Chapter 25: Fourth Uncle Ming’s Family Division

Between his daughter and power, Ming Shi naturally chose power. After all, a daughter would eventually be married off, but power would always remain his own. In the end, Ming Shi did not argue. It was precisely because he did not argue that made Ming Yuehe even more heartbroken, and she collapsed onto Qian Laidi, crying even louder.

At this moment, the old lady slowly woke up. Everyone was lost in their own thoughts and paid her no attention. She sat up by herself, and seeing Ming Leyao standing there, graceful and even more radiant than before, anger welled up inside her. Forgetting her weak state after just waking up, she got up and raised her hand again toward Ming Leyao.

Ming Xiaoxue saw this and quickly pushed Ming Leyao in front of her to shield her. The old lady’s hand was about to land when Ming Leyao quickly blocked it, pulling Ming Xiaoxue back a step, dodging the strike.

“You… you… why are you hitting sister? Sister clearly did nothing wrong.”

“You two worthless brats, little bastards, why don’t you just go die? Staying here is a disgrace to the Ming family.”

“Mom, no matter what, Xiaoxue and Leyao are still Ming family’s blood. How can you say such things?”

“Get lost! Get lost! I don’t want a son like you.”

“All right, I’m leaving! If you don’t want to see me, then we’ll split the family!”

Uncle Ming’s words hit the old lady like a slap in the face, almost making her faint again from anger.

“You… you…”

“Grandma, your temper really makes no sense. Someone saw Ming Yuehe personally lead that idiot into the room. What use is it yelling at me?”

“That’s impossible, impossible. That idiot came in through the window. How could anyone have seen?”

Everyone was silent.

Pang Jianyuan was also silent.

Qian Laidi held Ming Yuehe tightly, letting out a wail of grief. Her foolish daughter had clearly fallen into someone’s trap. The mother’s crying finally snapped Ming Yuehe out of her despair, and she suddenly realized what she had said.

“I… I…”

“Team Leader, the matter is clear. Since Ming Yuehe knew that idiot entered the room and even had Ming Hongdou call me in, her intentions couldn’t be clearer. When I heard noises from the wardrobe and warned Ming Yuehe, she desperately denied it and angrily pushed me out the door. Turns out… that person was her own secret.”

“Ming Shi, tell me, did you know about this or not?”

“I… I didn’t know…”

“So it was Ming Yuehe’s own idea?”

“Team Leader… it’s my fault. I didn’t discipline my daughter well. This is all my fault. As her father, I’m heartbroken. Please don’t ask anymore.”

Ming Shi’s words made Ming Leyao sneer. Heartbroken? He heartbrokenly shoved his own daughter into the fire? At a time like this, he still tried to clear himself and push the blame onto his daughter—what a good father.

Ming Yuehe cried uncontrollably. Qian Laidi cursed under her breath but did not refute her husband.

“Since it’s happened, hurry and discuss the marriage with the Jia family. Otherwise, the whole team will be dragged down by Ming Yuehe.”

“I don’t want to. I don’t want to marry that idiot. Dad, save me!”

“Yuehe, things have come to this. You have to accept your fate.”

“Dad?” Ming Yuehe’s face twisted in anguish—her last glimmer of hope was crushed by her own father.

“Why should I accept my fate? Ming Leyao was the one with that idiot. From start to finish, I’ve only heard your arrangements. Why am I the one who has to take responsibility?”

“Ming Yuehe, shut your mouth.”

Then Ming Shi angrily turned to Qian Laidi, “Look at how you’ve raised your daughter. Even now, she’s trying to shirk responsibility. What a worthless woman.”

Slap.

The loudest slap of the entire scene landed on Qian Laidi’s face, causing blood to trickle from the corner of her mouth. The force Ming Shi used was clearly immense.

“Enough! Don’t bother me with useless talk. Go discuss the marriage with the Jia family and get it done within ten days.”

After saying this, Pang Jianyuan prepared to leave with Ming Leyao.

At that moment, Uncle Ming shouted to stop him.

“Team Leader, I want to split the family. I can’t stay in this house for even a minute. I still have two daughters not married, and now with what Ming Yuehe has done, who would want to marry a Ming daughter?”

Just as Pang Jianyuan was about to leave, he paused.

“All right, let’s settle things with the Ming family today. I remember a few elders from the Ming family are still around. Who will bring them here?”

“I will,” Ming Xiaoxue said, turning to run outside, giving the old lady no chance to refuse.

Not long after, three of the Ming family elders, supported by younger relatives, arrived at the main room of the Ming household. The eldest was over seventy, and the youngest was around sixty-eight or sixty-nine—belonging to the generation before Ming Laoye. If they took action, the family split might really happen.

Before coming, Ming Xiaoxue vividly recounted everything that had happened today. The elders, having lived long lives and experienced much, saw through the Ming family’s intentions clearly.

After sitting down, before the old lady could speak, they scolded Ming Shi and Ming Laoye fiercely.

As for why they didn’t scold the old lady… well, they had some respect left. After all, she was a woman, so if anyone were to be scolded, it wasn’t their place.

After half an hour of scolding, the elders finally calmed down. Ming Leyao went to the kitchen to prepare tea for the three elders, and Ming Xiaoxue served it to them.

As people grow old, their hearts become kinder. Seeing Ming Xiaoxue’s pitiful and wronged expression, the elders felt deep sympathy.

The eldest elder spoke up:

“Split the family. Look at Shangjia Bridge production team, who else’s family makes this much trouble? The root cause is you older generation’s unwillingness to split the family. Today I decide, and with the team leader’s arrangement, the family will be split.”

“No, uncle, the family can’t be split.”

The old lady, disregarding Ming Yuehe or Ming Leyao, protested—how could she enjoy the days surrounded by her children and hold the family’s sole say if the family split?

“You’re just a woman, what right do you have to speak?”

“I heard that in your family, only men eat at the main table, women aren’t allowed. For big or small family matters, women are excluded. Is that rule the second son’s wife made up herself? Why don’t you follow it?”

(Ming Laoye is the second son in the family…)

“I… I’m… I’m their elder, why can’t I participate?”