The onlookers were caught off guard by the juicy gossip and immediately became excited, whispering and speculating among themselves.
The combination of Xiu Wancheng and Gan Yanmei, an older man with a younger wife, was always prone to speculation, especially since Gan Yanmei was beautiful and had a fiery personality, clearly not someone to be trifled with.
It was obvious that one was after wealth and the other after looks, so when this scandal broke out, no one was particularly surprised, but they were all eager to watch the drama unfold.
However, those who had always thought that Chen Fashi was just putting on a show were shocked.
Was this Fashi for real?
If he was fake, how dare he fabricate such a story?
Wasn’t he afraid of being kicked out by the family?
The Xiu family’s expressions changed drastically.
Gan Yanmei abruptly stood up, disregarding the usual taboo of not casually speaking to the deceased, and shouted, “Stop spouting nonsense!”
Xiu’s mother, who had never gotten along with her young daughter-in-law, surprisingly spoke up for her this time: “Old man, you must be mistaken.”
Xiu Wancheng’s face also darkened, but he remained calm: “Dad, there must be some misunderstanding here. I can assure you, Yanmei has never been unfaithful. Zongzong is definitely my son, your grandson.”
Xiu Jinchi hadn’t expected the entire family to doubt his words, and he grew even more furious.
Pointing at Xiu Wancheng’s nose, he scolded, “You’re sure? Are you more certain than the underworld’s judgment? The paper horse carrying spirits doesn’t lie. If that little brat were your son, how could he have brought back another ghost? Why couldn’t he move the paper horse you released?”
He continued, “Luckily, today you and the clan first paid respects to the Xiu ancestors, and I was able to tag along. That little brat’s horse didn’t come to fetch me I had to run here myself and almost didn’t make it!”
Hearing Xiu Jinchi’s words, Xiu Wancheng also sensed something was off.
If Xiu Jizong had accidentally brought back a wandering ghost at first, why couldn’t he move the paper horse later when it went to carry his father?
The paper horse was specially made by Chen Fashi for their family, supposedly recognizing relationships through blood ties.
Could it be that Xiu Jizong really wasn’t his son?
But how could that be?
Xiu Wancheng also recalled the genuine affection and satisfaction the wandering ghost had shown toward Xiu Jizong, even specifically instructing that Xiu Jizong should kneel and burn paper offerings during future rituals, clearly convinced that Xiu Jizong was his grandson…
Before Xiu Wancheng could figure it out, Gan Yanmei exploded, shouting, “You old fool, don’t think just because you’re dead I won’t curse you. Whether Zongzong is a Xiu or not, Xiu Wancheng knows best. If you keep spouting nonsense, I’ll scatter your ashes to the wind!”
Gan Yanmei, who had been out in the world from a young age, had a sharp tongue, and her words nearly brought Xiu Jinchi back to life with rage.
Even while possessing Chen Fashi, Xiu Jinchi felt his blood pressure skyrocket, his fingers trembling as he pointed at her and said:
“You, you, you harlot! I knew you were no good when I was alive. You might fool Wancheng, but you can’t fool the underworld or me. That little brat is a bastard his real grandfather is right here!”
As the human and ghost were about to continue their verbal sparring, the crowd of onlookers grew larger, and Xiu’s mother grew anxious.
She said, “Old man, you’re really mistaken this time. Yanmei might be unruly, but Zongzong is indeed our family’s child.”
Seeing that even his former spouse spoke up, Xiu Jinchi flew into a rage: “You blind old hag, what do you know?”
Scolded, Xiu’s mother also lost her temper and blurted out:
“How wouldn’t I know? This grandson of yours was made in a test tube. Wan Cheng spent hundreds of thousands specifically to make a boy. How could he be someone else’s child?”
The onlookers erupted in shock.
Wow!
There’s more to this story?!
Xiu Jinchi was also stunned: “This kid is a test-tube baby.”
