When Gu Qinlan arrived, she happened to witness this scene.
"I am truly sorry to have kept you all waiting. May I ask what brings you to my humble abode?"
Zou's gaze fell on Gu Qinlan. She saw that Gu Qinlan was well-dressed and had an elegant demeanor, and she couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.
Back in the day, she was a prominent lady of the Prince Duan's mansion, and her husband was a general. Her glory far surpassed that of this young girl in front of her.
However, fate played a cruel trick on her. Her husband passed away, and she was forced to remarry a merchant. Now, she has a lowly status and is neglected by everyone.
Lou Yongwei was initially furious, but upon seeing Gu Qinlan, his attitude immediately became humble and polite.
“Madam Zheng, we have come to visit today to ask why your son would treat my son so cruelly. Furthermore, I have heard that you were present when your son committed the crime, and even intentionally condoned it. Madam Zheng, although I, Lou, am just a merchant, I still ask you to provide a reasonable explanation.”
Gu Qinlan slightly raised the corners of her mouth: "Oh? Didn't your young master tell you why he suffered such a severe attack?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she deliberately turned her gaze to Madam Zou: "Madam Zou, do you know why Zheng Fenghui disciplined your stepson?"
Zou was extremely dissatisfied with Gu Qinlan's attitude. She felt that Gu Qinlan was deliberately putting on an arrogant posture in order to belittle her.
So she said angrily, "No matter the reason, Feng Hui should not have been so ruthless! He is already arrogant, and you still let him run wild. Gu, what are your intentions? Are you deliberately trying to corrupt my child!"
Gu Qinlan remained silent, then turned to look at the doorway, her tone gentle yet firm: "Now that you're here, please come in and clarify everything with your mother yourself."
Ms. Zou's gaze involuntarily drifted towards the doorway, where she saw her children standing quietly.
At that moment, a sense of unease swept through her heart.
However, this emotion was fleeting, vanishing in an instant. She stride forward, grabbing Zheng Fenghui and forcefully dragging him in front of Lou Zhejie, shoving him roughly and saying, "Apologize to Zhejie right now!"
Zheng Fenghui was originally delighted by Zou's arrival, but he was unexpectedly reprimanded upon meeting her. Now, Zou was forcing him to apologize, and his expression immediately turned astonished.
Without giving Zheng Fenghui any chance to explain, Zou grabbed him and shoved him in front of Lou Zhejie, her voice stern: "Apologize to Zhejie right now!"
Lou Zhejie's face was swollen, but his expression was smug, and his eyes gleamed with mockery.
“Look, this is your own mother; she’s even speaking up for me.”
Zheng Fenghui, already hot-tempered, was now filled with rage. He shoved Zou Shi aside and roared, "Why should I apologize to him! He deserved to be beaten! Why are you taking his side? Whose mother are you anyway!"
Feeling humiliated in front of her husband, Zou, without thinking, slapped Zheng Fenghui hard across the face: "You unfilial son, what kind of attitude is this!"
Zheng Fenghui was stunned, and Zheng Huaiyu was also dumbfounded. "Mother, what are you doing!"
Ms. Zou was also somewhat stunned. Although Zheng Fenghui was her son, she had remarried and was no longer a member of the Zheng family. Strictly speaking, she no longer had the right to discipline Zheng Fenghui.
If the Zheng family were to investigate this slap, she would truly have a hard time explaining herself.
Lou Zhejie immediately pulled Zou Shi aside and said gently, "Mother, please calm down. Don't hurt yourself over such a small matter. It's okay if I suffer a little grievance. Please don't misunderstand, you and Feng Hui."
At this moment, Zou felt as if he were in a fog.
This was the first time Lou Zhejie had called her "mother" since she remarried!
Is this an acknowledgment of her identity?
She asked incredulously, "Zhejie, what did you call me just now?"
Lou Zhejie smiled, a hint of pride still showing despite his swollen face: "I call you Mother. Mother, I finally believe that you truly treat me as your own son. My mother used to protect me the same way."
As soon as he finished speaking, he deliberately tugged at Zou's sleeve to show affection.
With tears blurring her vision, Madam Zou looked up at Lou Yongwei, her voice trembling, "Husband, did you hear that? Zhejie called me 'Mother' himself. He has accepted me." Lou Yongwei's face was filled with relief, "You have done an outstanding job. He felt your love and naturally opened his heart to you."
For two years since Zou entered the household, Lou Yongwei had been deeply troubled by the tension between Zou and his children. Now, this thorny issue has finally been resolved, and his joy is palpable.
However, the two children of the Zheng family seemed to have been struck by lightning, their faces turning ashen.
Zheng Fenghui, in particular, felt as if he had become a laughing stock.
He stared coldly at Zou Shi: "So, you are now Lou Zhejie's mother, no longer our mother, right?"
Only then did Madam Zou remember her own flesh and blood. She glanced at them awkwardly, her throat bobbing, but she couldn't utter a word: "I..."
Zheng Huaiyu glared at her coldly: "So, were all the things you said to us before false? You said you would continue to care about us even after leaving the Zheng family, but it turns out they were all lies."
Ms. Zou looked troubled, her voice choked with emotion: "I didn't deceive you, I..."
"Enough!"
Zheng Fenghui roared, interrupting her: "Stop explaining! I understand. Lou Zhejie deserves to be punished, but only this once. I will not apologize to him; he doesn't deserve it! From now on, don't bother us again. I don't have a mother like you!"
After saying this, Zheng Fenghui left in anger.
Zheng Huaiyu glanced at her with disappointment, then turned and followed her.
Zou's heart tightened, and she stamped her feet anxiously: "Come back here! How could you become so unreasonable!"
Then, her eyes widened in anger as she glared at Gu Qinlan: "Was it you who secretly sowed discord? Now that they, the siblings, are under your control, it must be you who's pulling strings behind the scenes to ruin our relationship! How can you be so vicious?"
Gu Qinlan calmly countered, "Zou, are you really Huaiyu and Fenghui's biological mother?"
Zou was taken aback, her tone sharp: "If I'm not, then who are you? Gu, what are your intentions? Don't think you can break up the bond between us, mother and children. They are my children, and they will always be close to me. Even if I'm not by their side, they will always remember my kindness in raising them!"
Gu Qinlan looked helpless: "You can't have your cake and eat it too. Now that you've remarried and become a member of the Lou family, you should focus on managing your new family. The Zheng family is a thing of the past for you. You gave them up on your own initiative. Even without me, based on your actions today, it's a foregone conclusion that they will break off with you."
Zou was in a panic: "Isn't everything today Feng Hui's fault? What's wrong with me making him apologize and admit his mistakes? You just want to ruin my son and turn him into a rude and unreasonable good-for-nothing!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com