Chapter 51: Dinner

To be a big shot anywhere in the world, you must meet one of two conditions: have power or have money. Things in the world are both complicated and simple. Su Pingnan understood this truth.

The next day at noon, Su Pingnan finally met Li Luoran.

Still breathtaking in looks and perfect in figure, Su Pingnan gazed lovingly at his girlfriend, who sat beside her parents looking extremely aggrieved.

Yueyang Court was a century-old establishment.

The food was excellent and the wine fine. Mr. and Mrs. Li were generous people, giving face even to the pig that stole their cabbage.

Besides Li Luoran’s parents, there was also Li Luoran’s aunt, Li Rao.

Li Rao bore a striking resemblance to Li Luoran in face, though her figure was more mature.

Li Rao was the most eccentric member of the Li family. She went to the United States in 1989 and now ran her own law firm back home. With an angelic face and an iron hand, she had carved out her own domain in Xiangnan. Mrs. Li had asked her to appraise the jewelry Su Pingnan gave Li Luoran.

Su Pingnan attended the dinner alone. Xiao Zhuang and the others were a bit worse for wear, so he simply had them rest at the hotel.

As soon as the dinner began, Li Luoran openly hooked her arm through Su Pingnan’s left arm and pressed herself tightly against him as they sat.

Her firm chest pressed against Su Pingnan’s arm, making even the usually composed Little Red Robe a little distracted.

“Little Su, this is a famous dish from our Xiangnan, try it. By the way, how old are you this year?” Mr. Li asked with a smiling, indirect approach.

“My parents are farmers, I am 20 this year,” Su Pingnan answered frankly and smoothly.

Mrs. Li looked at Su Pingnan’s youthful face and worried he might be a classmate hired to play a part with Li Luoran. How could someone this young possibly have money to buy those things for her daughter?

“I don’t object to you two dating, but you must tell me whether those pieces of jewelry were bought by you for Ranran?” Su Pingnan was momentarily taken aback—so this was the problem.

He glanced at Li Luoran, who sheepishly stuck out her tongue.

“I bought them for Luoran, that is beyond doubt. I started working early, and with some luck I earned a bit of money,” Su Pingnan said calmly.

Li Rao remained silent. She was growing increasingly interested in this potentially rich nephew-in-law that had fallen from the sky.

Her gaze was sharp. Judging from the young man’s posture and manner of speaking, he possessed a steadiness and grandeur beyond his years.

“May I call you Pingnan directly?” Li Rao noticed the young man frowned awkwardly whenever he was addressed as Little Su, so she decided to ask him.

“That’s fine with me. We will seem less distant that way,” Su Pingnan replied, looking at the woman who resembled Li Luoran, realizing this aunt was the toughest obstacle.

“Your sitting posture is commanding and your back straight—someone used to giving orders. The calluses on your knuckles don’t look like they came from hardship but from punching. In short, I do believe that you have the means to buy them, but I’m worried about the source of your money. Luoran is a young girl. Why bring harm to her?” Li Rao’s observational skill was remarkable, and she went straight to the point.

Su Pingnan affectionately looked at Li Luoran and softly asked, “Are you afraid?”

Li Luoran’s pretty eyes were full of determination as she shook her head earnestly.

Su Pingnan looked up and met Li Rao’s eyes. “Society is cruel, I don’t think I need to explain that to you. A farmer boy who grew up having to survive the underworld naturally not be soft-hearted. I never like to explain, but today I will explain once for Luoran’s sake.”

Mr. Li and Li Rao exchanged a glance and saw worry in each other’s eyes. The youth before them was frighteningly mature, which might not be all good for Luoran.

Su Pingnan continued, “I now do business in Wucheng, Tiannan Province. My operation is not small, but I guarantee every penny I earn is clean, and I firmly believe I can continue to succeed.”

Mrs. Li interjected, “You are still young. I don’t oppose your relationship, but Luoran will go abroad for further study after graduation. You two shouldn’t get too deeply involved with each other.”

“Mom, I don’t want to go abroad anymore,” Li Luoran said.

Mrs. Li shook her head: “A lifetime is long. When you’re young, you must strive to improve yourself. You promised me that—now is not the time to throw a childish tantrum.”

Su Pingnan smiled and stopped Li Luoran from speaking further. “I’m not against her going abroad—that’s in two years’ time, correct?”

He paused, then gently told Li Luoran, “You still don’t trust me. Wherever you go, I have the means to be with you.”

Li Rao smiled and casually urged everyone to eat. She had initially thought highly of the young man, but now it seemed he was just a youngster who had made a bit of money and didn’t know his place.

Su Pingnan looked earnestly at the aggrieved Li Luoran beside him and said, “Rest assured, I will take her to see the splendors of the world. I never boast.”

Li Luoran, who had been a good girl for twenty years, was completely taken in by Su Pingnan’s assertiveness and obediently nodded at his words.

Su Pingnan turned back to Li Rao and said flatly, “Let me reintroduce myself: Su Pingnan, from Tiannan, 20 years old, owner of Jinxiu Company.”