Chapter 40 Weighing the Options
Xie Xuchuan's original intention was to provide a stable life for Jiang Wansu and Yu Lin's posthumous child.
Although the Xie family needs to contribute some money now, Jiang Wansu can stay at the Jiang family home to prepare for childbirth and can also personally raise Yu Lin's posthumous child.
In this way, he wouldn't have to bring the child back to the Xie family, nor would it threaten his marriage with Yuanzhu, which could be considered a win-win situation.
"No, the Xie family is not the property of my first branch of the family, I cannot make this decision."
Xie Boyu refused, and Xie Sanniang also spoke up: "If he is truly a member of the Xie family, how can we let him wander outside?"
Are we going to let Jiang Hong hold the Xie family's descendants hostage and endlessly extort them?
Jiang Hong's ambitions far surpass those of Ye Yunyi's.
"Then let Madam Xie decide this matter. You are a highly respected elder, and if it is your decision, my uncle will have no objections."
Xie San Niang glanced at him, unconcerned by his threat.
Not to mention that Jiang You might not be able to stay in his position as the Imperial Textile Commissioner this year, even when Jiang You is at the height of his power, the Xie family is not afraid of him like a tiger.
However, she had other considerations regarding this matter.
Xie Sanniang said, "I am old and have not been involved in family affairs for the past few years. Moreover, this matter concerns the reputation of both families. I will consider it first and then give the Jiang family a satisfactory answer."
"Madam, while this makes sense, it cannot be done this way."
Jiang Hong chuckled: "It's also my Jiang family's fault for not knowing her place and causing such a disgraceful incident, but now that I've come to your door, I can't let the Xie family drag this out any longer."
"Xie Xuchuan can be delayed, but my daughter's pregnancy can't be delayed. Don't let things drag on and then your Xie family goes back on their word. What will happen then?"
Jiang Hong beckoned to a servant of the Xie family and pointed to a teacup beside him: "Brew a pot of good tea."
"Madam, what do you think of this? I'll wait here for a pot of tea while you discuss it with the Xie family gentlemen. If you have a result, please let me know."
Seeing that Jiang Hong was determined to get an explanation today, Xie San Niang said "whatever" and left, leaning on her cane.
As soon as she left, Xie Boyu followed. Xie Chengzhi quickly pulled Zheng Shu forward, fearing that Xie San Niang would really give Jiang Hong 30% of her family fortune.
Xie Qi was silent for a moment, then followed.
Seeing everyone leave, Xie Jingyuan had no choice but to stay where he was. Xie Xuchuan knelt on the ground and, seeing his grandmother and father leave in single file, also began to have his own thoughts.
But as soon as he moved, Jiang Wansu managed to squeeze out a sob.
After a moment's hesitation, Xie Xuchuan stayed.
Inside Yujintang, Xie Jingyuan and Jiang Hong were having a fairly congenial conversation, while outside the courtyard, the Xie family members were arguing incessantly.
"That Jiang Hong is really bold; isn't he afraid that the wind will blow his tongue away?"
Xie Chengzhi said, "Let me make this clear first: let alone 30% of the family property, even if Jiang Hong asks for an extra dowry, my second branch of the family will not agree."
After saying that, he pointed at Xie Boyu and said, "Brother and sister-in-law, how exactly did you raise Xu Chuan? It's one thing to play around with a woman or two, but to let women ruin most of the clan's property is just wrong."
"Besides, when we got engaged to the Shen family, we even gave away half of the 'Xie Family Farming and Weaving Picture'."
"Yes, the Xie family has changed the family's lineage to the Shen family, but the majority of the profits still go to your eldest son's branch."
"Now you want to give most of your family fortune to Xuchuan as an apology? I won't agree to that."
"It's not your place to make decisions for the Xie family yet, so why are you jumping around like this?"
Xie San Niang's eyelids drooped, and she glanced sideways at Xie Chengzhi.
Upon hearing this, Zheng Shu exclaimed, "Mother, that's not how it's said. Just getting Xu Chuan married almost ruined the Xie family. How much dowry will Ying Shou give to the bride's family when he gets married in the future?"
"Should this benefit also be handled according to the rules of the eldest son's family? If it is, we will accept it."
