Volume One, Chapter 15: The Daughter Returns

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And so, Nan Zhi Lou was forcibly dragged upstairs by her mother-in-law. She could have resisted, could have struggled! But with so many eyes in the neighborhood watching, Nan Zhi held back. After all, having grown up in a scholarly family, even though she married Wei Guoxiong at twenty and became a housewife, the dignity ingrained in her remained intact. It wasn’t until she reached the familiar yet strange doorstep that she fiercely shook off her mother-in-law’s hand.

Nan Zhi straightened her clothes and hair, speaking calmly. “I call you mother-in-law out of respect, hoping you can respect yourself as well. If you have something to say, say it directly. If you resort to violence, you know you’re no match for me.”

This immediately enraged Song Ying, who had always been provoked by Nan Zhi. “Nan Zhi! Are you taking the Wei family’s kindness for granted?” Though furious, Song Ying was also somewhat surprised. After thirty years of being a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Nan Zhi had never once spoken back, let alone resisted physically. So when things suddenly went against the norm, it was hard to accept.

Song Ying’s hands trembled with anger as she reached for the broom left in the hallway, intending to hit the shameless woman. But just then, the front door abruptly swung open from inside.

“Really not planning to let me keep this face, huh?”

Wei Guoxiong, restless and full of pent-up frustration, had been pacing inside when he heard the commotion outside. He knew it had to be his mother, who must have returned after watching the video online. But when the door opened, Nan Zhi was right behind her.

Wei Guoxiong never imagined Nan Zhi would come back so quickly—clearly, trouble had driven her to return in fear.

“Come in,” he said sternly, turning to enter the house, then seating himself on the sofa with an air of superiority, as if waiting for Nan Zhi’s confession.

He secretly rejoiced, thinking if Nan Zhi showed a good attitude, he might forgive her for now.

“Guoxiong! Your wife is downright defiant! She’s been gone only a few days, and there’s talk of divorce and news coverage. She’s completely disgraced the Wei family’s reputation. If you don’t divorce her today, then don’t call me your mother!”

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Song Ying was pouring fuel on the fire.

Wei Guoxiong gave her a sharp look, signaling her to stop talking.

In truth, he had no plans to divorce Nan Zhi. He had been waiting at home for her to tire herself out and come back. After thirty years, she had never thrown a tantrum before. Occasional emotional outbursts were understandable.

He believed it was only a matter of time before Nan Zhi accepted Xiaoqing, accepted the fact that he was about to have a son, and that everything would return to how it was.

Especially after these past few days.

The house was a mess—dirty clothes and socks piled all over the floor, the kitchen stacked high with pots and pans. Wei Guoxiong could no longer tolerate it.

“Guoxiong, what do you plan to do about the divorce?” Nan Zhi asked, not with remorse or a desire to reconcile, but going straight to the point.

“Nan Zhi! Are you never going to stop?” Wei Guoxiong clenched his fists.

Nan Zhi walked over to the dining table and sat down.

“I’ve made it very clear. I want a divorce and half the property.”

Seeing his son’s pitiful, conciliatory expression and hearing Nan Zhi demand half the assets, Song Ying’s simmering anger erupted uncontrollably.

Nan Zhi was dead set. She was throwing away a good life—living comfortably with someone willing to father her child without demanding status or property—but she insisted on leaping into the fire.

Fortunately, Song Ying had prepared for this long ago. When her son swore to her that Nan Zhi would never divorce him, it seemed now that only she, the mother, had been truthful.

“Nan Zhi! You never earn a penny, have food and shelter at home, and yet you want half my son’s property? My son’s fortune was built from sweat and hard work. What does that have to do with you? Even if it’s given, it should only go to his son.”

Hearing this, Nan Zhi could only laugh bitterly.

Did Wei Guoxiong’s success come from his own hands? In her mother-in-law’s eyes, she was nothing but a parasite, with no merit, only faults.

Nan Zhi sneered. “Since you’re so adamant, then we’ll settle this through legal channels.”

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Nan Zhi felt there was no longer any point in negotiating. Further entanglements would only waste time.

“Guoxiong, during the lawsuit, we can still communicate. But if you cause a scene at my workplace again like today, don’t blame me for showing no mercy!”

Seeing Nan Zhi so resolute and her son silent beside her, Song Ying knew he was holding back out of lingering attachment.

But this woman had already become so heartless—why keep her around? The daughter-in-law behind Song Ying was not only cultured and reasonable but also pregnant with a boy. How could she compare to Nan Zhi?

“Fine! Nan Zhi! Fighting isn’t business. You think our family can’t survive without you? Maybe the company’s lack of progress these years is because of you! Guoxiong, take the documents and go with her—get the papers signed.”

Wei Guoxiong was driven to desperation.

With his mother present, he couldn’t speak softly to Nan Zhi, and she was unyielding. But if he divorced her, who would manage the household? Who would keep it clean?

After thirty years, his obsession with cleanliness was unchangeable. Even hiring a housekeeper recently had failed to satisfy him.

As Wei Guoxiong wavered, Song Ying kept pressuring him.

Suddenly, there was a loud knock on the front door.

“Who could this be at a time like this? Really—”

Song Ying, frustrated, went to open the door.

But when she did, she was stunned.

It was no outsider but Wei Yan’er, their eldest granddaughter.

Since graduating from university, she had been running an e-commerce business, streaming live from dawn till dusk.

Extremely busy—these past few years, she hadn’t even come home for New Year’s, only video-calling.

But she had become a fairly popular streamer.

Song Ying was proud of this granddaughter, as live streaming was a lucrative and respectable career nowadays.

She often boasted about her granddaughter to her friends in the square dancing group.

Seeing Wei Yan’er, Song Ying’s face immediately brightened.

“What are you doing back? Not so busy anymore?”