Previously, Jiang Mingzhe had not returned to Jiangcheng, and things remained unclear.

Chunyao understood that Jiang Mingzhe and the Jiang family's enemies might harm Ye Yunniang and her son, so she kept quiet.

Now, Jiang Mingzhe takes Ye Yunniang home in a carriage, no longer caring about what others think.

This indicates that the Jiang family is about to rise again in Jiangcheng.

At this point, both Jiang Mingzhe and Ye Yunniang needed manpower.

By joining them, they not only helped Ye Yunniang but also demonstrated their value.

"Your family members are just a bunch of ambitious, brainless idiots who spill everything. What can they possibly do?" Jin Dachuan's words were quite serious.

"Jin Dachuan, what do you mean?" Chunyao frowned.

"What I mean is to keep your family in check and not let them act recklessly and offend Second Master by dancing in front of Madam Ye."

"Don't slander my brother. Ye Yunniang is just a clueless widow. I'm doing her a favor by helping her." After Chunyao finished speaking, Jin Dachuan's face turned very ugly.

Chunyao realized she had said the wrong thing, "I didn't,"

"No wonder Lady Ye distanced herself from you later."

"Stay away from me? What are you talking about? How could Ye Yunniang possibly stay away from me?" Chunyao didn't believe it. With Ye Yunniang's gentle and weak nature, she would always do whatever Ye Yunniang said.

“I misspoke earlier. You and your brothers are just as stupid and arrogant as I am.” Jin Dachuan said and walked out of the room.

My thoughts have changed.

Originally, Jin Dachuan's idea was that Jiang Mingzhe would return, and he would continue working as the Jiang family's cook.

Judging from Chunyao's words and actions now, she is thinking about her family's future and knows she can't go back to the Jiang family.

Ye Yunniang led the children in tidying up and arranging the items they had brought back.

After tidying up, Cai Damei also prepared dinner.

Sitting in her special chair, Bao Shuyi looked around and asked, "Where's my brother?"

The "brother" that Bao Shuyi mentioned refers to Jiang Mingzhe.

Jiang Mingzhe originally wanted Bao Shuyi to call him "brother-in-law." Ye Yunniang felt that it was inappropriate to call him "brother-in-law" since they were not yet married.

Cai Damei told Bao Shuyi to call Jiang Mingzhe "brother".

“My brother has come home,” Cai Damei replied.

"This...isn't this my brother's house?"

“No, this is our home,” Li Ping replied. He was happiest when Jiang Mingzhe left.

"Where does my brother live?" Bao Shuyi asked curiously.

“He has no home,” Li An replied. The Jiang family’s property had been confiscated, so where would he have a home?

"Is my brother a beggar?"

Bao Shuyi remembered Ye Yunniang saying that beggars who beg for a living on the road are people without homes.

“Yes, yes, yes, my aunt is a beggar.” Li Ping chimed in, sparing no effort in smearing his own father.

"Eat your food." Ye Yunniang stopped the children from saying anything more and scooped a spoonful of steamed egg custard for Shushu.

Then she put the three children's favorite dishes on their plates.

Cai Damei ate her meal calmly without saying a word.

After dinner, Li Pan and Li An tidied up and went to wash up. The two of them took on the task of washing the dishes at home.

Li Ping, carrying Bao Shuyi, wiped the table.

Ye Yunniang went to fetch water and boil it.

After washing up and getting ready, the family returned to their rooms to rest.

While the Li family was resting and fast asleep, Jiang Mingzhe met Bao Min in the courtyard.

"Evidence of Xing Wenzhi's crimes." After learning the reason why Ye Yunniang was abducted, Jiang Mingzhe arranged for his subordinate, Wen Yuan, who was best at gathering information, to investigate Xing Wenzhi and everything about the Xing family behind him.

Before Jiang Mingzhe returned to Jiangcheng, Wen Yuan had thoroughly investigated everything that one of the Xing family's cats had done.

