Chapter 679: Chapter 679: Not Family
"He Chao, as the unworthy offspring of the He Family, left He Family Village for nearly thirty years without coming back for a single visit. If it weren’t for the news in the dispatches, we would have thought he died out there, making us worry in vain all these years."
"When he was seven, his parents met misfortune in the south, and it was the He Family’s communal meals that raised him. We thought he had a conscience, but who knew he would cut off all ties as soon as he left He Family Village? When he returns, I’ll certainly teach this unworthy offspring a lesson for his parents."
Tong Huaqiong watched Uncle He coldly, the old man was putting on airs here.
These distant relatives came here acting like big shots, clearly wanting to take advantage of He Chao’s absence and manipulate Mrs. Hong first.
This old man from the moment he walked in had an attitude as if elevating himself on the moral high ground.
Mrs. Hong watched Uncle He perform with a gentle smile.
What a nerve to claim raising someone from seven to nine is raising them? Moreover, they didn’t even raise him, instead bullied an orphan relentlessly.
Otherwise, how could He Chao leave He Family Village at nine to make a living outside?
The silver-haired woman saw Uncle He getting angry and immediately intervened to persuade.
This was part of their pre-arranged strategy, Uncle He playing bad cop, while the silver-haired woman—also Aunt He—played the sympathetic role.
"Uncle, don’t be angry. Chao is, after all, a junior, as elders we shouldn’t fuss over a junior. You’ve always worried at home that Chao might not be eating or wearing well outside. Now knowing he got married, built this big house, and made achievements on the border, we should be happy instead."
This wasn’t persuasion at all, it was showing Mrs. Hong that they’ve never once forgotten about He Chao.
Uncle He’s face remained pale with anger as he said, "But how could he go all these years without any news."
The silver-haired woman looked at Mrs. Hong with affection, saying, "Daughter-in-law of Chao, don’t be upset. Your uncle has a bad temper; he just worries too much about Chao, so his words may not sound good. You have no idea, upon hearing news of Chao, he’s been so delighted that he couldn’t sleep for days."
The so-called aunts and sisters-in-law nearby kept echoing, trying to prove He Family’s concern for He Chao.
Mrs. Hong didn’t bother to say a word.
The silver-haired woman frowned slightly, this was not what she expected.
Mrs. Hong should be tearing up, grateful for her husband’s family coming to support.
They had found out she was just an orphan girl, how come she wasn’t touched at all by her husband’s family’s arrival?
Tong Huaqiong sneered and spoke up, "Lady, you come here with accusations, scolding, and declarations, but you haven’t answered Sister Hong’s question yet?"
The silver-haired woman and Uncle He froze, answer what?
Tong Huaqiong saw through their act, pretending not to understand, and said, "He Chao has no relatives, why are you pretending to be his family?"
Mrs. Hong looked at the silver-haired woman with genuine confusion, her eyes asking honestly, showing Tong Huaqiong was speaking for her.
The silver-haired woman was furious, realizing Mrs. Hong didn’t recognize them as her husband’s family at all.
Pretending?
They were within five generations of He Chao, surely they were family?
Uncle He tapped his cane fiercely and, flinging his sleeves, said, "Didn’t I just tell you, I’m He Chao’s uncle."
Tong Huaqiong continued, "You say you’re He Chao’s uncle, does that make you his uncle? How can you prove it? I could claim to be He Chao’s great-grandmother myself."
"Hahaha."
Mrs. Zhao and Aunt Qin couldn’t help but laugh.
Tong Dajiao was indeed remarkable.
Uncle He was rendered speechless by Tong Huaqiong’s words.
How else could they prove it?
They were certainly He Family, He Chao was of the He lineage, naturally they were relatives.
"Preposterous! He Chao’s surname is He, my surname is He, He Chao is a descendant of my He Family, how else can it be proven?"
Mrs. Hong looked at Uncle He and said, "I’ve been married to He Chao for so many years, and never seen any family or relatives. If you claim to be family, how am I supposed to believe? Or else today you claim kinship, tomorrow someone else does, how can this work? There are many with the surname He, should they all come claiming kinship?"
Mrs. Zhao timely chimed in with, "If anyone can claim kinship this way, any random person can come running to call you Father or Grandfather, and you wouldn’t even need to marry and have kids, you’d be surrounded by a full house of children and grandchildren."
Those words were too sharp, Uncle He’s cane almost slipped from his grip in anger.
He thought with He Chao away, Mrs. Hong being an orphan would be easy to manage, yet met a challenge from the start.
She outright refused.
While handling her alone might be doable, unfortunately, He Chao’s employer was present too.
The silver-haired woman Aunt He also showed displeasure on her face.
Their main reason for coming today was to coax Mrs. Hong into recognizing Zhu Zi as heir in He Chao’s absence.
Later Zhu Zi could follow He Chao, enjoying life’s benefits, while securing He Chao’s large estate for himself.
She couldn’t allow her plan to be thwarted.
"Daughter-in-law of Chao, don’t listen to outsiders’ provocations, we are your husband’s family. We heard you’ve been married to Chao for years without a child and intentionally came to support you. If you can’t trust us, surely you trust Chao. Even if Chao were here, he’d call me Aunt."
Others echoed her words.
Mrs. Hong thought, who are they trying to fool? They probably wouldn’t dare casually visit with He Chao here.
Mrs. Hong said, "I don’t have my husband’s family, He Chao’s parents met misfortune in the south when he was young, since then he’s been an orphan. Did you see the dispatch about He Chao’s accomplishments and now pretend to be his relatives to establish kinship? I advise you to give up this idea."
Uncle He stood up dissatisfied and said, "Since ancient times, marriage is arranged by parents and matchmakers, Chao had no parents, his marriage needs the clan’s approval. You married into the He Family without clan approval, without worshipping ancestors, without formally marrying into He Family, without serving tea to He elders, you don’t count as a daughter-in-law of He Family."
"Being dispatched as a concubine, you’re not considered a daughter-in-law of He Family, and naturally, He Family isn’t your husband’s family."
Mrs. Hong slammed the table, angrily pointing at the old man and scolded, "Do you want a slap in the face?"
Tong Huaqiong couldn’t steady her teacup, directly throwing it at Uncle He, the scalding tea making Uncle He yelp.
Tong Huaqiong coolly said, "Old man, do you really take yourself as an instrument, showing off here? If you don’t leave quickly, watch out for jail time."
Tong Huaqiong’s plain threat.
Uncle He wasn’t afraid at all.
Report to the authorities, go ahead!
Report to the authorities, they could further prove they’re He Family.
The officials don’t concern themselves with clan matters.
"He Chao is of He Family, everything in this house belongs to He Family. Even if He Chao recognizes you as his wife, being married for so many years without a child, the clan can open the ancestral hall to dismiss you."
Uncle He threatened Mrs. Hong.
This was their home-prepared ace.
With He Chao away, He Family clan could dismiss Mrs. Hong without consulting him.
Originally, he intended to speak kindly, but Mrs. Hong didn’t show respect, so he wouldn’t be courteous.
Mrs. Hong neither respecting elders nor bearing children was sufficient to dismiss her.
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