Investigate Tang's mansion in secret 137

  Speaking of the Bai family clan, it's hard not to think of the branch that was once driven out, those three brothers.

  It seems that my grandfather's third younger brother is also in Qingcheng.

  Uncle had two great wishes before his death. One was for the brothers to reunite, and the other was to re-enter the Bai family's main household by relying on the wine industry.

  Memories of those things made An Yan's eyes slightly dim. Recently, due to her mother's health and the Hundred Herb Hall matters, she had somewhat forgotten about them. Thinking that she had actually neglected these things, An Yan felt a lump in her throat. Her uncle's kind and gentle face flashed before her mind, and although it was such a warm face, An Yan suddenly felt an urge to cry. With a tight heart, the hand under her sleeve unconsciously clenched into a fist, forgetting that her other hand was tightly held by Su San. Su San felt the unintentional increase in force on his hand, and he suddenly turned his head to look at An Yan, just catching the fleeting sadness at the corner of her brow. That hint of sorrow pierced his dark eyes like a thorn.

  Zhang Jun mentioned Nangong White House, and Xiao Nu reacted like this. It must be that the White House and Nangong White House have some connection.

  Su San glanced at Zhang Jue in secret, that glance carried a faint sense of majesty and displeasure.

  Zhang Jun was perplexed and cast a suspicious glance at An Yan, only to see his own sister-in-law with a distracted expression, somewhat dazed. Suddenly, he also knew that he must have said something that touched his sister-in-law's sore spot. At this point, Zhang Jun instantly became honest and didn't dare say much either.

  When she raised her eyes again, she saw that everyone was in a state of trepidation, and the atmosphere was unusually strange. She gathered up the sorrow in her heart, smiled and said: "It's rare for everyone to gather together today, I'm cooking today, both of you must give me some face, stay for dinner."

  "Big sister can still cook?" Zhang Jun asked in shock.

  "Nonsense!"

  Su San swept a glance at Zhang Jue, extremely disdainful of his words. Of course, a little woman can cook, and the craftsmanship of a little woman is not necessarily inferior to that of the top chef in Nanyang. Thinking of this, Su San felt very satisfied. At the same time, he looked at Zhang Jue with a cool gaze and said, "Be careful when eating later, don't act like you've never had good food before."

  After hearing what his elder brother said, Zhang Jun almost got so angry that he fell over. These words were really too shameful.

  The Zhang family in Nangong is also a first-class family, with a thousand-year heritage and a scholarly tradition. Although they are not as prominent as the Su and Yin families, they are still among the top in Nangong. Zhang Jue has had everything he's ever wanted since childhood, even having tasted dishes from the imperial palace kitchen. Look at what your eldest brother said, doesn't it show that you have no taste?

  Zhang Jun looked at his eldest brother's smug expression and couldn't help but retort, "Eldest brother, later on if I eat less, don't say that I'm not giving face to your wife. You know that my appetite has always been small."

  Zhang Jun's appetite is really small, usually just eating three or four bowls of rice, compared to Su San and Yu Lei, it's really extremely small.

  Zhang Jun originally thought that by saying this, his eldest brother would definitely get angry and stand up, pulling him out to exchange blows. Unexpectedly, his eldest brother didn't react at all, just calmly sitting there with a hint of a smile in his eyes. Only when Zhang Jun felt a chill run down his spine did his eldest brother say lightly: "Remember what you said earlier, don't suddenly have an increase in appetite later."

  Zhang Jun raised an eyebrow, so according to Lao Da's meaning, did Eldest Sister really have a good hand?

  How is it possible that Elder Sister's medical skills are so impressive, elegant and refined, and on top of that, she also has incredible culinary skills? Such a great Elder Sister, would she even look down on her own husband?

  Of course, Zhang Jun only dared to think about this in his heart. If Su San heard it, it would not be a simple matter of just exchanging blows to resolve it. It's possible that the old man would get angry and chop him with a knife.

