Chapter 127: Chapter 114: Preparing to Go to Beijing, the Jiang Family Arrives (3rd Watch)
The Shen Family didnât linger long in Pingjiang, staying for three days before catching the earliest flight back, planning to return when Elder Tang underwent surgery in Beijing.
The old man, however, said directly,
"I might have surgery after the New Year, you donât need to go back and forth."
Shen Lao kept reminding Tang Yunxian and Tang Wan to notify him immediately if anything happened, but after setting the date for the trip to Beijing, they didnât inform the Shen Family.
The surgery was scheduled for mid-twelfth lunar month, but the trip to Beijing was set for the day after Winter Solstice.
A cold wave struck from the north, and temperatures in Pingjiang plummeted several degrees.
On Winter Solstice day, a thick fog blanketed the early morning, and Tang Wan received a yellow fog warning for the Pingjiang District on her mobile phone when she left the house.
"Wanwan, be careful when you go out," the old man advised. "Or wait until the fog clears before leaving."
"Thereâs too much to do, Iâm afraid I wonât finish, and I still have to pack tonight. Thereâs just not enough time."
Tang Wan said this as she took her car keys and walked out.
She had to meet with Manager Chen to discuss work, but most importantly, she needed to select gifts for the Jiang Family and bring local specialties. She had indirectly consulted Jiang Jinsang, but in the end, she still had to choose them herself.
Apart from Mr. and Mrs. Jiang, Jiang Jinsangâs eldest brother, the elderly matriarch of the Jiang Family was still alive.
This old lady, Jiangjiang had mentioned a few times, but Jiang Jinsang rarely did, and Tang Wan didnât know if this was due to poor relations between them. She didnât ask in detail, and without understanding, she wouldnât even know where to start with selecting a gift.
**
Yiyu Tea House
When Tang Wan arrived at the private room, it wasnât yet time for the storytelling and ballad singing, so the tea house was exceptionally quiet; Manager Chen had already brewed tea for her.
"How long will you be gone?"
"Itâs uncertain, it depends on how well my grandfather recovers from the surgery. If all goes well, we can return to Pingjiang before the New Year." Tang Wan took a sip of the hot tea, "How is everything at the studio?"
"Everything that was damaged before has been fixed. The He Family compensated with money, but things like the computers werenât damaged. It was just some chairs and whatnot that didnât cost much. Yet, the He Family gave a hundred thousand, claiming it was for the employeesâ medical expenses and some compensation for loss of work."
Manager Chen chuckled lightly, "Theyâve been trying to meet with you through me several times, but Iâve declined each time."
"The He Family is having real trouble recently; Iâve heard that many businesses would rather breach contracts than work with them. If this continues, bankruptcy isnât far off."
Tang Wan laughed dryly, "They havenât reached out to me directly during this time."
"I guess they didnât dare. Besides, with Elder Shen present before, his temperament is not something others might know, but the He Family certainly does. Recently theyâve been everywhere begging..."
"Iâm leaving for Beijing tomorrow. Whatever happens to their family has nothing to do with me."
...
After chatting for a while longer, the two prepared to go their separate ways.
"Where are you going? Do you need a ride?" Manager Chen asked.
"No need, Iâve brought my car. I still need to buy some pastries to take to Beijing as gifts. Itâll probably take some time to package them all, you can go ahead if youâre busy."
Tang Wan finished her shopping and had just paid when she bumped into an acquaintance at the door.
"Mrs. He?"
"Miss Tang." Lun Huiru was still dressed in designer clothes and, despite her refined makeup, couldnât hide the dejection surrounding her.
The downfall of the He Family was apparent, kicked when down.
With the company on the brink, where could they find extra money to sustain her expenses? She was merely using old items for show â even in her decline, she tried to maintain the last bit of dignity before others.
"Letâs talk for a moment. It will only take a few minutes of your time."
Lun Huiru was humble in her approach, the cold hardships she faced these days had already broken her, leaving no ground to bargain with Tang Wan.
"Itâs just a few minutes, please. I beg you."
At this time, the tea house was bustling with many people quietly glancing their way. Tang Wan found it unavoidable and guessed Lun Huiru meant no harm, so she nodded in agreement.
"Thank you, letâs take a private room." Lun Huiru requested a private seat from the boss.
This caused a murmur of laughter among the many seated in the hall.
"I heard that the He Familyâs company canât even pay salaries now, and some employees have gone to complain. Drinking tea, yet they need a private room? Is it necessary?"
"Pride comes before a fall."
"The He Family must still have some money left; a lean camel is bigger than a horse, itâs just the employees who are really out of luck."
...
Once Tang Wan entered the private room with her, the idle chatter was left outside.
At this moment, a black car with Beijing plates stopped in front of the tea house. A man alighted from the rear door, and as the driver went to find a parking spot, he entered the tea house directly.
The waiter, greeting guests, brightened up on seeing him.
One look and he knew this was a well-off customer â big spenders meant a commission for them, so naturally, he warmly greeted, "Sir, some tea?"
"Iâm here to buy pastries."
"This way..." the waiter led him to the side. "Judging by your accent, youâre from Beijing or Tianjin, right? Do you have any particular taste preferences, I can make some recommendations for you."
"Less sugar."
