Chapter 568 - 564: Zhang Tianming Inquires About Leng Yuan
"Lu Yuanbin, why are Leng Yuan and Jiaojiao living at the foot of the mountain?"
Though Zhu Wanqi had never lived in a village, she’d heard plenty of stories about wild boars attacking people. Living at the foot of the mountain seemed far too dangerous.
Lu Yuanbin’s expression turned furious at the mere mention of it.
He then recounted all the shameless things the Leng Family had done.
For the most part, Lu Yuanbin furiously cursed the heartless scoundrels of the Leng Family and lamented how difficult things had been for his Brother Leng. He shared everything that should be said and kept his mouth shut about what shouldn’t.
As for what the Leng Family had done, there was no need to hide it. Even if he hadn’t said anything, Zhang Tianming could have just gone to the village and asked anyone, and they would have rattled off the whole story.
After listening, Zhu Wanqi was also furious. "The Leng Family is just too shameless! Too cold-blooded!"
Their eldest son had just died, and they were already rushing to seize the house he left behind and kick Leng Yuan out. They weren’t family; they were more like sworn enemies.
Zhang Tianming listened to his wife’s blunt words with a helpless expression.
It sounded like the Leng Family had taken full advantage, but in reality, Leng Yuan had used the house to successfully rid himself of those burdens.
That clean, decisive style, completely free of messy complications, earned his deep admiration.
’He’s a formidable character.’
’This Qingshan Team is destined for great things in the future.’
’It seems I should keep a closer eye on the Qingshan Team. If any directives come down, I can give this place priority.’
Lu Yuanbin had no idea that his little speech had already earned his Brother Leng the approval of Zhang Tianming.
Unlike the cheerful atmosphere at Leng Yuan’s house, things were different elsewhere.
Having been shut out and left fuming, Leng Shuyue returned to the Leng Family home with a long, sullen face. When she saw that Ding Jiangchuan still hadn’t come to pick her up by lunchtime, she had a complete meltdown.
She took out all her frustrations right there in the house.
It threw the Leng Family into utter chaos.
But who cared?
All Leng Yuan and Gu Jiaojiao could do was watch the show.
After the wedding banquet, the Leng Family had started coming over every now and then, trying to curry favor with the couple. But Leng Yuan and Gu Jiaojiao gave them the cold shoulder every time. After a few failed attempts where they gained absolutely no advantage, the family finally gave up on trying to suck up to them.
They now understood completely: no matter what powerful backer Leng Yuan had, it had nothing to do with the Leng Family.
But no matter. The Leng Family was living quite comfortably now, more so than anyone else in the Qingshan Team.
It was just that the thought of Leng Yuan’s uncle becoming a high-ranking official gnawed at them, an unbearable, clawing feeling in their chests.
Oh, how they regretted it!
If only they hadn’t been so greedy back then. If they hadn’t seized the main branch’s courtyard, hadn’t driven Leng Yuan out, hadn’t severed ties with him... they too would now be the relatives of a high-ranking official.
They had been dealt a winning hand and had completely botched it.
Whenever someone brought it up, they would all just blame each other.
Now, hearing that Leng Yuan had befriended yet another powerful figure, their regret intensified, and they immediately started pointing fingers.
Leng Qingtian was sick and tired of the adults’ squabbling. He wiped his mouth after eating and stormed out of the house. The cold wind on his face gradually cleared his head.
He used to think that everything the family had now was due to the good fortune of the second and third branches, or thanks to his eldest uncle’s help. He believed it had nothing to do with Leng Yuan.
Moreover, his grandfather had always favored Leng Yuan since they were children, which made him jealous. ’We’re all grandpa’s grandsons,’ he’d thought, ’so why is Leng Yuan the only one he keeps by his side and teaches personally?’
He remembered his grandfather as a very old-fashioned, stern, and formidable man. He had been terrified of him.
Yet he had also craved his grandfather’s praise. But his grandfather’s eyes only ever lingered on Leng Yuan; he never gave the other grandchildren a second glance.
His own older brother was the eldest, and he was the youngest. There was a saying: dote on the eldest and dote on the youngest, but never the one in the middle.
But with their grandfather, that old saying was turned on its head. He didn’t dote on the eldest or the youngest—he only doted on Leng Yuan.
Out of seven grandsons, only Leng Yuan had ever been praised by him.
But here he was, still relying on his parents to find a wife, while Leng Yuan was befriending such powerful people. It made his jealousy seem utterly ridiculous.