The Chen family I mentioned here is naturally the same Chen family that my mother chose to follow by abandoning her husband and child.
The fact that Su Tongyuan could casually produce thunder-struck peach wood worth ten million yuan to invite Ling Xi to dispel the evil spirit for me clearly indicates that the Chen family is thriving in the Jingdu. They might not be as prominent as the Lu family that Lu Zhixia belongs to, but they're certainly not insignificant.
Of course, these are just my rough assumptions—the specifics would have to come from Ling Xi herself.
"The Chen family is wealthier than the Lu family," Ling Xi stated plainly. "The Chen family started with real estate ventures, and the profits from that are self-evident. Chen Xuanjun—well, that's Tongyuan's stepfather—is the current helmsman of the Chen family."
"The Chen family has four brothers. The eldest is Chen Huanyang, the second is Chen Jiang,the third brother is Chen Chongfei, and the youngest is Chen Xuanjun."
"Though the youngest, Chen Xuanjun is the most formidable. In the Jingdu's business circles, they call him the Fox Demon pass the—said to wield family enterprise schemes as cunning as a to the demon and tactics as sly as a fox. Rumor has it that the Chen family patriarch originally intended to eldest brother, Chen Huanyang. Yet, for reasons unknown, it abruptly fell to the youngest, Chen Xuanjun."
"This sparked endless speculation. Gossip swirled that the Chen brothers had turned against one another, each vying for power, and that the family would inevitably collapse. But within just three months, these rumors crumbled. Not only did the Chen family remain intact, but under Chen Xuanjun's leadership,who rose to prominence with formidable force,"
"They spared no cost to monopolize nearly 80% of auctioned land in the Jingdu—building residential complexes, luxury villas, and developing eco-friendly agritourism gardens."
Beyond this, the Chen family actively sought partners in other cities, establishing the Chen Green Renovation Group under the banner of eco-friendly and healthy initiatives. They expanded rapidly across multiple fronts, amassing wealth from all directions."
"In just a decade, the Chen family climbed from the bottom of the Jingdu's top ten wealthiest families to claim a spot among the top three."
"Most alarmingly, the Chen family isn't just involved in legitimate businesses—they also control a shadowy. Chen Huanyang, the eldest brother, leads this dark faction under the alias Toxic Wolf. The brothers operate in both the light and the dark, and their influence is so pervasive that they practically dominate the Jingdu."
"As for your mother…" Ling Xi paused, furrowing her brows. "On the surface, she's merely Chen Xuanjun's personal assistant, seemingly uninvolved. Yet in reality, half of the Chen family's assets are held in her name."
I scoffed bitterly. "Deep marital affection, I suppose. Otherwise, why would someone abandon their husband and child?"
Ling Xi hesitated, then said, "Some things can't be judged by appearances alone."
I retorted, "What's there to judge? He's the young master of the Chen family—wealthy, powerful, heir to their fortune. My father? Just a simple, honest farmer. He couldn't give her what she wanted."
"You'll understand in time," Ling Xi replied cryptically.
I didn't want to dwell on the topic any longer. Every time I pictured her raising another man's children, playing the dutiful wife, I felt a pang of injustice for my father. It twisted inside me, so bitter I almost wanted to spit in her face, to purge the disgust clawing at my chest.
Ling Xi sped up, and five minutes later, we arrived home.
Outside the villa, Su Tongyuan's red BMW had been waiting for some time. Ling Xi greeted her with a smile, "I told you the key was under the flowerpot. Why didn't you go inside?"
The young woman in a blue-and-white checkered coat chuckled softly, "You weren't home. If I went in, I'd just be by myself—might as well wait outside for you."
Then, turning to me, she added, "I just called Dad. He said the house feels a bit quiet without you. Don't forget to call him back tonight."
I froze for a moment.
This girl —just yesterday, she was scolded into tears by me, and today she's completely forgotten? Is her memory really that bad?
"What are you standing there for? Grab the stuff!" Ling Xi urged me impatiently."We're still waiting for you to cook!"
