Chapter 174: Chapter 174: Severing Ties of Gratitude and Righteousness
“Second Aunt!” Xia Lan, who had been spectating for quite a while, suddenly burst out with a shout, interrupting Mother Xia’s words.
She stepped forward to support Mother Xia, saying with a face full of concern, “Second Aunt, don’t be angry, Chuyi is young and doesn’t understand.”
After pacifying Mother Xia, she turned around to Xia Chuyi, frowning as she admonished, “Chuyi, what you just said was not right.”
“A daughter married off is like water poured away. Once a girl is married, she belongs not to her parents’ family, but to her husband’s.”
“Since Second Aunt married into the Xia Family and has remained faithful to Second Uncle, she naturally is part of the Xia Family.”
“As for you, one day you will get married, and by then, you won’t be considered part of the Xia Family.”
With someone to stand up for her, Mother Xia clung to Xia Lan like a lifeline, wailing, “Er Lan, Er Lan, Second Aunt has such a hard life…”
Her voice trailed off, and tears streamed down unstoppable.
Xia Lan gently patted Mother Xia, saying, “Second Aunt, I know, I know…”
She seemed even more like Mother Xia’s own daughter than Xia Chuyi.
“Heh,” Xia Chuyi let out a light laugh, looked at Xia Lan, and said, “You’re quite right, Sister-in-law He.”
Xia Lan had not been married long and was not used to being addressed this way; she did not react immediately.
“So, Sister-in-law He who is already married, please do not meddle in the affairs of the Xia Family,” Xia Chuyi raised her voice suddenly, her gaze ice-cold.
“You!” Xia Lan was taken aback by Xia Chuyi’s retort.
Xia Chuyi couldn’t be bothered to look any longer at her and Mother Xia; she turned her attention directly to the main branch of the Xia Family.
These scoundrels, they were the real crux of the matter.
“Grandpa, Grandma, elder uncle, elder aunt,” she declared resolutely as the representative of the second branch, “I want to make our stance clear on this matter of adopting a son; I do not agree.” Her words were clear and firm, allowing no room for negotiation.
“Chuyi, you wretched child, are you trying to kill your mother?” Seeing her daughter’s unyielding stance, Mother Xia, eyes red, rushed forward again, “Chuyi, your mother is begging you, I’ll kneel to you, please agree to the adoption, won’t you?”
“Chuyi, I know you don’t want to give up your shop; rest assured, no matter who is adopted over, I will make it clear to him, to let you continue working in the shop. When you get married, you will have a generous dowry.”
The “son” who had not yet arrived had already become “we” in Mother Xia’s words, while Xia Chuyi had become just “you,” an outsider.
Seeing her daughter unmoved, Mother Xia “thump” fell to her knees.
“Chuyi, your mother is begging you!” Her plea was accompanied by a heartrending cry.
Everyone was startled by Mother Xia’s actions, even the instigators from the main branch couldn’t help but be astonished: This woman is simply mad!
Xia Chuyi was taken aback for a moment, then immediately stretched out her hand to pull her mother up forcefully.
“Get up!” she said sternly.
Seeing her daughter helping her up, Mother Xia’s tears stopped instantly, looking up at her with hope.
For the first time, Xia Chuyi saw something that could be called warmth in Mother Xia’s eyes.
So, this woman was not devoid of emotion, not without maternal love, it’s just that all her love was for a “son,” even one still out of reach.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Maintaining a normal mother-daughter relationship was simply her own wishful thinking.
Heh, since that was the case, so be it—she would fulfill Mother Xia’s wish.
From this moment on, she would sever all ties of kindness and duty with this woman.
Opening her eyes again, her gaze was clear, all emotions carefully concealed.
“Fine, I, agree to the adoption,” she articulated each word distinctly.