She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 158 - 157: Drink Up the Wine in the Cup

Chapter 158: Chapter 157: Drink Up the Wine in the Cup

Throughout the conversation, Qi Younian’s expression grew increasingly somber. Having left home at a young age and wandered abroad for many years, he had experienced his fair share of vicissitudes. He thought that returning to his hometown, where he had legitimate brothers and a younger sibling, would allow him to comfortably enjoy kinship. However, domestic affairs were the most complex, and now even his eldest brother, who had always taken great care of him, questioned his way of handling things.

Well, then let’s not talk about who’s right and who’s wrong anymore.

"From now on, Yourong should no longer associate with me, and as for you, big brother, do as you please. I won’t force you to treat me as a brother. When I was wandering abroad, I thought about how, after my death, being able to have my remains buried in my hometown would be better than being a lonely ghost. I naively dreamed of returning to my homeland and reuniting with my brothers, but it turned out that things couldn’t be as one wishes. After all, a melon forcibly twisted off the vine is never sweet."

Qi Yougui and Qi Yourong were both stunned by his words, and Cheung Wusi, seeing Qi Younian’s somber expression, was also uneasy. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Big brother, it’s my bad temper that has hurt you. How about I apologize to the Qi family’s third brother..."

"No need, this isn’t something to apologize for. Ultimately, if we’re not on the same path, we can’t walk together. It’s better to live our separate lives in peace," Qi Younian interrupted Cheung Wusi.

"You speak as if it’s so reasonable. Do you think that severing ties is the end of it?" Qi Yourong gathered his courage and said, "Don’t tell me that as a ’brother,’ you’re dumping all the blame on me for nothing?"

"Didn’t I just say you should do whatever you want?" Qi Younian was too lazy to bother with him and turned to Qi Yougui and said, "Look at this, the meal is ruined, completely ruining my appetite. Ye Zi, bring new wine cups."

Ye Xinyan had been watching from the sidelines, and seeing that her grandfather was not at a disadvantage, naturally, she did not step forward to mediate or stop anyone. A person like Qi Yourong had long deserved to be taught a lesson.

Yes, Old Master Cheung was remarkable; he was hot-tempered, had a great character, and was even willing to stand up for her grandfather. He had just arrived and already peeled off the dog-skin plaster of the Second Branch family, which was utterly endearing.

And then there was Wong Qiao, who was unexpectedly sinister. When Old Master Cheung made his move, Wong Qiao, who was standing right next to Cheung Wusi, seemed like he wanted to intervene, but he failed to stop it, even almost getting knocked over by the old man’s arm.

But he wasn’t entirely useless. The moment the Wong Qiao tried to intercept actually effectively reduced the force of the punch, so Qi Yourong didn’t suffer major damage.

What happened next with Wong Qiao was interesting. He simply decided to act recklessly, protecting the table full of dishes and utensils while not attempting to stop Cheung Wusi at all. He even made as much room as possible for Cheung Wusi after Qi Yourong raised an outcry. Thinking back to when he tried to stop Cheung Wusi, it seemed a bit slow, somewhat half-hearted.

Motherf*cker, the seemingly gentle Wong Qiao turned out to be utterly ruthless.

Ye Xinyan glanced around and, without asking Nanny Jin to do anything, she went forward herself and replaced the small wine cups on the table with wine glasses.

Qi Younian lifted the wine pot, filled everyone’s glasses, and raising one himself, he said, "After drinking this cup of wine, there shall be no further ties or entanglements between me and Yourong’s branch." With that, he drained the cup in one gulp and flung the empty cup to the ground, where it shattered, scattering shards across the floor.

Watching the wine glass shatter on the ground, Qi Younian said to the few people present, "The meal today left a bitter taste in my mouth, it’s my fault, despite my age I still can’t see things clearly. Like this, with the autumn harvest upon us, and everyone being so busy, let’s drink up from our cups, and I won’t keep big brother and Yourong here any longer."

