Lan Yuan'an, the current patriarch of the Lan clan and the son of Old Madam Lan, as well as the father of Lan Tianxiong, sat in the first seat to her left.
Despite being over seventy years old, Lan Yuan'an, the patriarch of the Lan clan, still possessed great vigor. He respectfully asked Old Madam Lan, "Mother, the third son's family has returned. As per your instructions, I have temporarily housed them in the detached courtyard. Do you think it's time to hold an ancestral ceremony and formally recognize their return to the clan?"
Old Madam Lan pursed her lips, every wrinkle on her face exuding a harsh and calculating shrewdness.
She made a chopping motion in the air and waved her hand, saying, "No!"
"Why has the third son's family insisted on returning? In my opinion, it's not because they miss this old bone of mine, nor do they miss you, their flesh and blood. Their greatest ambition is to formally enter the ancestral shrine. That is our biggest bargaining chip, so how can we easily let them have their way?"
Old Madam Lan tapped the ground with her cane, "He, this unfilial descendant, has been expelled from the clan for decades and has not contributed even a single bit to the Lan clan. Now he wants to return and be recognized by the ancestors. Is it that easy?"
Lan Yuan'an fell silent.
Although he was the current patriarch of the Lan clan, in reality, all the power of the Lan clan was firmly held in the hands of Old Madam Lan. Everyone followed her lead.
Lan Yuan'an's second daughter, and Lan Tianxiong's second sister, wholeheartedly agreed with Old Madam Lan's words.
She eagerly chimed in, "Old Madam Lan is absolutely right. We cannot let them off so easily. If they want to return, they must show sincerity, show real money!"
"Didn't they recently acquire a fire crystal vein? That's a treasure of immeasurable value, inexhaustible. In my opinion, they must first give seventy percent of the shares to the Lan clan, otherwise, there's nothing to discuss!"
Lan Tianxiong's second sister spoke with a sour tone.
Clearly, she was extremely envious and jealous of the Lan family's great fortune.
And she was making an outrageous demand.
With a single mouth, she wanted to take seventy percent of the fire crystal vein.
It was like getting something for nothing.
Lan Yuan'an frowned. The fire crystal vein was such an important resource, and Lan Tianxiong's family must have paid a great price to obtain it.
Now, the Lan clan had done nothing, and they were asking Lan Tianxiong to give up seventy percent of his shares as an offering to the Lan clan. This seemed a bit too much.
Lan Tianxiong's second sister noticed her father's expression and said nonchalantly, "Father, why are you feeling sorry for him! Wasn't he rebellious and left the family when he was young? Does he have a point!"
"Moreover, in my opinion, after the third son was expelled from the family, his ability to quickly establish himself in Jiangnan City was all thanks to the influence of our Lan clan!"
"It's not that I look down on the third son, but with his abilities, he could never have achieved this on his own. Therefore, his family's fortune absolutely belongs to our Lan clan!"
"Now that they want to return, it is only natural for them to bleed a little!"
Lan Yuan'an had a total of four children.
Lan Tianxiong was the third child. He had an elder brother and a second sister. Lan Tianxiong also had a younger sister.
That is, Lan Xueyi's paternal aunt, who was also present in the ancestral hall, echoed her second sister's sentiments.
"My second sister is right. I feel the same way! The fire crystal vein that the third son's family has is so valuable. Even if they give us seventy percent, they will still have thirty percent left, which is more than enough for their family to live comfortably for a lifetime!"
"I think the third son shouldn't be stingy. He should hand it over readily!"
At this moment, Lan Tianxiong's eldest brother, Lan Xueyi and Lan Junjie's paternal uncle, spoke up.
He was a pillar of the third generation of the Lan clan and was now a fourth-rank official in the Governor's Mansion of Tianchu Province. Although not at the core of power, he was still a person with real influence.
He narrowed his eyes and said to Old Madam Lan, "The third son's fire crystal vein is secondary. The most important thing is the third son's pair of children!"
"I have seen him. The third son's son, Lan Junjie, is only sixteen years old and has already reached the Xuan Gang realm. No one among the younger generation in our Lan clan can compare to him."
"Furthermore, the third son's daughter's talent seems even stronger. I heard that a few days ago she already entered the middle stage of the Xuan Gang realm. This talent is extraordinary! In my opinion, even the prodigies of the level of the Four Young Masters of Tianchu are no more than this!"
Old Madam Lan nodded with great satisfaction.
"Then tell me your thoughts."
Lan Xueyi's paternal uncle said, "Old Madam, in my grandson's opinion, we don't need to divide the third son's fire crystal vein. However, we must control his pair of children, especially their marriages. They must be decided by us!"
"As for Lan Junjie, there's no need to say more. At sixteen years old, he's in the Xuan Gang realm. What great family in Tianchu City wouldn't be lining up to send their daughters for a marriage alliance? At that time, we might even be the ones choosing them! We can pick a marriage alliance with a great power stronger than the Lan clan!"
"Lan Xueyi, this girl, is even more remarkable. I have seen her, and she is truly stunningly beautiful, possessing both talent and beauty! For a prodigy daughter like her, even marrying her to a top young master like one of the Four Young Masters of Tianchu would be absolutely fitting!"
"Old Madam, think about it. If we can climb onto the high branches of the Governor's Mansion, Seven Star Cave, or Misty Cloud Mountain, then our Lan clan will no longer need to grovel and seek marriage alliances with those insignificant families!"
"This is the long-term plan!"
Lan Xueyi's paternal uncle said emphatically.
Lan Xueyi's second paternal aunt and youngest paternal aunt clapped their hands excitedly upon hearing this, "This is good! This is the best! By relying on such a great tree, our Lan clan can stand tall and never fall! Then we can lie at home and live a life of luxury, wouldn't that be wonderful."
The youngest paternal aunt said greedily, "I think we should not only control the marriage of the third son's pair of children but also take his fire crystal vein!"
Old Madam Lan looked approvingly at Lan Xueyi's paternal uncle, "Tianyi, you have spoken exactly what I intended! As for that mine, hehe, once Tianxiong's family is recognized by the ancestors, won't that mine naturally belong to the Lan clan!"
Everyone present showed their excitement.
Lan Xueyi's paternal uncle suddenly frowned and said, "Old Madam, there is something I need to report to you."
"According to the third son and his wife, Xueyi has already been married for several months!"
"What!"
Everyone was startled.
Two sharp rays of light suddenly shot out from Old Madam Lan's cloudy, aged eyes.
"Is that so!"
Old Madam Lan's wrinkled mouth opened and closed, "Have you inquired clearly, which family's young master did she marry?"
Lan Xueyi's paternal uncle replied, "Reporting to Old Madam, the third son found a live-in son-in-law for Xueyi! This live-in son-in-law is named Ling Fan. He is originally the descendant of an old friend of the third son. When the Ling family declined, the third son adopted this Ling Fan and married Xueyi to him!"
"I had heard about this before, but at that time, the third son's family had not yet obtained the fire crystal vein, nor had they prospered, and Xueyi's talent had not yet been revealed. So, I didn't pay much attention to it then."
"Nonsense!"
Old Madam Lan slammed her dragon-headed cane hard on the ground.
"That live-in son-in-law, did he come with the third son's family!"
Old Madam Lan's voice carried a chilling coldness that made one's blood run cold.