CHAPTER 289: CHAPTER 281: THE TANG FAMILY’S TROUBLES

Sisi nodded to those people and then sat down next to Tang Tieshan. This time she had brought two jars of wine, one was diluted Qiong Wine, and the other was ordinary wine, not taking more, as taking more would be hard to explain.

"Oh boy, I’ve really missed this wine. After arriving in Beijing, it’s not the other stuff I miss, it’s your family’s wine that I truly yearn for!" Tang Tieshan’s face bloomed like a chrysanthemum upon seeing the two jars of wine.

"Hehe, Grandpa Tang, if my grandpa heard this, he’d surely scold you."

"Hahaha, I guess so, Mr. Tian would surely say, ’Tang Tieshan, you bastard, am I not even comparable to a sip of wine?’"

"Exactly!"

Sisi’s arrival had greatly improved Tang Tieshan’s mood, and the gloom on his face also dissipated a lot, prompting the people below to secretly marvel. Who was this beautiful girl? Why did the Old Man value her so much?

"Dad, who is this girl? Why don’t you introduce her to us?" a middle-aged woman in her forties asked with a smile.

Tang Tieshan snorted coldly, "It’s none of your business; you all need to hurry back. I am not your father. Didn’t you sever ties with me ten years ago?"

So these people were Tang Tieshan’s children! No wonder both Tang Qiubai and Tang Tieshan were unhappy!

Sisi utterly despised these people who could only share fortunes but not misfortune from the bottom of her heart! How shameless they were, showing their faces again now that Tang Tieshan had turned his fate around! It’s just disgraceful!

Thinking of how Tang Tieshan looked when he first arrived at the Tian Family — emaciated and despondent — Sisi felt nauseated at the thought of these people. Speaking of which, Tang Qiubai was much nobler than them. Regardless of how Tang Qiubai had wronged the original owner in the past life, when it came to Tang Tieshan, Tang Qiubai was much stronger than them, especially since he was only a seven or eight-year-old boy at that time.

When Tang Tieshan said this, those in the room laughed awkwardly, and although others were too embarrassed to speak up, the middle-aged woman who had asked the question seemed unconcerned, as if she hadn’t heard Tang Tieshan’s words at all.

This woman was Tang Tieshan’s second daughter-in-law, named Xu Suqiu, who was always honey-mouthed but held a dagger in her belly — sweet-talking yet sinister-hearted. When Tang Tieshan was ousted, she was the first to jump out and demand to sign the severance document. Once one person led the way, the rest of Tang Tieshan’s children also signed, except for Tang Qiubai, who was only eight years old at the time.

"Look at what you’re saying, Dad. We had no choice back then. If we hadn’t signed that document, your son Dong Bai, Libai, as well as your son would all have lost their lives. In order not to make you, an elder with white hair, send off a person with black hair and be heartbroken, we had no choice but to sign the document and bear the stigma. Dad, you don’t know the hardships we’ve been through these years, it’s been so tough!" Xu Suqiu said as tears started streaming down her face, crying bitterly with deep emotion. To those unaware of the truth, they would be moved and blame Tang Tieshan for being too heartless.

Tang Qiubai was so angry he wanted to rush up and scold this second aunt—a blatant reversal of right and wrong, utter nonsense! The worst one at home was this second aunt. If it wasn’t for her initiating the signing, his own parents wouldn’t have followed suit!

Sisi sneered: If one’s beliefs were firm, how could they be swayed?

Tang Tieshan was furious as well. He regretted deeply, having blinded himself by allowing his second son to marry such a venomous wife. Looking at his children hanging their heads in silence beside him, Tang Tieshan felt an icy chill in his heart. These were the children he and his wife had raised for most of their lives, nothing but bloodsuckers!

Had it not been for these heartless wretches, his wife wouldn’t have died from heartbreak. The Rebel Faction might not have brought her down, but these black-hearted beasts had fought and defeated his beloved wife. Recalling the tragic state of his wife at her death, unable to close her eyes peacefully, Tang Tieshan’s heart hardened bit by bit. No, he could not forgive these beasts—if he did, how could he face his deceased wife?

"Xu Suqiu, you don’t need to act in front of me anymore. I can’t stand your ugly face; it’s as hideous as a ghost’s."

Xu Suqiu’s face stiffened, clearly not expecting Tang Tieshan to speak to his daughter-in-law in such a way. She tried to speak again, but Tang Tieshan waved his hand impatiently, driving her away.

"Alright, all of you go back to your own homes. You don’t need to come here again. I will inform the gatekeeper that they won’t let you in from now on. If we meet on the street, don’t call me dad. I can’t accept it. If I acknowledge you as my children, it would be a betrayal to my poor dead wife!"

Several people in the hall felt so ashamed that their faces turned beet red. They had lost all face to stay any longer. Two of the younger men and women stood up first, opened their mouths as if to say something to Tang Tieshan, but they couldn’t bring themselves to do it and simply said, "We’re leaving now!" before turning to leave.

Following them were two boys, one in his teens and one about twelve or thirteen years old. As these four people left, Tang Qiubai’s lips twitched, but in the end, he said nothing. Tang Tieshan sighed and said to the two younger men and women:

"I don’t acknowledge the adults anymore, but Xia Bai and Chun Bai were still young and knew nothing at that time. They are still my grandsons, Tang Tieshan’s grandsons. Let them come here to live when school is out."

The eyes of the young man and woman lit up, they nodded vigorously while tears streamed down their faces. They were filled with regret now and had no face to ask their father for forgiveness.

Tang Qiubai was also happy. He still had feelings for his parents and brother, despite once resenting his parents’ callousness—especially when his grandmother died. At that time, Tang Qiubai thought that he would never recognize them again. But how can one easily sever the bonds of blood and affection? It is always a tangled mess that can’t be cut clean!

"Dad, you can’t show favoritism. If Xia Bai and Chun Bai can be acknowledged, why can’t Dong Bai and Libai from my family be acknowledged? We adults may deserve our punishment, but the children are innocent. They are all your grandsons!" Xu Suqiu protested.

"Innocent children? How old were Dong Bai and Libai then? Were they younger than Qiubai? Enough, all of you, get lost! Go as far as you can!"

Tang Tieshan angrily drove them away. Xu Suqiu refused to leave; if she didn’t secure some benefits today, she would never be able to enter the compound in the future.

But there were two young people in their twenties, presumably Dong Bai and Libai, who blushed and dragged Xu Suqiu away. Tang Tieshan’s words made them wish they could crawl into a hole.

Finally having sent this bunch away, Tang Tieshan let out a long sigh and leaned back in his chair exhaustedly, smiling miserably, "Ah Nan, Grandpa Tang is really envious of your grandfather. When it comes to raising children, I’m nowhere close to him!"

"Grandpa Tang, don’t be sad. Don’t you still have Brother Tang? He was also brought up by you, which means it’s not related to your upbringing."

Sisi falsely praised Tang Qiubai, while inwardly sneering. Actually, your education has been quite a failure, Mr. Old Man. That Tang Qiubai is not a good person at all!