Chapter 336 - 295: Looking for Mom
Chapter 336: Chapter 295: Looking for Mom
Wu Xiaowen was at a loss. He said he had to receive important guests, and that was surely true. He couldn’t just drop his work to entertain his in-laws, could he?
The three members of the Wu family looked at each other. In the end, Lin Aizhen was the quickest to react. She forced a smile and said, "A man in your position naturally prioritizes his work. And as it happens, my dear friend isn’t home either. Xiao Wen is still young, after all. She can’t get anything done without her mother-in-law’s guidance... So, let’s just forget it for today. We can find another time to get together."
Wu Yu Xuan chimed in hurriedly, "Yes, yes, work comes first, work comes first. We mustn’t hold you up! It’s already been wonderful to meet with you and chat today. Er, it’s just a shame things are so rushed. If we had a bit more time, I was hoping to see that piece of Jade my granddaughter Manman bought a while back..."
From an angle where Tang Renqian couldn’t see, Lin Aizhen reached out and tugged on Wu Yu Xuan’s clothes. Wu Xiaowen also stared speechlessly at her father. ’Dad, can’t you get your priorities straight? Is this really the time to be talking about that Jade?’
Tang Renqian chuckled. "Professor Wu, you want to see some Jade? I have a few pieces here we can look at some other time. But as for the one Manman bought, I’m afraid I can’t make any promises. My granddaughter is all grown up and has a strong sense of independence. Without her permission, no one is allowed in her private room. So, Professor Wu, you’ll just have to wait for Manman to return to Beijing."
"Oh, is that so? It’s fine, it’s fine. We’ll just wait for the child to return to Beijing," Wu Yu Xuan said, waving his hand to dismiss the matter as he hid his disappointment.
Lin Aizhen saw a male staff member standing outside the large glass window raise his wrist to check his watch, his gaze quickly sweeping over the living room. ’Looks like he’s getting ready to leave,’ she thought. She quickly picked up where Wu Yu Xuan left off and said to Tang Renqian with a smile, "We came today for two reasons. First, to visit you and strengthen our family ties. Second, we came for the children... We’ve been working in the countryside all these years and haven’t cared for them enough, especially Qingyun and Xiao Wen. Not only have we been unable to help them, but we’ve been quite a burden. We’re truly ashamed! As for what happened with Manman, we also learned about it far too late. The young parents were too naive. Their intentions were good, of course—to first build their careers and then come back for their child. But they didn’t think things through and ended up hurting the child’s feelings... I spoiled Xiao Wen since she was little, so sometimes she can’t control herself, but she has a good heart. She’s an obedient child who knows how to respect her elders. She’s also diligent, frugal, a good wife, and a good mother. Otherwise, how could their marriage have remained so strong after more than a decade? But when all is said and done, if the elders are not satisfied with the young couple, then it’s definitely their fault! This is especially true for Xiao Wen. She’s a wife and a mother, a daughter-in-law of the Tang family. She can’t be willful or act spoiled anymore. She must serve her father-in-law and mother-in-law and listen to their teachings! So, we’ve brought Xiao Wen back today. We want her to stay with her mother-in-law and learn how to properly manage household affairs!"
After Lin Aizhen finished, Wu Yu Xuan nodded in agreement. "A daughter can be as spoiled as she likes in her own home, but once she marries into her husband’s family, she absolutely cannot be willful. She ought to be respectful, humble, serve her in-laws, and be a good wife and mother! We’ve been lecturing her frequently these past few days. Our daughter now recognizes her mistakes and shouldn’t insist on having her own way anymore."
The couple fixed their four eyes on Tang Renqian, their gazes radiating absolute sincerity and expectation. Tang Renqian coughed twice, looked at Wu Xiaowen, and said with a small smile, "From what you’ve both said, I assume you understand why we asked Qingyun and Xiao Wen to move out and live elsewhere?"
