Chapter 582 There Was Nothing She Could Do
Actually, the most apprehensive person then was none other than Ning Ran. After all, Nan Zhengde said that he was overjoyed that year because the Nan family had expanded with an additional two members.
It was two, not three. That was to say; he hadn’t regarded her as part of the Nan family thus far. She wasn’t disappointed about that because she wasn’t part of the Nan family in the first place.
The outside world loved to say that she was good at climbing into beds, having bedded the right person, and giving birth to children of the Nan family, thus enjoying a higher status thanks to her children.
However, she had never thought of it that way. Never had she felt that she could gain a foothold among the so-called elite classes just because she had given birth to children of the Nan family.
On the contrary, she was worried that she would be dragged into the internal strife of wealthy families for that exact reason.
Her mother’s death enlightened her to a truth—having money wasn’t necessarily a good thing. The more money one had, the greater the risk one had to shoulder.
That principle had always held true because there were few affluent individuals in this world, with twenty percent of the people in possession of eighty percent of the global wealth.
For that reason, rich people were often the target of attacks, just like her mother.
She often thought that perhaps her mother wouldn’t have died so prematurely if she were an ordinary white-collared employee instead of a company owner.
She could have gone to work every day and helped Ning Ran look after her children upon retiring. That would have been a blissful life.
They could have still been happy without so much money.
Alas, Ning Ran no longer had the opportunity to experience that, nor would she ever have it again.
Therefore, her understanding of money was vastly different from many others. She had experienced poverty and realized the importance of money.
Nonetheless, she didn’t harbor much desire for money. In fact, she even had a fear of having too much money.
Hence, she was stricken with terror right then.
She knew that the stipulation Nan Zhengde proposed must have something to do with the children or with her.
What if he proposes that I give the children to the Nan family? Then, I’ll have to hand over their custody as well. How am I to make a choice? Ask the children to give up those shares? I don’t have the right to do so. The Nan family is their root at the end of the day, and those shares also signify that they’re destined to be in the top twenty percent of this society. Some people can’t get into those ranks even after toiling for a few generations, but they’ve been given that privilege for nothing. What right do I have to deprive them of their rightful inheritance?
She bit her lip and forced herself to calm down slightly.
“Everyone is listening, Darling. Just say it if there’s anything you’d like to say,” Feng Wan urged beside him.
Ning Ran could feel her palms perspiring relentlessly.
“I want them to return to their roots and register their names under the Nan family’s household register, changing their family names to Nan. As for their names, I think they can remain as they are. What do you all think?”
Despite saying “you all,” Nan Zhengde was looking right at Ning Ran.
Unbidden, Ning Ran’s eyes turned red-rimmed all of a sudden.
Logically speaking, she should be happy that the children were returning to their roots and becoming part of the Nan family officially. After all, the Nan family was indeed a towering tree that could shield them from storms and gales.
However, a sense of loss inundated her at that moment. Once the children’s names are registered under the Nan family’s household register, does that also mean that their custody belongs to the Nan family? And so, I don’t matter anymore?
“Don’t cry, Mommy!” Erbao noticed that her mother was on the verge of tears.
“Mommy, we won’t do it if you object. Don’t cry,” Dabao coaxed immediately.
Choking, Ning Ran lifted her head and looked at the light fixtures above as though to prevent her tears from escaping her eyes.
“You can think about it first before giving me an answer,” Nan Zhengde murmured kindly.
“Grandpa, let’s table this matter until I’ve discussed it with Ning Ran. The children are still young, so there’s really no rush for them to have the shares,” Nan Chen interjected.
He understood Ning Ran’s thoughts, and he could also comprehend her fear of losing the children.
“Ning Ran is worried that she’ll lose custody of the children after they are registered under the Nan family’s household register and fear that the Nan family will even forbid her from visiting them. It’s inevitable that she’s reluctant to part with them after having raised them thus far,” Nan Xing elucidated bluntly.
“That won’t happen.”
After saying that, Nan Zhengde turned his gaze to Ning Ran and continued, “If you really think so, I think your worry is unnecessary. I’ve asked the lawyer, and the children’s household register won’t affect their custody. Besides, we have no intention of fighting you for their custody. Therefore, you can actually rest easy in terms of that. As for their family name, they’re Nan Chen’s children, so it’s only natural that they take his family name. Nothing will be affected by them changing their family name.”
He wore a smile on his face while explaining it all.
Truth be told, it was already a great compromise for Ning Ran. Considering the Nan family’s status, what could she do if Nan Zhengde was adamant about changing the children’s family name and fighting her for their custody? There was nothing she could do.
“I agree.” Ning Ran nodded in assent.
“You don’t have to agree in such a hurry, Ning Ran. We can discuss this further,” Nan Xing advised at the side, worried that she was putting herself through heartache.
“He’s right. There’s no rush, and we can still discuss it before making a decision,” Nan Chen echoed.
“This is for the children’s good, so I have no right to hamper it. I agree. Truly, I have no objections.” By then, Ning Ran had already calmed down completely.
Nan Zhengde and Feng Wan exchanged a look, both very much gratified at her sensible decision.
“In that case, I’ll have the lawyer draw up the share transfer agreement tomorrow. However, this matter will be kept private for the time being. Those are my personal shares, so there’s no need to notify the board of directors. Thus, this matter will only be known to the few of us here,” Nan Zhengde declared.
Everyone nodded in acknowledgment.
“Also, the children are still young now and lack the capability for civil conduct. As such, their shares will be handed over to a third party to manage until they are of age, during which their guardian aren’t allowed to manage the shares on their behalf. Even Nan Chen isn’t allowed to do so,” Nan Zhengde added.
Even Nan Chen wasn’t allowed to do so, much less Ning Ran.
Hence, those shares would remain under the two children’s names for many years to come until they reached a certain age and had the capacity for civil conduct. Then, they would be able to manage those shares themselves.
That also guaranteed that Dabao and Erbao would always be major shareholders in Nanshi Corporation no matter the changes in the company.
Despite their age, they would still be major shareholders, so others would have no choice but to submit to them.
“However, their guardian has the right to manage the dividends and other income generated from those shares,” Nan Zhengde continued.
Nanshi Corporation generated high profits, so the major shareholders obtained a pretty penny in dividends every year. In other words, Erbao and Dabao’s guardian would also have a king’s ransom annually.
Of course, there would only be dividends if the company was doing well.
“Whatever you say, Grandpa. I have no objections,” Nan Chen stated.
“I have no objections either,” Ning Ran murmured.
When it came to such a matter, it would be of no use even if she had any objections, for it was merely a formality.
“Okay, it’s decided then! That will be my Lunar New Year’s gift to my two great-grandchildren!” Nan Zhengde was delirious with joy.
After listening for such a long time, Dabao understood a thing or two, but Erbao was at a complete loss.
“Grandpa, what Lunar New Year gift did you give me exactly? And when can I see it?” Erbao inquired with puzzlement written all over her face.
Upon hearing that, everyone burst into laughter. They forgot all about the incident with Ouyang Duo earlier, chatting and laughing as they ate.
