Pampered By All In Different Planes

"Heh, what do I mean? You all know very well!" the elder stated bluntly as he tapped his cane on the ground, producing a thudding sound, "Today I will make myself clear, I do not agree with her entering the Xie Family! The daughter-in-law of the Xie Family should at least be a lady from a household like the Zhou Family, not someone from such a humble family! She's not presentable!"

"Dad! I still call you dad now, out of respect," Xie's father couldn't restrain himself anymore, his voice cold as he looked straight at the elder, "Our Xie Family's position no longer requires alliance through marriage to sustain, and besides, it's a new era now. If the younger ones like each other, why should we as elders obstruct them?"

"You don't understand, it's the family rules passed down from our ancestors!" Xie's grandfather scoffed coldly, settling himself on the sofa.

Now, it was Xie's mother and Xie's father speaking up for Su Zhiruan and Xie Yanshang, so Su Zhiruan and Xie Yanshang did not speak, only silently listening to their rebuttals.

"Arranged marriages don't exist anymore. Yanshang is usually so busy, he's hardly at home, and for many years, he has never liked any girl. I think Ruanruan is very good. Many people around me like her. If we were to choose a granddaughter-in-law based on the old rules, we would be missing out on the best granddaughter-in-law. Don't be stubborn," Xie's mother said. Through her long time spent with Su Zhiruan, she had come to treat her like her own daughter; and now, facing someone speaking rudely and putting her daughter down, she naturally couldn't swallow her pride, even if this person was Xie's grandfather, an elder.

Xie's father frowned, turning his head to look at Su Zhiruan and Xie Yanshang, who were sitting together, looking very compatible.

It made him think back to his own situation with Xie's mother back in the day when the elder had also stepped out, insisting he enter into an arranged marriage, criticizing him for not marrying a lady from another household. The elder had controlled power his whole life, and even now, was unwilling to relinquish his power, always looking to control something—thus setting his sights on his grandchildren.

"Grandfather," Xie Yanshang suddenly spoke up, his fingers interlocked with Su Zhiruan, indicating his stance. His voice was very firm, "I have made up my mind about her. You should drop the idea!"

"I don't agree, and as long as I don't agree, I'd like to see who dares to let you two be together!" Xie's grandfather couldn't care less about these roundabout issues. He had preconceived that Su Zhiruan was just as Xie's uncle had described: from a humble family, hoping to ride on her relationship with Xie Yanshang and soar up to become a phoenix, a feeble and frail girl, too weak to bear heirs for the Xie Family.

At this moment, the servant and maids in the hall looked at Xie's grandfather with an expression that seemed as if they had swallowed something disgusting. They greatly disagreed with Xie's grandfather's words, but being merely employed there, they dared not contradict him.

Xie's mother and Xie's father wanted to say something more, but after the elder coughed twice, he let the people by his side help him to stand up, then declared, "I came here today to notify you of this matter, not to discuss it. Yanshang, break up early. Even if you don't marry Miss Zhou, there are other more outstanding ladies from prominent families waiting for you. As for her, I will not approve!"

The elder emphasized the words "ladies from prominent families" heavily, indicating to Su Zhiruan that she was not worthy of the Xie Family.

Su Zhiruan watched all this, although the main reason the elder had come here was to prevent her from being with Xie Yanshang, by coming in person to warn her. Throughout this process, Su Zhiruan did not speak, for from the elder's attitude, it was evident he viewed her with disdain. If she had spoken rashly, it might make her appear impatient and incapable, and it wasn't appropriate for a younger person to interrupt when an elder was speaking.

After all, this was also a family matter of the Xie Family, and it had to be dealt with by the people of the Xie Family.

The elder had come grandly and left just as grandly, surrounded by many bodyguards and assistants, as they all departed from the place.

"Ruanruan, don't listen to the old man's nonsense; he just wants something to fuss about because he's old!" Xie's mother, worried that Su Zhiruan might feel hurt, quickly consoled her, patting her on the shoulder, "We all like you; he's just like that."