Back then, Kong Jia's children were able to get jobs at the steel factory and as elementary school teachers, and although they worked hard, it was mostly because of Chu Zhenyuan's influence.

Chu Zhenyuan can help with other daily chores, but he won't easily step forward to compete for a position.

If he ends up helping someone who is incompetent and useless, it will not only damage Chu Zhenyuan's reputation, but could also endanger the people and the country.

However, since Kong Jiazhi visited the Chu family so frequently, some people knew she was a relative of the Chu family. In addition, she was good at using others' influence, and she was actually put in jail because of Chu Zhenyuan's face.

At the time, Chu Zhenyuan was in the army, far from the emperor's reach, and had no idea about this matter. By the time he found out, it was already a year or two later, and the deed was done. He was furious.

Fortunately, Kong Jia's child didn't cause any trouble after going in and did his job properly. Chu Zhenyuan forced them to fulfill their duties and not allow similar incidents to happen again. They swore a solemn oath, and only then did the matter stop.

At the same time, Chu Zhenyuan also became somewhat estranged from their family.

“Since they only accepted the Chen family because of Dad, they naturally distanced themselves after Dad was sent to the countryside.”

"Especially those scumbags who immediately sever ties with their benefactors as soon as something goes wrong, and who betray their friends in every way—who would want to continue associating with them!"

Ye Nian'an succinctly revealed the truth.

Chi Xinyao nodded: "Niannian is right. Knowing that their family is such a heartless and treacherous person, who would want to get close to them? They deserve to be ostracized and alienated!"

Night was falling.

After returning to the room, Ye Nian'an coaxed the three children to sleep. The eldest one even smacked his lips, still dreaming of being breastfed.

The mother felt a warm glow in her heart. She reached out and poked the babies' round cheeks with her fingertips, then kissed them several times, reluctant to part with them.

As she straightened up, she caught a glimpse of Chu Yan standing beside the carved clothes rack, his silhouette cut into cold, hard lines by the light.

Seeing that Chu Yan remained silent, Ye Nian'an said half-jokingly, "Brother Yan, what's wrong? You look so sullen."

Chu Yan's shoulders trembled almost imperceptibly, like a child whose secret had been exposed: "It's nothing."

His voice was hoarse, and as his Adam's apple bobbed, the veins in his neck throbbed.

Light climbed up his straight nose and cast dark blue shadows under his eyelids, like ink spreading on rice paper.

Nothing... Yeah, right!

She's clearly angry inside!

Ye Nian'an took the initiative to come to Chu Yan's side, wrapped her arms around his waist from behind, and touched the firm muscles of his waist with her fingertips, feeling that the lines were as taut as a fully drawn bowstring.

"We're husband and wife, we've been through thick and thin all these years, what? Can't you even tell me why you're angry?"

"Could it be... that you're angry with me? Is there something I've done wrong that made you sad?"

"Niannian, don't misunderstand!"

Upon hearing Ye Nian'an's words, Chu Yan immediately became anxious and quickly explained, "I'm still angry with the Zhang family. How dare they come looking for you..."

"Oh, you weren't this angry when Kong Jia and Chen Shimei came to cause trouble, but you're still angry at the Zhang family?"

"Didn't I give them a good beating so the kids could have a good time, and then Li Dahong even sent them to jail?"

She deliberately drew out her words, her fingertips tracing the sensitive skin on his side. After many years of marriage, she knew men's weaknesses well: "Or... are you jealous?"

"yes."

Chu Yan's eyes were deep and unfathomable, overflowing with jealousy: "I just don't like the Zhang family. I hope I never see them again in this lifetime. I'm really annoyed that they came to see you."

"Zhang Weiguo hasn't come yet. If he did come, wouldn't you be even more upset?"

"I'll definitely punch him in the face when the time comes. I don't care what he does. He still has the nerve to come looking for you. I won't allow it."

Chu Yan can be magnanimous in some things, but when it comes to ownership of his wife, he is incredibly stingy!

A man like Zhang Weiguo almost stole the wife he had loved since childhood...

To put it nicely, he's a love rival.

To put it bluntly, they are enemies!

They are sworn enemies, the kind that will fight to the death!

If he dares to come, even if he hasn't regained his identity yet, we'll beat him up without hesitation!

"Okay, okay, Brother Yan, he's coming. I'll definitely let you know so you can beat him up and vent your anger. Otherwise, we've been out of training for so long, and we'll be missing a punching bag, won't we?"

Ye Nian'an hugged Chu Yan and spoke with a grin.

Chu Yan cupped Ye Nian'an's face in his hands, kissing her deeply again and again, and solemnly said, "Niannian, it's not that I care about your past with him, but that I cherish you too much."

"He was the enemy who almost stole your life; he's a very dangerous person to me..."

Even now, Chu Yan still remembers how he felt when Ye Nian'an chose to break off the engagement.

In that instant, it felt as if something had hollowed out my chest, leaving me feeling empty and lost.

Life became bleak and colorless, with no light shining in, pitch black, and numbness set in.

The reason he didn't become a walking corpse was because the Chu family was facing a critical period at the time, and Chu Yan, as the eldest son, had to support the family.

Besides the woman he loves, he also has a family, parents, and a younger sister, and he has to shoulder all of these responsibilities!

Therefore, Chu Yan suppressed his heartache and respected Ye Nian'an's choice.

When he regained her, Chu Yan confirmed with him repeatedly that Ye Nian'an had truly thought things through and was willing to return to his side and accompany him during his exile. He was overjoyed.

If Chu Yan were to see Zhang Weiguo again, besides being wary of him as a love rival, he would also not want to relive that feeling again.

"Alright, alright, Yan-ge, we've been married for so long, don't I know what kind of person you are? Let alone you, if I saw Zhang Weiguo hanging around in front of me, I would definitely beat him up without hesitation."

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