9 – You are a country bumpkin
Ye Yuntong glanced at her lazily, then retorted bluntly, “I don’t think your daughter looks like you either—she must take after your man. But who knows which man she resembles?”
Sister Tong never held back when it came to putting people in their place. She always aimed straight for the most vulnerable spot in their fragile self-esteem.
First, she mocked Xu Ying, implying she wasn’t truly part of the Ye family. Second, she insinuated that Xu Ying had quite a few men in her life—and “quite a few” might not be limited to just two!
She went all out, hitting where it hurt the most.
Zhao Jing: “…”
“You child, Auntie didn’t mean anything…” Zhao Jing’s delicate face flushed with a pitiful expression, strikingly similar to her daughter’s, as she looked toward the elderly woman on the raised platform. Xu Ying immediately stepped forward and pulled her mother back.
“Mom, don’t say anything more,” Xu Ying shook her head repeatedly at her.
“Tongtong,” Dong Qi also tugged at Ye Yuntong’s sleeve, whispering, “Don’t bully her.”
“Hmph!” An extremely displeased snort echoed from the staircase. An old woman tapped her cane sharply. “Truly a country bumpkin, with no manners at all! How dare you speak to your stepmother like that!”
“Xiujuan,” the old man beside her called out sternly.
“Did I say anything wrong? This wild girl grew up in the countryside, with no upbringing whatsoever. Bringing a child like this back only shames our Ye family! Why didn’t she just drown with her mother back then?” Xu Xiujuan’s face was full of spite, her disdain for Ye Yuntong unmistakable.
Ye Yuntong wasn’t the least bit angered by her words. A bright, roguish smile spread across her striking face as she slowly climbed the stairs, step by step, until she stood right in front of the old woman.
Old Mrs. Xu thought this granddaughter who had returned from the countryside was afraid of her and smirked triumphantly. “That’s more like it. From now on, you must not disrespect your elders. Even your own mother was disciplined into obedience by me back in the day. Now, apologize properly to your stepmother, and we’ll let this matter go!”
“Old hag,” Ye Yuntong fired back, the address alone nearly making everyone stumble.
In the Ye family, one might not respect Old Man Ye, or even the current head of the household, Ye Wenshan, and Zhao Jing—but no one dared disrespect Old Mrs. Xu!
Half the credit for the Ye family’s success today belonged to Old Mrs. Xu. Her ancestors were an old-established aristocratic family in the capital. Old Man Ye had won her heart, and with her help, his career had flourished smoothly. After making his fortune, he deeply respected his wife, who had supported him all along, entrusting all household matters to her management without interference.
Having grown accustomed to throwing her weight around in this household, this was the first time Old Mrs. Xu had been spoken to like this. She flushed red with anger on the spot.
“What did you call me?!” she roared.
“Old hag,” Ye Yuntong crossed her arms and looked at her. “What, can’t hear clearly?”
Old Mrs. Xu was so furious she gasped for breath. “You have no respect for your elders! I am your grandmother!”
Ye Yuntong nodded. “Oh, okay. Old hag.”
Old Mrs. Xu was on the verge of fainting from rage. “Ye Yuntong!”
“What is it, old hag?”
Old Mrs. Xu: “…”
“Don’t call me old hag again!”
“Fine, old hag.”
Old Mrs. Xu was so angry she couldn’t speak, pounding the ground fiercely with her cane.
“What’s wrong, old hag? Knocking like that—are you begging for food?”
Everyone present: “…”
“You… you… you!” Old Mrs. Xu stammered in fury, her eyes reddening as she glared at Ye Yuntong. She raised her cane, ready to strike her.
Ye Yuntong was utterly wicked. Seeing the cane coming at her, she snatched it directly, swung it around in her hand, and slammed it hard against the ground. In an instant, her presence was overwhelming.