Chapter 529 - 337 to the Huo Family, the gift killer re-emerges in Jianghu

Chapter 529: 337 to the Huo Family, the gift killer re-emerges in Jianghu

The car was driving on the road to Hexi, Tang Wan turned her head to look out of the window, where the early spring’s slanting sun had not yet set, casting an evening shadow all around, bringing a sensation of cool wind and cold water.

"Work didn’t go smoothly today?" Jiang Jinsang turned his head to look at her.

"Do you remember your high school classmate who became a celebrity from the last school anniversary?"

"What’s wrong?"

"Today, her team came to our studio. They want to collaborate and launch a line of co-branded jewelry, things like necklaces, earrings."

Tang Wan’s studio was once obscure, but since the Cu Yu incident, it had become famous. Plus, since she was married to Jiang Jinsang, there were many who wanted to connect with the Jiang Family through her, and several sought to collaborate with them.

"You don’t want to collaborate with her?"

"A little, but her team offered very generous terms, and Uncle Chen is quite tempted. If this deal goes through, all the studio employees could receive a substantial bonus this year."

Tang Wan leaned back in her chair and heaved a sigh. Initially, when she started this studio, it was purely out of passion, to earn some extra money to ensure she could comfortably eat and drink. But with more employees, and now people like Chen Zhi following her to Beijing, she couldn’t let them go hungry.

Doing business and making money is all about profit; you can’t just do what you like or don’t like.

"Why the sigh?" Jiang Jinsang looked at her, smiling.

"Doing business is really not easy."

Tang Wan stretched her hand to her neck, "You didn’t take a wrong turn, did you? We’re supposed to pick up Auntie."

"No."

Shen Shuci had just found a job. Having lived abroad for many years, she was considered a returnee and had no trouble finding work at a joint venture company. With a three-month training internship, the salary and benefits were quite decent.

After signing the internship contract, she called Tang Wan and Jiang Jinsang out to dinner.

Speaking of which, she was their elder. Since she’d been in Beijing, they had been looking after her. She had been too busy finding a job recently, and it was time to treat them to a good meal.

"Tonight?" Tang Wan was a bit surprised when she received the call, what special day was it that Big Brother Huo wanted to treat them, and her aunt wanted to meet today too?

"Do you have other plans?"

"How about tomorrow?" It would be rude to cancel on the Huo Family, as they had made plans last night.

"I have to go to the company for internship training tomorrow, and I’ll be busy for the next week or even a month. It’ll be hard to meet. If you’re not free, let’s make another time."

"A month?"

"I’ll need training before starting the internship, and I expect it to be really busy."

When Tang Wan heard it might be a long while before she could see her again, "Let me discuss it with Fifth Brother and I’ll call you back."

Tang Wan immediately informed Jiang Jinsang about this, and he laughed it off, "Then let’s have dinner together. Tonight, Zeyan will also be there. It’ll be more lively with more people, and they all know each other too."

"Auntie might not be willing to go..." This time it wasn’t about going to a hotel restaurant, but to the Huo Family’s place, "we should also talk to Big Brother Huo about this."

"I’ll call him. We’ll just say we’re bringing someone. He won’t mind. He’s not very good at livening up the atmosphere, which is why he specifically asked Zeyan to come. I was even considering inviting Brother and Fourth Brother, but Brother and his wife are taking the kids abroad tomorrow, so they’re busy packing tonight."

Jiang Jinsang chuckled, "As for Fourth Brother, he wouldn’t dare go. Last time he took Jiangjiang and Taotao to Huo’s to see the plum blossoms, he ended up sparring with Old Huo."

"The kids don’t understand anything. They just saw the two exchanging blows, like a thrilling action movie scene, and they were cheering on the side."

"And so, Fourth Brother nearly had his arms dislocated. Looks like he won’t be riding his motorcycle anytime soon."

Tang Wan snorted with laughter, "No wonder I haven’t seen Fourth Brother these past few days..."

She called Shen Shuci and said it was just a meal with a few acquaintances. Initially, Shen Shuci was hesitant, as she wasn’t one for social scenes, but she had something to pass on to Tang Wan, so she agreed.

She had thought that whomever was treating, she would share the cost, splitting the bill to count it as her own invitation.

But she had no idea they were going to the Huo Family’s place; there was simply no way to split that kind of dinner bill.

*

When they picked up Shen Shuci in the residential complex, she was carrying a large, seemingly heavy packing bag.

"Auntie, what is that you’re carrying?" Tang Wan turned to look at her.

"Didn’t you have a bad experience with your period last time? I heard about a traditional Chinese medicine recipe that’s really effective. I went to the pharmacy to get the medicinal herbs prepared. Everything’s cooked and sealed; you can just warm it up at home and drink it."

