"Guest?" Ye Yuzhang looked at Yang Jianxiu, then at Zheng Shi, and finally at Ye Zhuo sitting between the two of them. After a moment's thought, he felt that it was not worth making trouble with Yang Jianxiu, and what was most important was to win over Ye Zhuo and Zheng Shi. So his expression softened, and he forced out a warm smile, saying to Ye Zhuo in a gentle tone: "Zhuo'er, are you feeling better?"

  "It's nothing, thank you for Uncle Zu's concern." Ye Zhuo's expression on his face was faint.

  Ye Yuzhang knew Ye Zhuo was not easy to mess with, so he turned his head and gave Jiang a signal.

  Because the big house was poor, Jiang's family usually didn't look up to Ye Yuqi and Guan's couple, only because of Jiang Xing's matter, last time they had a little smile. At this time, entering the door, neither saluting nor greeting, just standing there with a stiff face. At this moment, receiving her husband's hint, she reluctantly came forward, greeted: "Big brother, big sister." Then looking at Zheng Shi, showing a kind expression, "Manwen, it's been several months since we parted, are you okay?"

  Zheng Manwen was unwilling to live in the Ye family's big house, precisely because she feared encountering an awkward situation like today. However, now that things have come to this point, she quickly calmed down and raised her eyes to gaze steadily at Jiang Shi: "It's fine, thank you for asking, Old Lady Ye. I suppose Old Lady Ye is living a life of ease and comfort, with everything going smoothly?"

  Mrs. Jiang's face stiffened for a moment, but soon regained its calmness. She sighed and said softly: "Manwen, you've been my daughter-in-law for many years. I didn't appreciate your goodness when you were here, but now that you're gone, I realize how good you were." As she spoke, she raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.

  Guan's family, Zheng's family and Ye Yukei all showed a strange expression upon hearing this.

  Zheng had been with the Ye family for over a decade, and Jiang had resented her for over a decade, making things difficult for her for over a decade. Now she's saying she knows Zheng's good qualities? Who would believe that?

  "It's true. If you don't compare, you won't know what's good or bad." Jiang continued, "In the past, although I didn't give you a good face, you always came to care for me with a sincere heart. When you come to serve me, whatever is delicious or wearable, you always think of me. Although you're not as sweet-tongued as Wang's wife, you are also truly filial. And now..." At this point, her eyes turned red and her voice changed. She hurriedly covered her mouth with a handkerchief and stopped speaking.

  Guan and Ye Yuqi stared at each other. Ya Wenyanshen first spoke of Jiang's temperament, which was similar to Zheng's, extremely tough and hard. No matter how bitter or difficult things were, she would never shed a tear in front of others, especially not in front of the mistress of the house. But now, it seemed like she had suffered a great injustice, and tears began to fall. It appeared that these past few months under Gong's rule had been very difficult for her.

  "Mother..." Ye Jiaming called out in a huff. Jiang Shi's words made him lose face in front of Zheng Shi - wasn't this proof that he had married Gong Shi wrongly and divorcing Zheng Shi was also wrong?

  Ye Chou didn't think it was strange. In the autumn moon, he had heard from the old woman guarding the corner gate that Gong Shi was arrogant and domineering in the mansion. Gong Shi wasn't sincere about marrying into the Ye family to begin with, so why would she put Jiang Shi in her eyes? Relying on her family background and the child in her belly, she probably made Jiang Shi suffer a lot. At this time, it's normal for Jiang Shi to think of Zheng Shi's kindness.

  Zheng didn't want to hear this. After more than a decade of living together, she knew Jiang's nature too well. Although Jiang might have been upset by Gong's words, it was impossible for her to be so self-aware.

  Zheng's expressionless face stretched out her hand to gently brush off her skirt, stood up and said to Ye Yuqi and Guan: "You have family matters to discuss, I'll go back to my room with Zhuo'er."

  Ye Yuzhang's goal was not achieved, where would he let Zheng Shi go? He took a step forward and blocked Zheng Shi in front of him: "Zhuo Er's mother. I don't know if my brother and sister-in-law told you about our conversation yesterday? Now, your mother-in-law also knows that you're good; Jia Ming has always remembered you and regrets letting you leave. So we came today to take you back. Pack up your things and follow us back to the manor."

  "Oh?" Zheng raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile playing on her lips. "Are you planning to divorce the Gong family and then welcome me back? Sorry, I was blind once, but now I'm not stupid enough to be blind again. Your family, I'm not interested." With that, she turned around and left.

  Ye Yuzhang's reversal was nothing, although he was also furious, but for the benefit of the Ye family, he could still bear it. However, Jiang Shi and Ye Jia Ming were driven mad. The woman in front of them, who used to be trampled underfoot by them at the Ye Manor, had now been abandoned by the Ye family, with no money and no power, her own family had been driven out by her natal family, and she was living off the charity of the Ye family's main house. Such a woman, in their eyes, was just an ant-like existence, yet she dared to say such things, which made the mother and son lose their sanity, and they forgot the words Ye Yuzhang had reminded them of before leaving the house.

