Chapter 341 - From Now On... (1/2)

Chapter 341 From Now On…In winter, the fog was rarely seen in the coastal cities, which was unlike those inland cities, especially those with a poor geographical environment. As a result, whenever winter came, it would be the busiest time of the year for the southern coastal cities, especially many cities like Hainan. Somebody even jokingly called Sanya a special administrative region of the three provinces in Northeastern China.

However, though the rich could go to the south to pass the winter days, the ordinary had no choice but to put up with the fog. Besides, the gap between the rich and the poor became wider and wider, making the contradictory conditions more and more obvious.

As a coastal city in the north, the winter in Tsingtao was somewhat cold. However, at least it was not foggy at all, which could be counted as a blessing. If the weather were much better, it would be much more comfortable, which was true for the weather over the past few days.

Today was another brand new day. As the sun rose from sea level, most of the people knew that the weather today was going to be good again, which was almost the same as it was a few days ago. To the majority of the people, there was no difference between today and the usual days at all. However, to some people, today was destined to be an unforgettable day in their lives.

As some got married, some became parents, some broke up and got dumped, and some lost their relatives today, Qin Ran was going to accomplish today what she had fantasized about many times for more than 20 years. In the future, she would not suffer from any torture anymore.

As for Qin Sheng, there was a slight difference between today and his former days. That was because he was still a captive today and was waiting to see how the Song family would deal with him. However, he did not know that today would be the turning point of his life. From now on, there would be a vast difference between his current life and his future one.

After Qin Ran took a shower and got herself changed, she stood in front of the French windows and stared at the faraway sea. Weather like this was rarely seen in the winter days in Beijing. It was unknown whether it was because the weather was good or she was going to reconcile with her brother that she was in a pretty good mood.

Standing in front of the French windows, Qin Ran became absent-minded gradually. She was thinking about many things, including what the scene would be like when she met Qin Sheng a while later, how Qin Sheng would react, and what they were going to talk about with each other. She was thinking that after they went back to Beijing, she definitely would take Qin Sheng to the old house first so that he could recollect all the memories of his childhood. Besides that, she would take Qin Sheng to sweep the grave for their mother. After that, she would take him to meet their grandmother, uncle, and so on.

It was not until Qin Ran’s mobile rang out that she finally came to her senses and did not know whether she should cry or laugh. She thought she was acting too rashly. Everything needed to be done slowly on the condition that Qin Sheng needed to accept this reality and his identity first.

Gongsun said in a low voice, “Ran Ran. We are already in the hall waiting for you.” He felt more excited than he did normally. As long as Qin Sheng went back to the Qin family, Qin Ran definitely would go back to live in the Qin family as well. In that case, the siheyuan would become busy in the future and would be no longer desolate.

A few minutes later, Qin Ran went downstairs and linked up with Nan Gong and Gongsun in the hall. Zhuang Zhou had gone to the parking lot to drive the car back. They would go to see the Song family together today.

After Nan Gong saw Qin Ran, she praised her sincerely by saying, “Sister, you are so beautiful today.” To her, there was no difference between today and her previous days. But she knew what today meant to Qin Ran.

Qin Ran smiled gently as she asked, “Could it be that I was not beautiful before?” She was meticulously dressed today and looked at herself in the mirror again and again. This was because she might have been too excited or she had wanted to show her best side in front of Qin Sheng.

Nan Gong held Qin Ran’s arms immediately and said intimately, “Of course I didn’t mean that. Sister has been quite beautiful before. However, you are much beautiful today, and that’s all. One who doesn’t know the ins and outs would think you are going on a date.”

Gongsun by their side smiled and teased them as he said, “Today is far more important than a date.” Even if Qin Ran were going on a date today, she would not give a damn about it at all. Moreover, never had she been on a date, except for the group of sworn followers and childhood friends. She seldom saw any man. Though there were many young and talented men in Sijiu City, they all became her friends in the end.

Nan Gong covered her mouth and laughed cutely. She dared not make fun of Qin Ran. Only Uncle Gongsun was qualified to do that.

It was not until Zhuang Zhou had driven the car to the entrance at this time that Qin Ran, Gongsun, and Nan Gong walked out of the hotel and got in the car. After that, they drove to No. 8 on Laiyang Road.

