Relatives from the Maternal Family Arrive

Although Old Master Su scolded Su Li on his lips, he really didn't dare to offend Su Li. Behind Su Li stood Li Yanhao, the heir of Prince Huainan. The last time he offended Su Li, he was forced by Lord Yao to apologize with a vegetarian meal at Xiangmanlou, which cost him all the family's farmland. Now Li Yanhao was staying at Su Li's house for the New Year. Even if Old Master Su had a thousand guts, he wouldn't dare to provoke Su Li at this critical moment.

Su Li was someone to be avoided, but in Old Master Su's heart, Su Sanyun's family was like a soft persimmon. Although Su Sanyun occasionally stood up and argued with Old Master Su's eldest brother, in Old Master Su's mind, Su Sanyun was still a timid and weak man, not worth fearing.

Old Master Su lingered at the door of Su Sanyun's house but didn't see Su Lanxiang return home, so he went back disappointed.

After noon, Mrs. Sun returned from her maiden home, bringing along several brothers and a sister-in-law from her family.

"Ali, these are my brothers and sister-in-law from my maiden family. They are all very eager to do business with you!" Mrs. Sun said enthusiastically.

Su Li sized up Mrs. Sun's brothers and saw two older brothers and a younger brother. The sister-in-law Zhang looked sharp and astute. Su Li guessed Zhang was the housekeeper wife of Mrs. Sun's family.

Zhang wore old clothes, faded from washing but clean; her hair was neatly tied in a bun with a wooden hairpin.

Sure enough, without the men speaking, Zhang took out a paper from her bosom: "Miss Ali, this is the land deed of our Sun family's ancestral residence, offered as collateral for your franchise. The specifics have all been discussed with our little sister-in-law."

Seeing Zhang was indeed straightforward, Su Li found it easiest to deal with such a person. They began discussing cooperation details and quickly finalized the contract.

Holding the contract, the Sun family members were all smiles, as if silver had fallen from the sky!

Zhang thanked the little sister-in-law and Su Li profusely, then led her husband and younger brothers out.

Mrs. Sun followed them out and, seeing it was already dark, said, "It's so late, you might as well stay at our house tonight. Tomorrow morning you can go straight to the fields to pick the vegetables, saving the trouble of going back and forth."

Zhang said, "We are a family of four, and your house doesn't have many rooms. If we stay, it would be cramped. We would feel very sorry!"

Mrs. Sun smiled and said, "It's no problem at all, you are welcome to stay. Lanxiang is sick, so my family and I are temporarily staying at Ali's house. Once Lanxiang recovers, we'll go back. Tonight, our house is empty with no one living there. Big brother and sister-in-law, you can stay in the room of me and Sanyun, the second brother can stay in Shirong's room, and the third brother can stay in Lanxiang's room."

As Mrs. Sun spoke, she smiled and led her family to their house, helped light the fire, and laid out the bedding. Once everything was settled, Mrs. Sun said, "Sister-in-law, be sure to lock the door when you sleep at night. Our village isn't very safe; there might be thieves sneaking in to steal things."

Mrs. Sun found it awkward to talk about the Su family moving things in front of her family. Her family were all brothers, three strong men with bad tempers. If they found out, there would be trouble. Especially the youngest brother, Sun Ming, who always listened to her. Last time, when Mrs. Sun asked her family to help sell vegetables, she chose Sun Ning.

Remembering Su Li's mention of them selling wilted vegetables, Mrs. Sun gave Sun Ning a thorough reminder to keep the vegetables clean, neat, and beautiful, and not to shortchange the weight.

Sun Ning yawned, "Got it, sister. You go back quickly, I'm really tired and have to get up early tomorrow."

Saying this, he lifted the curtain and went into Su Lanxiang's room to sleep.