Chapter 7: The Xue Family Ancestral Hall

Passing through the long floral corridor, they arrived at the inner residence. After walking through three courtyards, they finally came upon the Xue family ancestral hall.

Xue Wen voluntarily paused, holding Lele in her arms as she said to Xiao Zigang, “Guests from outside and female visitors are not allowed inside the ancestral hall. From here on, you must walk the rest of the way alone.”

Xiao Zigang naturally understood. Even in his previous life, though he had become a shadow of the Xue family and had done many unsavory things for them, he rarely entered the ancestral hall due to his status as a son-in-law.

Following Fang Quan, Xiao Zigang pushed open the heavy wooden doors. The scent of sandalwood brushed his face, and he squinted slightly. Inside the solemn hall stood the ancestral tablets of the Xue family’s forebears.

In front of the tablets was a partition made of vertical wooden slats, before which were arranged three chairs.

Sitting in the central chair was a man wearing sunglasses, silent and emotionless, his features chiseled like a sculpture. This was Xue Wen’s father, the head of the Xue family’s main branch, Xue Ao. Since it was truly his daughter’s wedding today, he occupied the main seat.

To the left sat a man with sharp, clear eyes and a head of graying hair, looking prematurely aged from constant worry and toil. He was Xue Bin of the second branch, the current de facto head of the Xue family and the leading figure of the second generation, renowned as a brilliant strategist with an impeccable track record.

Despite his usual cheerful smile, Xue Bin was ruthless and cunning, a true smiling tiger. Over the years, at least seventeen or eighteen people had been eliminated by him, some dying while still believing him to be a man of great righteousness.

On the right sat a man in a suit, his hair slicked back with gel, appearing youthful as if only in his thirties, though he was actually in his forties. This was Xue Ming of the third branch, a notorious playboy in Tianhai City.

He loved racing, drinking, and chasing women, frequently involved in brawls. Being the late son of the Xue family patriarch, he had been spoiled since childhood. Infamous as a profligate, he was mockingly called the “eldest young master” as he grew older.

Xue Ming felt no shame but rather pride in this title. In his limited mindset, greatness was synonymous with superiority. He never realized that “eldest young master” was a euphemism implying he was an overgrown spoiled brat.

Ignorant and uneducated, Xue Ming misunderstood the insinuation and proudly considered himself the top young master in Tianhai City, wielding the greatest influence.

Whenever he went out, he was surrounded by a retinue. When in high spirits, he would throw money onto the dance floor and loudly proclaim, “Tonight, all expenses are on the eldest young master!”

Xiao Zigang had interacted with these three men for twenty-four years. While not intimately familiar, he was well acquainted with their temperaments. Thus, he felt no pressure and showed no fear, bowing slightly to them. “Father, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, I am Xiao Zigang.”

Xue Ming cast a sidelong glance at him. “You’re the freeloader Xiao Zigang? So young, yet you can’t make it on your own and have to take the shortcut of marrying into the Xue family as a despised son-in-law?”

Xiao Zigang smiled calmly. In his previous life, confined to a wheelchair with a broken leg, he had endured much ridicule and had long forged a steely mind. Hearing Xue Ming’s taunt now stirred no emotion.

“What shortcut? A path called a shortcut is one less traveled and shorter. Once many take it, it ceases to be a shortcut and becomes a broad avenue.”

“I don’t see marrying into the Xue family as freeloading. At least my blood has become a sacrificial offering to bring fortune. Now that the three of you are all here, if I’m not mistaken, the old man should have turned a corner.”

“Therefore, I didn’t take a shortcut but made a tangible contribution.”

Though not exactly a forceful declaration, his words were unconventional and logically curious.

Indeed, the old man had stabilized. Where once he only had an outflow of breath with no inflow, his complexion was now ruddy, and all vital signs improved. While they did not hope for twenty-four more years, even ten more years would elevate the Xue family’s standing.

According to Xiao Zigang’s reasoning, he was not freeloading but had rendered great service, a hero of merit.

Xue Ming was left speechless, unable to find grounds to refute.

As the atmosphere grew awkward, Xue Bin let out a snort. “Silver-tongued and cunning, truly a master of sophistry.”

“Shuyu ran away from the wedding. How did you come up with the idea to have Wenwen stand in her place?”

No matter how delicately phrased, the sharp question was unavoidable and laden with traps. A poor answer could brand him both a two-faced scoundrel and risk his life.

Fortunately, Xiao Zigang had prepared his response. “Second Uncle, your question contains a logical flaw.”

Hearing this, both Xue Ming and Xue Bin regarded him with curious eyes, while Xue Ao leaned in, eager to hear his argument.

“First, it wasn’t Wenwen standing in. I married into the Xue family. Whether the ceremony was performed by Xue Shuyu or Xue Wen, I was merely a prop.”

“As long as the ritual was completed and I received the forty thousand yuan payment, even if the Xue family asked me to hold a chicken during the ceremony, as long as you don’t find it shameful, I would comply.”

These words crossed all boundaries—no longer shameless, but utterly reckless.

“A true villain who stops at nothing to achieve his ends!” Xue Bin scrutinized Xiao Zigang, then adjusted the white hairs on his head and asked curiously, “Are you really that short of money?”

“My father is critically ill in the hospital and urgently needs surgery funds. To repay his upbringing, I would marry into the Xue family, climb a mountain of knives, walk through fire, or brave any danger without a second thought.”

Xiao Zigang deliberately glanced at Xue Bin. “Second Uncle, Xue Shuyu promised but did not deliver. What do you think?”

Xue Bin’s eyes flicked as he half-believed the claim. “So much bride price was collected today—wouldn’t that be enough for your father’s treatment?”

Xiao Zigang replied earnestly, “That was Xue Wen’s money. I only want to reclaim my rightful payment.”

Xue Bin remained silent, but Xue Ming stood up and pulled a card from his suit pocket. “You’re a man of loyalty and principle. Here’s fifty thousand as a welcome gift.”

Patting Xiao Zigang’s shoulder, he said, “I’ll remember you, son-in-law!”

The playboy was not only quick to feel affection but especially empathetic. Recognizing Xiao Zigang’s responsibility and righteousness, Xue Ming had already accepted him.

Xue Bin also rose. “Zigang, have a good talk with the eldest. He’s your father-in-law; you can’t just quietly take away his little daughter without an explanation.”

After Xue Bin and Xue Ming left, the ancestral hall, already spacious, was left with only Xiao Zigang and Xue Ao.

If the earlier exchange was a minor test, what followed was the decisive trial. Whether Xiao Zigang could firmly establish himself in the Xue family hinged on this final moment.

With that thought, Xiao Zigang stepped forward and stood before Xue Ao, ready to unleash his trump card.