Chapter 1371: Good and Evil Are Ultimately Rewarded

Before long, a spry elderly man who looked to be in his sixties walked over.

His expression was one of restrained calm.

It was the kind of mood where he didn’t want to entertain guests but was worried about causing trouble if he didn’t.

He glanced over the faces of the three people, recognizing Boss Xu but not being familiar with him. He secretly gritted his teeth, yet a gentle smile appeared on his face, "I thought a member of the Gu Family might come to see me today. I didn’t expect it to be so soon."

Although there was nothing wrong with his words, they were slightly unpleasant to hear.

Gu Qiaoqiao’s expression remained calm as she looked at Boss Qian, "Boss Qian, are you sure you want to talk here?"

Boss Qian was taken aback, then pointed with embarrassment to the back, "It’s not something to be proud of. Let’s talk at the back."

With that, he led the way down the corridor at the back.

Gu Qiaoqiao and Boss Xu naturally followed. After a few steps, Gu Qiaoqiao thought for a moment and spoke quietly to Brother Li San, who was following them, "Brother, wait here for us. Also, you can try their Da Hong Pao tea and see if it’s any good."

Brother Li San, the son of Uncle Li from Gu Garden, understood and nodded, "Alright, I’ll wait here for you."

After all, this was an unfamiliar place, and not everyone could go inside.

Someone always had to stay outside to keep watch.

Meanwhile, Gu Qiaoqiao and Boss Xu continued to follow Boss Qian towards the backyard.

Exiting the back door of the teahouse, they found themselves in a typical Jinling City courtyard.

It was surprising that Boss Qian had such considerable assets. This kind of front-store, back-courtyard structure was rare these days—a walk past a covered corridor and a screen wall revealed a wide courtyard with five main rooms.

In the evening light, the courtyard appeared shadowy, making some things hard to see clearly.

However, Gu Qiaoqiao saw very clearly that the courtyard was filled with rare and precious plants.

In the past, she didn’t know much about them, but with Great Grandma and Shen Manru, who loved gardening, she had naturally learned to recognize many plants.

Gu Qiaoqiao thought to herself that the Qian Family wasn’t just any ordinary family.

This deepened her curiosity even further.

Boss Qian didn’t lead them inside the house but sat at a wooden table under a trellis in the courtyard, clearly a place for receiving guests.

The trellis was on the left side of the courtyard, not covered with grapes, but with a climbing wisteria that was now past its blooming season, leaving only lush green leaves.

This was evidently a place for entertaining guests, with a pot of tea on the table. Boss Qian invited them to sit, turning on the light above the trellis. When the light came on, Gu Qiaoqiao realized how haggard Boss Qian looked.

Clearly, he couldn’t be indifferent to One-Eyed Dragon’s death.

Yet it was also strange; even with his son dead, the old man’s teahouse was still open, as if unaffected.

Suppressing her many doubts, Gu Qiaoqiao sat down and introduced herself, "Boss Qian, I am a member of the Gu Family, Gu Qiaoqiao. This is Boss Xu, whom you should know. Your son kidnapped my husband’s sister. We’re here today to ask if you know who was behind your son."

Boss Xu followed by saying, "Boss Qian, if you know anything, please tell us. This person is causing trouble for others, deliberately targeting someone’s family and boldly having your son act out. Isn’t this just recklessly courting death?"

Boss Xu’s words were sharp and pointed.

Boss Qian’s expression finally changed, becoming quite unpleasant, as he looked at Boss Xu gloomily and remained silent for a while before saying, "Boss Xu, I know what you mean, and although we aren’t acquainted, even I can tell right from wrong. I’ve shared all I know with the Public Security. Why do you still ask?"

"Are you sure you’ve shared everything with the Public Security?" Boss Xu asked with a cold smile.

"Believe it or not, I’ve told the Public Security everything I know. I have no idea what he’s doing, and we haven’t been in contact. After his wife ran away, I’ve been taking care of his two children. I don’t want to mention that ungrateful son of mine."

Boss Qian spoke resentfully.

Under the light, the graying strands of his hair were visible.

"Boss Qian, has One-Eyed Dragon returned recently?"

Gu Qiaoqiao furrowed her brows and asked.

"He did return to see his children but left soon after,"

"When did he come back?"

"About a week ago?" Although Boss Qian’s face was unpleasant, he was still cooperative.

"Didn’t he tell you he met some big shot?" Boss Xu suddenly asked.

Boss Qian shook his head, his voice unsettled and his gaze complicated, "He never tells me anything about his matters, and I never listen. Don’t ask me anymore. I honestly don’t know anything. Plus, I knew this day would come for him."

Gu Qiaoqiao studied Boss Qian, observing his demeanor. It seemed true, his emotions appeared genuine, as if he had completely given up on his son, no longer caring if he lived or died.

In this world, there are all sorts of fathers: Old Man Fang, who cherishes his son, the Old Patriarch Gu Qingfeng, who drove his son away, and then here’s Boss Qian, who is so disillusioned with his son that he seems to want nothing more to do with him.

Inwardly, Gu Qiaoqiao sighed, feeling resigned. If Boss Qian was telling the truth, so be it. But if it was a lie, that would be truly terrifying.

As the saying goes, whether there’s fruit or not, hit the tree twice to see. That was precisely why Gu Qiaoqiao had come today.

But she hadn’t expected Boss Qian to stand his ground firmly, showing no inclination to speak for his son.

Of course, nor did he show any intent to apologize for his son.

He seemed impervious to both soft and hard tactics.

Gu Qiaoqiao glanced around, "Boss Qian, you’ve got quite the living conditions. If your son had stayed with you and helped operate the teahouse, things wouldn’t have ended up with him taking his own life out of guilt. A father’s criminal record impacts the children’s future, too, because even if you deny it, he’s still their biological father. Nothing can change that..."

After hearing Gu Qiaoqiao’s words, Boss Qian’s face remained calm, but his facial muscles were tense.

There was an unnatural feel and a complexity in his expression that Gu Qiaoqiao couldn’t describe.

Gu Qiaoqiao steadily watched Boss Qian’s expression and said nothing further, but she continued to observe the old man’s facial expressions.

Just then, Boss Qian suddenly slammed a fist on the table, angrily saying, "That wretch! I must owe him from a past life, bringing down our entire family with him this time."

"Yes, as the saying goes, what goes around comes around. Those who do evil never meet a good end."

Gu Qiaoqiao spoke crisply and thoughtfully, then softened her tone, continuing, "Boss Qian, after all, the children are the most innocent ones..."