The Huo family’s old residence is located on the north side of Lanbin City. It takes nearly two hours to drive there, first by elevated road and then by mountain road.
The old house is a Huizhou-style building with black bricks and white walls, sloping roofs, and eaves carved with Chaofeng (a mythical beast). The main entrance has heavy door knockers and is approached by a set of steps both above and below.
Huo Yan, being in a wheelchair, could only enter through the side door, which had a ramp for barrier-free access. Lan Su went in with her.
Old families that rose to prominence in the last century share a common trait—they have many rules.
The Lan family was like this, and so was the Huo family.
For instance, when Lan Su followed Huo Yan through the side door, she was stopped by the butler.
“The new bride must enter through the main gate, cross the fire basin to dispel bad luck. This is the rule.”
Lan Su complied, taking it as the Huo family’s well-wishing gesture to help her get rid of any lingering misfortune.
Huo Yan waited for her ahead. To get from here to the main hall, they had to pass through a courtyard with lush pine trees and three white walls. Every circular archway in these walls had steps.
It seemed Huo Yan was not particularly welcomed in the Huo family, or perhaps, she rarely returned.
Otherwise, the legendary old master should have considered her mobility issues and built a barrier-free ramp beside the steps, allowing the wheelchair to pass.
In the end, the two of them proceeded through a small path in the adjacent garden.
Although the passing servants respectfully greeted them, Lan Su knew the greetings were merely superficial.
There were many people in the old house. Perhaps they lived together, or perhaps they had gathered today to pass judgment on her, the new daughter-in-law.
Devoid of the freedom and warmth of a family, as they stepped into the main hall, the old master was seated facing the door. On either side of him were three square tables and four chairs each. The seating arrangement went from older to younger, inside out.
Out of the nine seats, eight were occupied. The first chair on the old master’s left was empty.
The old master sat on a peach-wood-backed chair directly facing the main entrance, a black cloud seeming to shroud his head. He was dressed in a black Zhongshan suit embroidered with gold thread dragon patterns and wore a pair of black Beijing cloth shoes. His hair and beard were snow white, and his overly thin frame looked somewhat unhealthy, yet his eyes, surrounded by age spots, were as sharp as hooks.
“You still know how to come back?”
The aged voice was like dry leaves crushed in autumn—ancient yet grating.
Huo Yan looked up amidst the grating sound, flashing her signature business smile:
“An ugly daughter-in-law must eventually meet her in-laws. I specifically brought Lan Su back today to meet all the elders.”
After speaking, she turned her head and whispered to Lan Su: “Lan Su, this is Grandpa.”
Lan Su took a small step forward, clasped her hands in front of her abdomen, and bowed formally:
“Hello, Grandpa.”
The aged eyelids left a triangular space for his pupils, and his gaze became sharper. He scrutinized Lan Su from head to toe, and his voice became much sterner:
“The Lan family is also a prominent name in the antique world. Why did I, the old man, not hear any news about such a big event as your daughter getting married?”
If this had been a few months ago, when Lan Su was still out fighting, she would have stabbed the old man with a knife, and with blood dripping on her face, she would have said:
“You’re hard of hearing, don’t blame me.”
But she couldn’t now. She was just a delicate, powerless rich daughter. So, she offered a decent and proper explanation:
“Compared to the Huo family’s business, the Lan family’s trade is insignificant. My father was thinking of visiting you, Grandpa, but he worried that as an inconsequential person, he might say something wrong and anger you. Furthermore, I have only just recovered from my illness and was afraid of passing on the sickness to you, Grandpa. So, we planned to wait until I was fully well before coming to pay our respects.”
This explanation was well-reasoned. It was a draft she had specially prepared and had Huo Yan revise.
Huo Yan was an illegitimate daughter in the past, raised abroad when she was young. She had returned and quickly took over the general manager position of the Huo family’s largest company, making her the best person to gauge the old master’s temperament.
This explanation seemed to pass muster. The black cloud over Huo Shou-ping seemed to dissipate slightly. He signaled to a servant, and a row of tea sets was brought in.
