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Zhang Lan chuckled and patted her daughter, “You little troublemaker. Those three are, after all, your grandfather’s own flesh and blood. How could he bear to see them get hurt?”
As a parent herself, Zhang Lan could empathize with the old man’s dilemma, “Uncle Chen, why not just divide the house among them three? It would save them from constant bickering, and it’s also hard for you to witness.”
Chen Minghai sighed, “Niece, their selfish desires run deep. Each wants sole ownership of the house. Even if I divide it among them, what about the future? If I were to acquire another house, they would still covet it. I don’t want to encourage this behavior. That’s why I’ve been hesitant to make a decision. Besides, even if I give the house to my three sons, eventually it will have to be sold. This place is where my wife and I spent our last days together. I can’t bear to part with it. Although the school offered me a house, I find comfort in staying here. Children truly inherit from their parents; the elders’ words are not wrong at all.”
Wang Qian finally understood. Old Chen still held hope for his children. After observing today, she noticed the eldest daughter-in-law’s stubborn and harsh demeanor, the possibility of persuading Chen Xu’s parents, and the silence of the third son and his wife, whose personalities remained a mystery to her.
Seeing Wang Qian quiet, Chen Minghai smiled slightly, “Young lady, you seem quite resourceful. Can you help your Grandpa Chen out?”
Wang Qian chuckled wryly, “Grandpa Chen, you seem to have too much faith in me. I don’t know the personalities of these three in your family. It’s really challenging to find a solution. Your family’s situation is different from ours and even from my maternal family. After all, your three haven’t reached a point of extreme discord like in my maternal family. If it were as severe as in my maternal family, I bet you wouldn’t bear to see that outcome, right?”
Chen Minghai nodded with pleasure. This child truly saw through things. Perhaps she could really help him.
“You’re right, young lady. It’s precisely because of this that Grandpa Chen is in such a dilemma. If I were to cut ties with them completely, what would I worry about? The circumstances back then were there, and I couldn’t simply blame the children. Although they weren’t as attentive to my late wife as I’d hoped, they are still my sons. My late wife also left a message, absolving the children. It’s truly a difficult situation,” he lamented. In the end, he couldn’t favor one side over the other.
Wang Qian couldn’t help but feel sorry for Old Chen. There are ruthless elderly individuals like Zhu Qiyu, but there are also compassionate ones like her grandmother and Old. Chen. Regardless of their children’s flaws, they always prioritize their well-being and choose to forgive them. Having such elders in the family is truly a blessing earned from past lives.
Zhang Lan and Wang Zhenhe were eager to help but struggled to find a satisfactory solution that pleased both sides. It wasn’t easy to come up with an outcome that everyone would find agreeable.
Mingyuan blinked, then grinned, looking at his thoughtful sister. “Grandpa Chen, why not sell the house to us? We could create a fake agreement. The house would still be yours, but your three sons would think it’s already sold to us. That way, you wouldn’t have to worry anymore. Later, you could give the house to Chen Xu, and everything would be resolved.”
Mingyuan’s idea seemed good, yet Wang Qian believed it didn’t address the root of the problem. If old Chen wanted to sever ties, he would have done so already. With age, people tend to value blood relations more, desiring family harmony across generations. However, achieving this was challenging. People’s true intentions are often hidden, and unless old Chen turned into money, achieving universal approval would be difficult.
“Grandpa Chen, perhaps you could pretend to be ill. See how much filial piety your sons still hold for you. If they truly care for you, we can discuss the next steps. If not, I suggest you don’t force it. Having Chen Xu is already a blessing,” Wang Qian proposed.
Upon hearing this suggestion, Chen Xu’s eyes lit up. This idea seemed promising. If his siblings still possessed a shred of conscience, they would acknowledge their father. If not, even if he was their son, it wouldn’t change anything.
“Qianqian, I think your idea is feasible. Grandpa, it might be best for you to pretend to be ill. Your illness would reveal the true feelings of your sons. If they prove genuine, I don’t need this house. I’ll work and buy my own place, giving it to them all. At least, your sons will be back,” Chen Xu suggested.
Chen Minghai, pondering the suggestion, nodded. “Alright, let’s go with Qianqian’s plan. By the way, shouldn’t we start preparing lunch? I’m starting to feel hungry.”
Wang Xuan and Zhang Lan hurried to the kitchen to prepare the meal, while Wang Qian and Mingyuan stayed inside to discuss the detailed plan with old Chen.
