Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 275 Methods to Resolve Evil Qi
Minglan was unaware of the secrets involved, but Sheng Changquan had a vague idea of ​​what was going on.

"Our family?"

Minglan frowned, somewhat not understanding the meaning behind Sheng Changquan's words.

"Brother, what do you want to say?"

"How could my uncle and the others be waiting for our family to step in?"

Minglan wasn't unaware of the literal meaning behind Sheng Changquan's words; rather, she simply couldn't comprehend it.

Minglan didn't believe that Shengwei's family couldn't rescue Shulan if they really wanted to; the only difference was the price they would have to pay.

As Shulan's relatives, could her parents, Shengwei and Li, really just stand by and watch their daughter suffer without doing anything?

Of course, saying they are indifferent might be a bit of an exaggeration, but if they refrain from taking action because of considerations, it is certainly disheartening!
"Cough cough!"

Feeling somewhat embarrassed by Minglan's blunt words, Sheng Changquan quickly coughed a few times to calm himself down before slowly explaining.

"Sister, you're thinking about it the wrong way!"

Sheng Changquan shook his head, indicating his disagreement.

"Ok?"

"Sister, think about it!"

"It's not that Uncle Shengwei and the others didn't try, it's just that their identities made it difficult for them to act!"

After listening to what Minglan had said, Sheng Changquan also guessed at some of the reasons behind it.

"Sister, didn't you say that Uncle and the others have been giving a lot of money and shops to the Sun family over the past few years?"

"I reckon that's their method!"

Seeing Minglan nod, Sheng Changquan shook his head slightly and said helplessly, "Uncle and the others are hoping that they can feed the Sun family, then make the Sun mother and son have a change of heart, and finally treat Sister Shulan kindly!"

"Perhaps, my uncle and the others still have hope for Sun Xiucai, thinking that he can achieve something in his future studies and official career, and then help the Sheng family."

"Of course, they might also hope that Sister Shulan can give birth to a son or daughter for the Sun family in the future, so that the Sun family will value her and treat her well!"

Sheng Changquan shook his head and rejected their idea, saying, "However, I think it's probably unlikely!"

"Ah!"

Minglan sneered, "Of course that's possible!"

"Didn't I already tell you? Madam Sun Huang wouldn't let Sister Shulan sleep in Scholar Sun's room at all, so how could they possibly have a child?"

"If Sister Shulan really has a child, that would be good, who knows..."

"Sister!"

Sheng Changquan glared at Minglan and immediately interrupted her.

"Sister, do you know what you're saying?"

Sheng Changquan felt somewhat helpless. After all, some things are really hard to say in this world. Otherwise, it would be harmful to both himself and others, implicating Sister Shulan and dragging her into it as well.

"Yes! Brother, I understand!"

Minglan realized she had spoken out of turn, so she quickly exclaimed in surprise and changed the subject.

"However, little brother!"

"Is this all Sister Shulan is destined to do in her life?"

Minglan opened her small mouth, seemingly venting her anger, and said through gritted teeth, "And then, Sister Shulan will be tormented by the Sun family mother and son for the rest of her life?"

"Will I end up living this tragic life in a daze?"

The thought of that scene sent a chill down Minglan's spine, and fear appeared on her face.

"Uh... I don't think so..."

Sheng Changquan extended his right index finger and tapped it lightly on the table, arguing softly, "Sister, I told you this might be Uncle's idea?"

"But that's not what I meant..."

"Humph!"

Minglan rolled her eyes at her younger brother, remaining noncommittal.

"Brother!"

Perhaps because she thought of her own experiences, Minglan felt even more empathetic.

"Even if what you say is true, the fact that my uncle and the others could sit idly by and watch Sister Shulan live that kind of life means they are definitely not good people!"

Minglan glared at Sheng Changquan and expressed her opinion: "It is commonly said that 'parents who love their children plan far ahead for them'!"

"But when I look around the world, there are always things that don't conform to this!"

"Can't there be more harmony and less calculation between parents and children?"

Minglan huddled in her chair, looking sad.

"Huh? Sister, don't overthink it!"

Seeing this, Sheng Changquan quickly continued to encourage him: "Actually, I think there's another problem here!"

"what is the problem?"