"Alas," Cheung Wusi sighed, lifted the wine glass in front of him, signaled to Qi Yougui and Wong Qiao with a nod, and drank it all in one tilt of his head.

Wong Qiao looked around and quietly finished his drink as well.

By the time Qi Yougui reluctantly finished the wine in his cup, Qi Younian didn’t wait for Qi Yourong’s reaction and directly instructed Nanny Jin, "Nanny, clear the table." It was a clear sign that he wanted them to leave.

Nanny Jin promptly agreed and, along with two maids, quickly began to clear away the bowls and plates from the table.

Qi Yourong, covering his swollen chin, first looked regretfully and unwillingly at the almost untouched food on the table, then, noticing Bi Ning and Zi Ning stepping forward to work, he remembered something he had been ignoring all along.

Avoiding Cheung Wusi’s gaze, Qi Yourong pointed at the two maids and asked Qi Younian, "Second brother, who are these people?"

Qi Younian frowned and did not answer his question. He had made himself clear, and yet this shameless fellow was bringing up these issues again—what tricks was he about to play?

Seeing that Qi Younian remained silent, Qi Yourong felt a surge of confidence and pressed on, "Tell me! Are these maids bought by your household? Great, your family has money and struck it rich, looking down on your brothers as useless, and scheming to take advantage of the situation to edge me and the eldest brother out. You ungrateful wretch, I’m telling you, it won’t be so easy. Without the two of us, where would you find a place to stand?"

Qi Younian looked towards Qi Yougui. He didn’t want to say a single word to Qi Yourong anymore.

Qi Yougui pulled at Qi Yourong and scolded, "All you do is cause trouble and make a nuisance of yourself. Can’t you do anything constructive?" Perhaps trying to salvage the situation for Qi Yourong, he turned to Qi Younian and said, "Second brother, we’ve been living together for so long, don’t you know what he’s like? He’s just a good-for-nothing. After all, we are family, and you’re the elder brother—don’t stoop to his level."

Qi Younian wore a grim expression, remaining silent.

Ye Xinyan saw that the situation was not going well. Grandfather Cheung had already managed to get things to this point; if they couldn’t shake off Qi Yourong and his family now, she might as well not show her face in public ever again.

"Great Uncle," Ye Xinyan addressed Qi Yougui without paying attention to Qi Yourong, "Just now, Meizi was also asking me about all the unfamiliar people at home. These are people sent by the owner of the cattle farm, Sixth Master Rong, saying that the cattle farm’s management was lax and that he sent them to oversee my work."

Ye Xinyan gestured around the room and at the doorway, "Aside from these two, there are four Steward Nannies outside. Going forward, they will stay close to me and aid me in managing the cattle farm affairs."

As Bi Ning and Zi Ning went about their work, they didn’t expect Ye Xinyan to say such a thing. Steward Wan had solemnly reminded them that Lady Qi was an effective Chief Steward highly regarded by Sixth Master and the actual person in charge of the cattle farm; she was not to be neglected.

Both were intelligent people handpicked by Wan Yan, and though surprised at Lady Qi’s words, they did not hesitate in their tasks. They exchanged a glance without making a sound and continued arranging the dishes and utensils on the trays.

Qi Yourong’s eyes wandered over the two maids, feeling suspicious. Could it really be that the owner of the cattle farm didn’t trust Ye Zi from the Second Branch family, hence sending so many people over?

Upon further thought, it made sense. The cattle farm was a significant enterprise with over twenty head of cattle. How could wealthy folk feel at ease entrusting it to a countrywoman, an abandoned wife from the countryside? Sending people over to supervise was already being polite. If she failed to satisfy the owner’s expectations, he would not only take back the enterprise immediately but also potentially hold the Second Branch family accountable.

After all, they were the wealthy elite.

That’s right, dealing with the wealthy was never an easy affair. Even with local landlords, as small tenant farmers, they had to watch the landlords’ faces and abide by their decisions in every matter, let alone dealing with influential figures from the county.