Wufeng County is a small county under the jurisdiction of River City.

The population is small, and its income and consumption levels can't compare to River City's.

Here, a family with several hundred thousand or even a million yuan would be considered wealthy. If you had several million, you'd be a super-rich tycoon.

Wufeng County is surrounded by mountains and farmland, and many families still rely on agriculture to make a living.

At the Wufeng County bus station, Lin Mu dragged a large suitcase, with his mother, Su Rou, following behind him.

"Xiao Mu, why don't you head back? I can go by myself," Mother Lin said with a hint of complaint.

"Mom, I don't have much going on recently anyway. Besides, I haven't been back in years. This is a good chance to see my childhood friends." Lin Mu wore a smile, but a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

Last night, he had overheard his mother on the phone, seemingly begging her family to let her return for her father's funeral, but she had been refused.

That was why Lin Mu had pulled his mother straight to the station first thing in the morning.

If it weren't for pressing matters at the Qin Corporation that required Qin Luoli's personal attention, she would have come with them.

"Sigh."

Knowing Lin Mu's temperament, Mother Lin didn't argue. She only said, "Xiao Mu, once we get to your grandfather's house, no matter what they say or do, you must act as if you haven't heard a thing. Do you understand?"

"Mom, don't worry. What could I possibly do?" Lin Mu smiled faintly, but his heart stirred.

It seems Mom's life back home wasn't very pleasant.

"Xiao Mu, you have to promise me!" Mother Lin looked at him intently, as if she needed to hear the words from his own lips.

"Alright, I promise you. Happy now?" Left with no other choice, Lin Mu had to agree.

He had, however, already made up his mind. As long as the Su Family doesn't cross the line and lets Mom pay her respects to Grandpa, I'll pretend nothing happened. But if they push their luck, they'll find that I'm not to be trifled with.

On the way, Mother Lin had briefly explained the Su Family's situation to him.

The Su Family was considered a major clan in Wufeng County. With numerous members, wealth, and connections, they were naturally influential.

Therefore, Old Master Su's funeral was an incredibly grand affair.

Anyone with status in Wufeng County would come to offer incense for the old master and see him off on his final journey.

The old master was one of the first people in Wufeng County to venture into business, and he had built a substantial family fortune.

But as he grew older, Old Master Su began to hand over the family's affairs to the next generation.

Mother Lin had four siblings: her eldest brother, Su Dahai; her second brother, Su Dafu; her eldest sister, Su Yumei; and her younger sister, Su Xiaomei.

Her two older brothers and older sister managed the Su Family's business. As for her younger sister, Su Xiaomei—Lin Mu's aunt—she had no say in the family, just like Mother Lin.

Even her husband, Xu Xiaotian, was treated as an unwelcome son-in-law.

The only reason Mother Lin knew about her father's death was that Su Xiaomei had secretly told her.

Thus, Lin Mu and his mother were on their way to pay their last respects, unbeknownst to the rest of the Su Family.

"Second Sister, over here!"

Just as they walked out of the bus station, a middle-aged woman with a sallow complexion waved at them. Lin Mu's vision was excellent, and he instantly saw the resemblance between the woman and his mother, confirming that she was his aunt, his mother's younger sister, Su Xiaomei.

"Xiaomei!"

As expected, Mother Lin walked over excitedly and grabbed the woman's hand, her eyes instantly turning red.

"Xiaomei, Dad... he..."

Seeing his mother's heartbroken expression, Lin Mu sighed inwardly and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Second Sister, Dad passed suddenly. I only found out yesterday myself." Su Xiaomei's eyes were also red. She wiped away a tear before looking at Lin Mu. "Are you... Xiao Mu?"

"Hello, Aunt Xiaomei. I'm Lin Mu," Lin Mu said with a slight nod.

He had some faint memories of this aunt. When he was a child, he had visited Wufeng County and stayed at her house. He even remembered she had a daughter named Xu Yao, his cousin.

"It's been so many years. Xiao Mu has grown so much."

Seeing Lin Mu seemed to lift Su Xiaomei's spirits. She forced down her sorrow and said, "Come on. Dad's memorial service is tonight."

"So soon?"

Mother Lin's expression changed. She grabbed Su Xiaomei's hand and demanded, "Xiaomei, tell me the truth. What really happened to Dad?"

Faced with her sister's intense gaze, Su Xiaomei looked flustered before explaining, "Second Sister, you know how it is. Ever since you... fell out with the family, Dad's health declined day by day. He spent his last few days confined to his sickbed."

Hearing this, Mother Lin couldn't help but start crying again. But thinking of her son standing right there, she took a deep breath to suppress her grief. "Let's go," she said, her voice firm. "Let's go home!"

"Second Sister..."

Su Xiaomei grabbed her arm. "Our eldest and second brothers... they don't want you to come back."

"They dare!"

A wild glint flickered in Mother Lin's eyes. It was the second time Lin Mu had seen such an expression on his mother's face. The first was when she had seen him kill someone and told him to leave River City. This was the second.

Her voice was resolute. "I am Dad's daughter! How can they stop me from paying my respects?"

"I, Su Rou, would like to see who dares to stop me!"

Su Rou glanced at Lin Mu and said firmly, "Xiao Mu, come with me. We're going to pay our respects to your grandfather!"

「Half an hour later.」

The Su Family's estate was located in the suburbs of the county town and covered a significant area.

According to local custom, a married daughter returning to her natal home for a funeral must follow a set of procedures. At the very least, she should have communicated with her family, who would then arrange for someone to formally receive her.

But no one from the Su Family had informed Mother Lin, nor was anyone there to receive her.

When Mother Lin reached the Su Family's main gate, she saw the estate decorated in a sea of white. The sounds of crying and mournful music drifted out from within. She could no longer hold back and suddenly collapsed to her knees.

"Dad! Your unfilial daughter, Su Rou, has come to see you off!"

Her sorrowful cry instantly drew the attention of people inside the estate. Among them were relatives and friends of the Su Family, and of course, members of the family itself.

"Su Rou?"

A sharp voice suddenly rang out. A middle-aged woman in mourning clothes rushed out, pointing an angry finger at Su Rou. "You bitch, you still have the nerve to come see Dad? Get out! The Su Family doesn't welcome you!"

"Eldest Sister, Second Sister is just..." Su Xiaomei hurried forward to intervene, her eyes also turning red.

"Su Xiaomei, so this was your doing!" Su Yumei slapped her hand away and gestured furiously at Su Rou. "The moment she left with that bastard, she stopped being a member of our Su Family! Dad already disowned her. What right does she have to come back and pay her respects?"

"Su Rou, get out! You're not welcome in the Su Family!"

Kneeling on the ground, Su Rou was sobbing uncontrollably.

"Eldest Sister, I'm begging you. Just let me see Dad one last time. I just want to kowtow to him."

Still on her knees, Su Rou tried to move toward the estate, her voice hoarse with grief.

Many of the funeral guests looked on with sympathy and sorrow.

Enraged, Su Yumei pointed at Su Rou and yelled, "Guards! Throw this woman out!"

Two young men from the Su Family stepped forward, intending to drag Su Rou away.

"I'd like to see who dares touch her!"

Lin Mu strode forward and shielded his mother. His eyes were like cold stars as he snarled in an icy tone, "Get lost!"

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