Chapter 127: Chapter 114: Preparing to Go to Beijing, the Jiang Family Arrives (3rd Watch) Chapter 127: Chapter 114: Preparing to Go to Beijing, the Jiang Family Arrives (3rd Watch) The Shen Family didn't linger long in Pingjiang, staying for three days before catching the earliest flight back, planning to return when Elder Tang underwent surgery in Beijing.
The old man, however, said directly, "I might have surgery after the New Year, you don't need to go back and forth." Shen Lao kept reminding Tang Yunxian and Tang Wan to notify him immediately if anything happened, but after setting the date for the trip to Beijing, they didn't inform the Shen Family.
The surgery was scheduled for mid-twelfth lunar month, but the trip to Beijing was set for the day after Winter Solstice.
A cold wave struck from the north, and temperatures in Pingjiang plummeted several degrees.
On Winter Solstice day, a thick fog blanketed the early morning, and Tang Wan received a yellow fog warning for the Pingjiang District on her mobile phone when she left the house.
"Wanwan, be careful when you go out," the old man advised. "Or wait until the fog clears before leaving." "There's too much to do, I'm afraid I won't finish, and I still have to pack tonight. There's just not enough time." Tang Wan said this as she took her car keys and walked out.
She had to meet with Manager Chen to discuss work, but most importantly, she needed to select gifts for the Jiang Family and bring local specialties. She had indirectly consulted Jiang Jinsang, but in the end, she still had to choose them herself.
Apart from Mr. and Mrs. Jiang, Jiang Jinsang's eldest brother, the elderly matriarch of the Jiang Family was still alive.
This old lady, Jiangjiang had mentioned a few times, but Jiang Jinsang rarely did, and Tang Wan didn't know if this was due to poor relations between them. She didn't ask in detail, and without understanding, she wouldn't even know where to start with selecting a gift.
** Yiyu Tea House When Tang Wan arrived at the private room, it wasn't yet tfor the storytelling and ballad singing, so the tea house was exceptionally quiet; Manager Chen had already brewed tea for her.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"How long will you be gone?" "It's uncertain, it depends on how well my grandfather recovers from the surgery. If all goes well, we can return to Pingjiang before the New Year." Tang Wan took a sip of the hot tea, "How is everything at the studio?" "Everything that was damaged before has been fixed. The He Family compensated with money, but things like the computers weren't damaged. It was just schairs and whatnot that didn't cost much. Yet, the He Family gave a hundred thousand, claiming it was for the employees' medical expenses and scompensation for loss of work." Manager Chen chuckled lightly, "They've been trying to meet with you throughseveral times, but I've declined each time." "The He Family is having real trouble recently; I've heard that many businesses would rather breach contracts than work with them. If this continues, bankruptcy isn't far off." Tang Wan laughed dryly, "They haven't reached out todirectly during this time." "I guess they didn't dare. Besides, with Elder Shen present before, his temperament is not something others might know, but the He Family certainly does. Recently they've been everywhere begging..." "I'm leaving for Beijing tomorrow. Whatever happens to their family has nothing to do with me." After chatting for a while longer, the two prepared to go their separate ways.
"Where are you going? Do you need a ride?" Manager Chen asked.
"No need, I've brought my car. I still need to buy spastries to take to Beijing as gifts. It'll probably take stto package them all, you can go ahead if you're busy." Tang Wan finished her shopping and had just paid when she bumped into an acquaintance at the door.
"Mrs. He?" "Miss Tang." Lun Huiru was still dressed in designer clothes and, despite her refined makeup, couldn't hide the dejection surrounding her.
The downfall of the He Family was apparent, kicked when down.
With the company on the brink, where could they find extra money to sustain her expenses? She was merely using old items for show - even in her decline, she tried to maintain the last bit of dignity before others.
"Let's talk for a moment. It will only take a few minutes of your time." Lun Huiru was humble in her approach, the cold hardships she faced these days had already broken her, leaving no ground to bargain with Tang Wan.
"It's just a few minutes, please. I beg you." At this time, the tea house was bustling with many people quietly glancing their way. Tang Wan found it unavoidable and guessed Lun Huiru meant no harm, so she nodded in agreement.
"Thank you, let's take a private room." Lun Huiru requested a private seat from the boss.
This caused a murmur of laughter among the many seated in the hall.
"I heard that the He Family's company can't even pay salaries now, and semployees have gone to complain. Drinking tea, yet they need a private room? Is it necessary?" "Pride comes before a fall." "The He Family must still have smoney left; a lean camel is bigger than a horse, it's just the employees who are really out of luck." Once Tang Wan entered the private room with her, the idle chatter was left outside.
At this moment, a black car with Beijing plates stopped in front of the tea house. A man alighted from the rear door, and as the driver went to find a parking spot, he entered the tea house directly.
The waiter, greeting guests, brightened up on seeing him.
