Seeing that the matter was settled, Miao Tong was still unwilling. After racking his brains, his eyes lit up and he deliberately asked, "Then, the children born in the future, will they be surnamed Miao or Tang?"
"Naturally, they will be surnamed Miao!" the Miao family said as a matter of course.
"The children born to our Tang family's hidden master will naturally be surnamed Tang!" The Tang family disagreed. The bloodline of the Tang family could be surnamed anything, but not Miao!
"Ridiculous! Since ancient times, children have followed their father's surname! We Miao family members are not marrying into your Tang family, so why should we follow your surname!" The Miao family disagreed, feeling that the Tang family was being too outrageous.
"Since ancient times, is that correct?" The Tang family immediately said, "At worst, our Tang family will pay the betrothal gifts, dowry, wedding house, and everything. We'll cover it all!"
"It's not like our Miao family is not rich! Do we need your Tang family to meddle?" the Miao family retorted. "The Miao family will pay what they should and won't be stingy about what they shouldn't. This child should be surnamed Miao!"
"Why must it be surnamed Miao..."
"In any case, it cannot be surnamed Tang..."
The Miao and Tang families started arguing again at the slightest disagreement. Only Miao Tong smiled with his lips curled and his eyebrows curved.
Very good, everything was under his control.
As long as this matter wasn't settled today, the marriage would be called off!
"What's the big deal?" Xia Qingtian glanced at Miao Tong and immediately said, "My uncle and Erya's child should naturally be surnamed Xia. My uncle is on our Xia family's household registration book."
"This!" the Miao family frowned. "Nonsense!"
"But!" the Tang family was also somewhat displeased. "That's not right!"
So, the children born to the young couple from the Miao and Tang families would be surnamed Xia?
How could this be!
"How about this, we'll compete fairly," Xia Qingtian said with a slight curl of her lips. "Before the child turns eighteen, they will follow the household registration and be surnamed Xia. When the child reaches eighteen, they can choose for themselves whether to be surnamed Miao or Tang, or not change the household registration and continue to be surnamed Xia. Is that acceptable?"
Although the Tang and Miao families felt something was not quite right, they had to admit that this was indeed a solution. So, after discussion, both sides nodded, thinking this was acceptable for the time being.
Throughout the whole process, Erya and Xia Shang, who had no sense of participation, watched dumbfounded as everyone decided the belonging of their child who hadn't even been conceived yet.
Only Miao Tong cast a resentful glance at Xia Qingtian, asking why she was treating him like this!
Xia Qingtian spread her hands and shrugged.
For the happiness of her uncle and Erya, and for the harmony between the Miao and Tang families, she could only let Miao Tong suffer a little.
Accept your fate and call Erya sister-in-law.
After all, Erya would live in Z City with Xia Shang in the future and they wouldn't see each other much throughout the year.
After this matter was settled, the Tang family members took their leave. Erya shyly glanced at Xia Shang and, for the first time, did not throw a tantrum and ask to stay, obediently following Tang Youxi.
Xia Qingtian and Lu Yaoyang also bid farewell. Before leaving, Xia Qingtian patted Miao Tong's shoulder, "The burden on your shoulders is getting heavier, you need to hold on, little uncle~"
"You tricked me," Miao Tong said speechlessly.
"It's not the first time, you'll get used to it." With that, Xia Qingtian left with Lu Yaoyang.
Looking at Xia Qingtian's retreating back, before Miao Tong could wallow in self-pity, he heard his father say, "Miao Tong, since your elder brother voluntarily gave up his position as the next family head, you will take over!"
"???" Miao Tong's mouth twitched. "Can I also voluntarily give it up?"
"Can I break your legs?" Mrs. Miao said the most dangerous words in the gentlest tone.
"..." Miao Tong pursed his lips, feeling extremely distressed. Recalling Xia Qingtian's words, "The burden on your shoulders is getting heavier, you need to hold on, little uncle~," Miao Tong was on the verge of tears.
Meanwhile, after leaving the Miao residence, Xia Qingtian and Lu Yaoyang got into the car. Xia Qingtian took out her phone and found several missed calls.
Before entering the Miao residence, to show respect for the reunion of the Lu, Miao, and Tang families, she had deliberately set her phone to silent.
Now, looking at her phone screen, Xia Qingtian frowned slightly, a bad premonition vaguely appearing in her heart.
Returning the calls, Xia Qingtian heard the rather heavy voice of Li Xiaozhong on the other end of the line, "My parents are missing."
"What?" Xia Qingtian was stunned. After hearing Li Xiaozhong's account of the process, Xia Qingtian immediately thought of Xiang Xueyuan, her gaze deepening, "I know. I'll send someone to look for them. Don't worry, I'll contact you as soon as I have news."
"Mhm," Li Xiaozhong wanted to say more, but in the end, could only remind Xia Qingtian, "Sister Qingtian, you should also be careful."
"Don't worry, don't tell your sister for now." Xia Qingtian also warned Li Xiaozhong before hanging up. She looked at Lu Yaoyang and said, "Dr. Li and his wife were supposed to go home yesterday, but until evening, Li Xiaozhong hadn't heard from them. Their phones were also not connecting. People from the project team said that Dr. Li and his wife had left long ago. Li Xiaozhong checked today and found that Dr. Li and his wife were taken away by unknown individuals."
As soon as Xia Qingtian finished speaking, another call came in informing her, "Qingyu went out for her morning practice this morning and hasn't returned! Her phone is also not connecting. I've looked everywhere but haven't found her!"
"!" Xia Qingtian's gaze shifted, and then she said in a deep voice, "Master Shi, please don't worry. I know where she is. I'll bring her home later."
"Do you need me to go over?" Master Shi vaguely sensed that Xia Qingtian's tone was not right.
"No, don't worry, I'll bring Qingyu home," Xia Qingtian said, her knuckles turning slightly pale from gripping her phone. "Soon."
After hanging up, Xia Qingtian looked at Lu Yaoyang, her expression grim, "Qingyu has also been taken."
"He's really impatient," Lu Yaoyang also guessed it was Xiang Xueyuan. He looked at Xia Qingtian and said, "I'll have Bai Yuqi find out where Xiang Xueyuan is."
"Yes, I'll prepare the treasure map," Xia Qingtian nodded. Wasn't this what Xiang Xueyuan wanted?
"I'll go with you," Lu Yaoyang said.
"It's not safe for you to accompany me, I'll go alone," Xia Qingtian said to Lu Yaoyang. "I need you to continue pushing our plan forward. You know, this time, we have no retreat."
Lu Yaoyang looked at Xia Qingtian with a complex gaze. Although they had appeared calm and confident in front of the Miao and Tang families, they both knew how crazy and dangerous their plan was.
Even a single mistake in one step would lead to eternal damnation.
Xia Qingtian had no system support, and he no longer had the chance to try again.
This was their only, and last, desperate gamble.