Chapter 369 - 214: Joke_3
She sneered inwardly; everyone said the third branch was honest and straightforward, yet they turned out to be the most cunning of all. They kept this matter tightly concealed, deceiving everyone.
After sending Qian Mandie away, she first went to the main house to share this "joke" with the senior couple, then to the second branch to tell Lady Tang the same "joke." In the end, she would always add, "Manjiang’s wife is still somewhat confused, how could she spout such nonsense? We are family and naturally know that these are her foolish words. But if outsiders hear this, it would not be good for Jinwa’s reputation."
This "joke" caused a stir in the first and second branches, splitting everyone into three different camps.
Old woman Qian firmly believed that this was nothing but a joke; every time she looked at Jinwa, she felt pity. How could there be such affection if they weren’t related by blood?
Old man Qian and Lady Tang were convinced that Jinwa definitely was not Qian Manjiang’s biological son, for the same reasons Lady Wang had analyzed.
Lady Tang raised her voice and said, "Father, you can’t ignore this. Our Qian family’s estate, how can we pass it on to a bastard..."
Qian Manhe was so angry that he yelled at her, "Mother, what nonsense are you spouting?"
Old woman Qian struck down with her walking stick, putting all her strength into it, causing Lady Tang to stagger. She spat, "Shameless woman, my son should divorce you."
Old man Qian also scolded Lady Tang, "Speaking such words, aren’t you afraid of retribution? No matter what, Jinwa was raised by the third branch, and he has mourned as Manjiang’s grandson. The third branch’s property should also include his share." He then said with sorrow, "I need to ask Sangui, with so many blood-related children and grandchildren in our Qian family, how could he think of letting an outsider to mourn for my Manjiang’s grandson, to carry on the family line? By doing this, isn’t he afraid of facing our Qian ancestors after death, isn’t he ashamed to face my Manjiang’s grandson?"
The rest harbored doubts. Qian Manhe even advised, "No matter whether Jinwa is our third uncle’s biological grandson, since our third uncle wants to treat him as his own and have him mourn for Brother Jiang and continue the family line, then we should just listen to third uncle..."
Old man Qian would not listen and stormed off to the third branch. Upon leaving, he saw that no one dared to follow him besides those siding with Lady Tang. So he turned back and scolded Qian Dagui and Qian Ergui into accompanying him, while everyone else hastily claimed they had urgent matters and fled, including Lady Wang.
Old man Qian arrived at Guiyuan and began to berate Qian Sangui, while Lady Tang added fuel to the fire with her cold sneers and hot taunts.