Everyone was struck by lightning.

General Instructor of the Southeast Military Academy!

Su Qing, of course, knew what these words meant. And what did the two bars and four stars represent? What was Lin Mu capable of to have reached this point?

The people present knew exactly what this meant. It was a position a full rank higher than Jia Jianguo! Just one more step, and he would be a Major General!

Shock, awe, disbelief, incredulity!

Su Yumei stood there, stunned. Just moments ago, she had looked down on Lin Mu and Su Rou, thinking Lei Chengjun was so impressive. But now, what right did she have to look down on Lin Mu and his mother? Her previous behavior was like a buffoon's act; she had made a complete fool of herself, slapping her own face. A Deputy Director? What a high-ranking official! About to become a Deputy County Magistrate? That was far from a done deal! And how old was Lei Chengjun? How old was Lin Mu? Who knew how far he would go in the future? The mighty Su Family? Could they compare with Lin Mu? Su Mingze? Su Mingli? Or her son, Lei Xinyang? None of them could! They weren't even fit to carry Lin Mu's shoes!

At this moment, Lei Chengjun was also stunned. He had never expected things to develop to this extent. Or rather, he had never even considered it!

The now-sober Su Mingze, Su Mingli, and Lei Xinyang looked at Lin Mu with indescribable shock, gazing at the cousin they had always looked down on since childhood. They had grown up together, often bullying Lin Mu when they were younger and treating him like a fatherless bastard. Lei Xinyang was the worst of them. As a child, he had bullied Lin Mu relentlessly, even pinning him to the ground and beating him on several occasions.

But what about now? Not only had Lin Mu crippled him, but he also realized the vast gap between them. Senior Colonel! That was a rank his own father, Lei Chengjun, hadn't reached, let alone him. Lei Chengjun's future was limitless? Compared to Lin Mu's? Heh. There was no comparison at all. One was in the heavens, the other on the earth. A world of difference, as far apart as the clouds and the mud!

A fear rose from the depths of his heart. At this moment, Lei Xinyang was overwhelmed with intense regret.

Su Mingze and Su Mingli regretted it even more. Originally, Lin Mu was their cousin. If they had cultivated a good relationship with him, given Lin Mu's current status, he could have easily helped them. With just one word from him, they could have become the envy of everyone. What a pity. All of this became an illusion the moment they stepped into the wooden cabin.

But they weren't the ones who regretted it the most. It was Lei Chengjun!

Threaten the General Instructor of the Southeast Military Academy? Even shoot at him? Was I tired of living? Lei Chengjun was filled not only with regret but also with fear. A deep fear pervaded his heart.

He wanted to leave this place, to flee from it all, to avoid Lin Mu. But his legs went weak, and he couldn't even stand steady.

Even Su Qing, Su Dahai, and Su Dafu felt regret. The Su Family had produced a dragon! Although Lin Mu didn't carry the Su surname, half of his blood was from the Su Family! This was an unchangeable fact! If everyone had treated Lin Mu and his mother well when they returned, the Su Family could have soared to great heights, becoming not just the most esteemed clan in Wufeng County... but possibly in all of Handong Province! That would have been a true meteoric rise! But what had they done? They plotted against Lin Mu and his mother, had Lin Mu imprisoned, and humiliated his mother in the memorial hall. To prevent Su Rou from inheriting her portion of the estate, they even framed them for crimes! A mere Deputy Director of a county bureau dared to shoot at Lin Mu in public! These were unchangeable facts!

Among everyone present, Su Qing felt the deepest regret.

He was the Su Family Patriarch. He was also Su Rou's eldest uncle. Lin Mu's great-uncle! The Su Family had produced a dragon, yet what had the Su Family, and he himself, done to mother and son? Expelled them from the family! Calling her a "wretched servant" and him a "little beast"! He was the true sinner of the Su Family! A strong sense of guilt and remorse spread through his heart. Su Qing's body trembled slightly, and for a moment, his eyes went hollow.

"Hey, Second Sister, you kept something this big hidden even from us. What you did... it's..." Su Dahai started to say, but he couldn't continue. His face burned with shame.

Su Rou looked bewildered. Honestly, she was the most shocked person in the room. How could she not know what her own son was like? Completely ignoring Su Dahai, she looked thoughtfully at Lin Mu, her hands tightly gripping the hem of her clothes.

"Second Sister, this was your fault," Su Dafu said with feigned anger. "Now that Lin Mu has achieved so much, you didn't need to hide it from us. What, were you trying to give us a surprise? Ha! Second Sister, really, we're all family."

"Yes, Su Rou, we're all family," Su Yumei chimed in, her eyes darting around as she put on a sycophantic smile. "You and I had the best relationship growing up. When I had something good to eat, you were always the first person I thought of."

As she spoke, Su Yumei reached for Su Rou's hand, but Su Rou pulled away. Unfazed, Su Yumei continued with feigned concern, "Are you alright? I was wrong earlier, please don't take it to heart."

"Second Sister, your brother-in-law was in the wrong too. Please forgive him," Lei Chengjun said with a forced laugh, though his voice trembled slightly. He was truly terrified. Pointing a gun at the General Instructor of the Southeast Military Academy? That was a serious crime!

"Xiao Rou, I was in the wrong just now as well," Su Qing said, filled with regret. "I shouldn't have been so angry with Xiao Mu. This..." He had misjudged, and he had made a terrible mistake. Was Lei Chengjun the most outstanding son-in-law of the Su Family? Then what did that make Lin Mu?

"No need," Lin Mu suddenly said, his voice cold. "Didn't you all just expel us from the Su Family? There's no need for this charade."

His words instantly made the atmosphere excruciatingly awkward. Su Qing's face reddened all the way to the roots of his neck.

"Xiao Mu, what are you saying?" Su Dahai said with feigned indignation. "Your great-uncle was only joking with you! You can't take it seriously. No matter what, we are family. Even though you don't have the Su surname, we've always considered you a member of the Su Family."

Now that Lin Mu was the General Instructor, and so many important people had come for him, how could they possibly let him leave the Su Family? After all, Lin Mu was now a towering tree for the Su Family, a powerful backer. If they followed him, the Su Family was set to benefit immensely.

"Right, right, Xiao Mu! How could you take a joke so seriously?" Su Dafu added with a dry laugh. "You're too serious, kid."

The others joined in with forced laughter.

"You think this is funny? You think this is just a joke?" Lin Mu did not laugh. His tone was indifferent as he said, "I don't find it amusing at all. I think it would be best for us to sever all ties and never interact again."

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