Cheng Ying’s face darkened; Chi Yong wasn't worth it. "Mom, why didn't you come back to our place? We don't have to put up with this nonsense. Let's go home, bring Xiao Ye, why should we give anything to him?"

Well, the peacekeepers had basically lost the plot. How could anyone live like this?

Yang Zhi said, "I just feel awful. You could call it jealousy, but digging deeper, isn't it a sense of injustice? No matter what, I have a flaw in this matter. If we discussed this behind closed doors, I’d admit fault, no big deal. But to bring it to the Old Madam... that makes me uncomfortable. After all these years, the rapport I’ve built with the Old Madam—others might not know, but Wu Zi’s father should. He thinks I'm too easygoing."

Cheng Ying understood: her mother hadn't considered leaving Chi Yong; she was just upset that Chi Yong brought the issue before the Old Madam, nearly destroying the harmony she had worked so hard to build over the years. Seeing her mother’s stance, she knew she couldn't persuade her to leave. It had to be reconciliation; no divorce—didn't they still have to live together?

Cheng Ying said, "There’s no such thing as so much injustice. I think your stepfather is just jealous. Wu Zi told me the exact same thing, truly."

Yang Zhi sighed, "Forget it, I don't want to think too much. This is how we navigated things when we weren't familiar with each other, and now we have Xiao Ye. When Xiao Ye grows up and I get my pension, I’ll go back to the village to look after the house."

Cheng Ying countered, "Are you planning not to live properly anymore? You’ve been living too comfortably. Your stepfather understood you for ten years, and just this once he was impulsive, reckless—and you won't give him a chance? A woman should be magnanimous. Seeing you two become so distant makes me uncomfortable, let alone Xiao Ye. The child is young; how important a stable family is!"

Cheng Ying felt like she wasn't herself; if it were her, she would have already left with Kuan Kuan, refusing to endure such petty grievances.

Yang Zhi admitted, "I won't talk about it anymore. Saying it out loud makes me feel much better. We’ll take it slowly; Xiao Ye is already ten, time flies. I feel like you grew up from ten to now in a flash."

Cheng Ying offered a bitter smile. That’s because your life was happy. If you’re wearing a long face like this now, it means you’re enduring; it wouldn't fly by in a flash for that reason. "Why don't you just divorce your stepfather if you’re so unhappy? Don't worry, I’ll take care of Xiao Ye. Finding you a job or a husband won't be an issue. It’ll save you from feeling inferior to others every day and living stifled." She genuinely felt her mother was too insecure and needed to find self-confidence; maybe a divorce and a new start would be better.

Not only did Chi Yong’s face turn dark, but Chi Wu’s did too. Did his wife ever think about him? These relationships were so complicated; how could one casually suggest divorce? Furthermore, to resort to divorce when faced with such an issue—that mindset was unacceptable. It absolutely needed correction.

Chi Yong pushed open the kitchen door. "Yingzi, wait outside for a moment. Your mother and I need to talk." It must be said, Chi Yong possessed a handsome appearance. Standing there so sternly, he projected an aura of righteousness that was difficult to challenge.

Cheng Ying saw her mother pick up her needlework again, frowning slightly as she resumed working—preparing for a cold shoulder treatment. She didn't know what Chi Yong wanted to discuss with her mother, but Cheng Ying truly didn't believe her father was eavesdropping.

Wu Zi entered. "Yingzi, Yaya is throwing a fit, hurry and coax her." This boy was decent, thoughtful enough to offer help during a critical moment.

Cheng Ying quickly slipped out; the children were the priority. Even Yang Zhi let go of her work, hurrying toward the exit, but she was intercepted and the door was closed.

Chi Yong felt frustrated. His wife was good, truly good, but she never talked. She had never discussed these issues with him; how was he supposed to know she carried any psychological baggage? He used to congratulate himself, using the excuse of taking advantage of her kindness to bring Yang Zhi to the city, never realizing she had never forgotten it. There was some anger, some resentment, but mostly, he felt heartache for his wife.

Facing Chi Yong, especially when the two were fighting, Yang Zhi remained largely silent. This was tantamount to a cold war against Chi Yong, a kind of frustration he couldn’t articulate.

Chi Yong pleaded, "Zhizi, how have I treated you all these years? Others might not know, but you must know. I just had a momentary lapse in judgment, a little jealousy. Think broadly—it even promotes marital affection. How could you speak of regret? Do you know how serious this is?"

Chi Yong’s words were sharp, but his wife offered no rebuttal, evidently believing her anger was even more severe. Chi Yong considered himself capable, perhaps having a ten percent chance against Zhuge Liang in a debate, but facing a wife who refused to cooperate or speak, he felt completely powerless. She simply wouldn't reason with him. All women were like this; they wouldn't be logical when it mattered most.

Chi Yong looked at his silent wife, worried. Where was the gentle obedience of the past? Where was the compliance? Wasn't it always said that he, Chi Yong, was the one in charge in their household? He had earned such a reputation in vain.

Chi Yong rubbed his hands together. "Zhizi, do you really think so little of me? Ten years! Can you bear it?"

Yang Zhi spoke, "I’ve wronged you for ten years; I should have understood this sooner." She left the rest unsaid, but the meaning was clear: she didn't want to wrong Chi Yong anymore.

