0p0 Chapter 155 Testing the Waters 12!
Chapter 155 Testing the Waters 12!
The three of them remained silent, but a hint of joy flickered in their eyes. It seemed that Liu Tingting had realized that it was impossible for her to rely on Liu Haiye to take care of her and her brother in this lifetime! They would have to rely on themselves!
"Good child, get up." Mu Chang'an smiled. "I've already thought of this! I won't hide it from you, your uncle has already had the house deed and land deed transferred to your brother's name. In addition, I have specially prepared a document stating that this house is a gift from me to my nephew Liu Zhuangzhuang. In the future, even if someone wants to take this house away, they will have to ask the government for permission and whether Zhuangzhuang will agree."
Upon hearing this, Liu Tingting immediately stopped crying and started kowtowing repeatedly, saying, "Thank you, Uncle! Thank you, Uncle!"
The next day, Liu Haiye was indeed invited over. He looked much thinner, clearly worried about money.
Mu Chang'an didn't waste any words with him and made his meaning clear: he could help him buy the house, but his condition was still Liu Tingting's marriage.
Liu Haiye didn't want to agree! He was truly unwilling! It was clearly his daughter, so why couldn't he decide her marriage?
But seeing Mu Chang'an's relaxed expression, he knew he had no other choice. The master had said that if they couldn't get the money by tomorrow at the latest, they would have to leave. Where was he supposed to move this whole family?
Actually, the reason why Liu Haiye obediently jumped into the trap that Mu Chang'an had set up was because he was too proud and too greedy!
If he were to vacate his house and move to a smaller, more secluded residence, that would be perfectly fine! But Liu Haiye couldn't bring himself to do it! He felt that he was, after all, the brother-in-law of a high-ranking official; he couldn't be so shabby!
As for greed, it was nothing more than noticing that Mu Changchun never left the Mu residence empty-handed whenever he visited, so he devised a plan to have Mu Changchun come back to borrow money. As for whether he would repay it in the end, that would be dealt with later.
He hadn't expected that this time, Mu Changchun not only failed to borrow the money, but his complexion also changed drastically after he returned home! He seemed somewhat drowsy and absent-minded.
Liu Haiye thought about it. Aunt Liu was already heavily pregnant. If she moved around too much, it might upset the baby. Wouldn't that be a loss? Then he thought, it's just a daughter. Even if the Mu family decided on the marriage, he wouldn't be willing to sell her to them!
He just couldn't swallow his anger!
However, no matter how ambitious one is, one has to face reality! In the end, Liu Haiye agreed to the conditions proposed by Mu Chang'an and signed and sealed the document immediately.
Seeing his attitude, Mu Chang'an finally breathed a sigh of relief, and thus, the matter was half settled.
Mu Chang'an told Liu Haiye to go back and wait for news, while he would personally go to talk to the master and see how much silver was appropriate.
Liu Haiye didn't think much of it, figuring that as long as his brother-in-law was involved, he certainly wouldn't actually ask for five thousand taels of silver. He couldn't help but lament his bad luck and unsuccessful career!
Originally, he was thinking of taking the opportunity to bring up the matter of getting him into the Ministry of Works, but when he saw that Mu Chang'an had given him the order to leave, and that the servants outside kept coming to report that some officials from some family or mansion had come to visit, and that some master had sent a letter, etc.
Seeing this, how could Liu Haiye possibly have the face to bring it up again?
Only after Liu Haiye left did Mu Chang'an raise his head from the desk, looking at the still gently swaying curtain, remaining silent for a long time.
"Hey! Did you all hear that? Come out."
Three young men emerged from the inner room of the study: Mu Qingxuan, Mu Qingyuan, and Liu Zhuangzhuang.
"Did all three of you hear that clearly? Do you have any thoughts?"
Mu Qingxuan glanced at his cousin beside him and said expressionlessly, "Father, I believe that people like my uncle are not to be befriended."
"Oh? Why?" Mu Chang'an raised an eyebrow and asked with a playful tone.
"Father, I heard you clearly. From the moment my uncle entered this study, he didn't mention my grandparents at all, not even a single word of greeting. This is unfilial. Knowing that his two children live in the Mu residence, he didn't mention them either, let alone go to visit them. This shows a lack of care for the young. In the eyes and hearts of such a person, there are no elders, no young children. I'm afraid there is no one else but himself! Therefore, I believe that people like him should not be befriended."
Mu Chang'an nodded, those words were all spot on!
"Ah Yuan, what do you think?"
"Father, I agree with my elder brother's opinion. Such a person is not only unworthy of being associated with, but he is simply unworthy of being a father!" Mu Qingyuan, perhaps because of his young age, could not completely control his emotions and was slightly agitated.
Mu Chang'an's eyes darkened slightly, and he nodded again before looking at Liu Zhuangzhuang, who seemed to still be in a daze.
What does Zhuangzhuang think?
Liu Zhuangzhuang's eyes flickered, and he came back to his senses. However, no matter how you looked at it, there was a hint of anger and shame in his eyes!
"Uncle, Zhuangzhuang agrees with my elder brothers. However, he is, after all, my father, so..." Liu Zhuangzhuang stopped mid-sentence, perhaps because of sadness, and lowered his head in silence. A short while later, his sobs could be heard.
She was still too young. She had been hoping that her father would ask about her well-being after finishing his business, but she didn't even hear her own name from his mouth. How could she not be heartbroken?
"Alright, Zhuangzhuang, it was my fault for not thinking things through today. I only meant to broaden your horizons, but it ended up hurting you instead. Forget it, it's all my fault today. Don't cry anymore."
Liu Zhuangzhuang cried and shook his head violently, "No! It's not Uncle's fault! It's him! I know he doesn't care about me and my sister at all! Actually, I've known for a long time, but I've always held onto a sliver of hope for him! Now, I should thank Uncle, because he made me see clearly what kind of person he really is! He doesn't love me and my sister, he doesn't care about us! Uncle!"
Liu Zhuangzhuang cried and threw himself into Mu Chang'an's arms, sobbing uncontrollably, clearly heartbroken.
Mu Chang'an gently patted his back, "Good child, don't cry! You still have me, everyone in the Mu family is your family. Be good, don't cry."
Only after Mu Qingxuan led Liu Zhuangzhuang, whose crying had gradually subsided, out did Mu Chang'an sigh softly, put his hands behind his back, turn around and glance at the double-layered screen not far behind him, and say, "Anuan, come out."