Chapter 323: Not Qualified to Participate
When Su Wenfu, wearing his silver-rimmed glasses, saw Ling Fan, his heart quivered involuntarily, and a familiar face flashed through his mind.
Yu Nianrou's eyelid twitched as well. Although she found the young man somewhat familiar, she didn't dwell on it.
Instead, she grew anxious. Had her daughter actually brought a strange young man home? A bad premonition suddenly arose in her heart!
"Little Qiong, who is this?" Despite his surprise, Su Wenfu was the first to speak.
Su Qiong, under everyone's curious gaze, introduced him a bit reservedly, "Dad, Mom, he is my friend!"
"Friend?" Yu Nianrou felt a slight pang in her heart. The introduction was too vague and seeing her daughter's demeanor, that ominous feeling inside her grew stronger.
Ling Fan, upon seeing Su Qiong's parents, was filled with many emotions. The only real benefactors his mother had while alive were the Su Family.
Indeed, the union between Yu Nianrou and Su Wenfu was because of Su Wei, Yu Nianrou's college best friend, who introduced them. Yu Nianrou came from a middle-class family, and when Su Wenfu visited the school to see Su Wei, he fell in love with Yu Nianrou at first sight.
The two later happily got married, whereas Su Wei was not so fortunate. Engaged to the Long Family beforehand, her love affair with Ling Han was fraught with difficulties, during which Su Wenfu and his wife often lent their help.
Eventually, Su Wei and Ling Han fled to a remote countryside, where the couple secretly helped them. However, they ultimately couldn't escape the harsh reality and met with a tragic end, the Long Family's influence being extraordinarily strong.
Because of Su Wei's situation, the entire Su Family suffered repression from the Long Family, especially the politically involved Su Wenfu, who, despite decades of diligent service, remained a low-level civil servant, unable to advance.
After the death of both Su Wei and her husband, the Su Wenfu family, who had helped them, also entered a period of hardship, targeted not only by the Long Family but also subtly squeezed out by the Su Family.
This visit to the Su family was firstly to kneel before his parents' spirits, secondly to see if he could concurrently help the Su Qiong family, and thirdly, if the Su Family hadn't abandoned his parents, they would not have met such a fate.
Therefore, today, he had come to seek justice.
"I can't believe this guy actually dared to come, he must be crazy!" Leng Yan was astonished as she watched Ling Fan arrive.
She had thought that Ling Fan had just bluffed yesterday and that Su Qiong would have dissuaded him, and he mostly would have fled.
She was also extremely curious about what abilities this young man had that made her cousin, Leng Chuan, so wary of him.
Indeed, Su Qiong had tried to persuade him, but it had been useless.
Not far away, Su Ziming was also present. Upon seeing Ling Fan appear, his gaze flickered and he gritted his teeth, "Damn, you've got guts. Today, I want to see what kind of storm you can stir up!"
"Has the Su Wenfu family gone mad, letting their daughter bring home a boyfriend?" Su Wenrui scoffed to himself.
"Dad, it's because of this guy that I transferred schools!" Su Ziming whispered to Su Wenrui.
"Hmm?" Su Wenrui was startled, looking at his son Su Ziming.
Seeing Su Ziming nod, he knew a bit about his son's school transfer situation. He had initially wanted to find someone to teach the other party a lesson but never dreamed that this guy would dare to show up at the Su family home, so brazenly!
Just as he was about to step forward and speak, Su Ziming suddenly pulled him back, "Dad, just watch, don't rush!"
Su Wenrui thought about it and agreed. What was he in a hurry for at this time? Looking at Su Ziming, he felt very reassured, surprised that his son could remain so calm!
Although they managed to stay calm, the fashionably dressed Su Ting found it hard to do so. For their prestigious family, appearances mattered a great deal.
Especially since she had a hand in this marriage arrangement, if it were to fall apart, wouldn't she be implicated for no reason?
With a stern face, she said in an unfriendly tone, "Third Brother, you should know very well what today is, and the Leng Family is not one to be offended lightly!"
Su Wenfu carefully examined Ling Fan, shaking his head slightly; he thought it was simply impossible. Suddenly, he heard his younger sister, Su Ting's harsh reminder, which made his heart jump.
Yu Nianrou also took a deep breath, her gaze swept past Ling Fan and finally rested on Su Qiong, "Little Qiong, I told you over the phone remember? Today is your grandfather's seventieth birthday!
Also, your grandfather has arranged a marriage for you, which you will be meeting shortly!"
Upon hearing this, Su Qiong's expression immediately turned sour.
"Mom, have you asked for my opinion? Grandfather just decides on my marriage, and that's it? Why?" Su Qiong asked, puffing up her cheeks in frustration.
As soon as Su Qiong spoke, the hall suddenly grew even quieter.
"Has this child lost her mind, daring to defy Old Master Su's wishes?" the onlooking relatives from side branches couldn't help but mutter.
"I say, is the Su Family about to repeat what happened twenty years ago?" another somewhat older lady said, her tone full of unspoken warnings.
Su Wenrui's brow furrowed slightly, realizing he had guessed correctly, that lad really must be the boyfriend Su Qiong had brought back.
If the events of twenty years ago were to replay, he dared not imagine how furious the old master would be!
Su Ziming, seeing this, was somewhat surprised, "It seems this matter is far more intriguing than I anticipated. No wonder this fellow initially helped Zi Qiong Martial Arts Pavilion. It turns out he was taken with that wretched Su Qiong and even dared to wreak havoc at grandpa's birthday banquet. How brilliant!"
Seeing Su Qiong's attitude, Su Wenfu and Yu Nianrou were a bit panicked. Su Qiong had always been obedient to them. Could it be that she was about to suddenly rebel, and in such an explosive manner?
Before Su Wenfu and his wife could speak, Su Ting, who was already at her limit, scolded Su Qiong with a cold face, "Niece, are you thinking of defying the marriage your grandfather arranged? Have you thought about the consequences? What now, don't tell me this guy you brought is your boyfriend!"
At this, Su Qiong's face turned pale, and she bit her lip, torn. Ling Fan was not her boyfriend, but he had promised her yesterday that if she didn't want to, no one could force her to marry someone she didn't like!
After hesitating for a good while, Su Qiong finally said with resolute eyes, "He is my good friend, don't drag others into this. Can't I decide my own matters!"
"Hehe, you think you can decide for yourself, right? It's not impossible, but you need to have the authority to make your own decisions. Do you have it?" Su Ting scoffed coldly.
"No matter what friend he is to you, but let me remind you, if you truly care about your friend's well-being, I advise you to best send him away. Today's occasion isn't one he qualifies to attend!"
Upon hearing this, Su Qiong's face flushed red. In her memory, this aunt had never been as harsh and biting towards her as she was today.
"Mom!" Leng Yan couldn't help but call out to Su Ting.
"Step aside, today's matter isn't one you can be involved in!" Su Ting glanced at her daughter; she had always indulged her, but not today.
Ling Fan, who had been silently standing by, his gaze slightly flickered. In his investigation, this aunt of his, due to lack of motherly affection in her childhood and her actions of kicking people when they were down when her mother's incident occurred, had not been doing less of such things.
Thereupon, amid the astonished expressions of everyone present, he stood out, looking directly at Su Ting, and said calmly, "Today, with me here, no one can force Su Qiong to marry someone she doesn't like!"
As soon as he said this, the hall filled with sounds of sharp intakes of breath!