She Became A Downfall Noble Lady
Chapter 99 - 98: No Room for Face-saving

Chapter 99: Chapter 98: No Room for Face-saving

Ye Xinyan sneered inwardly. Did Madam Song really think she would not speak her mind? Qi Jia was frightened at the sight of her elderly couple, and not only did they show no remorse, but Madam Song even had the nerve to question her attitude. The mistreatment and disregard of Qi Jia by everyone in the third branch was an undeniable fact, a shared unspoken consensus within the entire Qi family. And as the future male heir who would carry on the second branch’s lineage, our Qi Jia is naturally of much greater importance to the second branch of the Qi family and Qi Younian than you old folks.

"..." Qi Younian had intended to speak up and explain to Madam Song, but after hearing Ye Xinyan’s words, he chose to remain silent.

Madam Song’s face grew increasingly unpleasant as she lowered her eyelids, turned her head, and refused to look at Ye Xinyan again.

However, Qi Yourong, who was carefree and impatient, waved his hand dismissively and said, "The child is just a kid, not sensible. Just teach her slowly, what’s the use of all this talk? We didn’t come here to discuss this today."

With such a clueless and ignorant person present, Ye Xinyan wasn’t sure if she was lucky or unlucky, but at any rate, the conversation was cut short.

"Come, have some tea. It’s scorching hot today, and it’s good to drink more tea," Qi Younian said politely, changing the subject and offering tea to the couple, not picking up Qi Yourong’s lead.

Qi Yourong pushed the tea bowl away and abruptly asked, "Second Brother, tell me, did you give your rice tofu stall to the oldest brother’s family?"

"It was given to Chengzi, not the oldest brother’s family," Qi Younian corrected.

As it had to be clarified sooner or later, the old master replied very straightforwardly.

"You..."

Qi Yourong, pointing an aged finger across the kang table at Qi Younian’s nose, was about to rebuke him when he saw Qi Younian’s ordinarily gentle gaze suddenly become sharp, staring straight at him.

Startled, Qi Yourong felt a flicker of fear and involuntarily lowered his hand. His tone was still indignant as he asked, "When your stall was busy a few days ago and you hired Chengzi from my oldest brother’s family to help for wages, what did you tell me then? And now, just a few days later, how audaciously you’ve gone and given the whole stall to the oldest brother’s family. What are you trying to imply? What about me? Aren’t we blood brothers?"

Seeing Qi Yourong lower his finger, Qi Younian’s gaze slowly softened as he asked slowly, "Who told you this? Who said I gave the stall to the oldest brother’s family?"

"Isn’t it obvious? You just admitted it yourself, yet you try to fool me."

Qi Younian patiently explained, "This stall was set up on Ye Zi’s suggestion, and the rice tofu was also made by Ye Zi attempting different recipes. The capital for it came from Ye Zi’s own savings. Since Ye Zi and Qi Cheng get along well, she gave the stall to Chengzi—not to the oldest brother’s family."

Qi Yourong was stunned. Was that a valid reason? Even if all of that was Ye Zi’s, wasn’t she your granddaughter?

Slowly, Madam Song spoke up, "Second Brother, are you just brushing us off? Right now, the rice tofu stall is not only Chengzi’s; both of my eldest brother’s sons have a share in it, excluding only my Qi Dong and Qi Liang."

Madam Song’s words immediately roused Qi Yourong to anger, "Exactly, Second Brother, what are you really implying? When you had just come of age, you left without a second thought, leaving behind the parents who raised you to my oldest brother and me. I also contributed to caring for our parents in their old age and in their final moments. Now that you’ve returned, you cast me aside, only ingratiating yourself with the oldest brother. Are you favoring the oldest brother’s family because they have more labor and will be useful to you in the future? Is that why you’re cozying up to them?"

This was like uncovering old wounds; the moment Qi Younian heard Qi Yourong mention his parents and his own lack of filial piety, his face immediately turned downcast and defeated.

