Su Nanyin was the first to expose the true intentions of the second masters from the seven prominent families, who had come to Si Jiu.
Subsequently, she effortlessly created ten powerful enemies for them.
This left them with no choice but to vehemently deny any secret collaboration with the Helan family and others.
So why had they come to Si Jiu?
It could only be to congratulate Su Nanyin on establishing her manor in Si Jiu!
The seven distinguished second masters, with their extraordinary status in the martial world, had traveled across the river to Si Jiu to congratulate Su Nanyin on establishing her manor. They certainly couldn't come without substantial gifts.
Otherwise, it would severely damage the reputation of the seven prominent coastal families.
Congratulating someone on establishing their manor was a significant event; if they appeared so stingy, who would dare to trust them and partner with them in business?
This was precisely Su Nanyin's brilliant stratagem.
Li Qianfan, at the opportune moment, added insult to injury—
Using the money-grubbing Du Yaoyao, he loudly declared in front of everyone that the seven prominent families hadn't given their congratulatory gifts, and thus, they wouldn't be invited to dine at the Su family's home!
His collaboration with Su Nanyin was seamless, leaving no room for error.
Turning their attention to the seven second masters.
They were already put on the spot by Su Nanyin, and now Li Qianfan's words had pushed them into the spotlight.
Their aged faces flushed red!
Yet, they dared not storm off in anger.
Because doing so would confirm their true intention for coming to Si Jiu: under the guise of congratulating Su Nanyin on establishing her manor, they were secretly plotting to collude with families like the Helan family to seize the interests of the Ten Great Families.
This would then cause the Ten Great Families, who had already suffered too many losses against Su Nanyin and were seething with resentment, to view them as immediate enemies and launch an attack!
Therefore.
For Chen Er and the others to resolve the "misunderstanding" with the Ten Great Families, they needed to prove that their sole purpose in coming to Si Jiu was to congratulate Su Nanyin on establishing her manor.
But if they offered less money, not only would the news spread like wildfire, but more importantly, they wouldn't be allowed to enter.
What to do?
They had to offer more!
Idiots!!
Chen Er and the others were utterly tormented by that pair who carried musical notes.
They felt like they were about to vomit blood.
But they had to swallow their anger, feigning a look of "who doesn't have money," and each family presented a congratulatory gift of ten million yuan.
After they had presented their money.
Li Qianfan's attitude towards them made a complete 180-degree turn.
He smiled at the seven second masters with the same warmth he showed his own father.
His demeanor when inviting them in for a meal was incredibly cordial.
Even Shen Huiteng, a professional in such matters, couldn't stand it.
Old Master Su was desperately looking for a hole to hide in.
Gao Lingwang, Qin Zhou, and others who were genuinely there to freeload and drink, could only swallow their saliva, silently praising Li Qianfan's knack for making money.
Meanwhile, Du Yaoyao, who had already snatched the seven bank cards, began to scheme how to embezzle seventy million yuan.
Su Maomao sidled up: "Ahem, ahem. Yaoyao, in a few months, your nephew or niece will be born. But I don't have money yet to buy them milk powder."
Shen Chongchong also seized the opportunity, whispering: "I've lost too much money these past few days, I don't even have a clean pair of underwear for tonight. More importantly, I want to buy some traditional Chinese medicine to treat my infertility."
The gifts given by others, Maomao and Chongchong would never casually touch.
Because those were debts that would eventually have to be repaid.
However, the gifts from the seven prominent families were like dogs getting meat buns—there was no hope of getting them back.
Since that was the case, why wouldn't they divide it up?
Hearing their flimsy excuses, Du Yaoyao couldn't help but bite her lip, but she understood the principle of "those who see it get a share."
She could only obediently give each of them a card (ten million yuan each).
Maomao Caterpillar was not pleased: "Why do you get to keep fifty million for yourself?"
Du Yaoyao rolled her eyes and whispered: "Can't that pair carrying musical notes have been working for nothing?"
Which pair carrying musical notes?
Maomao Caterpillar instinctively looked towards the peerless woman and her increasingly mature brother, and suddenly understood.
But even if they each gave ten million to that pair carrying musical notes, Du Yaoyao still had thirty million left!
"Old Gao, Qin Zhou, Shen Congdao, Su Xin, come here for a moment."
Ignoring their demands, Du Yaoyao called out to Gao Lingwang and the others.
Gao Lingwang and the others, filled with anticipation, hurried over.
"Since you have all abandoned the darkness and embraced the light, and are now following that pair of scoundrels, and my mother. Then, take this ten million yuan and divide it amongst yourselves. Consider it a welcome gift from them."
Sister Yaoyao generously placed a card into Gao Lingwang's hand.
Gao Lingwang, who had abandoned the darkness and embraced the light, along with the ten new generation members, all had shining eyes.
A lump formed in their throats: "Just this noon I left with nothing, and by the afternoon I already have an income. This is simply too blissful."
"Sister Su Xin, Shen Congdao."
Du Yaoyao handed another card to Su Xin: "This ten million is for you."
Su Xin and the others were loyal confidantes of the Su family, so Yaoyao naturally wouldn't treat them poorly.
Su Xin and the others gratefully thanked her with beaming faces.
San Tiao and Zhai Hua also came over pitifully.
