Nanjiangâ¦
Song Fengwanâs plane landed at 2 p.m. They picked up their luggage and took a taxi to the Yan residence. When they arrived, it was already past four.
The old Yan residence was built near the sea, and it was thousands of square meters. Beside the old Yan residence was the most famous beach resort in Nanjiang. The beach was full of people. Leaning against the car window, Song Fengwan looked outside at the clear water, blue sky, coconut trees, and sandy beach and couldnât help getting excited.
As the car drove into the Yan residenceâs main entrance, the cheers and laughter outside gradually disappeared. Song Fengwan couldnât help feeling nervous.
She glanced at Qiao Aiyun beside her and grabbed her hand.
Qiao Aiyunâs palm was cold. She was obviously very nervous.
âMom.â
âIâm fine.â Her voice was hoarse with nervousness.
Although Old Madam Yan was the only one in their family, formally entering the Yan residence felt completely different from when they normally met.
Sitting in the front passenger seat, Yan Wangchuan lowered his head to look at his phone before turning around to look behind him. âThere are a lot of people at home. Donât be too nervous. Iâm here.â
Yan Wangchuan didnât know why all his relatives suddenly came over.
He wasnât good at interacting with people to begin with, so he wasnât close to them, but he couldnât sever ties with them either.
The Yan family was a prestigious family in Nanjiang. Yan Wangchuan was naturally of the direct bloodline, and his relatives were all of the collateral branches. Since he had gotten married and was bringing her back, everyone came in the name of congratulating him, but they actually just wanted to see Qiao Aiyun.
If they had gotten engaged or were in a relationship, they wouldnât have flocked over.
But they had really gotten their marriage certificate, so everyone was curious.
âOkay.â Qiao Aiyun nodded, feeling even more uneasy.
The two of them had gotten engaged more than 20 years ago, so she still had some understanding of the Yan family. Although the main branch had very few people, the collateral branches had many people.
Moreover, these people all came here for her.
â¦
After the car stopped and they got out, someone kindly led the way.
Both sides of the pathway had exquisitely trimmed tropical plants. It was a different scenery from Yuncheng. There were fountains, stone mountains, and stone steps leading up. Song Fengwan raised her head slightlyâ¦
The homes of wealthy and prestigious families are probably all like this.
At the beginning of the founding of the country, Nanjiang was already doing business with foreigners. The architectural style of the residence was western, and it looked aloof, giving people an unreachable feeling.
The sea breeze blew, and along with it came humid water vapor.
âYouâre finally here. I said I wanted to pick you up at the airport, but Wangchuan refused to tell me the flight information.â Although they hadnât seen Old Madam Yan, they could already hear her slightly high-pitched and excited voice.
âWangchuan, youâve really made me wait all day.â
Song Fengwan looked up and saw Old Madam Yan hurrying out with her cane and the help of Mother Huang.
Old Madam Yan was someone who liked to look beautiful. Today, she had specially styled her hair and wore embroidered Chinese clothes with a string of pearls hanging around her neck. She looked poised and graceful.
âAuntie.â
âHello, Grandma Yan.â
âWeâre already family now. Why are you still being so polite? Hurry up and go inside.â Old Madam Yan stuffed her cane into Yan Wangchuanâs hand and held Qiao Aiyunâs and Song Fengwanâs hands in each hand. âAre you two hungry? Go in and eat something first. I got someone to make some soup this morning. Itâs been simmering the whole dayâ¦â
When Old Madam Yan came out, a group of people had followed behind her.
There were also some people sitting inside the house. Seeing them enter, they all stood up. With a brief look, there were more than twenty people of various ages.
Everyoneâs eyes were on them. Song Fengwan felt her scalp tingle. There were so many people, but she only knew Yan Shaochen.
Yan Shaochen was buried in the crowd and only greeted her lightly.
Ever since he saw Song Fengwan kissing Fu Chen, he could no longer look straight at her.
Old Madam Yan introduced everyone with a smile.
Cousins, uncles, and auntsâsome were young people, and some were even around Song Fengwanâs ageâ¦
Some greeted them enthusiastically, while others were secretly observing them. Song Fengwan couldnât handle this scene and said that she wanted to go to the bathroom. She just wanted to find a place to hide in.
In addition to Mother Huang, the Yan residence only had three other servants. They were all greeting the guests, and they helped show Song Fengwan the way. She didnât want to trouble others, so she fumbled her way to the bathroom.
