What do you think?
Zhao Lijie sneered: "The whole city is in an uproar outside. If you go out and show your faces now, aren't you just making things worse for us?"
"We've already embarrassed ourselves enough, let's not cause any more trouble now!"
Zhao Fenfang added, her eyes full of disgust.
After they finished speaking, they turned and left.
"Second brother! Fangfang! You can't treat me like this!"
Zhao Zhaodi tried to chase after them, but was stopped by two burly men.
"Madam, please don't put us in a difficult position."
The burly man's voice was flat, but his arms were like iron pillars, completely still.
"Get out of here! Get out of here!"
Zhao Zhaodi pushed him like a madwoman, her withered hands pounding on the strong man's arm as if she were scratching an itch.
Finally, a burly man lost his patience and gave Zhao Zhaodi a gentle push. Zhao Zhaodi staggered back a few steps and bumped into the edge of the bed with a thud, her buttocks aching.
"Bang!"
The ward door was closed, and the sound of the lock clicking shut could be heard.
"Open the door! Open the door now!"
Zhao Zhaodi rushed to the door, scratching at the door panel with her fingernails until she had scraped off the paint, but the door didn't budge.
She collapsed to the ground, leaning against the cold door, and suddenly covered her face, bursting into tears that flowed like a broken string of pearls: "What a tragedy... what a tragedy... why did this happen... why is my life so miserable..."
She protected her reputation for so many years, she loved her children for so many years, and now it's all gone! All gone!
Zhao Jiadi squatted down beside her, his swollen face turning bluish-purple under the light. Watching her cry so heartbrokenly, he felt as if his heart was being soaked in bitter water, both astringent and sour.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something comforting, but found that he couldn't say anything.
When will these dark and hopeless days ever end...?
That side.
Inside Ye Nian'an's courtyard, he held a newspaper in his hand. The four bold characters "Secrets of the Zhao Family" were printed on the page, making them extremely eye-catching.
She traced Zhao Zhaodi's name with her fingertips, a cold smile curving her lips, but her eyes remained as calm as a frozen lake.
Needless to say, she was the one who stirred up this huge storm.
"Sister-in-law, how did you find out about their affair? And that Zhao Shikai is their biological son?"
Xu Yao, who was in charge of sending people to deliver the newspapers, was sitting at the stone table drinking jasmine tea and asking questions.
He was genuinely curious how Ye Nian'an had managed to uncover such a secret that had been buried for decades.
Ye Nian'an put down the newspaper, and sunlight filtered through the bare grapevines, casting dappled patterns of light on her face.
She slowly peeled the orange, the white fibers from the segments tangerines clinging to her fingertips: "Do you still remember when Zhao Zhaodi asked me to go to the Zhao family to plead for Zhao Shikai?"
"I agreed on the surface, not just to see what tricks they were up to."
Ye Nian'an popped a segment of orange into her mouth, the sweet and sour juice spreading: "Actually, I've secretly learned that the relationship between Zhao Zhaodi and Zhao Jiadi, this master and servant, is quite special."
"During those extraordinary ten years, how many families drove away their old servants in order to protect themselves? But Zhao Zhaodi was willing to risk being labeled by the Red Army soldiers to protect Zhao Jiadi to the death."
"Based on a woman's intuition, I was certain that there was a secret between them, and later, I found out."
Ye Nian'an chuckled lightly: "Their concern for Zhao Shikai is impossible to hide. They're not father and son, so how could they care so much?"
Xu Yao nodded thoughtfully.
Of course, for Ye Nian'an, all of this was just like shooting an arrow and drawing a target; he could always find a reason to explain it.
As long as the diary remains, the Zhao family's secrets are like a painting laid out in the sunlight.
She can point to any spot and speak eloquently about it.
One aspect was getting Xu Yao to publish the news in the newspaper.
On the other hand, she only did one thing.
It means spreading the contents of the diary to those gossipy women.
These days, there's not much entertainment; gossip about this family and that family is the best pastime.
Especially in an old and wealthy family like the Zhao family, the old lady's affair with the old housekeeper and the birth of an illegitimate child behind the master's back is more exciting than a storytelling performance.
Sure enough, the news spread throughout Haicheng in just a few days.
Adding to the fact that Zhao Zhaodi brought this upon herself by keeping Zhao Jiadi by her side even during the most difficult times, countless eyes were already watching this master and servant pair.
Now that there's a reason, who wouldn't be excited to talk about it?
Those gossipy women are far more adept at exaggerating than newspapers.
Whenever the diary was mentioned, even if Zhao Zhaodi and the others became suspicious, they would only think it was true.
After all, those embarrassing incidents were indeed written down and etched into their lives.
Xu Yao suddenly realized, picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp, feeling that this operation was really too clever.
He gazed at Ye Nian'an's calm profile and suddenly felt...
Anyone who dares to mess with Brother Yan's wife is asking for trouble.
After this incident, Zhao Zhaodi was completely disgraced and could no longer cause any trouble.
"Nian Nian~"
A familiar voice came from outside the courtyard gate, carrying an irrepressible lightness.
Ye Xiang and Ye Yao walked in one after the other.
Ye Xiang held a brown paper envelope in his hand, his eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses curving into crescent moons with laughter.
Ye Yao placed his military green satchel on the stone table, his smile brighter than the sunshine overhead.
"Uncle Ye, Brother Ye Yao."
Xu Yao quickly stood up to greet him.
Ye Xiang replied to Ye Yao, "Xu Yao's here! Sit down, please have a seat!"
Ye Nian'an sat up straight in the rattan chair, looking at the undisguised joy in her father and brother's eyes, and had a vague premonition in her heart.
"Dad, brother, what's making you so happy?"
She unconsciously twisted the hem of her dress with her fingertips, her voice carrying a hint of anticipation she herself was unaware of.
What do you say?
Ye Xiang, who is usually very proper, rarely kept people in suspense.
The eyes hidden behind the gold-rimmed glasses looked at Ye Nian'an with a smile.
Ye Nian'an couldn't help but chuckle: "Dad, how old are you? Still playing hide-and-seek with your daughter? If I can't guess, can't you just tell me?"
"It's okay, just guess. What can happen if you guess wrong?"
Ye Yao chimed in from the side, "Here's a hint: it's the thing you've been most concerned about lately."
Ye Nian'an hesitated for a moment.
"Could it be... the college entrance exam results are out?"
Her voice suddenly rose, with a joyful vibrato at the end.
Seeing her father and brother's increasingly radiant smiles, her heart pounded as if she were holding a joyful little deer.
If the college entrance exam results are indeed out, and considering Ye Xiang and Ye Yao's expressions...
Congratulations, Nian Nian.
Ye Xiang handed her the envelope and gently patted the back of her hand with his fingertips: "You've successfully been admitted to Haicheng University. From now on, you'll be Dad's student."
"She's also my junior."
Ye Yao added with a smile, reaching out to ruffle his sister's hair: "From now on at school, I'll protect you."
Ye Nian'an took the envelope, her fingertips touching the stiff paper, and her eyes welled up with tears of excitement.
She looked down at the words "Haicheng University Admission Notice" in gold lettering on the envelope, and a wide grin spread across her face.
You really passed the exam!
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