Ethan Yin smiled and asked, "Elders, may I ask, who set this rule for the Yin Family? Is it actually written in the clan regulations?"
Mrs. Florence hesitated, then said, "Not really, but for so many years, this has always been the way we've done things."
Grandpa Yin stroked his snowy white beard and said, "Florence is right. The Yin Family has hundreds of written rules, and just as many unwritten ones. That's how it's always been. There's no reason to change the rules just because of Cherry Miller."
Uncle Thomas said, "Is there really a need to ask? In matters like this, the minority obeys the majority."
Cecilia Gu was about to speak, but Ethan Yin shook his head at her, stopping her from saying anything.
Ethan Yin wanted to protect his own woman—there was no need for his mother to step in.
If a man can't even protect the woman he loves, then he doesn't deserve to be the heir.
"Let me ask a few more questions," Ethan Yin continued. "I remember reading in the family records that over three hundred years ago, the clan leader of the Yin Family married a princess who had divorced a prince. In that era, wouldn't a divorced and remarried princess also be considered a woman with a stain on her reputation by our clan? So why did no one object then?"
The three elders fell silent.
Ethan Yin pressed on, "No response, elders? Then I'll answer! Wasn't it because that divorced princess brought two thousand elite soldiers, drove off hundreds of bandits from Wo Yan Mountain, and rescued the clan leader from their lair? If not for that princess, the Yin Family might have been wiped out entirely!"
"Let me ask the three elders again. Over two hundred years ago, when the old Yin Family home was struck by a locust plague, the fields yielded nothing and people starved everywhere. The Yin Family was besieged by refugees, unable to escape. At that time, when the Yin Family opened their granaries, others grew covetous. Rumors spread that the Yin Family was hiding large stores of grain, inciting the refugees to attack. The family sent people everywhere for help, but the city blocked all messages. In that crisis, a concubine who had been redeemed from the Green Pavilion volunteered to leave the city and deliver a message. Thanks to her bravery, the Yin Family found outside help and resolved the crisis. Afterwards, the clan leader rewarded her by making her the Lady of the House. So tell me, elders, if a woman from the Green Pavilion could become the family matron, why did no one object then?" Ethan Yin pressed.
"Uh..." The three elders looked at each other, lost for words.
"So in the eyes of the elders, Cherry Miller, who grew up pure and innocent, is still less worthy than a woman from the Green Pavilion?" Ethan Yin continued to press.
"That's not the same thing."
"Of course it's not the same thing. What I'm saying is, times change. Back then, the Yin Family accepted a divorced princess and a redeemed woman from the Green Pavilion. So why can't we accept Cherry Miller, who was innocently implicated? The Yin Family has always stood for protecting the weak and upholding justice—when did we start bullying the vulnerable just to show off our rules?" Ethan Yin stared intently at the three elders as he spoke.
"Ethan, is that really the same? There's no war now, no refugees, no bandits," Mrs. Florence said.
"Exactly! So you just eat from our bowls and then curse us when you're done?" Ethan Yin was getting heated, his words growing blunt.
"Ethan!" Cecilia Gu interrupted Ethan Yin, turning to the three elders and saying, "I'm sorry, Ethan is still young and speaks his mind..."
"Mom, did I say anything wrong? Ask these three elders—everything they eat, drink, wear, use, and live in is provided by our main family branch. They spend our money, yet want to drive my fiancée away. How does that make sense?" Ethan Yin snorted. "Anyone with eyes can see what Cherry has done for the Yin Family over the years. She’s earned us so much money, and still can’t get a single word of respect from you?"
Cherry Miller, hiding in the shadows, was moved to tears.
Her man really had never let her down.
Ethan Yin's words made the three elders' faces turn very ugly.
"Ethan, what do you mean by that? Are you complaining that we spend your money? Don't forget, these are rules set by our ancestors. The Yin Family does not split. Whether direct branch or collateral, we are all Yin Family." Grandpa Yin slammed the table. "Even if we spend your money, it's because our ancestors contributed to defending the Yin Family!"
"That's right, Ethan. How can you say that? We're all doing this for the good of the Yin Family!"
"Ethan, you're still young. I understand that you're angry for a woman. But a clan is a clan—there must be rules."
