Madam Du laughed angrily: "What apology? I think you've come here to blame us! What, it's wrong for us to inquire about the man's character? Should we kneel down and offer our daughters up just because you casually say something?"

“No…” Zhou Ziyang’s face turned bright red. “Uncle Ye and Auntie are not wrong… It’s my mother… She has a proud and aloof personality, and she values ​​face more than anything else.”

"Later, she got engaged without telling me and even took it upon herself to do so... I apologize to both of you on her behalf..."

Jin Hua, who had been hiding outside the main room, was heartbroken.

He has always been proud, the high and mighty young master of the cloth shop, and he has never apologized so humbly before.

Ye Caiping, holding her teacup, almost burst out laughing.

“It’s my fault for being powerless and letting Jinhua down… It’s all my fault!” His voice was hoarse, filled with deep sorrow.

Even Du and Ye Daquan felt a little soft-hearted upon hearing this.

Ye Caiping said, "It seems you are truly in love with Jinhua. In that case, go and break off the engagement! Talk to your mother properly."

Zhou Ziyang looked troubled: "After Jinhua left yesterday, I had a big fight with my mother... I also refused the marriage she arranged. But since yesterday... she has refused to take any medicine or eat anything."

“My mother isn’t in good health, and if she doesn’t take her medicine…” He shook his head as he spoke, “I can’t disregard my mother’s health for my own selfish reasons…”

“I’m here today to explain the situation to you, not to humiliate you as a result.”

Du and Ye looked at each other in bewilderment.

Ye Daquan originally thought he would be unable to resist carrying a chair when he saw Zhou Ziyang, but after hearing these words, he didn't feel the urge to carry a chair at all.

Ye Caiping said, "We understand. You came today to apologize and sever all ties with Jinhua. That's good, so we can break things off clearly and there's no need for Jinhua to keep thinking about things."

Zhou Ziyang nodded with difficulty: "Yes..."

Madam Du pursed her lips: "Alright, we accept your apology. Go back now! And don't provoke Jin Hua again."

She felt a surge of relief; she hadn't expected Zhou Ziyang to be so reasonable, resolving the matter without her sister-in-law's intervention.

Thinking about it, Madam Du glanced at the corner of her skirt peeking out from outside the door.

Did you all hear that? They didn't do anything; Zhou Ziyang was the one who wanted to break it off! Now you should give up!

Zhou Ziyang nodded heartbrokenly, "Auntie, don't worry, I, Zhou Ziyang, swear here and now that I'm severing all ties with Ye Jinhua from this day forward. If I break this promise, then—"

"Zhou Ziyang!" Jin Hua couldn't take it anymore and rushed in. "If you dare to make such a curse, I'll hate you for the rest of my life!"

When she saw him come to her door, she thought he was reluctant to part with her.

Even if he can't marry her, he'll beg her not to leave him! He might even shamelessly ask her to be his mistress.

She would never agree to it!

As for what will happen in the future, she doesn't know...

Unexpectedly, before she could even figure it out, he wanted to cut ties with her completely!

How could this be...

"Jinhua... I'm sorry." Zhou Ziyang looked at her deeply. "It's my fault. I can't give you the title of my wife, and I can't give you happiness. Let's end this here, as if we never met."

After saying that, he turned around and quickly walked out.

Watching his departing figure, Jin Hua's heart shattered instantly, leaving an empty void. She immediately chased after him.

"Ziyang! Zhou Ziyang, come back here..."

But he acted as if he hadn't heard her voice and had already disappeared through the doorway.

"ah--"

She originally thought that making her a concubine was the most painful thing for him.

But when his figure disappeared from her sight, she realized that losing him was the real abyss and hell!

Compared to that, being a concubine or a mistress seems insignificant!

"Come back! As long as I'm with you, nothing else matters! I'll be your servant, I'll be your maid..."

Just moments ago, Du and Ye Daquan were feeling fortunate, but now they finally realize how serious things are!

"You brat, come back here!" Ye Daquan grabbed her.

"Let me go... Waaah..."

Enraged, Du slapped him across the face.

With a "smack," Jin Hua was whipped and fell to the ground. She looked up at Du Shi, stunned.

Madam Du said coldly, "Do you know what you're saying? To be someone's concubine? Do you even know what a concubine is?"

"Once you enter the house, you're the wife's servant! She'll make you kneel, and she'll beat you whenever she wants, just like a dog. Your future children will all have to call someone else's mother. Just like your aunt, she goes back to her parents' home every year crying, didn't you see a single tear she shed?"

One of Du's cousins ​​became a concubine of a wealthy man in town.

They didn't enjoy a life of luxury at all; they were always hungry and cold, living like the lowest of servants.

Du's words made Jin Hua realize the truth instantly.

Being a concubine... I can't be one! Besides losing my dignity, I won't have a good life either.

But... my heart still aches! It hurts so much!

She can't lose him...

Why did it turn out like this?

She should have been his legal wife; she could have been with him forever…

Jin Hua gave Du Shi and Ye Daquan a resentful look.

Although she knew they were inquiring about Zhou Ziyang for her own good, the Zhou family had the arrogance of a wealthy family, and she only regretted that her parents were blind and their "goodness" to her was inappropriate.

As if she had lost all her strength, Jin Hua slowly got up, slowly went back to her room, and closed the door.

Seeing her so dejected and lifeless, Du felt uneasy.

Ye Caiping was still sitting in the main room drinking tea.

She finally understood what was going on after today's event.

Zhou Ziyang never intended to marry Jin Hua as his legal wife! Instead, he was always scheming.

He's just an eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy, that's all the cunning he has. He can only fool naive young girls like Jin Hua, and simple-minded people like Ye Daquan and his wife.

Ye Daquan and his wife walked in.

Du said, "Little sister, you just saw it, didn't you? I woke her up, didn't I?"

Ye Caiping calmly put down her teacup: "Yes, I was woken up. But not in the way you think I was."

Before Du could say anything more, Ye Caiping continued, "It's still early, let's wait a bit longer!"

The Du couple looked at each other in bewilderment.

The next morning, just after everyone had finished breakfast, Jinhua came in and knelt down before Ye Daquan and Madam Du with a thud:

“Father, Mother, Grandfather, Grandmother… I… I think of the Zhou family… I want to be with him, regardless of status or position, as long as I can be by his side, I will be content.”

Everyone in the main room gasped.