Originally, Old Su, who was angrily scolding Su Sanyun, was dumbfounded when he heard that Sanyun actually wanted to sever ties with the family.
Next to him, Su Daqi was the first to panic, pulling Old Su and saying, "Father, this can't be!"
Apart from the branches kicked out—Su Li's and the fourth son's—Su Sanyun's branch was the most hardworking and money-earning, once the main labor force and economic source of the family.
If Su Sanyun also left the Su family, who would they leech off then?
Old Su was now panicking too. He had originally planned to force Su Sanyun to return home and fulfill his filial duties, just like before, serving the family tirelessly. But how did it turn into Su Sanyun wanting to sever ties?!
"Sanyun, what are you talking about? I'm your father, and your mother is here too. How can you disown us?" Old Su softened instantly, his tone no longer harsh.
But Su Sanyun was resolute, saying, "Father, mother, elder brother, you all know very well what wicked things you've done! You sold my daughter Lan Xiang, causing suffering to our branch. If not for Lan Xiang's strong fate, who knows where she'd be suffering now! I dare not accept such heartless relatives!"
As Su Sanyun spoke, he looked down at the table full of delicious meat the Su family was greedily eating, smiling bitterly and sarcastically, "This meat on the table was bought with the money from selling Lan Xiang, right!? And you still have the heart to eat!"
Su Sanyun grabbed the plate of braised pork knuckles and slammed it hard onto the ground. "I want you to eat, so eat!"
"Oh no, don't smash it! That was bought with silver!" Old Su watched helplessly as the big plate of pork was ruined, heartbroken, and hurriedly rushed to stop him.
But just as he reached out halfway, a hand grabbed him, and suddenly, a strong force enveloped his whole body. Old Su found himself unable to move even an inch!
Turning his head, he saw Su Li had arrived, with Yuanbao holding Old Su's hand.
Su Li sneered coldly at Old Su's concern for the pork: "Grandfather, in your heart, Lan Xiang is not as important as a plate of pork, right? You don't care that Lan Xiang was sold and beaten, but if this pork is smashed, you suffer terribly, right?"
Old Su opened his mouth to speak but found, for some reason, he couldn't utter a word.
Su Sanyun stared at Old Su and kicked the dining table over. The dishes on the table spilled all over the ground, and the Su family watched with hearts breaking!
"I want you to eat, eating meat bought by selling my daughter! Eat!" Su Sanyun stomped on the meat scattered on the ground, smashing it to pieces.
Old Su twitched in pain at the sight of the meat, and Su Daqi wanted to tear Su Sanyun apart but saw Yuanbao nearby and backed down.
At this moment, the crowd parted to let the village chief in.
The village chief, upon seeing Old Su, furrowed his brows angrily and pointed at him, scolding, "You wicked old man, selling your own granddaughter! Our Haizi Village may be poor, but we have integrity. No matter how poor, we would never sell our children, nor kidnap others' children to sell! If this shameful act spreads, our entire village will lose face, and people will point fingers, calling us human traffickers and kidnappers!"
The village chief was respected and influential. Even Old Su dared not retort when he spoke.
Su Sanyun said to the village chief, "Chief, you probably know what they've done. Since you're here, I ask you to make a ruling today: I want to sever ties with the Su family. From now on, I cut all ties! Such terrifying so-called 'relatives' make me uneasy even at night."