Chapter 809: Selfish Father and Sons Racing Toward Each Other

After all, he was his biological father, and Nie Xiaofeng couldn’t bear to watch Nie Mingyuan cough up blood and do nothing.

He ordered the housekeeper to summon the mansion’s physician.

Upon hearing Nie Mingyuan coughed up blood, Gu Baishuang hurriedly sent someone to check on the situation.

She hardly hoped for Nie Mingyuan to die, as it would mean her son would have to observe mourning for three years.

Her son’s promising future must not be hindered by Nie Mingyuan’s death.

Nie Mingyuan, even if he only had one breath left, must be kept alive.

Tong Huaqiong worried that Gu Baishuang might suffer grievances at the Nie Family.

She specifically sent people to the Nie Family to inquire about the situation.

The visitors weren’t random people, but the unruly Gu Dashu and Liu Yueer.

The two arrived at the Nie Mansion amidst chaos.

Gu Baishuang greeted them, indicating that both she and Nie Xiaofeng were well, only Nie Mingyuan was upset to the point of vomiting blood.

Gu Dashu and Liu Yueer, like onlookers, entered Nie Mingyuan’s room.

After treatment by the mansion’s physician, Nie Mingyuan had stabilized and lay with a yellow face on the bed.

The eldest and second sons stood by the bed, their faces streaked with tears.

Nie Xiaofeng was at the doorway, discussing further treatment plans with the physician.

"Second Uncle is here."

Eldest Nie and Second Nie greeted Gu Dashu.

In the past, these two hardly acknowledged the Gu Family.

Gu Dashu ignored them, addressing Nie Mingyuan as brother-in-law.

Nie Mingyuan had never liked the Gu Family, especially now that his relationship with Gu Baishuang was on the verge of breaking; he believed it was all instigated by the Gu Family, thus holding deeper hatred for them. Upon seeing Gu Dashu, his eyes showed disgust.

"What happened to Brother-in-law? How did he end up vomiting blood out of the blue? Was it because of you unfilial sons? Don’t get me wrong; you two aren’t that young anymore, and yet even now, you can’t stand on your own, still making Brother-in-law endlessly worry."

Gu Dashu immediately pinned Nie Mingyuan’s vomiting blood on Eldest Nie and Second Nie.

Eldest Nie responded with dissatisfaction, "Second Uncle, you’re making unfounded assumptions; it was Xiaofeng who angered Dad."

Liu Yueer glanced at Eldest Nie and said, "At Xiaofeng’s young age, he has earned his place and achieved the title of Deputy General by his own efforts. Such a son is your Nie Family’s stroke of luck. With Xiaofeng being so successful, Brother-in-law should be delighted rather than angry enough to cough up blood. Instead, it’s you two whose children have grown large, yet still need Brother-in-law to run around earning money to support the family; it’s no wonder he’s exhausted enough to vomit blood."

Gu Dashu nodded, speaking earnestly, "That’s exactly right. You guys should be old enough, yet you still need your dad to hold your hands to stand upright. Though Brother-in-law tires himself out unable to criticize you, it’s only fair that it exhausts him till he vomits blood. He may be at wit’s end, but you cannot possibly lack a conscience."

Eldest Nie and Second Nie were so annoyed by these twisted reasoning that they felt like chasing them out.

However, being at Nie Xiaofeng’s mansion, they had no grounds to chase them out and were forced to endure.

Nie Mingyuan coughed a few times and addressed Gu Dashu, "Xiaofeng leaves no room for his two brothers, thus I am angered to the point of vomiting blood."

Gu Dashu couldn’t help but roll his eyes, questioning, "Well, Brother-in-law, I can’t quite understand that; looking at how the two nephews are living comfortably in Xiaofeng’s earned mansion, they seem rather fine."

Eldest Nie’s wife, Mrs. Zhang, couldn’t help but interject, "We had just arrived in Shengjing, and Xiaofeng wanted to chase us out, and that’s what made Dad vomit blood."

Liu Yueer responded in disbelief, "This is Xiaofeng’s house; allowing you to stay is a favor, asking you to leave is within reason. What I heard was you brought the children and wanted to make the house your own; Xiaofeng kindly let you stay one night, if it were me, I’d have sent you packing long ago."

"Ultimately, it’s your lack of sensibility, stubbornly occupying Xiaofeng’s house, making Brother-in-law awkward; surely that can aggravate him to the point of vomiting blood. You as brothers should act sensibly."

