Chapter 475 - 415: A Bargain
Chapter 475: Chapter 415: A Bargain
Zhou Hui Lan never came back after she left. Naturally, Mr. Gu, Gu Qihua, and Gu Qifan didn’t come to the hotel either. Not even Gu Qiyuan made an appearance. Instead, they had invited Mr. Tang, Tang Qingyun, and the others to the Gu Mansion. Zhou Hui Lan had busied herself preparing a two-table banquet. After dinner, Mr. Gu and Mr. Tang went into the study for their usual private talk. By the time they reemerged, Gu Qiyuan had already set up the tea table and was brewing tea. The men leisurely sipped the fragrant brew, discussing everything under the sun. Around eight or nine o’clock, Mr. Tang and Tang Qingyun took their leave, as Grandma Tang, Xiao Man, and Hao Hao were waiting at home. Grandpa Tang rarely stayed out late.
It was nearly eleven o’clock when Tian Xueqin returned with Gu Shaoling. The birthday banquet had been a roaring success. After the feast came an evening party, where TV announcer Zeng Rong not only arranged the entertainment but also served as the host. She offered birthday wishes to the young guest of honor, presented a magnificent birthday cake, and even invited a famous singer to perform the birthday song. People swayed gracefully on the dance floor, and the night culminated in an explosive disco session. The blood-pumping drum beat was relentless, almost threatening to tear the roof off. The entire evening was a lively affair where every guest had a fantastic time. The younger attendees couldn’t stop praising the party, calling it "awesome" and "one-of-a-kind." Those who could afford it vowed to throw their own birthdays to the same standard!
Tian Xueqin and Gu Shaoling were grinning from ear to ear, their faces beaming with pride. The mother-daughter duo was completely satisfied with Zeng Rong; Gu Shaoling wished she could start calling Zeng Rong her sister-in-law right away.
Their wild elation at the hotel was over. The moment they returned to the Gu family estate and saw the grim expression on Mr. Gu’s face, Tian Xueqin and Gu Shaoling were snapped back to reality. Without any chance to defend themselves, the mother and daughter were punished. Gu Shaoling had originally returned to Beijing for winter break and her birthday, planning to stay until after the New Year. Now, she was to leave with her parents for the coast the very next day. As for Tian Xueqin, she was to return to work without any annual leave and was forbidden from setting foot in the old family residence in Beijing for three months.
Gu Shaoling was heartbroken and cried, but Tian Xueqin didn’t seem to care. ’This punishment isn’t so bad,’ she thought. ’I’m barred from the old residence, not from Beijing entirely.’ She had another place in the city—one she claimed to be renting but had actually bought—to house Tian Sisi and other relatives from her side of the family. It was quite spacious, and she could always stay there from time to time.
Jun Ran’s mother, Huang Wei, had helped her acquire the house. Supposedly, the original owner had run afoul of the law and been arrested, so his family, desperate for cash, sold it at a steep discount. The price was incredibly low for such a nice, bright house with its own courtyard. It was a total steal!
It wasn’t until after the New Year that Tian Xueqin understood the true severity of the patriarch’s punishment. They had concealed the news that Gu Shao Feng would be returning to the country for the holidays, preventing her from seeing the son she so dearly missed.
Meanwhile, Gu Shao Feng, with the patriarch’s blessing, did not go to visit his parents. He went straight to H Province to find Wu Xiangyun. After spending a few days with her, he returned to his unit and pestered his commanding officer about the marriage application he had submitted. He actually managed to get it back, stamped with the word "Approved." Within a month, he and Wu Xiangyun had a whirlwind marriage, becoming a legally wedded couple. But that is a story for another time.
