“Mrs. Huo. Please don’t go too far.” If Li Qianxue’s had any weak spot in her life, it was the safety of her two children. They were the only ones that could mentally break her.
Just now, Liu Tongjia thought she got a hold of her. Although it was one of her weaknesses, she still wouldn’t allow people to talk about her daughter that way.
“Qingsang has nothing to do with this. Please don’t drag her into this.”
“Am I the one who dragged her into this? She managed to marry into our family using some unknown manipulation tactics!”
As Liu Tongjia chuckled, the disdain in her eyes became clear. “Huo Jinyao arrived less than three weeks to Lin City, then got together with your daughter. Jinyao only went over there to inspect the business but came back married. When did your daughter meet Jinyao? Were you okay with them suddenly getting married like this? At the time, you didn’t even know she was your daughter, right? If she was just an illegitimate child, then how did she get together with Jinyao? She hooked up with him first, and then immediately you found out her origin. Isn’t that a coincidence!”
She already disapproved of Su Qingsang and Huo Jinyao being together before this. She disapproved of it even more after overhearing this phone call.
Liu Tongjia described the conspiracy surrounding Su Qingsang and Huo Jinyao’s marriage. Li Qianxue couldn’t calm herself down.
She was thinking of refuting until she saw Old Master Li walking in her direction after not seeing her in a while.
Li Qianxue worried about her old father. Unwilling to argue with Liu Tongjia in front of Old Master Li, she took a deep look at the other before turning around and walking towards Old Master Li.
Her daughter was asking about what happened, but Li Qianxue could not tell Su Qingsang about the incident with Liu Tongjia while Old Master Li was present.
“It’s nothing. Your mother-in-law has to go out on the day that you’re meeting with the Huo Family. I’m just a little upset about it.”
“Mom… It’s all right.” Su Qingsang knew Li Qianxue was worried about her, but she didn’t think it was that big of a deal.
“Huo Jinyao has an apartment in the city. It’s half an hour’s drive from their company and just over twenty minutes from the hospital where I work. I will start work in two days, then live with Huo Jinyao over there. I don’t come back here often, so I won’t have many opportunities to spend time with my mother-in-law.”
Li Qianxue saw how optimistic Su Qingsang was trying to be, but she knew the matter was more complicated than the latter was making it.
After knowing what Su Chenghui did, Liu Tongjia thought of Su Qingsang the same way.
Li Qianxue knew that Su Qingsang would have to face some difficulties in the future. After giving it some thought, she fiercely squeezed Su Qingsang’s hand.
“Qingsang, listen to me. Although Huo Jinyao is being good to you now, you guys can avoid all this by staying away from them for the time being. As long as Huo Jinyao is still related to his mother, you will have to face her at some point. Huo Jinyao might be on your side for now, but no one knows what will happen in the future. I’m not telling you to come back to your parents’ house for every single problem you encounter. However, if the day comes when you cannot stay with the Huo Family anymore, don’t let yourself get hurt. Just come straight back home.”
After Li Qianxue said this, she spoke sadly, “No matter what happens, you are the Li Family’s daughter.”
Su Qingsang looked at Li Qianxue and felt warmth. She leaned her face gently against Li Qianxue’s shoulders as she said, “Mom… Don’t worry. I knew all of this.”
She knew what to do and wouldn’t let herself get hurt.
Moreover, she was still willing to believe that Huo Jinyao would never let her get hurt.
Li Qianxue couldn’t let herself be optimistic and buried these feelings for the moment. While she was still worried, her hatred towards Su Chenghui had now grown even further.
Had he not done something so heinous, how could her Qingsang be experiencing things like this? How could she be looked down upon by her in-laws?
‘Su Chenghui, I don’t think I could ever forgive you.’
…
The best place to eat was at a very famous five-star hotel near Huo Mansion. The Huo and Li families were both seated at two tables within a massive room.
Old Master Huo arranged for Old Master Li to sit beside him, then let Li Qianxue sit closely next to Old Master Li. Further to one side were Huo Jinyao and Su Qingsang, while on his other side were his family members including Huo Yangyuan and Huo Yangxiu.
Their presence was highly valued. With Old Master Huo present, Liu Tongjia would never let him see any form of disdain towards Su Qingsang.
There was one table for the older generation and another table for the younger generation. The ambiance of this meal was pretty decent.
Towards the end of the meal, Old Master Huo spoke to Old Master Li as he glanced at Su Qingsang.
“Brother Yongfeng, I like Qingsang as a granddaughter-in-law. No need for you guys to worry. Even if you are not in Rong City, I will treat her as if she were my own granddaughter.”
