Chapter 131: Mother Liang’s Choice
Father Liang also found it extremely absurd.
Wealthy families, prestige, sensational gossip, explosive tidbits, a night of intense activity in Spider Cave, lavish parties, Russian roulette, or perhaps an entire platoon of illegitimate children appearing.
If this got out, public opinion on the internet would be in an uproar, and it would at most be a topic of laughter within the social circles. Men with ample energy, great stamina, and deep skill were never a bad thing in the social arena. Some bold ones even saw it as praise.
But immorality and incest are different; these touch the fundamental core of worldly affairs. With the development of the times, ordinary people’s family concepts have shifted from the ancient clan system of the same surname to a smaller, nuclear family structure.
As long as it doesn’t harm the interests of the small family, ordinary people actually don’t care too much about worldly affairs.
And the wealthy clans of the social arena are interest groups formed by familial ties of the same surname. Worldly morality is the rope used by the clan to restrain its members. If the rope that restrains others is cut by oneself one day, the interest group will either fall apart, or the rope will fall into someone else’s hands.
The latter point has already been vividly demonstrated in the Gu family.
Father Liang did not want to repeat the same mistake, so he must tighten the rope and hold it in his own hands before Liang Chaosu cuts it. If Liang Chaosu repents, the rope will still be given to him; if he does not repent, then this rope will tighten until he repents.
“I will never allow Chaosu to marry her.”
Mother Liang’s hands fiercely grasped Father Liang’s lapel, her gaze sharp as nails, piercing into his flesh, unyielding.
“He has worked tirelessly day and night these past few years. I’ve seen him enduring pressure day by day, becoming more and more reserved and taciturn. All his current glory and honor were fought for with his blood, sweat, and tears. To ruin his brilliant and radiant future for Liancheng, for a disgraceful secret affair, is simply too ridiculous.”
Mother Liang and Father Liang viewed the problem from different perspectives.
Liang Chaosu had always been her sacred and immaculate son. For these four years, Mother Liang had shared his every glorious achievement with him among the noblewomen.
Mother Liang could not accept his descent into the mire, falling into such a ridiculous and shameful situation. The mere thought of Liang Chaosu becoming a laughingstock, circulating for even a second in the mouths of those gossipy women in their circle, made Mother Liang’s blood run cold, wishing she could tear the culprit to shreds.
“I am handling this matter,” Father Liang said, his voice deep and earnest, comforting Mother Liang. He had none of his usual inscrutable or calculating demeanor.
“Nianci, believe me, when have I ever disappointed you? Chaosu is your son, my son, and more importantly, the heir of the Liang family. Both publicly and privately, I must prevent this. My methods might be forceful, but I would never harm my own son. Doesn’t it hurt my heart that you would doubt me based on the mere words of outsiders?”
Mother Liang was persuaded. “I won’t force you to come back anymore, but I have a request.”
Father Liang caressed her hair, not too hard, a smile appearing in his eyes. “You tell me.”
“What you plan to do next, and how you plan to do it, you can’t keep me in the dark like before. I want you to explain everything honestly.”
Father Liang’s hand paused.
Within the Liang family, his opposition to Liang Chaosu had escalated to white-hot intensity, becoming tense and adversarial. Mother Liang had no experience with the deception and trickery of the business world, so he explained his strategy and moves to her in detail.
He was afraid that in the next second, although her slap might be delayed, it would arrive, and she would then call Liang Chaosu to report the enemy’s movements and plans.
Ah, women. Once they have children, they become like a mother wolf. Usually, you’re affectionate and rely on each other, but in critical moments, the male wolf has to stand aside.
Father Liang’s heart ached. “Liancheng. Her relationship with Chaosu was not her wish, and now Chaosu is being forceful and unwilling to turn back, so we can only start with her. If she voluntarily aborts the child, it will be an unbearable blow to Chaosu. Their relationship will be internally fractured, and with the external pressure we apply, Chaosu, filled with resentment, will turn back.”
Mother Liang didn’t understand much about business affairs and could easily be swayed. However, she was shrewd and sensitive when it came to private matters, demonstrating remarkable insight. Moreover, Liang Chaosu and Liancheng had grown up under her watchful eye, and Father Liang had been her bedside companion for decades.
“If Chaosu would turn back just because he’s resentful, you wouldn’t be making such a big fuss in the Liang family,” Mother Liang said, looking at Father Liang. “You know Chaosu’s temperament. At this point, you can’t stand Liancheng anymore.”
Father Liang, uncharacteristically avoiding her gaze, said, “Nianci—”
Mother Liang’s heart twisted with anguish, but it was as it was. She had raised Liancheng herself, and her feelings for her were undeniably deep. However, in the past four years, her biological daughter’s affectionate reliance had filled the emptiness in her heart.
When the misunderstanding was revealed, she indeed felt a pang of reluctance.
But this flicker of reluctance, separated by those four years, could no longer compare to her son, nor to the status of the Liang family heir. Liancheng was the one who had to be sacrificed.
“An induced labor surgery, right?” It wasn’t a glorious matter, so Mother Liang asked indirectly. “Liancheng’s uterus has a congenital deformity; induced labor carries risks, so anything could happen.”
Father Liang forced a smile. “Nianci, I’ve been hiding things from you because I didn’t want you to bear the pressure.”
The voices inside the room lowered. Liang Wenfei pressed her ear to the door, listening for a few more minutes. Father Liang gently and warmly comforted Mother Liang, and then there was silence.
For the first time, she didn’t startle them or barge in to demand clarity. She tiptoed away, went downstairs, and drove away from the Liang family.
The weather in Nan Province had been unpredictable lately, with heavy rain one day and bright sunshine the next. The temperature fluctuated greatly, but it was always cold.
The cold wind blew into the open car window, carrying a damp chill.
Liang Wenfei’s blood was boiling outside the flower hall door, and then it solidified in the whistling cold wind. Only the sweat on her skin mixed with the damp, cold air, forming a sticky layer that suffocated her.
Her speed increased, as if any delay would cause her resolve to crumble.
When she returned to the Liang family, her brother was the first to accept her. At that time, Father and Mother Liang still showed Liancheng care. They noticed her love at first sight for Shen Lichuan, and although they didn’t blame her, their attitude was not one of approval.
It was her brother who helped her. She was the one who administered the medicine, and he was the one who cleaned up the mess. He was resolute in demanding Shen Lichuan take responsibility. Liancheng misunderstood that he had orchestrated the entire thing, but he didn’t care.
It was from there that she quickly integrated into the Liang family. Her mother inexplicably grew distant from Liancheng, and her father, busy with company business and obedient to his wife, treated Liancheng as an extraneous person in the Liang family, yet she could never be driven away.
Liang Wenfei’s eyes were red and swollen, her throat feeling choked. Now that everything was revealed, her brother’s favoritism towards her was entirely for Liancheng, to separate her from Shen Lichuan and win her over.
Liang Wenfei drove around the city center, and as soon as her car stopped in front of the Shen’s building, the wailing of police sirens followed closely behind.
Shen Lichuan’s secretary happened to be in the hall escorting a client and was startled by the commotion.
Realizing what was happening, she rushed to open Liang Wenfei’s driver’s side door. “Why are you driving yourself today? It’s too dangerous.” She then looked at the flashing red and blue police car behind them. “Did something happen on the road?”
Liang Wenfei got out of the car, her face pale, but a storm was brewing. She didn’t look at the traffic police behind her. “Where is Shen Lichuan?”
