Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 302 Agreeing to the Conditions
"Cough cough!"

Seeing that Xu Changqing was going too far, Sheng Changquan couldn't help but cough lightly twice as a reminder.

"Well!"

Xu Changqing had been following Sheng Changquan for quite some time, so he naturally knew that his young master was expressing his dissatisfaction. Therefore, he shut up and obediently gave him the center position.

"Scholar Sun, you don't need to take what my servant says seriously!"

Sheng Changquan walked past Xu Changqing and stood in front of Sun Zhigao, speaking in a very gentle tone.

"However, although what this guy said was harsh, there was some truth to it."

"If your family doesn't have this legal lineage, then even if Meiniang enters your Sun family and gives birth to your Sun family's children, what difference will it make?"

"They can't be listed in the family genealogy, and they can't get registered in the household!"

Sheng Changquan expressed his deep sympathy and continued, "In the end, it would be better not to have the baby at all!"

"Am I right?"

"Scholar Sun?"

"you!"

Sun Zhigao's face turned ashen, but he couldn't utter a single word.

Because he genuinely didn't know what Sheng Changquan wanted to do to him, or what he wanted to do to his child.
Over the years, he wasn't entirely unaware of the reasons why he had difficulty conceiving.

He could even vaguely guess that the reason he had difficulty conceiving was quite likely due to his own condition.

After all, over the years, he had dated other women besides Shulan.

If it were only Shulan who didn't have children, then the blame could be placed on her. However, apart from her, Sun Zhigao has also been childless with other women all these years.

Upon realizing this situation, Sun Zhigao immediately understood the key issue.

Therefore, when Sun Zhigao learned that Meiniang was pregnant, he went to such lengths to bring her into the Sun family.

Not for any other reason than the possibility of a male descendant of the Sun family in her womb.

Of course, he had his doubts about whether the child in Meiniang's belly was his, but no matter what, as long as there was even the slightest hope, Sun Zhigao would never give up.

"Oh, right!"

At this moment, Sheng Changquan ignored the rapidly changing expression on Sun Zhigao's face and simply smiled calmly, saying, "Scholar Sun, you could try bribing the people in the yamen to make an exception for your family."

"This method is feasible, but it is somewhat dangerous."

"If someone reports you, it might be a case of your Sun family suffering more losses than gains!"

Sheng Changquan laughed as he explained the consequences of this method: "Not only will the child be unable to register for household registration, but even your status as a scholar will be revoked!"

"By then, your Sun family..."

"This is terrible!"

Sheng Changquan walked up to Sun Huangshi and Sun Zhigao and gently revealed the ending their family feared most.

"Sheng Changquan, you...you can't intimidate us!"

Sun Zhigao reacted strongly to what Sheng Changquan said!
His eyes widened, and they instantly turned red, like the eyes of a cornered rabbit!

"Sheng Changquan!"

Sun Zhigao barely managed to steady himself, and through gritted teeth squeezed out a few words: "I...I just don't believe it!"

"Your second branch of the Sheng family would be willing to disregard the Sheng family's century-old reputation and force my Sun family to write this divorce agreement just for the sake of a daughter from the first branch who is married off!"

Sun Zhigao, outwardly fierce but inwardly weak, attempted to threaten Sheng Changquan with a final, desperate act to change his mind. "Sheng Changquan, let me tell you, if you really push me too far, we'll just go our separate ways, and neither of us will come out unscathed!"

"Even if my family didn't get what we wanted, your Sheng family shouldn't think you can escape responsibility!"

"At that time, not to mention what will happen to the reputation of your Sheng family daughters, the Sheng family will definitely be branded with the stigma of abusing power!"

"Do you...does your family really want this?"

Sun Zhigao's expression was fierce, as if he were making a desperate gamble.

However, Sheng Changquan maintained his smiling demeanor, as if he didn't take Sun Zhigao's threat to heart at all.

"You heard..."

Just as Sun Zhigao was about to say something again, Sheng Changquan spoke first.

"Ah~"

"Scholar Sun, you can't decide this matter!"

At this moment, Sheng Changquan, like a major villain, maintained his calm smile and said, "Besides, let's not even talk about whether what you said, Scholar Sun, will come true!"

"But what will happen to your Sun family then?"

Sheng Changquan glanced at the Sun family mother and son opposite him and said, "In any case, our Sheng family still has some foundation. Even if we had some stigma back then, it was nothing serious."