  An Yan watched as her two brothers argued, not paying much attention to them. She turned around and went downstairs to prepare dinner. Meanwhile, Shui Yue saw An Yan going down to cook and thought it was a novelty, so she followed along and helped out with some chores.

  At this time, there were only two people left in the room, Su San and Zhang Jun.

  "Boss, you asked me to investigate what's going on in Tangshan, and now I've got some leads."

  At this moment, Zhang Jun was no longer smiling, his face full of seriousness.

  Su San's face was also stern, and when he heard Zhang Jun's words, his eyebrows slightly moved, and his thin lips slightly opened, "Speak."

  "We arranged a total of three teams to secretly follow and observe Tangshan, Cui's family, and Tang Chuxue. This surveillance indeed revealed many suspicious points. All three people have problems. Tangshan has been making large moves in private, constantly handling his own industry in secret. However, these are all done very tightly, and should be kept from Cui's family and Tang Chuxue. It seems that within a month, Tangshan will be able to completely accumulate the wealth of the Tang family in his hands. Now many of the Tang family's industries have become empty shells, which is extremely strange. I don't know what Tangshan is going to do with the large amount of silver he has suddenly collected."

  Su San was also puzzled, slightly furrowing his brow. Originally, he didn't care about these things either. But Tangshan was the father of the young woman, so it was a different story altogether. Now that he was in Qingcheng, he naturally had to help clarify things and would not let anyone have the opportunity to harm the young woman.

  "It seems that Tangshan is not as doting on his concubine and daughter as he appears to be. Otherwise, how could he secretly accumulate wealth behind Cui's and Tang Chunxue's backs?"

  Su San was analyzing it lightly, but suddenly she couldn't see through Su San's character either.

  "The steward of the Tang's household is extremely loyal to Tang Shan, and all matters that are not convenient for Tang Shan to handle are handed over to this steward. Eldest brother, I also discovered a very strange thing."

  "What?"

  Su San's gaze drifted lazily towards the window, speaking casually as if he didn't care.

  "Tangshan would often go to a small alleyway and stay there for half a day at a time."

  "What's the mystery?"

  Su San withdrew her gaze that had fallen outside and regained some of her composure.

  "There lived an old woman of sixty years in it, from Miao territory."

  "What is the old lady doing in Miaojiang, Tangshan?"

  "This is temporarily unknown, because Tangshan's management on that side is very strict. Moreover, it is extremely careful, and every time we go there at midnight, the house is surrounded by people secretly guarding, our people dare not act rashly, otherwise it will easily trigger Tangshan's vigilance."

  Su San's eyes flashed with a hint of confusion, and she said in surprise: "This Tangshan is really strange, secretly raising an old woman from Miaojiang, what does he want to do? I've heard that the people of Miaojiang are good at making witchcraft and highly toxic things, could Tangshan have some ulterior motive?"

  It's best not to be the idea of hitting Xiao Nu and Bai Shi, otherwise no matter who Tangshan is, he will make him pay a bloody price. Su San's eyes flashed with cold light, and his heart was also secretly vigilant.

  Zhang Jun also felt that Tangshan was definitely secretly planning something, but he couldn't get his hands on it and couldn't find any clues. The two things Tangshan is doing now seem extremely suspicious, making it impossible for people to understand. Is Tangshan preparing to escape, so he's preparing a large amount of silver, and the old woman from Miaojiang is being raised to deal with enemies on the road?

  It seems that this guess is more reliable.

  "What about Cui?"

  Su San couldn't figure it out for a while, so he shifted the topic to Cui's family.

  Zhang Jun heard Su San mention Cui Shi and suddenly smiled somewhat ambiguously.

  "What's with your cheap laugh?"

  Su San didn't give Zhang Jue any face, and gave his smile a heavy blow. Zhang Jue was depressed, he clearly smiled with elegance, but when it came out of the mouth of his own elder brother, it became cheap.

  "Hurry up and speak, don't put on that resentful wife face."

  Zhang Jun originally wanted to continue being wronged and selling Meng, but when he heard his own eldest brother's voice with an icy cold tone, he quickly retracted and restored his serious and solemn expression.

