Ye Huohuo’s action was not understood by Li Mohan. His previous words had pushed the Ye family to a dead end. They could no longer ask for a DNA test, nor could they claim kinship with Ye Huohuo.
Yet, Ye Huohuo had now voluntarily requested the test. This…
He looked at Ye Huohuo, whose eyes were fixed on Chen Yuelan’s face, as if trying to bore a hole through it. A thought struck him: could there be something more to this?
“Sister-in-law, if you’re not willing, you don’t have to force yourself!” Li Moyan, who had been watching anxiously, didn’t understand what Ye Huohuo was trying to achieve by speaking up at this critical moment.
“I…” Ye Huohuo looked at Li Moyan apologetically. He had been helping her, but she had ruined his well-laid plans. She didn’t know how to explain.
“It’s alright, just do what you want!” Li Mohan smiled and raised his hand, gently tucking a stray strand of hair from her forehead.
The gesture was so tender and intimate that it stunned everyone.
Many people secretly sighed, wondering which divine incense Ye Huohuo had burned to turn such tempered steel into a pliable thread.
Just as everyone expected Chen Yuelan to quickly arrange a DNA test after Ye Huohuo’s statement, something unexpected happened. This time, it was Chen Yuelan who hesitated.
She furrowed her brow and coughed twice, “Old Madam, I’m too old to do that kind of thing. You…”
“Mom, since Xiaoqing has this intention, why don’t you and her do one? I heard it only requires a blood draw.” Qin Tong was afraid Chen Yuelan would refuse. After all, as long as it could be proven that Ye Huohuo and Chen Yuelan were blood relatives, their Ye family would solidify their status as in-laws of the Li family.
Even if the Li family didn’t openly give them any benefits, this connection alone would bring them considerable advantages. In Haicheng, who wouldn’t give face to the Li family? Moreover, Li Mohan had already expanded his business beyond Haicheng. The Li family was a prominent force throughout China.
This opportunity was too tempting. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have shamelessly come to claim kinship, knowing they might be rebuffed by Ye Huohuo.
However, Chen Yuelan’s attitude clearly indicated she was still unwilling. “My health is not good, as you know. Drawing blood is too taxing on my vitality. I think it’s best to forget it. It would also save people from saying our Ye family is trying to cling to others.”
Unexpectedly, Chen Yuelan’s attitude had completely changed, as if she were a different person.
Just moments ago, she had been trying every means to get Ye Huohuo to acknowledge them as relatives. Now, she had transformed into a paragon of integrity, refusing to associate with the powerful.
“There’s no need for the hassle of a blood draw. A few strands of hair will suffice! Isn’t that right, Mohen?” Li Mohan interjected at the opportune moment, questioning Li Mohen, who had just walked over to see what was happening.
“Huh? Ah!” Li Mohen was startled by his elder brother’s question, but he quickly understood the situation. “Yes, all it takes is five hairs with follicles. This way, there’s no need to draw blood, and it doesn’t harm the body. Since the person to be tested is right here, just pluck a few hairs and hand them to me. The paperwork can be completed later.”
Li Mohen was considered a leading figure in Haicheng’s medical community, so his words carried significant weight.
With the Li family having spoken their piece, everyone’s gaze shifted back to Chen Yuelan’s face. Her well-maintained face flushed and paled as she remained silent.
This made Qin Tong and Ye Xiaowan, who were beside her, extremely anxious.
“Grandmother, say something. It’s just a few strands of hair. You shed more than that every day. Once our relationship with Xiaoqing is confirmed, I’ll have… I’ll have a sister!”
While Qin Tong aimed to associate with the Li family for financial gain, Ye Xiaowan harbored more personal aspirations, making her even more desperate than her mother.
She was almost kneeling and kowtowing to her grandmother.
The surrounding crowd began to urge Chen Yuelan. In contrast, Ye Huohuo, the person at the center of it all, remained the calmest.
She said nothing, her gaze fixed on Chen Yuelan, but her eyes grew increasingly sharp, piercing the elder woman like two knives.
Chen Yuelan, who had been so arrogant moments before, now lowered her eyes, lost in thought. Her expression was a fascinating blend of changing emotions.
