Chapter 45: The Unnecessary Relatives

On the sixth day of the Chinese New Year, the shops opened for good fortune.

In Pingyang City, the crackling sounds of firecrackers and the bangs of large fireworks rang out from time to time on the streets. The ground was littered everywhere with the red paper scraps left after the explosions, and the air was filled with the choking smell of gunpowder smoke…

The Su family of four sat on the bus, looking out at the cars and vans speeding past on the road, the motorcycles chugging along trailing smoke, the rows of tall buildings rising one after another, and the various signs and advertisements on both sides of the street. Su Cheng and his wife, Chen Xiulan, felt momentarily dazed.

In those days, ordinary folks hardly ever went to the city throughout the year.

Therefore, every time they came to this city, which was less than thirty kilometers from their home and rapidly developing and changing, they felt a sense of unfamiliarity.

When the bus reached the intersection of Jianshe Street and Xingfu Road, it stopped at a red light.

Su Chunfeng gazed boredly out the window at this city that felt so unfamiliar he seemed to have no memory of it at all. The tall buildings and bustling city scenes that amazed his parents and younger brother were, to Su Chunfeng, just buildings of five or six, seven or eight stories, with none exceeding ten floors. Compared to the Pingyang City of his past life, with its dense rows of skyscrapers, the present Pingyang City was nothing more than a backward small county town.

Moreover, the sidewalks on both sides of the road were potholed and uneven, with garbage everywhere. The occasional patch of green lawn was trampled beyond recognition.

Dirty, messy, and chaotic—that was the true picture of the city at that time.

As he mused, Su Chunfeng noticed that at the northeast corner of the intersection, in front of a six-story building that looked freshly painted compared to the nearby structures, the entrance was filled with flower baskets. Less than two meters from the steps below the entrance, a huge string of firecrackers, numbering tens of thousands, was arranged in a circle. A few young people were busy placing a row of large firework tubes—rarely seen in the countryside at that time—along the road facing the entrance.

In front of the three-meter-wide glass doors were nine steps, flanked by stone lions two meters tall.

On one side of the entrance, a silver-gray metal plaque was mounted vertically like those on government buildings, bearing prominent black characters that read: “Pingyang City Hongyun Construction Co., Ltd.”

Seen from afar on the bus, it gave an impression of great grandeur.

Normally, Su Chunfeng would not have paid attention to such scenes. But through the glass doors, seeing the few people standing in the spacious lobby, he couldn’t help but frown slightly. He saw Shi Linheng—Shi Linheng, a resident of Zhongzhou City, the capital of Yuzhou Province, a highly renowned folk Feng Shui Master.

Of course, this so-called renown referred to a time after Su Chunfeng’s past life, when the Jianghu of Esoteric Arts flourished inland, and Shi Linheng’s fame grew greater.

The Five Arts of Metaphysics: Mysticism, Medicine, Fate, Divination, and Physiognomy.

Shi Linheng was a Physiognomy Expert!

This made Su Chunfeng think: practitioners of the Jianghu of Esoteric Arts had already begun to integrate into the great development of society.

As the bus moved on and the office building of “Pingyang City Hongyun Construction Co., Ltd.” quickly disappeared from view, Su Chunfeng closed his eyes slightly and sighed inwardly: “Ah, in the end, I just can’t live a completely peaceful life. No matter when or where, I always think of the Jianghu of Esoteric Arts inadvertently…”

A little after ten o’clock.

The Su family of four arrived at the residential compound for municipal committee staff.

The Chen family on Chen Xiulan’s side had all come here on the second day of the New Year to pay their respects.

It was custom not to visit on the third day. On the fourth, fifth, and sixth days, the married daughters of the old Chen family had agreed on separate days to bring their families to the city to pay New Year respects to Chen Xian.

They had agreed not to go on the same day.

Because they were afraid that too many people would cause clutter and annoy Chen Xian’s family.

As commoners, whenever they saw Chen Xian, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe, which made them feel inferior and restrained. Even when they met Chen Xian’s children, the relatives from the countryside felt somewhat ashamed. In short, coming here made people uncomfortable.

But as juniors, they had to come to pay New Year respects during the holiday. It was the most basic courtesy!

Standing at the door, Su Cheng hesitated briefly before ringing the doorbell.

Soon, the door opened.

It was opened by Chen Xian’s wife, Jiang Ruying, who had served as the vice principal of Pingyang City Second High School and was now retired and at home.

She wore gold-rimmed glasses and casual home clothes. Due to good living conditions and daily upkeep, her medium-length, slightly permed hair was jet black and shiny. The signs of aging on her fair face were not very obvious; she looked like a woman from the countryside who had just passed forty-five or forty-six. But her family background and status gave Jiang Ruying an elegant grace far beyond that of the farming women in the countryside.

“Happy New Year, Third Aunt,” Chen Xiulan and her husband called out respectfully.

Su Chunfeng and his younger brother also greeted politely: “Happy New Year, Grandma.”

“Good, good,” Jiang Ruying replied with a faint smile, politely saying, “It’s cold outside. Come in quickly.” There was no enthusiastic display of warmth upon meeting relatives, but neither was there coldness or annoyance. However, Su Chunfeng could tell that Jiang Ruying’s kind and graceful demeanor came naturally due to her own upbringing; she would never act in a mean way, even if, deep down, she felt extreme disgust.

“Old Chen, Xiulan and her family are here,” Jiang Ruying called toward the inner study, then turned her head and said, “Don’t stand on ceremony. Please, sit down.”

Su Cheng and Chen Xiulan stood respectfully in the living room and did not sit.

