The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 179: The Concubine Is Promoted (6)_1

Chapter 179: Chapter 179: The Concubine Is Promoted (6)_1

Qian Wanxiu had no choice but to compromise.

Pei Qin then asked, "What are the rules for promoting a concubine to the principal wife?"

With one question, the faces of Pei Zongli, Qian Wanxiu, and several others all turned green.

"You shameless creature! Wanxiu has already been humiliated enough, agreeing to perform the rites as the succeeding wife, what more do you want!? Who do you think you are!?" Lady Zhu wished she could tear Pei Qin’s mouth apart.

Qian Wanxiu trembled with anger and cried with a face full of pear blossom tears, "Pei Zongli! I humbled myself to marry you, bore you two sons, never wronging you in any way, yet you let me suffer today’s indignity!"

"Wanxiu..." Pei Zongli was also unwilling, but now that he had returned, he could not fail to consider the overall situation of Old Pei’s House.

Grandma Fang, however, thought that Pei Qin was genuinely astute, just like the Fang family’s granddaughter, and watched Qian Wanxiu sneer, "Pei Zongli had a legal wife, and you knew it when you married him yet refused to acknowledge you were a concubine! Now the legal wife is gone, and you, the concubine, wants to be the succeeding wife. You must be promoted from concubinage! What’s with the crying and complaining now, what are you pretending for!?"

"I am also a daughter of a wealthy family. If it weren’t for having no other choice, I would not have condescended to marry you. You... all of you... If the Pei family doesn’t acknowledge my status, then I shall leave! I’m leaving!" Qian Wanxiu wouldn’t stay, in this broken home, enduring the vulgar and base people like Lady Zhu, and even having to respect them. Now even a child born by a concubine like Jian Xiao was trying to trample her down, she would take her sons and leave!

"Wanxiu! Wanxiu, listen to me!" Pei Zongli chased after her.

Lady Zhu also hurriedly followed.

The stalemate continued.

Old Pei observed Pei Qin with penetrating eyes, trying to discern her intentions and whether she was preparing to play them again. But there were two consequences, each one difficult. One was for the Fang family to prevail, destroying the reputation of Old Pei’s House and ruining the eldest grandson’s future. The other was to humiliate Qian Wanxiu, maintaining the surface honor of Old Pei’s House. But if Qian Wanxiu was humiliated, how would they explain it to the Qian family? And if it became a thorn in her side, how could Old Pei’s House expect her branch to hold up? Both options were challenging!

Pei Qin didn’t look at him but turned to watch the outside, to see if Qian Wanxiu would really go. Pei Zongli had gone for the imperial examination, and for both local and provincial examinations, there was no need to run to Capital Jingcheng, which must surely be not far from Yuanyang County. He could have easily sent a message home, even if he feared being recognized and pursued by bandits, yet he had been without any communication all along, only returning today.

She was quite curious as to how Pei Zongli and Qian Wanxiu, who lived well with the Qian family, suddenly returned to face such a situation, and still took on the burden of supporting the impoverished Old Pei’s House, which needed significant investment. If they were fine when there was no news before, their brains couldn’t possibly be in their knees now. So why had they suddenly come back? Could they no longer stay with the Qian family? And so, they preferred to lose face like this and had to return!?

Watching Qian Wanxiu cry and instruct the maids and servants to pack up, intending to leave with her sons, while Pei Zongli alternated between coaxing, persuading, and begging, Pei Qin curled one corner of her mouth.

Pei Wenchen’s eyes were red as he grabbed Qian Wanxiu’s arm.

Pei Wensheng cried and turned his head, glaring angrily at Pei Qin, "It’s you, you shameless wretch, bullying my mother! I’ll kill you!" He charged over, intending to strike Pei Qin.

"Wensheng! My good grandson!" Lady Zhu’s face changed with fright as she quickly came over to chase after him. That shameless woman was a mad brawler! She kicked Er Lang with her foot, and Wensheng, with his delicate skin and tender flesh, how could he withstand her kicks!?

But it was already too late.

Pei Qin let out a cold laugh, and as Pei Wensheng charged at her, she grabbed him with both hands and lifted him up.

"Ahhhh..." Pei Wensheng screamed in fright, frantically flailing his arms and kicking his legs.