Gan Yanmei sneered: “Exactly, a test-tube baby, and it was your son who personally selected the embryo.”
Xiu Wancheng’s vision darkened.
It was too late to stop things now, but at this point, not telling the truth wasn’t an option.
Otherwise, rumors would spread that he was indeed cuckolded.
He nodded: “Yes, Zongzong was made in a test tube.”
It turned out that after two years of marriage, Xiu Wancheng and Gan Yanmei still hadn’t had a child.
Not only was he anxious, but Gan Yanmei was also desperate.
Knowing how much the Xiu family valued their lineage, Gan Yanmei feared that without a child, she would eventually be cast out like the ex-wife.
She proposed the idea of in vitro fertilization and privately sought out a shady institution that could select the baby’s gender.
Gan Yanmei knew that to secure her place in the Xiu family, having a child wasn’t enough—it had to be a son.
Even though these institutions charged exorbitant fees and operated in legal gray areas, it was all worth it if she could bear a son.
This was why both Xiu Wancheng and his mother were so certain that Xiu Jizong was indeed a child of the Xiu family.
Xiu Jinchi hadn’t expected this twist and was momentarily stunned, but he still insisted:
“No, no, this kid clearly isn’t my grandson. The offerings he makes in worship don’t reach me…”
Then, someone in the crowd muttered: “Test tubes can make mistakes too.”
Another chimed in, “Right, right, didn’t we hear about unscrupulous doctors abroad who used their own sperm instead of the clients’, fathering over a hundred children?”
Hearing this, Xiu Wancheng’s heart skipped a beat.
He was sure the child wasn’t from Gan Yanmei’s infidelity, but he couldn’t be certain about the integrity of the IVF institutions.
His expression shifted as he said, “Dad, don’t worry. These things can be checked. I’ll take Zongzong for a paternity test tomorrow…”
Before he could finish, Gan Yanmei panicked: “What paternity test? You chose the embryo yourself. Don’t you trust it?”
Her protest only deepened Xiu Wancheng’s suspicion.
He said coldly, “It won’t take much effort to do it.”
Gan Yanmei turned her head away, her bravado faltering:
“Whether it takes effort or not, it’s unnecessary. I’m certain Zongzong is my child.”
If Xiu Wancheng couldn’t see the problem now, all his years in society would have been wasted.
His face turned even colder: “Then it’s not up to you.”
Xiu’s mother finally caught on and exclaimed in shock: “Wancheng, what are you saying? Can test tubes be faked? Those damn institutions, you should go and settle accounts with them!”
After a moment of wailing, she thought of something else, “But wait, Zongzong looks so much like Yanmei. How could he not be her child?”
Xiu Wancheng gritted his teeth, his eyes dark and menacing: “He’s her child, but not necessarily mine.”
Looking back, it was Gan Yanmei who had initially proposed the idea of IVF.
She was the one who found the institution and kept in touch with the doctors.
Xiu Wancheng’s only responsibilities throughout the entire process were to provide the money and his sperm.
He never paid attention to the details, his sole concern being whether they could guarantee a son.
He never imagined that such a thing could be tampered with.
Seeing that the truth could no longer be concealed, Gan Yanmei dropped all pretenses and admitted, “Yes, Zongzong isn’t your child. So what? I did all this for you!”
Xiu Wancheng, infuriated by her audacity, veins bulging on his forehead, raised his hand to slap her, “You bitch!”
But Gan Yanmei was no pushover.
She blocked his hand and shouted back, “Xiu Wancheng, don’t be ungrateful! Your sperm has been useless for a long time. The embryos made from it were completely unusable! And…”
She sneered, her eyes sweeping over “Chen Fashi,” who was possessed by Xiu Jinchi, then glancing at Xiu’s mother before finally landing back on Xiu Wancheng.
Her voice sharp and mocking, “Your family should stop blaming your ex-wife all the time. Xiu Wancheng, your own sperm is defective—you can’t produce a son! I spent a fortune buying high-quality sperm from outside just to continue your family line. Instead of thanking me, you want to hit me? Do you have any conscience?”