Minglan turned her head and looked on with surprise.

At the same time, a faint hope rose in her heart, hoping that Sheng Changquan could give a perfect explanation—that the Sheng couple were not heartless, but had other reasons.

As expected, Sheng Changquan provided an explanation.

"Actually, I think there's another reason why my uncle and the others don't dare to let Sister Shulan get a divorce directly, and that's because of Sister Pinlan and the others."

Shulan and Pinlan are both girls from the eldest branch of the Sheng family.

Speaking of which, Uncle Sheng Wei has two daughters and two sons: eldest daughter Sheng Shulan, second son Sheng Changsong, third son Sheng Changwu, and fourth daughter Sheng Pinlan.

The eldest daughter and second son are already married, but the remaining three sons and four daughters are not yet married.

Therefore, Sheng Changquan speculated that the reason why Sheng Wei and his wife dared not let Shulan divorce directly was because of the two remaining children.

Sheng Changwu is alright; after all, he is a man. Even if Shulan divorces him, it won't have much to do with him. At most, it will only affect his reputation a little.

But Pinlan is different!
As Shulan's own sister, if her sister Shulan's marriage is unhappy, then outsiders will definitely view her sister in the same way, regarding her as an omen of misfortune!

Even if these people know that the reason lies with Sun Zhigao, they will still adhere to the principle that "it takes two to tango" and blame it on the Sheng family's daughter.

So, what should be done?

"So, my aunt and the others had no choice!"

Sheng Changquan looked at Minglan and spoke up for them: "They are both my children, how can they impose Sister Shulan's fate on Sister Pinlan?"

Upon hearing this, Minglan remained silent for a long time.

At this moment, her heart was also filled with turmoil.

After a long pause, Minglan finally spoke with difficulty, asking, "Then... younger brother!"

"Sister Shulan... just..."

"...Is it just a matter of being trapped in the Sun family for the rest of my life, working like a slave for the Sun mother and son?"

Minglan said somewhat unwillingly, "Brother, you have no idea just how outrageous Sun Zhigao is!"

Because of her disgust, Minglan simply stopped calling him Sun Xiucai, fearing that someone like him would tarnish the title of "Xiucai" (scholar).

"what happened?"

Sheng Changquan mentally went over the whole story, but his fingers unconsciously tapped the table lightly as he said, "Could it be that the Sun family did something even more despicable?"

"Yes!"

A look of disgust flashed in Minglan's eyes!
"Brother, you don't know!"

"Just recently, Sun Zhigao actually brought a courtesan home, and even used the excuse that Sister Shulan couldn't have children to force her to accept that...brothel girl!" "He wanted...he wanted Sister Shulan and this courtesan to call each other sisters!"

"Oh?"

Sheng Changquan raised his eyebrows and suddenly exuded a strong sense of oppression!

Although this aura was intangible and subjective, it undeniably appeared in the room, making Minglan feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"The Sun family has some nerve!"

"How dare you elevate a courtesan to the same status as a young lady of the Sheng family?"

"It seems he's not only trying to embarrass my uncle's family, but also trying to undermine my second branch of the family!"

Sheng Changquan sat up straight, stopping his constant tapping, a cold glint in his eyes!
"Brother...you!"

At that moment, Minglan felt as if she couldn't breathe for a second because of the imposing aura emanating from Sheng Changquan.

That feeling was like being in a forest and being targeted by some ferocious beast—it was extremely terrifying!
"Ah? Sister!"

Reminded by Minglan's exclamation, Sheng Changquan belatedly realized that he had to restrain his aura and return to his harmless appearance.

"Ha ha……"

Seeing Minglan's flushed face, Sheng Changquan chuckled awkwardly for a moment before cautiously looking at her and asking guiltily, "Sister, are you alright?"

"Just now... just now..."

"I was just stretching my body and circulating my internal energy. Are you alright?"

"Internal energy?"

Minglan didn't speak, but glanced at her younger brother silently, her expression complex.

She had heard of martial artists having internal strength, but as far as she knew, this internal strength was nothing more than a technique for generating power in the human body, and it required contact with a person to be effective.

No one in this world can project their internal energy outside their body!

To be able to project internal energy into the outside world from mid-air would require a divine skill like those described in folk tales, so Minglan didn't quite believe Sheng Changquan's words.

