Return to 88: Starting from Marrying My Sister-in-law

The ward was deathly silent, with only A-Qiang's heavy breathing and the heavy heartbeats of Qian Zhongwu and his son colliding in the air.

Lu Yang's question, "Should I tell you my name?" was like a poisoned icicle hanging over Qian Zhongwu's head, shattering the last bit of composure he had forced.

The appearance of A-Qiang, along with his bruised and swollen face and shifty eyes, is the most direct evidence of their conspiracy.

It was this bodyguard, whom they had bribed, who, on the verge of death, took advantage of a moment when no one was looking and forcibly pressed the fingerprint of the "adoption certificate" onto the old man's weak and feeble fingers.

Qian Youyou felt a chill run from the soles of her feet straight to the top of her head, and her body swayed, almost unable to stand.

She stared intently at A-Qiang, the bodyguard her father once trusted, who had now become a knife stabbing at his dignity!
Anger and sorrow intertwined into a destructive torrent that surged through her chest.

"Brother Qiang! You..." Her voice was torn apart by extreme anger, filled with unbelievable pain, "My father treated you well! How dare you?!"

Ah Qiang lowered his head in shame, not daring to look directly into Qian Youyou's eyes, which were burning with anger and despair, and let out a muffled sob.

Lu Yang snorted coldly, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's as he locked onto Qian Zhongwu's face, which had instantly lost all color: "Second Master Qian, oh no, Crippled Qian, the evidence is overwhelming. Now, what do you have to say?"

He took a step forward, and the invisible pressure made Qian Zhongwu subconsciously drag his lame leg backward, the ebony cane scraping the floor with a harsh sound.

"Forging documents, taking advantage of others' misfortune, seizing family property... that's enough to keep you in there until you're in your coffin!" Lu Yang's voice wasn't loud, but every word was piercing, carrying an undeniable sense of judgment.

The group of distant relatives behind Qian Zhongwu, who had originally been opportunistic and greedy observers, now showed panic and retreat on their faces as they realized the situation was not good. They unconsciously moved their feet, trying to distance themselves from Qian Zhongwu and his son.

The oppressive atmosphere that Qian Zhongwu had created in the ward crumbled instantly under Lu Yang's swift and decisive actions.

Qian Zhongwu's forehead was covered in a fine layer of cold sweat, and his breathing was rapid.

His eyes darted frantically across Lu Yang's cold gaze, across Qian Youyou's angry and pale face, then across the group of relatives who were beginning to waver, and finally landed on his own son Qian Feng's equally pale face.

Despair surged in like an icy tide, almost engulfing him.

Is it finished?
So all our efforts were in vain?
No! He gritted his teeth, a hint of almost insane obsession flashing in his eyes.

We can't just give up like this!
He still has cards!

The last card I've been saving!

“Ha…haha…” Qian Zhongwu suddenly let out a dry and grating laugh. The laugh sounded particularly abrupt and eerie in the somber ward, filled with a sense of desperate despair and bluff.

He strained on his cane, forcibly straightening his hunched back, trying to regain some of his strength.

"

"Kid! You...you stop spouting nonsense!" He pointed at Lu Yang, his fingers trembling slightly with agitation and fear, "Even...even if this thing has a problem!"

He glanced at the "adoption certificate" on the table, which had become a worthless piece of paper, and his speech suddenly quickened, carrying a kind of desperate hysteria.

"But! The family genealogy! The Qian family genealogy can't be faked, can it?!"

He abruptly turned to Qian Youyou, his eyes becoming frantic, his voice rising even higher as if trying to suppress his inner panic: "Youyou! My dear niece! Open your eyes and look carefully! Look through our Qian family's centuries-old genealogy! It's written there clearly and plainly! My son, Qian Feng, his name is under your father's name! He is your father's rightful stepson, it's all in black and white, witnessed by our ancestors, how could this be false?!"

His sudden roar plunged the ward into an eerie silence once again.

Even Lu Yang frowned slightly.

Genealogy?

This is a heirloom passed down within the Qian family, and its authority is indeed extraordinary in families in the South where clan values ​​are deeply ingrained.

Unlike a document that is easily forged, it is usually kept by a respected elder in the clan, recording the bloodline and holding an almost sacred status.

Is Qian Zhongwu's release of the family genealogy at this time a desperate lie, or is there some truth to it?
Qian Feng, as if grasping at the last straw, quickly echoed, his voice filled with ingratiating flattery: "Yes, sister! It's recorded in the family tree! I really am my uncle... oh no, Dad's stepson! We're family, sister!"

