A week later, unable to pay the medical bills, Mother Xia was kicked out of the hospital.
With the few hundred yuan she had, Madam Xia took her mother-in-law and moved into a small inn.
When it rains, it pours. Three days after the two women moved into the inn, Xia Zhaoyang died of a cerebral hemorrhage in prison.
Because Madam Xia had no money for cremation, she didn't even dare to claim the body.
That day, Madam Xia sat by the river for a long time. Just as she was hesitating about jumping in, she received a call with no caller ID.
In the evening, Madam Xia knocked on the vermilion lacquered gate of the old Nan residence.
As soon as she saw Nan Zhenting, she knelt down with a thud.
"Old Master Nan, I beg you, for Qianqian's sake in saving Nan Xiao, give my mother-in-law and me a place to stay."
Having been advised by a master, Madam Xia dared not ask Nan Zhenting to save Xia Qianqian. She only asked for a place to stay.
She believed what that person had said: her daughter would definitely make a comeback.
And when that time came, she wouldn't let anyone who had harmed them go!
Nan Zhenting was already in a foul mood. He had just seen off An Ziling, and now this daughter-in-law from the Xia family had arrived. Seeing her crying, the old master couldn't help but take pity on her. He gave Madam Xia some money and promised to send the mother and daughter to the Nan family's old house in the countryside after she had buried Xia Zhaoyang.
After seeing Madam Xia out, the old master got into his car and went to the Half-Mountain Villa.
Lan Yuxi, that girl, was being even more troublesome, insisting that An Ziling drain the artificial lake to retrieve the pair of jade Ruyi. But could that artificial lake be drained just like that?
He knew the girl was holding a grudge. If he didn't intervene, this matter would indeed be difficult to resolve.
Half-Mountain Villa
Lan Yuxi was playing with the two little ones on the lawn when Chao Chao's sharp ears picked up the roar of an engine.
The little one, holding a football, looked at his mother and said, "Mom, maybe it's Uncle and the others who are back."
Lan Yuxi smiled and shook her head. "It's not Uncle. They only left for Country R this morning and won't be back until the day after tomorrow at the earliest."
"Then who could it be?" Mu Mu asked, hopping on her little feet.
"We'll know if we go and see," Lan Yuxi said with a smile, leading her two children to the main gate.
When she saw Nan Zhenting getting out of the car, her expression changed slightly. Before the driver could ring the doorbell, she pressed the button herself.
The gate slowly opened. Chao Chao and Mu Mu peered out curiously, their gazes meeting Nan Zhenting's.
Chao Chao and Mu Mu instinctively squeezed Lan Yuxi's hands.
They had looked up all the members of the Nan family.
This man was their paternal grandfather!
Why had he come?
Would Mom be upset when she saw him?
Nan Zhenting's gaze was fixed on the two children. Seeing their aloof demeanor, he smiled and took the gift box from the driver.
The old master ingratiatingly handed the gift box to the children. "Chao Chao, Mu Mu, is it? See what Great-Grandpa brought you?"
Great-Grandpa?!
Chao Chao and Mu Mu exchanged surprised glances.
Lan Yuxi shot Nan Zhenting a look. "What Great-Grandpa! I have nothing to do with your Nan family anymore. If you want to come in, don't act like my grandfather!"
Nan Zhenting readily agreed. "Alright! I won't act like your grandfather. Call me whatever you like."
Lan Yuxi released the children's hands and smiled at them. "Grandpa brought you gifts. Accept them."
"Thank you, Grandpa~" Mu Mu said with a smile, accepting the gift box containing a Barbie doll.
"Thank you, Grandpa!" Chao Chao said expressionlessly, taking the Lego gift box.
Nan Zhenting affectionately ruffled the children's heads. "Let's go inside and talk."
Seeing him acting like the master of the house, Lan Yuxi huffed indignantly. "Hey! Old Man Nan, this looks like my house, doesn't it?"
"What? You mean I'm not allowed in your house?" the old man said, taking one child by each hand and walking towards the gate. "Children, you must never learn from your mother. She was disobedient since she was little!"
"My mom is very good!" Chao Chao corrected, his little face stern.
Nan Zhenting looked at the little boy, slightly taken aback. This grumpy-looking child was so much like that rascal Nan Xiao.
"Yes! Yes! My mom is the best!" Mu Mu chimed in.
"Grandpa knows, your mother is the best, the most wonderful! But that doesn't mean she's always a good girl."
Nan Zhenting smiled, looking at the little girl. This little girl was quite like that girl Yuxi.
If it weren't for that old man from the Huo family repeatedly emphasizing that these two children were adopted by Lan Yuxi, he would have thought she had given birth to them.
The butler, seeing a guest had arrived, hurried out to greet them.
After Nan Zhenting sat down, the butler instructed the servants to serve tea.
With everything prepared, the butler looked at Lan Yuxi for a signal. Seeing that Lan Yuxi had no intention of sending the young master and young lady away, he quietly retreated to a corner.
Lan Yuxi slightly raised her chin. "Drink up. It's your favorite Pu-erh."
Nan Zhenting picked up the teacup, squinted, and took a sip. Then, with a face full of smiles, he said, "Excellent tea! When I leave, don't forget to pack some for me to take back."
Lan Yuxi raised an eyebrow. "Has your Nan family fallen so low?"
"Indeed. Now I even consider drinking a cup of tea a luxury."
Lan Yuxi pouted. "Then get straight to the point. Otherwise, if it takes too long, I'll easily forget."
Nan Zhenting took another sip of tea before speaking. "I've known for a long time that the pair of jade Ruyi weren't taken by you. If you want to prove your innocence, I'll testify for you. As for draining the artificial lake, it's impossible. You know, there's no river around the old house, and the sewage system can't handle that much water."
"I don't need you to testify for me, nor do I need to prove my innocence. I want to retrieve that pair of jade Ruyi. Otherwise, I'll leak the news of your father-in-law's critical illness to the media."
"The An family has been fractured in recent years and is on the decline. If it weren't for Old Master An holding them together, the An family would soon be devoured. You understand the implications better than I do."
"And, by the way, there are your brothers-in-law, younger brothers-in-law, brothers-of-brothers, etc. Once Old Master An falls, they'll stage a battle for inheritance. I'm quite looking forward to it."
Lan Yuxi smiled and looked at her manicured nails.
"You should be more eager than I am for the An family to fall. Why are you still pleading for An Ziling? Is An Ziling the designated successor? Are you afraid of losing the An family as a backer, so you're trying to protect him?"
Nan Zhenting said indignantly, "I don't need any backing! I'm not interested in who the successor is. I'm doing this all for you! Yuxi, if you want to establish yourself in the capital, don't provoke those scoundrels. I don't have much time left for you. In a few days, Nan Xiao's mother will wake up. With her personality, if she finds out you've been bullying their An family members like this, she'll definitely cause you more trouble."