The Four Beauties and San Tiao Liuhan Tongs were all Li Qianfan's "trusted confidantes." As the wife of the village chief of Lijia Village, Yaoyao had to give them some consideration.
Fine.
Let's give you guys Qianfan's ten million.
In any case, Sister Yaoyao's ten million was not to be touched by anyone!
While Maomao Caterpillar and the others were dividing the spoils—
Luo Huayin, standing at the door, was incredibly envious.
Compared to the War Emperor Hall, which shared a single character with it, the War Demon Hall could only be described in terms of property as…
Pauper!!
The War Demon Hall did have considerable assets in Africa.
However, due to the African brethren's work ethic centered on enjoying life and the harsh reality of overall economic backwardness, how much money could Zhuang Wujian really have in hand?
Luo Huayin truly wanted to shout and rush over to snatch the money!
Having personally witnessed the prosperity of the Eastern Lands, this also solidified Luo Huayin's resolve to develop her future here.
She even eyed Shen Chongchong, thinking: "If I kidnap her, shouldn't I demand a sum of money first? Each kidnapping, demand ten million. Ten times at most, and I'll net a hundred million."
Just as Luo Huayin was lost in thought, staring at Shen Chongchong, Su Xin quickly walked over: "Yin Luo, let's quickly go to the middle courtyard to help the young lady entertain guests. There will be red envelopes afterward! Each of you ten people (from Su Pharmaceutical) will receive a thousand yuan hard work fee."
A thousand yuan per person, how could that compare to Maomao Caterpillar and Yaoyao's ten million each!?
Luo Huayin roared inwardly but obediently entered.
As the number of guests coming to congratulate the Su family on establishing their manor clearly exceeded expectations, the Su family urgently added more tables.
Front courtyard.
Old Gao, Qin Zhou, and the other new generation.
Wangzhe Chen Dong; Bai Ziyan, Du Tianci, and other honored guests from Qingyun.
They all knew that it was far more comfortable to drink in the front courtyard than in the middle courtyard.
Middle courtyard.
Following Old Master Su and Mother Lan, these were guests even more important than Zhao Tingshan and Old Tang.
Don't forget that this couple had been personally visited by Li Xiao, the Lord of Longxu, making them legitimate in-laws!
This status was indeed noble.
Jiao Yin from Tiandong, Du Yuanhang.
The Patriarch of the Bei family from Tianbei; the Patriarch of the Chu family from Tianhu and Chu Yazhi.
Old Tang from Si Jiu, Murong He, and the patriarchs of the Ten Great Families.
And the seven prominent coastal families who had invited themselves with ten million yuan in hand.
Coupled with the Su family patriarch of Si Jiu's Su family, and the second-in-command Li Qianfan.
The eight-person banquet tables were fully arranged, totaling five tables (originally three were prepared).
Even so, there was no empty seat for Maomao Caterpillar to sit.
"Cui Hua, bring the pickled vegetables!"
After everyone was seated—
Su Maomao, who was responsible for the reception work here, due to her pregnant drowsiness, handed this arduous task to Chongchong and Yaoyao.
She held her waist with her left hand, her belly, more than five months pregnant, swaying like a duck, mentally calculating how to cheat during their card game that night, and went back to the backyard for a nap.
The second masters from the seven prominent families sat at their own table.
Their faces were dark, and they remained silent.
When Su Nanyin raised her glass and asked everyone to have some food to stave off their hunger, they transformed their anger into strength, picked up their chopsticks, and like the dual-wielding Lu Wenlong, voraciously devoured the food without any regard for their image.
It looked as if they could eat back the seventy million yuan.
Due to the successive arrival of various prominent figures (uninvited guests), the banquet started very late, and everyone was indeed hungry.
However, while eating, they still chatted and laughed.
They engaged in idle conversation about astronomy, geography, ancient and modern China and foreign countries, with no one discussing serious matters.
Su Nanyin and Li Qianfan, in their roles as hostess and host, thirty minutes after the banquet began, walked around with their wine glasses, toasting the guests.
After the food had been served and the wine had been drunk for a few rounds.
It was already 3:30 PM.
The warm sunlight in the sky had significantly weakened.
The gust of wind passing through the courtyard had also begun to carry a chill.
"We can only use Mr. Chen's two requests for Li Qianfan's cooperation, and his refusal to comply, as reasons to make things difficult for him."
Zhou Er burped and put down his chopsticks, looking at Chen Er.
Chen Er slowly nodded.
"Oh, right. Actually, there is another super distinguished guest who has arrived at the Su family to congratulate them on establishing their manor."
Su Nanyin suddenly remembered something and said to everyone: "It's just that he was busy traveling last night and didn't sleep at all. He only settled into the guest room this morning and should be awake by now."
Another distinguished guest?
A super distinguished guest?
Heh.
No matter how distinguished that person is, could they be more distinguished than us, the seven prominent families, and the heads of the Ten Great Families?
Chen Er, Shen Huiteng, and the others sneered inwardly.
Then they saw the frosted glass door of the middle courtyard living room being opened.
A middle-aged man, who looked to be only fifty years old, yawned as he walked out.
He lazily said: "Guanyin, not inviting me, an old man, for food and drinks, is that not too impolite?"