lcionline Chapter 1877 Mu Family Notes
Chapter 1877 Mu Family Notes
Li Xiangnan's mind raced, and he quickly put on a perfectly appropriate expression of surprise as he strode toward the Intermediate People's Court.
"Uncle Shangguan! You've arrived! Please, please come in!"
As he greeted them, he secretly adjusted his breathing, concealing all his vigilance and scheming deep within his eyes.
When Shangguan Wuji appeared under the moon gate, his aura of authority, accustomed to his high position, immediately enveloped him.
He was dressed in a dark gray Zhongshan suit, which was perfectly ironed and spotless, and he walked with a steady gait.
However, the moment he stepped into the central courtyard, his calm eyes became like the most precise probes, scanning the entire courtyard with unwavering speed and precision.
He swept over every corner where people might be hiding, from the roof tiles being renovated, the baby diapers drying in the sun, the quilts with the character for "double happiness" hanging on the clothesline, and the festive, busy people. Even behind door curtains and stacks of firewood, he swept them all over.
Behind Shangguan Wuji followed a taciturn, sharp-eyed, hat-wearing attendant carrying a gift tray covered with red silk.
"Young friend Xiang Nan, I hope my visit has been uninvited and not a disturbance."
Shangguan Wuji approached, a formulaic, gentle smile on his face, and loudly extended his large palm.
Li Xiangnan smiled warmly, keenly noticing the scrutinizing look deep in the man's eyes, but remained calm and said, "Uncle Shangguan, your presence is an honor to my humble abode. How could it be an intrusion? The main house is currently undergoing roof renovations. Please come with me to my residence in the backyard. I hope you won't find it inappropriate!"
"No, no!" Shangguan Wuji laughed heartily, patted Li Xiangnan on the back, and followed him to the backyard. After falling a step behind Li Xiangnan, he silently glanced at his attendant.
The other person shook their head slightly.
"Please have a seat, I'll make some tea!" Li Xiangnan invited Shangguan Wuji and his servant into the house and immediately went to make tea.
After smiling and taking his seat, Shangguan Wuji's gaze scanned every piece of furniture in the room with meticulous care, like a scanner.
They appeared to be admiring the layout and furniture of the house, but in reality, they were searching for any trace that did not belong to this ordinary family.
For example, special tea sets, items bearing the marks of special organizations, photos hanging on the wall that shouldn't be there, or even the presence of medicinal scents for the elderly in the air...
Noticing that Li Xiangnan had returned with the tea, Shangguan Wuji stood up to take the tea, said a few polite words, and then sat down and said with a smile, "Young friend Xiangnan, you are so young, yet you have achieved success in your career and have a happy family. Now you have a daughter, and your home must be very lively these days. The old and the young, the laughter and joy, this is the greatest happiness we seek in life!"
He deliberately emphasized the word "old man," and his gaze inadvertently drifted to the curtain leading to the inner room.
Li Xiangnan knew perfectly well what was going on.
Shangguan Wuji's visit this time is probably for reconnaissance purposes, likely to confirm whether Grandma has secretly returned.
It should be noted that he and Shangguan Wuji were hardly friends, and their meetings were always filled with hostility, a fact both sides tacitly understood.
Now that the other party has come to offer their congratulations, he can't very well refuse. As the saying goes, one can't hit a smiling face, especially since the other party has some status in Yanjing.
Li Xiangnan smiled modestly, then handed a cup of tea to the attendant, saying with a smile, "I'm only able to have such a lively atmosphere at home thanks to everyone's blessings; it's mainly the children who bring the joy!"
He attributed all the excitement to the children, directly avoiding Shangguan Wuji's attempt to shift the topic to the elderly.
"Yes, the addition of a new member to the family is a joyous occasion!" Shangguan Wuji lifted the lid of his teacup, blew on the steam, took a sip, and pursed his lips. His tone was wistful and reminiscent. "Seeing you all like this reminds me of some old friends! Especially your grandmother Huanying. If she were here, seeing four generations of the Li family together, she would be so gratified. Speaking of which, she's been away from the capital for quite some time now, and we, her acquaintances, don't know how she's doing... Ah, it's truly something to miss!"