It was already nine o’clock by this time. Song Zhiqiu’s father, Song Wushuang, was on his way to No. 8 on Laiyang Road. Song Zhiqiu’s grandfather had given such a name to Song Wushuang, which contained a simple meaning, namely, the noble ones were unique and incomparable in the world. Song Wushuang had become such a gentleman. Among all the members in the Song family in Shandong, he was the most favorable one, whose character was completely different from that of Song Jianing’s father, Song Hongtu. Speaking of the meaning of Song Hongtu’s name, except for the surface meaning, it could be mainly explained by one sentence, namely, building up the glorious foundation throughout the ages, carrying out the magnificent plan, holding a sharp knife in hand, and breaking down all the limitations and obstacles.

After all, Song Hongtu was the first son of the Old Master. At that time, the Song family had been swaying amid a raging storm under that kind of circumstance. Consequently, the Old Master had given such a formidable name to his first son, hoping that he could maintain the Song family’s foundation and develop a better future. When his second son had been born, the Old Master had been in a quite different state, hoping that his second son could become a gentleman and behave well in both his words and deeds. As for his third son, the name that the Old Master had given him was much more simple, which was Song Yishi. This was because Song Yishi had two senior brothers to shoulder all the responsibilities for him, so he should enjoy his life instead of living an exhausting life. The Old Master had hoped that his third son could live merrily for his entire life.

It was unknown whether it was because fate had tricked them or that the Old Master had been capable of foreseeing, but in the end, the Old Master’s three sons had lived the same way as their names indicated. Consequently, the great family with cultural heritage was unique. Culture heritage was everywhere in the kind of family like the Song family. If one was uneducated, one could only give a name like Goudan or Huzi to his children.

The group of people including Song Wushuang had set out from Jinan before six o’clock. That was because Song Wushuang had a routine, who basically would sleep at 10 o’clock every night. Even if he had social interactions, he would not go to bed later than 11 o’clock. The next morning, he would get up at half-past five. After that, he would do exercise, eat breakfast, and start his brand new day.

Song Jianing’s father, Song Hongtu, went to pick up Song Wushuang personally. As two biological brothers, they got along with each other pretty well. To be more exact, all three sons in the Song family got along with each other pretty well. After Old Master Song had passed away, they had acted strictly according to their father’s will. Never had they come into a conflict for the sake of inheritance. In the end, they had taken a portion of their legacies out and founded a family trust fund, which was to provide financial aid for the amazing and young talents of their collateral relatives. As for other portions of their legacies, they had used them in philanthropic businesses. Most importantly, they had dared not act randomly. After all, there was another Senior Uncle in Sijiu City, their father’s younger male cousin, who would watch over them. If they dared to ruin the Song family’s reputation, their Senior Uncle would not treat them kindly.

On their way to No. 8 on Laiyang Road, Song Hongtu and Song Wushuang sat in the back seats of the Bentley and chatted with each other casually. Song Hongtu had big eyes and bushy eyebrows and was also bearded. He had powerful charisma. Song Wushuang was cultured and elegant, who wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses. He looked kind, benevolent, and approachable. Both of them were characteristic and big men in Shandong, whose height was over 1.8 meters. Consequently, their related children were not short at all. Song Jianing was 1.85 meters tall and Song Zhiqiu was 1.7 meters tall. Consequently, the family genes were pretty significant.

Song Hongtu said randomly, “You should stay in Tsingtao for a few more days this time. Some old friends said we should hold a reunion with each other.” He lived in Tsingtao now and Song Wushuang had been living in Jinan all the time.

Song Wushuang shook his head as he said, “If it had not been for Zhiqiu’s issue, I would not have come here. Many issues are going on in Jinan recently. Since the end of the year will be here soon, we should communicate more with some connections. Old Master passed away this year. This year is a pretty special one for us.”

“What you said makes sense. I will come back to Jinan next time. At that time, I will also communicate more with the connections. You should not shoulder all the responsibility.” Song Hongtu got Song Wushuang’s point. Though they had support from the connections in Beijing, the Old Master had passed away this year, making many things become much more unpredictable. It was better if they were more prudent.

Song Wushuang nodded. As two biological brothers, they would discuss many things with each other. Neither of them would act arbitrarily. When it came to how to deal with many things, his brother would always inquire of him and ask for his opinion.

Song Hongtu frowned and asked, “How are you going to deal with this issue?” Two years had passed since the issue had taken place. He had forgotten about Qin Sheng. The ancient jade was the only thing that could bring back his old memories since the Old Master had borne it in mind constantly. As the saying goes, the seniors would strive for vindication, while the juniors did not care about it at all.

Song Wushuang had a pretty big heart and took everything pretty lightly. He frowned as he said, “Honestly speaking, I only want to figure out why he had run away from the wedding at that time. As long as Zhiqiu could forget the past, I won’t have any problems at all. After all, we can’t kill him. Better that we do not meddle in a kind of thing like this. As for the ancient jade, whatever you’d like to do to him, I am OK with it.”

