Chapter 166: Xu Yun's Judgment

Chapter 166: Xu Yun’s Judgment

When the bird's nest soup was served, Tang Jiu finally understood Xu Yun's true intention. Tang Zhengtian smiled slightly, thinking to himself that Xu Yun's meticulousness was finer than the eye of a needle, something completely beyond the reach of an ordinary person.

Xu Yun smiled faintly, then pointed to the table in front of him and said, "Come, put it here. Tang Uncle doesn't want to eat bird's nest today. Let me taste it for him."

The waiter, clearly familiar with Tang Zhengtian's habits, was slightly startled: "Mr. Tang, isn't your stomach—"

"Do as he says, hehe, this is my distinguished guest after all." Tang Zhengtian smiled slightly: "Give the bird's nest to him, it's best consumed while hot. Hehe, Xu Yun, being able to meet you through Jiuer is truly a blessing I must have cultivated in my past life."

Tang Jiu frowned and let out a hum: "Why do I feel like I've bad luck for eight lifetimes?"

Guoguo smacked her lips: "Oh my, Sister Jiuer, why do I dislike hearing you act so coy? Saying such hypocritical things is way too unbelievable! Speaking in reverse has to have a limit, otherwise it just seems too fake, and that's simply not our style."

"You little thing, you really are close to your dad, am I not your real sister anymore?" Tang Jiu snorted: "Fine, you're something else. I finally see your true colors; I wasted all my affection on you."

Guoguo did not show any weakness: "I'm just seeking truth from facts."

Watching Xu Yun pick up the bowl of bird's nest and drink it down, Tang Zhengtian asked with a smile, "How does it taste?"

Xu Yun savored it carefully before nodding: "Very authentic. Not bad, truly not bad. Things from five-star hotels are indeed extraordinary."

This bowl of bird's nest was indeed prepared exceptionally well. Xu Yun could not detect any other flavor. With his sensitivity to the taste of drugs far surpassing that of ordinary people, he could be certain that there was no trace of tampering here.

Tang Zhengtian nodded, finally understanding Xu Yun's implication. It seemed the only way those myocardial-damaging drugs could have been administered to him was at home, yet he truly was reluctant to suspect that Aunt Xue would do such a thing.

Guoguo shook her head as if reciting profound truths: "You can know a person's face but not their heart. While you shouldn't harbor intent to harm others, you must always be on guard against them. In this day and age, human hearts are no longer as pure as they used to be."

"You really are a..." Tang Jiu sighed. The thought that this matter might be connected to Aunt Xue felt like something was blocking her throat. This feeling was not something others could truly comprehend; Aunt Xue had been in the Tang family for over forty years—how could she possibly do such a thing?

"Stop pondering it. If it is, it is; if it isn't, it isn't. There aren't that many reasons." Tang Zhengtian smiled, appearing to have taken things lightly: "Jiuer, facts are facts. Things having come to this, there is probably only one person capable of doing this."

Tang Jiu wore a somewhat bitter smile, shaking her head as she said, "I know, I just didn't want to believe it myself."

"As people grow up, the things they have to bear increase." Xu Yun smiled faintly: "Knowing you've been sold by someone isn't scary; what's scary is being sold and still helping them count the money."

Tang Zhengtian let out a long breath: "I will go talk to Aunt Xue about this. After all, it's been so many years; perhaps she also has unspeakable hardships of her own."

Xu Yun smiled slightly: "Tang Uncle, let me handle it instead. After all, I am an outsider."

"Then I'll take Guoguo out to play. I don't want to see Aunt Xue suffer." Tang Jiu's gaze drifted: "Guoguo, where do you want to play?"

Guoguo pondered for a moment: "A bar, how about that?"

"You?" Tang Jiu was taken aback.

"I can drink beverages, and you can let Sister Qiuyan accompany you for a drink." Guoguo acted entirely like a little adult: "They all say alcohol helps wash away sorrow, hehe. Sister Qiuyan's alcohol tolerance is no joke."

Tang Jiu refused to concede either: "I have a lot of confidence in my own alcohol tolerance, too."

Ever since arriving in Jibei City, Qiuyan had been very quiet, but at this moment she suddenly spoke up: "Alright. I've also been looking for someone who can drink with me. It's been a long time since I went drinking; let's do it tonight."

"Fine, no problem." Hearing Qiuyan's slightly provocative tone, Tang Jiu figured she might have some preconceptions about her because of Xu Yun, so she decided to accompany her. At worst, she would drink until she was drunk and wouldn't return home. She smiled faintly: "Since we've finished eating now, let's all go to the amusement park together. Finding some excitement might make me feel a bit better. Tonight, Xu Yun, you and my dad go home, and the three of us will go to the bar."

Knowing her daughter was hurting inside, Tang Zhengtian figured a little drinking would be fine. He could also tell that Qiuyan was no ordinary person, which gave him much more peace of mind: "Go on, go on. Just don't drink too much; at least remember the way home."

"Of course! Isn't there me?" Guoguo patted her chest in assurance.

Xu Yun gave a wry smile: "Are you all determined to corrupt my goddaughter? Children are absolutely not allowed to drink; it affects intellectual development. Guoguo, don't just focus on your physical development, keep your brain clear too, you know?"

"Obviously." Guoguo gave her standard reply.

Because of his consistently poor physical condition, Tang Zhengtian hadn't gone out in a long time, but he decided to accompany them to the amusement park. However, he wasn't going there to play—his heart probably couldn't handle that kind of thrill anyway. He boldly declared that he was simply going to serve as the wallet.

