During this period, Shan Lian stayed at the Shan family's house and did not return to Guo Zhen's house for more than half a month. Guo Zhen was busy with work and could not catch her, so he could only visit the Shan family's house.
When the talented man arrived at the Shan family, Shan Yingguo, who was at home, looked at him with eyes as sharp as knives.
Even if Guo Zhen wanted to say something to Shan Yingguo, Shan Yingguo would only give a cold smile, then turn around and leave, not saying another word to him.
Shan Yingguo's attitude towards him was understandable, since Guo Zhen had brought that troublemaker Liu Yinyin to the Shan family.
If Guo Zhen hadn't been unable to control himself, his son Shan Fangdu wouldn't still be lying in a hospital bed, his life hanging in the balance.
The only person in the Shan family who treated him even better was Shan Lian.
She knew that her uncle and aunt were angry with Guo Zhen, so she led Guo Zhen to her side and said, "Grandpa hasn't gotten off work yet, Dad, is there something you need?"
Guo Zhen looked at Shan Lian and said, "Xiao Lian, you are my daughter."
Shan Lian nodded. "Of course, I know, Dad."
Seeing that she didn't understand what he meant at all, Guo Zhen rubbed his temples in exasperation and said, "I remember you and Jiang Ci are colleagues, and you two have a pretty good relationship?"
Dan Lian tilted her head suspiciously. "Yes, Dad, why are you saying this?"
Guo Zhen smiled and said, "It's nothing, I just suddenly thought of this. By the way, has Jiang Ci asked you about our family? Like your grandfather, and me?"
Shan Lian got angry. "Although Jiang Ci is a bit gossipy and loves to listen to others' gossip, she's a good comrade with principles! She has never asked me about my family or anything like that!"
"If it weren't for an older female colleague in our company talking about these things, Jiang Ci wouldn't even know what my relationship with you is, or that I'm from the Shan family!"
“Dad, I know you’re suspicious, but Jiang Ci is a good person!” Shan Lian tried to speak up for Jiang Ci. “She always told me that I have a talent for painting, and that my drawings were approved by the leaders immediately. She said that I could further my studies and that I could go abroad to study at an art academy. Dad, she’s not the kind of person you think she is!”
After listening to her long explanation, Guo Zhen asked, "Jiang Ci sent you abroad to study?"
Shan Lian paused for a moment, then said, "Yes."
Guo Zhen's face tightened, and his expression darkened.
Back before the Lunar New Year, when Guo Zhen and Jiang Ci had their first conversation at a dinner with several colleagues, Jiang Ci said something to him.
She said, "Shan Lian can continue her studies in art. Don't you really want to consider sending her abroad to study?"
Jiang Ci, so selflessly suggesting that his daughter go abroad—is this really something someone who harbors a grudge against him would say?!
Jiang Ci is still urging his daughter to go abroad...
She must have done it on purpose.
Could it be that she plans to use her connections with some aristocratic friends abroad to have Shan Lian arrested after he is sent abroad, and then use him as leverage to force him and the Shan family to submit?
The more Guo Zhen thought about it, the more likely it seemed.
He said sternly to Shan Lian, "From now on, don't hang out with Jiang Ci anymore! And don't listen to her nonsense!"
Shan Lian's eyes widened in disbelief. "What are you saying?!"
Guo Zhen ignored what she was saying and said sternly, "Did you understand?"
Dan Lian was naturally unhappy to be yelled at like that by her own father and to have her social life controlled. She pursed her lips, turned around, and left.
"Shan Lian! Don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're gone! Remember what I said! Do you hear me!"
Guo Zhen was met with Shan Lian's increasingly faster and faster retreating figure.
Guo Zhen was furious with this good-for-nothing, unfilial daughter. Just as he was about to follow her, he heard a stern voice behind him, "Guo Zhen! You've come to cause trouble at my Shan family's house, haven't you!"
Guo Zhen paused, turned around, and saw that Shan Shengshuo had returned at some point and was standing not far away.
"Uncle Shan..."
Guo Zhen stopped in his tracks and stood there shouting.
Dan Shengshuo walked over with his hands behind his back. "Why are you yelling at Xiaolian? She's your own daughter! Why are you shouting at her?!"
"No, Uncle Shan, you've misunderstood me," Guo Zhen said in a low voice. "I got some information and came to talk to Xiao Lian. She's become too stubborn lately and won't listen to me at all."
Shan Shengshuo sneered, "Are you implying that I spoiled Xiaolian too much?"
"I wouldn't dare."
"I think you're quite bold!" Shan Shengshuo said coldly. "If it weren't for you, would Xiaolian have lost her mother at birth? If you were to raise Xiaolian, what kind of person would you raise her? Would you find her a stepmother?"
Guo Zhen listened as Shan Shengshuo flipped through the old almanac, pursing his lips and remaining silent.
Dan Shengshuo turned and walked out, saying, "Don't hang around in front of me for a while, or you'll just cause me trouble."
Guo Zhen didn't leave, but chased after him directly. "Uncle Shan, I know you resent me, but what I've recently discovered concerns the future of both our families, and I can't keep it from you."
Dan Shengshuo looked at him coldly, but ultimately did not send him away.
Guo Zhen followed Shan Shengshuo's steps, saying as they walked, "Uncle Shan... there's something I've never told you."
"I didn't find that jade seal. It was Liu Yinyin who came to me with the jade seal when Xia Lei was arrested, offering it in exchange for Xia Lei's release from prison."
Upon hearing this, Shan Shengshuo stopped abruptly, his brows furrowing. "What did you say?!"
“I’m telling the truth. Liu Yinyin and Xia Lei were both sent-down youth in Shanding Brigade, which is located in Zhongmo Town. That’s where Huang Zhiyuan discovered the jade seal.”
Dan Shengshuo's eyes turned slightly cold. "What are you trying to say?"
Guo Zhen continued, "After Fang Du was arrested, Xia Lei and Liu Yinyin were taken away for interrogation for nearly a month. I felt something was wrong. Some time ago, they were released and the investigation into Fang Du's case was carried out. So I asked someone to go and see the two of them in person."
"Liu Yinyin said that those people asked them about the origin of the jade seal."
Dan Shengshuo trembled slightly, his face showing a solemn expression.
Seeing that he took the matter seriously, Guo Zhen continued, "He told me again about the origin of the jade seal. I think that since Huang Zhiyuan hid the jade seal, he must have left traces in Zhongmo Town for people to find. Since Liu Yinyin accidentally obtained the jade seal, could the traces Huang Zhiyuan left in Zhongmo Town have also been found? And the news about the jade seal was also brought to the capital. So after Liu Yinyin and Xia Lei were arrested, the higher-ups took Liu Yinyin and the others away for questioning."
Shan Shengshuo's voice was heavy, "What have you discovered?"
Guo Zhen said in a low voice, "Jiang Ci has a son in his family. He also has the surname Huang and is named Huang Zheyue. He is Huang Zhiyuan's son."
"The Jiang family, like Liu Yinyin, were outsiders who moved from Zhongmo Town to Beijing."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
