The entire household fell into complete silence because of this statement.
Zhao Chengle, Zhao Jianghe, and Lu Yunqing all couldn’t help but feel nervous.
The pressure was naturally extraordinary.
“Chengle,” the Old Master spoke slowly.
Zhao Chengle thought the Old Master was going to reprimand him, but he didn’t think he had said anything wrong. His father and the stepmother had already been through a lot, and it wasn’t their fault to fall in love with each other. Love was uncontrollable, and the stepmother was willing to die for his father. If he could meet such a gentle, thoughtful, and kind woman who devoted herself entirely to him, he would also be fearless.
Coming from a family like theirs, it was already difficult to find true love. If they found it, cherishing it wasn’t wrong.
Moreover, after the divorce, his mother could have received the greatest compensation, yet she chose to take everything away. What would happen to his father and the stepmother afterward? The Zhao family would surely strongly rebuke them and even attempt to break them up, forcing his father to placate his mother.
Since they had already come this far, there was no need to continue the entanglement. He didn’t want to see a resentful mother and a pitiful father in the future.
“Grandpa,” Zhao Chengle said, “Dad has been very good to Mom for so many years. Even if he made the last mistake, is it really so unforgivable? No one is perfect!”
The Old Master said, “I’m not here to preach. I’m giving you a choice.”
“What? I’m an adult; I don’t need to choose between my parents.” Zhao Chengle thought the Old Master was talking about this.
But the Old Master directly said, “I’m giving you a choice. If you support your father keeping one-tenth of the property, then you will lose all inheritance rights to everything your mother possesses! If you choose to help your mother and make your father penniless, then everything your mother gets, including part of the Qin Family’s assets, will be yours. You choose.”
【Heh heh, Grandpa is doing great. Making him choose between his father and mother. Choose wrong, and let this ungrateful brat taste some bitter consequences.】
As soon as the Old Master said this, not only did Zhao Chengle’s face change, but so did Zhao Jianghe’s and Lu Yunqing’s.
【Zhao Jianghe’s face changed; I can understand that, as it’s his son’s interests. But why did your face change, little mistress? Do you really regard Zhao Jianghe as your own son? Hmm? Wait, oh, I see. You must think that being penniless isn’t so bad. If Zhao Jianghe really can’t make it, there’s still his son to fill in. But if the son also ends up with nothing, then both father and son will have to bow to the Zhao family. Seems you’re not purely innocent either. You’re quite swift in analyzing the pros and cons.】
Zhao Chengle came to his senses and became somewhat resentful, feeling that his grandfather was insulting him, believing that money could sway his decision. How could he be such a person?
“Grandpa, I always thought you were a just and strict elder. How could you force me to make such a choice? They are my parents; I don’t want to hurt either of them,” Zhao Chengle said, his eyes red. “Dad has already promised to compensate. Is that not enough? Do you have to drive us to such an absolute break, forcing me to take sides with Mom? That’s really too much!”
“Dad, it’s my fault. There’s no need to treat Lele like this,” Zhao Jianghe said. “You’re forcing him to choose between me and Auntie Yu. That’s too cruel for the child.”
“He’s not a child anymore. He’s an adult, and adults have the right to discern right from wrong and make choices,” the Old Master said coldly.
Zhao Chengle, also stubborn, said directly, “I am discerning right from wrong. I think Dad made a mistake, but it wasn’t that big of a mistake. That person saved Dad, and Dad wants to be with her. Is that so unbearable? Is it better for Mom and Dad to be entangled without feelings?”
The Old Master looked at Zhao Chengle, his expression becoming increasingly cold. “I don’t deny that, from your perspective, what you’re saying might make some sense. But our Qin Family has one principle: we protect our own unconditionally. If we don’t side with our own family, what’s the point of staying in the family? Remember, you can be our grandson, or you can choose not to be! We recently kicked out a grandson; we don’t mind losing another one. If you continue to disrespect your mother and show her no affection, you don’t have to acknowledge us as your relatives!”
“Master!” Grandma Lv, who had been quiet all along, grew anxious. She had always cared for every younger generation.
The Old Master waved his hand, signaling Grandma Lv not to intervene, and directly said, “In this matter, your mother is the sole victim. As a Zhao family wife and your mother, she hasn’t made a single wrong step. You can’t bully her just because she doesn’t act as you wish. Old man, I’m still alive, and no one can bully my child like this.”
“Dad~” Fifth Aunt Qin’s tears streamed down her face.
The Old Master turned to the two pale-faced men and said, “You can’t empathize with my daughter’s grievances, so why should I care if you think the punishment is too harsh? Regarding the divorce, these are my words: my daughter says you’re penniless, and you will be penniless. Unless the Zhao family wants to clash with the Qin family!”
Zhao Jianghe’s face turned completely pale.
Fifth Aunt Qin, who had initially wanted to be lenient, now felt supported by her father, and her brothers in the family were backing her up. Why should she constrict herself? If it made her feel better to make Zhao Jianghe suffer, then so be it. Let them say she was being excessive.
“And you!” The Old Master looked at the already pale Zhao Chengle. “I’m giving you a choice. Do you still want to fight for your father?”
Fifth Aunt Qin also looked at her son, truly hurt by him today.
Zhao Chengle said with resentment, “Grandpa, do I even have a choice? Aren’t you insisting on making my father penniless?”
“Heh, you do. If you support your father, maybe the court will rule differently, but the Qin family won’t back down,” the Old Master said, then directly ordered, “Choose!”
Zhao Chengle shuddered.
Lu Yunqing also couldn’t help but pull on Fifth Aunt Qin’s arm, subtly hinting to her not to escalate the matter so much; after all, it was her son.
Ji Fei now felt very annoyed when she saw Lu Yunqing still acting as a close friend. How could she be so thick-skinned?
Ji Fei’s eyes suddenly lit up, and a wicked smile appeared on her lips. She directly said, “Hey, you little third party, how dare you be so bold? The matter has escalated so much, yet you still have the audacity to cling to our Fifth Aunt Qin!”
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