She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 353 - 352: Can’t Escape

Chapter 353: Chapter 352: Can’t Escape

Ye Xinyan didn’t call back Nanny Liu; she looked at the anxious Qi Yougui, truly unsure of what to say to him. If you have the ability to discipline your brothers, wouldn’t it be good to gather them together amicably? At this rate, your third brother will cause trouble whenever he has a chance; frankly, there’s not a single good soul among them—what on earth are you aiming for?

Seeing Nanny Liu leave, Qi Yougui was full of disappointment and dejection. If all those people were summoned and truly slapped his youngest brother’s wife, how would they ever close the incident? Would there be any fraternal affection left in the future?

Except for Qi Younian, everyone seated on the kang bed hurriedly put on their shoes and got down to follow Qi Yougui. Qi Yourong was already standing on the ground, but he was still dazed. He couldn’t quite understand—it was just a matter of some food and casual talk about children; what was it that escalated to this extent? Looking at Ye Zi from the Second Branch family, she seemed genuinely angry. Was it necessary?

The person about to be slapped, Qi Dong, was somewhat anxious. With so many of their family members present, if someone were to slap his wife, the whole family would lose face, and as a husband, he’d be even more ashamed to show his face.

Seeing the confusion on his own father’s face, he knew he couldn’t rely on him and could only turn his eyes toward Madam Song.

Madam Song shared the same thought as Qi Dong, that such a disgraceful incident couldn’t happen in their family. Since they couldn’t depend on Qi Yourong, she had no choice but to step forward herself.

Although the main room wasn’t small, it was already occupied by two tables and so many people, making it seem crowded.

Madam Song took a few steps towards Qi Yougui and solemnly said, "Big brother, as you’ve seen, it was just the children speaking carelessly. It was nothing serious, yet it turned into chaos because of Ye Zi. We came to your house for the New Year’s celebration. If something happens here, have you thought about how you will explain it to us?"

Qi Yougui’s face was bitter, and he felt very troubled. If his youngest brother’s daughter-in-law was slapped in his home, he indeed wouldn’t know how to account for it.

Lady Wang couldn’t stand watching her husband being questioned and said lightly, "Sister-in-law, what you’re saying isn’t entirely wrong. The only mistake my husband made is that he prepared good food and invited your family over. While feasting on the meal sent by the Second Branch family, your family is causing a scene at the same time, turning a decent New Year’s Eve dinner into this chaos. We have been busy since yesterday and have only just sat down, and now your family has created such trouble. I haven’t even sought redress from you yet."

Madam Song didn’t care about any of that, pushing people aside and sitting down on the nearest stool, saying, "All I know is that my family came here in good faith, and now we are being humiliated. Big brother, you figure out what to do with this."

Qi Yougui glanced at Ye Xinyan, who wore an expressionless face, then turned his gaze back to see Qi Younian sitting sternly on the kang bed and said, "Old Second, look, let’s just forget about this incident. After this time, I reckon they won’t dare to do it again. Let it go, will that be alright?"

Qi Younian, not even lifting his eyes, simply said, "If it was about Yourong or even if Congwu said it was about me, I could let it go. But, not when it involves Ye Zi and Qi Jia. Big brother, don’t bother with this anymore. There’s not a single one in Yourong’s family who can learn a lesson, and my grandson is still so young. He can’t simply endure such abuse only to be continuously reminded of it."

Ye Xinyan firmly grasped Qi Jiaer’s hand and took over the conversation, "Great Uncle, please don’t trouble my grandfather anymore. Qi Congwu is just a five- or six-year-old child, what does he know? A child his age uttering such malicious words is the fault of adults. I will not tolerate this incident today.

Great Uncle heard it himself, Lady Zhang said it wasn’t her who made Qi Jia drink the swill; she said to find the responsible party. So who do you think I should find? Madam Pang did such a thing; her heart is vile. Yet the people who know and those who keep talking about it, how much better can their hearts be?"

Ye Xinyan finished speaking and made brief eye contact with Lady Zhang, who stood at the back of the crowd, before lowering her head to Qi Jiaer, "Today, sister will let Qi Jia see what happens to those who dare bully Brother Jia."

Lady Zhang felt a chill from Ye Xinyan’s resolute gaze. She scanned the room but couldn’t find anyone who might turn the situation around, which caused her face to change as anxiety rose in her heart. She edged up behind Qi Dong and tugged at his sleeve.

Qi Dong turned and glanced at Lady Zhang, also realizing that there was no good end to this situation. If that was the case, it would be better to leave sooner rather than later.

This meal... Qi Dong looked back at the two tables behind him with regret and reluctance. Many of the dishes on them were things he had never seen in his twenty-some years of life, and he could have eaten his fill of them. But given the current circumstances, there was no way they could stay for the meal, so it might be better to leave and not return home empty-handed.

Qi Dong grabbed Lady Zhang and began pushing through the crowd to leave.

Ye Xinyan was on guard against Lady Zhang leaving; most of those standing in the room were from the main family branch. Qi Dong wasn’t leaving easily, but Ye Xinyan easily walked to the front, handed Qi Jiaer to Nanny Jin, and stopped in the doorway within a few steps.

Qi Dong was startled for a moment, then his eyes flashed fiercely as he barked, "Move aside!"

Before Ye Xinyan could reply, Qi Cheng and his brothers, along with Ershun and Sanshun, crowded around, all staring at Qi Dong and his wife.

Qi Sanshun stepped forward decisively to stand by Ye Xinyan’s side, clenched his fist, and said, "Your family has no shame, ganging up on a child, and you can even boast about this shameless act. I can’t swallow this indignity either."

Qi Dong was forcefully blocked by several people, with Qi Cheng and Qi Ercheng standing behind Qi Ye, leaving him no chance to squeeze through.

Pointing at the younger members of the main family, Qi Dong raged, "What my son Congwu said was not wrong—you all are opportunists. Since his family has become wealthy, you fawn over them so eagerly, don’t you? What does this have to do with you? Is it necessary for all of you to stand up for this?"

Qi Ercheng, standing next to Qi Cheng and already as tall as him despite being only seventeen or eighteen, said indifferently, "We step in where there’s injustice, nothing more. We just can’t stand by and watch."

Qi Dong, looking up at Qi Ercheng who was even taller than himself, could only point at him menacingly and say, "You’ll see," before turning to Ye Xinyan, "I’m telling you, leave some leeway in your actions. You still have to live in Clear Water Village, don’t push things too far."

But Ye Xinyan looked towards Qi Yougui, "I thought it was just a meal, so I only brought Nanny Jin with me to help with household affairs. I didn’t expect such a situation to arise. Great Uncle, have you ever considered what you’re trying to achieve with this? Is it just to make everyone unhappy? Or do you think, as long as everyone is gathered, whatever your third brother says goes, and we have to give whatever he wants? Do we have to accept it even if they use childish words to harm us?"

Lady Wang snorted coldly at the right moment, adding to the embarrassment of Qi Yougui.