The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 246 - 245 Unfortunate Family Events (1600+) _1

Chapter 246: Chapter 245 Unfortunate Family Events (1600+) _1

They had thought someone was coming to investigate them, and once targeted by these people, you were either a traitor or doomed to be extremely unlucky, with every occurrence potent enough to bring about the downfall of the entire family. It was only after they heard what the security department said that they understood it was all about the incident involving Zhou Yuanyuan and Huo Yingjie.

Though Zhou Yuanyuan’s shameless conduct in bed made them blush with shame, it was merely her personal behavior and did not represent the Zhou Family as a whole. At most, they would impose some punishment on Zhou Yuanyuan, which wouldn’t shake the foundations of the Zhou Family—it was nothing serious!

After the investigation was concluded and the investigators left, the Zhou family members heaved a sigh of relief.

"Old Zhou, the Huo Family has gone too far, humiliating our Yuanyuan like that," Old Madam Zhou said angrily. She had thought that with her granddaughter’s beauty, Yuanyuan would surely win over Huo Yingjie.

She had never expected her granddaughter to be so useless, not only failing to secure Huo Yingjie but also being transferred out of the research institute under false charges, expelled from the Party, and subjected to severe punishment.

Old Master Zhou listened and felt a quiet anger as well. He felt the Huo Family looked down on people, not giving the Zhou Family any face.

However, during the New Year’s visit, the Huo Family had already made it clear that Huo Yingjie had already found a girl he liked. If his granddaughter still threw herself at Yingjie, it was inappropriate.

"Stop talking nonsense, how could you go to the Huo Family and say such things?" Old Master Zhou said angrily, turning red. "Would you tell them your daughter is shameless enough to throw herself into a man’s bed?"

Old Madam Zhou’s face stiffened upon hearing this; she had used the same tactic years ago to successfully seduce the old man and force him to divorce his first wife.

"Then... what do you suppose we do?" Old Madam Zhou, usually so high and mighty, did not dare to act rashly in front of Old Master Zhou and followed his lead.

"After Yuanyuan has accepted her punishment and comes back, discipline her properly, find a position for her in Yanjing, and if possible, marry her off," said Old Master Zhou. "Right, that young man from the Chen Family isn’t bad, go and inquire about him."

Old Madam Zhou, hearing this, understood her husband’s difficulty. The Huo Family was in its prime and the Zhou Family could not afford a direct confrontation; they had to dodge the blow.

"Alright, I’ll look into it," Old Madam Zhou said. "My granddaughter is so attractive; she has plenty of admirers. There will definitely be someone better than Huo Yingjie."

"Yes, once Yuanyuan comes back, focus more on your granddaughter, and stop gossiping about everything under the sun. Do something meaningful," Old Master Zhou said, and without waiting for a reply from Old Madam Zhou, he turned and went upstairs to the study.

"You..." Old Madam Zhou fumed with anger but dared not say more, only holding back her frustration.

Old Master Zhou entered the study and found an inconspicuous book on the bookshelf; inside was a photo of a radiant woman holding a four- or five-year-old boy with a tiger’s head and brain.

So many years had passed; he wondered how mother and son were faring now?

Counting on his fingers, his son should be in his forties, probably already married with children of his own.

Ah, one wrong step leads to a thousand mistakes!

It was all because of his lack of resolve back then!

After remarrying, Old Master Zhou had another son, but this son had not amounted to much, so he had focused on grooming his grandchildren.

So far, his grandson had shown promise and had a bright future, but this granddaughter, she was a great disappointment to him.

If someone does not like you, don’t bother them. Why insist on offering your warmth to someone’s cold indifference, especially when they don’t appreciate it?

Suddenly, Old Master Zhou realized that Zhou Yuanyuan was just a replica of Zhou Xiulan from back in the day!

To achieve her own goals, she was capable of doing anything!

Only, the Huo Family was not like him, who had put up with things and kept quiet back then; they had no concern for Zhou Yuanyuan’s reputation, which led to the visit from the investigation team.

"Alas, it’s such an unfortunate state our family is in!" Old Master Zhou sighed softly in his study, wondering if things might have been like the Huo Family if he hadn’t messed up and divorced.

Alas, the past is too painful to look back on!

It’s better to focus on sorting out the current situation.

Let’s talk about Jiang Lifang. When Huo Zhekun received his son’s first letter, he had a bellyful of opinions about Huo Yingqi.

"Ah, what’s Yingqi thinking? Yingjie is her cousin, closer to her, yet why does she always consider Zhou Yuanyuan’s perspective? Doesn’t she realize the trouble this could bring Yingjie?" Jiang Lifang muttered, "We cannot be vague about this. I need to write to my in-laws and my brother and sister-in-law, to have a proper talk with Yingqi!"

Huo Zhekun was also troubled. There was only one girl in both families, Huo Yingqi, who was doted on so much that it led to her developing such a temperament, and it was quite distressing!

"You, take it easy first," Huo Zhekun consoled, "Moreover, Yingqi found Tiantian’s address also because we didn’t keep the letters safe. Let’s just let it be this time and talk to our parents privately during Chinese New Year to avoid worrying them."

Seeing her husband say this, Jiang Lifang realized it was her mistake; since no one else was home, she had left the letter in the drawer without locking it. It was all too easy for Huo Yingqi to find Tiantian’s address.

Fortunately, Tiantian believed in her own son, otherwise a misunderstanding could have caused untold chaos!

"I’ll let it go this time, but if there’s a next time, I’ll immediately talk to my in-laws, regardless of saving face for my brother and sister-in-law," Jiang Lifang said, very dissatisfied with Huo Yingqi who seemed to always take Zhou Yuanyuan’s side, regretting doting on her.

Unexpectedly, a few days later, she received another letter from Huo Yingjie.

This time, Jiang Lifang exploded with anger and immediately wrote to her in-laws and her brother and sister-in-law in Yanjing, explaining Huo Yingqi’s role in everything and asking them to properly handle relations with the Zhou Family. Her words were filled with indignation, making it clear that she would never agree to Zhou Yuanyuan becoming her daughter-in-law, even if Huo Yingjie remained single.

"How can a good girl have no shame?" Unable to sleep, tossing and turning, Jiang Lifang woke up Huo Zhekun, eager to hear her husband’s opinion.

"Ah..." Huo Zhekun yawned and rubbed his eyes, "Why are you still not sleeping at this hour?"

His wife had been restless these past few days because of their son’s affairs, and despite his attempts to calm her, she seemed not to listen.

"Alas, it’s because I am worried about our son and Tiantian! They’re both away, and we don’t know when they can be reassigned back here. Think of a way, let’s get Tiantian back first, at least then my mind would be at ease," Jiang Lifang genuinely wanted He Tiantian to be her daughter-in-law since her son liked her and everyone would be happy.

But things couldn’t be perfect; there always had to be someone who threw a wrench into the works.

She wasn’t worried about her son; it was He Tiantian she was concerned about.

After all, a young girl on her own out there, with no one to discuss troubles with, was rare. This girl showed genuine affection for Yingjie and didn’t fall for the trap Zhou Yuanyuan had set.

Otherwise...

Oh, it’s so worrisome!