"Since the two were bound in marriage, returning to their home country inevitably required them to formally pay respects to each other's parents. Thus, the first stop upon arrival was at Mingmei's family home. Word spread that the eldest daughter had brought her husband back, causing quite a stir in the main household. Although it was the Republican era and the concept of adopting Western ways was already widespread, the deeply entrenched customs of parental decree and arranged matches still held decisive sway in marriage for the older generation. Mingmei secretly deciding her own fate was viewed by them as an act of profound rebellion. Furthermore, after Mingmei’s departure, the master revealed his intention to have his daughter inherit the family business. The eighteen brothers, already engaged in intense rivalry, began actively spreading slanderous rumors to discredit Mingmei.

"The power of collective gossip is immense; a person can be destroyed by slander. The very scene that once drove the Ninth Concubine to hang herself was re-enacted in the main family home. Less than three days after returning, the master, with a stern face, publicly humiliated Jian Shu in the main hall, right in front of all his sons, daughters-in-law, and household staff. Jian Shu was only twenty-one then—accomplished and full of youthful vigor—and could not possibly endure such disparagement. He left in a fury. Back in the room, he immediately began packing his belongings, intending to leave for good. Mingmei, spoiled and willful since childhood, could tolerate the grievance even less. She resolutely decided to abandon her inheritance and make a living outdoors with Jian Shu. Consequently, the couple left without so much as a farewell that very night.

"Afterward, they traveled to the second stop on their itinerary: Jian Shu's father's house. As mentioned earlier, while Jian Shu was studying abroad, his father had remarried after being a widower for many years. This newly acquired wife was strikingly beautiful, only twenty-four years old, making her two years younger than Mingmei. Initially, the two got along beautifully, almost like sisters, often going out shopping together. Over time, however, once the neighbors figured out the relationship between the two women, gossip began to circulate. Some whispered that the son was lesser than the father, having married a wife not only plainer but also six years his senior and two years older than his stepmother. Others suggested the daughter-in-law eclipsed the mother-in-law; having returned from overseas, 'drinking foreign ink' and 'eating foreign eggs,' Jian Shu’s family was clearly marrying up, and perhaps one day this mother-in-law would end up serving her daughter-in-law. In short, the whispers were ceaseless, and every word was malicious.

"These malicious words eventually reached the Jian household, and the formerly harmonious atmosphere slowly grew brittle. The young wife stopped inviting Mingmei out, and Old Master Jian spoke to Mingmei less and less. Jian Shu, meanwhile, was constantly preoccupied with his official duties, unable to free himself. Gradually, Mingmei began to feel alienated from the home. She repeatedly discussed solutions with Jian Shu, only to be smoothed over with a few dismissive words; it seemed to him that as long as there was food and shelter, all worries would vanish. Dissatisfaction brewed in Mingmei's heart, and the frequency of their arguments steadily increased.

"One day, Mingmei argued with Jian Shu again because she desperately wanted to return to the main house to visit her parents. Coincidentally, Old Master Jian happened to be passing by the doorway. Hearing the subject of the young couple's quarrel startled him deeply. It turned out that because Jian Shu had been humiliated at the main house, he was too ashamed to reveal the truth of Mingmei’s background. Upon returning home, he had lied to his father, claiming Mingmei’s family had met with disaster and that her parents were deceased. Mingmei, still angry over Old Master’s harshness toward Jian Shu, had gone along with the lie to the rest of the Jian family. Yet, blood ties are strong; no matter how angry Mingmei was with her parents, it couldn't change the reality that they were still her parents. As time wore on, her longing for them intensified. She tried to persuade Jian Shu to return with her for a visit. However, Jian Shu and Mingmei’s parents shared no such deep affection; in his eyes, they were merely two prickly, out-of-touch elders, and the memory of the public shaming remained vivid. Returning to see them was absolutely out of the question. Their ensuing argument was overheard by Old Master Jian outside the door.

"This chance discovery by Old Master Jian was monumental. A secret hidden within the Jian family for twenty-one years was suddenly exposed, becoming the very fuse that would lead to the ruin of two prominent families."