A Maid's Survival Story in a Noble Family Mansion? Rich Landlords Are More Appealing.

Very well, since Father has asked, let's explain it more clearly today.

Just as he was about to speak, a commotion arose from the front yard. A moment later, a waiter came over to report, "Master, several elders from the clan have arrived."

Old Wang's expression changed slightly, his brows furrowing unconsciously, his expression conveying annoyance, wariness, and a sense of helplessness at having to deal with the situation.

He had long since lost any goodwill towards these clan elders, especially Wang Shouye and his group.

They obstructed the delivery of grain back then, and afterwards made sarcastic remarks. Later, seeing that their son had become successful, they tried to curry favor with them, implying that they wanted to benefit from his success. But they were clan elders, seniors...

Before he finished speaking, the curtain was lifted, and several clan elders, led by Wang Shouye, filed in, each with a perfectly appropriate smile on their face.

"Old Cai, nephew Yan Ning, congratulations!" Wang Shouye greeted with a cupped hand and a smile as he entered. His gaze swept over Wang Yan Ning before settling on the table full of dishes and Old Cai's slightly reddened eyes. His smile deepened.

"Oh, you're eating? We've come at an inopportune time. But for such a joyous occasion as our nephew's high school entrance exam, we elders should at least come and offer our congratulations in person."

Wang Laocai suppressed his impatience, stood up, and forced a smile: "Brother Shouye, uncles and brothers, please have a seat. Afu, go and tell the kitchen to add a few more dishes."

The elders made no attempt to stand on ceremony and took their seats.

Wang Shouye's father, Wang Rennian, was also a senior member of the clan. When Wang Youcai's father passed away, he entrusted Wang Youcai to him.

He stroked his beard, looked at Wang Yanning, and nodded in approval, "Hmm, composed and steady, not bad. Ranked twenty-seventh in the academy examination, that's outstanding even in the entire Runing County. You haven't disgraced the Wang family."

Wang Yanning remained seated, without even getting up.

Wang Shouye picked up the conversation, looking at Wang Yanning with a beaming smile, and said in a friendly tone, "Yanning, you've really made our Wang family look good this time."

Keep up the good work, pass the imperial examinations, and you'll have a bright future. Our whole family is hoping for your success and will fully support you.

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Old Man Wang, his words carrying a hidden meaning, "Old Man Wang, don't you think so? This child's education will cost even more money in the future, you can't be careless, you have to take out all the family's savings to support him."

Another clansman chimed in, "Yes, Yan Ning has made something of himself; it's an honor for our entire clan."

"Old Cai, Yan Ning is your eldest son, and also the most promising child in our clan. His grades are so much better than his younger brother's. You can't be biased anymore. All these things must be given to Yan Ning first."

"Yes, education is expensive. Now that he has passed the imperial examination, the family should support him more. Old man, you can't be stingy and ruin his future."

Hearing these barbed words, Wang Laocai's anger flared and his face darkened.

He hates it when people bring up family and clan. If it weren't for them, he and his son wouldn't have been estranged for so many years. What do they mean by trying to sow discord between father and son and saying that he favors his younger son?

They probably didn't really think of Yan Ning as an ignorant child, but just assumed that Yan Ning's lack of closeness with the clan was because of him.

Wang Shouye seemed oblivious to the displeasure in his words, and instead smiled even more broadly, turning to Wang Yanning with a heartfelt expression: "Yanning, don't hold a grudge against your father."

Your father has had a tough time these past years, juggling his business and his family. You were still very young when your mother passed away, and her remarriage was also to take care of you.

If there were any oversights in the past, they were unintentional mistakes. Now that you've become successful, it's the perfect time to mend our father-son relationship.

"Your family is supporting your education, so you must study hard and bring honor to your family in the future. That's the right thing to do."

"To bring glory to the family and repay the clan." Wang Yanning softly repeated these eight words, then sneered before raising his eyes to look at Wang Shouye, before slowly sweeping his gaze over the other elders.

"Uncle Shouye, elders, do you think I am able to stand here today because of your support and care?"

His question was abrupt and his tone was calm, yet it silenced the room.

Wang Shouye's smile froze for a moment, then blossomed again: "What are you saying, child? You are a descendant of the Wang family, of course..."

"Naturally what?" Wang Yanning interrupted him, her voice still not loud, but with a strange penetrating power.

"Did you incur an insurmountable debt to the Wang family from birth? Should you, regardless of your future achievements, repay the family first? Otherwise, are you ungrateful?"

He paused, noticing the subtle unease that flashed across the faces of Wang Shouye and the others, before continuing, his tone gradually turning cold:

"Uncle Shouye has probably forgotten that two years ago, right here, you and everyone else taught Yan Ning in the same way."

As Yan Ning is a descendant of the Wang family, he should prioritize the family's interests. If he achieves success in the future, he should support his relatives and protect the family's assets; this is the right path. Otherwise, he will be only concerned with personal gain and forget his roots.

His gaze shifted to his father, whose face was ashen and whose hands were clenched into fists, then he looked back at the clan elders and said clearly:

"Yan Ning was dull-witted and didn't understand at the time. How could the debt of gratitude owed to one's parents for giving birth to and raising one be confused with family investments? How could one's personal future and ambitions be tied to the private interests of a clan?"

He watched the changing expressions on Wang Shouye's and the others' faces, and spoke each word as if being cut by a dull knife: "Later, Yan Ning understood. It turns out that in your eyes, blood ties and kinship can also be put on a price tag, and investments must yield returns."

Therefore, in order to avoid future trouble and being branded as ungrateful, Yan Ning had no choice but to settle the score now.

He turned to Wang Laocai, his tone calm and even, yet every word struck like a hammer blow to everyone's heart: "Father, two years ago, your son sold your mother's belongings and returned all the money I had spent on food, clothing, and education since I can remember, with interest."

From then on, the son and the Wang family were even, and the son did not take a single penny from the family, nor was he bound by the family.

From now on, whether I pass the imperial examinations or not, or whether I have a wedding or funeral, it will be none of the Wang family's business.

"Absurd!" Wang Shouye finally lost his smile and slammed his hand on the table, shouting.

"Wang Yanning, what nonsense are you spouting? Can the kindness of parents in raising their children be measured in money? Can the bond of family protection be severed so easily? This is the greatest act of filial impiety."

"Filial piety?" Wang Yanning suddenly chuckled softly, a laugh filled with endless irony and sorrow.

He raised his eyes, his gaze like a blade tempered with ice, sweeping over the faces of Wang Shouye and the clan elders one by one.

"You elders want to discuss filial piety with me? Then I'd like to ask you all, what exactly is filial piety?"

He stepped forward, and despite his youth, his imposing presence caused several elders to unconsciously lean back.

Is it true filial piety to knowingly smile and obey those who indirectly contributed to the accident, even though one knows exactly how one's birth mother died?