Sigh.
Still a step too late!
Seeing Li Wujiang open the car door and jump out, the Murong family patriarch, who had just been helped to the main entrance by his two sons, sighed in his heart.
Since she couldn't avoid it, she had to brace herself and go meet her.
"Let go of me. I don't believe she'll lay a hand on this old man. All you youngsters stay behind me. Without my permission, no one is to speak, nor make any rash moves!"
The Murong family patriarch commanded in a low voice, took a deep breath, and tried his best to put on a calm facade of "Come on, I'm not afraid of you." However, as he walked out the door with his cane, his legs trembled uncontrollably.
Murong He and the others obediently followed behind him.
Many people looked at the beautiful woman who had just gotten out of the car and was gazing up at the Murong family's gate. They instinctively put on their most cordial (read: fawning) smiles.
The car's trunk opened.
Shen Yun quickly walked to the back and took out a gift box.
During the Chinese New Year, to handle unexpected social obligations, Su Nanyin had specifically instructed Maomao Chong to place gift boxes in the trunks of their respective cars in advance, just in case.
On the way to the Murong family's, when Li Wujiang said she wanted to buy some gifts, Shen Chongchong mentioned there were some in the car.
"Auntie."
Shen Yun walked over quickly and asked in a low voice, "Two bottles of good wine, is that okay?"
"Of course. My face as your mother-in-law is worth more than two bottles of good wine."
Li Wujiang turned to look at Chongchong, finding her more likable the more she looked. "As expected of Little Guanyin, how can your skin be so tender? That scoundrel is truly blessed with good fortune."
Chongchong bashfully—
Li Wujiang sighed.
Chongchong's heart tightened.
Then Li Wujiang said, "Why hasn't your belly grown bigger?"
Chongchong was immediately filled with a flood of bitterness—
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed. Chongchong looked up and saw the Murong family patriarch leading more than ten people, walking quickly out of the courtyard gate.
Full of regret for Chongchong's small belly, Li Wujiang immediately raised her hand, adjusted the collar of her windbreaker, and quickly walked up to the Murong family patriarch. She bowed slightly. "Old sir, Li Wujiang offers you belated New Year greetings. Please forgive this unannounced visit."
What?
You're here to give us belated New Year's greetings?
Not to trample on our household?
The Murong family patriarch and the others were stunned.
"A small token of my appreciation, please accept it, old sir."
Li Wujiang took the two bottles of good wine from Chongchong's hand and handed them to Murong He, who was standing behind the Murong family patriarch.
Amidst the astonishment of many present (and many members of prominent families watching from afar, paying close attention), Murong He numbly accepted the gift box as if in a dream.
The Murong family patriarch came to his senses!
All his alarm vanished instantly.
In its place was wild joy. "Li Wujiang's personal visit to the Murong family this time is not to trample on our household! It's to give me belated New Year's greetings! How could I forget that our Murong family has already been persuaded by Miss Murong to visit the Su family tomorrow? Oh dear, I am indeed getting senile! To have made the entire family so needlessly worried."
In fact, it couldn't be entirely blamed on the Murong family patriarch's senility.
After all, Li Wujiang's fearsome reputation was too great!
Especially since she had already visited several households before arriving at the Murong family's.
Most importantly—
Li Wujiang's status in the prominent families' circle was absolutely top-tier!
In contrast, the Murong family's status in that circle was merely quasi-second-rate!
Anyone in the Murong family patriarch's position would not have dared to hope that Li Wujiang, from the absolute apex of the top tier, would personally come to pay them New Year's greetings.
But this was indeed happening.
Li Wujiang was standing right there, wasn't she?
Many people had heard her actions and words as she offered belated New Year's greetings to the Murong family patriarch on the street.
"Director Li, Director Li."
Overwhelmed with joy, the Murong family patriarch's lips trembled uncontrollably. "Please, please come in, please!"
And then there were Murong He and the others.
They were even more ecstatic.
Because even a fool knew what Li Wujiang's act of offering belated New Year's greetings to the Murong family patriarch on the street, as a junior, signified!
It signified—
That the Murong family of Sijiu, currently only quasi-second-rate in the prominent families' circle, was officially stepping onto the aircraft carrier that was the Li family!
Surrounded by a throng of admirers, it was truly a scene of being the center of attention. The Murong disciples invited Li Wujiang and Chongchong into the Murong residence.
The spies from other prominent families, who had been secretly observing the situation from a distance, were all stunned for a long moment before frantically calling their respective households to report the situation truthfully.
He Lan family.
He Lan Longqi, who had just received the call, rushed into the courtyard like a bolt of lightning.
He shouted to He Lan Qunxing, who was still standing in the courtyard, staring blankly at the screen wall (ruins), "Grandfather, Li Wujiang offered belated New Year's greetings to the Murong family patriarch on the street! They were chatting and laughing as they entered the Murong residence."
