Luo Linhao thought to himself, these people just donât appreciate what is given to them. If youâre not tough, theyâre like maggots clinging to bones, never able to shake them off.
When there were difficulties, not one of them offered a helping hand, but now that thereâs profit, they are all more eager than anyone. How could there be such a good deal?
The clan members turned blue and red in the face from Luo Linhaoâs words, truly not expecting Third Luoâs son to be this tough.
"Linhao, no matter what, weâre all of the Luo surname. Isnât it a bit too heartless and unjust for you to say such things?"
"Talking to me about loyalty now? When I begged you back then, how come you didnât talk about loyalty?" These people are something else, always demanding from others but never from themselves.
"Linhao, how could you blame us for what happened back then?" The one called Fourth Grandpa said, "The Luo Residence is a prestigious family, claiming not to have enough food or clothes, who would believe it? We just thought you were being a childish trouble-maker."
"Exactly." The one called Fifth Grandpa also said, "Everyone in the Luo Residence is your close family, we would never have thought your close family would treat you badly."
Four mouths shifted the matter aside like this, completely detached from the issue.
"Whether you admit it or not doesnât matter." Luo Linhao glanced at the crowd, finally looking at the first and second branches, "Whether you agree or not, if you donât, Iâll let the officials in. You can explain to them yourselves."
He paused and glanced at the men from the two branches, "Donât think you can just push the women to take the blame and be done with it. I dare say, if the officials take them away today, by tomorrow the entire Capital City will know the full story. You think you can still benefit from the reputation of the State Duke of Defense household like this?"
Second Old Master Luo had always been timid, and with Luo Linhao speaking like this, he abandoned his plans. He thought they were never close to the third branch, and had been living with the first branch all these years, with benefits going to the first branch. Even if they disagreed now, the third branch surely had other ways to resolve this. Why should he involve himself, and end up disliked by the third branch?
"Fine, I agree!"
"Second, you!" Old Master Luo didnât expect Second Luo to agree, as Second and his wife had always been motivated by self-interest. To think they would let go of such a juicy opportunity?
"Brother, donât stop me." Second Luo said, "All these years, the silver sent by Third was taken by your first branch. We in the second branch have nothing besides a small monthly allowance. We couldnât benefit from the third branch before, and now I agree, but just as before. If I disagree, Iâm still putting someone at risk. Anyone could calculate this sum."
Old Master Luo was furious and truly didnât expect Second Luo to speak so bluntly â so blunt that it was unbearable.
"Rubbish!" First Madam Luo said, "Donât think I donât know, when mother was alive, she gave you so many things. Now you say all you have is the monthly allowance, who are you fooling?"
"She gave us things because she had to; she never let you, the first branch, participate in her scheming, leaving things for us of the second branch to handle. We, the second branch, covered for you, yet didnât get any benefits. Why?"
Second Madam Luo retorted without backing down, "That old woman was just a shameless hag, wanted all the benefits, did all the dirty deeds, and deserved to be killed. Every day she would pull things from other branches and shove them to your first branch, and now you want to drag us from the second branch into your schemes, dream on!"