Chapter 261: Visiting and Inviting Personally
Tang Xiu said with a serene expression, "Mom, I respect your choice and I'll recognize that man as my father. But you know clearly well that I don't have an ounce of familial affection toward the Tangs whatsoever. My family and roots are in this place."
For a long time Su Lingyun was silent before she nodded silently.
Tang Xiu spoke again, "Then, when will you see him?"
As if realizing something, Su Lingyun then suddenly grabbed Tang Xiu's arms with a nervous and agitated expression on her face, "Xiu'er, Mom knows that you're a doctor, and I also heard that you're a extremely skillful at that. You… you, are you able to cure your dad?"
Tang Xiu shook his head, "I don't know anything specific about the condition he is in, so I'm gonna jump into wild conclusions now."
A trace of disappointment was revealed in Su Lingyun's eyes. But still, she nodded and said, "Xiu'er, let Xiangfei take care of your grandma at home. We'll go to Beijing now."
Twenty years had passed, and never once had she ever seen her husband! Hearing the news that her husband was still alive, Su Lingyun wished she could have wings to immediately fly to Beijing to see him. The more she delayed, the more her suffering.
Tang Xiu shook his head and slowly said, "Mom, I think we still have to wait for awhile, because I feel that some people will come to invite us to Beijing!"
Su Lingyun blankly stared at him and asked with a confused expression, "Who would want to invite us there?"
"The Tang Family," replied Tang Xiu.
Su Lingyun's expression changed. She harbored a wariness toward the Tangs for two decades along with the fear of them taking her son away. She was afraid that her son wouldn't be close to her any longer. Yet, she wasn't afraid now. Her son had grown up, and the affection between them would never be snatched away neither by fame nor fortune.
"Xiu'er, why are you so sure that the Tangs will come to invite us?"
Tang Xiu replied faintly, "Mom, they want us to recognize the ancestors, and they also want me to save him."
Su Lingyun thought for a while before slowly saying, "Xiu'er, you're their descendant after all, and of the Tang Family's bloodline. So you're supposed to recognize your ancestors!"
"Hmph," Tang Xiu sneered, "Why should I? Because the Tang Family's blood flows through my veins? If I ever had a choice, I would rather have the Su blood flowing within me. Mom, they are nothing but strangers in my eyes, whereas I have always been reluctant to relate to any strangers. And Mom, I respect your choice, so I wish that you can also respect mine."
Su Lingyun opened her mouth, yet she couldn't find any words to refute her son. Eventually, she could only helplessly nod and let Tang Xiu follow his decision.
"Xiu'er, please go out! I want to calm myself first. If… if the Tang Family don't come today, we'll go to the capital tomorrow," said Su Lingyun.
Tang Xiu nodded and went out of the room. As he saw Su Xiangfei doing the laundry at the courtyard, he was silent for a moment before approaching him. He then took out half a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, and pulled out one to give to him. He lit their cigarettes and puffed deeply. After that, he leaned on the tree beside Su Xiangfei and said serenely, "Can you tell me how you figured things out?"
Su Xiangfei pinched the cigarette with his wet hand as he then forced a smile, "It was not me that figured things out. It was my father that made me realize it. Virtues will be rewarded and retribution shall also befall onto the wicked, whereas some people are bound to be held responsible for everything they did. I see that as akin to what I did to you once. Had it been not for the awesome police work, perhaps it would've been you in jail now."
"Just these?" asked Tang Xiu with a tranquil expression.
Su Xiangfei shook his head, "No. In fact, I did resent you before I came back. After all, you were quite ruthless; you ruined my family and also destroyed my father's remaining life. But when I secretly eavesdropped the conversation between you and Auntie, only then did I realize how ridiculously absurd I was."
Tang Xiu nodded. After a moment of silence, he then said slowly, "Go repeat your high school's third year again! After that, take the CET next year. You don't need to worry about your welfare, my mother will look after you."
Su Xiangfei suddenly smiled, and it was particularly bright. He then shook his head and said, "With my academic grades, I'm afraid that I can only be admitted to an ordinary university; it's impossible for me to enter the top universities even if I have to repeat my third year of high school again. I've been thinking quite thoroughly, and I'll be staying here until grandma's injuries fully recovered. Then, I'll leave Qinghe County and go outside to live on my own, relying on my ability. Regardless of how well I fare with life later, I will eventually return to the Su Family, to my roots."