It turned out that Xiu Wancheng had a congenital chromosomal defect.
Not only was his sperm now unusable, but even when it was, it couldn’t produce a son.
Gan Yanmei, who had followed Xiu Wancheng at a young age for his money, knew the family’s temperament well.
She understood that without a son, she would end up with nothing, perhaps even worse off than the ex-wife.
So she decided to take matters into her own hands, secretly colluding with the IVF institution to purchase sperm from a young donor.
These private institutions operated in a gray area, and as long as the price was right, they were willing to do anything.
Thus, they worked with Gan Yanmei to deliver a son to Xiu Wancheng.
Gan Yanmei was far less accommodating than the ex-wife.
Now that the truth was out and she was unlikely to gain anything, she didn’t hold back, firing off a barrage of insults.
Even those among the onlookers who hadn’t known about Xiu Wancheng and his ex-wife’s past now knew everything.
As for those who already knew, their expressions were priceless.
The Xiu family had treated the ex-wife terribly for not bearing a son.
The elderly Xiu couple had even gone around slandering her, using the most vulgar language imaginable.
In the end, it turned out that the problem lay with Xiu Wancheng’s own sperm.
“Tsk tsk tsk, his ex-wife really had it rough!”
“Hey, does that mean he’s left without an heir?”
“In other families, it wouldn’t count since he still has a daughter. But according to his family’s beliefs, he really is left without an heir.”
“If you ask me, he should just acknowledge the child. Didn’t his wife say she spent a fortune on high-quality sperm? It’s much better than his own genes-no loss there.”
“No way, I don’t believe it!” Xiu’s mother was the first to break, screaming, “You whore, you must be lying!”
Gan Yanmei retorted sharply, “Then have your son go get checked, go to a big hospital. If they find sperm capable of producing a son, then I’ll admit you old hag have some skill!”
“You…you…” Xiu Wancheng clutched his chest, gasping for breath, momentarily at a loss for words to refute her.
At that moment, a “pfft” sound was heard as Xiu Jinchi, unable to withstand the shock, spat out a mouthful of blood.
“Chen Fashi!” Shi Pengpeng quickly slapped a talisman onto him.
Chen Fashi’s spirit returned, and he glared with wide eyes, saying, “Miss Shi, hurry, hurry, help me send these two old ghosts away! My blood pressure can’t take it anymore!”
Poor Chen Fashi, at his age, already had some issues with high blood pressure, and after Xiu Jinchi possessed him and went through such a dramatic and absurd family saga, it nearly caused his blood vessels to burst.
Since Xiu Jizong was not of the Xiu family’s bloodline, he naturally couldn’t send Xiu Jinchi away.
Chen Fashi had to rely on himself, taking out two paper horses and casting a spell to forcibly send them off.
Fortunately, Shi Pengpeng was present, using her talismans to lend him a hand.
As the yellow talisman burned to ashes and the paper horses turned to dust, a gentle breeze swept through the ancestral hall.
Seeing his soul about to be forcibly taken away, Xiu Jinchi no longer cared to argue with Gan Yanmei and quickly shouted, “Wancheng, daughters are fine too! Daughters are fine! Go find my granddaughters, have them burn paper offerings and kowtow to me, and I’ll still have incense offerings in the underworld!”
Xiu Jinchi’s voice gradually faded, and the voice of Xiu Jizong’s biological grandfather emerged, tinged with a bit of regret but mostly smugness as he said:
“That old fool was such a nuisance, ruining my grandson’s plans. Oh well, at least I got a grandson out of it. My unfilial son was a rabbit, and I thought I was going to be left without descendants…”
This voice also gradually disappeared, but the information it left behind lingered in everyone’s minds for a long time.
The scene fell into silence.
Xiu Wancheng and his mother: “…..”
Gan Yanmei:”…….”
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