Chapter 162: Chapter 161: An Unexpected Encounter with an Old Acquaintance

Ling Chengyan anxiously scanned her surroundings again. The person she was waiting for hadn’t arrived yet, but the dragon and lion dance troupe had.

The Yuanxiaojie Festival is one of the rare festive days of the year. The dragon and lion dance troupe wore brightly colored costumes, beating gongs and drums, creating a deafening ruckus—a lively spectacle indeed.

Yet, Ling Chengyan felt no attachment to the scene. She turned and squeezed through the crowd, heading toward a small street behind the department store.

This was the street where Ling Chengyan had bought fireworks before the New Year. It was lined with warehouses and usually very quiet, with hardly anyone around. Moreover, with everyone gathered on the main street to watch the dragon and lion dances, this area was even more deserted.

Ling Chengyan seemed eager to accomplish something, hastily moving forward. Two groups trailed her from behind, the first being the ones she intended to bait.

Just as Ling Chengyan was about to enter the small street, someone suddenly rushed over, shouting loudly, “Second sister-in-law!”

Ling Chengyan’s eyes slightly contracted. When she turned around, she saw the group following her turn away as if the prior focus and tracking were merely illusions.

A chill flashed in Ling Chengyan’s eyes as she confronted Wang Lianxiang walking over, “What are you doing here?”

Wang Lianxiang let out a mocking laugh, “Of course, second sister-in-law wouldn’t know. Big sister was bullied by her in-laws to the brink of death, divorced, remarried, and both you and my good second brother didn’t even bother to ask!”

After a pause, she continued, “Well, you forced our parents to sign a severance agreement, and stopped recognizing them, only considering the first family as your parents!”

Ling Chengyan glimpsed the first group following her also turning away. Knowing her plans were disrupted today, she didn’t bother with Wang Lianxiang, “You say these things, yet forget you nearly drove me to death? Forget you teamed up to sell your second brother’s only son? Or forget you inserted needles into nephew’s cotton pants? If you forgot, I won’t hesitate to spit a little to help you recall.”

Having said that, she ignored Wang Lianxiang and proceeded into the small street.

Wang Lianxiang’s unexpected appearance thwarted her plan, but she still gambled a chance, betting those people were used to being arrogant and wouldn’t easily let go; or perhaps realizing they’d been outmaneuvered, they’d become angry and vengeful.

This was evident from her capturing someone, and even when they found fault with and attacked the children.

Walking to the end of the street, she encountered no one, not even those tracking and laying in ambush.

Ling Chengyan felt a bit disappointed, ha, she overestimated her opponents’ courage.

Or underestimated Wang Lianxiang’s influence on them.

After returning home for half a day, Wang Lianfa and Wang Liansheng finally brought the children back. Both the big and small ones were beaming with joy, and the kids scrambled to tell Ling Chengyan about the street festivities.

Especially little Shi Tou, who spread his arms wide, gesturing, “The dragon was this long, this long…”

Ling Chengyan hugged her son, pulling Shi Tou and Hong Liang to wash their hands, also asking the older kids to wash up. When handing towels to Hongbing, she asked, “Is your head dizzy?”

Hongbing chuckled, “Fourth aunt, don’t worry, it’s all good.”

Ling Chengyan prepared some cooked dishes—aunt had fried lotus root boxes and meatballs, she’d also cooked pork knuckles and bought roast chicken and stewed rabbit from the street, arranging six or seven dishes.

Wang Liansheng followed into the kitchen, viewing the arranged dishes, he laughed, “I’ll make a hot dish to complete it.”

Ling Chengyan agreed, picked up two plates, and casually added, “I saw Wang Lianxiang today; she said she was with Wang Lianhua.”

The smile vanished from Wang Liansheng’s face, and he responded with a grim expression, “Mm.”

Ling Chengyan slightly raised an eyebrow, is he unwilling to talk?

Not intending to learn anything through Wang Liansheng, she was not disappointed and carried the dishes into the room.

With Hongling and Xiaoyu running over to carry dishes, Hongbing, Hong Liang, and Xiao Xing also came over, setting bowls, chopsticks, and soup spoons neatly.

Ling Chengyan was spared the effort, inquiring if Wang Liansheng needed help, but he shook his head.

Ling Chengyan: “Then I’ll go rest in the room, you carry on.”

Just about to leave, Wang Liansheng spoke, “Lianhua got divorced and found someone else. Even big brother only knows they’re not locals, saying they came from outside for business… I didn’t know, they’ve come to Huicheng.”

Ling Chengyan replied calmly, “Mm.”

Wang Liansheng turned to look at his wife, “They are unto themselves; as long as they don’t come to the house, we just pretend not to know.”

Ling Chengyan slightly raised her eyebrows, agreeing, “Mm.”

Unfortunately, Wang Lianxiang once again hit her bottom line. It seemed she couldn’t just ignore it.

In the house, the coal stove was burning brightly. Wang Lianfa had also cycled to bring Zheng Xiaotian and his mother over, along with two bottles of Jingzhi white wine.

“Today is the fifteenth, let’s have a good drink together.” True to his name, Wang Lianfa, full of spirit, was filled with hope and vigor for the new year and future life.

After two cups of wine, Wang Lianfa cheerfully shared his plans: “After the New Year, once my shop is ready, your sister-in-law can mind it at home, I plan to go out and explore.”

Wang Liansheng was not surprised. His second brother had accumulated some capital and was no longer content with minor deals; he wanted to engage in substantial business.

Ling Chengyan asked directly, “Second brother going to the south?”

The south is the frontier of change, with most of the new marketplace gadgets, clothing, and even electrical appliances and derivatives originating from the Southeast Coast. Initially, they were transported from Xiangjiang; later, the coast also saw the rise of local products, with rapid development in textiles, clothing, and electronics.

To Ling Chengyan’s surprise, Wang Lianfa shook his head, “People are already doing it in the south, I won’t get involved. I plan to visit the Northeast; as you mentioned, people are getting wealthier, building houses, and furnishing them with timber…”

Ling Chengyan remained silent, and Wang Liansheng spoke, “Second brother, timber is a centrally procured commodity.”

Moreover, when it comes to timber, the biggest issue is transportation. Road transport is still very limited; large volume materials like timber and coal mainly rely on rail transport.

Acquiring timber is difficult, and transporting it through customs is even harder. Applying for railway carriages is not open to individuals.

Wang Lianfa seemed to have considered all this, casually waving it off, “I don’t expect to succeed in one trip. I’ll first scout the terrain, haha. You don’t need to worry, our big brother has several comrades over there; I’ll find them, with locals leading the way, nothing should go wrong.”

“It’s good to travel around.” Ling Chengyan ended on a positive note, then asked, “Has second brother picked a good date? Do you need a lion dance troupe for the opening festivities?”

Wang Lianfa laughed, “February second, dragon rises, a good day. No need for lion dances, we don’t want to attract too much attention.”

Ling Chengyan and Wang Liansheng exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement.

Second brother’s shop is Huicheng’s first clothing and accessories specialty store, destined to draw attention. Yet, as an individually operated shop, given the current social environment, it indeed shouldn’t be too high-profile.

Low-key, making quiet fortunes is the way to go.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep