Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The onlookers instinctively cleared a path for Qin Zhenzhen.
âSister Chen, why is there such a commotion at your house?â
Upon hearing Qin Zhenzhenâs voice, tears welled up in Chen Linâerâs eyes.
Mrs. Su had addressed her as âSister Chenâ!
âSister Chen, whatâs the matter? Has someone mistreated you?â
Qin Zhenzhen reached for a handkerchief, intending to wipe away Chen Linâerâs tears.
Embarrassed, Chen Linâer took the handkerchief and said, âMrs. Su, I can manage it myself.â
Wang San hurriedly briefed Qin Zhenzhen on the situation.
Looking at Wang Yi, Qin Zhenzhen questioned, âAre you the Clan Leader of the
Wang Family? Are you leading your clan to claim Sister Chenâs assets?â
Wang Yi, feeling awkward, explained, âMrs. Su, itâs not a robbery. Itâs our family tradition. The rules are in place to safeguard the familyâs wealth.â âThese rules were revised with the consensus of the entire clan.â
âWe came here to discuss with Ms. Chen. If she decides to remain within the clan, we wonât take her assets. However, if she chooses to marry outside, we must reclaim these possessions.â
Seeing Qin Zhenzhen address Chen Linâer so warmly, Wang Yi tactfully stepped back.
He didnât want to provoke bandits, and tangling with an officialâs wife was equally unwise.
Retreating might grant him a broader perspective on the situation.
If Chen Linâer declared her intention to stay within the clan, he could temporarily retain her assets. Later, he might select a boy from his descendants, having Chen Linâer adopt him under her name.
Chen Linâer, being still young, wouldnât likely endure until marriage. Once she married, her familyâs assets would automatically transfer to her husband.
If Chen Linâer resisted marriage, they had a means to compel her.
In that scenario, they might even secure a dowry.
Wang Yi had a well-devised plan. Presently, he appeared quite reasonable, leaving Mrs. Su with no grounds for complaint and earning gratitude from Chen Linâer.
Chen Linâerâs expression indeed reflected happiness.
She was on the verge of pledging never to marry again when Qin Zhenzhen halted her with a glance. âYou donât need to say anything now. Let me handle this matter.â
Chen Linâer nodded. âAlright.â
Qin Zhenzhen turned her attention to Wang Yi with a smile. âClan Leader Wang, I can discern your intentions.â
âIf Sister Chen agrees not to remarry, you aim to choose a boy from your lineage and have her adopt him, correct?â
Wang Yiâs demeanor shifted. âIâ¦â
âBy doing so, youâd effectively coerce her into marriage, consolidating all of Sister Chenâs family assets within your own. Other clan members wouldnât receive any share, am I right?â
Wang Yiâs face reddened. âI never thought of it in that wayâ¦â
Upon hearing the Clan Leaderâs plan, other clan members immediately voiced their objections.
âClan Leader, are you out of your senses? According to our clan rules, when a woman loses her elders and husband and has no son, she is considered extinct!â
âAs an extinct family, she must return all the assets to the clan for distribution!â
âChen Linâer is too young to be a widow.â
âHence, her assets should be reclaimed by the clan!â
Wang Yi continued to signal discreetly to his clansmen, suggesting that this was merely a provisional solution he was considering. His actual intentions would unfold once he deceived Mrs. Su.
Regrettably, his fellow clansmen were already blinded by the allure of potential gains.
âClan Leader, we must adhere to the clan rules!â
Wang Yi, wearing a troubled expression, addressed Qin Zhenzhen, âMrs.. Su, you see, being the Clan Leader puts me in a challenging positionâ¦