Chapter 12 Ancestral Worship

Chapter 12 Ancestral Rites

"You... is this how your mother usually teaches you?!" The woman's delicate eyebrows furrowed tightly in anger.

Su Mi glanced at the water gun, then threw it on the floor and crushed it underfoot, her smile unwavering. "My mother only teaches me to follow the rules when visiting others' homes and not to run around wildly. Otherwise, what's the difference from an uncouth child with no upbringing?"

"Mom! She crushed my gun!" A boy grabbed the woman's arm, whining incessantly.

Perhaps feeling emboldened by an adult's presence, another boy raised his water gun and sprayed her.

Water splashed onto her white coat. Su Mi looked at the smug boy, suddenly stepped forward, grabbed his arm, snatched the water gun, and blasted him right in the forehead.

"Ahhhhh! Auntie, save me!" The boy screwed his eyes shut in pain, struggling uselessly with both hands.

Seeing this, the woman angrily tried to intervene. "How old are you? How can you pick on little children like this!"

Only when a stream of icy water hit her own face did the woman freeze on the spot, staring at Su Mi in disbelief.

"You're such a grown-up. Surely you won't pick on a little kid like me, right?" She looked utterly innocent.

Then, right in front of the fuming woman, she snatched all the water guns and crushed every single one underfoot.

Instantly, the hallway was filled with a chorus of wails.

"These guns must have been expensive. I'll definitely compensate you for their full value," Su Mi said, then glanced at her coat. "This coat of mine can't be washed. It's only about 230,000 yuan. Would you mind covering that too? Or should I go find their respective parents?"

Never having encountered such a disrespectful junior, the woman's still-charming face twisted slightly. This girl and Su Ruanruan were like night and day in temperament.

"What's going on here?"

Su Mi's mother, hearing the commotion, rushed over first. Seeing a group of crying children in the hallway, her brow twitched. She quickly pulled her daughter aside, then looked apologetically at the woman. "Mimi must not be feeling like herself. Please don't hold it against a younger person."

Hearing this, the woman seemed to find an outlet, her voice rising sharply. "She's in her twenties already, yet she's picking on little kids! Look, she got water all over my face! How am I supposed to face people later!"

"You're in your forties and you're picking on me? Who's the one with no manners here?" Su Mi's eyebrow lifted slightly. "Besides, I was playing with them because I like them. If I didn't like them, would I waste my time having a water fight?"

Upon hearing this, the woman's breathing grew rapid. She glared furiously at Su Mi's mother, as if questioning how she raised her daughter.

The latter simply pulled her daughter back to her room, lest her daughter's temper flare up again. If that happened, it wouldn't be just a simple water fight anymore.

"Is this how you teach your child, Second Sister-in-law? Such poor manners don't deserve to be called a Su family child. I'd be embarrassed to admit it!" the woman sneered.

Mrs. Su shot her an unhappy glance. "What's wrong with Mimi playing with some kids? If you find it embarrassing, keep a better eye on your own sons. My daughter doesn't need random people barking orders at her."

With that, she calmly walked downstairs, instructing the servants to bring the still-crying children down and not allow them back on the second floor.

Icy water trickled down from the corner of her mouth. The woman gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, and could only temporarily go to Su Ruanruan's room to tidy up.

After changing into casual clothes, Su Mi touched up her makeup. If it weren't for the ancestral rites today, where causing a scene was inappropriate, she would have made those brats cry even louder.

Soon, a servant's call came from outside, saying they were only waiting for her now.

When she went downstairs, she saw the living room packed with people. However, the class distinctions were clear: only the Su family's direct lineage could sit. At the head was the old man, flanked by several elders of similar age, likely the Eldest Granduncle, Third Granduncle, and the like.

Su Ruanruan was also sitting on the sofa, looking restless. Clearly, this was also the old man's intention.

The purpose was to tell everyone that no matter what, Su Ruanruan was Su family blood, and nothing could change that.

So that's why the old man was so kind as to put her on the family register. His true intentions lay elsewhere. The main purpose of gathering everyone today was probably to announce that Su Ruanruan's status remained unchanged.

"Go on, greet everyone," her mother quickly whispered, taking her hand.

Su Mi maintained her smile and addressed each elder as "Grandfather."

As long as people didn't pick fights, she was willing to maintain surface-level politeness.

Su Min immediately waved her over, gesturing for her to sit beside him.

