Chapter 220: Dragons Beget Dragons, Phoenixes Beget Phoenixes, and the Rat's Son Knows How to Dig Holes

Liu Shanling heard his daughter-in-law's words and stopped what he was doing: "I was thinking of pressing the price down before, but now it seems that won't work."

He thought of something, looked up at his eldest daughter, and asked, "Do you know which educated youth is buying this house?"

Liu Xiaoman, who was fiddling with her new clothes, heard her father's question and replied, "It's the newly arrived Ding Zhiqing."

Liu Shanling's face darkened: "I heard at the field edge that her family has good conditions and comes from a cadre family. If they've already agreed on terms, the second branch probably won't easily give in."

Su Hongjuan wore a worried expression: "We don't have much money on hand. Even if the second branch agrees, we can't come up with the funds."

Liu Xiaoman looked up and said, "You two weren't planning to get something for nothing, were you?"

Su Hongjuan glared at her: "Look at what you're saying. Could we do such a thing? Your father and I were just thinking of paying part first and repaying a bit each year."

Liu Xiaoman glanced at her father: "Now my second uncle's household is run by my sister Liu Chuxue; my second uncle and his wife can't make the decisions."

Hearing this, Liu Shanling's face darkened again: "A mere girl wants to run the household? What were second brother and second sister-in-law thinking?"

Su Hongjuan suddenly spoke up: "Before there was a nephew; now that they've cut ties, naturally the nephew has nothing to do with it. I'm afraid second brother and second sister-in-law are planning to recruit a son-in-law."

Liu Shanling sneered: "Even if they recruit a son-in-law, what of it? Can that hide the fact he has no son? People will still laugh at him."

After speaking, he said outright: "We absolutely cannot let them sell the house to Ding Zhiqing."

Turning to Su Hongjuan, he said, "Tomorrow, go around the village."

Su Hongjuan didn't quite understand his meaning: "What do you want me to do?"

Liu Shanling glanced at his eldest daughter, then leaned close to Su Hongjuan's ear and whispered, "Do it like this."

Su Hongjuan's eyes widened; she dared not believe it and said, "This isn't very good. You said Ding Surong comes from a cadre family. If people find out, our family will..."

Before she could finish, Liu Shanling stopped her: "We're just passing along a message. Whatever happens afterward, what does it have to do with our family?"

He spoke in a low voice, but Liu Chuxue's hearing was so good that she heard his plan clearly.

Liu Chuxue thought: Truly, the dragon begets the dragon, the phoenix begets the phoenix, and the rat's son knows how to dig holes.

Truly, Old Liu's son, just as ruthless and vicious.

For a few rooms, they'd ruin someone's reputation. Fortunately, my father isn't of the Liu bloodline; otherwise, it would be utterly sickening.

Hearing this, Liu Chuxue had no desire to listen any further.

Not long after, the lights in the third branch's room went out.

After waiting another half hour or so, the two people outside the courtyard stirred.

Liu Chuxue watched as one lifted the other, and they climbed onto the roof from the southern room on the first branch's side; then the one below took a running start and scaled the wall.

Whoa, this one actually has some skill.

She saw the two head straight for the room where Old Liu and his wife lived.

Liu Chuxue just watched. Before long, one carried the other out of the room, walked straight to the main gate, opened it, and left the courtyard.

Only after Liu Chuxue saw them leave the courtyard did she open the door and follow.

The two carried the person quickly toward the back mountain. Liu Chuxue followed at a distance, wanting to see what their purpose was.

She had a vague premonition that these two approaching Old Liu and his wife might be related to her father's origins.

She couldn't help feeling a bit of anticipation.

(End of chapter)