Read Novel Full Chapter 122
Chapter 122 : Family Law
“Listen to your grandmother’s explanation. Something happened at home that year. Your grandfather, two uncles, and your mother and I were all separated and went to different places. Given the circumstances at the time, severing ties with us was the only way to survive. After I recovered, I also asked someone to inquire, but the news I received was that your mother died young and that you had also passed away. That’s why I haven’t been able to find you all these years. My dear, can you please forgive your grandma?”
Jiang Li listened quietly, not interrupting Fang Peilan. Hearing that Fang Peilan had indeed looked for her mother, Jiang Li felt a sense of relief, as if a huge burden had been lifted from her chest. At least Xu Shuzhen had not been entirely forgotten during her life.
“Madam Xu, I believe you.”
The word “believe” brought some relief to Fang Peilan’s aching heart, but the formal way Jiang Li addressed her left her feeling disappointed.
She wanted to hold Jiang Li’s hand, but Jiang Li subtly avoided her without making it obvious.
Seeing Jiang Li’s attitude, the tall man standing beside her also appeared indifferent, while the others watched nervously.
Fang Peilan took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears. After not seeing her granddaughter for so many years, it was understandable for her to feel distant.
“Grandma came here for no other reason than to ask you to move into our home. You, your husband, and your mother-in-law can all come. I live in a big old house with plenty of rooms. I’m the only one living there, so it would be too lonely for me.”
Having finally found her granddaughter, Fang Peilan wished she could see her every day.
Jiang Li shook her head. She had no idea what the situation was with the Xu family, and since there were some troubling people in Uncle Xu’s family, she had no desire to be involved with them.
“Thank you, but I have my own house, and I feel very comfortable living here.”
“My dear, this house is too small. My home is big, and there are people to take care of you there. I would feel better if you moved back.”
Fang Peilan wanted to say more, but Jiang Li interrupted, “Madam Xu, are you so sure that I am truly your granddaughter?”
“Yes, yes! You look exactly like your mother. And the jade bracelet you’re wearing was your mother’s favorite before she married. She never took it off.”
Noticing Jiang Li’s reluctance, Fang Peilan realized her granddaughter was someone with her own opinions, and that using forceful methods would only push her away and possibly cause her to hate her.
It was better to take things slowly and appeal to her emotions.
“Old Xu, take out everything you brought for the young lady.”
Velvet boxes were opened one after another, revealing sets of rubies, thumb-sized pearls, sparkling watches, and property deeds.
On the small stone table was more money than an average person could earn in a lifetime.
“My dear, since you don’t want to move back home, grandma has a house nearby that’s bigger than yours. You can choose the one you like and move in anytime. Grandma owes so much to you and your mother over the years, take it. Don’t refuse me.”
“Madam Xu, do your son and granddaughter know that you gave me these things?”
“What son and granddaughter? Where would I get my granddaughter?”
The housekeeper whispered something to Madam Xu, and Fang Peilan’s expression immediately changed. “She is just a stepdaughter of Xu Haicheng, and she dares to lay hands on my granddaughter!”
“My dear, don’t worry. I will never recognize that woman or the daughter she brought home.”
In reality, Fang Peilan couldn’t stand the pretentious and vicious behavior of those two women, so she chose to live alone to avoid being bothered by them.
“What grandma gave you is yours, and no one needs to speak to me about it. Also, your mother’s things are yours too. Now that you’re married, grandma will give all of these to you.”
Jiang Li finally refused to take the things, even though she could have lived a life of luxury and ease by simply accepting them.
But when it came to the Xu family, she had to be cautious.
After leaving Jiang Li’s house, Fang Peilan went to Xu Haicheng’s house. As soon as she entered, she heard the sound of porcelain breaking as something was thrown.
“Mom, what should I do with my face?”
In the mirror, the wound on Du Ling’s face had healed, leaving only a faint white scar.
Zhou Hui hugged her daughter with concern. “Don’t worry, Mom can definitely fix your face. She’s just a small doctor, and dare to go against my Xu family. After a while, Mom will make her kneel down and admit her mistake.”
“Jiang Li, it’s all that bitch’s fault. I’m going to kill her. Mom, get someone to tie her up. I’m going to scratch her face and let everyone trample on her.”
Du Ling’s face was full of malice, and Zhou Hui reassured her repeatedly.
“Who are you going to kidnap?”
Fang Peilan’s voice was heard, and Zhou Hui and her daughter froze in fear.
“When Xu Haicheng brought you back from the countryside, I didn’t like you. You are shallow-minded and vulgar, but I didn’t expect you to be so vicious. How come, after being a rich lady in my house for two days, you dare to use the Xu family’s name to harm people and start fires?”
Zhou Hui fell to her knees amid the questions, trembling. “Mom, I didn’t.”
“Don’t call me ‘mom’! You are not the daughter-in-law of my Xu family. I only have one eldest daughter-in-law, and she is dead.”
“Old Madam, you don’t understand the whole story. You are biased towards an outsider for no reason. Are you still acting like an elder?”
Du Ling, who was used to being spoiled by Zhou Hui, could say anything. When she said this, Fang Peilan narrowed her eyes.
“Okay, okay, now it’s your turn to teach me a lesson.”
“Call Haicheng to me. And bring me the family rules from the ancestral hall.”
When it came to family discipline, Zhou Hui’s skin tensed up. She had been disciplined by the old lady before when she accepted gifts from others at a banquet without Xu Haicheng’s knowledge.
If you hit someone with a thick ruler that is two feet long and one inch wide with all your strength, your palm will swell up.
Ignoring Zhou Hui’s pleas, Du Ling was held down by the two housekeepers and beaten severely. By the tenth strike, Du Ling’s hands had gone numb, and tears and snot streamed down her face.
At this moment, Xu Haicheng hurried over and saw Du Ling being beaten. He did not ask why, but greeted Fang Peilan first. “Mother, how come you have time to come here today?”
“If I hadn’t come, I wouldn’t have known that the mother and daughter you brought in would bully my sweet granddaughter to death!”
“Granddaughter?”
Zhou Hui couldn’t understand it at first. The Xu family was a small one. Xu Haicheng’s first wife had left behind a son, and then there was Lingling.
Although the second brother of the Xu family was married, he had no children. Where did this granddaughter come from?
The Xu family wasn’t large in population, and the elders were always gentle toward the younger ones, which is why Zhou Hui felt she could do anything without fear of consequence.
Sooner or later, Lingling would inherit half of the family fortune, and then she wouldn’t have to endure the old man’s anger anymore.
“Mom, do you know about this?” Xu Haicheng asked Fang Peilan cautiously.
“Why? Did you do such a shameful, bullying thing, and now you’re afraid I’ll find out about it?”