Chapter 426 - 153: The Pie Is Drawn Big and Round
"Sister Ning, Second Auntie, you both saw what happened. I hope you’ll come forward and testify when the time comes," Mr. Lin said.
"..." Granny Ning and Second Auntie.
"Testify to what? The drugging? We don’t know who drugged whom," Second Auntie said.
"What Jing Er did to my daughter... You just need to tell the truth about what you saw," Mr. Lin said.
"No problem," Second Auntie promised, patting her chest in assurance.
"You..." Xu Chunyan was dumbfounded.
Jie Jingwei raised a hand and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He gave a cold smile, the corner of his thin lips twitching, and asked in a firm, powerful voice, "Aunt Axiu, Uncle Lin, how do you want to resolve this?"
"We need to discuss this with Director Jie," Mr. Lin said. Doctor Qiao was just Jing Er’s stepmother; she couldn’t make decisions for him. Director Jie could, though. He was Jing Er’s biological father.
"You don’t need to discuss it with my dad. Just tell me directly," Jie Jingwei said coldly.
"Can you even make the decision?" Mr. Lin sized up Jie Jingwei. ’He’s actually quite outstanding himself, but Jing Si’s brilliance overshadows him. That, and the fact that Jing Si is Doctor Qiao’s son.’
’Having Jing Er as a son-in-law would be barely acceptable. If Yaru marries Jing Er, at least she’ll be connected to the Jie Family by marriage.’
Jie Jingwei was silent for a few seconds before saying lightly, "Uncle Lin, you can just say it."
Mr. Lin thought for a moment, then said, "We want you to take responsibility for Yaru."
"How should I take responsibility?" Jie Jingwei asked.
Xu Chunyan didn’t speak. ’If the Lin family makes an outrageous demand,’ she thought, ’I’ll just have to accept my losses.’
"Marry her," Mr. Lin said, each word deliberate. His tone was stiff, leaving no room for negotiation.
Jie Jingwei fell into deep thought.
Xu Chunyan lost her composure. Her eyes flew wide, and her chest heaved with anger. "What?"
Mr. Lin ignored Xu Chunyan. Right now, he only wanted an answer from Jie Jingwei. As for Xu Chunyan, her presence could be completely disregarded.
Mrs. Xie’s lips curled into a faint smile. She turned to look at Qin Mei and Jie Jingchen, who were sitting in the courtyard. Seeing her son massaging her daughter-in-law’s shoulders filled her with both relief and envy. Old Jie rarely gave her shoulder rubs.
A brilliant smile bloomed on Qin Mei’s face. She waved at Mrs. Xie, her mood absolutely wonderful, as if getting a new sister-in-law was all it took to brighten her day.
Mrs. Xie returned Qin Mei’s wave with an indulgent smile, and the last trace of guilt she felt toward Zhang Hongyan vanished from the depths of her heart.
Granny Ning and Second Auntie looked at each other but said nothing. The Lin Family demanding that Jing Er marry Teacher Lin was understandable. After something like this happened with Jing Er, it would be very difficult for Teacher Lin to find a good husband.
Granny Ning was from the neighborhood committee, so she couldn’t remain silent. She had to remind them. Clearing her throat, she said sternly, "Jing Er, I have to give you a reminder. You can’t have both a senior and junior wife, or take a concubine, these days. If you’re going to marry Teacher Lin, you have to divorce Ms. Xu first."
’Divorce?’ Jie Jingwei’s heart skipped a beat. ’With Xu Chunyan’s temper, would she ever agree to a divorce? And they have a son together.’
"HAHAHA." Xu Chunyan was so furious she started laughing, as if she’d just heard the world’s biggest joke. "What nonsense are you all spouting? On what grounds should Jing Er marry Lin Yaru? And why would he divorce me?"
Divorce. Xu Chunyan felt they were spouting fantasies. She and her husband were deeply in love, and she had given Jing Er a son, making her a great contributor to the Old Xie Family. Divorce? It was laughable. Utterly ridiculous.
"On the grounds of what Jing Er did to my daughter, he has to take responsibility for my daughter!" Liu Axiu retorted to Xu Chunyan, full of righteous indignation.
"That’s right. Jing Er slept with my daughter, so he must take responsibility," Mr. Lin added in agreement.
"So he slept with her. It was consensual. What’s there to be responsible for?" Xu Chunyan began to argue illogically.
Hearing Xu Chunyan’s dismissive and illogical words, Liu Axiu and Mr. Lin became frantic with anger. Liu Axiu roared, "Who said my daughter was willing? He clearly forced himself on her! You won’t take responsibility, is that it? Fine! We’ll go to the police station! I’m going to report him! I’m going to get justice for my daughter!"
"Go to the police station? Report him? Get justice?" Xu Chunyan sneered, an aura of malice enveloping her. "Do you dare? If this gets out, her reputation will be ruined. She’ll never be able to hold her head high again. I advise you not to make a scene. Our families can handle this privately. We’ll pay you, and we’ll call it even. That way, she can still find an ordinary man to marry in the future. Otherwise, once her name is mud, even farmers in the countryside will look down on her."
Liu Axiu and Mr. Lin froze. Going to the police was just a threat against Jing Er. They wouldn’t dare disregard their daughter’s reputation. A parent’s love for their child is fierce. If this blew up, Jing Er would be convicted and, at most, sent to a labor reform camp. As for who drugged whom... others might not know, but they were perfectly clear on the matter.