After being forced to leave the marriage, I became the wife of a top scholar.

Chapter 9: Forever the Daughter of the Bai Family
Mu Wu naturally dared not stop her any longer, so he had no choice but to let Bai Wanqing in. He followed the others into the main hall.

Upon seeing Madam Chen, Mu Wu immediately jogged forward to apologize, "Madam, Elder Bai insisted on bringing people in, and I really couldn't stop him!"

Uncle Bai's face darkened upon hearing this. Madam Chen glared at Mu Wu and cursed inwardly, "Alright, you can go now."

After Mu Wu left, only the Bai family members remained in the house.

Chen immediately changed her demeanor, losing all her previous air of authority as the mistress of the house. Instead, she resembled a wronged young wife, her eyes red as she sobbed.

"Elder Bai, it's all my fault. I didn't manage my servants well, and they acted so rudely towards you today. Please don't be angry."

Looking at the affected and pretentious Chen Shi in front of him, Bai Shuzu sighed. He couldn't bring himself to say anything harsh because of Chen Shi's attitude.

“Mrs. Chen, let’s let bygones be bygones about what just happened, but I still need to make things clear to you about Qing’er’s return to the Bai family.”

Chen glanced at Bai Qingwan standing behind Uncle Bai, then cried even harder.

Uncle Bai and his third uncle exchanged a glance, both of them taken aback.

"Mrs. Chen, what are you crying about here! Anyone who doesn't know the situation would think that the Bai family has bullied you, wouldn't they?"

Uncle Bai frowned.

Chen wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. Because she wiped them hard, her eyes instantly turned red, making her look extremely pitiful.

"Elder, to be honest, I am more heartbroken than anyone else as Qing'er's stepmother after the divorce. It's such a sad fate that our good daughter was stuck with such a family. It's truly heartbreaking."

The third uncle was heartbroken by Chen's crying, and when he heard Qing's grievances, he nodded repeatedly in agreement with her, feeling sorry for her.

"Yes! Our Qing girl has suffered."

But then Chen changed her tone, pounding her chest a few times as she cried, "But I really have no way to let Qing'er enter the Bai family!"

"I am not only Qing'er's mother, but also Lian'er and Furong's mother. I must also think about them!"

"Furong is alright, she's already engaged, but Lian'er is only just reached marriageable age. She hasn't even asked for a husband yet. Are we just going to let all the other girls in the Bai family never marry into good families and stay at home for the rest of their lives?"

"Elder Bai, can you really bear to do this?"

Chen's words were heart-wrenching, and Bai's uncle and third uncle were somewhat shaken, especially the third uncle, who could best understand Chen's concerns, as he also had a daughter of marriageable age at home.

The third uncle looked at Bai Shuzu, who took a deep breath. "Chen Shi, what you're saying is far too serious!"

"Does this mean that if we get a divorce, all the other daughters in this family will end up becoming nuns in a nunnery?!"

"They all got married anyway!"

My third uncle had a different opinion, muttering, "Getting married is not the same as getting married. You won't be able to marry into a good family."

Upon hearing this, Chen cried even harder, and Uncle Bai angrily pointed at his third uncle and scolded him for being irresponsible.

Does this mean that once the Bai family's daughter gets divorced, even her own family will no longer tolerate her?
Uncle Bai slapped his thigh a few times and sighed repeatedly.

Seeing that Uncle Bai was relieved, Madam Chen continued, "Qing'er, although you can't enter the Bai family, it doesn't mean we'll stop caring about you. Uncle, this is just a temporary measure!"

"Qing'er, you tell me yourself, you certainly wouldn't bear to see your younger siblings suffer because of you, would you?"

Chen turned to look at Bai Wanqing. Bai Wanqing naturally understood Chen's scheme, but she was unwilling to get entangled with her any further.

"Grand Uncle, Mother, Uncles, I will not return to the Bai family."

Uncle Bai suddenly looked up. "Qing'er, what are you saying? You silly child, if you don't come back to the Bai family, where else can you go?"

Bai Wanqing didn't know, but surely there was somewhere she could find refuge.

"Let's stay on Changsheng Street for now, and then we can make plans later."

"How can that be!" Uncle Bai had lived most of his life and knew better than anyone the hardships women faced in this world. "Qing'er, don't you know? A woman can't stand on her own two feet without a head of the household!"

"Elder! You don't need to worry about that!" Madam Chen had already wiped away her tears. "Although Qing'er doesn't live in the Bai family, our Bai family will still support her! In Huai'an County, who can afford to disrespect our Bai family? If anyone dares to bully Qing'er, I will definitely be the first to object!"

"How can this be the same?" Uncle Bai said angrily. "A divorced daughter not returning to her parents' home means she's severing ties with her family. You're forcing Qing'er to distance herself from the Bai family!"