  "Speaking of that Cui, I thought of your rival Xiao Bailian. Guess why?"

  As soon as he mentioned Li Yuzhu, Su San felt a little uncomfortable in his heart.

  "What's wrong with you, bringing up that pretty boy? He doesn't even know how he grew up, all show and no substance."

  Big brother, isn't it that you're jealous of how good-looking he is and also the gentle and refined type that your sister-in-law likes, so you have a prejudice against him?

  Although Zhang Jun didn't say it out loud, his gaze at Su San was too fervent and questioning, already revealing the meaning he wanted to express without a doubt.

  Su San slapped a palm over, directly slapping Zhang Jun's forehead. Zhang Jun suddenly saw stars on his forehead, and he felt dizzy and disoriented. He silently lifted his head to count the twinkling stars on his head, and it took him a while to come back to his senses.

  "Hurry up and get to the point."

  Zhang Jun finally became honest, he was that typical cheap skull, the kind that wouldn't become honest without being beaten. Once he encountered Su San, he would definitely be beaten by Su San a few times, and only then would he become honest and normal. And now, after being slapped by Su San, he immediately became clear-headed and normal, and would say things properly.

  "That Cui family secretly had an affair with Li Yuzhu's father, Li Hui, for many years. It's been over a decade since they've been ambiguous about it. Looking at this, I even suspect that Tang Chuyue might be Li Yuzhu's sister. Alas, it has to be said that Tang Chuyue and Li Yuzhu do share some common traits. Both love to steal other people's relationships, while Tang Chuyue succeeded, Li Yuzhu hasn't yet."

  "Aww... Big Brother, why are you hitting me again?"

  Zhang Jun was very depressed, he had just spoken nicely and hadn't even tried to sell a favor, but the boss still hit him. It seemed that the boss was becoming more and more brutal, which made Zhang Jun worry about his own safety. If Zhang Jun knew how An Yan and Su San interacted with each other, he would probably be worried about his own boss instead.

  Su San didn't say a word, but instead stared at Zhang Jue with a pair of knife-like eyes, only stopping when Zhang Jue's heart felt chilled to the core.

  This Zhang Jun is really bad at speaking, what does it mean that Li Yuzhu temporarily didn't succeed, implying that he might be successful in the future? Isn't this doubting his ability? However, Su San also tacitly acknowledged that Li Yuzhu and Tang Chuxue are probably siblings, both having the same hobby of ruining others' relationships. Moreover, they both appear to be gentle and refined on the surface, looking like a pair of hypocrites. As Su San thought this way, he completely ignored the white robe with embroidered green bamboo that he had worn to please An Yan. At that time, wasn't he trying to pretend to be as elegant as Li Yuzhu?

  "What about Tang Chu Xue?"

  As soon as he mentioned Tang Chu Xue, Zhang Jun's expression immediately turned serious and he sat up straight.

  "Boss, this Tang Chu Xue is not simple at all."

  "Huh?"

  Su San raised an eyebrow, and it was not easy for Zhang Jun to make a comment. It seems that this Tang Chu Xue is really not simple at all.

  "She secretly had connections with many people, including Li Hui from the Li Manor and Yin Zifu from the Yin Manor. Most importantly, she also secretly interacted with people in the palace."

  "In the palace?"

  Su San narrowed her eyes, and her expression became more serious. Originally thought to be just a somewhat cunning merchant's daughter, now it seems she is not that simple after all.

  "Yes, Tang Chu Xue and the people in the palace have a flying goose message."

  "Who is in contact with her?"

  "Judging from some clues, it is speculated that she should be the daughter of the Li family who entered the palace for selection in those years, and is Li Hui's biological younger sister."

  "What is the intention of the Li family in doing so? Is it a small ambition or an unavoidable move. If it's about ambition, where does this humble Li family get such audacity?"

