Qian Jinglan didn’t reach for the document. Instead, she asked, “What is this?”
“Don’t you have eyes? Look for yourself,” Qian Rong snapped, her tone dripping with disrespect, utterly disregarding Qian Jinglan as an elder.
Ye Qiu cast a cold glance at Qian Rong, picked up the file, and saw bold blackened words at the top: “Voluntary Waiver of Property Inheritance Commitment.”
A quick scan revealed its purpose, Qian Jinglan was to relinquish her inheritance rights to the Suzhou-Hangzhou Qian family estate.
“Mom, take a look.” He handed it to her.
After reading, Qian Jinglan felt a pang of sorrow.
She’d thought Cao Chunmei and Qian Rong came to see her, not for this ulterior motive.
“Sister-in-law, did you and Qian Rong come to Jiangzhou just to get me to sign this?” she asked.
Cao Chunmei smiled, “Not entirely. We mainly wanted to visit you.”
Heh, Ye Qiu smirked inwardly. A visit? Then why no gifts?
Even an uneducated person knew to bring fruit or a token when visiting relatives, especially from a prestigious Suzhou-Hangzhou family steeped in scholarly tradition.
Clearly, the “visit” was a ruse. Their true aim was this waiver.
Qian Jinglan said, “Sister-in-law, I won’t sign it.”
Cao Chunmei’s expression flickered, “Why not?”
“You’re not still coveting our family’s wealth, are you?” Qian Rong added.
Qian Jinglan replied evenly, “Over twenty years ago, Father expelled me from the family. I took Ye Qiu and fled to Jiangzhou. From that moment, I severed all ties with the Qian family.”
“So even without this waiver, I wouldn’t take a single brick or tile from them.”
“Sister-in-law, do you still think this document is necessary?”
Cao Chunmei insisted, “Of course it is!”
“Legally, you’re the old man’s flesh and blood, you have inheritance rights.”
“Only by signing this can you prove you’re voluntarily giving them up.”
Qian Jinglan pressed, “Whose idea was this?”
“Qian Jinglan, it’s better you don’t know,” Cao Chunmei said, a trace of discomfort on her face.
Qian Jinglan pushed further, “Yours? Big Brother’s? Or Father’s?”
“Qian Jinglan, stop asking.”
Before Cao Chunmei could finish, Qian Rong interjected, “Grandpa’s!”
Qian Jinglan’s face drained of color.
“To think, after all these years of being disowned, Father still plays this card. How heartless.”
Her heart turned to ice.
Betrayal from family stung far worse than any other wound.
She took a deep breath, “Fine, I’ll sign.”
Cao Chunmei and Qian Rong exchanged a glance, a smug glint of success in their eyes.
Ye Qiu noticed their expressions. Recalling Ji Qian Sui’s call, it clicked.
This waiver couldn’t be the old man’s doing!
If Qian Lao Ye Zi didn’t want her inheriting, a will would’ve sufficed, no need to send these two on a long trek to Jiangzhou for a signature.
Ye Qiu suspected the old man had already drafted a will, one unfavorable to Big Uncle’s family, prompting this desperate journey.
Should he tell Mom the old man was dying?
If he did, she’d see through their plot in an instant.
He wavered.
Ultimately, he held back.
“Better she doesn’t know.”
“Mom’s too kind. Despite being cast out, blood ties linger. Learning he’s near death would crush her.”
“This severs the Qian family for good.”
“As for wealth, do I need it?”
Ye Qiu cared little for their fortune. To him, money was just numbers now.
Qian Jinglan signed and pressed her thumbprint.
“Finally done,” Cao Chunmei sighed, relieved.
Qian Rong eagerly reached for the waiver.
But Ye Qiu slammed his hand down on it.
“Get your paw off,” Qian Rong snapped.
Ignoring her, Ye Qiu faced Cao Chunmei, “Aunt, Mom’s signed, but I’ve got one condition.”
Cao Chunmei, anticipating demands, pulled out a bank card with feigned warmth, “Qian Jinglan, your brother said that though the old man’s harsh, he hopes you and your son live well.”
“There’s fifty thousand here, password’s six zeros.”
“A small gesture from me and your brother. Please take it.”
Ye Qiu almost laughed. Fifty thousand? Beggars’ scraps.
These days, even five million wouldn’t impress him.
Qian Jinglan, unaware of the truth, felt moved, “Sister-in-law, Big Brother’s a professor, his pay isn’t high. I appreciate the sentiment, but keep the money. I don’t need it.”
Ye Qiu added, “Aunt Cao Chunmei, I’m not after cash. Mom and I are doing fine, we’re not strapped.”
“Then what do you want, Ye Qiu?”
“From now on, I want your Qian family to leave my mom alone.”
“That’s it?” Cao Chunmei seemed taken aback.
Ye Qiu nodded, “That’s all.”
“Fine.” Cao Chunmei agreed swiftly, thinking, “If not for the inheritance, I wouldn’t bother with you.”
Ye Qiu released the document.
Qian Rong snatched it, stuffing it into her bag.
“Sister-in-law, we won’t trouble you further. Goodbye,” Cao Chunmei said, heading out.
At the door, Qian Rong glanced back at Ye Qiu, her face oozing mockery. Her lips moved silently, forming two words.
Though voiceless, Ye Qiu read them: “Bastard.”
A cold glint flashed in his eyes.
“Hope you never come begging, or I’ll make you pay a hundred times over.”
