Chapter 18, except for the second son and his wife

Zhou Yanyu raised her hand to rub her forehead and warned, "Ji Tanyuan..."

Ji Tanyuan stood there, looking completely harmless, and even her words carried a naive doubt.

It makes people feel that she is not sarcastic or eccentric, but genuinely sincere.

The old lady was furious; her authority had been severely challenged, and she was just about to speak.

Unexpectedly, the old man tapped his cane on the ground and said, "I've said enough."

"From now on, no one should kneel anymore. That's it."

Then, looking at the incredulous old lady, he said, "These days, young people demand equality and can't stand us old folks anymore."

Zhong Yan leaned against the pillar, watching the two old people staring at each other.

Although they are both 80 years old, the medical team is with them in real time, and they are in very good health.

He didn't look 80 years old, more like 60 or 70. The old man's cane wasn't a cane, but more like a weapon, a scepter that signified his status as an elder and a convenient weapon for hitting people.

The old lady's "heart disease" wasn't really a heart disease; it was just a convenient excuse to make people compromise.

Zhou Yanyu felt a secret sense of satisfaction, but this was followed by a headache, as she had to deal with the old lady's mood again.

The old man had deep-set eyes and a ruthless gaze. He looked at Ji Tanyuan with a gentle demeanor, but deep down he still had a bit of arrogance.

"Tan Yuan, don't try to be clever."

Ji Tanyuan remained expressionless and said calmly, "How could that be? I wouldn't dare to act foolishly in front of you."

Zhong Yan had been observing from the beginning, then straightened up and said lazily, "No matter what, she's still a newlywed wife. Grandfather, that's not how you teach people to behave."

Zhong Shuqing glanced at his grandson beside him. From childhood to adulthood, Zhong Yan had a rebellious streak, which he usually hid well, but it had never been eradicated.

But this family cannot tolerate rebellious individuals who act on their own initiative.

“Zhong Yan, I’m only warning you once: you can’t just leave this family whenever you want.”

A lone bird flying out alone will only be attacked by a group of enemies; at best, it will fall, and at worst, it will drag everyone down with it.

Zhong Yan looked down at the people downstairs, and heard the old man's low warning in his ear: "I've lived half a century longer than you and have seen too many people. Your wife isn't as innocent as she seems. Don't be fooled into thinking she's cute. You'll be the one who's laughing at you later."

Zhong Yan pursed her lips and said, "I understand."

Even the slow-witted Zhong Jing downstairs could sense that his wife was unhappy. He didn't understand; did she like it this way?

Zhong Yan went downstairs, saying as he walked, "Between husband and wife, you have to keep your mouth shut. They're not mind readers, and sleeping together doesn't mean you're on the same wavelength. If you don't tell them, who will know? Right, brother?"

Zhong Jing didn't speak, but Wen Yi'an answered uncharacteristically, "You too."

Zhong Yan smiled but didn't say anything. How could he be the same? His marriage was an arranged one. His conflict with Ji Tanyuan was always about power. If they were to manage their marriage based on the principle of resolving conflicts through open communication...

What are you talking about? Calculating? That would only hasten the death of the marriage, making things even more chaotic.

In the end, no one was able to eat, and no one could eat anything.

Apart from the second son and his wife.

Zhong Yan was indifferent to this farce and it didn't stir any emotions in her; she still had an appetite.

Ji Tanyuan was the same; even after being warned by the old man, she still ate as usual.

Anyway, we won't have to kneel anymore, which is a tangible achievement.

She didn't care about the old man's mental suppression.

The more the two ate, the more Zhou Yanyu felt like she was having a heart attack.

How could you possibly eat that?

The two looked up, and Ji Tanyuan said, "We haven't eaten. Zhong Yan won't let the nanny go to work, so we had to come here. Mom, aren't you going to eat?"

Zhou Yanyu couldn't take it anymore. "When you go back, tell Aunt Zhang to come back." She couldn't stand the old lady anymore.

Ji Tanyuan smiled. The head nanny of Shou Kang Palace was about to be recalled.

