Song Jiyun, however, remained calm and even had the leisure to pick up the tea cup and take a sip.
Song Sanliang’s heart shuddered.
Song Jiyun’s past achievements on the battlefield were too fierce—no matter how normal she acted, it could still make him wary.
Some of the Song Clan members started clamoring, "The clan elder speaks reason! Since when is it proper for a woman to run a household? We must return to the correct way."
"Indeed, other Zong families do not have a female head of the household either."
But what Song Sanliang didn’t expect was that not many people agreed with this statement; instead, more people gathered in twos and threes, whispering together, discussing who knows what.
"Thud, thud, thud!" The sound of a walking stick hitting the ground suddenly echoed through the ancestral hall.
The crowd looked in the direction of the sound to see the white-haired clan elder of the Song Family stand up with his cane and say coldly, "If any of you have the ability to secure an order from Eunuch Wan, I will personally recommend that person to take charge of the Song Family Kiln Factory."
Those who were clamoring immediately quieted down.
Yet, the clan elder didn’t let them off, scolding, "All day long, you only eye others’ territory, but how about minding your own backyard growing weeds? A bunch of muddleheaded fools. If our Song Clan members were all like you, only thinking of reaping without sowing, only daring to bully the weak and fearing the strong, sucking blood from others’ success, who would still rely on our clan?"
He shouted the name of Eleventh Grand Master Song, "Since you are now the Clan Leader, you must make decisions, not just echo others—since the daughter of the Song Youliang family is capable of managing the family business, she will be in charge of the Song Family’s properties until she gets married!"
After he finished speaking, his somewhat cloudy eyes swept over everyone present and said, "That settles the matter. Whoever continues to spout nonsense will receive a beating and be thrown out!"
He then challenged the crowd, "Does anyone object to that?"
Song Sanliang felt his heart go cold and hurriedly looked towards the few individuals who had been shouting the loudest.
Those people all cowered and hung their heads low.
Song Sanliang couldn’t help but curse in his heart.
Madam Zeng next to him was already pale as parchment.
Knowing that the tide had turned against her, she still clung to a glimmer of hope and spoke up weakly, "Elder, you can’t say that..."
But before she could finish, the clan elder threw his walking stick at her, hitting her on the forehead.
She cried out with an "Ah," clutching her forehead.
"Disrespectful wretch!" the clan elder cursed, "No wonder you raised a traitor like Song Daliang! It turns out the root was rotten from the start! When men are speaking in the ancestral hall, is there a place for a woman to interject? Get out!"
With that, he also glared fiercely at the clan members responsible for discipline, indicating that they should drive her out of the ancestral hall.
And not just the people in the hall were stunned, even Song Jiyun was taken aback by this sudden turn of events.
Song Sanliang was shaking with rage,
This was too much!
Was Song Jiyun not a woman?
This was sheer favoritism!
He supported his mother, pointing at Song Jiyun, stuttering in his attempt to argue, "How can she sit up there?"
The clan elder, having regained his walking stick brought to him by the younger members, said indifferently, "She represents the branch of Song Youliang, what are you?"
He also urged the member in charge of discipline, "What are you dawdling around for?"
The disciplinarian of the clan hurriedly escorted Madam Zeng out.
Song Sanliang unable to stop them, wanted to follow, but Eleventh Grand Master Song already spoke, "The matter of managing the house is not to be mentioned again. Now, debate the matter of succession!"
He could only watch helplessly as Madam Zeng was driven out of the ancestral hall.
The hall buzzed with the noise of everyone’s discussion.
Song Sanliang glanced at Song Jiyun.
"Isn’t the attraction of being the head of the family enough, nor the attraction of adopting an heir?"
Song Sanliang stared intently at the crowd that was discussing.
Song Jiyun, however, suddenly stood up and walked over to the Eleventh Grand Master.
The sound of people talking came to an abrupt halt, and all eyes fell on her, each showing a serious listening attitude.
Song Sanliang saw Song Jiyun first nod to a few clan elders, then smile and nod slightly to the crowd, her voice loud yet clear as she said, "I went to Nanjing a few days ago and thank all the relatives and friends who helped with family affairs at home. According to usual practice, our family has added a sister, so we should adopt a younger brother to inherit the family mantle. However, there’s also the practice of ’bringing in a son-in-law’ besides adoption."
A murmur went through the previously quiet ancestral hall, sparking new discussions.
"What does she mean? Is she saying they won’t adopt a son and instead keep the daughter and bring in a son-in-law?"
"That makes sense. Some families with no sons do indeed take in sons-in-law, don’t they?"
"But it’s different with their family. With so much property, are they really going to give it all away to outsiders?"
"Exactly. That’s the industry of the Song Family."
Song Sanliang lowered his head, revealing a satisfied smile.
The Eleventh Grand Master Song, standing beside Song Jiyun, was also somewhat baffled.
Song Jiyun had not said before that their family would take in a son-in-law.
He had originally thought that Song Jiyun simply did not want to adopt Song Sanliang’s son.
But taking in a son-in-law... Just as the clan members had said, wouldn’t the vast property of the Song Family be cheapened if given to an outsider?
He tilted his head slightly, wanting to discuss quietly with Song Jiyun, but as he turned his head, he caught sight of Song Jiyun’s icy eyes and her beautiful yet resolute face.
He couldn’t help but laugh.
His family didn’t have a suitable child for adoption anyway, and with the example of the Ninth Master Song before him, he might not be able to outcompete Song Jiyun. No matter how extensive the Song Family’s property was, what did it have to do with him?
Why should he bother with these thankless tasks?
The Eleventh Grand Master Song made his decision immediately.
He quietly asked Song Jiyun, "What are your plans?"
Song Jiyun didn’t hide anything and replied openly, "I haven’t planned on letting someone else manage the Song Family Kiln Factory yet."
Thinking about what he had heard the day before, that Song Jiyun had made a lot of money, the Eleventh Grand Master Song felt that indeed no one in the Song Family had her capabilities. Thirty years could change a lot; who dared to say that they wouldn’t seek out Song Jiyun in the future? He had to leave a way out for future generations, didn’t he?
"Alright!" The Eleventh Grand Master Song was straightforward and agreed to Song Jiyun immediately.
Turning around, he ordered the cloud board to be struck and once more stood resolutely on Song Jiyun’s side, "Let’s discuss the matter of taking in a son-in-law then!"
The crowd was immediately swayed by the Eleventh Grand Master Song.
Some asked, "Are we to determine the choice for the son-in-law right now?"
Others said, "Who should be kept in the family? Boss Song will be married in another two or three years, and the second young miss is of the right age, but it’s hard to know if she could handle responsibilities like Boss Song. Speaking of which, the third young miss is also suitable. If we can take someone in at this time, with Boss Song here to guide them well for a few years, perhaps the Song Family will have another capable person."
"If you ask me, it’s better just to keep the fourth young miss at home. Boss Song is young and could work for another ten or so years, couldn’t she?"
"Boss Song is already betrothed to someone."
"Oh, somehow I feel it’s still better to keep Boss Song at home."
No one talked about adoption anymore.
"Wait, wait." If Song Sanliang didn’t step forward now, he would be irrelevant, essentially making wedding clothes for Song Jiyun for nothing. After all the effort he put into opening the ancestral hall, it was hijacked by Song Jiyun. He shouted loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, only if there’s no suitable candidate for adoption would we consider taking in a son-in-law."
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