Song Hongtu, who was not that gracious, said straightforwardly, “Because of the ancient jade, the Old Master did not die happily. This lad should be mainly responsible for that. In the first place, we had gotten the ancient jade. He had taken it away conveniently in the end. The group of people sent out by us had been chasing after him for a long time, who had suffered a lot of torture. Consequently, we could not let go of him.”

Song Wushuang shook his hands as he said, “OK. We can talk about it after we meet him.”

First, Song Wushuang came to Tsingtao to deal with the issue of Qin Sheng. Second, he was here to have a good conversation with his daughter. Though she had grown up, nobody in the family could handle her except for her father. She would obey her father’s order.

10 minutes later, Song Hongtu’s Bentley stopped at the entrance of Song Jianing’s villa. Song Zhiqiu and Song Jianing had been waiting for them there. Though Song Jianing acted as if he were his father’s grandson in front of his father, he got along with his uncle pretty well. Sometimes, if he were in conflict with the Old Master, it would always be his uncle who could convince him.

As for Song Zhiqiu, she was the pearl of the whole Song family. Back when she had decided to get engaged to Qin Sheng, it had been easy for the Song family to consent to her. If Qin Sheng were to compare the Song family’s reaction with that of the Lin family, he really should have been grateful for how the Song family had treated him.

After Song Jianing greeted his father, he said smilingly, “Second Uncle, why did you put on weight recently?”

Song Wushuang replied in a low voice, “I’ve been quite occupied in recent days and have not exercised in a long time. Consequently, I put on weight. Your Second Lady nags me about it every day. So you don’t need to bring it up. Otherwise, my daughter would watch over me.”

Song Zhiqiu held Song Wushuang’s arms and said resentfully, “Father, am I an inconsiderate daughter?”

Since Song Hongtu did not have a daughter, he took Song Zhiqiu as his biological daughter, and it was the same with the little girl of his junior brother. Though the little girl just went to high school this year, she was highly favored. After all, two sisters of his, along with himself, all had gotten two sons in their families. Admittedly, the Song family’s lineage was quite prosperous.

Song Hongtu looked cheerful as he said, “Zhiqiu, the reason your father said so is to complain that you did not ever go back to Jinan. You can’t fall into his trap. If you leave here, I will hate it.”

Song Wushuang said in a half-playful manner, “She is my daughter. Why did you take her away from me? If you were capable, you should get your own.”

Song Hongtu felt happy as he said, “See, he is anxious.”

After they had been making fun of each other for a while, all of them went into the villa. Since Song Jianing’s wife and children were not at home, it was pretty quiet inside the villa. After they entered the villa, the atmosphere inside was not as casual as it had been outside, which became somewhat depressing in an instant.

Song Hongtu directly spoke up and asked, “Where is he?”

Song Jianing replied, “Upstairs.”

Song Hongtu waved his hands as he said, “Escort him downstairs.”

Song Jianing winked at his bodyguards immediately. Two bodyguards went upstairs to escort Qin Sheng downstairs accordingly.

Song Zhiqiu took advantage of this opportunity to say, “Father, Eldest Uncle, I’ve forgotten all the things in the past. I also forgave him. So kindly don’t put him on the spot.”

This time, instead of supporting Song Zhiqiu, whom Song Hongtu always spoiled, he said solemnly, “Zhiqiu, as for the issue today, you don’t need to say anything further. Your father and I will decide together how to deal with him. It is none of your business.”

Song Zhiqiu felt stressed as she said, “Eldest Uncle…”

Song Jianing held Song Zhiqiu’s hands and whispered in a low voice, “You should talk later. If you talk now, it will go the other way for you.”

Qin Sheng was escorted downstairs by two bodyguards soon after. His mental state today was far worse than it had been last night. He had not slept at all last night. Firstly, he had thought about many things, including reflecting on the experience during this period, how to overcome the difficulty this time, and which way he should choose next. Secondly, he indeed had not dared to sleep at all, fearing that Song Jianing would pack him into a duffel bag and directly throw him into the sea in the evening.

As he went downstairs, he knew that the seniors of the Song family were here. Since the Old Master of the Song family had passed away, those who would show up would have to be Song Zhiqiu’s father, Eldest Uncle, or Third Uncle. As expected, the Song family’s Big Boss and Lao Er were both sitting squarely on the sofa and waiting for his arrival so that they could deal with him.

Though Qin Sheng was not in good spirits, he still greeted them quite courteously as he said, “Greetings go to both Eldest Uncle Song and Uncle Song. I am sorry for disturbing you once again.”