Reborn As Super Heiress

Chapter 372: Chapter 368 Good Intentions Gone Wrong

Xu Lian’s face instantly softened when she heard her son’s words, and she nodded affirmatively, ”Of course, what belongs to Huo Sining is ours, I’m her aunt so I have the final say. From now on, we’ll live here.”

While Xu Lian and her son were having this conversation, an old granny happened to walk by and couldn’t help but pause when she heard their words.

Xu Lian and Huo Longjiang were speaking in their local dialect, and the old lady was a bit hard of hearing, she only caught the words ”Huo Sining” and ”aunt,” which caused her to stop in her tracks, looking at Xu Lian and her group with a surprised expression.

”Who... who are you to Huo Sining?”

Huo Sining often sent some wild seafood to her neighbors to try, so she was very popular in the community, and the neighbors were very friendly towards her.

This old granny was one of the neighbors living in the villa next to Huo Sining’s. She had visited Huo Sining’s house before and seen the ornamental fish in her living room. She even made a special trip to Huo Sining’s Xianyu Shop to buy a few fish.

The ornamental fish from Huo Sining’s shop were not only beautiful and priced reasonably, but also vigorous and robust. She hadn’t taken much care of them, but even after several months, they were still lively and active, in excellent spirits. Her son and grandson especially liked those fish.

The old granny was warm-hearted, and since she had a good impression of Huo Sining, upon suddenly hearing Xu Lian and her group mention Huo Sining and aunt, she instantly suspected that they might be relatives of Huo Sining, and kindly asked them a question.

Annoyed at having her conversation with her son interrupted, Xu Lian was about to snap back, but Liu Meiling quickly grabbed Xu Lian’s arm and gave her a look. Only then did Xu Lian smile at the old lady and respond:

”We are Huo Sining’s relatives, this is Huo Sining’s uncle and aunt, and I’m Huo Sining’s cousin.”

”You’re from Bashu, aren’t you?” The old lady had chatted with Huo Sining and knew that Huo Sining was from Bashu. After hearing the distinctive accents of these people, which were not local but seemed to be from Bashu, she couldn’t help asking.

Liu Meiling nodded and pretended to be embarrassed as she said, ”Yes, we received a call from Huo Sining asking us to spend the New Year here, so we hurried over from Bashu. But we forgot to write down her number, and the security guard wouldn’t let us in.”

Liu Meiling said this because she was cautious; the old granny, holding a basket of groceries, had clearly just returned from shopping and was heading this way, which almost certainly meant she was heading back to her home in the villa community, proving that the old granny lived there.

Moreover, judging by the way the old granny spoke, she seemed quite familiar with Huo Sining. Liu Meiling assumed by saying this, the old lady would likely not doubt them and might even take them into the community.

Indeed, Liu Meiling’s assumption was correct. When the old granny heard Liu Meiling say they didn’t have Huo Sining’s number, she quickly offered with a smile:

”Things are different here than in rural areas; the security is more stringent for the safety of the residents. However, it’s no problem, I can take you inside. I’m quite familiar with Huo Sining, and as her relative, it’s only right for this old granny to welcome you in.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Meiling was overjoyed. She turned back and signaled to Xu Lian and the others, who then followed the old granny towards the entrance of the community.

Arriving at the security post, Liu Meiling and the others felt some nervousness, but seeing the old granny’s warm greeting to Xu Lian’s group, the security guard assumed they were the old woman’s family and didn’t ask further questions, letting them into the community just like that.

Once inside, Liu Meiling’s nervous expression finally relaxed. The old granny mistook their jitteriness for the anxiety of newcomers to the city and reassured them with a smile:

”Actually, there’s not much difference between life in the city and life in the countryside. The only difference is there are more rules. I think that Huo Sining is a very kind and warm-hearted girl, and since she’s invited you to celebrate the New Year, you needn’t be reserved. Just treat this place as your home.”

Hearing this, Xu Lian pursed her lips dismissively and muttered to herself:

How could the countryside be better than the city? Country houses have nothing, aren’t worth anything, while city houses are clean and beautifully decorated, and a single one is worth millions!

Hmph, that damn old granny is really just sweet-talking. If she really went to the countryside, she’d surely be complaining non-stop and couldn’t stand living there!

And what does she mean by ’make yourself at home’? This is my house, why would she need to play the generous host?

Old Granny didn’t know Xu Lian was badmouthing her, nor was she aware that Huo Sining had already gone to the Imperial Capital. She truly believed that Xu Lian and the others were invited over for the New Year by Huo Sining, so she played the good Samaritan to the end, directly escorting Xu Lian and the others to Huo Sining’s front door before turning to leave.

Following Old Granny’s instructions, Liu Meiling prepared to press the doorbell.

However, before her finger could press it, a huge dog that looked like a lion burst out of the courtyard. The dog stood at the gate glaring at them fiercely, with a threatening look in its eyes and barking incessantly.

”Ah—dog, dog...”

Liu Meiling turned pale with fright at the sight of the dog, screaming out involuntarily, and subconsciously took several steps back.

”It’s just a guard dog, what’s there to be afraid of?” Liu Meiling was afraid of dogs, but Xu Lian wasn’t. She brazenly marched forward and rudely rang the doorbell several times.

Soon, a rush of footsteps sounded from the house, and a middle-aged woman around in her forties wearing an apron hurried out. She pushed open the door and asked in puzzlement, ”Who is it?”

Seeing Xu Lian and the others, the woman paused, ”Who are you looking for?”

Xu Lian also froze upon seeing the middle-aged woman; they exchanged glances, somewhat bewildered, ”We’re looking for Huo Sining, I’m her aunt; does Huo Sining live here?”

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged woman’s gaze swept up and down Xu Lian, her eyes flickered for a few seconds before she coldly said, ”You’ve got the wrong place; there’s no one by that name here.”

As she spoke, the middle-aged woman turned to go back inside. However, just at that moment, the previously helpful Old Granny came back.

Seeing Xu Lian and the others still standing at the door, Old Granny was somewhat puzzled, but still called out to the woman inside:

”Auntie Li, could you ask Huo Sining to bring me two fatty fish in a couple of days? My son just called and said he’ll be back soon; he loves sour fish head the most! He’s been thinking about it since last time, especially the fresh fish that’s killed and cooked on the spot from Huo Sining’s shop.”

Upon hearing this, Auntie Li’s figure stiffened, and she turned back with an awkward look, revealing an expression uglier than crying:

”Mrs. Song, Miss Huo isn’t here; she’s gone to the Imperial Capital for the New Year. If you want fish, I’ll call Xiao Wu to deliver to you.”