However, the reason for Minglan's complicated expression was that she suspected that Sheng Changquan's aura just now was not internal energy, but rather a murderous aura.

She had heard people say that old soldiers who had been on the battlefield and killed people possessed a kind of malevolent aura that could affect the outside world, making people feel as if they were in deep water.

Suppressive and chilling!

Just as she had sensed earlier.

Therefore, Minglan began to suspect in her heart that Sheng Changquan had been...

Have you been through many things, like seeing blood...?

"Brother!"

Minglan didn't expose Sheng Changquan's intentions; she simply pretended not to know and asked about other things.

"So what do you think we should do about this?"

Sheng Changquan glanced at his sister with a disgruntled expression. Seeing that she didn't intend to press him about what had just happened, he quickly followed her lead and said, "Sister, I think this matter should probably be discussed with Grandmother."

"After all, she has experienced more than we have, so it's always good to learn from our elders!"

Sheng Changquan proposed the safest solution.

"Grandmother?"

Minglan had considered this method, but there was still a problem: her grandmother might not have been unaware of Shulan's situation.

At the very least, in Minglan's eyes, it seemed that Old Madam Sheng was deliberately ignoring Shulan's affairs, as if she had some other plans.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

"Is there anything wrong?"

Seeing Minglan's unusual expression, Sheng Changquan quickly asked her the question.

"Brother, I think... it seems like Grandma is deliberately ignoring this matter!"

As she spoke, Minglan revealed her thoughts.

"Really?"

After listening to Minglan's words, Sheng Changquan remained noncommittal.

"Sister, what you're thinking might not be right!"

Sheng Changquan smiled, then changed the subject and asked, "By the way, elder sister, how did you find out about Sister Shulan's matter?"

"Could it be that Sister Shulan told you this?"

Sheng Changquan believed that given Shulan's gentle nature, she would never complain to her family. Therefore, Minglan's discovery of this matter must have been due to something else.

“Brother, actually, I learned half of this from Sister Shulan’s maid, and the other half was from Xiao Tao’s investigation.”

Minglan carefully explained the whole story.

"So, you mean that besides you, no one else 'knew' about this?"

Sheng Changquan countered with a question.

"That should be right!"

Minglan knew what Sheng Changquan meant by "I don't know"—he was just pretending not to know.

"Eh? No!"

Minglan suddenly remembered something and said, "Brother, besides Pinlan and the others who really don't know, there's another person in our uncle's family who probably also doesn't know!"

"The old lady?"

Sheng Changquan immediately guessed who Minglan was referring to.

"Ok!"

Minglan nodded and said directly, "It seems that the Old Madam really doesn't know what kind of life Sister Shulan is living!"

"I guess she simply thought that Sister Shulan had suffered the hardships that ordinary daughters-in-law go through, but she couldn't possibly guess what her real life was like!"

"Ok!"

Sheng Changquan nodded secretly in agreement with Minglan's assessment.

"Sister, I think you're absolutely right!"

"The old lady doesn't seem like the kind of person who only cares about family interests and disregards kinship!"

Sheng Changquan recalled the feeling he had of the old lady when he stayed at his uncle Sheng Wei's house six years ago, and he had to admit that she was indeed a kind and approachable elder.

They gave off a much better impression than the Sheng Wei couple.

"By the way, little brother, you haven't told me about what happened before!"

Minglan pressed Sheng Changquan for an answer.

"hehe!"

Sheng Changquan chuckled lightly, then slowly said, "Sister, don't you understand Grandmother's temperament?"

"Now that she knows about this, she will definitely take action!"

Perhaps Minglan was too caught up in the situation to see clearly, so Sheng Changquan had no choice but to point out: "Sister, you thought Grandmother was deliberately ignoring things, but that was just Grandmother keeping quiet!"

"I suspect that Grandmother has already planned everything for Sister Shulan's matter!"

"Right now, Grandmother is just waiting for Uncle and the others to come to us in person to beg!"

After all, she is a girl from the eldest branch of the family, so if Sheng Wei and the others don't speak up, then Old Madam Sheng naturally won't take action.

This is a matter of principle, and it cannot be ignored.

(End of this chapter)