Chapter 824 — A Visit from the Xiao Family
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
The two Xiao brothers climbed into their own car as well, leading the way ahead, and together with the business vehicle they drove toward the Kang family villa.
"Dad, the Xiao family has arrived. Shall we go out and receive them?" Kang Guifeng had taken the call announcing that the Xiao brothers intended to pay a visit to the Kang villa, and now he came to his father's study to ask.
"Oh? They've come? Hmph, seems they can scarcely wait any longer!" Divine Physician Kang curled one corner of his mouth and spoke with a touch of scorn. "I hear there's nothing left of the Xiao family now but an empty shell?"
"That's right. From what my investigations show, the Xiao family has sold off every asset they held in Yanjing and is preparing to stake everything on an investment in Songshan City." Kang Guifeng nodded.
"Why Songshan City and not Donghai City?" Divine Physician Kang asked.
"I'd guess that with the little money their family has left, they simply wouldn't measure up in Donghai, a provincial capital. There are too many wealthy people here—the Xiao family wouldn't stand out at all." Kang Guifeng's guess was close to the mark; that was indeed the Xiao family's thinking.
Moreover, Donghai City had the Kang family, that towering colossus, and the hidden Zhao family as well, leaving no room for the Xiao family to shine. By choosing Songshan City, they could trade on the lingering prestige of the Xiao name to lord it over a small place like that.
Divine Physician Kang nodded. "Go and receive them, then—but don't make it too grand. After all, with the Kang family's present strength, the best we can do is cling to the Xiao family's coattails! The Xiao family has fallen on hard times of late—but haven't we in the Kang family done just the same?"
"Indeed. Our Kang family has suffered grievous losses recently too—Dr. Guan and that fatso Lai did us no end of harm!" Kang Guifeng said. "Now it all depends on whether Zhaoming can get his hands on the Guan family's formula!"
"Mm, speaking of which—how has Zhaoming been lately?" Divine Physician Kang asked.
"Zhao Qibing was carrying out a demolition and injured him by accident, though I hear Kang Jingming wants to handle it himself and make them pay some compensation," Kang Guifeng said. "As for how things are progressing with Guan Xin, there doesn't seem to have been any progress at all."
"That boy—doesn't he always boast of being a ladies' man? How is it that after all this time he still hasn't succeeded?" Divine Physician Kang was somewhat impatient, then asked again, "By the way, his injury isn't serious, is it?"
"That I'm not clear on either, but Kang Jingming hasn't said anything himself, so I'd guess it's nothing much?" Kang Guifeng shook his head.
Before long, the Xiao brothers arrived at the Kang residence with Uncle Pi. Divine Physician Kang had originally not intended to show himself, but when he heard that Uncle Pi had come too, he hurried out from his inner chambers in alarm; seeing Uncle Pi and the Xiao brothers in the reception hall, he at once apologized: "My apologies, Elder Pi, Xiao Ji, Xiao Ben—I'm old, and I sleep a great deal. I'm afraid I dozed off without meaning to!"
"No harm, no harm!" Xiao Ben waved his hand with an air of complete indifference, and rising together with Xiao Ji, he said, "We two juniors—how could we put Divine Physician Kang to the trouble of receiving us? We are quite overwhelmed!"
Yet inwardly Xiao Ben sneered: You old fox—had you not heard that Uncle Pi was coming too, you would likely have gone on hiding and never shown your face, wouldn't you?
And in fact, that was exactly so. Divine Physician Kang knew well how formidable Uncle Pi was and could not possibly decline to show him this courtesy! Who knew but that the Kang family might have need of Uncle Pi's help in the future? Once matters reached the level of the great families, many of their conflicts and disputes could no longer be settled by ordinary means.