She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 354 - 353: Became Someone You Can’t Afford to Offend

Chapter 354: Chapter 353: Became Someone You Can’t Afford to Offend

Lady Wang coldly scoffed at the right moment, making Qi Yougui even more ashamed. He said awkwardly, "Dongzi is your elder, he was just speaking his mind— he wouldn’t really want to harm you."

The second young master had wandered destitute for forty years before he managed to make his way back home. His own family hadn’t offered much help, instead, it was from the Second Branch family that he received various benefits.

The third son’s family was even worse. When the second young master had just returned, destitute and in need, they had avoided him from afar. As soon as he began to set up a small stall, they started causing trouble, taking advantage day after day. Even when the second young master’s family explicitly stated they wanted nothing to do with them, it did little to curb their behavior, they intensified their efforts to exploit the Second Branch’s generosity.

All the fine food on the table had been prepared by the second young master; even Landlord Wang’s family wouldn’t have such a lavish New Year’s Eve dinner. Before, he couldn’t even dream that his own poor peasant family would see such good days. Yet, the third son’s family was never satisfied, ever restless...

Qi Yougui gave Ye Xinyan another look. The third son’s family might take a small advantage here and there, but none of them had any brains—Ye Zi was a person capable of being the Chief Steward, controlling dozens of people under her. Could they really bully the third household?

Ye Xinyan secretly curled her lip. The old man really didn’t know how to talk. Qi Dong was all talk; what else did he want to do? Even if he had the intent, he’d have to see if he had the capability.

Speaking these words didn’t take long, but Qi Dong was becoming even more impatient. The Second Branch lived in the northern part of the village, a distance away, but not too far. It wouldn’t be much longer before that old woman servant would lead people back here. Were they just supposed to wait here for the second master’s bodyguards to come and beat them up?

"Go and bring the kids over," Qi Dong ordered Lady Zhang, then turned back and called out to Qi Yourong and his wife, "Father, Mother, let’s head back. Nowadays, our second uncle is wealthy and powerful; we can’t afford to offend him." He didn’t believe that, with his parents leading the way, Qi Cheng and the younger generation would dare to make a move. If it were just Qi Ye alone, he could push her aside with one hand, and his family could simply leave.

Qi Yourong’s eyes wandered between the three tables full of food on the kang and the ground, he was undecided, when suddenly they heard Nanny Liu’s voice outside: "Young Lady, I have returned."

Including Madam Song and Qi Yourong, everyone’s faces changed simultaneously.

Ye Xinyan stepped aside from the door and called out, "Everyone, come in."

Nanny Liu was the first to enter, followed by two old woman servants, one was Nanny Ding from the Wang residence, the other from Anshun’s household; behind them were two tall and sturdy guards.

Upon entering, Nanny Liu’s gaze was fixed on Lady Zhang.

At that moment, Lady Zhang had just picked up her child Huahua, intending to take the three kids back home. Seeing Nanny Liu leading people in, and staring straight at her as soon as she entered, Lady Zhang couldn’t help but feel a chill as she hugged her child and shrank back behind the dinner table.

Anshun’s household servant looked gloomily at Lady Zhang and asked Nanny Liu, "Is this the woman who tripped our young master?" While speaking, she signaled to the guards, "Move the dinner tables aside, who can eat like this? Leaving the tables here really is an eyesore."

The two guards easily moved the tables full of dishes to the side, while Nanny Ding followed the guards, pushing aside those like Madam Song and Lady Zhang who were clinging to the tables or hiding behind them. Even Qi Dong, who was standing in front of Lady Zhang, couldn’t stop them. Madam Song, pushed far away, couldn’t understand how she had been moved aside.

The hall had been cleared to make a large open space, and the people from the Qi family’s main branch had all moved aside.

Standing in place, Anshun’s household sneered at Lady Zhang in the corner, "You’d better put down the child and come over on your own. It’s better than us having to physically fetch you and scaring your daughter."

Seeing that Lady Zhang not only hadn’t put down her daughter, but had hugged her tighter, she couldn’t help sneering again, "You should let go of her. I’ve heard you are quite heartless, not taking our family’s children seriously. Let me tell you, I don’t take other people’s children seriously either."

Lady Zhang had a mournful face and called out to Madam Song, "Mother."

Madam Song had just been thrown aside by Old Madam Ding, and was still in a daze, when she received the plea for help from her daughter-in-law. Looking at the few glaring figures, she no longer had the courage to make trouble and turned her head to look at Qi Younian who was still sitting on the kang, begging, "Second brother, it was my fault for not disciplining the children well. Please, for the sake of their youth and ignorance, and for the little one, can you let her off this time? I will surely discipline her strictly when I return, and if there is a next time, you can deal with her as you please. We won’t have any complaints."

Qi Yougui also said, "Younger brother, Dongzi’s wife is still young, give her another chance. At least, don’t spoil the New Year’s mood. If there is an issue, can’t we talk about it after the New Year?"

Qi Younian’s face showed no signs of happiness or anger, and he said lightly, "This isn’t the first or second time this has happened. Better to learn a lesson, to avoid any chaos in the future. A slap is not a big deal, just a minor punishment. Let’s get this over with. The sooner it’s done, the sooner we can all go home."

When Nanny Liu heard Qi Younian give the signal, she ordered Nanny Ding, "Go pull Lady Zhang over." Then she instructed the two guards, "Keep an eye on them. If they refuse to obey, just take action. As long as you do not damage their muscles or bones, you can do whatever you want."

The lead guard looked over the members of the Second Branch family and agreed, "Understood. If they don’t behave, dislocating their arms will be enough, simple as that."

Qi Dong and Qi Liang were both eager to step forward and intervene, but a single statement from the lead guard rooted Qi Dong and Qi Liang in place.

As Nanny Ding moved forward toward Lady Zhang and extended her hand, Qi Dong instinctively stepped forward to grab Nanny Ding’s arm. Upon contact, Qi Dong was taken off balance by Nanny Ding’s movement. Unfortunately, as he stumbled, he fell towards the guard and was pinched on the shoulder, immediately feeling half his body go numb, as if he couldn’t move at all.

The guard whispered threateningly, "Stay put if you want to suffer less pain. But if you resist, I’ll have to dislocate your arm." With Qi Dong’s entire arm and half his body tingling with numbness, he couldn’t move even without the warning about dislocating his arm.

Unaffected by Qi Dong’s interference, Nanny Ding easily grabbed Lady Zhang’s arm and made her loosen her grip without appearing to exert much force. Nanny Ding then took the child and handed Huahua over to Madam Song, dragging Lady Zhang towards the center of the floor.

Huahua, who was forcibly placed in Madam Song’s arms, burst into tears with a "wah."

Lady Zhang, gripped by the bony yet iron-like hand of the frail old woman, couldn’t muster any strength to resist. Looking over, she saw Qi Dong in the same helpless state, twitching on one side of his face where the guard held his shoulder.

Only then did she realize that the people coming in and out of the Second Branch family were truly extraordinary, all obeying the commands of Qi Ye, the abandoned wife from the peasant family. And little Qi Jiaer had indeed become someone they couldn’t afford to provoke.