Chapter 52: Idle Gossip

"That's wonderful," Jiang Hao said with a smile.

Next, Bai Qiming asked, "Mr. Jiang, did you receive all the rewards our Bai family sent you? The Bugatti Veyron and the fifty million—both reached you smoothly, right?"

"Yes, I received everything. Your Bai family is truly generous," Jiang Hao replied with genuine appreciation.

The Bai family was indeed lavish in their generosity. When Jiang Hao cured Zhao Shibo, the head of the Zhao family, he received only twenty million as compensation. Yet, for treating the Bai family patriarch, he was rewarded with a total value of sixty million, which clearly illustrated the financial gap between the Bai and Zhao families.

The Bai family, a true powerhouse of the provincial capital, possessed wealth far beyond what the great families of Maple Leaf City could match.

"In that case, I have nothing to worry about," Bai Qiming continued. "By the way, Mr. Jiang, my father will be visiting Maple Leaf City soon to meet you in person. He wishes to express his gratitude properly."

"There's no need for that. I treated his illness, you rewarded me; it's simply a fair transaction."

"That's not how it works," Bai Qiming replied earnestly. "You cured my father's illness without any aftereffects. That's a tremendous favor, something money can't measure. My father is the head of our Bai family; his life can't be equated to a mere few million."

Since Bai Qiming spoke so sincerely, Jiang Hao did not refuse further. After a few more polite words, they ended the call. Jiang Hao loaded his belongings into the car and returned to the villa in the eastern suburbs.

The following days, Jiang Hao's life was nothing short of idyllic. Living in an ultra-luxurious villa, he had no worries about food or drink, nor did he need to concern himself with work or finances.

Such a life was the dream of most ordinary people.

During these days, Jiang Hao also took time to carefully review the legacy of the Flame Emperor, sorting out part of the medical knowledge and printing it out to give to Chen Guang.

Chen Guang was endlessly grateful to Jiang Hao, nearly kneeling in thanks before him.

Jiang Hao's life was tranquil, but the Su family was anything but.

At the Su family ancestral home—

Madam Su, leaning on her cane, paced back and forth in the courtyard, doing her rehabilitation exercises. Though she didn't like Jiang Hao, she had to admit he had cured her lung illness, so she obeyed his every instruction.

Jiang Hao had messaged Su Qingli, advising that Madam Su should exercise more and get plenty of sunlight. Madam Su followed his orders strictly, not daring to deviate in the slightest.

The rehabilitation had indeed worked, and Madam Su felt her health improving day by day, as if she were years younger.

Just then, a young man approached quickly—it was Su Tianming.

Su Tianming looked troubled. When he reached Madam Su, he said, "Grandmother, has Su Qingli come to see you these past few days?"

"No, is something the matter?" Madam Su turned to her beloved grandson.

Su Tianming replied irritably, "Grandmother, you have no idea. I went to the bank on business a couple of days ago and happened to run into Jiang Hao. You should've seen how infuriating he was! Not only did he provoke me, he insulted me, saying our Su family is trash, that we're all useless, and that he couldn't care less about us!"

Madam Su was instantly furious.

"Jiang Hao dared to say that to you? Dared to speak to you in such a way?" she exclaimed.

"Exactly! I was so angry I could barely stand it!" Su Tianming put on a pitiful expression, his tone full of grievance.

Madam Su fumed, "Jiang Hao is truly despicable. He is, after all, our Su family's son-in-law, yet he dares to malign us so, utterly ungrateful and disloyal!"

"Grandmother, so when will you have Su Qingli divorce him?" Su Tianming seized the opportunity to ask.

Madam Su gave him a curious look. "Why are you in such a hurry? Whether Qingli divorces Jiang Hao or not, what does it have to do with you?"

What Madam Su didn’t know was that Pan Yixuan had sought out Su Tianming several times, promising substantial rewards if he could get Su Qingli and Jiang Hao to divorce sooner.

It was the lure of Pan Yixuan’s promised benefits that made Su Tianming so keen to see them part ways.

If he managed it, he could receive plenty of rewards from Pan Yixuan!

Naturally, he would never say any of this in front of Madam Su.

"Grandmother, Jiang Hao has already cut ties with our Su family, yet refuses to divorce Su Qingli. If word gets out, won’t people laugh at us? We must settle the divorce quickly."

Madam Su pondered for a moment. "Very well, I’ll find time in the next few days to talk to Qingli. Their divorce should indeed be handled swiftly, no more delays."

She then admonished Su Tianming, "Tianming, you can't always focus on Qingli and Jiang Hao’s affairs. Whether they divorce or not is their business, not yours. You are the heir to our Su family, the future head—you should focus on our family’s enterprises."

"Our main business is medicinal herbs. That must never go wrong, do you understand?"

After speaking, Madam Su looked at Su Tianming with stern eyes.

Su Tianming nodded repeatedly, smiling, "Grandmother, don't worry. I’ll take good care of our medicinal herb business, nothing will go wrong! Besides, this quarter’s herbs have already been purchased and are stored in our company's warehouse. With everything in our hands, what could go wrong?"

Madam Su nodded with satisfaction.

Glancing at the deep ancestral home, Su Tianming suddenly said, "Grandmother, didn’t Su Qingli say your lung disease was caused by living too long in a damp, dark environment? The ancestral home is fine except for its poor lighting and lingering dampness. Should we buy you a good villa and have you move in?"

"You mean buy me a villa and move out of the ancestral home?" Madam Su asked.

"Yes, it would benefit your health!" Su Tianming replied with a grin.

Madam Su considered his suggestion and found it reasonable. The ancestral home was imposing, but the lighting was poor, the house deep and shaded, sunlight barely reaching inside. It was damp and cold, not suitable for an elderly person like her.