One look and he knew this was a well-off customer - big spenders meant a commission for them, so naturally, he warmly greeted, "Sir, stea?" "I'm here to buy pastries." "This way..." the waiter led him to the side. "Judging by your accent, you're from Beijing or Tianjin, right? Do you have any particular taste preferences, I can make srecommendations for you." "Less sugar." "For an elderly person, is it? You might want to consider these varieties." The waiter pitched enthusiastically. Those who cto the tea house at this twere leisure-seekers, idly gossiping over tea; and so, the information about Tang Wan and Lun Huiru entering the private room reached his ears.
Tang Wan was there too? He squinted his eyes, but his gaze settled on the pig-shaped pastries in the cabinet, “Getsof these as well." Pigs...
That kid should like them, right? ** Meanwhile, in the private room, "What tea shall we drink?" Lun Huiru flipped through the menu.
"Anything is fine." Tang Wan glanced at the time, "I have something to deal with later." "Then let's go with Iron Goddess..." Lun Huiru chose a tea that wasn't cheap.
"Just say what you want to say." Lun Huiru hesitated, stumbling over her words, but eventually she plucked up the courage to speak, "I know there's no way to make up for the harm I've done to you. I've brought this upon myself, so I can't blanyone else." "The matter with He An has been submitted to the judicial department by the police, and we're just waiting for the trial to start. On my side..." "It's almost laughable," Lun Huiru said with self-mockery.
"The truth is, He An's father already had someone else on the side. Initially, he wanted to get involved but seeing the He Family's downfall, realizing there was nothing left to gain, and after swindling a large sum of money, he took the kids and ran away. But I've decided to divorce him anyway." Tang Wan had heard about these matters; after all, it was too shameful, and the news had spread all over Pingjiang City.
"But after so many years of marriage, having been a daughter-in-law to the He Family for so long, I bear an inseparable responsibility for the state the He Family is in now," Lun Huiru said, her head bowed as if in confession.
"I know coming to you has caused you a lot of trouble, but I really have no other options...” As Lun Huiru spoke, she actually got up from her seat and knelt down before Tang Wan with a thud.
"I beg you, can you please go back and talk to your father, let the He Family off the hook! If this continues, the He Family will be completely ruined," she said, her eyes reddening and tears swirling.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"The company is having such a hard time, we've already put up our house as collateral, but..." Before she could finish, a waiter knocked and entered, carrying a pot of tea. Seeing the situation inside the room, he paused in shock.
Prideful even in her downfall, Lun Huiru quickly wiped her tears with her hand and hurriedly sat back down.
"Your tea is here, please callif you need anything else." The waiter left immediately after speaking, clearly surprised, and even murmured to a colleague.
"She actually knelt down? No way..." "Really, she was crying. Ah, had they known it would cto this, why did they ever start?" "Alright, enough, go back to work." The man was standing at the counter, unintentionally eavesdropping.
Disturbed by the intrusion, Lun Huiru was even more embarrassed, especially since Tang Wan remained unmoved, which made her more desperate, “Miss Tang, the He Family is in such a state, they certainly won't recover for ten or twenty years, I beg you, please talk to Mr. Tang." Tang Wan looked her over, "You're divorcing Mr. He? And still pleading for the He Family?" "When you were surrounded by all those reporters, being pulled by several strong men, he didn't help you, not to mention he had a mistress on the side, did many things wrong by you." "Help the He Family, is it necessary?" A broken pot itself, unable to save itself, still thinking of helping others? Lun Huiru bit her lip, “After all, we've been married for over twenty years. He wronged me, but I can't just ignore him, and... what happened later was my fault, I am responsible."
Tang Wan chuckled softly, "We're both smart people, so I won't beat around the bush. Are you askingfor help out of marital affection, or are you afraid that if the He Family goes bankrupt and you haven't divorced, you'll not get a penny and instead be saddled with debt? You and I know what's in our hearts." "I don't know much about the company's matters; better speak to my father." "I have to go; I have something else to attend to." With that, Tang Wan got up to leave.
Lun Huiru had chosen this tto approach her because Tang Wan seldom went out alone. Besides, she had insider information that the Tang Family was about to go to Beijing; with such a distance, people would be difficult to find, let alone discuss other matters. Tang Wan quickly left, not deviating her gaze, naturally not noticing the man standing at the counter.
The man was on his phone: "... Yeah, I'm here, buying gifts, I'll be at the Tang Family's soon." "Since the Tang Family are coming to Beijing, help them out. It's cold and a long journey; it's not easy for them..." He caught a glimpse of Tang Wan leaving out of the corner of his eye, his eyes narrowing slightly, and soon after a woman hurried out from inside, quickly settling the bill to follow, "Miss Tang, wait a moment..." "Sir, your items are ready," the waiter handed over the packed pastries.
"Thank you." He settled the bill in advance, took his things, and left.
The area was a downtown zone; parking at the front door was only temporary. He walked towards the parking lot and from a distance, he saw the two women pulling and tugging at each other, seemingly in a confrontation. Still holding the phone in his hand, "Mom, something has cup, I'll hang up." "Senda message when you get to the Tang's. I video called Jiangjiang yesterday; he said he doesn't miss you one bit, but I bet he'll be thrilled to see you. That kid takes after you, tough on the outside, soft on the inside." "Yeah, I know." "Okay then, goodbye." Meanwhile, the altercation over there seemed to have intensified.