Chapter 326
Chapter 326
We gathered in Elder Song’s study.
Uncle Song was there, as was Mrs. Song.
Many guests had come today, yet every member of the host family was inside the study, waiting for Meng Yifan to bring Song Xiaotian over. That alone showed how seriously they regarded the matter.
Uncle Song was already holding his belt. If the old man had not reminded him that they had many guests today and should preserve some of Song Xiaotian’s dignity, Song Xiaotian would have been chased all over the house by now.
Before long, Meng Yifan returned.
When he entered, I expected Song Xiaotian to follow. Instead, Seventh Master walked in.
Song Xiaotian hid behind him, looking thoroughly furtive.
When Seventh Master saw the gathering in the room, he knew this was a family matter and could hardly serve as Song Xiaotian’s shield. He pulled Song Xiaotian out, patted him on the shoulder, and said, “Think carefully before you answer. Otherwise, a hundred people are going to watch you get thrashed today.”
With that, Seventh Master walked over and sat beside Meng Yifan and me.
Song Xiaotian stood there, hardly daring to breathe. I could see his legs trembling.
Uncle Song glared at him with a livid face and barked, “Stand straight!”
Song Xiaotian jolted and immediately snapped to attention like a soldier.
For all his fearlessness, he was terrified of his father. He must have been beaten often as a child.
“Xiaotian, I hear you’ve found a girlfriend.”
Elder Song smiled. “Why didn’t you tell the family? Today is your grandfather’s birthday. Why didn’t you bring her home and let me meet her?”
Song Xiaotian lowered his head guiltily. “She… she’s been married before, and she’s two years older than me.”
“And? Why did you get involved with her, get her pregnant, and then decide to break up with her?” Elder Song’s smile vanished in an instant, replaced by an imposing authority that required no anger.
Although he did not look furious, Meng Yifan and I could feel the invisible pressure in the room.
Song Xiaotian stared at us with wide eyes, as though demanding to know why we had revealed the pregnancy.
I did not dare look at him. Neither did Meng Yifan.
“Why aren’t you speaking? Is your guilty conscience getting to you? Do you know you’re in the wrong?”
Elder Song’s tone turned cold. “If you know you’re wrong, why didn’t you correct your behavior instead of waiting for us to find out? You’re twenty-nine this year, not nineteen or nine. Do you not possess the most basic sense of responsibility and accountability a man should have?”
Elder Song’s rebuke made Song Xiaotian jolt again.
He stood there staring at the floor, too frightened to speak, much less argue.
“How did we teach you when you were young? We didn’t impose overly harsh demands on you. We let you develop as your own person because we hoped you would become confident and responsible, not so you could believe yourself superior to everyone else and look down on them!”
“If you couldn’t accept that she had been married before, you should never have gotten involved with her. You pursued her, then despised her for her past. Now the young woman is pregnant, and you want to pretend none of it happened. Aren’t you ashamed?”
“I’m ashamed on your behalf! It’s disgraceful! If word got out, the whole world would laugh at you!”
The more Elder Song spoke, the more agitated he became. Perhaps he was too old to resort to violence. Had he been ten years younger, he would probably have rushed over and struck Song Xiaotian.
But Song Xiaotian’s temper flared too. He stubbornly argued, “Grandfather, what era are we living in? She pursued me first. I rejected her. I simply don’t like her. You can’t force me, can you?”
“What era? You tell me what era it is!” Uncle Song slammed the table and leaped to his feet, making both Meng Yifan and me jump.
“No matter the era, a person must have propriety and a sense of shame! If you hadn’t encouraged her, why would she pursue you? Could she force you if you refused? And you’re still arguing!”
“You wanted the pleasure while pretending to be virtuous. Then you wiped your mouth and denied everything after you got what you wanted. Now that there’s a problem, you refuse to take responsibility. Have you no shame?”
Driven to the brink by the scolding, Song Xiaotian clasped his hands behind his back and turned his head away. “I’m not marrying her, no matter what. If you’re so willing, you go marry her.”
He had clearly said it in a fit of pique.
But Uncle Song could not tolerate it. He exploded on the spot. “I’m going to beat you to death today!”
Mrs. Song hurriedly pulled him back and glared at him. “There are so many guests here today. How terrible would it look if they saw?”
Elder Song let out a long sigh. Seeing that no argument could get through to Song Xiaotian, he said, “You’re grown now. You have your own opinions and no longer need to listen to your elders. Very well. Do as you please. Marry whomever you want.”
“But the Song Family has no place for someone like you. From now on, do not come back to this house.”
Song Xiaotian’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Wait, Grandfather. Are you serious?”
Elder Song nodded. “You should stop using the surname Song as well. Otherwise, people might think you are part of our family.”
Song Xiaotian stammered, “If my surname isn’t Song, then… then… what surname am I supposed to use?”
Elder Song replied, “Use whatever surname you like. You can even take Old Wang’s surname from next door.”
From the look of things, they really intended to throw Song Xiaotian out of the family.
People said grandparents doted on their grandchildren most of all, and I knew that feeling well.
But now, even his grandfather was driving him out. This…
“Mom! Look at them! Just look at them!”
Song Xiaotian hurriedly appealed to Mrs. Song. His eyes had gone red. “I’m already an adult, and they’re still treating me like this! I’m your son, flesh from your own body. If they drive me out, they’re driving you out too! We should leave together!”
Mrs. Song looked at him and fell silent for several seconds. Then she said, “Xiaotian, your father and I still have a happy, intact marriage. If I left and went back to my parents, I would be too ashamed to face anyone. People would laugh at me.”
“You may be my only son, but if I lose a son, I can always have another. Your father and I will never separate. We’ve discussed it and decided to have another child, so you can leave without worrying about us.”
Song Xiaotian froze, his heart likely shattered into pieces.
Realizing even his mother was no help, he stood in a daze for a long time. Then he suddenly put on a flattering smile. “Grandfather, today is your birthday. Let’s not discuss this now. Can we talk about it tomorrow?”
Elder Song said indifferently, “I invited only friends and relatives into my home for my birthday. I am not receiving outsiders. Since you no longer have any connection to the Song Family, please leave.”
Song Xiaotian fell silent.
He scratched his head, stamped his feet, and nearly went mad with anxiety. “What are you doing? Why are you all ganging up on me? Do I have no standing in this family at all?”
Elder Song waved a hand. “Chen Mo, Xiao Meng, please escort our guest out. The banquet will begin soon.”
Meng Yifan and I had no choice but to rise and walk over, intending to take Song Xiaotian away for the moment.
“What are you doing? What are you two doing?”
“Are you still my brothers?”
“This is my house! Is there no justice here? Is there no law?”
Song Xiaotian kept shouting.
But the old man had already taken such an absolute position. The only way out was for Song Xiaotian to agree to marry Pan Xiaorou.
Besides, we were his juniors and had no choice but to obey. All we could do was drag Song Xiaotian outside.