Shang Mingyuan's face turned cold, knowing he had been played by Zhao Sheng and Madam Zhao, his chest heaving with rage.

  Lin Qingwan raised her cup and took a sip of tea, then said thoughtfully: "Big nephew, it's not impossible for you to inherit the title, but it's too difficult. After a round of struggle, I'm afraid it will be a case of 'hurt the enemy by a thousand, but harm oneself by eight hundred'."

  Shang Mingyuan's eyes lit up, and he sat up straight, asking: "If I'm willing to sacrifice 800 success rate, how many percent will it be?"

  "Three Success."

  Although he was disappointed, as long as there was a 50% chance of success, even if it meant sacrificing 80% of his interests, he would still be willing to fight for it - after all, it was a baron's title.

  Only three tenths...

  "Why don't you take another path?"

  "What other hidden paths are there?"

  "If you're willing, I can recommend you to Sun Huai and let you be his aide for a while. Once you get familiar with the work, I'll give you a recording job." Lin Qingyan said: "Although it's not a high-ranking position, it's still a path. You have a talent for accounting and arithmetic, as well as interpersonal relationships. If you're lucky, you might be able to make achievements and get promoted within two or three years."

  "You and I have a friendship like old classmates, your aunt loves you the most among her many nephews and nieces, and my brother also cherishes the memories of our past teacher-student relationship. So if you go to Sun Huai's place, I don't dare guarantee anything else, but at least no one will dare to take away the credit that is yours."

  Shang Mingyuan's eyes were moist, his heart was deeply moved, and at the same time, he was also stirred.

  Lin Qingwan saw him hesitating and said: "If you can't bear the humiliation, then don't enter officialdom."

  "Besides being an official, there are many other places where one can stand out and even become a wealthy gentleman. No matter what others think in their hearts, you will always be the eldest son of the Shang family, and even if you don't inherit the title, no one in Suzhou would dare to bully you without reason. And you have your own way of handling things, so even after dividing up the family property, I'm not worried that you won't be able to make a name for yourself."

  Shang Mingyuan was still hesitant, and Lin Qingwen didn't force him to make a decision on the spot. She waved her hand and said: "You go back home and discuss it with your mother and wife, after all this is a big matter."

  Shang Mingyuan stood up and bowed, saying: "Thank you, Aunt Lin. I will always remember the kindness of you and Uncle in promoting me. If there is a chance to use me in the future..."

  "As long as you're doing well, it won't be in vain for my brother and sister-in-law to have raised you for several years."

  Shang Mingyuan was so moved that his eyes turned red, and after bowing, he stepped down.

  It concerns his and Chang Fang's future, Shang Mingyuan is indeed indecisive.

  He returned home and first went to report back to his elderly mother and pay his respects, only then did he go look for his sister.

  After some thought, he went to the Buddhist hall instead; this matter was too big and he had to ask for his mother's opinion.

  Lin Yuhong returned home and went back to her room. The three Shang sisters had given her many small gifts, which she wanted to put away carefully, so she didn't know that her younger sister was instigating Shang Mingyuan to "rebel".

  But Lin Qingwan had no intention of hiding it from her and told her the truth when she asked.

  "Eldest aunt, I think all of my cousins are quite good..."

  Lin Qingwan smiled, "Growing up together since childhood, the feelings of over a decade are there, and even if there are some conflicts, they won't affect the feelings. Moreover, this is an adult matter, you kids don't need to intervene, just live your own lives."

  Lin Yuhbin whispered, "Big brother and our generation..."

  "He's already crowned," Lin Qingyan said: "When you grow up, if you sisters fight, I won't stop you."

  Lin Yuhong stuck out his tongue, "I wouldn't dare fight with them, but little aunt, that's the Shang family's business, why do you want to intervene?"

  Lin Qingyan couldn't help but say that Zhao Sheng's actions made her feel uneasy in her heart.

  Lin Jiang had hinted that the Lin family's greatest enemy was the Zhao family. Now, Zhao Sheng didn't go to manage the newly purchased silver building and farm, but instead came to Suzhou to stir up trouble. How could she not be on guard?

  "Your elder cousin lived with us for a while when he was young, and he's also a poor child, so I'll just dote on him as his aunt."

  Looking at her immature aunt, Lin Yubin's face was full of disbelief. "You can go ahead and deceive me as much as you want, but I won't believe it."