"We do, of course we do! It’s because of Xuanxuan. Qingyun and Xiao Wen were in the wrong. They’re just too young and don’t yet understand how important one’s own blood is... But don’t worry, it’s not a problem. You can rest assured, the Wu Family will handle the matter of Tang Yaxuan. I’ve already made arrangements. That child won’t show up at the Tang Mansion. She won’t even be allowed in this district, so Manman won’t have to feel uncomfortable seeing her!" Lin Aizhen said.
Tang Renqian fiddled with the tea set on the table, murmuring thoughtfully, "Well..."
Wu Xiaowen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. ’This is the tone my father-in-law always uses when he’s about to grant one of my requests. It seems my parents’ influence is working after all. It’s going to happen. I’m going to move back into the Tang Mansion. Then I’ll have to live under that old woman’s watchful eye, enduring her strict discipline and sarcastic remarks... Ugh, just thinking about it is exhausting!’
She was just about to follow Lin Aizhen’s earlier instructions and chime in with a few words, to show that she recognized her mistake and would be diligent and doubly respectful to her in-laws from now on. But a sudden report made her freeze, completely forgetting what she was going to say.
The staff member from outside had heard a report from the guards and came in. He had been with Tang Renqian for several years and knew a bit about the Tang family’s affairs, so he didn’t need to say much. He simply reported the facts: "Tang Yaxuan is outside the main gate. She’s asking for her mother. May she come in?"
Tang Renqian looked up at the three stunned and speechless individuals, his signature smile still on his face. "A child wants to see her mother. Who could stop her? Nor should anyone. Let her in."
"No! Don’t let her in!" Lin Aizhen and Wu Xiaowen cried out in unison, a testament to the bond between mother and daughter. Afterward, both their faces changed color—one turned purple with rage, the other beet red. Even Wu Yu Xuan lowered his head, wishing the ground would swallow him whole.
But Tang Renqian had no time to pay them any mind. He asked the staff member, "What time is it?"
The staff member replied, "We need to leave in ten minutes."
"Alright. Get ready."
The staff member walked briskly out of the living room. Tang Renqian stood up, his leisurely demeanor vanishing in an instant. His expression became solemn as he clasped his hands in a gesture of farewell toward Wu Yu Xuan. "My apologies, Professor Wu. This is all we have time for today. Let’s meet again when there’s an opportunity!"
Wu Yu Xuan could only respond mechanically, "Very well... We’ll take our leave then. You’re busy. Farewell."
Unwilling to give up, Lin Aizhen called out, "Sir! Look, how about just letting Xiao Wen move back in today?"
Tang Renqian looked at Lin Aizhen and shook his head. "Professor Lin, Qingyun and Xiao Wen have been married for over a decade and have given the Tang family two children. For that, they have merit. But they also lost their daughter, nearly let her die, and deeply wounded her heart. For that, they have made a mistake, and they must accept their punishment. For at least the next five years, Qingyun must remain in the countryside. He will not be eligible for any major job transfers. The couple must stand on their own two feet; they will not receive any allowance from the Tang family. My wife and I had them move out and find their own place, and yes, it was because of Tang Yaxuan. We have lived for decades; we can understand the bond between adoptive parents and an adopted daughter. But my biological granddaughter’s fate has been too tragic. It’s bad enough that she went more than ten years without parental love and received no compensation. How could we then force her to watch her own parents dote on someone else more than her? Such fragmented and incomplete parental love is better off not being seen at all. Out of sight, out of mind! Therefore, Manman has been given to Qingshan, and Qingyun and Xiao Wen will take their adopted daughter and leave the Tang Mansion! That is all I have to say. I hope you understand!"
Lin Aizhen’s mouth hung open, unable to utter a single word.
Seeing Tang Renqian start to walk away, Wu Xiaowen bit her lip, ran over, and grabbed his arm. "Father! Father! It was my fault before. I want to spend more time with my children, to communicate and build our relationship. Please give me another chance... As for Xuanxuan, I’ll leave her with the Wu Family. I won’t bring her here!"
"You won’t bring her, but doesn’t she have her own two feet? Who is the child outside the gate right now, crying for her mother?"