"Oh, right, right. Coming!" I pulled out the things we bought today from the trunk and carried them to the living room, thinking I'd sort them out after cooking.
There's no way to count on Ling Xi to tidy up—honestly, I doubt as her hands have ever touched proper a household chore.
Ling Xi sat excitedly on the living room sofa and called out, "Tongyuan, Su Ning bought you a pair of shoes! They're so pretty. Come see if you like them!"
I stood in the kitchen, eavesdropping like a thief. I heard Su Tongyuan gasp in delight: "For me? Where are they?"
"Here, the pink shoebox," Ling Xi replied, spinning her tale with dramatic flair. "I told him you didn't need more shoes, but Su Ning insisted. Said the cute design was perfect for you, and that he worried you'd get frostbite in the cold. Ugh, some people just can't admit their true feelings!"
Clutching a spatula, I stood on the verge of tears.
How could she twist the truth like this? Sure, I wanted to repay Su Tongyuan's kindness, but not in this… overly sentimental way Ling Xi had spun.
"Wow, these are adorable!" Su Tongyuan exclaimed as if she'd found a treasure. "The bunny designs are so cute! I'll wear them for New Year!" Moments later, she appeared at the kitchen door, holding the fluffy shoes with a radiant smile. "Thank you, Ningzi—I love them!"
I pursed my lips and hummed softly.
Today was Lunar New Year's Eve, a day of family bonding in a circle. Unable to be with my father and grandma, a pang of loneliness tugged at my heart.
During a lull in cooking, I called home.
My father, clearly drunk, slurred cheerfully about the lively gathering—all three uncles were at our house—and urged me not to worry. Then he asked about the malevolent spirit.
I reassured him that Ling Xi had suppressed it effectively, and that I'd indirectly saved Meng Fan's life, accumulating my first merit.
He grew emotional, repeating, "Listen to Ling Xi, understand?"
When mentioning Su Tongyuan, he treaded carefully, wary of upsetting me. "She's your sister… grown-ups' conflicts shouldn't burden the young," he mumbled. His message was clear: he still cared for this daughter and held no resentment toward her.
I swallowed my arguments. As a father myself one day, I'd want the should same understanding.
After that, I chatted with Grandma and updated Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle about my current situation.
Hanging wish for up the phone, I sped up my chopping and cooking. Since it was the Lunar New Year's Eve dinner, I prepared extra dishes. Back in my hometown, the reunion feast must be abundant—it symbolizes the family's prosperity.
Su Tongyuan tried to help in the kitchen, but I shooed her out.
Though my resentment toward her had faded, the idea of squeezing into the same cramped space with her still felt awkward. Besides, I preferred working alone, too many hands would only clutter my rhythm.
By 7 p.m., I had served five meat dishes and five vegetable dishes. For dessert: sweet rice wine dumplings, embodying the wish for a sweet and whole new year.
" May Su Tongyuan's dreams come true." Ling Xi cracked open a bottle of juice, raising her glass in a mock toast. "Wishing you peace and safety in the new year."
I had no idea what dreams Su Tongyuan harbored, but I truly hoped for a peaceful year—one free of the malevolent spirit.
At 9 p.m., after finishing the Lunar New Year's Eve dinner, Su Tongyuan drove home. Before leaving, she pressed a bank card into my hand, calling it "New Year's lucky money."
I wanted to refuse, but the guy vanished before I could protest, leaving me clutching the bank card like a death sentence. I stood there stunned, the wind whipping my hair into chaos.
"Pathetic," Ling Xi scoffed from the couch, her eyes never leaving the drama playing on TV. "You'd turn down a lifeline? Think those rare herbs grow on trees?"
Her words snapped me back to reality. "Master Ling Xi, are the Bodhi Heart and seedless sunflowers really that expensive?"
She shrugged, "Common weeds until collectors got involved. Now? A million or two for starters. Four or five million if the auction sharks smell blood."
The numbers blurred before my eyes. Ten million yuan minimum for both ingredients. Without Su Tongyuan's intervention, I'd already be six feet under. The bitter truth coiled in my throat - this wasn't medicine. This was ransom for breathing.