Uncle Bai was so angry he had a headache. Bai Wanqing didn't want to make things difficult for him anymore. "Uncle, let's do it this way!"

"Alas!" Uncle Bai sighed helplessly.

Bai Wanqing helped Bai Shuzu prepare to leave the Bai family. Since she couldn't go back to the Bai family, she could only go back to Changsheng Street first and make plans slowly!
"Qing girl, the Chen family won't keep you. Go home with your uncle. As long as your uncle is here, no one can drive you away!" Uncle Bai's face was flushed red, and he looked really angry.

Bai Wanqing knew that her great-uncle felt sorry for her, but he was getting old and no longer had any say in family matters. If it were a daughter waiting to be married, he would take her back, but now that a divorced woman like her was going back with him, his family would probably cause a ruckus. "Great-uncle, I know your intentions, but I want to try. Maybe I can stand on my own and establish myself here."

Just as Bai Wanqing and the others were about to step out of the Bai residence, a familiar voice came from behind them.

"Elder, Wanqing, where are you planning to go?"

Bai Wanqing and the others turned around at the same time and happened to meet Bai Chenming, who was rushing back, covered in dust. Bai Wanqing's father was also there.

The Bai elder saw that Bai Chenming was angry and turned his head away.

My third uncle greeted me with a simple, honest smile.

Bai Wanqing greeted her father, "Father!"

Bai Chenming first greeted the Bai clan elder, and then asked again, "Wanqing, where are you all going?"

"Hmph! Where else can she go! Qing'er has already been kicked out of the Bai family and now she can only wander alone! You, as her father, are quite heartless!" The Bai clan elder didn't care whether Bai Chen knew or not, and first gave him a thorough scolding.

Bai Chenming smiled awkwardly, and then learned from Bai Wanqing that he had already divorced the Meng family.

Father Bai was not surprised; he simply called the clan elders and Wanqing back to the Bai family.

As soon as they reached the main hall, they saw that Madam Chen, who had looked pitiful just moments before, was now drinking tea and humming a tune.

Uncle Bai's face turned green again.

Even my third uncle was a little angry this time.

Chen was also surprised that the people who had just left had returned. She hurriedly tried to put away the flowers, fruits and pastries in front of her, but it was too late.

"Qing'er, why are you back again?" Madam Chen asked, secretly wiping the pastry off her mouth.

Before Bai Wanqing could answer, Bai Chenming walked in. He glared at Chen Shi, who was clearly flustered because she hadn't expected him to come.

"She is my Bai family's daughter. If she doesn't come back here, where else can she go?" Bai Chenming angrily rebuked Chen.

Chen finally realized what was happening and said aggrievedly, "Master, you're wronging me. It was Qing'er who made the decision to divorce Meng Zhan herself."

Chen thought Bai Chenming was unaware of this matter, and after speaking, she prepared to wait and see what would happen.

Unexpectedly, Bai Chenming's expression remained unchanged, and he simply said, "So what?"

"Just because they're divorced, does that mean Bai Wanqing is no longer a daughter of the Bai family?"

Uncle Bai, standing to the side, felt very relieved and echoed, "She is a daughter of the Bai family, no matter what."

Madam Chen glared at Uncle Bai, then said, still unwilling to give up, "Master, you can't just focus on Qing'er. We also have Lian'er and Furong. Aren't they daughters of the Bai family?"

"You should think about them too!"

Bai Chenming snorted, "They are naturally daughters of the Bai family, but since they are daughters of the Bai family, they should naturally have some integrity. Our Bai family is not the kind of family that would just expel a member from the family if they get into trouble."

"If we don't let Qing'er into the family this time, and Furong and Qinglian marry into other families in the future, they will know that our Bai family cannot tolerate divorced women, and who knows how they might bully our Bai family's daughters!"

"Do you really want to watch them suffer in silence in their husband's family for the rest of their lives, with no one to rely on?"

Chen could not refute Bai Chenming's point; what he said made sense.

"Madam, go and have someone prepare Qing'er's former courtyard before her marriage! Qing'er will live there from now on!" Bai Chenming said in a deep voice.

Even if Chen was unwilling, she could no longer refuse.
She glared at Bai Qingwan before leaving dejectedly.

Seeing that Bai Wanqing had successfully stayed in the Bai family, Bai Uncle and Third Uncle took their leave first, and Bai Chenming and Bai Wanqing saw them off.

Before leaving, Uncle Bai did not forget to speak up for Wanqing.

"Chenming, the Meng family was in the wrong this time, so don't blame Qing'er!"

Bai Wanqing's eyes reddened, while Bai Chenming nodded in agreement.

After watching the two leave, Bai Wanqing followed her father into the courtyard.

As soon as he entered the room, Bai Chenming said sternly, "Qing'er, come with me to the study!"

(End of this chapter)