Chapter 103 The Mother-in-Law Arrives: A Discussion Between the Mother-in-Law and Different Sons-in-Law
"But what does this have to do with you?"
Li Yang suddenly raised his voice.
Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback.
"Chen Junbo, our contract has expired."
Chen Junbo felt powerless. Here, there was no Bi Fang, no Mr. Zheng, no one to speak up for him, "Zhaozhao..."
“Young Madam, the young master chased after you all the way to the capital. No matter how angry you are, please forgive him for the sake of his hard work and effort.”
Xiao Lu's face turned bright red, but she still spoke up for Chen Junbo out of righteousness.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Bai was dumbfounded. It was the first time he had ever seen a married couple arguing, let alone the strange thing of a maid interrupting a dispute between the owners. He wanted to watch a little longer, but Manager Chen dragged him back to the counter.
Seeing the two of them dodge away, Ziyan and Youfeng exchanged a glance, then blinked at each other, dragged Xiaolu away saying they were going to buy rouge.
Walking down the street, Xiao Lu muttered, "Sister Ziyan, why didn't you try to mediate? They say it's better to tear down a temple than to break up a marriage. Right now, the young mistress is angry and wants to separate from the young master. If they really separate, how can she, a woman, stand on her own in this world? We, the people around her, should have helped persuade her."
Youfeng pouted and followed the two of them forward.
Ziyan chuckled: "Little Deer, it's been almost half a year since we arrived in the capital from Songshan Town. If Zhaozhao is still angry, then she's really too temperamental."
Besides, as you can see now, even without General Manager Chen, Zhao Zhao can still establish herself in the capital on her own. A girl like her has the ability to make a living anywhere.
If it's truly for her own good, then you can't advise her to stay together, nor can you persuade her to break up. Only the two of them truly understand what's going on between them. No matter how anxious we are, we're merely bystanders in this relationship; how can we presume to interfere?
"No, no, Sister Ziyan, you're wrong."
Xiao Lu shook her head and said, "The reason why the young mistress was able to successfully take over the Bai family restaurant in the capital is because the young master gave her a thousand taels of silver before. Without this money as a foundation, no matter how capable she is, the Bai family would not have given the shop to us."
If you ask me, since we've received the young master's money to pave the way, we should naturally lend him a hand; otherwise, wouldn't we be ungrateful?
Ziyan frowned and pursed her lips, remaining silent.
Youfeng suddenly spoke up, "Little Deer, didn't you say last time that you were missing a box of rouge? There's a rouge shop up ahead. I heard they have all the most fashionable colors in the capital. Recently, they've added a very rare shade called Dan Kou. Go and take a look."
The moment the topic of dressing up for girls came up, Xiao Lu's mind immediately wandered away, and she hurriedly ran off with You Feng.
Ziyan stood there, watching the two figures rush away, lost in thought.
-
Baijia Restaurant is closed today.
“I disagree. We already agreed that the contract was null and void. Now you’re using this as an excuse to break up with me. I don’t agree,” Chen Junbo said coldly.
Li Yang looked up at him, his usually calm eyes now blazing with fury.
“Chen Junbo, I’m not throwing a tantrum. Over the past six months, I’ve thought about whether it was too impulsive to just leave back then.”
She suddenly smiled, "But in the past six months, I have gradually established myself in Beijing, and I really like my life now. There is no chaotic infighting in the family, no messy political turmoil. I can just do my business here in peace, be with the people I like, and do the things I like. I am doing very well now."
Chen Junbo choked, "You mean, you're doing just fine without me?"
"yes."
Li Yang gritted his teeth, "You used to treat me very well, but I lived in fear every day at the Chen residence."
Life is tough now, but it brings me peace. The daily comings and goings of guests are tiring yet joyful. Chen Junbo, it's not that you're bad, it's just that we're not a good match. The luxurious life you provide isn't what I want.
A thought flashed through his mind: Manager Zhong's words, "She is like a bird in flight; she must never be kept as a pet with broken wings," echoed in his mind.
"good."
"Um?"
Chen Junbo repeated softly, "You like your life now."
"yes."
"Live the life you like."
Chen Junbo chuckled softly, "But Zhaozhao, I love the life with you in it, and you can't stop me from pursuing the life I love."
Li Yang was stunned for a long time. "Chen Junbo, why are you doing this?"
But then the man said in a low voice, "I won't force you to go back to Songshan Town, nor will I ask you to close the teahouse. You can continue to do what you like here. Similarly, Zhaozhao, you can't force me to leave."
“We are already engaged. In the three generations of my Chen family, there has never been a divorce.”
Li Yang: "..."
-
The Zhuang Mansion.
Zhuang Ziyang returned from court with a livid face.
Upon seeing this, Zhuang Shutong hurriedly asked, "Father, has the Fourth Prince come to bother us again today?"
"His Majesty is in good health, but he can't wait any longer."
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Shutong frowned, recalling another matter. "Father, Lang Ge has been missing for several years since we returned to the capital. You know him; he is highly skilled in martial arts. The person who could abduct him without anyone noticing must have a powerful background. Given the current situation in the court, I suspect that it must be either the Second Prince or the Fourth Prince."
Zhuang Xiang glanced at his daughter. She had eloped with Li Lang without a word, which had almost given him a stroke, but it had also made him realize that the young man surnamed Li was truly sincere towards his daughter.