Perhaps knowing she shouldn't be sitting there, Su Ruanruan immediately stood up. Only after meeting Su Zhen'an's dissatisfied gaze did she hesitantly sit back down.

"Su Min offended someone before, causing our own flesh and blood to be lost outside. Fortunately, the child has been found now. Ruan Ruan is also a sensible child. From now on, let's not mention anything about biological or not. Starting today, they are both our Su family's flesh and blood. Mimi will henceforth be the direct eldest daughter of the second branch. In my personal capacity, I will give her three percent of the company's shares as compensation for her years away," Su Zhen'an stated formally.

Instantly, the others exchanged glances, dissatisfied. Su Ruanruan hadn't received any shares before. Now this uncouth girl gets shares as soon as she returns. Biological really is different.

Several documents lay on the table, along with a thick family register. Given the Su family's prolific lineage, its thickness was unsurprising.

But Su Mi knew the old man had left twenty percent of the shares for Su Ruanruan. It was just that she refused to accept them. Only after the old man died and the will was read did she reluctantly accept them under pressure.

But three percent was three percent. She didn't have strong feelings about it. Whether she could keep them in the end was uncertain anyway. Only by increasing her own value could she create lasting wealth.

"Thank you, Grandfather." She sat there expressionlessly.

Not expecting much enthusiasm from her, Su Zhen'an didn't want to say more. He personally took up the brush and wrote her name on the family register, including her birth date and other details.

Afterward, he signaled for her to sign the share transfer contract.

Under the varied gazes of the crowd, Su Mi took the pen and signed her name on the document.

"From now on, you must set a good example and be a role model for your younger sisters. Don't act recklessly and do as you please anymore," Su Zhen'an said sternly.

She had only been behaving for a few days, and the old man couldn't resist lecturing her again. Su Mi kept smiling and nodded, not wanting to make a big deal of it.

"Mimi is, after all, a proper young lady of our Su family. Entering the entertainment industry as an actress is rather damaging to our reputation. Isn't that just inviting others to laugh at us?" An elderly man with graying hair beside them frowned.

Immediately, the woman from upstairs earlier chimed in. "Exactly! Our Su family ancestors were from scholarly, aristocratic families. There has never been a case of descendants becoming actors. Put nicely, they're called stars. Put bluntly, isn't that just selling smiles?"

"If Mimi doesn't set a good example, no wonder Ruan Ruan is following suit. Who knows how outsiders will view our Su family?"

"Right. Instead of being a proper young lady, she insists on selling smiles. What is that if not self-degradation?"

Everyone chimed in, and the living room instantly grew noisy. Su Zhen'an sat there, his expression unreadable. Only Su Ruanruan seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

"When are we going for the ancestral rites?" Su Mi looked at her mother.

The latter was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting her daughter to remain calm today. She immediately looked at her father-in-law. "It's getting late. Should we set off now?"

She was afraid if they delayed any longer, her daughter's temper might flare up again.

"Starting today, both of you quit that so-called entertainment industry! What kind of appearance is that!" the eldest elder said sternly.

"Ancestral rites can happen anytime. But if our ancestors see their descendants not taking a proper path and going off to sell smiles, who knows what dreams they'll send our fathers at night," a middle-aged woman said meaningfully.

"Seeing descendants like this, of course the ancestors would be angry."

Su Mi smiled slightly and turned her gaze to the woman who had just spoken. "Auntie, you're also an elder. At your age, still going to the Tianma Club and keeping young male companions... isn't that even more damaging to our reputation?"

"And your son, still young but already learning to do drugs from others, getting so high he almost caused a car accident. If our ancestors saw that, they'd probably be so angry they'd flip their coffin lids, right?"

Her calm voice was like a boulder dropped into still water. The aunt instantly changed color, pointing at her and stammering angrily, "What nonsense are you spouting!"

"How dare you speak to my mother like that!" A teenager, maybe seventeen or eighteen, stormed up looking furious.

Su Mi coolly picked up her phone. "If I report this to the police right now, I might even get a 'Good Samaritan' award banner."

Su Zhenan's eyebrow twitched. "Alright, let's set off for the ancestral worship now."

Others certainly wouldn't have the nerve, but his granddaughter was a different story.

The middle-aged woman shot Su Mi a resentful glare. "Dad, aren't you going to discipline this girl for speaking to her elders like that?!"