Lingnan was a vague, general term.
Historically, Lingnan encompassed the entirety of Liangguang plus Hainan.
However, as the economy developed, Lingnan, which originally represented poverty, gradually shifted towards the border regions with the Ten Thousand Great Mountains.
This was a border area of many countries, with a large number of ethnic groups and an endless stream of dialects and slang.
Lin Yifeng, who came from an ordinary background, was a native of this border region.
Nine years ago, after he and Shen Zui officially became a couple.
His imagination of his future life was always linked with sweetness and beauty.
What merit did he possess—
To win the favor of the eldest daughter of the Shen family and become the son-in-law of Lingnan's foremost powerful clan?
However, not long after marriage, Lin Yifeng, who had boundless aspirations for life, became disappointed with it.
His wife, Shen Zui, was simply too overbearing!
Shen Zui finally had to believe that the saying about matching in social status and background still held a lot of truth.
The Shen family had many sons-in-law.
But apart from Lin Yifeng, the other sons-in-law were basically able to stand at the same level as the Shen family members and share common ground.
Only Lin Yifeng, whose vision and perspective were far behind, was an anomaly.
All the sweet words before marriage turned into an empty promise.
In fact.
When they first discovered the problems, they had also talked from the bottom of their hearts, hoping to advance and retreat together as a couple.
It was no use.
Different living environments from childhood had cultivated different living habits.
This led to many disagreements when they looked at the same matter.
They were both disappointed in each other, even in pain.
Shen Zui became increasingly fond of drinking.
Lin Yifeng, on the other hand, quietly found himself a confidante and even had offspring outside the marriage.
They no longer cared what the other person did or how they spent their days.
Yet, they did not divorce.
Shen Zui did not divorce because she was concerned about her reputation; no daughter of the Shen family divorced!
Lin Yifeng’s reason for not divorcing was ridiculously simple: "I would be a fool to give up the identity of the son-in-law of Lingnan's foremost powerful clan!"
It was precisely by virtue of this identity that Lin Yifeng was now flourishing in Lingnan.
Many people in the Shen family knew all of this.
But due to Shen Zui's overbearing personality, no one dared to speak of it.
Even Su Nanyin didn't say anything, so how could others dare to interfere?
The couple, who were outwardly harmonious but inwardly estranged, only appeared together during important family matters of the Shen family.
Today, there was a major event.
Li Qianfan, who had been betrothed to Du Junlin 21 years ago, had arrived at the Shen family.
If their relationship had been normal, the future son-in-law arriving would have been met with open doors and celebratory gongs and drums from the Shen family.
But it was not normal—
Li Qianfan not only dumped Du Junlin but privately married Qingyun's Su Ziyu at the ridiculously low price of eighty-eight thousand yuan.
More than half a month ago, Du Junlin had personally gone to Qingyun to successfully break off the engagement!
The Shen family and the Li family no longer had any marital ties.
The critical point was.
Li Qianfan was clearly here to apologize to Old Shen in Lingnan, yet he deliberately brought a beautiful woman (Chu Yazhi) and traveled leisurely, taking his time to arrive.
Are you sure you're here to apologize!?
How could the Shen family not be angry?
But out of consideration for the relationship between the older generation, they had to entertain Li Qianfan.
They first sent someone to entertain Li Qianfan to probe the situation.
After they figured out what he truly intended, they would bring him to the Shen family's old residence for a grand reception.
So, who should be sent to probe the situation?
Old Shen looked at this person and then at that person.
None of the younger generation of the Shen family were willing to undertake this thankless and, more importantly, utterly humiliating task.
Shen Zui suddenly raised her hand and volunteered to take on the task of receiving Li Qianfan.
Everyone knew her temperament.
Having her receive Li Qianfan was like asking a butcher to discuss with a pig how to solve the problem of meat shortage for the New Year.
Old Shen instinctively wanted to refuse.
Su Nanyin, however, quickly nodded her agreement.
And so, Shen Zui was assigned this task.