"And what about Lu Rong's dowry? How much of it will be provided by the public treasury?"
"That's it, Mother."
Seeing that Xie San Niang remained unmoved, Xie Chengzhi felt a surge of resentment.
He knew his own mother all too well; her expression clearly showed that she was considering giving Xie Xuchuan money to buy him peace.
The old lady was worried that if she didn't handle Jiang Wansu well, it would affect Xie Xuchuan's reputation in the future.
How can he take over the Xie family business if his reputation is ruined?
Xie Chengzhi's eyes darted around, and he suddenly spotted Xie Qi standing silently behind Xie Boyu.
He snorted and said, "Mother, even if you don't consider Yingshou and Lurong, you still have to think about Jingyuan."
"You've emptied your savings. What will Jingyuan use for the dowry when he gets married? Besides..."
Xie Chengzhi clicked his tongue twice: "Xu Chuan and Xie Qi are twins. Xu Chuan's wedding is such a grand affair. What will become of Xie Qi in the future?"
"As the eldest grandson of the Xie family, it's fine if Xu Chuan has a little more, but it wouldn't look good if he were too much less, would it?"
"If word gets out, who knows what outsiders will say about the Xie family? They might even say that these two brothers didn't come from the same mother's womb!"
After Xie Chengzhi finished speaking, everyone present had very strange expressions.
Xie Qi looked up and saw that Xie San Niang and Xie Boyu's eyes were wandering.
He lowered his eyes and remained silent, but a strange suspicion began to form in his mind.
"Though it may not be pleasant to hear, I must say that the second brother is right."
Xie Boyu said, "Even if we don't talk about betrothal gifts and dowries, or how much each family spends, if we really go along with Jiang Hong's words and give him 30% of the property, how will we explain it to the Shen family?"
"Giving the property to the Jiang family and having them raise Xu Chuan's child outside—if this reputation spreads, how will we be able to arrange a marriage between Jing Yuan and Xie Qi in the future?"
"What decent girl would dare to marry a man from such a family?"
"Even putting aside the matter of the children, when Shen Shibai and his wife were alive, they helped the Suzhou Chamber of Commerce quite a bit. Now that we've allowed Xuchuan to do such a disgraceful thing, we can't escape the reputation of bullying an orphan."
Xie Boyu sighed: "Although there are rumors that Jiang You will not take over the position of Director of Textile Production, what if it is just a rumor?"
"If the Xie family still dares to dream of becoming imperial merchants, they cannot afford to lose their reputation, nor can they afford to offend the Jiang and Chen families."
Although she was unhappy that Xie Boyu was always thinking about the other two wives, Hua Nanzhi had to admit that he was right.
Xu Chuan is truly confused this time.
After Xie Boyu finished speaking, Xie San Niang also fell silent.
Although she favored Xie Xuchuan, she was also extremely dissatisfied that he had implicated Xie Jingyuan.
Moreover, she thought further ahead than Xie Boyu.
Jiang Hong and Ye Yunyi both made exorbitant demands. It seems that satisfying one of them would temporarily resolve the matter, but in reality, it would lead to endless trouble in the future.
The Jiang family is holding this child in their hands. If it's a girl, that's fine, but if it's a boy, then this child will be the Xie family's hostage in Jiang Hong's hands.
Even if Xie's family marries Yuanzhu, they will still be indebted to Shen's family in every way. If Shen Yanhuai uses this as an excuse to cause trouble in the future, it will be difficult to end the situation.
At that time, even losing money might not be enough to avert disaster.
Xie Xuchuan has truly presented the Xie family with a difficult problem.
After a long silence, Xie Sanniang slowly said, "The best solution at this time is to let Xuchuan marry Jiang Wansu."
"If a woman loses her virginity before marriage and we bring her into the family, it will be a failure of the Jiang family to educate their daughter, and my Xie family will be able to suppress the Jiang family in every way in the future."
"As for Xuchuan and Yuanzhu's marriage..."
"Didn't that girl say she wanted to break off the engagement with Xu Chuan? Then let's break it off. Since the Shen family brought it up, we can just admit our mistake. It's better than being controlled by the Jiang and Shen families for the rest of our lives..."
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