Chapter 648 - 646: Getting Ideas

The case Su Mei was involved in had some bizarre, supernatural elements related to metaphysics and feng shui. Because of this, only high-ranking officers like Zou Ming were privy to these details; the rest of the police force was kept in the dark. Moreover, the fact that Brother Liu and his men had all developed collective amnesia about the crucial time period—and had then mysteriously died one after another within a month or two—only added to the case’s suspense.

With no other choice, the case had to be treated as a standard human trafficking investigation.

As a result, what Su Shengguo’s family of four learned from the police was only the story of a standard human trafficking case. They were told Su Mei had been killed by the trafficker, and the police made no mention of Su Qing’s involvement.

After Su Shengguo’s family identified Su Mei’s remains, all that was left was to complete the paperwork to bring her body back to Lihua Village. However, the process would still take another day or two.

When Su Shengguo and his family of four returned to the guesthouse, Zheng Erlian was feeling unwell and planned to go rest in her room. Just then, Su Lidong came into his parents’ room and said bluntly, "Mom, Dad, now that Meizi’s gone, shouldn’t Su Qing at least make an appearance? As her cousin, she should. We’re relatives, no matter what."

Su Lidong had never been to Beijing before. The moment he stepped off the train, he was completely captivated by the city’s glamour and bustle. It made Xiyuan County seem like nothing, and even Bingcheng couldn’t compare. In that instant, an idea took root in his mind: he wanted to stay in Beijing.

But Su Lidong was well aware of one thing. ’If I want to stay in Beijing, I can’t do it without money. Forget about not having a place to live—I probably couldn’t even afford to eat. I mean, look at this guesthouse. It costs three yuan a night! And this is just a regular one. A big hotel would cost a fortune!’

’Even renting an apartment here would probably cost a fortune every month. But I don’t have any money!’

Therefore, Su Lidong was now desperate to find Su Qing and get on her good side. He had it all planned out. ’I can’t keep scowling at her like I used to,’ he thought. ’I have to suck up to her. I’m her older cousin, we’re blood-related.’ He was convinced that if he could just win her over, he could make a good life for himself in Beijing. ’This city... this is where I belong.’

Su Shengguo frowned upon hearing his son’s words. He was well aware that Li Wan had reunited with her biological parents, who were said to be influential, high-ranking officials. This meant that Su Qing now had powerful connections in Beijing. As for him losing his job last year—although no one had said anything outright, and the sequence of events had unfolded so smoothly and naturally that it seemed inevitable—he knew deep down that the Li family had to be involved. It was their way of getting revenge for Li Wan and Su Qing.

Considering how Su Qing had been treated by the Old Su Family, on top of what happened with his job, the Li family and Su Qing surely wanted nothing more to do with them. They wouldn’t care about Su Mei’s death, let alone acknowledge them. If they showed up on their doorstep, they’d just be asking for humiliation.

"Forget it." Su Shengguo thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Su Qing most likely wants nothing to do with us. Let’s not show up just to be humiliated."

Zheng Erlian’s expression soured. "Why look for her? So she can laugh at our family’s tragedy? Knowing that damn girl, if she found out what happened to Meizi, she’d probably laugh out loud."

The thought of Su Qing laughing at them made Zheng Erlian wish the girl was standing right there so she could give her a good beating, just like she had beaten Old Mrs. Su.

Seeing his parents shoot down his idea, Su Lidong grew anxious. "Mom, Dad, why would you think that?" he said hurriedly. "We’re relatives! And relatives have to stay in touch to remain close. Grandma and Third Uncle and Third Aunt were the ones who abused Su Qing, not us! And even if our family did something to wrong her, can’t we just apologize and try to get along from now on?"

"Apologize?" Zheng Erlian, who had been leaning against the headboard, sat bolt upright. "Lidong, what nonsense are you talking about?" she demanded, staring at him. "We should apologize to Su Qing? Why? When your dad took your second uncle’s job, Li Wan agreed to it! And didn’t we give Su Qing five hundred yuan to buy the position later on? Then what happened? Your father lost that job, and it was definitely because of the Li family! They cost your dad his job, and now you want us to apologize to *her*? Have you lost your mind?"

"Mom!" Su Lidong felt his mother was being too stubborn. ’Seriously,’ he thought, ’you have to bow to the circumstances. We’re the ones who need a favor from Su Qing now. What’s wrong with softening our stance a bit? It wouldn’t kill us.’

"Don’t call me Mom," Zheng Erlian said, fuming. "If your father hadn’t lost his job, would we have had to move back to the village? If we hadn’t moved back, would we have run into that lunatic Tian Aixiang? Would Meizi have gotten her face slashed? If it weren’t for all that, Meizi never would have come to Beijing, and she wouldn’t have died here!"

As she spoke, Zheng Erlian began to cry again. "My poor Meizi... you died so tragically, and now your own brother wants to apologize to the people responsible. What kind of twisted logic is that?"

"Mom, what are you even saying?" Su Lidong thought his mother was being completely irrational. "This has nothing to do with Su Qing! Why are you so determined to pin the blame on her?"

’If Su Qing heard her saying this, wouldn’t that just make her think even worse of our family?’

’Besides,’ he thought, ’how can a job in Xiyuan County even compare to living in Beijing? If I can just get on Su Qing’s good side, I could get a job right here in Beijing, let alone back in Xiyuan County.’

At that moment, Su Lidong wasn’t thinking about anything else. He was single-mindedly focused on currying favor with Su Qing so he could gain a foothold in Beijing.

"Lidong, that was your sister!" Overwhelmed with grief, Zheng Erlian couldn’t stop herself from scolding even her usually doted-on eldest son.

"I..."

Just as Su Lidong was about to say something else, Su Shengguo cut in. "That’s enough. Stop bickering, both of you. Calm down."

He then turned to Su Lidong and said in a heavy, earnest tone, "Lidong, Dad understands what you’re thinking. Beijing is a wonderful place, but it’s not for us. Because of everything that happened with Su Qing and her mother, there is absolutely no way the Li family will help us. If there were, I wouldn’t have lost my job last year. If we go to them, we’ll only be humiliated. Do you understand?"

"But... but..." Having his intentions laid bare by his father, Su Lidong’s brow tightened. He still clung to a sliver of hope. "Relationships can be built, can’t they?"

"Sigh." Su Shengguo let out a long sigh. Su Lidong didn’t get it, but he did. ’After everything I did back then,’ he thought, ’there’s no way they’ll ever forgive me.’

Just as the three of them were speaking, there was a sudden knock on their door.