Chapter 58: Probe

  Fang Jianlin is not a man with multiple emotional entanglements. After hearing his father's words, he wouldn't hesitate anymore. Shen Qin is already old and faded, and this kind of person who indulges in romantic affairs wouldn't truly be infatuated with her to the point of being unable to move on. However, thinking about Zhang Yun's overbearing personality, he feels that he can't let her get too full of herself, or she would look down on him even more. So, he thinks about negotiating with Old Man Fang, "Dad, I never really thought about divorcing Ah Yun, nor did I think about letting Shen Qin into our household. It's just that Xinlan is my daughter after all, and she's about to take the middle school entrance exam soon. I was thinking that since Zi Xuan's grades are good, she could tutor her a bit, being her own sister..."

  "Shameless! You've beaten Xiao Xuan to such a state, and you still have the nerve to say something like that!" Old Master Fang gritted his teeth, saying. Although Xiao Xuan was introverted and not liked by the elderly, she was indeed very good at reading books. As someone who had always liked bookworms, Old Master Fang naturally held her in high esteem. Most importantly, everyone knew that Xiao Xuan was the apple of Zhang's eye, so just because of this beating incident, the Zhang family would definitely not let it go easily.

  "Let it go," said Mrs. Fang, hastily placating him with a gentle tone, handing him a handkerchief and signaling him to shut up. "You're both at an age where you should be taking care of yourselves. What's more important than your health?"

  Mr. Fang took the tea from her hand and sipped it lightly, his expression slightly easing. She saw this and spoke softly, "This matter is indeed not right on Jianlin's part, we must punish him properly, but Xinlan is innocent, no matter what she is still a child of our Fang family. You've seen her too, pretty and clever, though not as lovely as Ziying when she was young, yet more likable than Zixuan. It's no wonder Jianlin is biased towards her, even I like her very much. Shen Qin has devoted herself to Jianlin for so many years, with no merit but only hard work. Although we don't allow them to enter the house, we can't treat them unfairly either."

  "How much money is it going to take to get them off our backs, just don't stir up any more trouble!" Old Master Fang glared at Fang Jianlin, "This is all your doing!"

  "Don't always talk about money, Shen Qian is a good kid, not one of those vain women. Don't say such unpleasant things, not everyone has a stench of greed." Old Lady Fang scolded, although she was old, but still had the coquettish tone of a young girl in her gestures, "Jianlin didn't mean anything. It's just that Zhang Yun's child is too sensitive and misinterpreted his meaning. Their generation has fewer children, only two siblings, Zixuan and Zipeng, Jianlin just wanted to let Xinxin get close to them. After all, they are family, and in the future, there will be help. Think about it, Xinxin is just a girl, can she really come and divide our Fang family's property? Even if she had such thoughts, we wouldn't agree anyway. It's just giving her some dowry to marry her off. If she has a good life in the future and marries into a good family, won't that be adding help to our Fang family? Zixuan and Zipeng won't lose out, it's a good thing for our Fang family too."

  Old Master Fang glanced at his old wife. "You can do whatever you want, as long as they don't enter the house everything will be fine. Besides, the Zhang family is not someone you can afford to offend. Old Three, no matter what, you must go to the Zhang's and apologize, bring back Zhang Yun and the two children, and properly apologize to your father-in-law and elder brother-in-law. If they don't forgive us, then you're not allowed to enter our Fang family's door either."

  Mrs. Fang saw Mr. Fang's tone relax a bit, and she couldn't help but let out a slight sigh of relief, but when she heard his next words, her face sank again, because Zhang Jia's precious son had suffered quite a bit, he was originally set up by the Zhang family, if they went to apologize, would the Zhang family show him kindness?

  "This family is still so arrogant and domineering, I don't know how many more days they can continue to be so reckless." Mrs. Fang's face turned cold.

  "What nonsense are you talking about again?"

  "I may be a woman, but I've also heard that Zhang Jia's eldest son, Zhang Qi, and our Secretary Fan don't get along. The Zhang family is almost as weak as an autumn cricket, why do we have to fawn all over them with such a flattering attitude?" Madam Fang looked displeased, thinking her husband was being too soft on the Zhangs.

  "You also said it was quick," Old Master Fang snorted, "For now, they are not yet, we still have to be careful and cater to them."

  Thinking of her beloved grandson being wronged, Mrs. Fang's heart was not at ease, the more she disliked Zhang Yun, the more she wanted to promote Shen Qin.

  Since Fang Jianlin beat up Fang Zixuan and Fang Zipeng, Zhang Yun took the siblings back to their maternal grandparents' home in a fit of anger.

  Mr. Zhang has been particularly fond of Fang Zi Xuan in recent years, and he can't wait for her to live here all the time. He doesn't even persuade Zhang Yun to go back, intentionally delaying his return to the Fang family for a few days. Every day, he focuses his attention on Fang Zi Xuan, trying every way to get her to talk, but unfortunately, she remains cold and polite, causing Mr. Zhang to constantly complain to his old friends.

