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nTranslator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

nSong Wenman had hustled outside for the whole day.

nShe had a few students in Bin City, but everyone said that there were only 150 grams of Da Hong Pao in the entire Bin City, and they were all with Elder Gao.

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nSong Wenman felt even more helpless, and hope diminished in her the more she asked around.

nIt was nothing to her to be mocked by Liu Guihua, but if Ye Li were to offend her father-in-law, her life in the Xue family would definitely become much harder!

nXue Xi wanted to speak, but Song Wenman continued, “I didn’t agree when your mother said that she wanted to marry your father back then. Is a rich family an easy group to live with? After the marriage, Liu Guihua is always dissatisfied with your mother in every way possible. Your mother’s position in the household became even worse when the second daughter-in-law of the family hails from a family with a similar status to theirs.”

nFinally finding an opening to speak, Xue Xi spoke up. “Granny, I—”

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n“After you were stolen, your grandmother started nitpicking on your mother even more. I persuaded her to give birth to another child in order to have an easier life here, but that fool did not agree no matter what. She said that it would not be fair to you.”

nXue Xi was stunned at this.

nA warm current flowed in her heart. Ye Li had gone to such great lengths for her… This knowledge made her feel a stronger attachment to both Ye Li and the term called “mother”.

n“She is a stubborn fool. She never cares for anything else once she has made up her mind on something. She used to be such a prideful person, and there were so many people chasing her. Yet now, she had relegated herself to such a state. Just looking at her makes my heart ache.”

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nSong Wenman’s eyes turned red. “Your grandfather has returned home, but your father has gone to the neighboring province for work, so he is definitely unable to return today. There isn’t even a single person who can speak up for your mother at home. No— even if I have to sacrifice my life, I will not let your mother suffer in any way today! At most, I will just bring my daughter home!”

nRight after saying this, she immediately made her way to the living room.

nXue Xi: “…”

nGranny, can you listen to me for a short while?

nShe helplessly followed her maternal grandmother, then took out the tea leaves from her back and stuffed it into the latter’s hands.

nSong Wenman was just about to look at what it was, but Old Lady Xue’s loud chiding suddenly sounded. “Ye Li, you are the sinner of our Xue family!”

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nXue Xi frowned. Similarly, Song Wenman was so hurried that she could not reply. The two quickly made their way to the living room.

nThe servants were all standing in the dining area and sticking their heads out to look at the living room.

nIn the living room, the old patriarch and Old Lady Xue were both seated on the sofa. Old Patriarch Xue had a dark look looming over his face while Old Lady Xue had a gloating look.

nYe Li stood before both of them. She was so ashamed that she could not even raise her head. Her eyes were red, and tears were dripping down from them.

n“What right do you have to cry?” Old Lady Xue continued berating. “What else can you do other than cry? Ye Li, do you know how important this project is to our company?”

nYe Li was unable to say anything. She took a deep breath and looked up. “Dad, Mom, I am in the wrong this time. I will accept the punishment.”

nAt this stage, retorting was useless.

nShe knew that the old patriarch was a prideful one. Last time, he had helped her only because the old lady had gone overboard with her actions and had wounded the Xue family’s image. It was not that he took her side.

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nThe old lady immediately ordered, “Sure. Then you shall be served with the ancestral house punishment!”

nThis made Ye Li tremble immediately.

nThe old lady continued, “Ye Li, it’s not that I am picking on you. This is such a huge blunder. If we let it pass easily, our Xue family’s prestige and authority will be undermined. Old man, are you opposed to this punishment?”

nThe old patriarch frowned, then nodded.

nImmediately after, Auntie Sun slowly walked over with the prepared ferule.

nYe Li’s pupil’s constricted when she saw the flat and white ruler. Her shoulder trembled.

nThe ruler was made of stainless steel. Just a smack on the body would be agonizing. Xue Sheng had mentioned before that one swing of this ruler could make her frail body swollen for an entire month!

nOld Lady Xue’s eyes glinted brightly.

nShe had lost her face yesterday, so she was going to get it back today!

nShe nodded at Auntie Sun, who immediately raised the ruler and was just about to swing it at Ye Li’s back—

n“Stop what you’re doing!”

nSong Wenman rushed out and hugged Ye Li, glaring furiously at Old Lady Xue. “What age is it already now that you still employ such ancestral methods? This is called a private torture encampment and is against the law! I will call the police if you dare to hit my daughter!”

nOld Lady Xue turned her eyes upwards and scoffed. “Which high society family doesn’t have their own rules? My in-law, this is our Xue family’s matters. I shall advise you to move away so you don’t get hurt by accident.”

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nSong Wenman was not afraid in the least as she stared at Auntie Sun. “Fine, then. Come hit me. I shall see how your reputation fares when news of the respected Xue family bullying the weak and old get out!”

nOld Lady Xue raised her chin. In a belittling tone, she said, “Fine. Your daughter is a pampered one and cannot accept our Xue family’s teachings. Since that’s the case, you can just bring her back!”

nSong Wenman yanked Ye Li over. “Fine, then! Ye Li, Xue Xi, follow me home!”

nHowever, the latter remained silent.

nYe Li could not bear to be apart from Xue Sheng… Xue Sheng was a conservative man. He did not care about family matters, but he was a good husband.

nIn the past few years, Old Lady Xue had, at most, mocked her, but she had never truly hurt her only because of Xue Sheng.

nOne was his biological mother while the other was his wife. It was already a blessing that he could do this.

nThe slap Old Lady Xue gave her was the worst thing she had done to her these few years, but the old patriarch had backed her up after that. Xue Sheng did not claim any credit, but she knew that he must have whispered something into the old patriarch’s ears.

nFor example, right now, the house’s phone and the old patriarch’s phone were constantly ringing. It must be because Xue Sheng was unable to rush back in time and, hence, was calling desperately…

nHe had always been silently protecting her in his own way.

nNow that their daughter was back and he was at an important crossroads of taking over the company from the old patriarch, if she were to return home now, there would definitely be rumors about them getting divorced the next day!

nThat would be detrimental to his reputation!

nThe second son had always been trying to usurp Xue Sheng’s position for many years, so she could not give him this chance.

nAs she thought of this, Ye Li released Song Wenman’s hands. “Mom, I’m not leaving.”

nThe latter was so panicked that she wanted to flare up. “Ye Li! Why are you this stubborn?!”

nYe Li’s attitude was resolute. She moved to say something when she suddenly spotted the item in her mother’s hands. She paused in shock. Such an exquisite small box was used to store tea leaves…

nShe dazedly took the box and opened it. When she saw the tea leaves inside, she was totally stunned. “Da Hong Pao?”

nThe situation instantly took a 180-degree turn. Everyone was in a dazed shock.

nOld Lady Xue originally thought that she had victory in her hand, but… Did she truly find the tea leaves? Impossible! She shrieked, “These tea leaves must be fake! Are you trying to pull off a trick using fake ones?”

nOld Master Xue walked up and received the tea leaves from Ye Li in a trance. He carefully examined them and made an unbelievable conclusion. “It’s real.”

nMoreover, just by looking at the box, it could be seen that this was of higher quality than the one he bought!

nHe looked at Song Wenman in surprise, then asked agitatedly, “Where did you buy it from?”

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