CHAPTER 169: CHAPTER 169: SLAP IN THE FACE(4)_1

"Why?" Lan Xuan and Han Yachu spoke at the same time.

"Have you ever heard of an official and a bandit becoming one family? This is not only taboo in the Lin Family, but also in the Shangguan Family, and even more so in Beijing," Lan Guohua’s voice was very low, and aside from Han Yachu and Lan Xuan, no one else heard it.

As the Yu Family and the people of the Shangguan Family made a high-profile departure, the atmosphere that had initially cooled down warmed up once again. The surrounding discussions resumed, and the magnanimity of the Shangguan Family, contrasted with the Yu Family’s rudeness, began to spread among the onlookers, who were high-ranking officials from various places and some local tycoons.

Lido Hotel, being a national-level hotel, naturally had a route specially prepared for Beijing’s top officials. So, while the quarrel outside was noisy, Shangguan Zhi’s family was also in a private room, looking at the dispute happening outside, watching Shen Jia’s humiliation of Shangguan You.

Just as Shangguan Hao was about to rush out, Shangguan Yu held him back, telling him to watch from the side. The group burst out laughing when they saw the Shangguan Family bolster their reputation for magnanimity, while the Yu Family earned infamy for their arrogance.

Once again, the Yu Family had been played by You’er, and they wore cold expressions. They had come to attend a banquet where they expected the Shangguan Family to lose face, but somehow, the Yu Family was dragged down instead, and the Shangguan Family’s status was elevated.

Li Wanying and Shangguan Rou, who had originally been enjoying the show, hadn’t gotten to see much of it before Li Meisu’s actions caused them to lose face, and their complexions turned sour.

"You’er, come over here," Shangguan Hao said as he approached the group heading their way and wrapped his arm around his daughter.

"Daddy, Grandfather, Uncle, Aunt, Aunt Li," Shangguan You called out courteously to the several people present.

"You’er, you’ve been wronged; it’s all Daddy’s fault," Shangguan Hao said, holding his daughter. He hadn’t expected his daughter to be insulted so directly.

"Daddy, I haven’t done anything wrong. Moreover, with people like Shen Jia, we don’t need to stoop to their level, as it would only degrade ourselves. Besides, I take pride in having a father like you. Being blessed with a real man like you is my fortune. The others are merely envious and jealous, which is why they embarrass themselves," Shangguan You said with a light smile, holding Shangguan Hao’s hand.

"You cheeky girl," Shangguan Hao chuckled.

"You’er, you are our Shangguan Family’s princess. If anyone dares to bully you again, you give it right back to them twice as hard! Our Shangguan Family is no ordinary family, and we will not be bullied by just anyone! Have you got that?" Shangguan Zhi declared sternly, educating Shangguan You and her brother.

"Qing, remember, You’er is your only sister. If anyone bullies her in the future, you deal with them harshly, you teach them a lesson. If anything happens, the Shangguan Family will back you up."

"Yes, Grandfather," Shangguan Qing nodded. With his grandfather’s words, even if he were to cause a great commotion in the future, his grandfather would have his back.

"Even though our Shangguan Family is generous, we cannot let others slap us in the face. Shangguan Qing, You’er, have you remembered this?" Shangguan Yu also delivered a lesson to the two.

"That’s right. We wouldn’t even dream of scolding our family’s girl, yet that Shen Jia, who clearly has no sense, went and did it! If the time and place had been appropriate, I would have rushed out then and there. To think she dared to curse the girl I myself cherish so much!" Liu Ruoling said angrily.

The words, "Remember, You’er is your only sister"—a mere nine characters—instantly changed the expressions on both Shangguan Rou and Li Wanying’s faces. Shangguan Rou clasped her hands so tightly together that she drew blood, while Li Wanying’s face turned ashen. She breathed heavily, trying to calm her anger.

Having married into the Shangguan Family for over a decade, they still hadn’t truly regarded her and Rourou as part of the Shangguan family. To say "the only sister" right in front of her—wasn’t that slapping her in the face?

"Older Sister, that woman was your classmate, right? Such a classmate really lacks upbringing. You should never be in the same class as them again, in case you end up like them. That wouldn’t be good," Shangguan Rou said with a light, mocking laugh. It looked as though she was being kind to Shangguan You, but the insinuation in her words made everyone who was talking feel a sudden chill.

"Younger Sister, her name is Shen Jia, and she’s a student from our school, not in my class. Besides, not all fruit from the same tree are good; there will always be both good and bad. If you expect all the fruit to be good, that’s asking too much, isn’t it? Especially when it comes to people," Shangguan You replied calmly, looking at Shangguan Rou’s somewhat forced smile.

"Right, Younger Sister? The only way to be truly upright is to be true to oneself. Even if surrounded by inferior individuals, you remain a good fruit, unaffected by others. But if you just follow the crowd, then no matter how good the upbringing, such individuals are just rotten fruit."

Shangguan You’s voice was calm and gentle. Shangguan Rou’s face twisted, and Li Wanying felt a burning sting on her face. Was Shangguan You talking about her? Was she deliberately slapping her in the face?

"Well said, You’er."

"Truly fitting for our Shangguan Family’s princess."

"Rourou, learn more from your older sister in the future. That’s the grace a daughter of the Shangguan Family should have," Shangguan Zhi glanced at Shangguan Rou and spoke with a smile. This mother-daughter pair still can’t behave themselves even here. It’s truly disappointing. It seems it’s time to... reconsider the relationship with the Li Family.

"Girl, you did well," Shangguan Qing said, a corner of his mouth upturned, smiling at Shangguan You.

"HAHAHA, Old Shangguan, you have a good granddaughter and a good grandson; mine are all outshone by yours!" a hearty laugh rang out as a group walked over with smiles. The man in the lead, about the same age as old Master Shangguan and dressed in an old-fashioned Zhongshan suit, was just as impressive as the elder Shangguan.

"Old Yu, it’s rare to see you’re not late. Quite extraordinary indeed," Shangguan Zhi stood up and walked towards the elder of the Yu Family. The Yu and Shangguan Families had political differences, and the families had been competing from the older generation to the younger—everything was a contest. The Yu Family’s granddaughters had just been bested, and now the elder Yu was naturally looking to regain ground.

So, he brought a group consisting of his sons, daughters-in-law, grandsons, and granddaughters, all storming over. They could swallow anything but a loss.