He and his wife never intended to consolidate their power through their children's marriages. Zhuang Ziyang's children did not need to become victims of political marriages, and besides, his wife would never agree to it.
This daughter was born exactly like the madam, and her personality was just as unconventional. She was the most beautiful woman in the capital, but she looked down on the unspoken rules among the aristocratic families and only had eyes for that boy surnamed Li.
Thinking of his deceased wife, Zhuang Ziyang's heart softened. If his wife were still alive, she would probably be twisting his ear right now and begging him to save his son-in-law.
Now that the two of them even have a daughter, even if they are still dissatisfied, they should still try to help them out.
"Father, Father."
Zhuang Shutong urged anxiously, "The Fourth Prince has been pressuring us so much lately. If Lang Ge really falls into the Fourth Prince's hands, I'm afraid things might get complicated."
Zhuang Ziyang pondered for a moment, "If that's the case, then my Zhuang family will just wait for the Fourth Prince to make his move."
Don't worry, that kid surnamed Li is lucky. He managed to abduct you right under my nose, so he'll definitely escape unscathed.
The most important thing now is to find out where they are—the Fourth Prince or the Second Prince.
Hearing her father's words that he agreed to help her find her husband, Zhuang Shutong felt relieved. Now that she had reunited with her daughter, finding her husband would mean a complete family reunion.
Moreover, it was she who kidnapped Li Lang with a packet of sleeping pills back then, and her father has been holding a grudge against the wrong person all these years...
Thinking back to the simple yet warm days his family spent in Songshan Town, Zhuang Shutong's eyes welled up with tears.
"Father, my brother sent someone to ask when we'll hold a family banquet. It seems like the Fourth Prince's plans aren't going to be finalized anytime soon. Why don't we hold the banquet at home first, so Zhaozhao can meet her uncle and sisters?"
Zhao Zhao had grown up in Songshan Town with her family of three, and had no other relatives. Now that the family could finally reunite in the capital, she naturally thought about how to make it up to her daughter.
Her younger brother's two daughters were always confined to their rooms, pampered like precious jewels by their sister-in-law. They were dazzling and radiant. Thinking back to her daughters spending their days in town with wild grass in the mountains, she couldn't help but feel guilty.
First, hold a family banquet to officially make your daughter a member of the Zhuang family. Once the situation in the court stabilizes, then bring your daughter into the circle of noble ladies in the capital. With Zhaozhao's intelligence and talent, she will surely make a name for herself.
At that time, the salt merchant's marriage will be entirely up to Zhaozhao's wishes.
Her daughter is always the most dazzling.
Zhuang Ziyang seemed to have the same thought. "Go and tell Zhaozhao that it's your birthday on the first day of next month. Ask her to come home for a family banquet so she can get to know Jieling and Jielong. But the situation is still uncertain, so we can't make this public for now."
He knew his daughter's feelings, but he still had a concern. Back then, Shu Tong's elopement had caused quite a stir in the capital.
Zhao Zhao's current situation is awkward, and it's likely that some people will bring up the old issues again. After all, Zhao Zhao's father is the Second Prince's guard. If this matter arouses His Majesty's suspicion, then the Zhuang family's neutral stance over the years will be completely destroyed.
Given the current situation, this may not be the best option.
Thinking of this, he suddenly remembered something else, "By the way, Defu received news today that your son-in-law has also come to the capital. Let him come with you to your birthday banquet."
"You mean Chen Junbo? He's in the capital?" Zhuang Shutong asked in surprise. "Father, I'll go there myself."
son in law?
She wanted to meet the heartless man who had sent Zhao Zhao alone from Jiangnan to the capital, to see what kind of person he was.
If it were her brother Lang, there would be no way he would have made her travel thousands of miles north alone, nor would he have made her so angry that she abandoned her family and career to venture alone into the capital.
Salt merchants.
Back in Songshan Town, salt merchants were synonymous with纨绔 (spoiled brats). When she arrived in Songshan Town, she didn't bring much money with her, so she pawned a beautiful pearl hairpin. I heard that it was later bought by a salt merchant, and it probably ended up in the hands of some courtesan.
If this man surnamed Chen is truly a spoiled brat, even if he uses the power of the Zhuang family to intimidate others, she will still ensure her daughter's safe escape.
Chen Junbo.
Zhuang Shutong gritted her teeth and cursed her son-in-law's name, dressed herself up in jewels, and went to the Bai family restaurant.
"Zhaozhao, where is Chen Junbo? Tell him to come out and see me."
"mother……"
"mother in law……"
"Mother-in-law?" Zhuang Shutong was taken aback. The man in front of her was as handsome as the moon and the breeze, with calm eyes and a gentle smile. He was quite different from the playboy image.
"Who said anything about your mother-in-law! I'm here today to uphold justice for Zhaozhao. Quickly write up the divorce papers."
Chen Junbo's lips curled into a smile. "Mother-in-law, please calm down. Why don't you talk to your son-in-law?"
...
Li Yang paced back and forth behind the counter, glancing at the two people inside the shop from time to time.
His mother stormed into the restaurant, demanding that Chen Junbo write a divorce agreement. However, he smiled gently and asked to speak with her alone. It's unclear how the conversation went.
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