  "Jiang's family had previously scolded Zheng's family, and now they rushed in front of their son, pointing at Zheng's nose and saying: 'You this cheap woman, we are compassionate and kind-hearted, just looking at you pitifully thinking of letting you go back to being a concubine. Afraid that you would lose face, I said a few good words to you. How about it? You're even getting angry when I say you're fat? Take a look at yourself in the mirror, what kind of person are you? My son rejected an official's daughter from the Ye family and divorced her to marry you? Bah, you think too highly of yourself. What interest or no interest, I think you've hooked up with some wild man.'"

  She turned to Ye Yuzhang and said, "Old man, did you see that? I told you this cheap woman doesn't know what's good for her, doesn't recognize kindness. You insisted on being kind, now do you know your mistake? Hurry up and go back, coming here today was a complete loss of face, so unlucky."

  As soon as Gu heard this, she was furious. Not only was Zheng the mother of Ye Zhuo, but also a kind and gentle person; over the past two days, she had grown to like Zheng's character and treated her like a close relative. Moreover, the one who dared to scold Zheng was someone from the second household whom she had always disliked, and it was clear that they were trying to use Zheng to coerce Ye Zhuo. Now that their plan had failed, they were getting angry and Gu couldn't take it anymore. She stood up and pointed at Jiang: "You're so compassionate and kind-hearted? You people are the biggest joke! Don't think we don't know what you're thinking - you want to bring Manwen back home to use her to coerce Zhuo, right? What's wrong with you? Just because Manwen didn't fall into your trap, you're getting angry and scolding others randomly. And how dare you people from the second household say such things? Your precious daughter-in-law, whom you begged to marry, wasn't she already pregnant before marriage? Isn't she going to give birth next month? You people value this kind of woman who has no shame and doesn't know what's right or wrong, but you still have the face to criticize others? And my Manwen, since she's already divorced from Jiaming, her remarriage is none of your business. What are you doing here, spouting nonsense? Get out, all of you! From now on, don't ever set foot in my house again!"

  After finishing speaking, she turned to Qiujie who was standing stupidly on one side and said: "Qiujie, take the broom and sweep them all out."

  "Yes, old lady." Qiujie responded and indeed went to find a broom.

  Ye Yuzhang was stunned. He came today to think about bringing Zheng back home, but who would have thought that before they could say a few words, it would become like this. Not only did he fail to bring Zheng back, but he also greatly offended Zheng and the people of the main house, leading to Ye Zhuo's extreme dissatisfaction with them. Having made such a mess, can they still expect Ye Zhuo to help them out?

  Here is the translation:

  "Speaking of Ye Yuzhang, he's also a capable person. He was able to use Jiang's dowry to develop the family business into what it is today. This isn't just because he's good at calculations, but also because he can endure humiliation and hardship for the sake of profit. At this moment, he couldn't care less about saving face, and hastily said: "Ah, ah, big sister, big sister, listen to me. Your younger brother's wife is someone who speaks without thinking, has a quick temper, and is very foolish. Don't take her seriously. What kind of person is Rong'er's mother? We've been her in-laws for over a decade, how could we not understand? She's always been diligent in her wifely duties, respectful to elders, and even treats the maidservants well. It's just that what she said earlier was too hurtful, your younger brother's wife was provoked, so she spoke without thinking, saying all sorts of things. Don't take it seriously."

  After finishing, he said to Zheng's family: "Zhuo Er's mother, we came today with good intentions. If you don't want to, that's fine, but why speak so harshly? No matter what, we are still Zhuo Er's grandparents and Xiaoming is still Zhuo Er's father..."

  Zheng's face turned red with rage as soon as he heard these words. Before Ye Yuzhang could even speak, he cut him off and said: "Is this how you people treat your ancestors, parents, and children? As soon as someone says that Zhu'er is unlucky, you push her away. If it weren't for the kindness of the eldest uncle and aunt in the main house, who took Zhu'er in, my daughter would have been sent to a nunnery by now, and who knows if she'd be alive or dead? You still have the nerve to call yourselves her parents and grandparents! Even tigers don't eat their own cubs, but you people are capable of this. Now that she's managed to learn some skills through hard work, you're coming back with your tails between your legs, wanting her to make money for you and sacrifice herself for you, and trying to sweet-talk me into going along with it so you can use me as leverage to coerce Zhu'er. You've got a nice little plan worked out, but don't think everyone else is an idiot! Let me tell you, since you people abandoned my daughter and didn't care if she lived or died back then, from now on, she has nothing to do with you anymore. Your demands will never be met by her."

  Ye Yuzhang's plan was foiled by Zheng, and seeing that it was impossible to achieve his goal, he immediately fell into a rage, shouting: "What makes you say this? You are Zhu'er's mother, but Jiaming is also her father. What relationship do we have with her, and can it be decided by an outsider like you? Don't forget, you no longer have any relation to the Ye family, but Zhu'er is still a member of our Ye family. Who gave you the right to speak about matters concerning the Ye family?"

  "Excuse me, this is my mother, and you are just relatives from the next room. My affairs, my mother has the right to speak; as for Mr. Ye, he is only my uncle from the next room, and he really can't be in charge of my affairs. Since my grandmother has already spoken, let's have you leave, the door is over there, please take your leave."