Chapter 103: Joint Maintenance

Translator: 549690339

Jiang Chunlan, giddy with delight, accidentally revealed her inner thoughts. Yang Juxiang didn’t understand what foolishness her daughter had committed again, speaking out at a time like this. Didn’t she realize this was just inviting hatred from the people of the Second House? Besides, their allegiance was clearly with the Second House, regardless.

When Jiang Chunlan uttered those words, she saw the changing faces of the people from the Second House, and even the members of the Main House looked at her as if she were an idiot, regretting her impulsive speech. But the oppression of recent days had been too much; seeing Su Wenyue and her maid suffer misfortune had filled her with too much joy, and she had lost control.

“Don’t misunderstand, Lanlan didn’t mean that. She was just thinking that since we are all relatives, there’s no need to cause unhappiness,” Yang Juxiang quickly stepped forward to explain on behalf of her daughter, taking the opportunity to glare at Jiang Chunlan and warn her with her eyes not to commit any more folly.

The focus of the incident wasn’t on Yang Juxiang and her daughter in the first place. But with Jiang Chunlan suddenly butting in and Yang Juxiang’s explanation, no one was in the mood to tangle with them any longer. The attention shifted back to the main issue. Han Yu gave a cold glance at Yang Juxiang and her daughter before turning his gaze away.

“Third Brother, don’t you hurry up and apologize to Brother Yu’s wife. Xiao Xi is the maid of the Su Mansion, how could she be someone for you to covet!”

With respect to Grandma and the stepmother, as a junior, Han Ping felt it inappropriate to criticize, so he dragged Han Hao into it. After all, it was this fool who had stirred up the trouble, so who else should apologize if not him?

“Big brother, what do you mean by that? I know you usually don’t like me, but you are from the Main House after all. If you don’t take my side, that’s one thing, but to actually speak for the people of the Second House? I think you’re eyeing the status and background of Brother Yu’s wife, trying to curry favor with talented people from the Su Family. It’s truly disgusting!” Han Hao said angrily. Expect him to apologize? How could that be! This half-brother of his had always liked to oppose him since they were young, often catching him doing wrong and getting him scolded. This time it involved his own future, trying to use him as a stepping stone to please people from the Su Family? Not a chance!

“What did you say!” This time, Han Ping was not only annoyed inwardly but also visibly flushed with anger. This brainless fool didn’t realize what kind of trouble he had caused! If Su Wenyue really became annoyed and complained to the Su Family, it wasn’t just his own position that would be at risk, but their Main House wouldn’t be able to please anyone either, possibly facing suppression from the Su Family in all kinds of ways. He had witnessed some of these methods before. Few in Xinan City could withstand being targeted by the Su Family, and undoubtedly, their Main House was not in a position to provoke them.

Seeing Han Ping so agitated only emboldened Han Hao more, thinking that he had the moral high ground, and provoked Han Ping further, “What’s the matter, angry because I hit the nail on the head? Don’t think that acting this way will scare me. In the future, don’t even dream of using your seniority to boss me around and lecture me like a big brother, I won’t fall for that.”

“Brother Hao, you shouldn’t speak to your big brother like that. Your big brother always has his reasons for what he does, and listening to him is never a mistake,” the Old Lady intervened seeing the two brothers at odds, without a second thought siding with her eldest grandson, although she did love her younger grandson too – but that was only when it didn’t impact her interests. Her reliance was still on the capable eldest grandson.

Han Hao would usually listen to what Grandma said, but at this moment it had little effect. Being disgraced in front of so many people only fueled his rage, “Grandma, why are you so biased? Every time I have a dispute with big brother, you take his side without knowing the reason.”

“Brother Hao, Grandma is not being biased. The reason I ask you to listen to your big brother is that he has the ability, experience, and knows more than you. Listening to him will always benefit you.”

Han Hao was not receptive and was about to respond when Han Ping ran out of patience and threw a punch. Such a fool needed to be properly disciplined, or who knows what trouble he might cause in the future. Since the Main House had not yet split up, any mistakes this fool made could also drag Han Ping down, otherwise he wouldn’t bother intervening.

“Ah, Han Ping, you ruthless scoundrel, how dare you hit my son!” Mrs. Han Wang cried out in anguish when she saw her son being hit, giving a scream as if a grave incident had occurred. But to her, her son’s troubles were indeed monumental, so she immediately rushed forward, only to be held back by the Old Lady and Mrs. Zhou.

The Old Lady and Mrs. Zhou may have developed some resentment from the recent incident, but having spent years cooperating to suppress Mrs. Wang, they had established considerable tacit understanding, and they still shared an unaltered common goal.

“Mrs. Wang, what do you think you’re doing!”

“What do I think I’m doing? That monster hit my son; I will tear him to shreds!” Despite being restrained by the Old Lady and Mrs. Zhou, Mrs. Han Wang kept trying to lunge forward, ready to confront Han Ping as if in a deathmatch.

“How dare you! Who are you calling a monster? Han Ping is my legitimately born eldest son and grandson. If I ever hear those words from you again, don’t blame me for being impolite!” The Old Lady flared up as soon as she heard Mrs. Wang’s derogatory words about Han Ping.

“That’s right, Mother-in-law, my Husband has always shown you great respect. And this is how you treat him, watching on as he suffers? It chills the heart,” Mrs. Zhou didn’t miss any chance to undermine Mrs. Wang.

Seeing the Main House in turmoil without saying anything themselves, the people from the Second House were in no mood to watch the drama unfold. Han Yu exchanged a look with Han Ping and then led the people from the Second House out of the Main House, and no one stopped them. Some children were waiting outside, and upon seeing the adults coming out, they joyfully gathered around, chattering and laughing.

Yang Juxiang and her daughter followed behind downcast, not uttering a word. After what had happened, they really had no face to continue staying at the Han Family. Even with thick skin, there was a limit – and most importantly, even if they stayed unashamed, they would not reap any benefits from the people of the Second House.

“Oh? Juxiang, you’re leaving? Since it’s not the busy farming season, why don’t you stay a while longer? It’s not easy to come all this way,” Mrs. Yang mentioned, despite her inner displeasure towards her sister and niece’s behavior, she still extended an offer to stay as a matter of courtesy between relatives.

“I have already imposed on Eldest Sister’s hospitality for quite a long time; how could I possibly stay indefinitely.”

“What, you’re leaving? Why haven’t I heard anything about it?” Mrs. Wang was taken aback upon hearing that they planned to leave and became visibly upset.

Naturally, Mrs. Wang did not want Jiang Chunlan to leave, given her current situation of staying put in her room as much as possible to avoid displeasing others. She had relied on Jiang Chunlan to cause trouble for Su Wenyue, and if Jiang Chunlan were to leave, Mrs. Wang would be even more helpless. Thinking about her big brother’s matters just intensified her resentment.