted the content of the call to Helan Qunxing and others.
When the Helan disciples heard this, their eyes lit up!
Although no one understood what unit Su Nanyin held a position in, they knew she was quite powerful.
If Helan Tingmei could replace her—
Then the Helan family would definitely benefit greatly!
"Tingmei."
Helan Qunxing, as an uncle, looked at Helan Tingmei, the eldest princess of the third generation of the Helan family, and said with a smile, "I not only believe in your vision and decision-making, but also in your ability to handle matters. More importantly, I believe you will be able to replace that Ms. Su soon. After all, it's not enough for just one Tang family to strongly support Li Qianfan. Although the Zhao family also supports him, President Zhao's position means that the Zhao family cannot go all out! How can one Tang family and the Su family, composed of four women, be a match for the eleven influential families?"
"I think so too, Uncle. I'll be going now."
Helan Tingmei bid farewell to the Helan family head and hurried out.
On the way to the Miao family, she kept frowning and analyzing why the Tang family dared to support a discarded son and a slut.
"Su Nanyin. After being hidden away for so many years, you finally emerged and gained President Zhao's favor. Originally, your future was bright, and you could truly make the Su family a Sijiu influential family. Unfortunately, you still couldn't escape the 'old cow loves young grass' trap. What a shame. But if you hadn't courted disaster like this, how would I have had the chance to replace you?"
As Helan Tingmei muttered these words to herself, her car arrived at the entrance of the old Miao family residence.
There were many people inside and outside the Miao family's gate!
There were over two hundred people.
They were all looking at each other with mocking expressions, discussing Li Qianfan's visit to the Zhao family, Helan family, and Tang family with Su Nanyin.
Many even "regretted" that Su Nanyin had given up the great opportunity to marry into the eleven influential families.
"I can only say that the scoundrel's methods of playing with women were too brilliant, causing Su Nanyin, known for her wisdom, to lose herself and fall deeply in love, thus ruining her great future."
As a disciple at the gate spoke these words with regret, two cars drove up successively.
The cars stopped on the side of the road dozens of meters away.
Someone stepped out of the car.
Upon seeing this person—
The disciples who were not qualified to enter the courtyard were all stunned: "Li Qianfan? He, why is he at the Miao family!?"