"At the very least, our family can still live a life of luxury!"

"But!"

"Where is your Sun family?"

Sun Zhigao's face changed, turning pale and losing all its previous determination.

As for his mother, Madam Sun, she was in even worse condition, turning deathly pale and looking as if she had just recovered from a serious illness, completely devoid of color!
"My son, you..."

Madam Sun secretly tugged at Sun Zhigao's sleeve, as if she had something to say.

"Putting everything else aside, if our two families really fall out, your Sun family will definitely suffer even more!"

Sheng Changquan pretended not to see Sun Huangshi's little tricks and said cruelly as before, "First of all, you must return Sister Shulan's dowry!"

"Secondly, now that the Sheng family's reputation is ruined, we will certainly not let you off the hook!"

"Leaving aside my father's status as a fifth-rank official in the capital, just the fact that my second brother is a newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) is enough to crush you all!"

"Fifth rank? Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination)?"

Upon hearing the two terms Sheng Changquan used, Sun Zhigao finally understood the source of the Sheng family's second branch's confidence.

Although he knew that the head of the second branch of the Sheng family seemed to be a government official in the capital, he did not know his specific rank.

Because Shulan was not one to show off, she never mentioned what official position her second uncle held in the capital, so Sun Zhigao had no idea that Sheng Hong was a fifth-rank official.

After all, judging others by his own standards, Sun Zhigao thought that if Sheng Hong's rank hadn't been so low, why would Shulan have remained silent all this time?

Although officials in the capital are generally considered better than local officials, if one doesn't reach a certain level of competence, sometimes, the words of a capital official are not as effective as those of a local official.

It was precisely because of this that Sun Zhigao dared to bully Shulan like this; otherwise, even a pig would never have acted this way.

"Oh, right!"

As if afraid that Sun Zhigao hadn't been shocked enough, Sheng Changquan continued, "Scholar Sun, I forgot to tell you!"

"Actually, my second brother's wife, who is also my second sister-in-law, is the legitimate daughter of the Hai family in Haizhou."

"Tell me, what if the Hai family knew that their son-in-law, my second brother, had his career affected because of your Sun family!"

What do you think they will do?

With a half-smile, Sheng Changquan uttered the most vicious threat in the most concerned tone.

Behind him, Xu Changqing looked at his young master with resentment, inwardly cursing him!
"You clearly said you couldn't use your power to intimidate people or force the Sun family, but in the end, aren't all the things you've done exactly that?"

"It's a classic case of 'the magistrate is allowed to set fires, but the common people are forbidden to light lamps'!"

Xu Changqing stood behind Sheng Changquan, glaring at him with his bull-like eyes, seemingly wanting to attack him with his gaze to vent his anger.

"The Hai family?"

For the first time, Sun Zhigao had a wavering thought.

The Hai family of Haizhou is different from the Sheng family. They are a renowned family of scholars who have passed down their literary tradition for many years. They are a literary aristocracy that all scholars admire and respect.

Secondly, the Hai family library is a sacred place in the hearts of countless students, an inviolable pure land.

For Sun Zhigao, if the Hai family wanted to deal with him, it would be incredibly easy. If even the slightest hint from the Hai family were to leak any information, Sun Zhigao would certainly not have a good ending, because countless Hai family supporters would act on their behalf.

"And one last piece of news!"

Sheng Changquan raised his index finger and said one last thing to Sun Zhigao and his mother.

"That is, the core of Miss Meiniang's contract is in my hands."

"For the sake of the friendship between our Sheng family and the Sun family, I specially bought back Miss Meiniang's indenture from Chunxiang Pavilion!"

As he spoke, he pulled a thin piece of white paper from his pocket, waved it a couple of times, making sure the other person could see it but not touch it, and more importantly, ensuring that the other person could clearly see the contents on it.

"this?"

"This is?"

Even though he had already lost his composure, when he saw the seal representing the county government, Sun Zhigao finally felt despair.

"how is this possible?"

"How could that really be true?"

"..."

Even with Sun Huangshi supporting him from behind, Sun Zhigao still collapsed to the ground, his body limp, his expression filled with despair.

"My son?"

"My son..."

Seeing Sun Zhigao's appearance, Madam Sun panicked even more!
She quickly hugged Sun Zhigao tightly, crying and saying things that were incomprehensible to others.