“Of course I won’t worry.” Old Master Li also knows what to say in these kinds of situations, “If Brother Huo says so, what else should I have to be worried about? You don’t have to spoil her too much, but please do something if she does something wrong or indecent. Since you are treating her as one of your own, then don’t hold anything back.”
Old Master Huo smiled and said, “What could possibly go wrong? If I may, I’d like to request something of Qingsang now. ”
His eyes looked towards Su Qingsang’s direction with a joyful look. “She should give birth to a big fat little boy soon. All I’m asking is for this old man to meet his great-grandson before going into the grave.”
Blushing, Su Qingsang added, “Grandpa, you’re not that old! You may live up to a hundred years.”
“Hahahaha.” Old Master Huo smiled and waved. “I don’t expect to live up to one hundred years old. Once I meet my great-grandson, I can go in peace.”
“Dad, what are you saying?!” Huo Mingguang got up and poured a cup of tea for Old Master Huo. “Today is supposed to be a good day. You shouldn’t be saying such things.”
“You are right. Ah, look at what a confused old man I have become.”
Old Master Huo passed on the subject, but everyone else looked at Su Qingsang.
Some members of the younger generation looked perplexed. Huo Yifan and Huo Yiyang looked at each other with some underlying meanings.
“Big Brother,” Huo Manzi approached Huo Yifan and whispered, “If you take the time you spent fooling around to get a wife and a son, you will likely become the one Grandpa values the most.”
“Manzi, Huo Jinyao didn’t win over Grandpa’s love by marrying the right woman,” Huo Yiyang said very quietly, “It’s because Grandpa plays favorites.”
Huo Yifan’s face looked somber. He stared at Huo Jinyao and Su Qingsang, who were sitting at the other table.
“Second brother,” Huo Manzi wasn’t convinced. “Grandpa does play favorites, but we are all his grandchildren. It seems that all of his attention is on Huo Jinyao. ”
“Be quiet,” Huo Yifan squinted his eyes as he raised the glass in front of him and finished the drink.
“Big Brother…” Huo Manzi wanted to say some more, but Huo Yifan glanced coldly at his brother and sister. “Eat, don’t talk too much.”
As Huo Yiyang quietly sneered, Huo Manzi stopped speaking.
Huo Yifan stared at Huo Jinyao on the other side, then looked at the younger generation sitting at the table with them. He held the glass tightly enough for his knuckles to begin turning pale.
Only members of the younger generation were sitting at this table: Huo Yifan’s siblings, Wei Sihai and his sister; the Zhang Chenghao brothers, and even small children like Huo Kaitao.
On the other table were members of the older generation sitting with Old Master Huo: Old Master Huo’s two siblings, Li’s father and daughter, and their uncles and aunts.
Su Qingsang and Huo Jinyao were the only members of the younger generation sitting at that table. Clearly, they were Old Master Huo’s favorites.
The more Huo Yifan looked over, the worse his expression became and the tighter he gripped his glass.
Suddenly, some laughter rang out; they seemed to have a good time on the other table. Even Liu Tongjia, who made it apparent that she didn’t like Su Qingsang, faintly smiled.
Huo Yifan looked angry, but only for a few seconds.
‘There is still time. Huo Jinyao, let’s wait and see what happens.’
…
Overall, the meeting between the Li family and the Huo family today was quite pleasant.
Li Qianxue had been worried that Liu Tongjia would start trouble on the dinner table and speak about what Su Chenghui had done.
Had that happened, she and Qingsang would’ve lost face.
Unexpectedly, Liu Tongjia didn’t even mention a word. On top of that, she carried a light smile when other people were talking.
Li Qianxue’s worries grew as she witnessed Liu Tongjia behavior. She felt that Liu Tongjia was planning a larger scheme for later on.
Su Qingsang wasn’t aware off her worries at all. She spoke softly to Li Qianxue, “See mom? There is no problem with my mother-in-law. Rest assured, people like them highly value their reputation. They wouldn’t risk doing anything that would make them look bad.”
When she spoke, she blinked at Li Qianxue mischievously. “Don’t worry, mom. I won’t let anyone bully me.”
Li Qianxue looked at Su Qingsang’s face with mixed feelings. Su Qingsang was raised as an illegitimate daughter for the past 20 years. People with this kind of background were usually problematic.
Su Qingsang was not like that. On the contrary, she seemed quite calm and sane. Most importantly, she was a person of integrity.
Li Qianxue felt both sad and proud of that fact. While she was absent from her daughter’s upbringing, the latter grew up to be the person that she is now. She should’ve felt relieved.
At the same time, she thought, how would Su Qingsang become such a thoughtful person if it wasn’t due to the circumstances?
Their brief conversation did not escape the eyes of Liu Tongjia and Huo Jinyao.
Liu Tongjia still smiled, but the irony in her eyes grew stronger.
