Scumbag God, I can see the entry of desire.

The sixteen-year-old girl in front of Shen Cuiping knelt down, crying with tears streaming down her face, calling her "Your Majesty" repeatedly and saying "I apologize on behalf of my mother," and even taking the initiative to mention "recognizing her ancestors and returning to her clan."

What... what's going on here?

Shen Cuiping had prepared a whole host of words, but at this moment, they were all stuck in her throat, and she couldn't utter a single word.

She even forgot whether she should get angry first or help the person up.

Shen Cuiping's mind was in complete turmoil.

On the one hand, she was indeed stunned by Chen Nianlin's words.

This child... doesn't seem like the kind of "bastard" she imagined.

She didn't throw a tantrum, didn't cry and demand recognition, and didn't put on an attitude of "I'm also your husband's daughter, and the Lin family has to take responsibility for me."

Instead, she immediately took all the blame on herself and her mother, kowtowed and admitted her mistakes, saying things like "atone for my mother's sins" and "I don't expect forgiveness."

This is too humble a stance.

She was so humble that Shen Cuiping felt embarrassed to put on her haughty, superior matriarchal airs anymore.

This kid is so good at social skills.

No, I should say, she's too sensible.

So sensible it makes my heart ache.

On the other hand, Shen Cuiping felt a little uncomfortable.

She always felt that it was all rehearsed in advance.

How could a sixteen-year-old girl utter such "profoundly righteous" words?

Was it her own idea?

Did someone teach her to say that?

But clearly, no one knew she had come back from the dead!

It's impossible that anyone taught Chen Nianlin beforehand to say those words.

Shen Cuiping subconsciously glanced at Lin Lang standing to the side.

The son's expression remained calm, revealing nothing.

Chu Yiren simply supported her quietly, her eyes filled with a hint of inquiry and sympathy.

Shen Cuiping took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down.

She knows that every word she says and every decision she makes now could affect this child's life and her image in the eyes of all her daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She can't be impulsive.

You must think this through carefully and handle this matter with caution.

Why did Shen Cuiping not follow her heart, completely reject her husband's illegitimate daughter, and coldly refuse Chen Nianlin's request to acknowledge her ancestry?

Because her son Lin Lang had dozens of concubines, all of whom were concubines who gave birth to children and thus rose in status to enter the Lin family and officially become her daughters-in-law.

To put it bluntly, Shen Cuiping knew exactly what was going on.

The son, Lin Lang, had to rely on the Lin family's reputation for prioritizing offspring in order to get past his wife, Chu Yiren, and to include one concubine and illegitimate child after another in the family genealogy.

If Shen Cuiping is too heartless towards Chen Nianlin, and as the head of the household, she explicitly refuses her husband's illegitimate daughter's request to come to the Lin family to acknowledge her ancestors when she is desperate, what will happen to her dozens of daughters-in-law who have risen to power through their sons?

Lin Lang, the son who built his persona on the idea that "as long as one is of the Lin family bloodline, one cannot be left to wander outside," will he feel very awkward?

Wise people do things for the benefit of others.

Shen Cuiping knew perfectly well that her scumbag husband was dead, and that her rival, who had given birth to his illegitimate daughter, had also died of cancer.

Even if she hates that despicable couple and is furious that her husband betrayed her and had a child with another woman, what's the point?

However, she dared not allow Chen Nianlin to acknowledge her ancestry, because she had to consider her daughter-in-law, Chu Yiren, and dared not set a precedent without any bottom line.

Shen Cuiping knew that her son was a womanizer, and who knew how many concubines and illegitimate children were waiting in line to return to the Lin family to acknowledge their ancestry!

So from the very beginning, Shen Cuiping probed Chu Yiren's intentions, saying, "Daughter-in-law, you are someone who has seen many important matters and experienced many big scenes. Tell me, what do you want to do about this? I'll listen to you."

But Chu Yiren replied, "Mom, although I am the legal wife and daughter-in-law of the Lin family, you are the matriarch of the Lin family, and your daughter-in-law will listen to you."

These are the kinds of actions that only women with eight hundred cunning minds can take to test each other without making a single mistake.

Chu Yiren wasn't stupid. If this precedent were set, wouldn't married women be able to have children with Lin Lang in the future? That would mean even illegitimate children could be recognized as members of the family without any obstacles.

