54, Repaying Kindness (1 Update)
The old Yuan patriarch was left stunned by the question.
It took him quite a while to regain his composure.
Xie Zhinuan smiled lightly and looked at Madam Yuan, “What do you think, Mrs. Yuan?”
Madam Yuan was petrified.
“I, I…” She stumbled over her words, her complexion turning awkward and unsightly, before suddenly adding, “If you think it tastes good, do drink more!”
“Heh!” Xie Zhinuan scoffed coldly and gently placed her teacup on the coffee table, looking at the old patriarch, “Grandpa, your sons and daughters, sons-in-law, and daughters-in-law, they planned to drug me and sell me to exchange for your eldest son’s return, what do you have to say about that?”
Xie Zhinuan’s gaze was faint, devoid of any pressure.
Her voice was so soft, it was almost inaudible.
The old Yuan patriarch suddenly stood up and stared at Xie Zhinuan for a long time before slowly sitting back down and taking a deep breath before he spoke, “Zhinuan, saving a life should be repaid with a fountain of gratitude. I saved you back then, and now that the Yuan family is in trouble, you should accept this arrangement. From then on, you will have no further ties with the Yuan family!”
“…”
Xie Zhinuan thought she would be so angry she’d spit blood, but after hearing the old patriarch’s words, she calmed down instead.
There was no screaming until she was hoarse; only a feeling of discomfort and disappointment within her heart.
The pain was real.
She had treated these two elderly individuals as family, intending to honor and take care of them all her life.
“I understand!” Xie Zhinuan whispered softly.
The truth is, kith and kin, strangers and family indeed differ.
She would go to the Governor’s Office, exchange for Yuan Cheng’s return, thus repaying the life-saving debt; as for her future after going to the Governor’s Office, not a single person would consider or worry for her.
This was the outcome they all had conspired upon.
“You are all too shameless!” Yuan Liuwang, holding Routuan, stood at the door and bellowed with rage.
“I, Yuan Liuwang, have traversed the lands far and wide for many years, yet have never seen such shameless people. A bunch of grown men, not thinking of solutions but coercing a weak woman here, holding gratitude for ransom, and even drugging her tea for fear she wouldn’t comply!” Yuan Liuwang stepped forward and grabbed Xie Zhinuan’s wrist, “Zhinuan, let’s go, I’ll take you away. If anyone dares to force you today, I’ll fight them with my life!”
Yet Xie Zhinuan stood still, looking back at the old patriarch, “Indeed, you saved my life, and I should repay that favor. Wait at home; I will go to the County Governor’s Office myself to exchange your son back. But from now on, our paths diverge, never to cross again!”
Having said that, she took a deep breath and walked towards the outside.
The old patriarch closed his eyes heavily as he watched Xie Zhinuan’s retreating figure.
He knew it wasn’t right what he was doing, but with grandsons and granddaughters, grandsons-in-law and granddaughters-in-law to think of, he had no choice but to push Xie Zhinuan out for the sake of his posterity.
Xie Zhinuan left Yuanji, taking Routuan from Yuan Liuwang, “Brother Liuwang, thank you!”
“Are you really going to the Governor’s Office?” Yuan Liuwang asked.
“What else? Since I promised, I should fulfill it!” Xie Zhinuan countered.
Her eyebrows lifted slightly in resolve.
But little did she know, Madam Yuan, fearing Xie Zhinuan might flee, actually led Yuan Jiu and several sons-in-law in pursuit.
“You must come with us to the County Governor’s Office!” Madam Yuan said sternly.
Truly shameless to the core.
Xie Zhinuan only gave them one look, “Lead the way!”
She carried her bundle and held Routuan, her expression serene, under no duress whatsoever.
She had simply become indifferent.
Yuan Liuwang pulled Xie Zhinuan along, swearing at Madam Yuan and causing bystanders to gather and watch.
Yuan Liuwang wasn’t afraid to offend, speaking harshly without concern for Madam Yuan’s increasingly dark expression.
To save a life is more meritorious than building a Seven-Level Pagoda; but to exploit that to demand repayment, well, that’s something else entirely.
Chapter 56