Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 323 You Have Her in Your Heart

Madam Yan's series of questions immediately stunned Yan Liang, leaving him speechless!
"Is there some misunderstanding? Although I haven't visited the Jin family often, I don't think they would dare to do so. Besides, what reason would they have to betray the Yan family? What benefit would that bring them? Just because of this mother, you suspect the Jin family is colluding with the Shen family?"

"Are you really not understanding, or are you just pretending not to understand?" Madam Yan said. "Can the Yan family of today be compared to the Yan family of the past? Even if they can, can the Yan family of the future be compared to the Yan family of today?"
“Your grandfather is old, and your father is not qualified to enter the cabinet. At most, he can be promoted to the position of Minister of the Six Ministries. Shen Bo is still young. As long as nothing goes wrong, they will have at least a few more decades of glory in this position.”

"Now that the Shen family is vying for power with the Yan family, if they had planned this all along and wanted to bribe the Jin family, do you think the Jin family might choose to seek a better match elsewhere?"

These are obvious facts, and Yan Liang has no choice but to acknowledge them.

But as he looked at the petition in his hand, he still frowned.

"I'll go ask the Jin family first," he said, looking up.

“Go ahead.” Madam Yan looked out the window. “After all, she has borne you children; she’s not an outsider.”

Yan Liang remained silent, head bowed.

Jin never imagined that the trouble she caused that day would escalate so much that it would implicate Yan Shu and his son in their official positions.

She was confined in the family temple for half a month. Although she was brought back for the sake of her children, she lived in fear and trembling during those days, staying at home with her two young children.

Two days ago, Madam Yan suddenly asked Yan Liang to move out, which made her heart jump again. She was afraid that it was her husband's idea, not her mother-in-law's. After thinking it over, she had someone prepare wine and dishes, planning to send them to Yan Liang's room after nightfall, and lower herself to show her goodwill.

Unexpectedly, Yan Liang returned to his room before it even got dark.

Jin was both surprised and delighted. She hurriedly tidied her hair in front of the mirror and went to greet him at the door. Unexpectedly, Yan Liang had a cold expression on his face and locked the door behind him as soon as he came in.

Jin took two steps back, suppressing her alarm: "What's wrong? Is there something you want to say?"

Yan Liang placed the petition on the table, then sat down, his gaze sweeping from her face to her hairpins and then to her fine clothes: "Have you been back to your parents' home recently? Did you know that your father has been sued?"

Jin was stunned, then picked up the petition on the table and looked at it. Her heart, which had been pounding, suddenly fell to the ground.

She sighed, "I don't know who was so blind as to take this to the authorities. Isn't it normal to shortchange customers in business? Don't worry, my father and brother will definitely handle it and won't cause you any trouble."

"How will they handle this?" Yan Liang asked. "Will they pay compensation to the other party, or will they hire someone else to back them up and smooth things over?"

Having been with the Yan family for eight years, how could Jin not know the allure of money to them? She immediately said, "Money is out of the question. Everyone knows the Yan family is behind the Jin family. If they dare to entangle themselves with us, aren't they courting death?"

Yan Liang stroked his chin and nodded, then turned to look at his children playing outside the window: "This time, we don't need the Yan family. I heard that your father is very capable and has gotten close to the Dragon Tiger General's Mansion. The Wu family has already pleaded for your father."

Jin's relaxed expression froze again: "How could the Wu family possibly plead for our family? We have never had any dealings with them..."

At this point, she trembled again and immediately grabbed his sleeve: "We have never had any dealings with the Wu family! I swear on my life!"

Yan Liang flung her away, saying, "What's the use of telling me all this? Do you know who gave me this petition? It was my mother! It's not that I doubt you, it's that my mother doubts you! Can you swear an oath that she'll believe you too?!"

"You can speak for me!" Madam Jin lunged forward again. "We are husband and wife, what will happen to the children if I am targeted?! Over the years, how I have treated the Yan family, and how our Jin family has treated the Yan family, others may not know, but don't you know?"

"But why are you targeting the third son's wife? Why are you causing trouble for no reason?" Yan Liang glared at her through gritted teeth. "If it weren't for you, how could I have been suspended from my job? If Father hadn't been demoted because of you, why would Mother have targeted you? Because of you, I had to grovel to the Lu family and apologize! What did the Lu family ever do to you?"

Looking at his angry face, Jin lowered her hand and said with a cold laugh, "You really are still holding a grudge about this matter."

Yan Liang stood up: "What nonsense are you spouting?!"

"Isn't that right?" Jin looked at him stubbornly. "Dare you say you weren't standing up for Lu? She was wronged, and the third son didn't say a word from beginning to end, only you—"

Before she could finish speaking, Yan Liang had already slapped her across the face!

Jin took two steps back, but before she could stand still, Yan Liang was already in front of her: "She is my sister-in-law. If you dare to talk nonsense again, you're just asking for death!"

Jin covered her face and gritted her teeth, staring into his cold eyes, not daring to utter another word.

Hearing the commotion coming from the other side of the wall, Lu Ying silently returned to the third room.

After closing the courtyard gate, Granny Li, who was walking behind, went into the house, lit the lamp on the desk, and came to her side.

"Young Miss is truly skilled; she stirred up a storm with just a few words."

Lu Ying picked up a half-embroidered handkerchief and started tying it up with needle and thread: "I remember before my sister got married, whenever the Grand Commandant's mansion sent someone an invitation, they used their own paper. Go to the Lu mansion tomorrow and ask Father if they have any."

Granny Li glanced at her: "You're going back to your parents' home, are you really going to do it like this, all humiliated and angry? Did you bring anything for the adults, Madam?"

“That’s right.” Lu Ying looked up. “It’s been a long time since I’ve made any desserts. I’ll go to the kitchen and make some food for you to take back to your father.”

Granny Li said with relief, "That's right. No matter what the adults think, Grandma should still acknowledge this father."

Lu Ying twitched the corner of her mouth and stepped out.

The fight broke out in the eldest son's house, and it was already dark.

There was no sound coming from Jin's house; only the small garden leading to Yan Liang's study was lit.

Lu Ying walked slowly along the garden corridor, when a mellow aroma of wine suddenly wafted over on the breeze.

She stopped under the banana tree: "Who's in the garden?"

Someone in the courtyard came forward to greet them: "Reporting to Third Madam, this is our eldest son."

Lu Ying turned her head and saw Yan Liang sitting in the pavilion behind the large banana leaves, with a table of food and wine in front of him, but he was all alone.

She brushed aside the leaves and walked over, looked at the table, then at him: "Why is Big Brother here all alone?"

Yan Liang looked up, his eyes bright: "Why can't I be here alone? Aren't you alone too?"