"Then write my cell number. I hope you contact me only if you're forced by circumstances," said Tang Xiu.
Su Xiangfei nodded silently.
Tang Xiu spoke no longer. He took a deep puff and then walked toward the outside of the courtyard.
"Tang Xiu!"
Su Ben and Su Quan, who saw Tang Xiu coming out, quickly called out to him.
"Anyways, you two will have to stay at home for a few more days! For the time being, I can't return back to Star City, I will have to go to Beijing to deal with some matters. When I come back to Star city from the capital, I'll contact you again."
Su Quan replied with a smile, "That would be great! Originally, Big Brother Ben and I also planned to leave for Star City a few days later! Because you need that Silver Dragon Grass, we also want to get some of them!"
Tang Xiu said quickly, "I advise you not to do that. Even if you take more people, you can only look around the outer periphery of the mountain. You said yourselves that that fierce beast is very dangerous, and ordinary people are basically unable to injure it. So, you would most likely have casualties occurring on a trip deep in the mountain."
Su Ben knew Tang Xiu's nature and disposition. Upon seeing him speak with all seriousness, Su Ben immediately replied, "Then we'll listen to you. We'll tell the other fellow villagers to only go uphill, and no matter how many Silver Dragon Grasses we find, we won't traverse deep into the mountains."
Tang Xiu nodded, "Please remember. Before summer vacation ends, I'll make a trip back here to solve that fierce beast. Anyways, you two can go take care of your work! And wait my call!"
"Alright!"
Su Ben and Su Quan replied as they walked toward Su Ben's house next door.
Two hours later, two black Audis slowly parked outside the courtyard. Four bodyguards in casual attire then dispersed as Tang Min opened the door and helped Tang Guosheng out.
"Are they here?"
Tang Guosheng looked at the shabby wooden doors as well as the dilapidated courtyard.
Tang Min nodded, "Father, according to the information sent to me, they live here. I also used GPS. This place is where their family lives."
Tang Guosheng looked at the four bodyguards and spoke with a deep tone, "You're all to stay outside, and no matter what happens, you must never step into the courtyard."
"Understood!"
The four bodyguards immediately saluted as they received the command.
Tang Guosheng walked through the front gate. As he entered the courtyard and saw Su Xiangfei, an astonished expression flashed from his eyes as he asked him, "Young man, might I ask whether Su Lingyun and Tang Xiu live here?"
Su Xiangfei stood up from the chair and asked back, "Yes, they do. And you are?"
Tang Guosheng nodded, "I'm Tang Guosheng. Are they here now?"
Su Xiangfei turned his head and shouted, "Auntie, someone is looking for you!"
Su Lingyun and Tang Xiu came out of the house. As Tang Xiu saw Tang Guosheng and Tang Min, he sighed to himself. He could guess as to why they came, but he didn't expect that it would be this fast. Perhaps, after he left Star City Chinese Medical Hospital, Tang Guosheng had sent people to investigate him.
With a cold and detached expression, Tang Xiu said, "Why did you come here? I told you that we have no relationship with the Tangs whatsoever."
Tang Guosheng replied bitterly, "Xiu'er…"
"My name is Tang Xiu!" growled Tang Xiu.
Tang Guosheng was silent for a moment. He then replied helplessly, "Tang Xiu, this is your mother, my daughter-in-law, right?"
Su Lingyun was dumbfounded. Even though she heard from Tang Xiu that some people from the Tang Family would be coming, but she had never thought that Tang Guosheng would personally come. She knew him. Not only was he the Senior Official of the State, he was also her husband's father, her nominal father-in-law.
"You… I'm Su Lingyun."
Tang Guosheng walked toward Su Lingyun and Tang Xiu as he said bitterly, "I sent people and almost swept over the entire Star City twenty years ago. But it was very unfortunate that I couldn't find the both of you, mother and son. Yunde only told me that you're called Little Yun. Thus, I didn't know your full name without further information. Twenty years ago, after I personally went to Star City to fetch Yunde, I couldn't find you, so all these years I've let you—mother and son suffer hardships."