What?
Li Wujiang didn't trample on the Murong family, and even offered belated New Year's greetings to Old Murong on the street?
How could this be possible?
How could Old Murong's status compare to mine?
Could it be that because Miss Murong is Li Qianfan's woman, Li Wujiang, while taking the opportunity to trample on other families, specifically offered belated New Year's greetings to Old Murong on the street, just to elevate the Murong family's status in the martial world!?
As He Lan Qunxing grasped the situation, filled with regret, he looked at He Lan Tingmei.
He thought to himself, "Back then, I shouldn't have listened to He Lan Tingmei's idea and so crudely rejected that little brat. No matter how smart women are, they can't escape the flaw of having a short temper and shallow insight. This time, with the screen wall destroyed and the He Lan family suffering the crushing of their household! He Lan Tingmei must take full responsibility."
He Lan Qunxing, out of habit, once again began his excellent tradition of shirking responsibility after an incident.
How he would make He Lan Tingmei take full responsibility—
Of course, Li Wujiang had no idea.
After exchanging pleasantries with Old Murong for a while, she went straight to Miss Murong's room.
The frail Miss Murong had just been woken up by a sister-in-law when the Murong family's danger alert was lifted.
"Sit down."
Looking at the girl with disheveled hair and a pale face etched with evident tension, Li Wujiang spoke softly, extending a hand to help her back onto the edge of the bed.
Despite being treated with such care by Li Wujiang, even the fearless Miss Murong felt uneasy.
"I know that you used a curse to save Qianfan from danger, suffered a backlash that left you severely injured, and yet still carried him for several days and nights across the Arctic snowfield."
Li Wujiang sat beside Miss Murong, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "But don't worry, I will absolutely not tell anyone about you using a curse."
As she tucked Miss Murong's loose hair, she saw the four ink-green characters.
Immediately, her face filled with guilt, and her voice became even gentler. "Moreover, I will also abide by your wishes. When you find your beloved, you can marry him with full honors at any time. At that time, I will also, as your aunt, give you a grand dowry."
The innocent little mare's eyes immediately lit up.
This was a solemn promise from Li Wujiang, and it was absolutely binding!
The greatest pity was that the little mare could only curse people, but she couldn't read minds.
Otherwise—
She would have surely heard Aunt Li's cold laughter in her heart: "Let you marry someone else? Humph, what a joke! You, Murong Mingyuan, can only be my son's! How can my son smoothly inherit the Dragon Ruins and achieve greater accomplishments without a curse genius like you? Heh heh, and your mother-in-law, Chu Yazhi."
The more Li Wujiang thought about it, the more pleased she became. "Who would have thought that that woman could restrain that silver-banded snake from the Eastern Heaven? Jing Ran's act of inscribing characters on you back then was definitely the most correct thing she's ever done in her life. If I let you go now, wouldn't I be a complete fool? Both you and Chu Yazhi must obediently give birth to grandsons for me!"
Aunt Li's warm solicitude greatly uplifted Miss Murong's spirits.
Especially when Aunt Li said she would arrange for the legendary King Xuanyuan to personally treat Miss Murong's health on a chosen date, the little mare's eyes shone even brighter.
The celebratory atmosphere in the Murong family of Sijiu became even more fervent.
Li Wujiang stayed at the Murong residence for a full hour before declining Old Murong's repeated invitation for dinner. She then drove away with Shen Chongchong.
Heading directly to the Tang family in Sijiu!
At the entrance of the Tang family.
Upon hearing of Li Wujiang's arrival, Old Tang, who now rarely left his home, specifically changed into a bright red Tang suit.
He, along with the seven sons of the Tang family, and several people from the Bei family of Tianbei, including Fang Chuqing (who had arrived in Sijiu in advance for their visit to the Su family tomorrow), were already waiting at the entrance.
As the white car slowly approached, it stopped about thirty meters away from the entrance of the old Tang residence.
This small detail alone—
Made many people who were closely monitoring Li Wujiang's movements realize that she was showing sufficient respect to the Tang family!
Courtesy begets courtesy.
When Li Wujiang, holding the gift box with Shen Chongchong, quickly arrived at the Tang family entrance, she bowed deeply to Old Tang. "Old Tang, Li Wujiang offers you belated New Year's greetings."
Old Tang smiled and bowed. "Director Li is too kind."
Whoosh—
The more than twenty people behind him all bowed ninety degrees in unison with his bow.
Tang Xiaoni, standing beside her sister-in-law, glanced at Li Wujiang from the corner of her eye.
As Li Wujiang looked up, she happened to meet her gaze.
The moment their eyes met—
Li Wujiang suddenly gave her a meaningful smile.
Tang Xiaoni's heart skipped a beat. "It seems Aunt Wujiang already knows. Brother Qianfan likes to hold me behind the door."