"There's nothing to be sad about. The ultimate form of life is inherently solitary and desolate."
Ying Chen glanced at Min Ziqiong, who was slumped on the ground, and said expressionlessly.
"What's more, such parents are not worth dwelling on. If I were you, I'd light a brazier, warm some new wine, and have three cups right there to celebrate!"
Min Ziqiong's lips parted as if to speak, but she ultimately shook her head and remained silent.
Of course, she knew her parents weren't ideal parents, but they were, after all, the closest relatives who had given her life, the family who had accompanied her for over twenty years. It was hard for her to accept such a clean break immediately.
Furthermore, she was more worried about the impact this would have on Nannan. A child who already lacked a father's love, and now also lost the affection of her grandparents, would Nannan be traumatized by this, becoming depressed and withdrawn, perhaps never wanting to speak again even if she eventually could? Min Ziqiong had seen many children like this, who, due to introversion, remained silent all day, eventually losing their ability to speak. Min Ziqiong truly feared Nannan would turn out that way!
However... when Min Ziqiong turned her head towards the backyard of the villa. She noticed that Nannan had emerged at some point. And Nannan clearly already knew what had happened. She blinked her eyes a couple of times. Then, she suddenly smiled. Next, she used sign language to say: "Mama, don't be afraid. Mama still has Nannan."
It was Min Ziqiong who was worried about Nannan being affected, but now it was Nannan worrying about her, and comforting her instead! Min Ziqiong couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion, and her mood instantly improved significantly.
Nannan continued to use sign language, saying: "Where there is Mama and Papa, that is home. Bad grandpa and bad grandma are not home."
"Nannan, don't speak carelessly!" Min Ziqiong quickly reprimanded.
On the surface, Min Ziqiong was scolding Nannan for speaking ill of her grandparents behind their backs. In reality, Min Ziqiong was reprimanding Nannan for the word "Papa" in her sentence. This was because when Nannan was signing "Papa," she had pointed at Ying Chen! It was very clear that Nannan considered Ying Chen her father!
"Hmph!" Nannan pouted unhappily at being scolded and turned back to the backyard.
Ying Chen watched Nannan's retreating, angry figure and smiled, "Let her call me whatever she wants! Moreover, a master is a father for a lifetime. That already implies the meaning of father."
"But this could easily lead to some unnecessary misunderstandings for you..." Min Ziqiong said.
"Misunderstandings?" Ying Chen chuckled. "There are no misunderstandings that cannot be resolved with a slap. If there are, then two slaps."
With that, Ying Chen also walked towards the backyard. He was going to urge Nannan's cultivation.
Min Ziqiong was left standing alone, feeling bewildered. So, Ying Chen's way of solving problems was to beat the other party to death! But on second thought, it did seem like an incredibly effective method! After all, the hardest thing to control in this world is other people's mouths. And the best way to control their mouths is through physical transcendence. She seemed to have learned another valuable lesson!
Min Ziqiong blinked her eyelashes and smiled sweetly. The pain of being expelled from the family by her parents lessened considerably.
However, Min Ziqiong had clearly underestimated her parents' bottom line, especially her mother. Min Ziqiong's father, at least, still had some feelings for his daughter and did not intend to pursue her relentlessly. But Min Ziqiong's mother was different. She was furious about Min Ziqiong siding with outsiders and vowed to make Min Ziqiong suffer. Therefore, the first thing she did upon returning home was to announce the convening of a Min family clan meeting.
That evening, over a dozen influential figures from the Min clan gathered at the Min ancestral hall. There were also some younger generation members who came to watch the spectacle. The large ancestral hall was packed with people, all wondering about the reason for Min Ziqiong's mother's sudden announcement of a clan meeting.
Min Ziqiong's mother surveyed the crowd and said, "Everyone who should be here has arrived, so let's begin formally!"
"The reason I've invited everyone here is to have you all bear witness. I intend to expel a member from our Min clan!"
A wave of murmurs swept through the crowd.
"Second sister-in-law, stop messing around! Such important matters are not for women like you to decide. Wouldn't it be better to wait for the clan leader, Big Brother, to return?"
"Exactly! Not only is it wrong for Second sister-in-law to overstep your authority and forcibly convene a clan meeting, but you also want to exercise the clan leader's power? Even if one of our younger generation offended you, you wouldn't expel them without a word, would you?"
"Second brother, are you even a man? Can't you manage your wife? For so many years, the entire Min family has been ruled by men. But with you, you can't decide major issues, and you have no say in minor ones. I suspect you're not Second sister-in-law's husband, but her son whom she's raising!"
"Hahahaha..."
Laughter erupted from the assembled crowd. Min Ziqiong's father's face instantly turned red.
"If you want to slap your own face, just say it! I won't indulge you!" Min Ziqiong's mother coldly glared at the people who were heckling.
Those individuals immediately recalled the scene from a previous clan meeting where Min Ziqiong's mother had displayed her mastery of folk intangible cultural heritage, single-handedly fighting seven or eight grown men and leaving them all scratched on the face. What is a shrew? This is it! At that time, everyone in the Min clan had reached an agreement: if possible, don't provoke Min Ziqiong's mother. After all, she was the shrew of the Min clan, possibly the shrew of Jianghai! The scene instantly fell silent.
"You're all being nosy busybodies! Does the Min clan cease to exist and cannot function just because Big Brother isn't here?"
"Besides, who said I was expelling one of your younger generation? Can't I expel someone from my own household? Do I need your permission?" Min Ziqiong's mother rolled her eyes and said.
When the people present heard that Min Ziqiong's mother intended to expel a member of her own household, they were shocked and extremely curious.
"Second sister-in-law, are you going to expel Xiao Qing from the clan? Sigh, with Xiao Qing's unreliable nature, I knew this day would come! But speaking of which, what did Xiao Qing do that makes you so determined?"
"Yes, yes, quickly tell us what Xiao Qing did? Did he kill someone or set a fire?"
Everyone, however, had subconsciously assumed that the person to be expelled was Min Ziqing!
"Your child is the one who killed and set fires! Xiao Qing is doing well! Why would I expel him? Shut your stinking mouth, no one will think you're mute if you don't speak!" Min Ziqing's mother snapped.
The crowd exchanged glances and instantly understood. There were only two children in the Min family, if not Min Ziqing, then it must be Min Ziqiong. But, as everyone knew, Min Ziqiong was gentle and elegant, sensible and obedient. Apart from the black mark of being pregnant before marriage, there was nothing else to fault her on. If she wasn't expelled from the clan before, why now, after the child was born and is five years old, would they suddenly want to expel her?
"Second sister-in-law, if the person you intend to expel is Xiao Qiong, I think perhaps you should reconsider? After all, Xiao Qiong's matter is in the past. Even criminals are released after four or five years in prison. Xiao Qiong isn't a criminal, so there's no need to hold onto it for so long!" someone advised.
"Hmph, the past matter is over, but a new matter is not!" Min Ziqiong's mother snorted coldly and said.
As soon as these words were uttered, everyone's expression changed. Could it be... that Min Ziqiong had done something new that brought disgrace to the family? If that were truly the case, then Min Ziqiong would truly deserve it!