Eight servants, sixteen cups of tea.
Lan Su was stunned, unsure of what to do. She felt as though she was naked and being scrutinized by everyone in the room. She turned back to Huo Yan for help, her only lifeline.
Huo Yan slowly maneuvered her wheelchair and stopped in front of the old master, Huo Shou-ping.
She picked up a teacup from the tray and presented it with both hands:
“Grandpa, please have some tea.”
Lan Su understood and followed suit, picking up the other cup: “Grandpa, please have some tea.”
This step is called Fèng Chá (Presenting Tea), also a necessary ritual for a new bride in the old society. Originally, it was meant for the parents-in-law, but since Huo Yan’s parents were deceased, it had to be presented to the old master and the other elders of the Huo family.
“Grandma, please have some tea.”
“Grandma, please have some tea.”
“Aunt Dan, please have some tea.”
“Aunt Dan, please have some tea.”
“Aunt, please have some tea.”
“Aunt, please have some tea.”
“Third Uncle, please have some tea.”
“Third Uncle, please have some tea.”
It felt good to have someone leading the way. She didn’t have to think about anything, just follow like a little pet. It was far better than her previous life running errands for the Lan family, where every time she arrived at a new place, she had to figure out which road offered an escape route or which building she could climb down via a drainpipe.
When she reached the Third Uncle, the smooth tea presentation was interrupted—he slipped a red envelope into Lan Su’s hand.
“Miss Lan, this is a welcoming gift. Welcome to the Huo family. I hope you and Xiao Lan have a good life together from now on.”
Lan Su looked up in surprise, seeing a kind and benevolent face with slightly graying temples. At first glance, he seemed like a good person. But remembering the coldness of Jiang Dan yesterday, a thorn rose in her heart again.
She squeezed the envelope slightly with her fingers; it was very thin and likely a check.
Seeing her hesitate, Huo Yan said gently: “Since Third Uncle gave it to you, just take it.”
Lan Su glanced at her, sensing a touch of softness in her otherwise unchanging expression. Yes, this was the first time Huo Yan’s expression had softened since entering the gate.
It seemed this Third Uncle was a decent person.
“Thank you, Third Uncle.”
After presenting tea to the elders, it was the turn of the peers. Peers were generally not entitled to be served tea, but the “Aunt” sitting in the second chair signaled a servant, making them hold the tray in front of her son, forcing Huo Yan to present tea to him.
Buzz…
The wheelchair made a muffled sound as it rolled on the carved wooden floor. Huo Yan stopped in front of the oldest peer, “Huo Jun.”
Huo Jun wore a black suit. His frame was not particularly bulky and looked hollow. The dark circles under his eyes were deep, giving him an appearance of excessive indulgence. Seeing Huo Yan stop in front of him, he immediately straightened up and raised his chin, looking triumphant—
Huo Yan controlled the largest company and was usually arrogant, never having looked him in the eye. Today, however, he could make her humble herself and serve him tea.
Lan Su didn’t know the rules of tea presentation, only assuming she should continue. She skillfully picked up a cup from the servant’s hand, but Huo Yan pressed it back onto the tray.
Huo Yan’s hand was very cold; even her palm made one wonder if she was a warm-blooded animal.
Lan Su, wrapped in that cold jade, gripped her hand back, thinking that holding these hands in the summer would be very comfortable.
“Big Brother.”
Huo Yan’s voice pulled Lan Su’s attention back. Lan Su thought she was about to present the tea, but instead, she merely looked at the man in front of her with calm disdain and said:
“Hope you’ve been well.”
Huo Jun saw her standing still. The dark circles under his eyes deepened further, and he forced a laugh:
“Little Sister, did you forget the rules of presenting tea?”
With all the Huo family elders present and all the peers watching the new bride present tea, he intentionally planted the first thorn.
The interesting thing was that Huo Yan never took this thorn seriously.