Chu Yiren absolutely did not want such an undignified thing to happen to her and Lin Lang.

Given Miss Chu's proud and arrogant personality, she would never allow a married woman to have a child with Lin Lang.

Therefore, Shen Cuiping found herself in a difficult situation.

If she were to acknowledge this member of the Lin family bloodline, she feared it would set a bad precedent and incur the displeasure of her legal daughter-in-law, Chu Yiren. She neither wanted to nor dared to offend this wealthy daughter-in-law.

Shen Cuiping was also afraid that if she cruelly drove Chen Nianlin out of the Lin family, her dozens of concubines who had become her daughters-in-law would gossip about her behind her back, saying that she was cold-blooded and heartless.

It has to be said that being the matriarch of a wealthy family is extremely difficult; there are so many things she needs to consider and balance.

Of course, the fact that Shen Cuiping was able to come to her senses so quickly and not let anger cloud her judgment or lead her to make an irrational decision also shows that she is a smart woman.

She's at least a woman with some intelligence; she's not stupid.

Because ordinary people simply cannot fathom the many layers of intricate and complex relationships involved.

Shen Cuiping suppressed her surging emotions, slowly squatted down, and tried to make her tone sound as calm as possible: "Child, get up first, the ground is cold."

Chen Nianlin cried even harder, shaking her head repeatedly: "Your Majesty, if you don't agree, I will kneel here forever."

Shen Cuiping frowned slightly.

This child may seem delicate, but he has a stubborn streak deep down.

She does bear a resemblance to her deadbeat husband.

Shen Cuiping felt a mix of emotions.

She was silent for a few seconds before slowly saying, "What your mother did was her fault, it has nothing to do with you."

“You don’t need to atone for her sins, nor do you need to beg me in this way.”

At this point, Shen Cuiping paused, her gaze falling on Chen Nianlin's tear-streaked face, her voice softening unconsciously:

"I know you're a child who has suffered a lot too."

“Your Uncle Lin…he has wronged me, he has wronged your mother, and he has wronged you the most.”

It's worth mentioning that Shen Cuiping's precise word choice here refers to Uncle Lin!

Chen Nianlin sobbed, choking out, "Your Majesty, I...I had no ill intentions whatsoever."

"I just... I just want to acknowledge my ancestors and return to my roots!"

“I dare not ask you for any title. I only ask that you accept me out of blood ties and give me a place to stay temporarily so that I can go to university and finish my studies.”

"Once I graduate from university and get a job, I...I will definitely repay my brother and sister-in-law in installments, with interest, all the money I spent on food, drink, and lodging at the Lin family's house during this period."

"Your Majesty, please grant me protection, for I am of the Lin family bloodline!"

"I will never forget your kindness!"

At this point, Chen Nianlin kowtowed repeatedly, already sobbing uncontrollably.

Her words were spoken with such sincerity that Chu Yiren was somewhat moved.

Seeing his half-sister so humbly begging to be taken in, Lin Lang frowned even more, his heart aching with pain.

Shen Cuiping's heart felt as if it had been violently struck by something.

She was completely put on the hot seat!

Looking into Chen Nianlin's eyes, which were filled with expectation yet also fear, Shen Cuiping suddenly felt that if she continued to be cold and hard, wouldn't that be too inhumane?

Should this innocent child really have to bear the burden of the grudges of the previous generation?

She thought of her deceased husband, the man she both loved and hated.

If he were still alive, how would he have handled this?

Will he also feel conflicted, tormented, and unable to make a decision, just like I have?

Just then, Shen Cuiping suddenly realized that her daughters-in-law, who were originally eating in the restaurant, had somehow appeared behind her, with six or seven of them now standing there.

Su Wanxing, Li Meng, Zhou Mengyao, Gu Ran, Zhao Lanshan, Gu Keqing, and Huo Siyan all looked at this scene with surprise.

Although they dared not ask anything or say anything.

But their eyes all showed pity for this helpless and pitiful girl.

What day is it today?

Except for the daughter-in-law who lived far away in Chang'an during the Tang Dynasty, almost all the daughters-in-law in Shanghai were present, and they ate a reunion dinner prepared by their mother-in-law, Shen Cuiping.