Bao Min took it and flipped through it; Xing Wenzhi had done quite a few dirty things over the years.

He slandered political enemies, causing their exile; hired assassins to commit murder; accepted huge bribes; and illegally seized land...

Pick any one of them at random, and Xing Wenzhi would be beheaded. Add all of them together, and not a single member of the Xing family will escape.

After reading it, Bao Min placed it on the table and said, "Ye Yunniang has decided to marry you."

"yes."

"You win."

"The biggest difference between you and me is that I never gamble with feelings." Jiang Mingzhe has been in business for many years, has seen too many people, and has experienced too many things.

Jiang Mingzhe understood one thing: don't gamble with your feelings, and don't deceive those who are truly sincere to you.

“My wife is ill, and I’m afraid her body can’t handle it,” Bao Min explained.

"Is it more dangerous than the deaths of Li Jun and his son, and the relatives forcing the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law to give up their land and trying to kill them?" Jiang Mingzhe asked rhetorically.

“They are different.”

“Bao Min, stop making excuses. In your heart, your official position and your future are more important than her.” Jiang Mingzhe spoke out what Bao Min was thinking deep down.

"No. The entire city depends on me; our prefectural government cannot afford to be in disarray."

"During the disaster relief period, did Xing Wenzhi really help you?"

Xing Wenzhi embezzled disaster relief grain with others.

"Of the treasures you obtained from my Jiang family, Xing Wenzhi kept a considerable amount for himself." Jiang Mingzhe pulled out several pages from the evidence, which clearly recorded Xing Wenzhi's embezzlement.

"The real reason you haven't taken action against Xing Wenzhi is because you're afraid of the Lin family behind Madam Xing. You're afraid the Lin family will turn against you. You're afraid of losing your position as the prefect of Jiangcheng."

Bao Min's face showed annoyance at being caught out.

"Bao Min, you have disappointed me greatly." Jiang Mingzhe was truly disappointed in Bao Min.

The person sitting in front of him was no longer the passionate Bao Min who wanted to serve his country and its people.

Rather, he was a judge who weighed everything and calculated every gain and loss.

"What can I do? My sister-in-law's brother was a poor commander and died in battle. His death will solve everything."

My elder brother was implicated and imprisoned, and my sister-in-law fell seriously ill as a result.

Wenbo pleaded for leniency but was punished with a year of confinement as reflection. Yunluo unexpectedly disappeared.

My family could only count on me. At that time, I recklessly caused trouble for the Xing family. What awaited the Bao family was the destruction of their home and their lives.

Bao Min could only suppress everything and let the Xing family continue to run rampant, while focusing on doing a good job of disaster relief in Jiangcheng.

They used this achievement to save their elder brother's life and beg Wenbo to be unbanned.

Faced with Bao Min's outburst, Jiang Mingzhe only said one sentence.

"Bao Min, you're very calculating."

After the floods subsided, Bao Min deliberately concealed some of the facts from Cai Damei.

He knew Cai Damei's personality; she would get angry and take the children away to the frontier to find Ye Yunniang.

Bao Min knew that Jiang Mingzhe was on the frontier and that he had feelings for Ye Yunniang.

Jiang Mingzhe will definitely go to save Ye Yunniang.

Knowing the reason why Ye Yunniang was abducted, Jiang Mingzhe will definitely activate his hidden influence in Jiangcheng to find out the truth about Xing Wenzhi.

This evidence is crucial for Bao Min's plan to deal with Xing Wenzhi and the Xing family. It will also severely damage the Lin family, which is behind the Xing family.

In addition, it also allows Bao Min to get a clear picture of Jiang Mingzhe's strength.

"You taught me that all's fair in war," Bao Min laughed, pleased with himself for defeating Jiang Mingzhe.

“I never taught you to deceive your own woman and daughter’s feelings.” Jiang Mingzhe’s words made Bao Min’s smile disappear.

“Madam, I will not give up.” Bao Min was determined to keep Cai Damei from leaving his grasp.

"I'll wait and see."