Her highly defined features naturally exuded an aura of oppression. Her glasses flashed with a sharp light, her beautiful lips curled up, and a trace of sarcasm flickered in her eyes as she said coldly:
“I haven’t forgotten the rules of presenting tea, and neither has Big Brother. Asking me to serve you tea, I’m afraid, would shorten your lifespan.”
Anyone who dared to publicly humiliate Huo Yan had yet to be born.
Lan Su watched, making a mental note of this phrase—the key phrase being: shorten your lifespan.
If you make things difficult for me, your life will be cut short.
Almost simultaneously, she sensed a chilling intent pierce toward her from the side. Lan Su was very familiar with that sharp, aggressive aura: it was killing intent.
She followed the gaze and saw it came from Huo Jun’s mother, Huo Yan’s aunt, Huo Wen-xia.
Huo Jun was no match for Huo Yan. Just one sentence had caused the muscles in his face to twitch twice with anger, like the spasms of damaged nerves after a failed cosmetic surgery. Just as he was about to argue, the old master spoke:
“Tea is presented to the elders. A-Jun, you are the eldest grandson, don’t break the rules.”
The old master valued etiquette the most. He wouldn’t let Huo Yan gain the upper hand easily, but he also wouldn’t let others mess around.
And the person who arranged for the servants to prepare so many cups of tea was none other than Huo Yan’s aunt.
A moment later, an important customer arrived, and the old master had to receive him personally. So, he arranged for everyone to move to a courtyard in the back, leaving the main hall for the distinguished guest.
“Xiao Yan, there’s a project. Come with me.”
Aunt Huo Wen-xia specifically called Huo Yan out, and not just in the old house, but to an annex one kilometer away.
Lan Su had been staring at her phone screen. When Huo Yan left, she had quietly told her “20 minutes.” It had already been 20 minutes, and she hadn’t received a message.
Her mind buzzed, flashing with countless things people had said.
“The Huo family has bad feng shui. Huo Yan’s three wives all died in three years.”
“The old house is gloomy, Miss Lan. You should wear more layers.”
“Do you think I killed them?”
“Once, the previous wife was resting on the balcony when someone shot something at her. She bled profusely.”
…
No, Huo Yan is physically impaired. It’s unsafe for her to go to an unfamiliar place alone.
Moreover, she had just embarrassed that woman’s son in front of everyone in the Huo family.
“Little Sister Lan, where are you going?”
Just as Lan Su was about to leave to find her, she was stopped by Huo Jun.
She politely halted, holding her handbag: “I’m going to find A-Yan.”
Huo Jun blocked her path with one arm: “Why look for her? Don’t you have me here?”
“You?”
“Yes. Little Sister Lan, I’m just curious, what do you see in Huo Yan anyway? A woman, and a disabled one at that. What can she do?” As he spoke, he stepped forward, a lewd smile creeping into his eyes. “Why don’t you come to the guest room with your brother? I’ll let you experience what true paradise is like.”
In the past, he had harassed all three wives Huo Yan brought home. One slept with him, another was fondled, and one was terrified to tears.
For a weak woman, he had a hundred ways to torment her.
Lan Su, however, didn’t cry. Strictly speaking, her face showed no expression related to fear. She even licked her back molar disdainfully.
“Are there surveillance cameras here?” she asked.
Huo Jun was sure of his victory. He spread his arms and raised his voice:
“Ha, how is that possible? I promise, no one will know about our little business—Ah!”
Slap!
Before he could react, his face was slapped to the side. His vision blurred for a second, his left arm was twisted behind his back with immense force, his back collar was grabbed, and his entire body was sent flying like a kite.
Bang!
He crashed head-over-heels into the pillar at the entrance, his nose bleeding like an open faucet.
“Ow! A-a-a-a—”
He screamed in pain. When he finally managed to open his eyes, the culprit was gone.
“Who! Who was that!”
It couldn’t have been Lan Su. She looked so skinny, she couldn’t even twist open a water bottle cap. It must have been someone else. Was it Huo Yan? Even less likely. Huo Yan was tricked into going there and was probably in grave danger herself; she was too busy saving herself to send someone to save Lan Su.