The Lin family has a team of chefs in the kitchen, and Shen Cuiping also cooks for her daughter-in-law, grandson, and granddaughter without complaint. Isn't her goal to leave a good impression on everyone and establish the image of a good mother-in-law and a good grandmother?

Now, six or seven daughters-in-law have appeared behind her, observing her character and way of handling things. If things go wrong, she will be firmly established as an unapproachable and wicked mother-in-law.

Thinking of this, Shen Cuiping gasped, her mind instantly becoming clearer.

She knew in her heart which was more important.

In the few seconds that Shen Cuiping hesitated, Li Moli came out of the restaurant and saw Chen Nianlin kneeling down and crying in public.

The next second, Pan Xiaoting, holding the baby Haocan, walked from the restaurant to the lobby, looking completely bewildered.

If we don't act decisively soon, the daughters-in-law, grandchildren, and other family members in the restaurant will all be coming out to see what's going on.

Shen Cuiping sighed deeply, as if she had made up her mind.

She reached out and quickly helped the sobbing Chen Nianlin up: "Child, listen to me, get up first!"

Chen Nianlin's eyes lit up instantly, and a look of disbelief and surprise appeared on her face: "Your Majesty, you...you're agreeing to my request?"

Shen Cuiping did not answer directly, but said calmly, "Whether you can be recognized as a member of the family is not something I can decide with a few words."

"This is the sin that your Uncle Lin committed back then. Let his spirit in heaven and the ancestors of the Lin family make the judgment."

Chen Nianlin paused for a moment, then weakly said, seemingly understanding but not quite, "Your Majesty, I don't understand what you mean."

Shen Cuiping avoided her tearful gaze and turned to Lin Lang, saying:

“Give this child a coin and let her make a wish to the ancestors of the Lin family. If the coin lands heads up, it means that the ancestors have accepted her. She does not need to change her surname and can stay in the Lin family as an adopted daughter. After marriage, she will still be the Lin family’s aunt and will be protected by the Lin family for life.”

"But if the coin toss lands on tails, it means that our ancestors did not want her to enter the Lin family. Out of humanitarian considerations, the Lin family can give her a sum of money, and she should not come to the Lin family to bother us again."

This was a method Shen Cuiping racked her brains to devise that wouldn't offend anyone: deciding Chen Nianlin's fate by flipping a coin.

Regardless of the outcome, she will not take the blame.

He wanted to avoid offending his daughter-in-law, Chu Yiren.

They didn't want to make things difficult for Lin Lang.

She wouldn't be gossiped about behind her back by her other daughters-in-law as a cold-hearted and wicked mother-in-law.

Even when the grandchildren grew up and learned that there was an illegitimate aunt who was not recognized by the family, it was the grandmother who gave them a chance. It was the aunt who lost when flipping a coin and was not allowed to enter the Lin family by the ancestors.

After a few seconds of stunned silence, Lin Lang's fingertips trembled as he took out a one-yuan coin from his personal space and handed it to Chen Nianlin.

With tears blurring her vision, Chen Nianlin looked at Lin Lang and said in a sobbing voice, "Brother, do I really have to flip a coin?"

This cry of "brother" and the soul-searching question left Lin Lang somewhat at a loss for words.

His eyes were slightly red as he looked at Chen Nianlin, who was crying her eyes out, and said in a deep and solemn voice:

“Nianlin, if you get the approval of our ancestors by flipping a coin, your brother will put aside the grudges of our fathers and the barriers in his heart, and treat you like his own sister for the rest of his life.”

“But if you flip a coin and don’t get the approval of our ancestors, your brother can only give you a one-time grant in the name of humanitarianism, and then we will part ways and never see each other again.”

Chen Nianlin's tears streamed down her face. Through her teary eyes, she looked at Chu Yiren and sobbed, "..."

"Sister-in-law, please allow me to call you that, because I'm afraid that after I toss the coin, I'll never have the chance to call you sister-in-law again!"

Upon hearing this, Chu Yiren stepped forward and gave Chen Nianlin a hug, gently patting her back, and said with a moved expression, "Silly child, everything is the best arrangement!"

Whether we are destined to be sisters-in-law is entirely up to fate.

Miss Chu spoke those words with grace!