Ye Xinyan felt indignant listening from the sidelines, and spoke up, "Great Uncle, it’s been many years since my grandfather returned, but there were difficulties, and the reasons have been explained to you and to Great Uncle. As for the rice tofu stall today, it has nothing to do with my grandfather. It’s only because my older cousin was very helpful to our family that I insisted on giving the stall to him."

Madam Song’s face darkened as she rebuked Ye Xinyan, "When we, the elders are speaking, what place do you, a granddaughter who was recognized from outside, have to interject?"

Although Qi Younian was in a bad mood, he could not stand by and watch his granddaughter be wronged. Summoning his spirits, he spoke firmly, "Younger Sister-in-law should not speak like this. It’s true that Ye Zi is not my blood-related granddaughter, but Ye Zi is filial to me. Not all biological grandchildren can compare to my Ye Zi. Don’t say such things again in the future, lest it harm the harmony between our two families."

Madam Song nodded in approval and said to Qi Younian, "If that’s what second brother says, then it’s correct. Since Ye Zi is your beloved granddaughter, why do you still bring up who provided the capital or who does the business? Aren’t we all one family? As a family, shouldn’t the granddaughter listen to her grandfather?"

Great, Madam Song had just set a trap here, waiting for grandfather to fall into it.

Ye Xinyan couldn’t help but sneer to herself. For such a small rice tofu stall, the family of Qi Yourong really plotted with great care.

"Sigh!" Qi Younian exhaled, helplessly saying, "I originally thought, since we are all brothers of the same blood, it would be fine to muddle through the matter and let it go. But it seems, it’s not going to work that way now..."

"The rice tofu is a small business, but for us farming folk, it is a significant income, and everyone knows it. Now that we are too busy to manage, it’s natural to hand it over. As for giving the stall to Chengzi, it’s because Chengzi is diligent and honest. Our family of elders, women, and children really struggles to get by; our rice tofu stall wouldn’t be running so smoothly without Chengzi taking on all the heavy work at home," he continued.

Madam Song scoffed, "Just because of a bit of household chores, you traded away the blood ties and kinship of second brother? Just that small amount of work made you forget that you have a legitimate brother?"

Qi Younian ignored Madam Song’s interruption, continuing, "We haven’t been back long before we started setting up a stall to sell rice tofu. The firewood and water required for the business were not just for daily home use; they more than doubled. The fellow Chengzi, without a word of complaint, still provided for our needs."

Qi Younian laughed to himself at this point, then looked seriously at Qi Yourong and Madam Song and asked, "If it were you, would you be able to silently provide firewood and water for our business while watching us make money, without saying a word?"

"I..." Qi Yourong opened his mouth to respond, but was interrupted by Qi Younian, "You probably want to say your children could do it too, but it hasn’t happened, so you can say anything. But for me, I only saw Chengzi doing these things; I didn’t see anyone else."

Ye Xinyan silently cheered for Qi Younian. She had thought that after forty years of being away, Qi Younian would not find it easy to reunite with his brothers and kin, and certainly wouldn’t say these words. But the old man said them anyway, and although his tone was gentle, his words were beyond doubt.

Madam Song’s face fell as she said, "Are you implying that just because we didn’t help the Second Branch family with their work, you’re no longer recognizing my husband as your brother?"

Qi Younian replied indifferently, "If Younger Sister-in-law believes that one can only be brothers if there are benefits and wealth involved, then it was third brother’s family who first failed to regard me as second brother."

Madam Song was momentarily choked by Qi Younian’s words and paused before saying, "Now that second brother has put it that way, I won’t hold back either. I married into the Qi family at fifteen and for over twenty years I took care of the in-laws and served my sister-in-law. When the in-laws were old and sick, my husband and I cared for the elderly until their passing. We certainly did our part in filial piety, but we also did second brother’s share too."

At this point, Madam Song paused, implying it was time for Qi Younian to make a statement regarding the third branch’s care for the parents.