After Yang finished speaking, she pulled up a stool, sat down, picked up the unfinished shoe sole from the table, and continued sewing.

"Since we're under their roof, there's not much we can say. If you find it noisy, just bear with it for now. It'll be over in a couple of days."

Qiao Zhiyi lowered her eyelids and remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

"Mother, I want to go back."

Yang looked up abruptly, her hand stopping in its tracks.

"What did you say?"

"Mother, the Duan family has no intention of letting me join them. They only reluctantly agreed to let me be their concubine. Brother Duan Qi doesn't want me to be their concubine, but the Duan family will never let me be their wife."

If things continue like this, it will be difficult for Brother Duan Qi.

My status is quite different from Duan Qi's right now. Even if I become a concubine, I won't have a good life. Just like you said, Mother, when you're under someone's roof, you can't say anything. Whether it's good or bad, I have to bear it all by myself.

I didn't want to put Duan Qi in a difficult position, and I certainly didn't want to embarrass myself.

"Zhiyi, you should think this through. Even if you marry a farmer who toils in the fields, you might not have a stable life or a comfortable life waiting for you."

Marrying into the Duan family means at least you'll never have to worry about food or clothing; such a life is something many people can only dream of.

Why are you being so dramatic here?

What's so difficult about it?

Duan Qi enjoys the blessings of having two wives: a wife who can help him in his future career and a concubine who shares his feelings. What's wrong with that for him? Why is he in a difficult position?

Besides, your marriage was arranged when you were young.

Forget about being a formally married wife, you weren't even given the status of a secondary wife. Who's the one who's wronged? And you're saying he's in a difficult position? Do you even have a brain?

I raised you all these years, only for you to turn against others and worry about them?

"You should worry about yourself first." Getting angrier as she spoke, Yang slammed the shoe sole she was holding onto the table with a "bang," got up, and stormed off, slamming the door behind her.

Qiao Zhiyi remained with her head down, her body stiff, tears falling silently onto the blanket.

Yang slammed the door and came out. There was a man standing by the door, the gatekeeper from the Duan family mansion, who didn't like this family very much.

But since his wife had given him such a cushy job, he was happy to cooperate, especially since there was money to be made.

The lady gave him one tael of silver.

If this matter can be handled well, I will surely gain the favor of the lady in the future.

The servant rubbed his hands together, and Yang, who rushed out, twitched her lips. "Auntie, we need to go into this house and check the condition of the roof. It might need major repairs and the beams need to be replaced." To increase credibility, the servant deliberately said this.

Seeing that Madam Yang was staring at him, the servant licked his lips, feeling a little guilty. "Why don't you go and ask our master if we can stop the inspection here?"

Otherwise, we wouldn't be able to explain ourselves to our subordinates.

He had no choice but to use his status as a powerful figure to intimidate people.

Thinking of the Duan family's attitude, Yang also clearly didn't want to have any contact with them. "Alright, go in. Keep your movements quiet and don't disturb my daughter's rest."

Without much thought, Yang let the person in.

The servant bowed and scraped as he pushed open the door and went inside.

Zhang carried a food box into the training courtyard, a spacious courtyard used by Duan Qi for physical training.

The spacious courtyard was clear at a glance. There weren't many flowers and plants, but there were plenty of cold weapons for practice, and many sandbags were still hanging on the wooden pillars buried in the ground.

When Zhang entered, Duan Qi was jumping and kicking a sandbag. The sandbag was hanging above his head, higher than him. Duan Qi had good jumping ability, so he jumped up and kicked the sandbag right above his head.

Seeing her son's martial arts skills, Zhang couldn't help but feel proud. "Qi'er, Mother has made some pastries. Come and have some!"

Duan Qi wiped the sweat from his face with a white handkerchief, walked over, shirtless, revealing a body of solid muscles, his bronze skin glistening with sweat, exuding a strong masculine aura.

He had regular features and a righteous air about him, and he smiled at Zhang.

"Mom, the sun must have risen in the west today! Why did you suddenly decide to come see me?"

Zhang glared at Duan Qi with a hint of anger.

"Why would I come over if there was nothing wrong? I just came to talk to you about you and Zhiyi."

Upon hearing this, Duan Qi paused for a moment, his lips pressed tightly together, his expression stubborn.

"Mother, please don't bring this up anymore. I will never let her become a concubine."

"Sigh, I'm only doing this for your own good. Do you think I want that child to become a concubine? It's not a good thing for a child to marry into our household as a concubine. It's not a good thing for that child to be proud of."

But isn't the second daughter of the Cui family interested in you? And the Cui family members are also interested in you. You've met the second daughter of the Cui family, and you've had quite a bit of contact with her. She's also come to our mansion quite often.

What's wrong with that girl? Why do you dislike her so much?

"Everywhere is fine, but I love Zhiyi and I will marry no one but her."

"So, you're just going to leave the second daughter of the Cui family hanging? You want her to be your concubine? Do you really think the Cui family would send their second daughter into your home as a concubine?"

Duan Qi frowned. "Mother, I didn't mean that. I have no intention of having any involvement with Miss Cui."

Zhang gave a cold laugh.

"So people keep coming to the manor? The Cui family sent people to talk about you and Miss Cui, and your father has already expressed his opinion."

"You suddenly say you don't want to have anything to do with anyone anymore? Do you think they'd be willing to do that?"

Duan Qi frowned. What could he do? That Miss Cui was so eager to get close to him? Could he just kick her out of the manor?

Besides, every time he came over, his mother would treat him with great hospitality and enthusiasm. How could such an attitude not lead people to misunderstand?

“There’s no reasoning with you, child. Anyway, they’ve proposed this marriage, and your father has agreed. They’ll have to come over to exchange betrothal gifts soon.”

Duan Qi chewed on the pastries without tasting them, his face dark and unpleasant.

“Mother, if we treat the Qiao family like this and break our promise, aren’t you afraid that people will gossip about our Duan family and call us ungrateful?”

How did the Qiao family treat my Duan family in the past?

How was the marriage arrangement between us and the Qiao family decided? Was it our Qiao family that eagerly pursued and arranged it with the Qiao family?

Now you're discarding them like trash, treating your benefactors and the Qiao family like dirt—you've gone too far."

Duan Qi grabbed the clothes draped over the pillar, put them on, and was about to leave.

Zhang called out to Duan Qi.

"Wait, Zhiyi isn't feeling well, and I heard she eats very little. These pastries should suit her taste. You can take them over there; I won't go myself. I feel guilty towards that girl."

Zhang spoke with such sincerity and a look of remorse that Duan Qi's expression softened, and he actually believed her. He picked up the food box and left.