Shu Chong’an is indeed someone who holds a high position and is a respectable elder, merely with a glance, Fu Tingzhou felt immense pressure.
"Mr. Shu, I won’t marry her."
Fu Yuanshan slapped the table, "Nonsense! Ah Zhou! Do you realize what you’re saying right now?"
Throughout the night, repeatedly causing the Shu Family to lose face, Shu Chong’an’s expression darkened as Su Mengshu sobbed in his embrace. On one side, Shu Rongjun said, "Fu Tingzhou, are you sure you want to be at odds with the Shu Family?"
"Mr. Shu, to be precise, it’s you all—" Fu Tingzhou looked up indifferently, his deep eyes like ink, his voice colder still, "Are you sure you want to become enemies with the Fu Family over an arranged marriage from 30 years ago?"
He gave the Shu Family some face, not out of fear.
It’s respect, not fear, he holds for the Shu Family.
Mr. Shu is indeed a respectable elder.
He indeed, does not wish to create unnecessary complications.
But Su Mengshu, he will not marry!
Although he does not know how this Su Mengshu suddenly became Miss Shu Family, he has no interest in this woman whatsoever.
Fu Tingzhou faced Shu Chong’an unflappably, but his words were directed at Su Mengshu, "Miss Su, I am indeed very grateful that you saved my life in the earthquake, but gratitude is not affection. I will try to compensate for your losses to the best of my ability. That’s all I, Fu, have to say."
Shu Rongjun was displeased. Fu Tingzhou was indeed a business prodigy of the young generation, and the Fu Family had been a partner for decades. Both sides were equally strong. But now, with Mr. Shu and himself personally discussing the marriage, his outright refusal was akin to disregarding the Shu Family!
Shu Chong’an turned to Fu Yuanshan, "Old Fu, is this your idea of hospitality? My Shu Family is still thriving, yet before falling into decline, we are humiliated by you! Fu Yuanshan, you’ve indeed raised a fine grandson!"
"From today onwards, my Shu Family would prefer to end up in mutual destruction with your Fu Family rather than speak easily of cooperation! Let’s wait and see!" Having said that, Shu Chong’an left furiously with Shu Rongjun and Su Mengshu.
Fu Yuanshan watched as Shu Chong’an departed, knowing that there was no point in trying to persuade him any further.
Two great families standing in North City for a hundred years, they know each other inside out.
If they engage as enemies, neither side will benefit.
He raised his hand and furiously grabbed a glass from the coffee table and threw it, "Fu Tingzhou!! Do you have any idea what you’ve done!"
The glass flew violently towards him.
The man did not retreat an inch.
Shards of glass cut across his forehead, and beads of blood slowly rolled down his superior cheek.
Overcome with anger, Fu Yuanshan shouted, "Uncle Lao, take the third young master to the Fu Family ancestral hall, and bring the family discipline whip!"
Uncle Lao was shocked and quickly tried to dissuade him, "Sir, you mustn’t do this."
Fu Yuanshan was trembling with rage, no one could dissuade him, "Today I will wake him up with a good beating, to see what he is really thinking! Does he even know the consequences of rejecting this marriage!"
The Fu Family ancestral hall was brightly lit.
Fu Tingzhou knelt on the meditation cushion.
Fu Yuanshan wielded the wooden whip, lashing strike after strike on the man’s back.
Fu Tingzhou clenched his fists tightly, his eyes firmly closed.
Sweat from tolerating the pain streaked across his eyelashes.
Inside the quiet and oppressing ancestral hall, only the sound of the whip striking down echoed.
After 20 lashes, Fu Yuanshan, gasping for breath, pointed at him, "Do you realize your mistake? Find a time, and I will accompany you to the Shu Family to apologize. Su Mengshu lost a child because of you, and you initially wanted to engage her sincerely. Now you regret it, Tingzhou, our Fu Family does not go back on our words."
Fu Tingzhou’s ears were ringing. He took a deep breath, his voice still as firm and emotionless, but with a hint of mockery, "Grandfather, was it not the same way you compelled Fu Zongheng to marry that woman, leading him to abandon my mother?"
Fu Yuanshan was startled at these words.
Fu Tingzhou straightened his back, still kneeling on the cushion without turning back, only lifting his eyes to look at the brightly lit ancestral tablets, "Grandfather, you were wrong in the past, do you still want me to make the same mistake now? Indeed, I once wanted to marry Su Mengshu as a thanks for saving my life, but I realized I was wrong. I admit my mistake in this regard."
But he also firmly admitted, on this point, he was wrong.
On everything else, he did not concede.
"Grandfather, Fu Zongheng has been a monk for five years. Have you never considered, in these years, that you might be at fault? My mother has fallen ill with worry, suffering heart attacks, hospitalized several times, and now lies in a coma. Are you really entirely blameless? Fu Zongheng has been a monk for five years and hasn’t once seen my mother. Who is responsible for this situation?"