As he spoke, he kept his eyes fixed on Li Xiangnan, barely daring to miss the slightest change in his expression.
This was both a genuine expression of feelings and a blatant attempt to extract information about Mu Huanying from Li Xiangnan.
Li Xiangnan sneered inwardly, thinking to himself, "My grandmother is as old as you. You're just trying too hard to get close to her."
But he sighed softly, "Thank you for your concern, Uncle Shangguan. Grandma would be so happy if she knew! Alas, everyone has their own fate. We, as the younger generation, can only pray that she is safe and healthy. We don't ask for much else!"
Li Xiangnan's answer was watertight, expressing both friendliness and strict discipline, and he did not directly answer Shangguan Wuji's question, leaving him no leverage to exploit.
A barely perceptible hint of anxiety flashed in Shangguan Wuji's eyes. This Li Xiangnan was a headache for him every time they negotiated; he was much more difficult to deal with than he had imagined.
He chuckled, took a sip of tea, and said it was fragrant. He then casually changed the subject and began the second round of probing.
"Speaking of which, young friend Xiangnan's Nianwei Hospital has gained a great reputation. Even some of my old friends have praised your medical skills!" He suddenly slammed the lid of his teacup shut, making a crisp sound that caught Li Xiangnan's attention. Then, he said earnestly, "But young friend Xiangnan, the bigger the tree, the more the wind blows. You must be careful. I've heard that the Mu family has quite a few old things that people are eyeing. I heard that your hospital had another accident a few days ago? Do you need my help to mediate? After all, you have a family to support now, and you need a stable environment!"
These words were full of hidden meaning. First, they vaguely mentioned old items, linking the hospital's turmoil to stability, implying that Li Xiangnan's possession of certain things would bring trouble.
Li Xiangnan's heart was filled with alarm.
Every word that old guy says is purposeful. Isn't he testing whether I know about the ledgers? Using this thing to link me to someone targeting me, Shangguan, you old scoundrel, you've really gone to great lengths!
Damn it, I bet you really did this, didn't you?
Li Xiangnan felt contempt in his heart, but on the surface he remained calm and even a little self-deprecating.
"Uncle Lao, you're too kind. It's just a minor oversight in internal management, easily resolved with a little effort! To be honest, as the hospital director, I've been too busy with family matters and haven't been able to take good care of the hospital! After my daughter Xitang's wedding banquet, I'll have to go back and make some serious adjustments. Right now, getting the wedding banquet done is the top priority, because nothing is more important than the child!"
Li Xiangnan pointed out that the matter had been resolved, thus blocking Shangguan Wuji's room to make trouble. He also deliberately created a loophole, saying that he only wanted to take care of the child, further creating the illusion of relaxation. In any case, with the truth and falsehood intertwined, if Shangguan Wuji focused on this aspect, he would be led by the nose.
Shangguan Wuji's gaze narrowed slightly as he carefully considered every word and expression of Li Xiangnan.
This Li Xiangnan is still as calm and collected as ever, speaking with impeccable precision, leaving no room for maneuver. He's a bit of a handful!
His gaze fell on the Li family portrait on the wall, and suddenly an idea came to him. He slowly stood up and walked over.
"Young friend Xiang Nan, as people get older, they become more talkative. Seeing you reminds me of myself back then, and I can't help but want to say a few more words!"
Li Xiangnan chuckled and said, "Uncle, please enlighten me!"
“I remember your grandmother Huanying. She left in such a hurry that she didn’t leave many things behind! It’s said that she had some notes that recorded the old stories of the Mu family!”
"Now that times have changed, and the Mu family went through a turbulent period, these things are scattered and if they fall into the hands of people who shouldn't know them, it might cause unnecessary trouble!"
"You now have a large and prosperous family, a beautiful wife and young daughter, but the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease! Look, you haven't been settled in Yanjing for very long, yet the turmoil continues! Whether it's a blessing or a curse is still unknown, and you need to make a decision as soon as possible!"
boom!
Li Xiangnan's pupils suddenly contracted!
The blood in my body froze in that instant!
"Notes recording the past of the Mu family?"
Is this the true identity of the ledger or just a feint by Shangguan Wuji?