He was eager to step forward, but was frozen in place by Lu Yang's cold gaze.

Qian Youyou's heart felt as if it were being gripped tightly by an invisible hand.

When her father was alive, he never mentioned anything about adoption to her!
As the heir to the family headship, although she had not thoroughly reviewed the contents of the family genealogy, she was aware of the core lineage.

Qian Zhongwu and his son were merely distant relatives from a collateral branch, cousins ​​from the grandfather's generation. How could they suddenly appear under the father's name?
"You're talking nonsense!" Qian Youyou's voice trembled with disbelief. "Family tree? I've never heard my father mention any stepson! The family tree is kept by my third great-uncle, how dare you spout such lies?"

"Speaking nonsense?" Qian Zhongwu seemed to have finally won a round, a twisted smugness appearing on his face. "Third Uncle? Hmph, Third Uncle is quite old. He suffered a stroke a few days ago and is now mentally unstable, unable to manage affairs! The family genealogy is currently enshrined in the ancestral hall! If you don't believe me, we'll go open the ancestral hall now, bring out the genealogy, and examine it in front of our ancestors! Let's see if I, Qian Zhongwu, have uttered a single lie!"

He spoke with absolute certainty, even suggesting a public inspection, which stirred up some doubt and curiosity among the already wavering relatives.

Could it be... that this really happened?
Did Mr. Qian secretly arrange an adoption before his death?

This is not entirely impossible.

If it is truly recorded in the family genealogy, then this status as a "stepson" is a hundred times more powerful than that forged certificate!
Qian Youyou's heart sank.

Qian Zhongwu's willingness to propose opening the ancestral hall to verify the family genealogy suggests that this is not merely empty boasting.

She knew about her third uncle's stroke, but the family genealogy... could it really have been tampered with?

During his father's serious illness, Qian Zhongwu's reach had already extended so far that he even dared to meddle with the ancestral hall and genealogy.
She looked up at Lu Yang, her eyes filled with confusion and a hint of pleading.

Lu Yang's eyes were also unusually sharp at this moment. He stared intently at Qian Zhongwu's face, which was distorted by excitement and fear, as if trying to judge the truth or falsehood in his words.

He whispered to Xiao Jiu beside him, "Go and investigate immediately the situation of Third Uncle, as well as the entry and exit records of the Qian Family Ancestral Hall during this period."

Xiao Jiu nodded and quickly turned to leave.

Lu Yang's gaze refocused on Qian Zhongwu, a cold smile curving his lips: "Qian the Cripple, you certainly know how to find a scapegoat. Family tree? Good, very good."

His voice carried a dangerous calm, “Then so be it. Open the ancestral hall and bring the family genealogy! I want to see if what’s written on it is the real dragon or just a painted skin! But…” His tone shifted, his chill intensifying, “If it’s confirmed that this genealogy has also been tampered with, then what you’ve done today won’t just be forgery and seizing family property. Desecrating ancestors and altering the genealogy—you know better than I what that crime is in the Qian family!”

Qian Zhongwu was startled by the undisguised killing intent in Lu Yang's eyes, and a cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

In large families that place great importance on patriarchal lineage, falsifying family genealogy records is an unforgivable crime!

This is ten or even a hundred times worse than forging documents!
Once verified, he will likely be expelled from the family.

Once he loses the protection of his family and the support of his clansmen, what will he have to fight against this cousin?
Thinking of this, he forced himself to speak, but his voice betrayed his inner weakness: "You...you're trying to scare me! The family genealogy is passed down from our ancestors, it's sacred and inviolable, how can it be changed so easily?! Well, I...I'm innocent, I'll clear myself!"

He has to hold on to the end!
As long as the family tree is produced, as long as his name is on it... he can turn his life around!

At least his clansmen would still support him. With their support, he would still be the one with the most say in the vast Qian Group. Even though most of the Qian Group's shares were in the hands of his cousin, she wouldn't dare to do anything to him unless it was a fight to the death.

He prayed frantically in his heart, praying that the clansman he had bribed in the ancestral hall who had secretly added a few lines to the family genealogy while his third uncle was seriously ill was clean enough that the people sent out by this kid in front of him would not find out!

"The innocent will clear themselves of wrongdoing?" Lu Yang sneered repeatedly. "What a fine 'the innocent will clear themselves of wrongdoing'! Then let's let the facts speak for themselves."

