The previously lively atmosphere instantly quieted down.
Everyone was wondering how Xu Zhiyuan would respond.
Third Aunt He and the others, who had already clashed with Xu Zhiyuan earlier, were also quite expectant. Xu Zhiyuan had made them feel stifled and frustrated, making them seem like the villains. Now, she couldn’t let them down—at the very least, she should treat everyone equally.
Grandfather He remained as steady as a fisherman on his platform, as if he hadn’t noticed the rudeness of the younger generation.
Xu Zhiyuan, now the center of attention, grabbed He Jiayu’s arm—or, more accurately, pressed down on it.
He Jiayu had already put down his chopsticks and was about to speak up to defend Xu Zhiyuan when she stopped him.
He looked down at her with a questioning gaze, while Xu Zhiyuan wore a puzzled and confused expression.
“In your He family, do elders go to see the younger ones? Are the younger ones the ones with the biggest airs?”
Her voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for Grandfather He and the person who had spoken earlier to hear.
But that wasn’t all.
Xu Zhiyuan also put on an act of not understanding but having to follow the family rules since she had married into the family. She muttered, “Your He family is really strange, so different from everyone else,” while pretending to stand up.
Before Xu Zhiyuan could fully rise, Grandfather He spoke up sharply.
“What are you standing up for? Sit down.” He glared at the young man. “Have you learned all your manners and upbringing from dogs?”
The young man’s face immediately paled. “Uncle Grandfather, I was wrong. Sister-in-law, I… I was just joking. Please don’t be angry.”
“Enough. Sit properly,” Grandfather He said.
Seeing that Grandfather He had no intention of pursuing the matter further, the young man breathed a sigh of relief, his complexion returning to normal. Along with his relief came a hint of smugness—Grandfather He still favored his own family. As for Xu Zhiyuan, he didn’t care.
Ultimately, Grandfather He still hadn’t acknowledged Xu Zhiyuan’s status.
Xu Zhiyuan paused briefly as she sat down, then quickly returned to normal. After sitting, she leaned close to He Jiayu’s ear, seemingly speaking softly, though Grandfather He could still hear her.
“How come the rules in your He family are like jokes, something you can casually make fun of?”
He Jiayu couldn’t help but laugh out loud—a sudden, abrupt laugh that sounded grating to some ears.
Ignoring Grandfather He’s dark expression, he reached out and pinched Xu Zhiyuan’s cheek. At that moment, a small flame seemed to burn in Xu Zhiyuan’s eyes, shining excessively bright.
“You’re right,” He Jiayu said, not lowering his voice at all. Everyone present heard him, including the young man who had been secretly gloating earlier. “The rules of the He family are nothing but a joke, and no one even cares about them anymore.”
They looked at He Jiayu in surprise, trying to discern something from his expression, but found nothing, only growing more uneasy and suspicious.
As for the young man, his face turned pale once again.
By speaking so bluntly, He Jiayu made it clear that Grandfather He couldn’t simply brush this aside. Otherwise, it would mean admitting that the He family’s rules were indeed a joke, something no one needed to take seriously.
Sure enough, the next moment, Grandfather He spoke up.
“He Jiashang, go kneel in the ancestral hall for the night and copy the family rules ten times. I want to see them tomorrow evening.”
“I understand, Uncle Grandfather,” He Jiashang replied with a grim expression as he stood up. Before leaving, he obediently apologized to Xu Zhiyuan again. “Sister-in-law, I’m sorry. I know I was wrong.”
Xu Zhiyuan replied sincerely, “It’s alright.”
But that was the only thing that didn’t matter—there was no intention to forgive and let it go.
She, too, needed to establish her authority, to let the He family know that she wouldn’t stir up trouble but was also not someone to be bullied.
After such an incident, everyone tacitly avoided mentioning it further, acting as if nothing had happened, but the atmosphere could no longer be revived.
Xu Zhiyuan didn’t notice this; seeing that they weren’t speaking much, she assumed it was the He family’s dining etiquette and simply focused on eating. She was still somewhat reserved, afraid of doing something wrong and being looked down upon by the He family again, so she mostly only touched the dishes in front of her.
He Jiayu noticed but didn’t say anything, silently serving her food instead. As a result, Xu Zhiyuan didn’t deprive herself during this meal—she tasted every dish, and they were delicious, with a strong flavor of money.
It truly was strong; just the plump and meaty hairy crab alone wasn’t cheap.
After dinner, to prevent Xu Zhiyuan from suffering indigestion, He Jiayu took her to bid farewell to Grandfather He and He Hongjie before leaving.
Tong Sijing wanted them to stay.
“There are plenty of rooms in the house for you to stay. Shiman is coming over as a guest tomorrow,” Tong Sijing said deliberately, glancing at Xu Zhiyuan.
This was the umpteenth time Xu Zhiyuan had heard the name Shiman that evening. She hadn’t kept count, only knowing it had been mentioned many times. Zhan Shiman—the young lady of the Zhan family, the woman Tong Sijing had long chosen as He Jiayu’s ideal wife, who was countless times more precious than her.
She knew He Jiayu had no feelings for Zhan Shiman, nor any intention in that regard.
Yet hearing the name still made her uncomfortable, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.
He Jiayu had no feelings or intentions toward Zhan Shiman, but Zhan Shiman was different.
“She is your guest, Mom, not mine. What does she have to do with me?” He Jiayu said. “Mom, if you want Zhan Shiman to be a third party, you should consider whether the Zhan family would agree.”
Tong Sijing looked at him incredulously. “What nonsense are you talking about? How could Shiman be a third party?”
“I’m already married. If you still want to matchmake me with her, what else is she but a third party?” He Jiayu stated bluntly. “Nothing has happened yet, so you should stop now before things get too ugly and hard to resolve.”
“Who am I doing this for if not for you? What can this woman bring you? Nothing at all. She’s just a useless ornament, a vase,” Tong Sijing said without sparing any face, pointing at Xu Zhiyuan and belittling her.
He Jiayu’s eyes flashed with sarcasm. “Whether it’s for my good or something else, you know the truth in your heart.”
“You—” Tong Sijing seemed struck by something, clearly furious but unable to speak.
Xu Zhiyuan couldn’t help but wonder what had happened between this mother and son.
“Zhiyuan and I are leaving now,” He Jiayu said, no longer continuing the conversation, and took Xu Zhiyuan’s hand to leave.
Xu Zhiyuan tugged at him gently, turned around, and said earnestly to Tong Sijing, “Mom, you keep emphasizing that you’re doing this for He Jiayu’s good, but what I see is your denial of him. Only an incapable man needs a woman’s help.”
Tong Sijing glared at Xu Zhiyuan with disgust. “You have no right to speak.” Xu Zhiyuan was trying to drive a wedge between her and her son.
“She does.” He Jiayu wrapped his arm around Xu Zhiyuan’s waist, his expression serious and earnest. “Mom, it’s fine if you don’t like Zhiyuan, but please respect her. She is my wife.”
“Have you lost your mind? What can she possibly give you?”
The same words again.
He Jiayu was deeply irritated.
“Then, Mom, what have you given Dad? What have you given me?”