About thirty minutes later, the car arrived at the Su family's main residence and stopped.
Everyone got out of the car one after another.
Su Wanran carefully took out a small box from her handbag, holding it in her hands. Judging by her cautious and serious demeanor, it was evident that the contents were far from ordinary.
Lu Ming asked curiously, "What is it?"
Su Wanran replied, "A statue of Guanyin. I can't come empty-handed to ask Grandma for land, can I? That would be too inappropriate. Grandma has always enjoyed chanting scriptures and praying to Buddha, so I specially procured this Guanyin statue. I hope it will please Grandma and she'll grant me a piece of fertile land."
Lu Ming was at a loss for words, a wry smile on his face.
It was quite ironic that direct family members engaging in family matters, especially those concerning the Su family, still needed such formalities.
This was enough to illustrate how stringent the Su family's class hierarchy was.
After announcing their arrival, the two entered the reception room.
Even though this was the Su family's main residence, Su Wanran, upon arrival, could only enter the reception room. Without the permission of her grandmother, Shen Dianlan, even Su Wanran, her own granddaughter, could not wander around freely.
The Su family was far too strict.
Not long after, Shen Dianlan emerged. Unlike when they met at the funeral, this time Shen Dianlan was holding prayer beads, chanting scriptures as she walked, appearing exceptionally devout.
There was nothing wrong with believing in Buddhism and chanting scriptures. Moreover, people who believed in Buddhism were generally kinder. In that case, obtaining land from Shen Dianlan should not be difficult.
However, fate had other plans.
The one supporting Shen Dianlan was none other than Su Fei'ang!
This fellow had arrived remarkably early. Lu Ming and Su Wanran had arrived early in the morning, yet Su Fei'ang had managed to reach the residence before them.
What kind of speed was that?
However, it wasn't that Su Fei'ang had arrived early; it was that Su Fei'ang had been living there all along.
Seeing Su Wanran, Su Fei'ang smiled and said, "Good sister, you've come to visit Grandma too."
Su Wanran was taken aback and asked, "Brother, you're here really early."
Su Fei'ang chuckled, "It's not that I'm early, it's that I stayed here last night. Grandma hasn't been feeling well and is in a bad mood, so I came specifically to take care of her."
This...
Su Wanran felt a sense of awkwardness.
She knew that Shen Dianlan was not one to favor her juniors. She had always been a recluse and typically did not allow juniors to stay at the main residence.
Let alone the fact that Su Fei'ang was contending for the position of family head. To avoid suspicion, Shen Dianlan should not have kept him.
Yet, Su Fei'ang had stayed!
How had he managed it?
Su Fei'ang, sensing Su Wanran's confusion, sneered, "Grandma already knows about Third Uncle's passing. You and Third Uncle gambled with your lives for talent yesterday, truly ruthless."
These words, spoken in front of Shen Dianlan, were harsh and pointed.
Although Su Jianxiong was not killed by Su Wanran, having poisoned himself, and Su Wanran had also ingested poison, neither owed the other anything.
But still!
Regardless, Su Jianxiong had died because of Su Wanran.
This debt, Su Wanran could not escape.
Even more ruthless, Su Fei'ang continued, "Sister, you have impressive methods. I also heard that you handed over two capable subordinates of the Fog Capital Sleeping Dragon to the police? Tsk, tsk, tsk. In the entire Fog Capital, there's probably no one else who could accomplish such a feat. Sister, you're formidable."
On the surface, he was praising her, but in reality, he was pushing Su Wanran into a fiery pit.
This was equivalent to telling Shen Dianlan that Su Wanran had offended the Fog Capital Sleeping Dragon. If she became the head of the Su family, the Su family would then be in opposition to the Sleeping Dragon.
This matter was no trivial concern.
Initially, Shen Dianlan had remained neutral, favoring neither side. But Su Wanran had first caused Su Jianxiong's death and then offended the Sleeping Dragon. It would be difficult for Shen Dianlan to remain completely neutral.
Both publicly and privately, she would have to lean towards Su Fei'ang's side.
"Enough, stop talking," Shen Dianlan interrupted Su Fei'ang, sat down, and asked in a low voice, "Wanran, what is the matter that brought you here so early this morning?"
Su Wanran did not rush to state her purpose but placed the box on the coffee table.
Then, in front of everyone, she opened the box. Inside was a stunning statue of Guanyin, carved to look as lifelike as possible.
The material and craftsmanship were first-class and excellent.
Indeed, upon seeing the Guanyin statue, Shen Dianlan's eyes lit up. It was clear she was very fond of it.
This gift had truly hit the mark.
Su Wanran said, "Grandma, it is because of me that Third Uncle met with an unfortunate demise and the Su family is now at odds with the Sleeping Dragon. I have come specifically to apologize to you. This Guanyin statue is a small token of my sincerity."
Shen Dianlan narrowed her eyes. Although she liked the Guanyin statue very much, she was not foolish. She knew Su Wanran was not merely here to apologize; there must be something else.
She twirled her prayer beads and said, "No need to beat around the bush, state your business directly."
Su Wanran smiled, "As expected, nothing escapes Grandma's sharp eyes. It's like this, I've made some progress in my research on the Water Wave Cherry blossom, but I require a piece of fertile land for the upcoming experiments. The family's land is all managed by Grandma. I've come today to ask Grandma for a plot of land, and I hope Grandma will grant me one."
Hmm...
Shen Dianlan neither agreed nor refused, merely gazing at Su Wanran.
She was hesitating.
Researching the Water Wave Cherry blossom was the old master's lifelong wish. He had been thinking about it until his dying breath. Now that there was finally new progress, logically speaking, she should fully support it.
The problem was, if Su Wanran truly succeeded in her research, wouldn't she become the next family head?
Then how would Su Jianxiong's death be accounted for?
And how would the conflict between the Su family and the Sleeping Dragon be resolved?
Shen Dianlan did not want Su Wanran to become the family head, yet she also wished for the Water Wave Cherry blossom research to succeed, fulfilling the old master's wish.
She was conflicted.
As she pondered, Su Fei'ang, standing behind her, stepped forward and let out a cold snort, saying, "Sister, what do you mean? You killed Third Uncle and now you want to harm Grandma?"
"Ah? What do you mean?" Su Wanran was confused.
Su Fei'ang continued, "Still pretending to be innocent? The world knows that men don't wear Buddha and women don't wear Guanyin. Grandma is a woman, and you've gifted her a Guanyin statue. Isn't this adding insult to injury? Aren't you trying to curse Grandma to death?"
Su Wanran's face turned pale. "No, no, that's not it."
"Still arguing?" Su Fei'ang pressed on, "You want to curse Grandma to death and seize the position of family head! And you want land? Ha! Get lost, you and your Guanyin statue!"
Su Wanran's face turned ashen. She had never expected Su Fei'ang to say such things. She wanted to defend herself but didn't know how to begin.
However.
Both Lu Ming and Shen Dianlan shook their heads and, in unison, said to Su Fei'ang, "Shut up, you ignoramus!"
After speaking, they both looked at each other.
Shen Dianlan smiled, "Young man, you seem quite knowledgeable?"