  It was originally thought to be just a case of favoring the concubine and abandoning the wife. However, upon closer investigation, it was discovered that every single event was shrouded in mist. In the midst of confusion and uncertainty, it's unclear who is actually pulling the strings from behind the scenes. And as for Tangshan, judging by appearances, he may not be as heartless and unscrupulous as he seems on the surface. There must be a secret hidden beneath the unusual circumstances.

  "Keep someone posted."

  Currently can't guess the reason behind it for the time being, can only continue staring at it, hoping to get more clues.

  "Yes."

  Zhang Jun replied seriously, he felt that this matter was somewhat suspicious.

  The two of them didn't speak, they just sat quietly, both thinking about Tangshan. Half an hour later, accompanied by the sound of light footsteps, a nose-piercing fragrance wafted in.

  Zhang Jun's nose twitched suddenly, and he looked in the direction of the fragrance, just to see An Yan and Shuimeiniang bringing dishes.

  At that moment, Zhang Jun's eyes widened in surprise as he looked at An Yan incredulously: "Sister-in-law, did you cook this meal?"

  He can hardly imagine it, and before it's even served, just smelling it from afar has already made his mouth water profusely.

  On one side, Su San gazed at Zhang Jun with a look of eager anticipation, his eyes gleaming with excitement. This was his wife, Su San's woman, so different from the rest. It seemed that no matter what she did, as long as she put her mind to it, she would do it extremely well. Those slender white hands, with fingers flying across the keyboard, could control life and death at any moment, and could also cook a delicious meal. Su San felt incredibly fortunate to have married such an exceptional woman. Every time he thought about it, he couldn't help but thank the heavens for bringing her into his life. At the same time, he felt a twinge of fear in his heart. If he hadn't picked her up that day, would they have had this kind of passionate love? Without An Yan, wouldn't he still be that cold, mechanical man who only knew how to fight and kill, but not how to enjoy life or cherish it? Only because of her did he yearn for every dawn and every night. Because with every breath, he could feel the warmth of her gentle presence. He had never thought that he would come to cherish life so much. He wanted them both to live forever, to be together until the end of time, when the seas ran dry and the rocks crumbled.

  "Zhang Jun, you really made a wrong prediction this time. You were worried that Jinxiu's cooking skills are not good and said to eat less later."

  Shuǐ Yuè Niáng looked at Zhāng Jùn and couldn't help but cover her mouth to stifle a giggle, the words she spoke barely concealing her amused smile.

  Zhang Jun was taken aback, and suddenly remembered his boastful words earlier. He straightened up his face and said sternly: "That's natural, a real man keeps his word. Some dishes are just fragrant when smelled, but the taste is actually ordinary."

  Zhang Jun was being stubborn, thinking that An Yan's medical skills were so impressive that he shouldn't have much time and experience to study cooking. Maybe An Yan just spent more time on presentation and aroma, but the actual taste was just average.

  Upon hearing this, Shui Yue Niang and Su San tacitly maintained their silence.

  Very quickly, An Yan prepared eight dishes and one soup, all of which were placed on the table. They included fresh shrimp with cucumber, braised duck tongue, lotus root with crispy waist flower, sour and spicy fern root noodles, fragrant wood ear mushroom, vegetable stem with bamboo shoots, Nanruo ink fish, Thai-style chicken feet, and Jiangnan old duck soup. On the side was a dish of pickled plum and peanuts for Zhang Jue and Su San to drink with their wine. An Yan's dishes this time were all in the style of Jiangnan cuisine, which would be considered extremely fresh and new even by modern standards. These could also be called creative dishes. Whether it was color, fragrance, or taste, they were all top-notch choices. An Yan had absolute confidence that these dishes would be eye-catching even if placed in a modern setting. How much more so in this ancient era where culinary skills were relatively backward? To Zhang Jue's eyes, these dishes were exquisitely crafted and delicious. The combination of colors was also carefully arranged, and upon closer inspection, Zhang Jue couldn't recognize any of the ingredients.

  At this moment, Zhang Jun suddenly had a feeling of a countryman entering the city. Those exquisite foods dazzled his originally dull eyes in an instant.

