Lin Wanwan was in confinement, and Xie Sui felt he had gained a few pounds. This was mainly because every time Xie's mother prepared food, he had his share, and how could he not gain weight eating like this?
Xie Sui was startled and quickly said, "I've made plans with Feiyang. I'm leaving early today and will eat out. I won't be eating at home."
"Where are you eating? Brother Xie, I wanted to freeload a meal at your place too."
Du Feiyang arrived early, exhaling puffs of air. It was still quite cold in the early morning. This guy wore a Russian hat and a thick cotton coat, shivering like a dog, yet he was unwilling to go back.
"You've come to the right place to freeload a meal. Pork rib soup, have two more bowls. I'll have millet porridge."
Tang Ling smiled and said, "Pork rib soup so early in the morning, isn't it too greasy? Let's all have millet porridge. Thank you, Auntie."
Xie's mother was very pleased. They were all friends of the children, capable and well-behaved young men, the kind that elders liked.
"It's no trouble at all. As long as you all like to eat it."
Xie's mother went to prepare breakfast. The eldest sister got up to wash diapers and hang out small mattress pads. The two children not only had many diapers but also frequently soiled their mattress pads, so they spent all day dealing with these things. No amount of mattress pads was enough.
Fortunately, Xie Sui had installed radiators early, so they could be dried. It was impossible to dry mattress pads in the winter.
The two of them came not just to freeload a meal, but to discuss Du Feiyun. "My old man is causing trouble again."
"What's going on?"
Du Feiyang said, "That piece of land belonging to Du Yujie, hasn't the eldest brother taken it over? I'm also doing real estate with you. My father's intention is for the two of us to compete. Whoever has higher profits will be given 5% of the Du family's shares."
Xie Sui scoffed, "Only this much? Your old man is truly stingy. You already have shares, why do you care about such a small amount of money?"
Tang Ling said, "Brother Xie, you speak with such bravado. Do you know how much 5% of the Du family's assets are worth?
It's at least several billion. How can Brother Du just hand it over?
Moreover, this time it's a competition with the eldest young master Du. The significance is different. Perhaps he's selecting the future successor.
Old Master Du also regards Brother Du as a successor. I think you should fight for it."
Du Feiyang was helpless. "He's dangling a bone and letting two sons fight for it. This is my old man. I even doubt if we are his biological children."
Xie Sui said with a laugh, "Your old man's approach isn't wrong. Only wolf-like heirs can lead the family further. However, this competition is meaningless."
"Why?"
"Because you're destined to win. Du Feiyun won't be able to develop that land successfully. Even if he builds it, it will be a half-finished project."
Du Feiyang became interested. "Brother Xie, tell me, what's the plan?"
"I don't know anything. I'm just guessing. Let's wait and see. The results will be out by the end of the year. The most important thing now is my son's full moon banquet. We have to hold it in the village and it will take a few days of preparation. You two run errands for me."
"Alright, I'm waiting for the gifts for my two godchildren. I've already prepared them."
Du Feiyang specifically found an old craftsman to make a pair of pure gold longevity locks for the children. Tang Ling was not to be outdone and had two gold necklaces made. Their gifts were a bit conventional, but they had asked the elders in their families, and the meanings were very good.
Xie Sui smiled and said, "Then it's settled. I'll accept them on behalf of my son."
"Aren't you going to be humble at all?"
Xie Sui laughed heartily; humility was not his style.
Du Feiyun was full of ambition. It was just a small county town. If he used even 20% of his skills, it would be enough to crush everyone.
The manpower from Hong Kong City had also rushed over. With people and money, what couldn't be accomplished?
However, he was very dissatisfied with his father. He actually wanted him to compete with his younger brother. His brother, that good-for-nothing, could earn some money in the stock market and then compete for the succession?
This time, he would show them all who was the most suitable heir to the Du family.
Xie Sui was busy arranging the full moon banquet. Du Feiyun took his men to the land again. This time, he brought a whole truckload of people, including project managers, architects, and workers, dozens of them, in two vans.
Luo Yukui quickly received the news. This old man had used all his life's wisdom for this. Seeing their large numbers, he called for more villagers. All the strong young men in the village came, and even some elderly women. These were the main force.
"What are you doing here?"
The project manager stepped forward and said, "We bought this land, and naturally, we're going to develop it and build houses. Don't worry, we'll compensate you for the graves and won't let you suffer any losses."
His Mandarin was not very standard, and the villagers didn't understand him well. Luo Yukui asked him to repeat it. After understanding, he asked, "How much compensation are you planning to give?"
The manager was not foolish. He said, "We will compensate according to the local income level and compensation standards. We won't treat you unfairly."
But if they wanted to ask for an exorbitant price, he wouldn't agree.
"No, state a specific amount. So many of you, and you haven't even kowtowed to your ancestors. That's too impolite."
Du Feiyun was speechless. It wasn't his ancestors, so why kowtow?
He directly called the police station and asked them to send people to maintain order, as well as officials from the county. They had taken money, so they had an obligation to handle these people.
More and more people were called. The police station, county officials, and even Secretary Tang arrived. Looking at the crowd, he frowned tightly. This matter was going to be difficult to handle.