Together with Lin Yifeng, she received Li Qianfan and his entourage in a villa belonging to the Shen family.
Everyone knew.
Whether Li Qianfan was coming to apologize or the Shen family was receiving him, it was all just a formality.
Unpleasant matters were not to be brought up.
For this reason.
Old Shen had specially instructed Shen Zui several times, fearing that unnecessary conflicts would arise again.
Shen Zui was well-behaved.
At the banquet to receive Li Qianfan, she was like a completely different person. Although her face still held arrogance, the tenderness in her eyes as she looked at Li Qianfan made Lin Yifeng inexplicably uncomfortable. (Chu Yazhi, accompanying Kang Ning, was very puzzled, why did she feel that this Shen Zui was the Secretary Shen from beneath Yellow Millet Mountain who was once with Young Master Li? Of course, she dared not speak more.)
Even if Lin Yifeng were beaten to death, he would not have imagined that Shen Maomao, who hated Li Qianfan the most in the Shen family, would develop feelings for Li Qianfan.
And even if she did, Lin Yifeng wouldn't have cared.
But he truly disliked his wife, who was no longer overbearing towards him but cold, looking at Li Qianfan with such an expression.
After all, Shen Zui was his lawfully wedded wife!
"I can ignore her, but she absolutely cannot be interested in other men."
This was Lin Yifeng's mindset.
Especially when he thought of the person who had found him last night.
When he thought of the generous promises that person had made him!
"Why am I, no matter what, not divorcing Shen Zui? Isn't it to gain more benefits from the 'position' of being the Shen family's son-in-law?"
With this thought, Lin Yifeng raised his wine glass.
He smiled at Li Qianfan and said, "Qianfan, what are your thoughts on the Black Water Forest incident?"
A slap in the face.
Suddenly, Lin Yifeng delivered a harsh blow to Li Qianfan, who was merely offering insincere pleasantries after being seated!
Who didn't know about the Black Water Forest incident?
And who didn't know—
That while the sons of the thirteen most powerful families and hundreds of hot-blooded young men, knowing that going to the Black Water Forest was a suicide mission, still flew into the flames like moths, Li Qianfan, who was supposed to be there the most, was instead using the excuse of coming to Lingnan to apologize, traveling leisurely with a beautiful woman, indulging in debauchery?
He completely disregarded the lives of his compatriots in the Black Water Forest!
He completely disregarded the accusations leveled against him online!
But no one dared to mention the Black Water Forest incident in front of Li Qianfan.
But now.
Lin Yifeng, at a time when he should have been entertaining Li Qianfan well, suddenly brought it up.
Was this not a public slap in the face?
Li Qianfan, who was smiling and raising his glass to clink with Lin Yifeng, suddenly froze.
Chu Yazhi, who was helping him pick bones and remove thorns, also turned to stone in an instant.
The two, Zhai Xing and Zhai Yue, standing behind the door, immediately had faces full of anger!
Looking at Shen Zui, her expression also changed.
Before Li Qianfan could react, Shen Zui sternly reprimanded, "Lin Yifeng, what nonsense are you spouting?"
"I'm spouting nonsense?"
Lin Yifeng feigned ignorance, "Maomao, I was just asking Qianfan what he thinks of the Black Water Forest incident."
As soon as he finished speaking—
Slap!
Chu Yazhi slammed the table and rose, her face full of indignation, "Lin Yifeng, is the name of my master something you can call so casually?"
Why did Li Qianfan send Chu Yazhi to accompany Kang Ning when he decided to go abroad quietly, instead of sending the more astute and capable Mo Hongti?
Firstly, Chu Yazhi had participated in his action plan from beginning to end.
The key was that Mo Hongti lacked the "dominance" that a family of provincial magnates like Chu Yazhi could cultivate.
Regardless of Chu Yazhi's age, character, or quality.
Just in terms of her mindset when participating in occasions with super magnates, Mo Hongti could not compare.
As expected.
Chu Yazhi, who had not had much presence until now, realizing that Lin Yifeng was deliberately causing trouble and that the imposter Kang Ning could not handle it, immediately stepped forward.