  "These years I've been following the doctor's advice, step by step, but this girl still doesn't warm up to me. Won't her illness get worse again?" Old Master Zhang is worried that Fang Zixuan will develop schizophrenia if things go on like this.

  "Don't listen to those doctors spouting nonsense, being a bit cold is an illness? Nonsense! Your family's Congwen has never been close to you since childhood, why aren't you worried? In the eyes of doctors, nine out of ten people are ill, if you really believe it, then you'll be ill." Old Master Zhou said with disdain.

  "Isn't that doctor the one your grandson recommended?" Old Zhang said with a sullen face, his enthusiasm had been met with coldness for quite some time now.

  "Your daughter is polite and well-read, she's got the makings of a scholar who can calm down and focus on her studies. I think she doesn't seem like the kind from your Zhang or Fang families, but rather like the old Zhao family. Haven't you seen how close she is to Old Zhao?" Old Master Zhou deliberately provoked him.

  Old Zhang furrowed his brow, looking ashamed, "It's us who have wronged this child."

  Old Zhou knew he was referring to the fact that Fang Zixuan had been beaten, and also showed disapproval on his face. "I'm telling you, your son-in-law is really not a good person. He can't even spare his own child, all for the sake of an outsider woman. I think you should advise your daughter to divorce him as soon as possible. The Zhang family doesn't need that kind of trouble."

  "Ayunna is so stubborn, you know that. If she could have left early, she would have done so. But no, she had to argue and insist on having the last word. I'm afraid she'll be at odds with the Fang family for the rest of her life." Old Master Zhang sighed helplessly. His daughter was determined to do things her way, what could he do as a father? He couldn't just abandon her, after all.

  "Now, this old fox who is hesitating and has one foot on each of two boats, although he's indecisive, won't dare to turn against your family. In the next few days, he'll probably be forced to send his useless son to your house to apologize. Are you really going to let them return?"

  "What's the point? Ah Yun was just trying to force Fang Jianlin to back down, she never really wanted a divorce."

  "You should also advise your daughter, what's the point of making a fuss every day? Fang Jianlin is not a good person, why bother guarding him so much? She's still young, it's better to open her eyes early and there will be better days ahead." If he weren't a close relative, Old Man Zhou wouldn't have said this easily. Zhang Yun was someone he had watched grow up, and he knew that although she had a bad temper, she was a good person at heart. These years of watching her live a hard life were also difficult for the old man to bear. Although they did indeed have thoughts of marrying into the Fang family back then, their target was not Fang Jianlin. Apart from this absurd third son of the Fang family, Fang Rongsan's other sons were mediocre but not excessively so.

  "Every time I come back, I have to persuade her several times, what's the use? I don't understand women's thoughts, for the sake of the children, I can sacrifice my whole life. I told her that those two kids might not even get a share of the Fang family's property, but she just got angry with me instead. She won't let go of anything that belongs to Zi Xuan and Zi Peng, even if it means sacrificing herself."

  "A mother's love is strong."

  "Since Ah Yun is so insistent, what can I as a father say? I can only fight to protect her with my life. I won't be able to control anything else, but those women and children outside cannot be acknowledged by Fang Jianlin." Zhang Lao Ye paused for a moment, then looked at his old friend, "At this critical juncture, it's not in Ah Yun's interest to cut ties with the Fang family, neither publicly nor privately."

  Mr. Zhou and he exchanged a tacit glance, with looks of helplessness, guilt and determination flashing across their weathered faces at the same time.

  "Those outsiders, women and children, didn't you and Fang Ruzong have an understanding long ago? This time, however, something like this has happened, I'm afraid he's testing you, and also testing us." Old Master Zhou smiled slightly, but his face didn't show much joy.

  The two men were both from a military background and had a deep bond, having gone through thick and thin together. He was an administrative officer who later transferred to the local government, while Old Master Zhang remained in the army until his retirement. By coincidence, they both ended up in S Province before retiring. As a result, the two families were not only old friends but also close allies. Old Master Zhang had a rough and bold personality, while Old Master Zhou was more introspective and thoughtful. One was a scholar and the other a warrior, and through all the ups and downs over the years, they had come this far together. If it weren't for Old Master Zhou often reminding him of things, Old Master Zhang might have long since gone astray.

  The newly appointed provincial party secretary has just taken office, and there are rumors outside that the secretary is not on good terms with Zhang Qi. Some people have secretly speculated that the status of the Zhang family may be shaken.

  The subtlety lies in the fact that this secretary had a close relationship with the Fang family when he was the governor of the neighboring province, and the Fang family's large-scale investment in the neighboring province even contributed to his political achievements. As soon as he took office, he came to the Fang family to pay respects, and their conversation was very cordial. During this period, the relationship between the two families was very close, and it even subtly surpassed that of the Zhang and Fang families.

  Fang Jianlin made such a scene at this time, it's hard not to make people guess the intention of the Fang family.

  Old Zhang fell silent for a moment, "No matter what he thinks or tries to probe, as long as the Zhang family doesn't fall, they'll never be able to touch A Yun."