The Sweetness of the Seventies
Chapter 479 - 450

Chapter 479: 450

Huo Yingqi understood that as the youngest child in the family, and a girl at that, she was deeply cherished, but when it came to the second elder cousin, neither grandfather nor grandmother would side with her.

Her second elder cousin was heartless, he had struck down Zhou Yuanyuan’s family mercilessly, and she had no idea where Yuanyuan was now!

Huo Yingqi discreetly made inquiries, but to no avail, and she was disheartened.

Old Madam Huo saw that her granddaughter had been out of the house these past days, so she sent people to follow her, wanting to see what her granddaughter was up to. The investigation startled her almost to the point of illness.

That day, Huo Yingqi’s efforts were fruitless.

All members of the Huo Family were present, waiting for Huo Yingqi.

The Eldest Sister-in-law of the Huo Family scolded her daughter as soon as she returned, "During the New Year festivities, why are you running about, instead of staying at home with your grandmother!"

Huo Yingqi was taken aback and defended herself, "It’s nothing, I was just out for a walk, looking for old friends."

"You were looking for Zhou Yuanyuan, weren’t you?" Old Madam Huo said sharply, "You might not know the situation between our two families since you’re at your workplace. Let me tell you now. If we hadn’t been prepared this year, our entire Huo Family could have been decimated, with people either dead or in prison, instead of the Zhou Family."

Upon hearing this, Huo Yingqi turned pale and stammered, "That... that’s impossible..."

She remembered asking some old friends about the Zhou Family’s situation before, and those people had evasively changed the subject, unwilling to go into details. So the downfall of the Zhou Family was directly related to the Huo Family!

"What’s so impossible about that?" Old Madam Huo continued, "If you want your grandfather and me to die early, and your parents to end up in prison, and your eldest brother to be banished to some godforsaken place, then keep poking around Zhou Family affairs and keeping yourself busy for them." Old Madam Huo truly wished she could open up Huo Yingqi’s nearly foolish skull to see what was inside.

The elder daughter-in-law had brought Huo Yingqi back despite her resistance, and although Old Madam Huo was angry, she was ultimately her own granddaughter. After enduring so much hardship outside, the fact that she had returned meant something, and Old Madam Huo had not said much more. She didn’t expect her granddaughter to be so recalcitrant, wondering how many times it needed to be said before she would cut ties with the Zhou Family.

Seeing her mother-in-law angry, the Eldest Sister-in-law of the Huo Family quickly intervened, "Yingqi, your grandmother is right. It was the Zhou Family that struck at our Huo Family first. You should avoid contact with the Zhou Family from now on. Zhou Yuanyuan is not as kind as you think; you’ve been away these past two years and have no idea what she’s been up to."

Huo Zheqian looked at his daughter with great disappointment and said, "You were a child before, so we didn’t involve you in the family matters, but now you are twenty, an adult. As a daughter of the family, we do not expect you to bring great glory to us, but please, do not dishonor our clan."

It was Huo Yingqi who was being chastised, a child of the main branch, so Huo Zhekun and Jiang Lifang did not interject and listened on the side.

Huo Yingjun opened his mouth to speak, but was stopped by Zhao Huanhuan.

Zhao Huanhuan had watched Huo Yingqi grow up and saw her as a rather astute girl, but her thinking was muddled.

The elders were in a position to criticize Huo Yingqi, but as her brother, and a married one at that, he decided it was better not to say anything.

After everyone had finished speaking, Old Master Huo turned his sharp gaze to Huo Yingqi and said, "I’ve made myself very clear. If you still can’t grasp the situation and continue protecting others at the expense of your own family, then you are no longer a member of the Huo Family, and I will personally cast you out."

Old Master Huo had always been protective of the younger generation, never harsh with his words, especially towards his only granddaughter.

When Old Master Huo spoke those words, everyone was stunned, looking at him in disbelief.

"This isn’t only about Yingqi but includes all of you," Old Master Huo said emphatically, "If anyone takes my words as nothing but wind passing by their ears, they will live to regret it deeply."

The Eldest Sister-in-law of the Huo Family wanted to speak up for her children, but Huo Zheqian stopped her.

Huo Yingqi, feeling like she was being interrogated at a trial, felt wronged and heartbroken, as if her family no longer cared for her. She covered her face, turned around, and ran upstairs.

The attitude of Huo Yingqi greatly dissatisfied both Old Master Huo and Old Madam Huo.

"You’ve really done a great job," Huo Zheqian scolded, "Didn’t we agree to let Yingqi come back after three years? You’ve grown quite capable, going behind our backs and bringing her back. Look at her, as dumb as a pig—what was the point of bringing her back!"

Eldest Sister-in-law of the Huo Family was also upset by her daughter’s words, but with her daughter-in-law present and her husband speaking about her and her daughter like that, where could she put her face!

Jiang Lifang tugged at Huo Zhekun, got up, and left.

This was the issue of the main branch, and their second branch did not interfere.

Although Zhao Huanhuan was hot-tempered, she wasn’t insensible to the ways of the world, and followed her second uncle and aunt upstairs.

Seeing his wife leave, Huo Yingjun didn’t want to stay either; he was too disappointed in his mother and sister.

Now, only Old Master Huo and Old Madam Huo remained in the living room.

"Yingqi is just a girl and so young..." It was only after the unrelated persons had left that Eldest Sister-in-law of the Huo Family tried to defend herself.

"Still young? She’s already twenty, and you say she’s young?" Huo Zheqian said, "Don’t play one game to our faces and another behind our backs. If Yingqi makes any more trouble, I will divorce you, and you can take your daughter and leave."

Upon hearing these words, Eldest Sister-in-law of the Huo Family was startled and said, "I’ve given birth to sons and daughters for the Huo Family and been filial to my parents-in-law; on what grounds would you divorce me?"

"Just because your mind and Huo Yingqi’s can’t figure things out, that’s why I want to divorce you, so you don’t drag down our Huo Family," Huo Zheqian scolded, furious—how could he have married such an unreliable wife.

She was fine when they were young, but as she got older, she became less and less capable!

"Mom, Dad, won’t you say something?" Eldest Sister-in-law of the Huo Family, seeing her husband like this, appealed to her in-laws.

Old Master Huo said somberly, "I feel the same, you better mind yourself!"

After speaking, Old Master Huo, leaning on his walking stick, went upstairs, and Old Madam Huo, worried about the old man, helped him up.

Now, only Huo Zheqian and Eldest Sister-in-law of the Huo Family remained in the living room.

"You see, right? Just as Mom and Dad used to think highly of you and Yingqi, now they’re equally disappointed," Huo Zheqian said, "You should be aware of the situation with the Zhou Family, even though Yingqi wasn’t home. If it weren’t for second brother and his family warning us in advance, we’d both be in prison by now."

Eldest Sister-in-law of the Huo Family wanted to retort after hearing this, but that struggle was too intense. Even when she went back to her parent’s house, her father had said that if it had been the Song Family, they definitely wouldn’t have escaped and would’ve ended up as prisoners.

At first, she didn’t take it seriously, but after being told by her father several times, she began to realize her own naivety.

Now that her daughter was inquiring so ostentatiously about the Zhou Family’s affairs, there was a hint of crocodile tears!

Yet knowing the truth, people would think Huo Yingqi was foolish.

No matter how you looked at it, her daughter’s actions were inappropriate.

Doing nothing was the best solution.

Thinking of her in-laws, and her husband’s attitude, Eldest Sister-in-law of the Huo Family dared not talk back anymore.