Tears burst out from Su Lingyun's eyes as she heard it.
Tang Min came to her side and spoke to her all smiling, "Sister-in-law, why don't you call him father?"
Su Lingyun opened her mouth, yet, her voice couldn't get out as it was stuck in her throat. She knew why her husband came alone to Star City that year. He was driven out by his family, and that year, she had just left from her countryside village, working as a nurse in a hospital in Star City. At that time, nobody was taking care of Tang Yunde. Slowly after, they then fell in love and lived together.
Afterward, she got pregnant, but she had yet to have a marriage certificate. But her husband told her his true identity and also learned that a huge crises befell the Tang Family at that time. Tang Guosheng was forced by circumstances and had to expel her husband from the family and announced that he cut off the relationship between father and son.
At first, due to the anger her husband harbored, he cut off any contacts with his family. But when she got pregnant, driven by excitement and joy, he called Tang Guosheng.
She had seen this father-in-law on TV, but this was her first time seeing him in person.
Hence, she couldn't call him father as of now.
Tang Guosheng forced a smile, "Little Yun, I know that it's quite awkward for you to call me father-in-law. However, you're, after all, my son's wife, and you've given birth to the bloodline of the Tangs. I don't want to force you to recognize me as your father-in-law if it's against your will. I only hope that I would be able to compensate you—the mother and child in the future."
Su Lingyun raised her head and looked at Tang Guosheng as she said, "I must see Yunde."
Tang Guosheng replied without hesitation, "The reason I came here, is that I want to invite you—the mother and child to Beijing. Before I arrived here, I also learned that your mother is injured. If you want to, you can also take her along."
Su Lingyun turned to Tang Xiu.
With a tranquil expression, Tang Xiu said, "The purpose of my mother going to Beijing is to see him, but our family doesn't belong in Beijing. If you may, I hope you let us see him, for we're a family in the truest sense. But the Tangs, to us, are nothing but strangers."
Chapter 262: The Tang Family Members
Tang Guosheng watched Tang Xiu calmly as a light of wisdom flashed in his eyes. He had experienced countless hardships in life, and he was good at identifying people's characters. Thus, he was able to distinguish Tang Xiu's disposition to some extent after a brief contact.
Hence, he didn't feel angry about Tang Xiu's remark. Certainly, had it been others darign to speak to him with this attitude, he would have flown into a rage already. But toward Tang Xiu, he owned him far too much.
"Tang Xiu, if you can treat your father, he would be free wherever he goes. If you can't treat him and insist to take him back to Star City, I would also agree with that. But I have a condition. The medical facilities in Star City are incomparable to the facilities in Beijing. Thus, if you want to take him over I need to send specialists and professional medical staffs along with him.
"As for your remark just now, I know very well about the resentment inside your heart. It was indeed my failure in not finding the both of you—mother and son that year, causing the both of you to endure hardships and suffering all these years. But, you're surnamed Tang, the bloodline of the Tangs, and the Tang Family is also your family."
Tang Xiu snorted coldly and spoke no more.
Tang Min looked at Tang Xiu's eyes before her vision landed on Su Lingyun. She then said with a smile, "Second Sister-in-law, I think you should go to Beijing with us. I believe that Second Big Brother has told you about the situation in our family. Even though the Tangs are a wealthy and powerful family, yet the elders have never intervened much in their children's marriages, they won't look down at you. And father, he personally rushed to Star City and stayed here for some days in the past. Even since Second Big Brother has been in a coma, for several years, Eldest Brother took some time to come to Star City to find you."
Having said that, Tang Min walked toward Su Lingyun. She then grabbed Su Lingyun's hands as the smile on her face disappeared, replaced with some bitterness, "Second Sister-in-law, do you know the most disturbing thought Mother has always been carrying with her all these years? It's about the missing grandson she has outside. Oftentimes, when people mention about the Second Big Brother, she would fall into tears, being distressed by her beloved son, yet she also misses her own grandson."
