Luo Xusheng’s words clearly had another meaning. After hearing them, Ling Zhengping gave an awkward little laugh and said nothing more.
Because there were many people, lunch was very lively.
To welcome Ling Ruonan and Luo Xusheng’s "return to the bride’s family," Xie Enhua had prepared thoroughly. She’d hired several cooks and asked some staff members to help. Five banquet tables were set; the living room couldn’t hold them all, so two tables were set out in the courtyard.
All the food, drink, and supplies were paid for out of Xie Enhua’s own pocket, and the cooks’ wages came from her own purse as well.
So even though it looked quite lively, there was no fear of people gossiping.
The Ling Family members who had come to wait for Ling Ruonan’s return to the bride’s family all left one after another after lunch.
Ling Ruonan, Luo Xusheng, and Luo Ziling didn’t leave right away, but stayed and chatted with Ling Mingrui and Xie Enhua.
Xie Enhua was tactful as well. Knowing that Ling Mingrui had important things to say to Ling Ruonan and Luo Ziling, she chatted idly with them for a while and then got up to leave, saying she needed to prepare gifts for Ling Ruonan to take back.
After Xie Enhua stood up, Ling Mingrui began to speak very solemnly about what had happened last night.
"The information-blocking work last night was done quite well. No photos leaked out, and the information monitors didn’t detect anything unusual." After explaining the situation, Ling Mingrui warned Luo Ziling and Ling Ruonan: "So many people attended yesterday’s wedding. News like that must not spread. Even though everything was kept very simple and frugal, you still can’t go trumpeting this all over. You two need to be careful yourselves!"
Luo Ziling and Ling Ruonan naturally nodded in agreement.
"At your wedding yesterday, so many people came to offer their congratulations—that was something none of us had anticipated. Of course, it also shows that our Ling Family’s prestige, and Ruonan, your network and reputation, are all quite good," Ling Mingrui said, then sighed. "They used attending your wedding as a way to express a certain attitude. Under these circumstances, if we want to make a move against the Chen Family, they should support us, or at least they won’t oppose us."
Hearing Ling Mingrui bring this up, Ling Ruonan and Luo Ziling both knew that what came next would be serious instructions.
"We’d like to hear your opinion, Dad!" Ling Ruonan said very modestly. "In matters like this, we absolutely wouldn’t dare act rashly."
"They treated you with such high honor because they wanted to use this to show their recognition and support of you, and their support for our Ling Family. But you should also be clear: by doing this they’re borrowing the Ling Family’s momentum to increase their own influence. What they hope for even more is that we take the lead in targeting the Chen Family. That way, they don’t have to bear the stigma themselves." Ling Mingrui spoke, then chuckled, "Heh, everyone is doing their own calculations and doesn’t want to take risks."
Ling Ruonan nodded lightly. She agreed with Ling Mingrui’s analysis, but didn’t interject.
Ling Mingrui went on: "But there’s one point we must be clear about: even if we don’t take the initiative to strike the Chen Family, the Chen Family won’t just let this go. Chen Ruchang knows his time is almost up; he will definitely make one last desperate gamble. If that gamble fails, he’ll take all the blame onto himself. The dead are given great respect, and no one will bother arguing with a man who’s already gone. If by some luck he succeeds, it will bring enormous benefit to the Chen Family, and the pressure they’re under will be greatly reduced, perhaps even completely dissolved. So we can’t sit back and wait; we must move first and not give Chen Ruchang a chance to succeed."
Ling Ruonan nodded firmly, accepting her father’s analysis.
Luo Ziling also agreed with Ling Mingrui’s analysis; he was just a bit surprised that Ling Mingrui was laying things out so bluntly.
From how straightforward Ling Mingrui was being, he could feel that his grandfather’s trust in them had deepened.
Ling Mingrui’s behavior at the wedding was definitely not an act.
As a father, what he most wanted was obviously to see his children living happily.
Most parents think this way; it’s simple human nature.
After all, children are born of themselves; they’re the greatest achievement they leave behind in this world.
Luo Ziling believed that as long as he and Ling Ruonan stayed within certain bounds in what they did, and didn’t target the Ling Family, Ling Mingrui would certainly support them.
And the degree of that support would likely be quite substantial.
With this clear in his mind, Luo Ziling also mentioned that he had gone to see Chen Yining.
After hearing this, Ling Mingrui nodded slightly. "Chen Yining definitely won’t be willing to accept that everything ends like this. There’s no way he’ll accept simply losing it all. After you talk to him that way, he will certainly be tempted. It’s just that what he will decide to do, none of us can know."
"I’m planning to go see Chen Yining again in a couple of days and talk with him some more!" Luo Ziling shared his plan.
Ling Mingrui nodded again. "Going to talk to him again is a good idea, but you must be discreet. For now, don’t let the Chen Family find out."
"I understand!" Luo Ziling nodded in turn.
"I was actually quite surprised that the old man came to your wedding yesterday!" Speaking of Ling Jinhua attending the wedding, Ling Mingrui grew rather emotional. "Among all the grandchildren, the only wedding he’s ever attended in person was Zhengping’s, and that was more than twenty years ago, when he was still relatively young. His health was quite good then, and he could get around easily."
Hearing this, Luo Ziling couldn’t help shooting him a startled look.
He actually wanted to remind Ling Mingrui that twenty-plus years ago, Ling Jinhua wasn’t exactly young either—he was at least in his sixties.
A man in his sixties can hardly be described as young.
But Ling Mingrui misunderstood the meaning of Luo Ziling’s odd look. He explained very seriously, "He hasn’t personally gone to offer congratulations at any other Ling Family member’s wedding. Even though Ruonan is his biological granddaughter, he is, after all, quite old now, it’s hard for him to get around, and he’s had quite a few complaints about you two. So his appearance last night does show a change in his attitude. There’s another point you need to be clear on: the property under his name isn’t much. The old family residence doesn’t count as his personal property. If we’re strict about it, the old house belongs to the state. Even if the state were willing to grant ownership to our Ling Family, it would belong to the entire Ling Family, not just to him alone. So what he expressed last night only represents his attitude; don’t go thinking you can get a great deal of wealth from him."
"Dad, I know this perfectly well!" Ling Ruonan nodded seriously. "I know that when Grandpa was in office, he kept his hands clean and didn’t seek private gain. He doesn’t have much property under his name. What he said was simply his way of showing support and esteem for me. For him to do that, I’m very grateful. I plan to go visit him tomorrow with Xusheng, and take Ziling along. The day after tomorrow we’re heading off on our honeymoon. While we’re away from Yanjing, I hope you can look after Ling’er a bit, so he doesn’t stir up trouble."
Ling Mingrui nodded.