That suited everyone fine. At least Xu Yun had no objections, and Guoguo was happy to have Tang Zhengtian along, saying that going home alone would be boring anyway, plus he would have to face a dangerous person, which was far too worrying. Although Aunt Xue currently had the highest suspicion of poisoning Tang Zhengtian, Tang Zhengtian didn't need to worry about Aunt Xue doing anything to him openly.

Still, Guoguo had a point; going home alone really wouldn't be very interesting.

As expected of a provincial capital, the Baihua Amusement Park was by no means inferior to the large amusement parks in places like Yanjing or Shenjiang. It had everything imaginable—if you could think of it, you could play it.

Tang Jiu had already stated that she was here to seek thrills. The U-shaped skateboard and the giant pendulum were mandatory warm-ups; the drop tower and roller coaster were definitely not to be missed; the newly built human propeller had to be tried; and the death motorcycle ride was an absolute must as well...

After going through the whole circuit, Xu Yun was thoroughly defeated. Paying money just to suffer—what a level of dedication! If he ever had the chance in the future, he would definitely suggest that the Dragon Fury Special Forces training base install a set of these. Let everyone have a thrilling round right after every meal, and he guaranteed that every single person would look like they were pumped full of adrenaline every single day.

None of the five went home for dinner that evening. Led by Tang Jiu, they arrived at a decent barbecue stall, prompting even Guoguo to ask in surprise how Tang Jiu knew about such a small place.

Tang Jiu seemed quite familiar with the owner. "When I was in college, whenever I was in a bad mood, I would come here with my classmates to order a few skewers and drink a few beers. That feeling was extremely comforting—you little brat wouldn't understand."

Guoguo stuck out her tongue dismissively. "You just wanted to find that feeling of 'sorrow flowing backwards into a river,' right? Who doesn't understand? What's so great about that?"

"Alright, just order whatever you want to eat." With that, Tang Jiu called the owner over: "I'll have my usual."

"You got it!" The owner was a woman in her fifties who looked very capable. She turned to her husband, who was in charge of grilling the meat: "Little Tang's usual!"

Xu Yun didn't stand on ceremony either: "Then I'll have ten meat skewers, ten tendon skewers, two lamb kidneys, and a skewer of chives. Gotta nourish myself well while I'm still young. Tang Uncle, what do you want? Why don't you get the same as me?"

"Alright, make it the same." Tang Zhengtian smiled slightly. He didn't care much for this kind of food, but he was just here to accompany his daughter.

Xu Yun chuckled: "Of course! Better grill two kidneys for my Tang Uncle, too—gotta stay vigorous in your older years, nourish well and stay strong."

Speechless, Tang Jiu cast a reproachful glare at Xu Yun. This guy really didn't know his place. Given their current relationship, how should she put it—couldn't her old man be considered his temporary father-in-law? Was this any way to talk to a father-in-law, ordering extra kidneys to nourish him?

Guoguo's order was much more flamboyant: "Two of everything on the menu! Sister Qiuyan and I want to taste every single thing. Hehe, don't guys regret it later, you're not allowed to eat mine."

"Not even with the relationship between you and me?" Xu Yun tried to cozy up to her.

Guoguo shook her head: "If it's something I don't like eating, you as the dad aren't allowed to waste it."

Good grief! Xu Yun truly admired his precious goddaughter.

Although it was a small barbecue stall, Tang Jiu ate with great satisfaction. This long-lost feeling temporarily made her forget the unhappiness Aunt Xue had brought to her heart. Perhaps her father and Xu Yun were right: some things happened because they happened, and they couldn't be changed.

The casual meal gave everyone different feelings. Tang Zhengtian thought of his youth; Xu Yun thought of relaxing with his brothers after missions in the past; Tang Jiu thought of her carefree college days; Qiuyan, eating this kind of food for the very first time, had feelings different from everyone else; while Guoguo's feelings could be summed up in a single word: stuffed!

Following Tang Jiu's instructions, Xu Yun dropped them off at Jibei City's most popular Fantasy Dream Bar, then headed home with Tang Zhengtian. Tang Zhengtian wanted to know why Aunt Xue did it, while Xu Yun wanted to confirm the true mastermind behind the scenes.

Before they even entered the house upon arriving home, Xu Yun asked a question: "Tang Uncle, is there anything in the Tang family that none of you ever touch, something that belongs entirely to Aunt Xue personally?"

"This..." Tang Zhengtian was somewhat hesitant, but ultimately spoke up: "That would be her husband's urn."

Xu Yun was startled: "Oh? Aunt Xue had a husband?"

Tang Zhengtian let out a long breath: "Her husband used to be a driver for the Tang family. In an accident, Tang Long's father, Tang Qun's father, and her husband all passed away. At the time, they had only been married for a little over two months, and the Tang family owed her a lot... Hmm? Why do you ask about this? That is her most important possession; she would never let anyone touch it."

Xu Yun's expression turned serious: "Tang Uncle, without evidence, anything we say is groundless."

"You mean... you want to...?" Tang Zhengtian's expression instantly turned serious as well: "Xu Yun, the deceased deserve respect. This isn't something you can just go meddling with casually. I don't want things to develop to this point."

Xu Yun shrugged: "I don't want things to develop to this point either, but things having reached this stage, I can only follow my own intuition. Besides, I've always trusted my intuition implicitly. Tang Uncle, trust me, my judgment is definitely correct."