The Yan family was involved in the jewelry design industry, so the furnishings in the house were very stylish. When Song Fengwan came out of the bathroom, she happened to hear a few people chattingâ¦
â⦠Whatâs so precious about her? This is her second marriage, and sheâs even bringing a child with her. I introduced so many people to him, and many of them were young and beautiful ladies. He didnât even look at them. In the end, he brought an old hag back.â
âThey were engaged before. In the past, she looked down on our Yan family and broke off the engagement. Now that sheâs gotten divorced, sheâs sticking close to him. She might be after something.â
âExactly. When she broke off the engagement, she greatly embarrassed our family. How does she still have the cheek to come?â
âShe even brought a burden along with her. Is that girl going to get a portion of the family assets in the future? Is she going to change her last name to Yan?â
âDoes it matter? The old madam likes her, and she even prepared a dowry for her. Sheâs not even from our family, yet sheâs still planning to marry out of our family.â
âYou didnât even see your auntâs fawning manner. She was flattering them so much that she wished she could praise the mother and daughter to the heavens.â
âWhether Wangchuan marries a wife or not has nothing to do with us, right? Even if he doesnât get married and have children in his lifetime, would he even give his money to you? I really donât understand why you are being so envious.â
âIâm just afraid heâs being deceived. Heâs so straightforward.â
âHeâs straightforward, but heâs not stupid.
âThe old madam is such a smart person. How could she be deceived? You are really worrying too much.â
â¦
Song Fengwan listened for a while. Some people congratulated them sincerely, and some would naturally be on their guard.
There were all sorts of people, and everyone harbored their own thoughts.
After she came back, the group sat down for a while more.
âEveryone has seen them, and itâs getting late. Youâ¦â Old Madam Yan coughed twice and started to chase them out.
âThen, we wonât disturb you anymore.â
âYeah, weâll take our leave first. Wanwan, when youâre free, Iâll get my son to bring you out to play.â
âNanjiang has many fun places. You can go out often.â
â¦
After finally sending the group of relatives away, Old Madam Yan sighed.
âI let it slip. When your aunt came to see me this morning, I just said that you would be bringing Aiyun and Wanwan back today. She has a big mouth, so she told all of them about it.
âThe whole bunch came with gifts, and they all said they wanted to come and congratulate you, so I couldnât chase them out.â
Old Madam Yan knew very well what these people were thinking. But she didnât want to ruin the ambience during this time when they should be happy.
But if some insensible person provoked her by scaring her daughter-in-law away, she would definitely settle scores with them later.
âI was just too happy. Did I scare you?â Old Madam Yan was a little nervous.
âItâs fine.â Qiao Aiyun wasnât stupid. Although they said that they came to congratulate them, they were most likely here to find out about her and her daughterâs ins and outs. She would have eventually had to meet this group of relatives anyway.
âThey only visit often during holidays. We usually donât have that many guests.â Old Madam Yan smiled. âNow that you two are here, I finally feel that the house has become lively. I usually feel quite lonely.â
Song Fengwan sized up the mansion and thought about the people just now.
She had heard that Old Master Yan had passed away very early. As a single mother facing a group of relatives eyeing them covetously, if she wasnât a ruthless character, she wouldnât have been able to suppress these people.
***
Old Madam Yan had spent Lunar New Year in Yuncheng and got along with them for some time, so they naturally didnât feel distant from her.
For dinner, they ate Nanjiang specialty dishes, which were on the sweeter side. Song Fengwan was very hungry, so she ate a lot.
âWanwan, Iâll get Shaochen and a few other children to accompany you to the beach tomorrow.â Old Madam Yan wanted her to integrate into the Yan family faster, but she was almost 18, so it wasnât appropriate for her to go out alone with Yan Shaochen.
âGrandma, donât trouble him. Iâll go out and look around by myself.â
âIâve already arranged it. Tomorrow, you can go to the beach to play or go snorkeling. If you want to go shopping, just tell Shaochen directly. You donât have to be polite with him.â
Old Madam Yan was too enthusiastic, and Song Fengwan couldnât resist her enthusiasm, so she could only nod.
The next morning, Yan Shaochen appeared in the Yan familyâs living room with a few others.
There were both males and females, including some familiar faces she had seen last nightâ¦
***
The next day, Fu Chen was accompanying the two elders of the Fu family in the old residence while reporting about his trip to Yuncheng.
At around 9 a.m, his phone vibrated crazily.
He glanced at it from the corner of his eye.
[Old Madam Yan asked some people to accompany Miss Song out to play.]
[Two females, four males. The males are all in their early twenties.]
[They brought Miss Song to buy a swimsuit. Theyâre probably going to the beach.]
â¦
Ten minutes laterâ¦
[Miss Song came out in a swimsuit. Do you want to see it?]
Fu Chen took a deep breath.?Young handsome men, seaside, bikiniâ¦
Old Master Fu lowered his head to make tea and glanced at Fu Chen from the corner of his eye.?Heâs gnashing his teeth. Who is he going to torture this time?