Guan Tianyi looked at their solicitous behavior with disgust. He knew about the sordid things they had done, and felt utter contempt for them. For a little gain, they had pushed a young girl into a fire pit, and now they wanted to fawn over him for benefits. How could they have the nerve?
Seeing his displeased expression, they all felt a jolt of unease. Jiang Yongnian secretly signaled to Jiang Feng, who immediately understood.
"Son-in-law, I haven't seen Hanyue in a long time. How is she doing? This child has some misunderstandings about me. Tell me, what mother doesn't dote on her daughter? The next time you see her, please help me persuade her. It would be good if the misunderstanding could be resolved," Jiang Feng said ingratiatingly.
"She is living very well without you. You have no misunderstandings, and we do not expect you to disturb her. Also, the term 'son-in-law' is not something you can use. How can someone like you be a mother? I am here to see you today not for you to curry favor, but to state clearly: from now on, let bridges be bridges and roads be roads. We shall not interfere with each other and each will live their own life in peace."
Seeing his resolute attitude, they were all seized by panic. This was not what they had expected.
Old Master Liu quickly stepped forward, "Son-in-law, listen to my explanation. I only learned that she was my daughter not long ago. It was all this woman's doing; she hid it from me and confused the Liu family bloodline. I, Liu, am not a good person, but I would never betray my own children."
"But you clearly knew there was something fishy going on, yet you still harmed an innocent woman. Now that your Liu family is in trouble and you want me to extend a helping hand, that is impossible. Of course, I will not add insult to injury either," Guan Tianyi assured him. To be honest, although his actions were not proper, he still cared for his own children.
Seeing that the few of them still wanted to defend themselves, Guan Tianyi was too lazy to listen further. He sent the housekeeper to drive them out, warning them not to come back again.
Before they could figure out how to spread rumors of Jiang Hanyue's filial impiety, the news of Jiang Yongnian harming his niece and selling her spread through every alley and street. Along with the gossip came whispers that he couldn't teach his children well. If students learned his conduct, wouldn't they turn into ungrateful wretches in the future?
People sent their children to private tutors to learn to read and write, hoping they would find good jobs or pass imperial examinations to repay their clans. After all, it was not easy to support a scholar. If they raised an ungrateful child, it was better not to educate them at all.
Thus, parents gradually began to withdraw their children. Although Jiang Yongnian tried his best to explain that he was unaware, the parents dared not gamble. With this money, why wouldn't they find some upright scholars?
One led to two, and soon there were no students left. His bad reputation spread throughout the entire county. In the future, let alone opening a private school, no one would dare to hire him even for manual labor. They suspected that Young Master Guan was behind it, but after lingering at the Guan Manor for a long time, they couldn't even get in.
With his economic source completely cut off, Jiang Yongnian became extremely anxious. He still had a whole family to support.
To save expenses, the servant women were dismissed, which led to a new problem: who would cook, and who would clean?
When the servant women were doing these chores, everyone deliberately ignored them. Now that the tasks fell upon themselves, everyone wanted to shirk responsibility.
What Li shi couldn't accept was that her daughters had to do chores, while Jiang Feng acted like a lady and never helped with any of it.
Not to mention that this trouble was likely caused by her. In this city, their enemies were either the Guan Manor or Master Ye. However, Master Ye would be most happy to keep this matter completely hidden. How could he have revealed it? Therefore, it must be revenge from the Guan Manor. If she had treated her own daughter well, how could this disaster have happened?
In fact, Jiang Feng was also very distressed. She felt that life here was not going smoothly. In the past, when there were servant women, her clothes were washed for her. Now, not only did she have to wash her own and her son's clothes, but she also had to cook sometimes to improve their meals. She found it agonizing and wondered when it would end.
Master Ye felt that the Jiang and Liu families were too incompetent. He had not expected Jiang Hanyue to be so vengeful. Usually, wouldn't a woman prioritize her maternal family and rely on them for help in the future?
He hadn't expected her to act so unpredictably, seeking revenge for grievances without regard for their feelings.
The reason he held the belief that a woman, no matter how wronged, should forgive her maternal family was because many families, prioritizing sons over daughters, had raised their daughters to be subservient. Selling them for money was also common, as they would need their maternal family's support in the future.
Things had turned out beyond his expectations, so he had to find another way. Hadn't he spent his time in bed before? He would fall ill again, Master Ye thought to himself.
Thus, that day, the tea he drank was laced with something. Unfortunately, he had no medical skills and didn't notice it at all. Fortunately, Wu Caiwei, worried about him coming to Ning'an County alone, had secluded herself for two days before leaving and made him an antidote pill that would make him immune to all poisons for a year.
Master Ye was somewhat devastated. The report clearly indicated he had ingested poison, yet Guan Tianyi could still go out normally. He strongly suspected that the hired help had not acted according to his instructions, showing outward obedience but inner defiance. He sent the housekeeper to personally supervise.
The poisoner was also bewildered. He had personally seen the young master drink the tea, yet he was standing alive and well before him. He couldn't help but doubt if he had used the wrong medicine.
To redeem himself, he lured the young master to the Zhuangyuan Tower, simply because Zhuangyuan Tower had a new dish, and being a foodie, he didn't want to miss out. He bribed the waiter, and the housekeeper, while no one was paying attention, personally poured the medicine into the dish. He watched intently as the waiter served the dish, and Guan Tianyi ate it, confident that it was foolproof and he could report back.
To his astonishment, Guan Tianyi was unharmed, just like last time. To confirm the efficacy of the medicine, they used chickens as test subjects. The chicken ate the poisoned food, fell ill that night, and before dawn, it collapsed and never opened its eyes again.
Knowing the medicine was fine, they felt that Guan Tianyi was somehow strange. He had been bedridden for so many years, yet six strong men were no match for him. He had been poisoned twice and was still acting as if nothing had happened.
Thinking of this, his heart grew cold. Could he be some kind of demonic entity? Especially since he was so beautiful.
He was somewhat afraid, but thinking that the target was him, he had no choice but to continue. Master Ye did not want to give up the fruits of his many years of effort. He was even more afraid that even if he lost his fortune, his life would not be saved. At this moment, he truly regretted not listening to his wife's suggestion about a ghost marriage.