Then there was Tang Yaxuan. At Gu Shaoling’s birthday party, she had brought about her own humiliation, first being intimidated by Xiao Man, then kicked to the ground by Gu Shaoling and Tian Sisi. This scene was witnessed by a few people standing nearby: the sisters Bai Qingyue and Bai Yifang, along with Gongsun Ruxue. Gongsun Ruxue watched Xiao Man walk off. Once the others had also dispersed, she "kindly" went over and helped Tang Yaxuan to her feet. Bai Qingyue followed, offering gentle, feigned words of comfort. Later, at Gongsun Ruxue’s prompting, Bai Qingyue—apart from putting on a show of cheerful congratulations for Tian Xueqin and Gu Shaoling—spent the rest of the evening with Wu Xiaowen. She acted like a doting older sister, counseling her and helping to lift her spirits after the divorce. Gongsun Ruxue, on the other hand, hit it off with Tang Yaxuan, and the two became fast friends.
When the banquet ended, Bai Qingyue had the Bai family’s driver take Wu Xiaowen and her daughter home first. This prompted Wu Xiaowen, who hadn’t seen a trace of Xiao Man all night, to sigh with emotion. ’Compared to the Tang Family, the Bai family is truly kind and loyal!’
Bai Qingyue smiled and waved goodbye to Wu Xiaowen and Tang Yaxuan, watching their car disappear into the distance. Then she turned to Gongsun Ruxue, her tone impatient. "Why did you do that? Wu Xiaowen is hardly worthy of my respect or friendship anymore."
Gongsun Ruxue replied coolly, "Wu Xiaowen is divorced and out of the Tang family, and the biggest reason for that is Second Uncle Bai. Grandpa Bai wasn’t nearly harsh enough in his scolding. In the Gongsun Family, actions like Second Uncle Bai’s would warrant severe punishment! He’s too reckless, severing a reliable connection for the sake of his own selfish desires. If he hadn’t had an affair with Wu Xiaowen, he wouldn’t have infuriated the Tang family. Then Wu Xiaowen wouldn’t be divorced, and she could have still used her mother-daughter bond to get herbs from Tang Manman. But instead... sigh. What child wouldn’t resent a mother for betraying the family? Wu Xiaowen is useless now, but the girl with her, Tang Yaxuan? The one who once took Tang Manman’s place? She might be worth investigating. We’ll see if we can get something else out of her."
"What could she possibly offer? She’s just a country girl, an impostor who dreamed of marrying into a wealthy family. She’s worthless!"
Gongsun Ruxue chuckled, her tone dripping with disdain. "This is why I say you people are all too simple-minded. That includes Tang Manman. She’s just gotten by on a bit of luck. A girl with her level of intelligence dares to reveal her cultivation in public. If she didn’t have the Tang and Gu families protecting her, who knows how many times she would have been killed by now!"
Noticing that Gongsun Ruxue was avoiding the subject of Tang Yaxuan, Bai Qingyue grew suspicious. Upon returning to the Bai Family estate, she recounted Gongsun Ruxue’s words to Mr. Bai in great detail.
Mr. Bai waved a hand to dismiss Bai Qingyue, then shut himself in his study, where he remained deep in thought for half the night.
Early the next morning, he took two consecutive phone calls, after which his brow visibly relaxed. He then made several calls of his own, laying out plans and giving instructions. The last call was to Bai Lihua. As was his custom, he gave the man an earful before finally getting down to business.
On the other end of the line, Bai Lihua held his breath through the tirade, secretly wiping sweat from his brow. ’The Wu sisters are fiery, but they’re also lethal. Who would’ve thought Wu Xiaorui would deliver such a nasty parting shot? She actually took photos and sold them to the Tang family. If the Tangs hadn’t protected Wu Xiaowen’s reputation for the sake of the two children, I, Bai Lihua, would’ve been finished!’
’Sigh. Now I don’t even dare go back to Beijing. I’m afraid Wu Xiaowen, unable to handle the pain of the divorce, will become too clingy.’
After he hung up, Bai Qingyue knocked and came in. Mr. Bai smiled and shared a piece of news. "Xiao Fan is truly the finest successor our Bai Family could ask for. He was chosen at his military academy in Country M to represent Huaxia Country in an international military competition. After his victory, he received special permission to graduate early and undertake a mission. If he completes this mission successfully, he’ll likely be promoted again by the time he returns home for the Spring Festival."
Bai Qingyue was overjoyed. "That’s wonderful! Our Xiao Fan is the best, of course! Father, is he the only one graduating early? If so, then he has a great chance with Tang Manman!"