Chapter 275: 275: Yan Family Head Yan Shanchuan (700 extra Chapters for bookstore recommendation votes)
"Yan Shanchuan is a man with strong ambitions and a strong career mindset. Back when he was pursuing his current wife, Zhan Zhengtong, Zhengtong already had a childhood sweetheart. However, he was very shrewd and skilled at creating ’accidental’ encounters to win her over, quickly gaining Zhengtong’s favor."
"But what really made Zhengtong give up her sweetheart and choose Yan Shanchuan was when the sweetheart got drunk and ended up in bed with another woman. The day after waking up, the sweetheart was furious and fought with Yan Shanchuan, accusing him of setting him up. Yan Shanchuan didn’t admit to it, saying that one should bear the consequences of their own mistakes and not blame others."
"Because of this, Zhengtong broke up with her childhood sweetheart and, in a fit of anger, got together with Yan Shanchuan. Zhengtong soon became pregnant and married Yan Shanchuan. However, due to an accident, she lost the baby and was unable to conceive for many years, only giving birth to Yan Hao much later..."
"What’s strange is that Old Master Yan, though not having any illegitimate children, only had two sons and a daughter, all healthy, but unable to produce heirs. He even publicly stated that whoever gave birth to a grandson, that person’s son would inherit the Yan family."
"Therefore, from the moment Yan Hao was born, everyone knew he was the future heir of the Yan Family!"
...
Mu Mingyu seemed to have a very poor impression of this Yan Shanchuan, and the things he spoke of mostly embodied others’ negative impressions. Or perhaps, the entire Mu family has a poor impression of the Yan Family. After all, the Murong incident almost brought the Mu family in the Capital City into crisis.
If Mu Mingyu still liked them under such circumstances, it would be strange!
"What about Zhan Zhengtong?" Mu Qiuniang continued to ask.
"Zhan Zhengtong should be considered a very happy woman! Before marrying, she was the precious daughter of the Zhan Family, adored by all and getting whatever she wanted, a rather naive young lady! After marrying, Yan Shanchuan, taking into account the Zhan family’s connections, wouldn’t treat her poorly, she continued to be adored, even by her siblings-in-law, so she had no worries, big or small, and nothing to trouble her."
When it came to Zhan Zhengtong, Mu Mingyu didn’t have much else to say. After all, she was a woman, and he, being a man, shouldn’t focus too much on others’ domestic affairs. What he knew was either common knowledge or information gathered while collecting family data.
But such data typically focuses on males in the family, particularly those in key positions of power (if a female is the power holder, she’d be the focus instead), unless this woman was particularly important.
"Grandaunt, since you’re so interested in the Yan Family’s affairs, I’ll give you a copy of the information our family has collected on the Yan Family when we return, so you can take your time reviewing it. After all, what I say carries my personal bias, and might affect your judgment."
"You acknowledge your personal bias?"
Mu Mingyu smiled: "Grandaunt, after all, I am a descendant of the Mu family, and last time Yan’s young master almost brought trouble upon us Mu family, I can’t help but have some grievances against the Yan Family. Although it was just a conflict between two juniors, it blew up so big that the Yan Family didn’t even send a representative to Grandpa Mu’s birthday banquet. Clearly, this isn’t just a junior-level conflict. Even if the Yan Family doesn’t say it outright, this kind of tacit behavior still suggests they support their young master... Grandaunt, the Yan Family isn’t the only one who plays favorites!"
"You’re not wrong, our Mu family is quite protective too!"
Mentioning being protective, Mu Qiuniang recalled stories from the time she began cultivating with her Master. Back then, as long as she performed well, she’d have the chance to return to the Mu family and live with her parents and siblings for a month each year.
Being naturally more petite than children her age, coupled with her cultivation, she appeared especially cute in the eyes of boys and was popular with them; yet in the eyes of girls, she was a newcomer, and the subject of jealousy and disdain.
Because of this, Mu Qiuniang was often ostracized or even bullied by young ladies of prominent families. Before she could even stand up for herself, her elder brother would have already jumped out to defend her, uncaring if the opponent was a girl, ready to fight.
The girls also had brothers, who naturally wouldn’t let her brother win.
So, the two boys would fight, and the other siblings would cheer from the sidelines.
The result was that everyone got scolded by their parents when they got home.
Receiving recognition from his grandaunt, Mu Mingyu couldn’t help but smile. It turned out that his tentative display of true nature was the right move!
That night, Jiang Nuo came home a bit late.
When he got home, he told Mu Qiuniang about his arrangement with the fans and laughed, "Hehehe... honey, our fans have made such a big contribution, you should really reward everyone!"
"You promise, I foot the bill?" Mu Qiuniang raised an eyebrow.
Jiang Nuo immediately hugged her shoulder and whined, "Honey, isn’t everything of mine yours? My fans are your fans, my promises are your promises too? Honey, they are helping you after all. You have no idea—the rumors online were all saying you were cheating, but the fans didn’t believe it at all, listing loads of reasons why you wouldn’t cheat and completely shut down the paparazzi..."
"Didn’t you ever suspect anything?"
"Why should I suspect anything?" Jiang Nuo looked puzzled, "Isn’t there anything about you that I don’t know? We’re not an ordinary couple; we’ve even cultivated together! What else is there to doubt? If I can’t even trust you on this, how can we spend our lives together?"
As he said this, he didn’t forget to add, "Honey, am I right or not?"
"Right!"
"Since I’m so right, shouldn’t I get a reward?" With that, Jiang Nuo leaned in.
Mu Qiuniang shyly gave him a peck.
Jiang Nuo enthusiastically wrapped Mu Qiuniang in his arms, kissing her passionately.
Until Mu Qiuniang lay on the sofa, hair tousled and bewitching.
Jiang Nuo held her close, reluctant to let go.
"Don’t mess around!" Mu Qiuniang said, breathlessly, "Didn’t you say you still have to give a gift? What’s the gift?"
"Whatever you decide to give, that’s what we’ll give. I told you, I listen to you for everything."
"If you really listen to me in everything, will you get up when I ask you now?"
Jiang Nuo, lying on top of her, chuckled, "Of course, I listen to you in everything except this!"
Mu Qiuniang rolled her eyes.
Every roll of her eyes was followed by a kiss from Jiang Nuo, leaving Mu Qiuniang feeling her eyelids getting wet, before welcoming another passionate kiss.