What Mr. Lin?
What son-in-law of Lingnan's foremost powerful Shen family?
They had already slapped Li Qianfan in the face, and if Chu Yazhi didn't act first, Kang Ning would definitely reveal her disguise.
After Chu Yazhi acted first, Kang Ning could then pretend to be displeased and scold her a few times, thereby showcasing the demeanor of a top-tier magnate's young master and avoiding exposure.
Indeed.
Kang Ning, who had a tacit understanding with Chu Yazhi during this period, immediately frowned and said calmly, "Zhizhi, sit down."
"Yes, Master."
With her hackles raised, ready to pounce on Lin Yifeng at Li Qianfan's command, Chu Yazhi immediately lowered her head and obediently sat down.
"Mr. Lin."
Kang Ning, who had habitually imitated Li Qianfan, looked at Lin Yifeng and said with a smile, "Please forgive Li's ignorance. I have never heard of the Black Water Forest. Therefore, I am truly unable to answer your question."
Kang Ning was giving Lin Yifeng a way out.
Lin Yifeng only needed to laugh it off, even if it was a hypocritical self-criticism that he had asked too abruptly, the matter would be over.
But Lin Yifeng had made up his mind!
He ignored Shen Zui, who was looking at him with a cold gaze.
He simply showed genuine surprise, took out his mobile phone, and opened a video from a certain website.
Holding the phone up to Li Qianfan, he said, "You wouldn't know about the Black Water Forest? This is the top trending topic on the global internet. Don't you usually not use your phone and never pay attention to world affairs or the hardships of the common people?"
What was the Shen family up to?
Chu Yazhi's heart jolted, and she subconsciously looked at Shen Zui.
Shen Zui bit her lip hard and lowered her head.
She was also rapidly contemplating Lin Yifeng's abnormal behavior today.
She would also firmly remember that she absolutely must not have a fierce conflict with Lin Yifeng in front of Li Qianfan.
Doing so would damage the reputation of the entire Shen family of Lingnan.
Kang Ning also felt a little flustered.
Ahem.
She gave a dry cough and asked, "Mr. Lin, what exactly do you want to say? Just get straight to the point."
"Good!"
Lin Yifeng shouted "Good!" loudly and secretly switched his phone to recording mode.
Then, with righteous indignation, he said, "Mr. Li Qianfan. I personally believe that while hot-blooded youths from all over the country were risking their lives to rescue the Black Water Forest, you, as the eldest son of the Li family, should have acted like the youths from the thirteen most powerful families such as the Shen family of Sijiu! Even if you knew it was futile, you should have gone against the current. Only then could you be worthy of all that you currently enjoy."
Lin Yifeng had been bribed by people from the Sijiu Shen family.
Upon hearing this, Shen Yun's heart sank.
Kang Ning smiled, "Mr. Lin, why didn't you go? Are you not from Dongtu?"
"Of course I am from Dongtu. I also really wanted to go."
Lin Yifeng said with sincere earnestness, "But I have self-awareness and know very well that if I went to the Black Water Forest, not only would it be of no help, but like those 27 valiant women, I would easily be captured by the enemy's claws and become a bargaining chip for the enemy. But you, Li Qianfan, are different. You are one of the few outstanding individuals among the younger generation of Dongtu."
Chu Yazhi slowly stood up, "Because my master is an outstanding individual among the younger generation, he must go?"
Lin Yifeng nodded, "I personally believe that it should be so."
Chu Yazhi then asked, "What if my master refuses to go?"
"Then I'll say nothing."
Lin Yifeng smiled politely and said to Shen Zui, "Maomao, as the saying goes, if words don't match, there's no point in talking further. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
Before Shen Yun could react.
Lin Yifeng pulled out his chair and quickly walked to the door.
But he turned back and said to Li Qianfan with a serious expression, "Li Qianfan, I regret coming to welcome you tonight. Because I feel that you are not worthy of sitting and drinking with me!"