  Zhang Jun unconsciously picked up his chopsticks, lightly picking up a piece of sauce duck tongue, the delicious taste in his mouth almost made him swallow his own tongue.

  Zhang Jun swallowed the delicious food in his mouth completely, suddenly raised his head, and his eyes shone incredibly brightly.

  "Sister-in-law, this dish is truly one of a kind in the world."

  After finishing speaking, Zhang Jun raised his chopsticks again and started sweeping the rice and dishes on the table.

  Su San looked at Zhang Jun with a face full of disgust. This kid had just been speaking righteously about not eating too much, but now he was like a starving ghost, wishing he had two more mouths to eat with.

  "Zhang Jun, didn't you just say your appetite is small?"

  "Eldest sister personally cooked, I naturally have to show my support." Zhang Jun's mouth was full of food and he replied vaguely to Su San.

  Su San heard this and his sharp gaze suddenly shot towards Zhang Jue. Unfortunately, the other person was busy eating at the time and didn't have a chance to notice Su San's sharp glare.

  Under Su San's disdainful gaze, under An Yan's incredulous gaze, and under Shui Yue Niang's unbearable gaze, Zhang Jun directly ate until he was stuffed.

  "Hmm...hmm..."

  Zhang Jun had been at the Bai's for half an hour after dinner and was about to leave. As soon as he stood up, he started hiccuping.

  Upon hearing the belch, Shuǐ Yuè Niáng's face flashed with an awkward expression, and she secretly pinched Zhāng Jùn. Her eyes were filled with a reluctance to look directly at him. This person, is he really eating like this? Alright, who let Big Sister's cooking be so delicious? She was watching Big Sister cook the whole time today, saying she was helping out, but in reality, she didn't do much. Because in front of Jǐn Xiù Shén Chú, even helping out was a task filled with technical requirements.

  Let's just talk about chopping vegetables. Shuǐ Yuè Niáng always thought that as long as she could hold a knife, chopping vegetables would be no problem at all. However, when she saw ān Yán holding the knife and cutting those vegetables into uniform sizes and thicknesses, Shuǐ Yuè Niáng admitted defeat and was only responsible for washing the vegetables from then on. She had to admit that ān Yán's hands were like a god's. With the knife flipping lightly, the delicate radish carvings of various miniature landscapes and people came alive. In her heart, Shuǐ Yuè Niáng thought that after seeing ān Yán cook, she would be too embarrassed to cook again when she returned home.

  After Shuǐ Yuè Niáng and Zhāng Jù left, ān Yán got up to clean the table, but was stopped by Sū Sān.

  "You sit and rest for a while, I can handle these things."

  An Wen looked at Su San in incredulity upon hearing this.

  Being stared at like that, Su San felt somewhat uneasy, his face slightly red, and he said in a low voice: "What are you staring at me for?"

  "Nothing, I'm just too surprised." I thought you should be a brave warrior who takes charge and stands tall, looking down on women's trivial matters with disdain. But now, you're speaking so naturally, how can I not be surprised?

  His heart was surging with anxiety, but his face remained calm and composed as he quietly gazed at Su San.

  Su San didn't think much of it, instead he stretched out his hand and gently rubbed An Yan's hair, saying in a spoiled tone: "A real man isn't defined by this, just because you help your wife with the dishes doesn't mean you're not a man. A true man should be able to provide a sky for his woman, let her enjoy his protection."

  She nodded in agreement with Su San's words. Suddenly, she found that the big man embodied by Su San was quite likable to her. He wasn't as rigid as she had imagined, but rather warm. His broad chest made her feel like she wanted to sink into it forever. It seemed that he could protect her from any harm for a lifetime.

  "Let's wash together, or you'll clumsily break the bowl."

  An said with a gentle smile, but she got up and came to Su San's side, wanting to wash the dishes together. An thought to herself that Su San was becoming more and more like a good husband who would be filial for twenty-four generations. It seemed that her original goal had been to train Su San into a good husband, but now it seemed she hadn't even lifted a finger, yet Su San had automatically evolved...