HBWMA -Chapter 9 Father–Daughter Dispute

That utterly lawless, profligate wretch!

Shen Zhuang only felt a headache coming on. “How old are you already? Why are you still talking like a child? Your matter with Jiaming isn’t just between the two of you. It also involves the Shen family and the Fu family. Besides, if you divorce, what happens to Sui’er?”

At the mention of her daughter, Shen Jiao’s eyes grew even more resolute. “Sui’er is my daughter. Of course she follows me!”

Shen Zhuang tapped lightly on the purple sandalwood tea table with his fingertips. “That’s even more ridiculous. What kind of family do you think the Fu family is? Do you think they’ll agree to let you take Sui’er away?”

Shen Jiao fell silent for a moment, then looked up at the old man. “No matter how powerful they are, they’re not more powerful than you. Dad, please help me take Sui’er back.”

“…”
The old man shot her an angry glare. “Sui’er’s surname is Fu. By relation, I’m only her maternal grandfather. Not even as close as her paternal grandfather. If I go and snatch the child for you, what will people say about me outside?”

Shen Jiao’s eyes turned. “As long as you’re willing, I’ll change Sui’er’s surname to Shen tomorrow. Besides, do you even care what people say? Whoever dares to talk nonsense, just throw them into Nan Shui Bay to feed the fish. Let’s see who still dares to speak!”

The old man almost raised his cane to hit her. “You unfilial thing!”

Shen Jiao was only speaking in anger. Seeing the old man furious, she immediately softened her tone and acted pitiful.

“Dad! Sui’er is my life. Please help me! There isn’t a single good person in the Fu family. I can’t leave her there. I’ve never begged you for anything in my life—just this once, please help me, okay, Dad?”

The old man rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Nonsense. Out of all the children in the family, you’re the only one with endless demands. Since childhood you’ve always been asking for things—when have you ever not gotten your way?”

Shen Jiao refused to give up. “Dad!”

The old man let out a long sigh. “Youngest girl, tell me honestly—why do you insist on divorcing Jiaming? This marriage was something you once forced us into, even to the point of threatening your life. Now you want to end it just like that? As your father, I still say the same thing: Sui’er is still young. You’re already a mother—you can’t be so willful.”

Shen Jiao froze slightly, her expression stiffening.

The old man saw through everything. “Is it because Jiaming has someone outside?”

Shen Jiao’s eyes moved slightly, but she didn’t answer.

Seeing her silence, the old man spoke calmly, “This isn’t something too serious. I can step in and give him a warning. Even if Fu Jiaming is foolish, there are still elders above him—they won’t refuse to give me face for something like this.”

Seeing that she still wouldn’t respond, Shen Zhuang continued patiently, “Listen to your father. Go back and talk properly.”

“Talk? Talk about what?” Shen Jiao suddenly flared up, her tone sharp. “Dad, call me unfilial or heartless if you want, but I will divorce Fu Jiaming. No one can change my mind!”

The old man, seeing she refused to listen, also grew angry. He slammed his dragon-headed cane heavily on the ground. “Say that again!”

Shen Zhi had been waiting outside the courtyard. Hearing the commotion, he rushed in and grabbed Shen Jiao. “Miss, please speak calmly.”

Shen Jiao shoved him away, her eyes red. “How am I supposed to speak calmly? Dad, you don’t understand me at all! You can be so indifferent after hearing Fu Jiaming keeping women outside? Yes, to you this is nothing. That’s why you could even adopt the granddaughter of a mistress!”

“Miss!” Shen Zhi’s expression changed drastically as he raised his voice, ignoring etiquette.

The old man’s face darkened completely as he stared at Shen Jiao in disbelief.

But Shen Jiao was already overwhelmed with anger and grievance. In her husband’s family, she was wronged and had no one to stand up for her. Even her precious daughter was bullied by an outsider. One thing after another crushed her until she could barely breathe.

“Dad, Fu Jiaming has money and power—what about me? Do I not have anything? Since childhood I watched how Mom was worn down in the Shen residence. I don’t want to live like her. Is that wrong?”

The moment those words left her mouth, Shen Jiao realized she had gone too far. But it was too late to take them back.

Shen Zhuang, enraged, closed his eyes and nearly collapsed into his chair.

“Dad…”

Shen Jiao rushed forward to support him, but he shoved her away forcefully.

“Get out! Get out!”

The conversation ended in anger and chaos.

When Shen Jiao left Qinyuan, her face was extremely pale.

“Miss.” Shen Zhi escorted her to the end of the corridor bridge.

Shen Jiao forced herself to smile faintly. “Steward Shen, please take care of Father.”

Shen Zhi had watched her grow up. He knew she was spoiled in temperament but not malicious, so his tone softened.

“Miss, the old master is just angry right now. After a couple of days, he’ll calm down. You can come visit him again then.”

Shen Jiao nodded. “I understand. Sui’er should be awake now. I’ll go see her.”

Shen Zhi nodded.

Just as Shen Jiao turned to leave, he suddenly thought of something and called out again.

“Miss.”

She paused and turned back. “Anything else?”

Shen Zhi hesitated, then said seriously, “Miss, Miss Jiang’s grandmother was not the old master’s lover.”

Shen Jiao froze, clearly not expecting him to bring this up.

Shen Zhi continued solemnly, “Others may not understand, but you should. What kind of person the old master is—you know it best. He still remembers old kindness for a reason. Some things, even if you’re angry, shouldn’t be said again. They must not be said.”

With that, Shen Zhi nodded slightly and turned back into Qinyuan, leaving Shen Jiao standing alone in place, lost in thought.