He turned to Qian Youyou and said in a calm and firm tone, “Youyou, you are now the head of the Qian family. Open the ancestral hall, invite the family genealogy, and verify your identity! Let all the clansmen see clearly who is stirring up trouble, who is desecrating our ancestors, and who is trying to cause chaos in the Qian family, making this huge family precarious right now. The eyes of the clansmen are discerning, and they will definitely see the true colors of some people.”

Qian Youyou took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart.

My father's dying words, "Unite some, overthrow others," echoed in my ears.

At this moment, all eyes of the clan were focused on her; this was her first major test as the heir.

She must stabilize the situation, find the real culprit who altered the family genealogy, drive the father and son out of the Qian family, and safeguard the foundation of the Qian family and the father's dignity!

Think of this.

She straightened her back, and a resolute and cold expression, just like her father's, appeared on her pale face.

immediately.

She glanced around, her gaze sweeping over Qian Zhongwu and his son, then over the various expressions on the faces of the distant relatives, and finally announced in a loud voice, her tone carrying an unquestionable authority:

"Alright! Pass on my message:"

"Prepare immediately, open the ancestral hall, and retrieve the family genealogy!"

"All members of the Qian family, both main and collateral branches, who are residing in Pengcheng, must be present! Today, before our ancestral tablets, let's settle this matter of 'stepson' in earnest! I want to see who dares to stir up trouble and covet my Qian family's legacy while my father's body is still warm!"

Her words were firm and resounding, instantly silencing all the noise in the ward.

Qian Zhongwu's face grew even uglier. He hadn't expected Qian Youyou to be so decisive and forceful, actually wanting to escalate the matter to the entire clan.

This was completely different from what he had expected—private coercion and forced compromise!

Opening an ancestral hall... that's truly a desperate gamble, it's either you die or I perish!

Today, either they, father and son, succeed in reaching the top and completely surpass this cousin, and from now on, the Qian family will be under their control, or…

They'll probably be kicked out of the Qian family in a sorry state; they can't stay in the Qian family any longer.

Thinking of this.

His face turned pale and then flushed, and he began to sway unsteadily.

They still lack confidence in the people they've bribed.

Of course, it is also related to Lu Yang's strength. Don't underestimate the young man in front of you. He is a leading figure in the domestic private enterprises and the honorary vice president of Pengcheng Chamber of Commerce. He can make the ground tremble when he stomps his feet. According to the rumors, he is also very familiar with a certain leader in the city and they are close friends.

He would never want to offend the other party unless absolutely necessary.

However, since things have come to this point, there's no point in saying more.

Lu Yang looked at Qian Youyou's sudden display of family head authority, and a hint of barely perceptible admiration flashed in his eyes.

He stood beside her, silently demonstrating his support.

He then provocatively glared at the father and son opposite him.

He continued until they all lowered their heads, unable to meet his gaze.

"As for you, all of you."

Qian Youyou's icy gaze was like a solid icicle, piercing Qian Zhongwu and his son Qian Feng. "Until the family genealogy is verified, neither of you is allowed to go anywhere. Men, take them downstairs with us. They are not allowed to leave our side of the way. Also, take away their phones to prevent any leaks and the thief who stole the family genealogy from escaping."

As soon as she finished speaking, several bodyguards dressed in black with cold expressions walked in from outside the door. They were clearly the trusted men left behind by Old Qian. Their eyes were full of disdain and vigilance as they looked at Qian Zhongwu and his son.

Qian Zhongwu and Qian Feng were surrounded by bodyguards, and their faces turned ashen instantly.

They preferred to be trapped in this death-filled ward, awaiting their fate, rather than be escorted downstairs like prisoners to the clan's ancestral hall for a public trial in front of all the clan members, a trial that would decide their fate.

Because if they fail, the father and son will be completely finished. No one in the clan will be willing to support a fellow clansman who falsifies the genealogy and disrespects their ancestors.

Outside the ward, the rain in Shenzhen had started to fall again, pattering against the window, as if playing a heavy background note for this family feud.

Everyone quickly and orderly went downstairs together, and after leaving the hospital, they got into a row of black cars.

The convoy headed straight for the Qian Family Manor in the suburbs outside the city, behind which was the Qian family's settlement. The main house and ancestral hall were located in the center of the settlement, nestled against the mountains and beside the water. This place was also known as Qian Family Village before.

Meanwhile, Lu Yang's phone vibrated slightly again. Was it a message from Frankfurt, or a call from another urgent battlefield in Shenzhen? (End of Chapter)