"Rules?" Ethan Yin laughed lightly. "I hate it when people try to use rules to oppress me. History is written by the victors, and I work hard for the family business, only to be held back by rules? Fine, if it's all about rules, then I, Ethan Yin, representing my parents' branch, will leave the Yin clan. After all, Yin Enterprises was founded by my great-grandfather, who had only one son—my grandfather—who had only one son—my father—and my father only has me and Yina. Our branch will split from the clan!"
As soon as Ethan Yin finished speaking, several voices rose in the room at once.
"No way!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Impossible!"
"Absolutely not!"
"Think carefully!"
Cherry Miller couldn't hold back anymore. She rushed out from the corner, stood before Ethan Yin, tears streaming down her face. "Ethan, don't say things like that. I can't let you do this."
"Cherry, you're here." Ethan Yin reached out and pulled Cherry Miller behind him, then turned to the elders and continued, "I admit, when my great-grandfather founded Yin Enterprises, the other branches of the family helped a lot. But Yin Enterprises has repaid the collateral branches for over a hundred years! Those who squandered their wealth still rely on Yin Enterprises to survive. Every year, I arrange jobs for the family—at least eighty or a hundred positions, right? Our branch works hard to support you all, and now all we get is resentment?"
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Cecilia Gu stood up and said, "Elders, Ethan's words may be harsh, but he's not wrong. On a larger scale, it's a clan issue. On a smaller scale, it's our family business."
Cecilia Gu's unwavering support left Cherry Miller so moved she was speechless.
"Grandniece-in-law, you are the matron of the Yin Family. You need to think carefully about what you say." Grandpa Yin's tone grew heavier. "You must consider the bigger picture."
Grandpa Yin wouldn't dare say that the clan could abolish the clan chief's order and appoint someone else.
After all, Ethan Yin had just said that if pushed, he would represent his great-grandfather's branch and leave the Yin clan.
They couldn't let Ethan Yin really go through with it!
If the clan lost Yin Enterprises, the Yin Family would be nothing but an empty shell.
How could they continue to enjoy all the privileges of being part of the Yin Family without it?
At that moment, Mrs. Miller (Housekeeper) walked in from outside and said, "What the three elders care about most is my past stains. I've already reported this to Madam, and I have officially resigned as Head Housekeeper. Also—"
Mrs. Miller looked at Cherry Miller, pain in her eyes and her rims wet, as if she'd made a huge decision.
"Furthermore, I will issue a public statement severing my mother-daughter relationship with Cherry Miller." Mrs. Miller spoke slowly. "Without my burden, Cherry Miller is a good, clean child. She deserves the title of Lady of the House of the Yin Family!"
"Mom!" Cherry Miller's eyes widened instantly at those words. "I don't agree!"
Sever the mother-daughter bond?
That's impossible!
Cherry Miller had never been a parasite feeding off her family!
If she could abandon her own mother, would she still be human?
"I don't agree either," Cecilia Gu spoke up, her brows furrowing and her tone sharp. "It seems the three elders don't care for my opinion. In that case, let Charles make the decision. He's the head of the family now—surely you'll listen to him?"
Ethan Yin said, "I already spoke to my father on the phone before I came. He supports my decision."
In other words, if the three elders insisted on driving Cherry Miller and Mrs. Miller out, Ethan Yin would take his whole family and leave the clan to start anew!
The elders' expressions changed instantly—they looked truly displeased.
They exchanged glances and quickly changed their tune: "We're only thinking of the family's interests, not trying to be ruthless. How about this—Cherry Miller can stay, but Mrs. Miller cannot!"
Cherry Miller answered firmly, "As long as my mother stays, I stay. If she leaves, I won't remain either. I will never abandon my mother to enjoy a life of luxury alone!"
Mrs. Miller glared at Cherry Miller. "This isn't your place to speak!"
Though she said that, Mrs. Miller's eyes reddened again.
She had not raised her daughter in vain.
Cherry Miller stepped forward and said, "Ethan, listen to me. Don't act out of anger for my sake. The clan is important to the Yin family, and the Yin family matters to the clan. You mentioned Lady He Li and the woman from Qing'a House—they both made great sacrifices for the Yin family, so the past has been forgiven. Give me a chance, and I'll prove myself too. I'll earn the right for my mother and me to stand tall in the Yin family. I can do it!"
"Cherry!" Cecilia Gu and Ethan Yin called out at the same time.
"Mrs. Gu, Ethan, please trust me!" Cherry Miller said firmly. "I'm sorry for what happened, but I can't change the past. The only thing I can change is myself. I'll prove to everyone that my mother and I deserve a place in the Yin family!"