This was Cheng Ying opening a new door for Yang Zhi: If life wasn't working, they didn't have to continue. Why should she keep wronging the other party?

Chi Yong was on the verge of kneeling. Was that what he meant? Why couldn't she see it clearly? Why insist on interpreting it that way? In a fit of pique, Chi Yong said something even worse: "You said it yourself, you took advantage. You’ve been taking advantage for ten years. Now that I'm older, you want to stop taking advantage—on what grounds?"

Ten years ago, Chi Yong used those same words to ensnare Yang Zhi. Now, the same sentence broke her. Yang Zhi couldn't bear it anymore. She sank down in the kitchen, covering her face and weeping—a truly suppressed, mournful cry. In Yang Zhi’s view, it was indeed a deep-seated injustice. She truly felt she had taken advantage of Chi Yong for so many years.

But in Chi Yong's eyes, this was just an excuse to appease his wife; how could it have become a sacred, untouchable point? How could it provoke such an emotional outburst that she abandoned all pretense of composure?

Cheng Ying was having a perfectly fine conversation with the elderly couple and the two children when she heard the commotion from the kitchen intensify—her mother’s crying. Cheng Ying instantly shot an enraged look at Chi Wu; it was this disastrous boy who insisted she come out, otherwise, would she have left her mother alone with Chi Yong?

In Cheng Ying’s mind, Yang Zhi was someone who never admitted defeat, someone who wouldn't cry unless subjected to domestic violence.

Chi Yong must have resorted to force!

Old Madam Chi reacted faster than anyone. As Cheng Ying looked at Chi Wu, the Old Madam was already knocking on the kitchen door.

Chi Yong was stunned. This one comment was just meant to pin her down, a bit of playful bullying; why such a massive reaction?

He crouched down to coax her. "Zhizi, Zhizi, I'm just being stubborn with you, don't be like this!"

Yang Zhi lowered her head and wept. This anger was hard to swallow. She had suffered a silent injustice for over a decade. She never intended to take advantage of him. She knew her own worth; was a life lived in constant trepidation truly comfortable?

Yang Zhi sniffled, "If it weren't for Chi Ye, if it weren't for Chi Ye, I wouldn't know when my life would ever reach an end. I never wanted to take advantage."

Chi Yong responded, "Yes, yes, I was the one who lied first. I was the one who wanted to take advantage of you; I noticed you a long time ago." These words were just meant to soothe his wife. Chi Yong didn't even know what he was saying.

Yang Zhi stared, even stopping her crying. "Don't slander people like that. I lived honestly in my own home. Even though it was a remarriage, there were matchmakers. Your parents weren't around, but mine were, and my mother-in-law agreed. You had absolutely nothing to do with it back then."

For Yang Zhi, this was an issue of integrity that had to be clarified.

In Chi Yong's view, Yang Zhi was unnecessarily clinging to virtue for her deceased husband. If he weren't fighting with his wife right now, he would have been poisoned with jealousy! "Yes, it was me, I spoke nonsense. Before that, neither of us knew the other; neither had seen the other."

Yang Zhi took a breath and continued crying. Who said obedient women were easy to handle? He had zero skill; this woman had been holding back for over ten years, waiting for this moment to confront him. Chi Yong realized he was caught, and of course, he had been caught long ago.

Old Madam Chi commanded, "Chi Yong, open the door!" Her voice was sharp. Cheng Ying didn't know whether to find the Old Madam's swift, dynamic demeanor admirable or startlingly out of character.

But her mother was crying inside. "Mom, hurry and open the door! I’ve brought backup, we won't suffer any loss!"

That statement was problematic. Old Man Chi tapped Cheng Ying lightly on the head—not tapping her wouldn't have honored the situation.

Cheng Ying looked at Old Man Chi, who was holding their little daughter. Then she looked at the furious Chi Wu, who was holding their son. She smiled sheepishly. "I'm trying to ease the atmosphere."

Old Man Chi scolded, "Don't speak nonsense. Do you know what’s going on in there?" Cheng Ying pouted. You all don't know, but we know everything. Your son went crazy, stirring up trouble and then failing to fix it, pushing his wife to the brink of separation.

Chi Wu stared at Cheng Ying. No wonder his father had advised him early on to live peacefully and avoid arguments, lest it affect the relationship between the elder couple.

Now he saw it: it was his parents whose relationship was being affected, and his wife’s attitude regarding this issue was completely improper. She needed re-education.

The knocking continued, but the crying inside grew more muffled. Cheng Ying panicked. "Mom, open the door quickly! They have hostages!"

Old Man Chi looked at the little Ya Ya in his arms, stopped tapping Cheng Ying’s head, and rolled his eyes—an old man rolling his eyes at how infuriating Cheng Ying’s words were.

Chi Wu handed the child to Cheng Ying, his eyes clouded over with gloom. "She’s my mother too, your hostage." Then, without another word to Cheng Ying, he turned and went to the study. A moment later, he returned with a set of keys and opened the door. Everyone walked in and was stunned. Yang Zhi was crying miserably, while Chi Yong, though not crying, lacked the triumphant demeanor of a victor.

Cheng Ying shoved the child into Chi Wu’s arms. "Mom, get up quickly, don't be angry anymore."

Seeing the elders enter, Yang Zhi became embarrassed. She stood up from the floor. "Mom, Dad, I’m feeling a bit unwell. Please don’t mind. Dinner will be ready soon."