After Lin Xiaoze was born, Hong Lanfang took him in and raised him herself. Zheng Ruilian was completely willing to do so. It was Zheng Ruilian's obedient attitude that made Hong Lanfang almost never have any disagreements with Zheng Ruilian.
After her husband Lin Xizhen died, of the other two concubines, Lin Yujing, the mother of Lin Xiaokang, was driven out of the Lin Family early on, while the other concubine, the mother of Lin Xiaojie Lin Xiaoda, now lives in a small meditation room in the backyard of the mansion, indifferent to worldly and family affairs. Only Zheng Ruilian has stayed by Hong Lanfang's side all these years, just like before.
"A He, has the doctor examined all those medicines and supplements?" Seeing that Hong Lanfang seemed to be throwing a childish tantrum at Lin Xiaohe, Zheng Ruilian could only ask Lin Xiaohe from the side.
Lin Xiaohe also respected this aunt quite a bit. When she asked him a question, he politely replied, "The doctor said it has nothing to do with medicine or supplements. Ultimately, it's because my mother smokes too much and is too old. Her physical functions are not what they used to be. The best solution is for her to quit smoking."
"It's good that there's no problem, eldest sister. I'll go get you some water. You can continue taking the tonics that Asen and Acha bought for you." Zheng Ruilian said, slowly standing up and preparing to personally get water for Hong Lanfang with the help of a servant.
Hong Lanfang said, "Let the servants handle this. You should get some rest."
"It's alright. You've scared them so much they're practically trembling. I'm afraid they'll be so frightened they'll spill the water." Zheng Ruilian said as she walked out, turning back to smile at Lin Xiaohe before leaving, signaling him to comfort Hong Lanfang.
After Lin Xiaohe and Zheng Ruilian left, he waved to the servants in the room, dismissing them as well, before speaking to his mother:
"Uncle Wu and Uncle Liu's place..."
Hong Lanfang turned her face away from her son, but her ears were always listening. When she heard Lin Xiaohe and Lin Xiyuan Lin Xishen, Lin Xiaohe:
"I already know, it's fate. They refused to avenge your dead Dad, and they couldn't even do the smallest tasks properly... cough cough... cough cough!"
"My second brother was furious when he found out." Lin Xiaohe gave a wry smile, gently patting his mother's back until her coughing subsided, before continuing, "Judging from my second brother's expression, I can't help but wonder if I did anything wrong. It's clear there was a mole in the Lin Family who tipped them off, otherwise my fifth uncle wouldn't have gotten into trouble. Only a few of us knew about this..."
"Then who do you think it is?" Hong Lanfang turned to look at Lin Xiaohe, her previous dissatisfaction gone, her eyes bright and showing no signs of aging.
Lin Xiaohe gently shook his head. "I don't know either. I've already arranged for people to investigate slowly, and we'll find out eventually."
"I shouldn't have been so soft-hearted back then, giving them hope. Now that they've all grown up, they've developed some strange thoughts," Hong Lanfang said calmly, taking a sip of her Ginseng Tea.
Outside, Zheng Ruilian had already brought in water and medicine, and personally handed them to Hong Lanfang: "Big sister, it's time to take your medicine."
Chapter 349 The Legend of the Malaya Godfather
"Mr. Su, I've heard that silver wards off evil, jade protects the home, gold brings good fortune, and peach wood brings good luck. Your Dragon Turtle is made of all four materials—gold, silver, jade, and wood—no wonder you've always had a smooth life, turning misfortune into good fortune." Liao Jingxuan, dressed in a black Zhongshan, gently stroked the Dragon Turtle ornament on the living room's display shelf with his gloved left hand, then turned to Su Wenting, who stood trembling and wiping away cold sweat, and said with a half-smile.
Su Wenting swallowed hard, glanced at the rings and hairpins on the coffee table, and said in a trembling voice, "Mr. Liao, I..."
Liao Jingxuan gestured for the other person to shut up and said in a relaxed tone, "Don't worry, you don't need to explain. I know it has nothing to do with you. Mr. Lin asked me to see you just to know who was seeing you, what they asked you to do, and what they said to you. You've already explained it clearly, so naturally I won't do anything inappropriate to you, Mr. Su."
"Mr. Lin Xiao qia met with me and asked me to work for the Lin Family. Our On Lok Hall has followed the Lin Family for many years. Since Mr. Lin Xiao qia asked me to do something, of course I will do my best. However, my men absolutely did not take action in Macau, and no one leaked the news." Su Wenting wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Mr. Liao, the harm should not extend to wives and children, I..."
"Mr. Su, rest assured, it was my presumptuous decision to send someone to see your wife and children. Mr. Lin doesn't know, but I was worried that you might have made a mistake and done something you shouldn't have, so I was just taking precautions. Now that the matter has been investigated, it's indeed not your fault. I guarantee that your wives and children are safe and sound." Liao Jingxuan turned to face Su Wenting, opened his arms, and smiled, saying, "You mean, Mr. Lin Xiao qia has seen you and told you that he had contact with a lowly constable named Headless who works for Song Tianyao?"
Even now, Su Wenting's legs were still trembling involuntarily. Hearing Liao Jingxuan's question, he nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, Mr. Lin Xiao qia told me."
Liao Jingxuan walked up to Su Wenting, took out a Dunhill cigarette case from his pocket, pulled out a cigarette and offered it to Su Wenting's lips. He then lit it for Su Wenting with a silver-plated lighter, and put one in his own mouth as well. "Lin Family. Lin said that ignorance is no excuse for what happened before. You had no choice but to do what the Lin Family tells you to do."
Su Wenting's cigarette trembled, and he forced a bitter smile, "I know, I know. From now on, no matter who in the Lin Family asks me for help, I will definitely inform Mr. Liao first and wait for your reply."
"Arrange for a few scapegoats to turn themselves in at the police station in Macau. Say they lost money gambling in Macau, borrowed money from Mr. Lin Xiyuan and Mr. Lin Xishen, and were being chased for repayment by the two. Unable to pay their debts, they harbored malicious intentions and killed the two men." Liao Jingxuan lowered his head, lit a cigarette, snapped the lighter shut, and looked up at Su Wenting as he spoke.
Su Wenting nodded repeatedly, "Okay, okay."
He couldn't afford to offend Liao Jingxuan, Lin Xiaohe's confidant. Liao Jingxuan was said to have been Lin Xiaohe's bodyguard for many years when Lin Xiaohe was a diplomat in the Kuomintang. After Lin Xiaohe resigned and returned to Hong Kong, Liao Jingxuan was also brought to Hong Kong by Lin Xiaohe. Compared to Uncle Bing, the loyal servant of the Lin Family whom he had dealt with before, Liao Jingxuan made Su Wenting even more uneasy. At least Uncle Bing had never threatened him with his family. But when Liao Jingxuan met him today, the gift he presented was necklaces and rings from his women and personal belongings from his children. It seemed that if Su Wenting said the wrong thing, his whole family would be wiped out.