"I…"
Su Lingyun's heart was shivering, a warm feeling gushing inside. Her resentment toward the Tangs reduced a lot. All these years, she had always been thinking and wanting to seek for her husband, yet it was out of her imagination that the Tangs also felt the same for them.
Tang Min spoke again, "Second Sister-in-law, please come with us to Beijing now! Our family is there. If you don't want to live in the old grand residence of my parents, I will buy you a villa. And if my nephew wants to study, he can study in Beijing University, I will fully support your every need."
Su Lingyun opened her mouth as her sight fell on Tang Xiu with the intention of asking for assistance.
Tang Xiu said indifferently, "I'm sorry, we're not accustomed to life in Beijing. Also, we don't need even a dime from the Tangs. My wealth might be incomparable to the Tangs, but it's enough for me and my Mom to have a rich life."
Su Lingyun then added, "Yes! We have a good life here. Xiu'er has grown up now and he also has some abilities, whereas my restaurant business is also very good. So we really have no intention to live in the capital."
Tang Guosheng said with a heavy tone, "Little Yun, Tang Xiu, no matter where you want to live, I'll approve. But you can freely speak to me your needs, as long as it is within my abilities to provide. Even if it would heavily damage the welfare of my Tang Family, I'll do it. You can bear in mind that the Tang Family owes you—mother and child, and we shall compensate you from now on."
Tang Xiu was startled inwardly. An inconceivable expression flashed in his eyes. He didn't expect that Tang Guosheng would make such a big commitment. At this moment, his sealed heart slightly cracked a bit, yet for now, he couldn't make himself feel close and intimate with the Tangs.
"Bring the stuff inside."
Tang Min shouted toward the entrance of the courtyard before turning around and speaking to Su Lingyun with a smile on her face, "Second Sister-in-law, Father heard that your mother is injured, and he has specially arranged some people to buy some nutrition and supplements. Also, since it's our first meeting, we couldn't be careless about the etiquettes, could we? As for those people who wounded her relatives, apart from the County Hospital's Vice President who disappeared, they will immediately be punished."
Immediately, the four bodyguards in front of the courtyard quickly carried over a dozen boxes.
"This…"
Su Lingyun was quite at a loss and didn't know how to respond.
Tang Xiu then spoke faintly, "Mom, since they have shown good intention, we'll accept them. Also, we're don't hit people smiling at us. They are not looking for trouble, so we shan't ignore them. Please let them enter the house!"
Su Lingyun sobered up and quickly said, "Ah, you're too kind, please come inside. My mother is there."
A while after, Tang Guosheng and Tang Xiu met Zhang Shi. After Zhang Shi learned their identities, she threw curses at them at first, but after she understood the whole story, only then did she show a bit of happiness. She felt happy for her daughter as well as excited knowing that her son-in-law was still alive.
"Xiu'er, grandma knows that your medical expertise is very good, so you have to cure your father. His disappearance for so many years was caused by special reasons, so you can't blame him any longer. Go to the capital and heal him! Grandma wants to see my son-in-law while I'm still alive." As Zhang Shi learned about the situation, she called Tang Xiu and advised him.
"I'll try my best, grandma!" Tang Xiu nodded.
Ten minutes later, Su Lingyun was done with the packing and left the house's courtyard.
"You drive the car and lead the way. Mom will sit in my car." Tang Xiu put their suitcases into the trunk as he spoke to Tang Guosheng and the others.
Tang Min quickly said, "I'll also take your car so I can chat with Second Sister-in-law on the road."
A trace of a smile showed on Su Lingyun's face, "Alright!"
Tang Xiu didn't prevent her. All in all, for whatever Su Lingyun decided, he wouldn't object to it. After getting in the car, he saw Tang Min affectionately holding his mother's arm as they chatted in the back seat. He then started the car and followed the two black Audis as they quickly left the Su Village. Although he just got his driver license, he followed the two cars at high speed and drove northward.
Beijing, Famous Garden Villa Complex.
At this time, the third elder of the Tangs, Tang Guoshou, was reading the information in his hand. In front of him, two middle-aged men in military uniforms were standing straight, with one and two stars' ranking on their shoulders.
"Bang…"
The door was thrust open forcefully as Tang Guoshou's son, Tang Yunqingm strode inside the room in a rush. Panting and short on breath, he shouted, "Father, it's a big event!"
