After everyone sat down, Zhou Yang looked at Yang Jianguo and Zheng Yulan, who were blushing, and then at Lin Xiaohui, who was grinning from ear to ear.

Finally, my gaze settled on Jiang Qiaoqiao's face, which was grinning slyly.

He couldn't help but lean closer to Jiang Qiaoqiao and say, "Sister Qiaoqiao, why is everyone acting so strange today? Brother Jianguo and Sister Yulan look like they've done something wrong, Aunt Lin looks like she's found gold, and you're smiling like a fox. What's wrong with you all?"

When he said this, he leaned very close to Jiang Qiaoqiao so that no one else could hear him; he was practically whispering in her ear.

Jiang Qiaoqiao didn't think there was anything wrong with it, after all, Zhou Yang was just a little kid in her eyes!

Considering her age in her previous life, if her first child had been born normally, he would have been older than Zhou Yang.

But Huo Beixiao's expression, which had been relatively calm, instantly darkened.

"Do not speak while eating or sleeping!"

He spoke, offering a cold yet serious reminder.

The already awkward atmosphere at the dinner table was instantly calmed down, and everyone lowered their heads and obediently ate their rice.

Huo Beixiao watched as Jiang Qiaoqiao obediently lowered her head and ate her rice, as if afraid of making any noise, and a rare hint of embarrassment appeared on his face.

His serious gaze fell on Zhou Yang's face, and he added, "I'm talking about you."

"Oh." Zhou Yang snapped out of his daze, quickly straightened his posture, and started eating properly.

But she secretly looked at Jiang Qiaoqiao and asked, "What's wrong with Huo Beixiao?"

Jiang Qiaoqiao helplessly shrugged, indicating that she didn't know either.

Maybe it's true, every man has those few days?

Huo Beixiao's face darkened even more as he watched Zhou Yang interact with his wife.

Qiaoqiao and he had never had such a tacit and intimate eye contact before!

When Zhou Yang looked up and met Huo Beixiao's cold and sharp gaze, his heart trembled, and he quickly lowered his head to eat his rice.

To avoid meeting Huo Beixiao's terrifying gaze, he practically buried his face in the bowl.

*

"Hey, isn't that the deputy director of the food factory? What's going on? Why is such a high-ranking factory director kneeling down outside this tiny duck products shop?"

"I heard the food factory hasn't been doing well lately. Could it be that Director Jiang is kneeling here begging the shop owner to sell them the recipe in order to improve the factory's business?"

"What do you know? Didn't you see that Director Jiang and his wife were carrying rattan canes on their backs and holding up signs?"

“Qiaoqiao, we’re sorry, Mom and Dad were wrong.” Someone immediately read aloud the words on the sign that Jiang Jiahua and Peng Cuiying were holding.

"I know about this. Qiaoqiao is the biological daughter of Deputy Factory Director Jiang. She was switched at birth in the hospital and was only found back to the Jiang family a couple of years ago."

The girl was quite obedient and well-behaved during the two years she lived with the Jiang family. Deputy Factory Director Jiang and his team found her a good husband; she married the son of Director Huo of the cement factory, who is now the owner of the cement factory, Huo Beixiao.

But for some reason, the girl changed completely after getting married. She said that Deputy Factory Director Jiang and his wife had abused her for the past two years and treated her badly, and she refused to acknowledge her biological parents anymore.

Upon hearing these words, everyone was filled with righteous indignation and began to criticize Jiang Qiaoqiao.

"This girl is such a jerk! So what if she did a little more work at her parents' house? What family's daughter doesn't do chores? Are they going to raise her like a princess?"

"Exactly. If her biological parents didn't treat her well, would they have arranged such a good marriage for her?"

...

Upon hearing these voices, Jiang Jiahua remained outwardly calm, still appearing as if he were guilty, but a hint of triumphant calculation flashed in his eyes.

As long as these people are on his side, he can use public opinion to force Jiang Qiaoqiao to acknowledge them, whether she wants to or not!

Peng Cuiying had heard these words from those around her so many times that she started to believe them herself, and her face showed obvious anger.

She didn't know why Jiang Jiahua made her kneel in front of the duck products shop.

She was the wife of the deputy director of a food factory, and she herself was the director of the factory. Wherever she went before, people treated her with utmost respect.

Now she's actually kneeling down on the street; she's completely lost face and dignity.

Unfortunately, Jiang Jiahua has been in a terrible temper these past two days because of Jiang Qiaoqiao's matter. She didn't dare to go against him, so she could only swallow her anger and kneel down with him.

Peng Cuiying gritted her teeth, thinking that she couldn't let herself lose face today for nothing. She had to find an opportunity to teach that brat Jiang Qiaoqiao a lesson!

Inside the shop.

Hearing the increasingly noisy sounds outside, Jiang Qiaoqiao and the others asked Lin Xiaohui in confusion, "What happened? You guys keep eating, Mom will go out and see."

Lin Xiaohui had just stood up when Jiang Qiaoqiao stood up and pressed her back down, saying, "Mom, it's Jiang Jiahua and Peng Cuiying. You two eat, I'm going out."

"Huh?" Lin Xiaohui's expression changed drastically. "Didn't they publish a notice in the newspaper saying they were cutting ties with you? Why are they doing this again?"

Jiang Qiaoqiao said with a sneer, "I guess it's because they know that the cement plant has received a big order and business is picking up again."

"Smack!"

Yang Jianguo slammed his fist on the table in anger. "Those two shameless old bastards! They would run away whenever you were in trouble and cut ties with you. Now that they know you're doing well, they've come back as soon as they smelled the scent."

"Qiaoqiao, don't go! I'll go and teach them a lesson!"

Zhou Yang's face flushed red with anger, and he stood up abruptly. "Brother Jianguo, I'll go with you!"

Jiang Qiaoqiao looked at the two impulsive brothers and helplessly pressed them back down. "Brother, Zhou Yang, listen to me, sit still. I know how to deal with them. If you two make a move outside, even if I'm in the right, I'll be in the wrong."

In the end, Yang Jianguo and Zhou Yang had no choice but to obediently listen to Jiang Qiaoqiao and sit down obediently.

Jiang Qiaoqiao got up and walked outside, and Huo Beixiao naturally followed her out.

When the two walked outside the store, before they could even speak, some people who had been stirred up started throwing rotten vegetable leaves at Jiang Qiaoqiao.

"Pah! Jiang Qiaoqiao, you unfilial brat! You still know how to come out? Don't you see how long your parents have been kneeling outside the door!"

"If parents kneel before their unfilial children, those children will be struck by lightning!"

"This is only possible now. If it were ancient times, an unfilial daughter like her would at least be arrested and exiled, if not beheaded!"

...

Jiang Jiahua looked at Jiang Qiaoqiao, who had been pelted with rotten vegetable leaves, and rolled his eyes, his calculations deepening.

He quickly stood up, looking pitiful, and said to everyone, "Comrades, comrades, there's been a misunderstanding between us parents and our daughter, but she's a good person at heart. My husband and I are here today to beg for her forgiveness. Please, everyone, be merciful and don't make things difficult for her anymore..."