CHAPTER 177: CHAPTER 177 ICEBERG OF THE YEAR (2)_1

The Yu Family indeed owes the Shangguan Family a favor, and now is not the time for disputes.

"The young lady of the Shangguan Family belongs to the Shangguan Family, not any other household. The lives and deaths of any other family have nothing to do with our Shangguan Family, and likewise, the Shangguan Family’s affairs are none of your concern. So, with no kinship or obligation, why should our girl be expected to sacrifice herself to save you?"

"Why? Those of you who spoke so self-righteously about having Shangguan You exchange places with you, the Shangguan Family will one day seek redress."

Shangguan Zhi’s voice was cold as his gaze swept contemptuously over the few who had wanted Shangguan You to save them. He had committed all these people to memory. If Shangguan You comes to no harm, all well and good, but should anything happen to her, none of them will be let off the hook. The Shangguan Family might not wield the greatest power, but they still have ample means to deal with these people.

"Father, I had no other choice. Both are my children. Shangguan Rou is also your grandchild; you cannot show favoritism. And Shangguan You volunteered willingly. Father..." Li Wanying sobbed to Shangguan Zhi, with the blood-covered Shangguan Rou in her arms.

"Grandfather, I’m so afraid, so very afraid! I’m still young; I don’t want to die! Grandfather, please don’t be angry. Father and Uncle will bring Sister back safely," Shangguan Rou cried out as well.

"Despicable women! The Shangguan Family does not have a cowardly mother and daughter like you! If anything happens to Shangguan You, I will make sure you are buried alongside her!" Liu Ruoling had watched Shangguan You disappear from sight. It wasn’t until she saw Lin Wenjie that she snapped back to reality. Seeing this shameless mother and daughter feigning pitifulness to gain sympathy, she couldn’t help but burst into a fiery rage and cursed out loud.

Two sharp slaps rang out.

"Sister-in-law, how could you do this? Shangguan You is your niece, but isn’t Shangguan Rou as well? I was also left with no choice. As a mother, if it were you, I believe you would have done the same as me," Wanying defended.

"Aunt, you only care for Sister! Sister is human, and so am I! Why is Sister the princess of the Shangguan Family, while I’m treated like wild grass? Why?!"

"Be quiet! The gates of the Shangguan Family are too small to accommodate grand figures like you. Mr. Li, please take your precious daughter and granddaughter back to the Li Family. The Shangguan Family can no longer accommodate them. Henceforth, they have no ties with the Shangguan Family," declared Shangguan Zhi in a somber tone, silencing the mother and daughter at once.

"Old Master Shangguan, you are being unreasonable. Although they are my daughter and granddaughter, they are also the Shangguan Family’s daughter-in-law and granddaughter. And since all children are precious, you can’t be too partial," the Li family patriarch spoke with a smile.

"The only daughter-in-law of the Shangguan Family is Ruoling. We have one grandson, Shangguan Qing, and one granddaughter, Shangguan You. The rest have nothing to do with the Shangguan Family and are not recognized by us. They belong to your Li Family; whether you keep them or not is up to you. Ruoling, help me back," stated Shangguan Zhi in a grave voice, suddenly seeming ten years older, his body unsteady.

"Father, what have I done wrong? How can you treat me this way? How can you?" Li Wanying’s body shook as she burst into tears.

"Grandfather, are you disowning me too? Grandfather, I’m your granddaughter, Father’s daughter, a member of the Shangguan Family! I also bear the Shangguan name! Grandfather!" Shangguan Rou cried out as well. For the sake of Shangguan You, are they really going to be thrown out?

"The Shangguan Family will always have only one granddaughter, and that is Shangguan You. Ruoling, let’s go."

Shangguan Zhi’s firm voice rang out, and he no longer paid any attention to the weeping mother and daughter. It was all his fault. If not for him, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.

"Father." Liu Ruoling wiped away her tears and supported Shangguan Zhi. The two quickly disappeared from the banquet hall, ignoring the wailing mother and daughter behind them.

"The Li family’s daughter is truly remarkable. Today has indeed been an eye-opener! HA HA HA! Mr. Li’s ’good daughter,’ such a ’good daughter’! Make sure you two don’t learn from the Li family’s daughter and behave like that, do you hear me?" Yu Zhibin said loudly, especially emphasizing the words "good daughter," sarcastically addressing his two daughters-in-law.

"Yes, Father."

"Yes, Dad, rest assured. We will never do something so disgraceful. All children are precious to their parents; we definitely wouldn’t do such a shameless thing," replied the Yu family’s two daughters-in-law in unison, and then they supported the Yu family patriarch, one on each side.

"Grandfather, rest assured. Father, Uncle, and Brother have already gone to look for Shangguan You. I believe they will find her soon. Even though my brother and I are young, we understand human nature. If it happened to me, I would never let my brother sacrifice himself to save me. Grandfather, let’s go home," said Yu Zijin sarcastically, then cast a disdainful glance at Li Meisu and Shangguan Rou. I used to think Li Meisu was decent, but I never imagined the Li family would be like this.

"Good! A fine granddaughter has come from the Shangguan Family, and our family’s granddaughter is not bad either! HA HA HA!" laughed Yu Zhibin as he headed toward the exit.

The Li family members all had unsightly expressions as they looked at the disgraced mother and daughter on the ground. The Li family patriarch was fuming, his eyes wide and nostrils flared in anger. But everything that was said was true, and he had no grounds for argument.

"Auntie, stop crying. Let’s go home first. Once Cousin Shangguan You returns and Rou’s gunshot wound has healed, everything will be okay. Then we can talk to the Shangguan Family. I believe they will forgive you." Catching her mother’s eye, Li Meisu then crouched down to help Li Wanying and Shangguan Rou up, taking them back to the Li Family.

The previously bustling pre-New Year banquet had barely begun when it was brought to an abrupt end by the arrival of the men in black and the disappearance of the Shangguan Family’s granddaughter. Some rejoiced, some grieved; others felt triumphant, and some felt vindicated.

"Jiajia, it seems even the heavens are on our side tonight," Wanqian whispered to Shen Jia, laughing softly in her ear. So what if her status is noble? She was still captured and taken away in front of everyone. What use is that status?

"Heh, let’s go, Wanqian," Shen Jia replied with a light laugh, the movement tugging at her aching lips.

"Jiajia, be careful with your words in the future. The Shangguan Family may be preoccupied now, but once Shangguan You returns safely, we’ll be the ones in trouble," Shen Cheng said, squinting as he watched the departing figures, lost in thought.