Miss Su, who allowed you to leave the house?
The two tall and mighty men looked like two door gods. Su Huaihai glanced at them and didn't dare to go any further.
I had no choice but to walk slowly and dejectedly towards home, feeling puzzled.
"Father, where have you been? Mother and I couldn't find you anywhere! We thought you were addicted to gambling and had secretly gone to the gambling den without our knowledge."
Su Zhaoming saw Su Huaihai returning home from afar and finally breathed a sigh of relief. He was able to walk to the door safely, so his father must not have gone to the gambling house.
These days, he has been following Su Qingli's instructions and always on guard against his father sneaking out alone.
But today, a job that could earn him some money came to him, so he asked his mother to take care of it. When he finished the work and returned home, he found that his father was missing.
"Zhao Ming, your father has already given up gambling, why are you still on guard against him?" Su Huaihai denied it angrily. Anyway, he couldn't enter any gambling house in the capital, and he didn't know who was behind this.
"Master, it's good that you can quit. We are all doing this for your own good. Gambling houses are not good places. They are dens of money, like money-eating beasts."
Mrs. Su tried to persuade him earnestly, saying that their family was very poor now, unlike before, and they could only make ends meet. How could they have so much money for Su Huaihai to squander?
"It's not as serious as my lady said..." Su Huaihai stopped talking as soon as he opened his mouth. Looking at the two pairs of eyes staring at him, his heart skipped a beat and he almost gave himself away.
"Father, you're old now, you should be at home enjoying your retirement and letting Zhaoming fulfill his filial duties. Why are you going to that gambling house?"
Su Qingli heard the conversation between the three people from a few meters away. She was afraid that her father Su Huaihai was not being honest again, because she saw Su Huaihai's eyes flickering.
"Li'er, your father didn't go to the gambling house. That happened a few days ago. Your father has changed his ways." Su Huaihai looked aggrieved and wronged, his old face full of wrinkles.
Now that things have come to this, Su Qingli can't pursue the matter further.
Her younger brother, Su Zhaoming, approached Su Qingli and asked with joy, "Sister, you haven't come to see us for a long time. What have you been doing these days? Are you busy with business?"
Su Qingli hid the darkness in her eyes. To appease her loved ones, she had no choice but to tell a white lie, "I have been busy with business these days and have neglected you. I hope Father and Mother will not be offended."
Qingzhu, who was standing behind her, felt sorry for Su Qingli in her heart, and lamented how her young lady had lived a decent and glorious life in the past, but now lived a miserable life.
Even when suffering humiliation, one cannot confide in the closest people.
"Li'er, you work hard to earn money to support the family. You're such a great kid. How could we blame you?"
Mrs. Su is a woman after all. Her husband is in debt, while her daughter has become rich through hard work. In comparison, the elderly Su Huaihai seems too ignorant.
Fortunately, there is a future son-in-law who is willing to clean up Su Huaihai's mess, so they are spared from being chased by the gambling house for debt collection.
Speaking of money, Su Huaihai couldn't help but think of Xie Linyuan, who was engaged to his daughter. "Li'er, I'm not saying anything bad about you, but you're putting off this good marriage at the General's Mansion and insisting on going into business. How much money can a woman like you make? If you marry A-Lin, our family will be safe and sound."
"Father, have you forgotten what I said last time?" It would have been fine if Su Huaihai hadn't mentioned Xie Linyuan, but when he did, the fire in her heart was ignited. "We in the Su family are not beggars. We have hands and feet and can support ourselves."
"You, child, are still so stubborn even at this point. Your father is no longer the Marquis, and you are no longer the most distinguished daughter of the capital. Your only way out is to marry A-Lin as soon as possible!"
Su Huaihai sighed. Although he was greedy for money and loved gambling, he was very clear about his daughter's lifelong affairs. Xie Linyuan was good in everything, not to mention how he treated the Su family.
"Li'er, your father is right. The marriage proposal from the General's Mansion is a good one. Marrying A-Lin will provide you with security, and it will also fulfill our wish."
Seeing that the father and daughter each insisted on their own opinion, Mrs. Su acted as a peacemaker, smiling and holding Su Qingli's hand to persuade them.
The whole family hopes that Su Qingli can find a good home, and Xie Linyuan is the best choice so far.
However, Su Qingli has forgotten about Xie Linyuan for two years. Now she only wants to focus on her business. Even if she faces many obstacles, she will move forward bravely.
"Sister, my father and mother are all thinking about you. I also think that General Xie is a good man worthy of your lifelong trust. He is not as conscienceless as Fu Xuechen, who would abandon you after getting promoted."
Her younger brother Su Zhaoming also didn't want her to work too hard. Although he supported Su Qingli in doing business to make a living, business was not easy, and Su Qingli's business didn't seem to be improving.
"Don't worry about me. I know you all mean well. We can discuss General Xie's engagement later. Once I sell these sachets, I'll give General Xie an answer."
Su Qingli was filled with worry. It was still unknown when the sachets could be sold, but she could not be discouraged, so she said a few words to delay time.
With this, Su Huaihai received a slightly more specific answer and no longer mentioned the engagement. He changed the subject and said, "Li'er, please stay. It will be dinner time soon. I'll ask your mother to prepare a table of food so that we can have a family reunion dinner together."
Su Qingli nodded in agreement and stayed in this shabby house, having a pleasant and ordinary lunch with the family.
This heartwarming scene moved her and made her reluctant to leave. The time they had spent together was short, so after calming down, she had to go back to the Prime Minister's Mansion.
After saying goodbye to their families, Su Qingli and Qingzhu walked back to the Prime Minister's Mansion.
"Miss Su, who allowed you to leave the house?"
The vermilion lacquered door was opened with a creaking tune by the servants. Liu Meishuang stood in front of the gate to block Su Qingli, and she raised her chin arrogantly.
She had forgotten all the warnings Fu Xuechen had given her, but she just didn't believe that Fu Xuechen would really disregard their precious childhood friendship and be so rude to her.
"Miss Liu hasn't officially married the Prime Minister yet, so don't act like you're his legitimate wife and try to scare me. As long as you're not married, you're just a guest at the Prime Minister's house."
Su Qingli raised her eyebrows fearlessly, glared at Liu Meishuang, and hated her viciousness.
As a woman, she is most averse to collaborating with men to use those despicable means. Why should women make things difficult for other women?
After hearing this, Liu Meishuang angrily cursed, "Be careful or I'll tear your dog mouth apart, Miss Su. You're just a lowly servant, so you'd better not talk about your masters' affairs. It's not your turn to interrupt!"
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