As expected, the villagers were difficult. Luo Yukui and the other young men didn't dare to make a move, but those elderly women were very good at throwing tantrums and making a scene. Who could outdo them in being unreasonable?
Perhaps due to excessive excitement, an old woman suddenly couldn't catch her breath and fainted.
The county officials quickly sent the woman to the hospital. It was also Du Feiyun's bad luck that the old woman actually passed away.
This was like poking a hornet's nest. The guesthouse where Du Feiyun was staying was surrounded by villagers, demanding an explanation, or else he would pay with his life.
Du Feiyun was furious. As expected, people in the mainland had no manners. What was all this?
Xie Sui heard about it and was dumbfounded. What kind of luck did Du Feiyun have? Heaven and earth knew that the old woman was not arranged by him. He had only asked someone to give Luo Yukui some advice, and the old man had performed beyond expectations.
He had already returned to the village with Wanwan and the children. The full moon banquet was the next day, and preparations had to be made early.
Grandma Xie had already heated the house, so the children wouldn't catch a cold. She held her two great-grandsons, reluctant to let go.
Grandma Xie gave each child fifty yuan. The eldest aunt's eyes turned red with anger. The old woman always said she had no money, and ate and drank their food, yet she took out a hundred yuan at once. She was truly biased to the extreme.
She didn't think about it, this money was all from Xie Sui's filial piety. Grandma Xie was just returning it.
More than half of the villagers came, all envying the Xie family. They had truly prospered. Not only had their son become successful, but they had also added two grandsons. They were truly blessed with a flourishing lineage.
Lin Wanwan was surrounded by the aunts, her face stiff from smiling. The children were also the center of attention, and everyone envied her good fortune.
Lin Wanwan was busy dealing with everyone when suddenly, a child started crying loudly. She quickly picked him up and comforted him. Lin Wanwan thought he was hungry, but then saw the child's red cheeks, as if he had been pinched.
"Who pinched the child?"
The villagers weren't paying close attention. Some liked to pinch cheeks, and Lin Wanwan would stop them. Pinching a baby's cheeks could lead to drooling. However, with so many people and hands, it was impolite to stop everyone all the time, and she might not notice if they were touched a few times.
But to pinch a child like this under the guise of being affectionate was too much.
Everyone looked at each other. The child cried louder. Xie Sui was alerted. "Why is he crying so loudly? Is he hungry?"
Lin Wanwan's face darkened. "No, I don't know who pinched the child's face. Look, it's so red."
Babies' skin is delicate. Lin Wanwan's milk was abundant, and the children were well-fed. Even a slight red mark could be clearly seen. Now, their faces were red and greenish, with two clear finger marks. Xie Sui's face sank as he scanned them one by one. "Who laid a hand on my child? If you have a grievance, come to me. What kind of person attacks a child!"
Everyone's faces were ugly. Someone said, "Perhaps it was an accident. Don't make a fuss. Are your children the only precious ones?"
"Exactly. You've become a big boss, and you've forgotten your villagers. We came with good intentions to see the children, and now we're being suspected."
Xie Sui was furious. "Stop talking about other things. I just want to ask, who pinched the child? I know the aunts don't have any bad intentions, but if one of you sneaked in and acted maliciously, wouldn't that implicate all of you?
No one has gone out yet. This person is still inside. Either step forward yourself or let everyone find you."
Everyone thought about it and realized it wasn't worth offending Xie Sui over this matter.
"I saw that it was Aunt Zhao Sanwang who touched the child."
Zhao Sanwang's wife's face changed. "Nonsense, I just touched him."
"You touched the child, and then he cried. Don't deny it. I saw it too."
Zhao Sanwang's wife's side suddenly became empty. Everyone distanced themselves from her, afraid of being implicated.
Xie Sui asked her, "Aunt Sanwang, what grudges do you have that you would lay hands on a month-old baby?"
Zhao Sanwang's wife saw that her actions were exposed and simply said, "I'm speaking for all of us in the Zhao family. It's because of you that the village chief was removed. Your Xie family has become the leading family in the village, and you're excluding us Zhao family members from everything. Now you've come back to show off, aren't you rubbing salt in our wounds?"
Xie Sui sneered, "If you're not happy, go find the village chief. I didn't order anyone in the Xie family to target your Zhao family. This is my home, why can't I come back?
Get out. You're not welcome at my house anymore."
"I'm leaving, who cares about your house!"
The Xie family aunts cursed her. Even if you have a grievance, you can't attack an infant!
Lin Wanwan held the child and tried to comfort him. She was so heartbroken that tears were about to fall. Her mood was greatly affected.
Seeing how ugly the situation had become, the aunts all took their leave. They were even more displeased with the Zhao family and wished they could go and beat up Zhao Sanwang's wife right now.
Xie Sui comforted Lin Wanwan for a while. After she calmed down a little, she went out to find the village chief.
It seemed that the conflict between the Xie family and the Zhao family was very deep. It was definitely not just about Xie Sui targeting Zhao Xuefei. If the village chief couldn't handle these conflicts well, then he wasn't a good village chief.