The door opened, and the butler, who had been standing at the door, walked to the car and opened the door.
A man and a woman got off the bus. One was wearing a Zhongshan suit and the other was wearing a cheongsam. They looked to be in their fifties or sixties. The woman was better dressed and looked to be only in her forties.
"It takes so long to open a door." Qin Huai'an leaned on his dragon-headed cane, his face tense, his tone revealing undisguised dissatisfaction.
"I'm afraid some shady characters will come in, so I always have to make sure they're not there before opening the door," Meng Wan retorted without hesitation.
"Little brat, you've got a sharp tongue. Don't let it get you into trouble one day." Luo Juan raised her eyes slightly, speaking slowly but with a hint of sarcasm.
"It's understandable for young people to be outspoken, but some people who rely on their age to act superior are just annoying." Meng Wan said with a smile, but her words were pointed.
"Are you Meng Wan?" Qin Huai'an asked.
"Yes," Meng Wan replied, neither humble nor arrogant.
"Don't get complacent with a little success." Luo Juan snorted. Although Qin Yi looked somewhat like her, Qin Yi's features were softer, unlike Luo Juan, who, even in a cheongsam, didn't have much of a scholarly air. Instead, she gave off an air of haughty arrogance.
"I remember, there wasn't even anyone in the Qin family of this generation who could be complacent, was there?"
Faced with Luo Juan's clearly targeted remarks, Meng Wan simply stated the facts calmly.
Luo Juan's words had no effect on her, but to Luo Juan, they were like thorns being driven even deeper into her heart.
"You!" Luo Juan's expression changed, and she was about to say something when Qin Yi's voice came from behind Meng Wan.
"Dad, Mom." Qin Yi, like a child who had done something wrong, clasped her hands together in front of her, with Meng Boqun following behind her.
"Hmph." Luo Juan didn't give Qin Yi a friendly look either. Qin Huai'an, on the other hand, remained expressionless, giving a curt reply and maintaining his aloof demeanor.
Qin Yi felt somewhat embarrassed, fidgeting with her fingers. The long-standing oppression, despite her having escaped for a long time, had left her with a lingering fear and unease that had seeped into her bones.
Meng Boqun patted Qin Yi on the back, offering silent comfort.
"I wonder what brings my parents-in-law here so late?"
"Having never received higher education, do you really think you can chat with your elders at the door?" Qin Huai'an tapped the floor with his cane, his words full of disdain for Meng Boqun.
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the Meng couple turned sour. Meng Zhiyao, who was very sensitive to changes in people's emotions and the atmosphere of the environment, nervously tightened her grip on Meng Wan's hand.
"After all, I've never seen an uninvited guest before."
Now it was Qin Huai'an and Luo Juan who changed their expressions.
"Please come in, you two... elders."
Before Qin Huai'an could speak, Meng Wan gave up her seat.
"Hmph! What a well-raised daughter." Qin Huai'an, leaning on his cane, walked ahead and snorted coldly as he passed Qin Yi.
Qin Yi pursed her lips, lowered her eyes, and didn't look at him.
"Mom, are you alright?" Meng Wan noticed that something was wrong with Qin Yi.
Qin Yi shook her head and forced a smile. "That's just how they talk. Don't take it to heart. You and Yaoyao can just go into the room later. We'll take care of the rest."
Meng Wan shook her head, "Go inside and draw, I'll come find you in a bit."
The words were spoken to Meng Zhiyao.
Meng Zhiyao always treated Meng Wan's words as sacred decrees and would never resist them.
A group of people entered the house, while Meng Wan only came out after calming the uneasy Meng Zhiyao. At that time, Luo Juan was complaining that the fruit Qin Yi had cut was sour and astringent, not as good as imported fruit.
The fruit was picked by Qin Yi at the fruit shop early in the morning; it was the best batch, with all kinds of varieties. The customers who came today all praised it, and some were even taken away by them. It was impossible for it to be sour and unpalatable as Luo Juan said.
When Meng Wan walked over, Luo Juan was still complaining. She didn't hold the fruit plate, but instead picked it up directly, seeing that it was half empty.
"What are you doing?" Luo Juan asked, her face dark.
"Didn't anyone teach you not to be picky about food?" Even Meng Wan was speechless looking at the messy fruit plate.
Seeing the holes poked in the fruit, Meng Wan stepped into the trash can and dumped the rest of the fruit into it.
"You!" Luo Juan tried to stand up, but Meng Wan gave her a threatening look.
Luo Juan gritted her teeth and threw the fork on the table, using this small action to vent her dissatisfaction.
"Do you need some imported water? I'm sorry, we don't have any at home. I'm afraid it will contaminate your mouth, so I'll just throw this water away."
As he spoke, he poured the water from his glass into the tea tray right in front of her.
"Qin Yi! Is this the good daughter you raised?" Luo Juan was furious. She slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly, startling Qin Yi.
"How can it not be?" Meng Wan smiled, but there was no smile in her eyes.
"Luo Juan, sit down." Qin Huai'an tapped his cane as he saw the situation becoming tense.
Although Luo Juan was angry, she could only glare at Meng Wan before sitting down after Qin Huai'an spoke.
Seeing this, Meng Wan sat down on the sofa next to her.
"I didn't expect you to redeem this house." Qin Huai'an took a sip of water, glanced up at the layout of the house, and said in a nonchalant tone.
"Yes, Zhiyuan is promising. He bought it. The renovation was done by the children themselves," Meng Boqun replied.
"He's much more successful than you."
The Meng couple felt somewhat embarrassed upon hearing this.
"Unlike you two, who are old and still can't enjoy your retirement. The younger generation of the Qin family are probably still being fed by you two."
Meng Boqun and Qin Yi found it difficult to speak to their elders, but Meng Wan had no such concerns.
"Is there something you two have come here on purpose?" Meng Boqun didn't think these two stubborn old men would suddenly change their minds.
In all the years they've been married, the Qin family has never visited. They didn't even lend a hand when their family was at its lowest point. Now that they've suddenly come, no one would believe they're here for no reason.
As expected, Qin Huai'an turned his gaze to Meng Wan.
"I heard that your youngest son was able to get into Berlin because of Meng Wan's arrangement?"
The Meng couple paused, but remained silent. They weren't afraid of anyone else coming at them, but clearly, these two were targeting Meng Wan.
They dared not nod, fearing it would cause trouble for Meng Wan.
"Yes, so what?"
Just as he was about to speak, Meng Wan spoke up and agreed.
"At the exhibition a couple of days ago, Principal Lin Cen from Berlin mentioned you. What is your relationship with him?"
"What do you think?" Meng Wan asked in return.
“Your cousin studied art abroad, but the situation there isn’t very good right now, so we’re planning to have him come back to study. I’ve looked into it, and Berlin seems pretty good, but he needs a letter of recommendation. Perfect timing, could you write one for him?”
Qin Huai'an spoke in a nonchalant tone, as if his request was perfectly reasonable.
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