Chapter 1762: I'll introduce you to a young widow, do you want her?

"Where did you go? I couldn't find you anywhere!"

Seeing Chen Guanlou, Chen Xiaolan hurriedly asked.

Chen Guanlou casually explained, "I ran into an acquaintance and chatted for a bit. Why were you looking for me, Eldest Sister?"

Chen Xiaolan said solemnly, "I want to hold a memorial service for Father and Mother. What do you think?"

"It's all up to you, Eldest Sister. I will cover the silver required; you must not argue with me."

Chen Xiaolan laughed. "I won't argue with you. This memorial service should naturally be paid for and organized by you, the son. Now that life at home is good, if Father and Mother have spirits in heaven, they will certainly be gratified. It's just a pity that the Prince's children and the two nephews are not in the capital and cannot come to pay their respects together."

Mentioning this made Chen Guanlou unhappy, even a bit irritable.

He said coldly, "Eldest Sister, I advise you to give up this idea as soon as possible. First, I have no marital relationship with the Prince's daughter, so why should I ask her to pay respects to Father and Mother? Second, both children carry the surname Song and have nothing to do with our Chen family."

Chen Xiaolan immediately rolled her eyes at him. "Whether it has anything to do with them is not for you to decide! Even if you don't acknowledge them, you cannot sever their blood ties to the Chen family. Besides, is the Chen family so bad? Are you so bad? It's not like you aren't a match for the Prince's daughter."

Chen Guanlou tried to persuade her earnestly. "Sister, your younger brother cannot do things like burning bridges after crossing the river. The mansion the Prince's daughter gave me stands right outside the Imperial Palace, and there is a share of gold and jewelry for you too. Taking benefits on one hand while plotting for the third generation to return to the clan on the other—you are acting too unethically. I am truly ashamed to be associated with you."

"Stop quoting books at me. What does letting the two nephews return to the capital to pay respects to their grandfather and grandmother have to do with the third generation returning to the clan? Don't measure a gentleman's heart with a villain's yardstick! I don't deny I had similar thoughts before. But now, I just simply want the two children to pay respects to Father and Mother."

Chen Guanlou didn't believe a single word.

Regarding the two children, Chen Xiaolan had no credibility with him whatsoever.

Seeing that he didn't believe her, Chen Xiaolan punched him. "If you were more capable and had a few more cubs surnamed Chen, I wouldn't have to be a villain in vain."

Chen Guanlou hummed, barely responding.

Cubs surnamed Chen?

Don't even think about it in this lifetime!

He didn't want a single one!

Once they carried the surname Chen, they would be his responsibility.

By the time his son was seventy or eighty, old and decrepit, he would still be young. Looking at his dying son, he would certainly be furious. And he would have to worry about grandsons, and grandsons of grandsons...

He would have to be crazy to find trouble for himself.

Seeing that her uncle was impatient, Su Rongrong immediately stepped in to persuade her mother, Chen Xiaolan.

"Mother, you know Uncle's temper. Uncle eats soft but not hard. Tomorrow, Mother, speak gently and have a good chat with Uncle; maybe Uncle will soften his heart and agree to have a few more little cubs for the Chen family. Uncle doesn't need to get married, but having children is no problem. Just find a clean woman. Anyway, Uncle isn't short of money!"

Chen Xiaolan thought about it and realized it made sense; her daughter had grown up and knew how to share her burdens. She was very gratified.

Chen Guanlou took out money and found Baoguo Temple to hold a seven-day memorial service for his parents.

When the service ended, Chen Xiaolan had fulfilled a wish.

Not long after, she ran to Chen Guanlou. "Younger brother, I'll introduce you to a beautiful young widow, do you want her?"

Chen Guanlou looked at his eldest sister, Chen Xiaolan, in disbelief. "Sister, you don't have a fever, do you? How did you think of introducing a widow to me?"

"People outside all say you like young and beautiful widows. I thought wrong before and didn't grasp your preferences. This time, I guarantee you'll be satisfied. Let me tell you..."

"Wait! Who told you I like young widows? This is slander."

Chen Guanlou was heartbroken; his reputation was ruined.

He hadn't slept with many widows, so how did the rumor that he liked widows spread?

People just followed the crowd!

Now even his eldest sister was like this.

"Never mind whether it's slander or not, anyway, I'm telling you, I have a beautiful widow here; do you want to meet her?"

Chen Guanlou frowned. "Where did you find this widow?"

Chen Xiaolan gave him a full introduction.

The young widow's surname was Gu, known as Lady Gu. She had been married to her previous husband for three or four years before he died in an accident while out. Lady Gu had no children, and her in-laws claimed she was a husband-killer, so they didn't want her to stay and drove her back to her maiden home. Her brother and sister-in-law at her maiden home thought she was a disgrace and wouldn't tolerate her.

Lady Gu, a young widow, was pitiful and asked someone to help her find a place to stay, so she could at least have a place to live and a roof over her head.

Her brother wanted to send her to a wealthy local landlord as a concubine, but she refused. The landlord was old enough to be her grandfather; this wasn't taking a concubine, it was clearly ruining a person.

Her brother introduced her to a few others, but none were satisfactory. So, her brother declared that she must be married off within a month, otherwise she would be kicked out of the maiden home to find her own way.

Chen Xiaolan said earnestly, "I've seen Lady Gu, and I'm quite familiar with her. Her previous husband's family didn't live far from the old Su family. Lady Gu looks soft and weak, and she is a virtuous person. It's just a pity that she had no children after being married for several years, and now her husband is dead, and her brother and sister-in-law won't tolerate her. She found a few marriage prospects, but none were suitable; they were all full of schemes.

I see that she has outstanding looks and is in good health; the physician also said she is good at bearing children. The reason she hasn't had any is likely due to her previous husband. I'm not asking you to marry her as your main wife; just settle her casually and let her bear you a son. In the future, you can support her, or give her a sum of silver to settle her; both are fine."

Hearing the end, Chen Guanlou frowned deeply.

"Eldest Sister, when did you start the business of human trafficking?"

"Nonsense, I'm thinking of you out of the kindness of my heart, and you actually scold me for human trafficking; you heartless thing." Chen Xiaolan was furious.

Chen Guanlou snorted coldly, not being polite just because the other party was his sister. "That Lady Gu, you say she is a good person. Since she is a good person, why not marry properly instead of being willing to be my outside mistress? And she doesn't even ask me to support her for a lifetime? I have met women in the world who can think so openly, but their backgrounds were not very good.

If Lady Gu is a decent person, how could she accept such an arrangement? Sister, you still say you are not a human trafficker; aren't you deceiving Lady Gu, hoping to trick her over first and then talk about having a son?"

Hearing this, Chen Xiaolan was immediately furious and wanted to punch him.

Remembering her daughter Su Rongrong's persuasion earlier, she finally suppressed her temper and said nicely, "Your reputation has long spread to all the neighbors; no woman dares to expect to be with you for long. Lady Gu is willing to be with you naturally because she covets your looks, plus you are generous and give money and houses to women. That what's-her-name, Hongxing, and that... I don't even want to talk about you. Go out and listen to how everyone discusses you yourself.

Lady Gu told me she doesn't expect to be with you for long, only hoping to get your protection. After three or five years, she will have a foundation to stand on. At that time, whether she lives alone or marries, she will have a choice. Unlike now, being weighed and measured like meat, being criticized—it's truly heartbreaking." ===== CHAPTER 1763 =====