Sheng Changquan listened carefully and realized it was the local dialect of Youyang. The general meaning was to persuade Sun Zhigao to admit defeat and stop making things difficult for Sheng Changquan.

Unfortunately, Sun Zhigao remained paralyzed on the ground, showing no reaction whatsoever, as if he had been terrified!
Wasted?

"Master!"

Xu Changqing stepped forward and leaned close to Sheng Changquan, whispering, "Young Master, it seems that Scholar Sun has been frightened!"

Xu Changqing frowned as he looked at Sun Zhigao on the ground, his face showing some hesitation: "What should we do next?"

"Should we wait until he's fully recovered before making another trip tomorrow?"

"Ok?"

Sheng Changquan glanced at Sun Zhigao first, but then rejected Xu Changqing's suggestion.

"Hehe, no need!"

Sheng Changquan chuckled softly: "Changqing, look closely, our Scholar Sun is not the kind of person who can be easily intimidated!"

"Ok?"

"What do you mean?"

Xu Changqing's eyes widened, as if he had guessed the meaning behind his young master's words.

"Young Master, are you saying this guy is faking it?"

"hehe!"

Sheng Changquan did not answer, but simply took a step forward, walked up to Sun Zhigao, and bent down.

"You...what do you want?"

Seeing that Sheng Changquan was pressing closer, Sun Huangshi quickly turned her head away, protecting her son while whispering a threat to Sheng Changquan.

"I...I'm telling you...you better not do anything reckless..."

“My son…my son…but it’s the scholar…you…”

"How about it?"

"Scholar Sun, do you think my sister Shulan will be able to get a divorce this time?"

Sheng Changquan ignored Sun Huangshi and said mockingly to Sun Zhigao, who was pretending to be stupid, "Or are you, Sun Zhigao, so willing to go head-to-head with our Sheng family?"

Sun Zhigao remained motionless, still feigning a dazed expression.

"Hehe, Sun Zhigao, I'll say it to you one last time!"

"If you don't reply to me within three breaths, then I'll take that as a declaration of war against the Sheng family!"

Sheng Changquan didn't indulge Sun Zhigao; he just kept counting to himself.

"one!"

Sun Zhigao did not move.

"two!"

Sun Zhigao was still pretending to be dead.

"three……"

As soon as he uttered the word "three," Sheng Changquan immediately straightened up, turned around, and walked out!

Judging from his quick and decisive manner, it seems that he is indeed going to confront the Sun family openly, just as he said!
"Wait!"

Before Sheng Changquan could finish saying the word "three," Sun Zhigao finally stopped pretending to be dead!
"I...agree to divorce Shulan!"

Sun Zhigao's voice, filled with resentment and helplessness, suddenly rang out behind Sheng Changquan.

"Son, are you all better?"

Sun Huangshi was overjoyed!
"Oh?"

"Have you made up your mind?"

Sheng Changquan ignored Sun Huangshi as before, but turned around and looked at Sun Zhigao, who was sitting on the ground and had somehow "recovered" and said in a low voice, "Once we get divorced, don't even think about using this to extort money from our Sheng family again."

"Otherwise, I guarantee your fate will be far worse than I can describe!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Sheng Changquan's eyes!
"I... I give up!"

Sun Zhigao kept his head down and did not notice Sheng Changquan's unusual behavior.

He slowly stood up from the ground, but his previous vitality was gone. He said helplessly, "However, I have two conditions!"

Before Sheng Changquan could speak, Sun Zhigao immediately stated his bottom line.

"First, you must return Meiniang's indebtedness to me!"

"Secondly, Shulan's dowry must also be kept!"

"no!"

Upon hearing the first condition, Sheng Changquan could agree, but he could not agree to the latter.

"Sister Shulan's dowry cannot be left to you!"

Sun Zhigao's expression changed, and his face suddenly became much gloomy: "Then I..."

"At the very least, we can't keep them all!"

Seeing Sun Zhigao's reaction, Sheng Changquan immediately changed his tune, saying, "At most, leave half!"

"Otherwise, let's settle things clearly and openly, and see who comes out on the worse side!"

Seeing the situation, Sun Zhigao hesitated for a long time before finally having no choice but to reluctantly agree.

"it is good!"

Seeing Sun Zhigao nod, Sheng Changquan smiled as well.

"Since that's the case, then I have to make a condition!"

Update first, then revise...

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(End of this chapter)