The old lady was completely stunned by the slap from her third uncle.
“We’re all getting on in years, and I didn’t want to resort to violence, but you’ve really gone too far. This is an ancestral hall, in front of our ancestors. If you insist on causing trouble, there’s nothing I can do.”
Third Uncle has always been a fair man. No one would stop him from doing things, but people rarely saw him get angry.
“Xiao Jing is back. If you don’t want things to get too ugly, you’d better bow your head and admit your mistakes, kneel down in the ancestral hall and repent. Otherwise, we’ll have no choice but to kick you out of the Shen family.”
The old lady was startled at first, but she quickly calmed down and asked, "Why is she back?"
Third Uncle took a deep breath, thought for a moment, and said, "She only came back after hearing that something had happened to the Shen family."
Su Jingyan was the old lady's enemy in this life. The two of them didn't get along when they were young. Su Jingyan looked down on the old lady's background and tried to stop her from entering the Shen family. Later, she even broke off relations with the old master Shen in a fit of anger and didn't come back for many years.
She never visited the Shen family except for her children's weddings.
Shen Huai'an had a slight impression of the Xiao Jing mentioned by his third uncle. This great-aunt had visited when his eldest uncle passed away.
He had seen this great-aunt in an old family photo.
She was her grandfather's sister and a benefactor to the Shen family, so everyone in the Shen family knew about her and valued her highly.
When the old lady heard that the man had returned, she immediately lowered her head and admitted her mistake.
"Second brother, I know I've given you some face, but we're family after all. The Shen Group belongs to everyone. There's really no need for our conflict to escalate like this and plunge the entire Shen family into trouble."
Although the old lady cared about her reputation, she was even more afraid of Su Jingyan.
If she knew that everything the Shen family is in now is because of her, she would probably really kick her out of the Shen family.
Shen Huai'an frowned as he watched the old lady's rapid change. He found it hard to believe that this was the same person who had just been shouting and refusing to admit her mistakes.
Shen Huai'an thought for a moment, but he didn't speak.
"Second brother, I sincerely want to apologize to you. Please forgive me for all the years I have devoted myself to the Shen family."
Fearing that Shen Huai'an would not forgive her, the old lady immediately bent her knees as if to kneel down, "Second son, I admit that I used to side with the eldest son's family and favor Taimin, but I will not do that again."
She was about to kneel down, and Shen Huai'an didn't stop her. However, considering her age, he helped her up. He smiled gently, and his refined demeanor made the old lady's heart skip a beat.
Shen Huai'an is the hardest to fool; he will never forgive himself easily.
Shen Huai'an remained calm. He looked at the old lady and said gently, "Don't say that. Now that you've admitted your mistake, everything will be much easier."
“I think you’ve been really lonely these past few years and wanted your grandson to keep you company and think about you all the time, which is why you did this.”
“Repentance is not something that can be done by just saying it; it requires genuine repentance. I know you love reciting scriptures and chanting Buddha’s name, and you have been very attentive to this kind of thing over the years, so I specially found you a place where you can chant scriptures and worship Buddha in peace every day.”
“My friend Qin Zhihao has a family member working at a temple. It’s a peaceful place and is protected by the gods and Buddhas. His grandmother has spent her whole life chanting scriptures and reciting Buddhist prayers. Why not go there to cleanse your sins? Kneeling before the Buddha to repent is the most sincere way to do so.”
"Consider it a prayer for the Shen family, and also for your own faith."
This put the old lady in a temple, making her chant sutras day and night. What's the difference between that and becoming a nun?
The old lady immediately felt a chill run down her spine. She was just reciting scriptures in the old house to deceive herself and find peace of mind. But as the old lady of the Shen family, why should she go to that temple?
Why would she give up a perfectly good life to go to a temple?
She looked up at her third uncle, but he ignored her and looked away. The others lowered their heads, clearly not wanting to speak up for her.
"What do you all think of what I did?" Shen Huai'an knew that the old lady was absolutely unwilling to go to the temple, so he posed the question to the elders present.
“That’s good. It’s perfect for the old lady to go there. She’s a believer in gods and Buddhas, so this will suit her wishes.”
Everyone present agreed to send the old lady to the temple.
"I'll have someone take you there tomorrow afternoon. Just pack your things and prepare a change of clothes."
Shen Huai'an didn't care about those things. Even if the old lady regretted it, he would still force her to go to the temple.
Since she loves chanting scriptures so much, I'll show my filial piety this once and personally take her to the temple to chant scriptures.
As Shen Huai'an was leaving, he bumped into Su Jingyan who was coming over.
It was drizzling outside. Su Jingyan stood up straight and walked over. Her high heels made a crisp sound. Although she was older, she still looked very young. She was wearing a black embroidered cheongsam.
She was holding an umbrella, and the moment she saw Shen Huai'an, she immediately smiled. She looked beautiful when she smiled, though perhaps because she was getting older, there were some crow's feet around her eyes, but she was still very pretty.
"Huai'an, you've grown so much!"
Shen Huai'an nodded immediately, "Grandma, when did you arrive?"
“I heard that the Shen family had a very ugly argument over that little thing, so I thought I’d come and see. I know you have a lot of opinions about your grandmother, but that’s between you and her.”
“I came here mainly to advise you and also to take charge of this family. Since your father and grandfather passed away, some people in this family have started to cause trouble. People say that having an elder in the family is like having a treasure, but that doesn’t work in our family.”
"It's okay, I'll talk to your grandma about the mistakes she made."
“Grandma, she has already admitted her mistake. She will leave the Shen family tomorrow to go to the temple to repent. As for the past, I don’t want to hold it against her because she’s old. She’s senile, but I’m still young. There’s no need to take it seriously.”
The rain was getting heavier. Su Jingyan smiled and said, "I didn't agree when your grandfather married her, but I know my own status. If even your Shen family can't control this matter, then I have even less right to interfere. However, I also had a falling out with your grandfather."
“Over the years, apart from coming here for your father's and your uncle's weddings, I have never thought of coming here to visit. I really don't understand what your grandfather was thinking, marrying such a person into the family. He's so old, there are many things he can't explain to someone like you, a younger generation.”
"Alright, alright, the rain is getting heavier, you should go back quickly so you don't catch a cold."
Su Jingyan wouldn't expose the old lady's past.
Shen Huai'an said goodbye and left.
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