“Grandmother, you always said at home that you would definitely have Ye Xiaoqing recognized by the clan. We’re just one step away. If you don’t do this test, everyone will think we’re falsely claiming kinship and deceiving people. How will our Ye family be able to hold their heads up in Haicheng in the future? You can’t just think about whether it harms your body; you have to think about me… about us!” Ye Xiaowan’s voice grew increasingly distressed, her eyes welling up with tears.
Qin Tong chimed in, “Yes, Mom, just do the test. Otherwise, we’ll truly become impostors!”
After speaking, Qin Tong leaned closer to Chen Yuelan’s ear and whispered in a voice so low that only they could hear, “Mom, she is Ye Xiaoqing. We all know it. What are you afraid of? After the test, the results will definitely show that you are her biological grandmother. Then, she’ll have to do whatever you ask her to do.”
The mother and daughter, speaking in turns, had completely cornered Chen Yuelan.
However, for some reason, despite Qin Tong and Ye Xiaowan’s persuasion, and the whispers and taunts from the onlookers, Chen Yuelan remained unswayed. She adamantly refused the kinship test with Ye Huohuo.
Even Li Mohen, who had just arrived, sensed something was amiss with Chen Yuelan’s demeanor. He glanced at Li Mohan, who gave him a slight nod. Li Mohen immediately understood.
“Old Madam Ye, isn’t it because you know my sister-in-law isn’t your granddaughter that you’re afraid to do the test?” Li Mohen asked, a displeased look on his face. “Today is my elder brother and sister-in-law’s engagement banquet. Instead of coming to offer blessings, your Ye family is causing trouble. Do you want to bully the Li family for having no one? Just because my sister-in-law’s surname is Ye, does that mean anyone surnamed Ye is her relative? If we don’t acknowledge you, you’ll force us. You’re using your age and playing both ends against the middle. You were the one who insisted on a DNA test, and now you refuse. This is simply unreasonable. This is the Li family’s home, and everyone here is a friend of the Li family. Our family’s principle has always been to treat those who respect us with respect, and those who offend us, we will not tolerate. As everyone has seen, the Ye family has come here to bully us. If our Li family doesn’t take action, we truly won’t be able to establish ourselves in Haicheng.”
After speaking, Li Mohen raised his hand. “Guards, escort the Ye family out! They are forbidden from setting foot here again, and all trade with the Ye family is canceled. Consider this a small lesson.”
Qin Tong and Ye Xiaowan’s faces turned pale instantly. Ye Xiaowan had never experienced such a situation and bit her lip, on the verge of tears. Qin Tong knew that the Ye family’s future would be bleak.
She quietly rebuked the silent Chen Yuelan, “Mom, what’s wrong with you? It’s just a few strands of hair, why are you refusing? Now look, how will our Ye family survive in Haicheng! That scoundrel Ye Xin, of all times, decided to leave the house. What are we going to do? Not only did we fail to forge a connection, but we’ve also offended the Li family. After the Li family’s announcement, who in Haicheng will do business with us? Mom, just give a few strands of hair for the test!”
Qin Tong was still unwilling to give up and tried to persuade her further.
At this moment, Li family bodyguards, led by A Cheng, blocked their path. “Old Madam Ye, Madam Ye, Miss Ye, please.”
Chen Yuelan’s face was grim, her eyes dark and unreadable. “Test what? Let’s go back!”
“Grandmother! I hate you. They say elders accumulate blessings for their descendants, but what kind of blessings are you accumulating for me? I…” Ye Xiaowan’s tear-filled eyes glanced at Li Moyan. Coincidentally, Li Moyan was looking in their direction. The thought that he had witnessed her pathetic state made Ye Xiaowan even more aggrieved and sad. She stomped her foot and ran off crying.
“Xiaowan!” Qin Tong looked at the surrounding crowd, then at the bodyguards blocking her path. She felt utterly mortified. What was politely called escorting out was, in fact, being kicked out. Qin Tong, using the excuse of chasing Ye Xiaowan, also fled in embarrassment.
Only Chen Yuelan remained. This old woman was truly formidable. Even at this juncture, she could still hold her head high, her face stern, and walk towards the exit without faltering.
Ye Huohuo narrowed her eyes, watching Chen Yuelan’s retreating back. Seemingly having realized something, she quickly jogged a few steps to catch up with Chen Yuelan and whispered something in her ear.
Chen Yuelan’s expression instantly changed. She looked at Ye Huohuo with an almost venomous gaze.