Chapter 484: Chapter 476: Qin Family is So Arrogant!

I don’t know if it was influenced by Mrs. Ding’s words, but after staying one night in the old mansion, Ding Shouxin felt unwell the next day. His body felt heavy with aching weariness, and the back of his neck felt a chilly sensation.

He looked at the unchanged old mansion, with all its usual arrangements, but something felt off, making his skin crawl.

This feeling persisted until he went outside. Walking on flat ground, his foot was tripped by something unexpectedly, causing him to stagger forward. If it weren’t for the servant by his side quickly stabilizing him, he would have fallen.

Mrs. Ding, who was preparing to follow him to the Qin family, was so frightened that her heart skipped a beat. After Ding Shouxin steadied himself, the couple looked together toward the spot where he was tripped—but the ground was empty and even the snow was cleanly swept away, yet he was tripped.

It was too bizarre!

Ding Shouxin’s face turned as dark as ink.

Mrs. Ding looked around in panic and apprehension, silently praying for the protection of The Bodhisattva Guanyin and the Jade Emperor.

Tentatively, the couple boarded the carriage, and Mrs. Ding said, “My lord, should we really invite someone to check on things?”

“Stop talking nonsense, let’s go to the Qin family first.”

Mrs. Ding closed her mouth.

“This year, let’s also send an invitation to the Qin family for the annual feast,” instructed Ding Shouxin.

Mrs. Ding frowned, “Will they come?”

“Whether they come or not is another matter, but an invitation must be sent,” responded Ding Shouxin. “We’ll do our part; if they don’t come, it’s on them. Our attitude and manners are clear for all to see.”

Mrs. Ding thought it made sense, so she agreed, then asked, “Should we also visit Qingping Temple? I’ve heard that some Taoists hold grudges finer than a needle’s point. If offended, they could bury disgusting things in your ancestral grave as revenge against the entire family.”

Ding Shouxin was startled but quickly regained his composure, seasoned as he was in officialdom. “It’s not that dire. I’ve inquired through Housekeeper Ding; Qingping Temple isn’t a place of evil practices but performs several good deeds each year. Their Taoists have genuine credentials, not from the Evil Path. Moreover, performing such acts risks severe consequences—they abide by the precepts concerning the Five Disadvantages and Three Deficiencies and wouldn’t risk their lives lightly.”

Mrs. Ding felt slightly reassured by this, but remembering the misfortunes at home, she added, “Even minor punishments and warnings would be enough for us to bear.”

As if agreeing with her words, the carriage suddenly shook violently and tilted to the left, causing Mrs. Ding to scream in terror.

The driver, also startled, along with the guard, managed to stabilize the horses and stop the carriage.

Ding Shouxin, grabbing the edge of the carriage, demanded, “What happened?”

“Sir, the wheel came off. Are you alright?” the guard reported as he approached.

Ding Shouxin, furious, kicked open the carriage door and helped the shaken Mrs. Ding down, while a servant from the back hurried to assist.

The couple looked at the tilted carriage; the perfectly fine carriage’s left wheel had inexplicably come off and rolled aside, causing the tilt.

“Didn’t you check the carriage before leaving?” Ding Shouxin fumed, scolding the driver.

The driver knelt down, “I deserve death, sir. I dare not neglect my duties, I checked everything carefully—the carriage and horses were fine. I don’t know how this happened…”

This driver wasn’t the regular one from the old mansion but had been with Ding Shouxin for many years and was trustworthy. Ding Shouxin didn’t suspect him of slacking.

If not negligence, then what?

Misfortune.

Ding Shouxin’s face darkened even more.

Mrs. Ding was nearly in tears.

“We’ll take the rear carriage, let them wait here a moment, and send someone back to fetch another carriage,” Ding Shouxin headed to the rear carriage.

He thought changing the carriage would solve the issue, but within a quarter of an hour, they encountered a funeral procession, and the deceased was of high status. Being a Magistrate and considering his current reputation, Ding Shouxin didn’t dare to be arrogant and ask them to make way, and had to take an alternate route.

These relentless misfortunes have now made even Ding Shouxin, who never believed in strange forces and gods, feel somewhat uncertain.

Could it really be that his own family has been cursed?

Qin family.

Qin Liuxi said that the Ding Family would come to visit, so Mrs. Wang didn’t go to the shop and stayed at home waiting. By the time the second quarter of the Chen hour arrived, Ding Shouxin indeed showed up.

Everyone looked at Qin Liuxi with a degree of reverence in their eyes.

This man truly has the skill to predict!

Qin Liuxi didn’t let anyone open the door, leaving the visitor hanging outside.

Mrs. Wang said, “Is this alright?”

“What’s not alright about it?” Qin Liuxi smiled faintly, “Mother, our family is indeed in ruin. Look, there are barely any servants left, and there’s no one in the gatehouse. Isn’t it normal to not hear someone knocking at the door?”

Mrs. Wang understood instantly—you’re just taking revenge!

Ding Shouxin hadn’t expected to be literally left out in the cold. After arriving safely at the Qin residence, he was left standing outside, where the Qin family obviously felt very confident.

Mrs. Ding was fuming, holding a hand warmer that was gradually losing its warmth, her face turning pale from the cold, and her feet even starting to numb.

This Qin family, truly arrogant and presumptuous!

They waited outside; it was getting darker, and soon, it even began to snow, with the wind turning piercingly cold.

“Master, they are intentionally leaving us out in the cold.” Mrs. Ding, nearly frozen, her lips turning bluish, kept stamping her feet and said, “Shall we go back first?”

“Knock again,” Ding Shouxin ordered the servant with a dark face.

The servant knocked loudly for a while, and after some time, they finally heard footsteps coming from far away, along with an elderly voice.

“Coming.”

Someone opened the door a crack and peeked out; it was an old man. Seeing Ding Shouxin and the others, he asked, “Who are you looking for?”

“We are from the Ding family, and our master has come to visit your esteemed matriarch,” the servant handed over a visiting card.

The old man, who was Chief Li, took the visiting card but didn’t look at it, and only said, “The Old Lady is sick, and the family heads are all attending to her. I’ll need to ask for instructions first.”

With that, he slammed the door shut.

Ding Shouxin was so furious he could barely contain himself.

The servant, with a dark expression, didn’t dare look back, knowing without seeing that his master’s face was even darker than his.

This mere house of a criminal official, truly audacious!

Who knows who gave them the courage to defy heaven.

Qin Liuxi: It’s me, what about it!

Meanwhile, the Chief Li behind the door took a few steps back, spat disdainfully, “Ungrateful wretch, just you wait!”

He walked a few steps then leisurely returned to the gatehouse to drink a sip of hot tea. Judging the timing about right, he then loudly stepped on the snow to reopen the door.

“My apologies for keeping the master waiting, our house is in a bit of chaos, and we don’t have many servants, please come in.” Chief Li, with a grim face slightly bowed, appeared respectful and compliant, but if one were to look closely down, they could see there was no emotion in his eyes.

Ding Baiyan, unworthy of a welcoming smile.