By Gu Dashu’s final judgment, it was the lack of sensibility of Eldest Nie and Second Nie that led Nie Mingyuan to exhausting vomiting blood.

Liu Yueer said, "Look at you two, even with your dad coughing up blood, you’re still creating dilemmas for him. Isn’t it time you proactively move out? This way, your dad can peacefully recuperate in the mansion."

In the end, with Gu Dashu and Liu Yueer stirring the pot, Eldest Nie and Second Nie were forced to pack their belongings.

Just halfway through packing, Nie Mingyuan started convulsing, urgently calling for his two sons.

Nie Xiaofeng was speechless, unsure whether Dad was deliberate or genuinely convulsing.

Even Gu Baishuang stepped in, considering Nie Xiaofeng’s future, she dared not take risks.

Nie Mingyuan’s illness required Eldest Nie and Second Nie to remain temporarily at the mansion.

Nie Xiaofeng set rules for them; besides their own rooms and Nie Mingyuan’s room, they weren’t allowed to wander around the mansion freely, especially avoiding troubling Gu Baishuang.

Furthermore, he mandated they must move out after the Spring Festival.

Gu Dashu and Liu Yueer returned home, reporting everything that transpired at the Nie Family to Tong Huaqiong.

Tong Huaqiong internally sighed, fearing Nie Mingyuan’s illness might remain unresolved according to past life’s trajectory.

He overextended himself for his two sons.

And after his demise, their sons drove Nie Xiaofeng and Gu Baishuang out of the house.

In a way, the selfish father and sons supported each other’s ambitions.

Unlike the past life, this time Gu Baishuang held the reins tightly.

After Nie Mingyuan’s death, those being expelled would only be Eldest Nie and Second Nie.

Nie Mingyuan understood this fact, so even at the cost of coughing up blood, he clung to life.

Eldest Nie and Second Nie had to tread lightly at Nie Xiaofeng’s mansion, while Mrs. Zhang and Mrs. Sun dared not cause trouble, fearing inciting Gu Baishuang; both families were completely dismissed at the festival.

Soon, Tong Huaqiong faced her first New Year’s Eve in Shengjing.

No matter the era, New Year always excites people.

Tong Huaqiong was no exception.

All New Year’s items were prepared thoroughly.

Bright red couplets were pasted up, and the corridors were filled with red lanterns, creating an intensely festive atmosphere.

Sounds of frying and cooking echoed from the kitchen as a splendid New Year’s Eve feast was about to begin.

"In-law, the dumpling filling is chopped, could you season it?"

Having not cooked for a while, Tong Huaqiong led Chen Sufen, Gu Taohua, and others to cook personally on New Year’s Eve, assisted by Mrs. Hong and Mrs. Zhao.

Mrs. Zhao chopped the dumpling filling while Tong Huaqiong seasoned the stuffing.

Typically, this work was handled by a kitchen maid, but Tong Huaqiong and others felt it was slightly off not personally preparing dumplings for New Year’s Eve.

After the dumpling filling was seasoned, sounds of knocking rang out in the courtyard.

The concierge opened the door, finding two individuals standing outside, filthy and stained.

"Here are buns and hot water, take them and be on your way."

The concierge assumed they were beggars seeking food, offering a pouch of buns and a jug of hot water to them.

This was due to the homeowner’s kindness, instructing the concierge to provide buns and hot water to any beggars encountered; otherwise, encountering beggars on holidays would typically result in driving them away.

"Pardon me, is this the Gu Family?" asked Gu Honglian, so dirty her face was unrecognizable.

The concierge furrowed his brows, asking, "Who are you looking for?"

The homeowner had relocated from Ningxiang Village to Shengjing, potentially having old family relations seeking preferential treatment.

He needed to verify.

Gu Honglian replied, "I’m looking for my sister-in-law, Manager Tong, Gu Dahan, Gu Dashu, and Gu Jingzhe, call me aunt. I am Gu Honglian, this is my husband, Fan Tong; please let them know."

The concierge studied Gu Honglian and Fan Tong briefly and proceeded to relay the message inside.

"What, who did you say arrived?" exclaimed Tong Huaqiong, visibly stunned.

Gu Honglian and Fan Tong, the two legendary figures, actually found their way to Shengjing.