Not fully understanding the personalities of the three families in the Chen household, Wang Qian relied on Chen Xu and Chen Minghai for insights. Different approaches were needed for different individuals. A one-size-fits-all strategy might not work effectively.
The eldest son’s family were all workers, as Chen Minghai described them as good children but easily influenced by the daughter-in-law.
The eldest grandson inherited his father’s traits, while the granddaughter took after her mother.
As for the second son’s family, who were Chen Xu’s parents, well, in Chen Xu’s own words, his mother was a strong-willed person who always strived to excel and disliked being left behind. She was not one to accept losses easily. His father, on the other hand, tended to follow his mother’s lead. His mother’s eagerness to claim the house stemmed from having three sons in the family. His father, like him, was a worker, while his mother worked as a ticket seller at a cinema. With three sons in need of housing, and with him spending time in the countryside with his grandfather, his mother believed the house should belong to their family.
As for the third son, Chen Guofu, and his wife, both were elementary school teachers. They simply went along with the flow. If they could benefit from something, they would, but if not, they saw no loss in it.
Wang Qian finally understood why the third son and his wife had remained silent throughout. These two were savvy individuals, adept at going with the flow and not stirring up trouble.
Having grasped the personalities of each member of the Chen family, Wang Qian felt sorry for Old Chen. He had three sons, none of whom were foolish, but unfortunately, their cleverness was misplaced. Instead of using their skills wisely, they were solely focused on gaining advantages from their father.
“Grandpa Chen, looking at Chen Xu’s parents, although they are also fighting over the house, their situation does seem somewhat justified. However, with your eldest son’s family having only two children, I don’t think they are as desperate as they claim. Their children getting married shouldn’t leave them with nothing. Both husband and wife work, and even their daughter and son are employed. They should be able to save some money. It’s probably due to the influence of your eldest daughter-in-law that their family seems unable to make ends meet.
As for your third son’s family, they are not causing major disturbances. After all, they are both teachers and must maintain their reputation. Plus, they don’t even have children yet. They don’t really need a house since their workplace provides housing. They seem to be more caught up in unnecessary trouble. Our focus should be on winning over Chen Xu’s parents first, as Chen Xu is closest to you. Once we isolate your eldest son, they won’t have a foothold to continue causing trouble. Even if you cut ties with this son, you still have two other children. Ultimately, our goal is to have all three sons return to your embrace.”
Even through the wall, Zhang Lan could hear her daughter’s voice.
“Brother, although your idea may be a bit harsh, I think it’s really good. They need to learn a lesson.”
Wang Xuan, selecting vegetables with a suppressed smile, chimed in, “Mom, it’s about time for my sister and brother to take action. Those siblings are in for some lessons. Look at Grandpa Chen, such a kind old man, yet they not only treat him poorly but also scheme against him. I bet even Grandma Chen resting in peace could get riled up and come back to hold them accountable. With only one elderly person left, instead of burdening him, they should be considering his well-being. It’s truly baffling how these people’s hearts are wired.”
“As the saying goes, some people just can’t see the bigger picture. They scheme and calculate endlessly, but in the end, death is merely a larger urn, and they can’t take anything with them,” Zhang Lan remarked while cooking.
Wang Xuan expressed her disdain for Shi Wenting, the most vocal individual in the group. “Mom, I really dislike that eldest aunt. She always has a sharp and sarcastic way of speaking. Whenever my brother and I come over for a meal, you can see how she acts, as if we’re here just to eat and stay for free. The treats we buy for Grandpa Chen, she ends up consuming the most.”
Zhang Lan also witnessed the sharpness of the eldest daughter-in-law today. Not only did the children find her disagreeable, but even she saw her in a negative light. Despite the men being reserved, she was the one who spoke the most eagerly.
“Ah, poor Grandpa Chen. If their family had a more virtuous daughter-in-law, things might not have escalated like this. I don’t think any of them are easy to handle,” Zhang Lan lamented while preparing the meal.
The mother and daughter continued discussing the Chen family’s situation as they cooked, and soon lunch was ready. Wang Qian and Mingyuan’s somewhat dubious plan had gained the old man’s approval. Sometimes, a gentle nudge is all it takes. However, if these children aren’t given a firm hand, they truly won’t know their place. If they don’t change their ways, they’ll face consequences in the future.
Wang Zhenhe and Chen Xu were mostly compliant individuals, not having many ideas to contribute. Nonetheless, they listened attentively to Wang Qian and the others discussing their plans.
After lunch, Old Chen accompanied Zhang Lan and the others to visit the Zuo’s family area. Zhang Lan had come all the way to the capital; it was only fitting to visit the elderly couple.