"For an elderly person, is it? You might want to consider these varieties."
...
The waiter pitched enthusiastically. Those who came to the tea house at this time were leisure-seekers, idly gossiping over tea; and so, the information about Tang Wan and Lun Huiru entering the private room reached his ears.
Tang Wan was there too?
He squinted his eyes, but his gaze settled on the pig-shaped pastries in the cabinet, "Get me some of these as well."
Pigs...
That kid should like them, right?
**
Meanwhile, in the private room,
"What tea shall we drink?" Lun Huiru flipped through the menu.
"Anything is fine." Tang Wan glanced at the time, "I have something to deal with later."
"Then letâs go with Iron Goddess..." Lun Huiru chose a tea that wasnât cheap.
"Just say what you want to say."
Lun Huiru hesitated, stumbling over her words, but eventually she plucked up the courage to speak, "I know thereâs no way to make up for the harm Iâve done to you. Iâve brought this upon myself, so I canât blame anyone else."
"The matter with He An has been submitted to the judicial department by the police, and weâre just waiting for the trial to start. On my side..."
"Itâs almost laughable," Lun Huiru said with self-mockery.
"The truth is, He Anâs father already had someone else on the side. Initially, he wanted to get involved but seeing the He Familyâs downfall, realizing there was nothing left to gain, and after swindling a large sum of money, he took the kids and ran away. But Iâve decided to divorce him anyway."
Tang Wan had heard about these matters; after all, it was too shameful, and the news had spread all over Pingjiang City.
"But after so many years of marriage, having been a daughter-in-law to the He Family for so long, I bear an inseparable responsibility for the state the He Family is in now," Lun Huiru said, her head bowed as if in confession.
"I know coming to you has caused you a lot of trouble, but I really have no other options..."
As Lun Huiru spoke, she actually got up from her seat and knelt down before Tang Wan with a thud.
"I beg you, can you please go back and talk to your father, let the He Family off the hook! If this continues, the He Family will be completely ruined," she said, her eyes reddening and tears swirling.
"The company is having such a hard time, weâve already put up our house as collateral, but..."
Before she could finish, a waiter knocked and entered, carrying a pot of tea. Seeing the situation inside the room, he paused in shock.
Prideful even in her downfall, Lun Huiru quickly wiped her tears with her hand and hurriedly sat back down.
"Your tea is here, please call me if you need anything else." The waiter left immediately after speaking, clearly surprised, and even murmured to a colleague.
"She actually knelt down? No way..."
"Really, she was crying. Ah, had they known it would come to this, why did they ever start?"
"Alright, enough, go back to work."
...
The man was standing at the counter, unintentionally eavesdropping.
Disturbed by the intrusion, Lun Huiru was even more embarrassed, especially since Tang Wan remained unmoved, which made her more desperate, "Miss Tang, the He Family is in such a state, they certainly wonât recover for ten or twenty years, I beg you, please talk to Mr. Tang."
Tang Wan looked her over, "Youâre divorcing Mr. He? And still pleading for the He Family?"
"When you were surrounded by all those reporters, being pulled by several strong men, he didnât help you, not to mention he had a mistress on the side, did many things wrong by you."
"Help the He Family, is it necessary?"
A broken pot itself, unable to save itself, still thinking of helping others?
Lun Huiru bit her lip, "After all, weâve been married for over twenty years. He wronged me, but I canât just ignore him, and... what happened later was my fault, I am responsible."
Tang Wan chuckled softly, "Weâre both smart people, so I wonât beat around the bush. Are you asking me for help out of marital affection, or are you afraid that if the He Family goes bankrupt and you havenât divorced, youâll not get a penny and instead be saddled with debt? You and I know whatâs in our hearts."
"I donât know much about the companyâs matters; better speak to my father."
"I have to go; I have something else to attend to."
With that, Tang Wan got up to leave.
Lun Huiru had chosen this time to approach her because Tang Wan seldom went out alone. Besides, she had insider information that the Tang Family was about to go to Beijing; with such a distance, people would be difficult to find, let alone discuss other matters.
Tang Wan quickly left, not deviating her gaze, naturally not noticing the man standing at the counter.
The man was on his phone:
"... Yeah, Iâm here, buying gifts, Iâll be at the Tang Familyâs soon."
"Since the Tang Family are coming to Beijing, help them out. Itâs cold and a long journey; itâs not easy for them..."
He caught a glimpse of Tang Wan leaving out of the corner of his eye, his eyes narrowing slightly, and soon after a woman hurried out from inside, quickly settling the bill to follow, "Miss Tang, wait a moment..."
"Sir, your items are ready," the waiter handed over the packed pastries.
"Thank you."
He settled the bill in advance, took his things, and left.
The area was a downtown zone; parking at the front door was only temporary. He walked towards the parking lot and from a distance, he saw the two women pulling and tugging at each other, seemingly in a confrontation.
Still holding the phone in his hand, "Mom, something has come up, Iâll hang up."
"Send me a message when you get to the Tangâs. I video called Jiangjiang yesterday; he said he doesnât miss you one bit, but I bet heâll be thrilled to see you. That kid takes after you, tough on the outside, soft on the inside."
"Yeah, I know."
"Okay then, goodbye."
Meanwhile, the altercation over there seemed to have intensified.