Seeing that Gan Li had a problem with the two, the shopkeeper quickly said obsequiously, "Master, I'll go and fetch them right away."
Gan Li did not stop him, but took a sip of tea. She knew perfectly well that Chen Danian would never listen to her.
Sure enough, the shopkeeper returned shortly afterward with a bitter face, rubbing his hands and saying, "Master, those two... those two refuse to come up no matter what, they insist that you come down to talk to them, I... I can't persuade them."
Gan Tian immediately understood what the father and son were planning. They wanted to create a scene in a crowded place to force their mother to give in.
After all these years, a leopard can't change its spots!
Gan Tian's face darkened, her disgust evident: "Mother, don't go down! They're clearly trying to take advantage of us!"
Ganli patted her daughter's hand and gave her a reassuring look.
She was well aware of the father and son's tricks, but since they had come all the way to the capital, they wouldn't give up easily. Rather than watching them jump around, it was better to deal with them once and for all.
She instructed the shopkeeper, "Go down and take a look."
Downstairs, Chen Danian and his son were craning their necks, staring longingly at the stairwell, nervously rehearsing their prepared words, hoping to make everyone see their pitiful state and speak up for them.
However, when he saw the figure gracefully descending the stairs, all the carefully prepared lines instantly stuck in his throat, and he stood there dumbfounded, as if struck by lightning.
After not seeing her for many years, he thought Ganli would be worn down by life and faded in appearance, just like himself. But to his surprise, Ganli in front of him seemed to have been reborn and was completely different from the one he remembered.
She was still young, with fair and radiant skin, and a confident glow. She looked more like a woman in her early twenties than a woman in her thirties!
And the girl standing behind Ganli.
The young woman had beautiful features and an elegant demeanor; every gesture she made exuded the grace of a well-bred lady.
Chen Danian rubbed his eyes and could barely make out from the eyebrows and eyes that it seemed to be his daughter, Chen Pan'er!
That thin and timid girl from back then has now grown into such a graceful and beautiful young woman.
Chen Yaozu looked at Gan Tian, his heart burning with jealousy. That brat, she'd clearly been doing well all these years! Then he looked at his own pathetic state… He gritted his teeth in resentment.
Upstairs, Ganli and Gantian also saw the Chen family father and son being surrounded by the waiters downstairs, and a hint of surprise flashed in their eyes.
The changes these two people have undergone in just a few years are astonishing.
Chen Danian was once a handsome young scholar, but now he looks haggard, his hair is gray, and his back is hunched. He has completely lost his former vigor and spirit.
As for Chen Yaozu, he was chubby when he was a child, but now he is as thin as a bamboo pole. His eyes are shifty, lewd and venomous. You can tell at a glance that he has not been happy these years.
The only constant is their shamelessness.
Gan Li slowly descended the stairs, her eyes filled with disgust as she looked at the two of them.
Chen Danian had already prepared his speech, but at this moment he was so overwhelmed by Gan Li's aura that he forgot to speak.
Ganli broke the silence: "What do you want to do here?"
Chen Danian and his son were stunned by Gan Li's current demeanor and appearance, and for a moment they didn't know how to speak. Gan Li, on the other hand, broke the silence first, asking in a cold tone, "What are you doing here?"
Chen Danian snapped out of his daze, remembered the purpose of his trip, and quickly nudged Chen Yaozu beside him with his elbow.
Chen Yaozu immediately knelt down with a thud, wailing and crying with snot and tears streaming down his face:
"Mother! Your child knows he was wrong! He shouldn't have disobeyed your teachings and disobeyed you! You can hit me or scold me, just please don't disown me!"
Chen Danian, wiping away tears, chimed in, "Ali, I was blinded by greed back then and did something wrong. If you can't forgive me, I have nothing more to say. But Yaozu is your own flesh and blood! He has realized his mistake now, so please be magnanimous and accept him!"
Ganli watched the father and son's clumsy performance and sneered inwardly.
She looked down at them, her tone icy cold:
"Chen Danian, Chen Yaozu, no matter what you're up to, we've already severed all ties. Don't even think about getting anything from me again!"
Chen Danian had anticipated Gan Li's response and refrained from refuting it, instead simply pleading and crying.
He tearfully recounted the hardships he and his son had endured over the years, emphasizing that Chen Yaozu was a piece of Gan Li's flesh and blood, and that Chen Yaozu's mistakes were all due to his young age, blaming Gan Li, his biological mother, for being too calculating.
The surrounding diners, having learned the whole story and seeing the pitiful state of the father and son, were immediately moved with compassion and began pointing and gossiping about Gan Li.
"I can forgive my ex-husband, but my son is my own flesh and blood! How could he be so heartless!"
"Although it is said that if a child is not taught, it is the father's fault, but doesn't the mother also bear any responsibility? The child is young and doesn't understand, and she can't even tolerate that, which shows how narrow-minded she is."
"After all, they are blood relatives; we shouldn't be so heartless."
"I heard that the Emperor even wanted to bestow the title of Prince upon her. Does someone like her deserve it?"
Upon hearing this, everyone echoed his sentiments. While seemingly referring to Gan Li, it actually carried a hidden meaning…
Hearing the whispers around them, Chen Danian and his son chuckled to themselves. Chen Danian was especially smug—in this way, even if Gan Li didn't care about his own reputation, he would still have to…
To avoid implicating that person, he quickly shut himself up! He didn't believe Ganli wouldn't obediently give in!
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