She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

As soon as he entered the backyard, Big Fatty couldn’t wait to ask, ”Sister-in-law, why did you all suddenly come to the Capital City? Does Zhao Zun know?”

Han Lei waved her hand casually. ”I just came back to check on the business in the Capital City and also wanted to ask you to help me find out some things.”

Upon hearing this, Big Fatty immediately patted his chest and assured, ”Sister-in-law, just give your orders. As long as I can manage, I will definitely get it done for you!”

Han Lei nodded and glanced around the backyard.

The staff were busy greeting guests at the front, leaving the backyard empty, perfectly suited for a conversation.

She pointed to the open area at the center of the yard. ”Let’s set up a hot pot table here and talk while eating.”

Big Fatty responded promptly and turned to arrange the hot pot dishes.

When he came back again, he was stunned to see the newly appeared quartz stone hot pot table in the yard.

”Wow! This table is stunning!” Big Fatty widened his eyes, circled around the table several times, and couldn’t help but touch the smooth stone surface. ”If we use such tables in our hot pot restaurant, business will surely double!”

Han Lei’s brothers behind her couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction.

Big Fatty scratched his head, a bit embarrassed, ”Sister-in-law, where did you get this from? This table can’t be cheap, right?”

Han Lei smiled silently, only gesturing for everyone to sit down. Although Big Fatty was full of curiosity, seeing that Han Lei had no intention of explaining, he couldn’t ask more and obediently sat down.

The hot pot was soon brought up, red oil boiling and aroma overflowing.

This time it was the brothers of the Big Fatty Squad who widened their eyes. It was their first time seeing such a novel way of eating, and even more so, their first time smelling such rich and enticing fragrance.

Han Lei demonstrated for them, and the brothers began to feast heartily.

While blanching slices of meat, Big Fatty couldn’t help but ask, ”Sister-in-law, why did you come to the Capital City this time? What do you need me to find out?”

Han Lei picked up a slice of beef, dipped it in the sauce, and started speaking slowly.

”I want you to help me find out what kind of reputation Princess Changle has in the Capital City.”

”Tch!” At the mention of this, Big Fatty couldn’t help but roll his eyes. ”What kind of reputation could she have? Everyone in the Su Family is arrogant and oppressive. None of them have a good name.”

”How so?” Han Lei looked intrigued.

Big Fatty looked around and saw no one else approaching. He then set down his chopsticks, leaned close to Han Lei, and spoke in a low voice.

”The Su Family is brazen because of a queen from their family, so among the four aristocratic families, although their wealth and power don’t match the Wei Family, their notorious reputation far exceeds the Wei Family.”

”Oh!”

Han Lei nodded slightly.

This she could understand. They say that when someone gains power, even their pets prosper, and this must be even more pronounced in the hierarchical ancient times.

But for the Su Family’s infamy to surpass the leading Wei Family among the four aristocratic families, Han Lei wondered if Big Fatty might be exaggerating.

Big Fatty might have been unable to resist the temptation of the food; he picked up his chopsticks again, grabbed a slice of lamb, stuffed it into his mouth, and continued speaking.

”You don’t stay much in the Capital City, so naturally you don’t know the evils the Su Family has committed over the years, but rumors are everywhere.”

The fat on Big Fatty’s face quivered slightly as he spoke with excitement.

”Do you know that they forced several farmers who refused to move by beating them to death to grab land? Those people were just poor folk, living off a few acres of thin land, but did the Su Family care about their lives? They want the land, so they kill the people, toss the corpses in a mass grave, without even leaving a grave marker! Sigh!”

Big Fatty sighed, his voice low yet filled with a trace of resentment.

Han Lei’s fingers clenched slightly, her knuckles whitening. She looked up at Big Fatty, her gentle voice somewhat trembling.

”Then... is there no one to intervene?”

”Intervene?” Big Fatty sneered, his thick lips curling a bit. ”What kind of status does the Su Family hold? They have people in the court, power in their hands, who dares to intervene? Those poor people’s lives are worth less than ants in their eyes!”

Han Lei’s heart sank heavily as if something had seized it tightly.

She lowered her head, looking at the cup with its already cold tea, the surface reflecting her pale face.

Big Fatty continued, ”And those profitable shops, if the Su Family takes a liking to them, they must seize them. Many small business people in the Capital City have been forced into ruin by them, eventually having to leave the Capital City quietly. An old man selling candied figures refused to give up his shop, and the next day he was found with his legs broken, tossed outside the city to fend for himself.”