  Lin Qingwan tapped her forehead and scolded, "Hurry up and practice your calligraphy, don't think that just because there's no teacher you can slack off."

  Lin Yuhbin covered his forehead and left.

  Lin Qingwan watched her leave and thought about whether she should find a tutor for her, as the child's studies couldn't be delayed.

  At this time, under the pretext of asking for peace, the four members of the Zhang family gathered in the Buddhist hall to discuss important matters.

  Shang Mingyuan's mother, Fang Shi, turned the Buddhist beads in her hand and said calmly after he finished speaking: "Don't bother with these unnecessary things, just follow the arrangements of your ancestors. Since your ancestors didn't say to divide the family property, then don't divide it. After your second uncle passes away, the title will naturally be yours. This is a promise your second uncle made in front of your ancestor's memorial tablet, he wouldn't dare not to keep it."

  Shang Mingyu pursed her lips and looked at her sister with patience, while Danlan ignored her mother and asked her brother directly, "Brother, do you want to be an official or a rich man?"

  Still hesitating and indecisive.

  Xiao Fang said in a low voice: "If Aunt Lin can really help Daling speak to Sun Gong, it's still better to have an official position."

  "An official from a humble background, unless he achieves military merit, will not go beyond the fifth rank. Sister, what can a fifth-rank official do in Jiangnan?"

  Mr. Xiao frowned, which was no better than relying on the Shang family.

  Danlan also thought so, and said to her elder brother: "I think Lin Auntie is right, Brother is very capable of managing the family business. If we can divide the family property and live a rich life on our own, relying on the Shang family will not be worse than entering officialdom."

  Mr. Fang's fingers swiftly slid over his Buddhist rosary, his face sinking as he said: "Can't you hear what I'm saying? I've already told you, don't think about dividing the family property. You're all doing well as the young masters and misses. When your Second Uncle retires, of course the title will be returned to us."

  "Mother," Danlan turned her head, her face sinking, "If Second Uncle had such intentions, he would have already asked Brother Feng to be the Crown Prince. Why drag it out? Don't mention that year's promise again. Have you ever seen a younger brother replace his older brother as emperor and then return it to his nephew after a few years? Second Uncle isn't without sons!"

  Mr. Fang's face turned red, "But this title belongs to our main house, it was because your older brother was too young and couldn't support the Fang family that your second uncle temporarily took over the title, his silence doesn't count."

  "There are many people in this world who don't keep their promises, without a contract, what can you do to him, Mother?" Danlan asked calmly.

  Fang's eyes widened in surprise, and after a moment of silence, he said, "The ancestors will not agree..."

  "Second Brother is quite good at reading books, among the grandchildren, he's the one our ancestors loved the most," Danlan sneered: "And besides, is this household still ruled by our ancestors?"

  Mr. Fang was startled.

  As the three of them walked out of the Buddha hall, they all let out a sigh. Danlan furrowed her brow and said, "In the future, it's better not to bother her with this kind of thing, we can just discuss it among ourselves."

  Xiao Fang smiled and helped Shang Mingyuan get out of the way: "The eldest son also wants his mother to be happy, after all, Lin Aunt is willing to help us, we have some help."

  "Mother only cares about status, no matter how many roads big brother finds, it's useless, so it's better not to bother her," Danlan paused and asked, "Big brother, why is Lin auntie helping you so much? Speaking of which, Yubin is closer to Erlang."

  Still proudly sticking out his chest, he said: "Second brother is closer to Yu Bin, but Aunt, Uncle and Lin Aunt are actually closer to me. After all, I lived with Uncle for three years, at that time Uncle treated me like a son."

  Xiao Fang didn't know about this and looked at Shang Mingyuan in surprise.

  Shang Danlan's face turned cold, "You've been living with your uncle for three years, but I haven't seen you get any smarter."

  He grunted and walked away after saying that.

  "Intelligence is innate, what can I do about it? If you want to blame someone, blame Dad..."

  Xiao Fang asked quietly, "Have you been to Uncle Lin's house before? How come I didn't know? No one in the family mentioned it either."

  "It's not something to be proud of, how can they say that?" Shang Mingyuan curled his lips, he didn't understand before, but in the past few years, he had slowly come to his senses. Things he didn't understand before now also slowly made sense.