CHAPTER 163: CHAPTER 163: A HEART FULL OF EVIL INTENTIONS

163 Something Fishy

Most people present were chattering and laughing, enjoying the meal. However, a few individuals with ulterior motives barely touched their food.

Wang Fugui was one of them. He had recognized Magistrate Li the moment he entered, and the shock had left him unable to sit still.

Furthermore, when he saw two more people arrive later—people whom the County Magistrate personally went to greet—and the rare and precious gifts they brought, his eyes burned with envy, and his heart soured with jealousy!

He originally thought Zhao Dong had, at most, made a small fortune. How could that compare to their Wang Family? But he never expected that Zhao Dong hadn’t just made a small fortune; he had actually befriended such important figures! It seems following Dad’s advice to come here was the right decision! I’ll have to find a way to connect with these important people later!

Thinking this, he rose and walked over to Sun Lan, who was keeping her head down and silently eating. He kicked her stool lightly, gave her a significant look, and motioned for her to go to Sun Mei and gather some information.

Sun Lan gritted her teeth and glanced up at Sun Mei’s table, clearly hesitant. But one look at Wang Fugui’s angry face made her stand up and shuffle over.

Sun Mei was seated with her grandmother’s family. They were all chatting and laughing, the atmosphere warm and harmonious.

"Mom... Elder Sister-in-law, Second Sister-in-law, Sis..."

A soft voice suddenly cut through the chatter, and the table fell silent. Zhao Guifen’s face stiffened, and she merely responded with a noncommittal "Mm," her eyes already fixed on Sun Lan.

Eldest Aunt and Aunt nodded at Sun Lan with a smile, then quickly lowered their heads and said no more.

This younger sister was a sore spot for Zhao Guifen. Every mention of her would leave Zhao Guifen heartbroken for a long time. Thus, Sun Lan had become a taboo subject in the family, rarely ever brought up.

It wasn’t that they were unfeeling; it was mainly that this younger sister’s actions had gone too far, truly chilling Zhao Guifen’s heart.

A year after Sun Lan married, Zhao Guifen fell ill due to matters concerning her. The illness came on fiercely; even Sun Lan’s father-in-law was helpless, and they had to go to the county town to fetch a doctor.

Sun Youwei sent several messages to Sun Lan, urging her to return and see their mother, explaining how gravely ill she was and that the doctor wasn’t sure if she would pull through.

At the time, Sun Lan had readily agreed, but she never once came back to visit, not even after their mother had recovered.

It wasn’t until New Year’s that she hurried back for a brief visit. Sun Youwei and Sun Youli were furious. They confronted her, asking why she hadn’t come to see their mother when she was so desperately ill. Was she truly so cruel, so heartless towards her own mother?

In response, she just sat there and cried, offering no words, no explanation.

After that, Sun Lan stopped coming home, sometimes not even once a year. Gradually, their relationship faded.

It seemed as if the family had genuinely forgotten about her. They even started calling Sun Mei "Little Sister," as if Sun Lan, the actual younger one, no longer existed as their daughter.

But how could a mother truly abandon her child? Zhao Guifen never spoke of it, but she carried Sun Lan in her heart. Every year on Sun Lan’s birthday, she would secretly wipe away her tears.

Sun Mei naturally understood her mother’s feelings. Hoping to mend the rift between them, she immediately stood up, took Sun Lan’s hand with a smile, and said, "Little Sister, you’re here! Come, come, sit here and have a good talk with Mom."

With that, she pulled Sun Lan into the seat beside her.

"Thank... thank you, Sis," Sun Lan nodded, her voice barely audible.

Sun Mei looked at her younger sister, so different from the person she remembered.

The Sun Lan in her memory, though not boisterous, was a girl who loved to laugh, her smiles always soft and gentle.

Not like now—timid and withdrawn, with a gloomy air about her. Even when she smiled, it was a strained expression that never reached her eyes.

For some reason, a pang of heartache arose in Sun Mei. She guessed it might be because of their blood relationship.

So, she smiled and said, "What’s there to thank me for? We’re family."

They sat down together, but afterward, Sun Lan kept her head bowed and remained silent. Zhao Guifen simply picked at her food, also saying nothing.

Even the usually talkative Aunt Liu, from the Liu Clan, didn’t utter a word.

For a while, the atmosphere at the table was decidedly cold. Sun Mei tried her best to find topics for conversation, but they hadn’t seen each other in so long that they quickly ran out of things to say.

Just then, Sun Mei’s gaze fell upon Zhao Zhitong, who was animatedly bragging at the next table. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately called out, "Tongtong, Tongtong, come over to Mom!"

Zhao Zhitong was in the middle of boasting to her young cousins and Qiao Muchen about a fantastic dream she’d had the previous night. She was just getting to the good part when her mother’s call interrupted her.

Reluctantly, she paused. "I have to go to my mom for a sec. You guys eat first, okay? I’ll be back, and we’ll continue then."

With that, she trotted over, hugged Sun Mei’s arm, and said coquettishly, "Mom, why did you call me? Did you miss Tongtong because you haven’t seen me for a little while?"

Sun Mei smiled, pinched Zhao Zhitong’s small cheek, and chuckled, "That’s right, that’s right."

Zhao Zhitong beamed. "Mom, I missed you too!"

Sun Mei lifted Zhao Zhitong onto her lap and said with a smile, "Weren’t you pestering me about wanting to see your aunt? Come, sit and chat with her."

Zhao Zhitong blinked at Sun Mei, her little head buzzing with questions. When did I ever say I wanted to meet my aunt? I don’t even know I have an aunt!

However, she then looked at her mother, then at her unusually quiet Eldest Aunt and Aunt, and finally at her grandmother, who was eating with her head down.

She seemed to understand something.

At that moment, Grandpa Bai chuckled in the space. "It’s a common tactic adults use. When conversation lulls, they bring a child over to find a new topic and liven things up."

Especially talkative children; they’re the best for this.

Zhao Zhitong was still very curious about this aunt. "Grandpa Bai," she asked, "do you know anything about my aunt?"

Grandpa Bai shook his head. "Me? I don’t. But judging from the reactions of your grandmother and your two aunts, this aunt of yours must have some conflict with the family."

Oh, so that’s how it is.

Zhao Zhitong nodded. Seeing her grandmother’s unhappy face, she broke into a wide, sweet smile and chirped, "Hello, Aunt!"

"Ah, hello, Tongtong." Hearing the child’s innocent voice, Sun Lan couldn’t help but smile. "Sis, this little girl of yours is truly lovely—so neat and pretty."

As she spoke, a flicker of nostalgia crossed her eyes.

Zhao Zhitong immediately giggled. "Auntie, that’s so embarrassing! Praising yourself so cheesily!"