"good."

Ji Tanyuan wiped her mouth and said softly, "Mom, sit down and have something to eat."

Zhou Yanyu sneered, "Who's like you, able to eat after making such a scene?"

Zhong Yan: "It should have been done a long time ago. I really didn't like that cup of tea."

Zhou Yanyu looked at the two of them. The man was nonchalant and somewhat lazy, yet he exuded an air of nobility as he sat there. The woman had a slender figure, gentle features, and red lips that were not bright red, radiating energy.

He then turned and left without saying anything more.

Ji Tanyuan rested her chin on one hand and used the index finger of the other hand to stir the spoon on the bird's nest porridge. She said slowly, "Let's go back to my home, husband. We don't have that much trouble at home."

Because there's nobody there at all.

Zhong Yan: "..."

Zhong Jing pulled Wen Yi'an into the car, and he drove himself, intending to take Wen Yi'an to her workplace before going to work.

Wen Yi'an kept a cold expression throughout.

"I'm sorry, about the past..."

"You didn't stop me before, did you? You could have, you could have stood up and helped me up, but you had to wait until now, you had to wait until now."

Wen Yi'an could no longer control herself; her voice was trembling with sobs, and she couldn't hold back her tears. It even took her a lot of effort to finish speaking.

They talk a good game, saying everything, but when the words finally come out, they can't get them out. It's like reliving their grievances, and their ability to organize their thoughts weakens.

He hadn't intended to stop him; it was Zhong Yan who reminded him. Zhong Yan had originally planned to intervene, but the man turned back halfway and stood before him, pondering for a moment before speaking:

“Brother, you know I hate these rules the most. Although I’m not close to Ji Tanyuan, she’s the closest to me in this family. I really can’t not side with her now. Even though I’m marrying her for the sake of my family, she’s still my wife. No one with a modern scientific education would like this. On the day we got married, during the tea ceremony, Ji Tanyuan’s parents removed the kneeling custom. They couldn’t bear to see their daughter kneel. Now that this absurd thing has reached my father-in-law’s ears, what will he think? What if it really makes a scene in the end?”

Zhong Jing asked, "What are you trying to say?"

Zhong Yan: "I want to say that my sister-in-law is also highly educated, so she definitely doesn't like it either. You can't take her compromises for granted."

Zhong Jing really didn't know what to say, and even reflected on it for the first time, because he assumed that such compromise could bring harmony to the family and prosperity to everything, and subconsciously believed that this was not a grievance, after all, his mother had gone through the same thing.

"Aren't you going?" he asked.

Zhong Yan scoffed, "They don't like me. You're sensible, so your actions will be more effective. If I do it and you don't, your sister-in-law will be disappointed in you. Besides, after all the things I've schemed and plotted for, doing this would make me feel hypocritical. So you go."

When he said those words, Zhong Yan's expression showed neither joy nor sorrow, just like that of an observer, consistent with his role in this family.

Now that it's happening to him, Zhong Jing doesn't know whether he sees things clearly or has long been deeply involved. He's unsure, but thinking of his grandfather and father's plans, he hopes it's the former.

Zhong Jing snapped out of his reverie.

He seemed to have no idea how to comfort people, and could only say:

"This will not happen again."

Wen Yi'an felt utterly exhausted by his apology. He never seemed to know what he cared about, remaining reserved and silent. The conflicts between the two gradually surfaced in their daily lives.

In addition, the issues with her in-laws eroded their relationship significantly.

She whispered:

"I'll be home late tonight; I have dinner plans with friends."

"good."

Upon arriving at the office building, Wen Yi'an didn't take breakfast; she simply grabbed her bag and left without looking back.

She called Rongxi and said, "Let's go out for drinks tonight."

Rongxi readily agreed, seemingly used to the fact that she was unwell for half of Mondays. "I just happened to call Shuyun; it's been a long time since the three of us got together."

Wen Yi'an nodded, "If Shuyun were my sister-in-law, there wouldn't be so many problems."

——