“You are my son, it is only right for a son to follow in his father’s footsteps.” Jiang Mingzhe waved his hand, showing no embarrassment whatsoever.

"Aren't you afraid I'll kill those guys from the Jiang family?" Li Ping had no good feelings towards the rest of the Jiang family.

"Do whatever you want," Jiang Mingzhe said nonchalantly.

"Did I really make a move?"

"Don't kill them before March next year." After all, Grandpa Jiang and Grandma Jiang are Jiang Mingzhe's biological parents. If they die, he will have to observe mourning and won't be able to marry Ye Yunniang.

Since the Jiang family could no longer threaten Jiang Mingzhe, Li Ping changed his tune.

"Aren't you afraid that I'll tell Mother about all the bad things you've done?"

“Your mother has always known what kind of person I am.” Jiang Mingzhe did not hide anything from Ye Yunniang.

"Hypocritical." Li Ping knew without even thinking that Jiang Mingzhe must have said it when Ye Yunniang asked him; he wouldn't have said it if she hadn't asked.

The question asked was only on the surface.

"As long as your mother is happy, that's all that matters." Jiang Mingzhe will handle those storms.

“You’re hurting her,” Li Ping disagreed.

“My mother isn’t as weak as you think. You’re older than her, so you’ll definitely go before her. If you die, you won’t be able to protect her.”

Jiang Mingzhe: My own son, my own son...

"Even if I'm gone, you're still here."

“I will definitely take care of Mom. As a son, there are always things I can’t take care of. There are some things Mom can’t tell me.”

Jiang Mingzhe relented, "I'll consider it."

Ye Yunniang was unaware of the content of Jiang Mingzhe and Li Ping's conversation. At this moment, she stood at the entrance of the embroidery shop, watching the commotion at the Zhou family's shop.

"Lingling, are we really not going?"

"No need, Grandma said. We'd only be a hindrance; she can handle it all by herself." Zhou Lingling carefully wiped the newly received screen.

Since her own granddaughter had said so, Ye Yunniang decided not to go over.

Standing at the door, I watched as Cai Xiaomei and a plump woman argued.

Cai Xiaomei didn't utter a single swear word throughout the entire ordeal, leaving the other person speechless and gasping for breath while clutching their chest.

In the end, the plump woman was helped back home.

Ye Yunniang returned to the counter and sat down.

"Your grandma is amazing."

“Of course. In the surrounding streets, when it comes to arguing, my grandma is second to none,” Zhou Lingling said proudly.

"I need to learn from your grandma."

"Auntie, why do you need to learn this?"

"Only by arguing with others can you avoid being taken advantage of." After witnessing Cai Xiaomei's sharp tongue, Ye Yunniang realized that she had been too weak before.

Zhou Lingling didn't understand, but she supported it.

“I’ll talk to Grandma tonight and ask her to teach you.”

"No need, I'll talk to my aunt myself." Learning a skill from someone requires some preparation.

"Lingling, do you know who that woman is? Why is she causing trouble at the Zhou family's house?"

"She is my future stepmother and my former fiancé's mother."

Ye Yunniang's mind raced for a moment. "Cousin, are you getting married? When is it set?"

"Auntie, you can't get married before you have a child."

Cough cough cough... Ye Yunniang choked.

After recovering, Ye Yunniang reached out and tapped Zhou Lingling on the head.

"What nonsense are you talking about, little kid? Your aunt isn't married yet."

I said that, but I was a little nervous inside.

Jiang Mingzhe and she shared a room every night, so it was only a matter of time before she got pregnant.

I need to make things clear with Jiang Mingzhe tonight; I can't get pregnant before we get married.

"Oh, that's what I meant. It's unlikely my dad will get married."

"Why not?" If two people hit it off, they can quickly arrange a marriage through a matchmaker.

"My dad is such a blockhead, he still has that woman on his mind."

"She is your mother."

“Zhang Cai’er is not my mother.” In Zhou Lingling’s mind, Zhang Cai’er, who abandoned her husband and daughter, was not worthy of being her mother.

"No matter what, she carried you for ten months, gave birth to you, and raised you. She is your mother."

Although Ye Yunniang also disapproved of Zhang Cai'er's actions, she did not want Zhou Lingling to fall into hatred.

Zhou Lingling understood Ye Yunniang's meaning; she couldn't repay evil with kindness.

Ye Yunniang noticed this and changed the subject.

"Since it didn't work out, why is that woman making a scene?"

"My dad can't let go of that woman, and he also has feelings for Huixiang." Zhou Lingling said, pursing her lips. If Zhou Dong weren't her own father, she would have cursed him as a scumbag.

"So he's planning to keep that girl around?" Ye Yunniang frowned.

"I don't know. That's all I heard him say to Grandma, and I don't know anything after that."

What are your thoughts on your father marrying a stepmother?

“I have no opinion. He can marry her if he wants to, and he can stay away from marriage if he doesn’t.” Zhou Lingling is long past the age of needing her parents.

She works in an embroidery shop and can earn money to support herself.

Zhou Lingling was indifferent to Zhou Dong's marriage.

"Just tell me what you need me to do."

"Yes, I will, Auntie."

When Ye Yunniang returned home that evening, she saw her long-lost son.

"Mother, I miss you so much." Li Ping threw himself into Ye Yunniang's arms and acted coquettishly.

Ye Yunniang was enjoying her son's affection and forgot to mention that he wasn't coming home.

When she was resting, she remembered it, but Jiang Mingzhe stopped her.

"Children grow up and have their own ideas. We as parents should support them."

Ye Yunniang felt that what Jiang Mingzhe said was both right and wrong.

"What are you and your son plotting behind my back?"

"No."

“Jiang Mingzhe, I may not be as smart as you, but I’m not stupid. Are you hiding something from me?” Ye Yunniang sat up straight, crossed her arms, and demanded that Jiang Mingzhe explain himself.

Jiang Mingzhe explained how he designed Li Ping to take over Yunhua Trading Company.

There are two reasons.

One reason was to avoid giving money to the Jiang family.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!