Su Chunfeng also tightly grabbed his curious younger brother, who was looking around, making him stand properly. Su Chunyu, still childlike, looked around the room and said, “Third Maternal Grandfather’s house is really warm.”

“Be quiet!” Su Cheng frowned and scolded.

It was a spacious apartment of over 120 square meters, with three bedrooms and two living rooms.

The walls were painted snow white, with yellowish-brown wood-grained floor tiles, a floral-patterned ceiling lamp, and elegant curtains. On one side of the living room stood a dark brown wooden sofa and coffee table in a classical style. Opposite, on a black TV cabinet, was a 21-inch large color TV. In the corner of the room, there was a dark red large clock.

Everything made the people from the countryside feel luxurious and envious.

Soon, Chen Xian emerged from the study. He was of medium height, with thick eyebrows reaching toward his temples, bright and piercing eyes, a high nose bridge, a deep philtrum, and thick lips. His body and face were slightly plump, and he wore casual home clothes. Years in politics and holding official positions gave Chen Xian, who appeared casual and amiable, a natural, invisible yet truly existing aura of awe—this was the so-called Official Authority, a domineering presence.

“Xiulan and Chengzi are here,” Chen Xian said lightly, then sat on the sofa and gestured, “Sit down. Skip those old customs.”

Chen Xiulan and Su Cheng smiled respectfully and said, “We should still kowtow. It’s only once a year.”

As they spoke, the couple knelt down: “We pay New Year respects to Third Uncle and Third Aunt.”

Su Chunfeng and his younger brother also knelt: “We pay New Year respects to Third Maternal Grandfather and Third Maternal Grandmother.”

“Good,” Chen Xian nodded with apparent kindness, then looked at his wife standing nearby and said, “Go get the New Year money for the children…”

“Alright,” Jiang Ruying turned and went to the inner room to get the money.

The four members of the Su family had already stood up and, at Chen Xian’s gesture, sat respectfully on the sofa.

There was no polite small talk. The living room was very quiet.

This made the Su family of four feel awkward.

Chen Xian did not have deep feelings for these relatives from his hometown, especially the younger ones. Moreover, in the first few years after he was discharged from the army and assigned to work in the county, the younger relatives from his hometown often came to him, always wanting him to help arrange jobs or similar matters, which Chen Xian greatly disliked. His dislike did not stem from his own high moral standing and refusal to abuse power for personal gain, but rather—what can I give you, and what can you give me?

Soon, Jiang Ruying brought out two crisp new ten-yuan bills and handed one each to Su Chunfeng and Su Chunyu.

Su Chunyu happily accepted it: “Thank you, Grandma.” In those days, an ordinary rural child having ten yuan in their pocket brought a sense of joy like that of a nouveau riche. Even though they knew the money wouldn’t stay in their pocket for long—it would be taken by their parents—having it in their pocket for a while was still a pleasure.

Su Chunfeng, however, did not take the money. He shook his head and smiled politely: “Thank you, Grandma. I’ve grown up now. I don’t need New Year money.”

Jiang Ruying was taken aback. Su Chunfeng’s reaction was completely unexpected—the children from the old Chen family in the countryside, whenever they came, would almost rush to grab the New Year money when offered. Last year when Su Chunfeng came, his eyes had also shone with joy and excitement at the sight of the money. But now, Jiang Ruying only felt that the child looked strange, very mature. However, she didn’t think much of it and smiled, “Oh, how old are you now, acting like a little adult? Hurry up and take it.”

“Really, I don’t want it,” Su Chunfeng shook his head.

He knew that the family of four had come all this way by bus to kowtow and pay New Year respects, but they wouldn’t stay in this household for long, let alone be invited for lunch. So, he didn’t want Chen Xian and his wife to look down on them—thinking this family came to kowtow just to earn some New Year money!

Su Chunfeng’s insistence startled Jiang Ruying. For a moment, she didn’t know whether to take the money back or force it into the hands of this child who, though young, had a particularly special look and demeanor.

“Forget it. If he doesn’t want it, so be it,” Chen Xian said, not concerned about such matters.

“Really sensible,” Jiang Ruying smiled and praised, then did not insist on giving it.

Su Cheng and Chen Xiulan exchanged a glance, their expressions full of gratification—their child had grown up. Being able to resist the temptation of money at such a young age in the home of this stern, high-ranking elder in the city could be considered bringing face to his parents.

After that, the two families finally began to talk, awkwardly and superficially.

But Chen Xian basically didn’t speak, only glancing at Su Chunfeng a couple more times inadvertently. The conversation was mostly carried by Jiang Ruying’s smiling inquiries. However, neither in words nor expression did Chen Xian or Jiang Ruying show any intention of inviting the Su family to stay for lunch.

Su Cheng and his wife were already used to this and had prepared themselves mentally, so they didn’t mind. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they led the children to stand up and say goodbye.

Only then did Jiang Ruying politely urge them to stay: “Why not have lunch at home?”

Chen Xian, however, sat there without speaking.

“No, we have things to attend to back home…” Su Cheng and his wife politely declined.

Su Chunfeng, who deeply disliked this family, was the first to reach the door. He turned the handle and pushed.

Just then, a young woman who looked about twenty-three or twenty-four, wearing a white down jacket, opened the door and was about to step in, almost colliding with Su Chunfeng.

As soon as Su Chunfeng saw this woman, he instinctively frowned. His left hand formed a seal at his side, and his right hand rose to his chest, the middle finger bending to meet the thumb, the other three fingers slightly raised and gently pushing forward—because he saw that a shadowy, mist-like aura enveloped this woman.