Tang Wan had just gotten a bunch of Western medicine from Zhou Zhongqing to regulate her body, and now, here were the Chinese medicines.

"I’ve brought you a half month’s supply. Three times a day."

"Auntie, I..."

"You don’t need to be polite with me. I’ll send it over after you finish drinking."

Tang Wan wanted to cry but had no tears. Faced with such thoughtful and amiable elders, she could only smile and say, "Thank you."

Why did she love to deliver medicines to others so much? Before, she had sent a bunch of health supplements to Jiang Jinsang, and now she’s sending her traditional Chinese medicine? This was even scarier than Big Brother Huo.

Shen Shuci was practical in her approach. Rather than offering verbal comfort or sending fancy but insubstantial gifts, tangible items were her preference—albeit only to relatives. For ordinary people, unceremonously delivering medicine might earn one a beating.

"Where are we going now?" Shen Shuci saw that the car wasn’t headed into the city center and thought they might be visiting a rural leisure farm.

"We’ll be there soon." Jiang Jinsang didn’t elaborate.

Shen Shuci looked out the window, passing a cluster of villas against a backdrop of overlapping mountains shrouded in chaotic clouds and bright afterglow, like a bold oil painting.

It wasn’t until the car stopped in front of an ancient and grave house, surrounded by desolation and silence, that one could hardly believe it was inhabited.

There were no signs on the road and Shen Shuci even thought it was a restaurant.

Some people, perhaps weary of exotic delicacies, liked to seek out remote places to try something fresh.

Hearing the sound of the car, the pitch-black gate opened, and two people stepped out. At the sight of these two individuals, Shen Shuci pursed her lips. Dressed in black, they were both broad-shouldered and robust. That distinct aura of sternness was something she had only seen with one family in all of Beijing...

"What place is this?" Shen Shuci asked, noticing Tang Wan unbuckling her seatbelt, ready to get out of the car.

"Big Brother Huo’s house."

"..." Shen Shuci was taken aback. "Aren’t we supposed to have dinner at a restaurant tonight? Who exactly is hosting the dinner?"

"Big Brother Huo, at his house."

"Why didn’t you clarify this to me at the time?" Shen Shuci was not well-acquainted with him. Previously, because of Jiang Chengsi’s incident, he had helped her once, but then she criticized the book he gifted as poor, seemingly having offended him. And now, she had come to dine at his home—how inappropriate was that?

Moreover, it was her first visit, and she hadn’t even brought a gift.

"You didn’t ask, though." Tang Wan said with a laugh.

Biting her lip, Shen Shuci had no choice but to follow them out of the car.

The Huo Family mansion was supposedly a relic of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The back leaned against a mountain, planted with green plums. When the flowers bloomed, it was a sight of Beijing, visible only from afar and never up close, until the Huos bought and renovated it. However, the centuries-old architecture, weathered by the elements, inevitably felt ancient.

On the dark door hung a metal, retro-style plaque bearing the complex characters "Huo Family."

"Master, Mrs. Jiang, Miss Shen, you’ve arrived. Please come in." The Huo Family staff, all smiles, helped park the car and invited the three of them inside.

Though Tang Wan and Jiang Jinsang were officially married, without a wedding banquet, many still addressed her as Miss Tang. Suddenly being called ’Mrs.’ filled her with an odd mixture of delight and discomfort.

...

At that moment, someone was just about to take a shower when a knock came at his door.

"Master, Master Five and the others have arrived."

He had just removed the mechanical watch from his wrist and glanced at the time. "They’re early."

They had agreed on 6 o’clock, but it was only quarter past five. Due to his profession, he was naturally very precise with time. He had just finished exercising and planned to shower when they arrived, not expecting Jiang Jinsang to be early. But he was soaked in sweat and it would be impolite to greet guests without freshening up first.

"Have the dogs been chained up?" The two fearsome wolfhounds that guarded the Huo Family gate were intimidating.

"They’re in the backyard."

"Let them sit down and have some tea. I’ll be out soon."

"Understood."

...

Inside the living room, the Huo Family members, obedient as they were, attended to the three guests with tea. But being watched by a group of burly men while sipping tea was as awkward as one could imagine.

The Huo Family members weren’t conversationalists. Asking them to fight was one thing, but to chat with guests was quite another.

After asking if the tea was to their liking, they found themselves at a loss for further conversation.

One of them then asked Tang Wan, "About the security guards we sent over for you to choose from, are you really not interested in any of them? Should we select a few more for you later?"

Jiang Jinsang raised an eyebrow, giving him a look that was calm but laced with a hint of threat.

"The best thing to do when you don’t know what to say, or are unsure of the right words, is..."

"Don’t talk!"

The message from Jiang Jinsang was clear: If you can’t say anything good, then it’s best to keep your mouth shut!