Tang Guoshou's brows knitted as he snorted coldly, "Even if the sky is falling down, you still must be reverent and steady as Mt. Tai. Look at yourself now, what's got into you to act improperly like this?"
Tang Yunqing replied urgently, "No, father. It's really a very important matter. Uncle and the others are coming back to the capital in a hurry. I just received the call from the eldest brother saying that we must rush to the ancestral residence within four hours."
Tang Guoshou was startled, "We need to rush to the ancestral residence? Did Yunpeng tell you what happened?"
Tang Yunqing said, "The Second Big Brother's son has been found, and now they're returning with the mother and son to Beijing. Also, most importantly, this time uncle went secretly to Star City to seek for the Divine Doctor surnamed Tang, and the said doctor turned out to be the Second Big Brother's son, Tang Xiu."
"What?"
Tang Guoshou's expression changed, a light bursting out from his eyes. He didn't expect that his direct nephew would be found. The person that the old madam of the family had been missing the most all these years, the one and only grandson who lived outside the family whom they never knew if he was still alive or died.
"Great! Yunqing, quickly inform the others and tell them to hurry to the ancestral residence in four hours. I really didn't expect that the missing grandson turned out to be a Divine Doctor! If… if he can cure Yunde's sickness…"
As Tang Guoshou thought up to there, the excitement on his face grew more intense.
Tang Yunqing quickly said, "Father, I'll immediately go inform everyone."
Beijing, Royal Dragon Club.
Tang Wei was holding a crystal bottle as he savored red wine. Around him, two young men hugged an attractive girl each as they were drank and had fun joyfully. The two young men, one was called Zong Lu and the other Zhang Hongnian. Both of them were scions from giant families in the capital as well as Tang Wei's best buddies since childhood.
"Bang…"
The deluxe box's door was kicked open from the outside as a lovely girl in a dress strode inside. As she saw the people sitting on the sofa, particularly the two attractive girls accompanying Tang Wei, her expression changed immediately. She sprinted toward Tang Wei and, under everyone's surprised gaze, she grabbed Tang Wei's arm and quickly spoke, "Big Brother, quickly come. Grandpa has decreed that all family members must return to the ancestral residence. We just had a major event."
Tang Wei was at a loss as it was both funny and embarrassing. He rolled his eyes as he replied, "Tang Tang, the sky has yet to collapse; it's still atop of our head. What are you anxious for? Besides, hasn't grandpa just gone outside of the city? What kind of matter would happen anyway? Ah right, how did you know I was in this place?"
Tang Tang quickly pulled him out the box. After that, she quickly spoke, "That doesn't matter. Come with me now, the Second Uncle's son has been found, and now he's on the road back to the capital along with Grandpa. Hurry up, will you! If we arrive late and Grandpa arrives and find that we're not in the ancestral residence, he will be angry with us!"
Second Uncle's son?
Tang Wei fell into a daze as his expression suddenly changed.
He broke from Tang Tang's hold and went back into the box. He looked at Zong Lu and Zhang Hongnian as he said, "You should've heard it, yes? There's an urgent matter, so I gotta get back home. You just continue playing here, I'll look for you after I got time."
Zong Lu and Zhang Hongnian looked at each other and nodded. They knew Tang Wei's Second Uncle who had been in a vegetative state due to an accident twenty years ago. But they didn't expect that he had a son outside.
"Big Brother Tang, off you go, quickly!"
Beijing, in a PLA military unit.
Inside an olive-green barracks, the commander of the Special Forces Unit, Tang Ning, was supervising the drill in the shooting range. At this moment, a young man in military uniform ran toward him and handed a mobile phone, saying, "Commander, it's a call for you."
Tang Ning took the mobile over expressionlessly. He then spoke with a deep tone, "Tang Ning speaking."
"Return to the family's ancestral residence at once."
Tang Yunqing's voice transmitted through the phone.
Tang Ning frowned, "Fourth Uncle, I'm still training my team members, what matter could it be that you can't say it on the phone?"
"Your Second Uncle's son has been found and Old Father is bringing him home from Star City now."
"What? I'll go back immediately!"