Another Day of Pretending for the Wealthy Couple - Chapter 17

Ji Tanyuan smiled lightly. “Yes, Aunt Zhang has been a great help to me.”

“Good that you know it.”

The elderly lady sat down, feeling somewhat more satisfied with Ji Tanyuan. At least there was some progress.

Ji Tanyuan’s fingers twitched slightly. She was contemplating whether she could handle the mess if she overturned this cup of tea.

Clearly, she couldn’t.

Relying on others was like ascending to the heavens, unpredictable and treacherous.

Without the ability to manage the aftermath, she couldn’t afford to indulge her emotions. The Zhong family had its own rules, and as someone who had married into it, she had to abide by them.

If things fell apart, the Zhong family could recover, but the Ji family couldn’t. Months of effort would go to waste, and the situation might even worsen.

Ji Tanyuan watched as her sister-in-law took the teacup. The Wen family was no small clan either. Wen Yi’an didn’t seem like someone easily intimidated, so why was she so obedient?

And her mother-in-law, despite her sour expression, she endured the humiliation. Women from prestigious families endured at home so they could naturally accept flattery and deference outside. After all, they convinced themselves it was all earned through patience.

But Wen Yi’an was different. Her comfortable life came from birth, not marriage. Why should she endure the same hardships?

Was this a longstanding tradition among northern elite families? Perhaps she really needed to adapt?

As for herself, she was about to join their ranks. But no matter how much she tried to console herself, she found that mental victories couldn’t convince her to kneel.

She felt miserable, plain and simple. She couldn’t persuade herself that this was just an act.

Before Ji Tanyuan could devise a plan, she saw Zhong Jing grab Wen Yi’an’s arm.

“No more kneeling.”

Zhou Yanyu, seeing her usually most obedient son stepping in to intervene, found it even more unbelievable than if Zhong Yan had done it. Her voice turned stern. “Zhong Jing, what are you doing?”

Unlike Zhong Yan’s handsome features, Zhong Jing had sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, exuding a solemn and authoritative demeanor. He had inherited his father’s conservative ways, but this time, he pulled Wen Yi’an behind him. “Lately, there’s been gossip in our circles about our family being overly strict with feudal etiquette. It’s not a good look.”

“Filial piety isn’t wrong, but it should be me and A-Yan doing it. There’s no reason to make our wives do it.”

The elderly lady was shocked. The eldest son’s family, usually the most rule-abiding, was unexpectedly rebelling.

“Zhong Jing, do you realize what you’re doing?”

Zhong Jing took the teacup, lifted it with one hand, and turned it upside down before offering it to the elderly lady. “Grandmother, do you want me to kneel?”

The elderly lady stood up, her face pale with anger. “What did you say?”

Zhong Jing’s voice remained calm. “My wife has been obedient enough. But we can’t bully her like this.”

“Marriage is about two people building a life together, not about making her suffer.”

Old Lady Zhong found it baffling. “I just asked her to serve tea. Why are you all acting as if I’m sending her to hell? I went through the same thing back in my day, kneeling every day, even. Did I complain?”

“Your mother went through it too. Why is it suddenly unacceptable for your generation?”

The more she spoke, the angrier she became. A simple tea-serving ritual was being treated like some great torment. “If it’s like this, why even get married? A family without proper decorum is no family at all.”

“Other families may not have such rituals, but they also don’t offer the high status the Zhong family gives you. Have you forgotten your own worth after being flattered outside? All of this was given to you by the Zhong family! This is to teach you not to forget your roots!”

Zhou Yanyu supported the elderly lady, speaking slowly. “Don’t upset yourself.”

“Zhong Jing! Apologize. Who gave you the right to be so disrespectful?” Zhou Yanyu scolded.

Ji Tanyuan observed her mother-in-law’s stern expression, solely stern, with no trace of anger or sorrow. This attitude was rather intriguing.

This family appeared harmonious on the surface, but in reality, each member harbored their own grievances. How interesting.

She had genuinely believed they were a loving, close-knit family.

Zhong Jing set his teacup on the table, adjusted his suit pants, and prepared to kneel.

“Enough.” The old man upstairs interrupted the commotion, leaning on his cane.

Meanwhile, Ji Tanyuan, who had swiftly transitioned from an anxious participant to a spectator, looked up at the sound and met the old man’s gaze.

She then chuckled lightly and joined the fray.

“How could this be allowed, elder brother? He’s your own grandson, his knees are certainly precious.”

Zhou Yanyu felt a throbbing in her temples. That wretched girl Ji Tanyuan was repeating the very words she had said the other day.

With her Shanghainese accent and that cloyingly sweet tone, it sounded almost sarcastic, yet her expression was utterly earnest, her eyes clear and sincere.

“Keep your mouth shut.”

Ji Tanyuan obediently fell silent.

Upstairs, Zhong Yan, who had been watching the scene unfold, laughed and whispered to the old man, “She’s adorable, isn’t she?”

“So, I should thank you, Grandfather, for finding me such an amusing wife.”

The old man glanced sideways at him, his gaze imposing, exuding the intimidating aura of a lion, a clear dominance in presence.

He then turned his attention to Zhong Jing. “What on earth has gotten into you?”

Zhong Jing tightened his grip on Wen Yi’an’s hand. “Nothing’s gotten into me.”

Wen Yi’an stared unwaveringly at Zhong Jing. She truly hadn’t expected him to step forward. She had grown accustomed to it, believing it was the norm.

Who would have thought he actually knew, knew it was a detestable rule. So why stand up now? Surely not for her sake, right? After all, he had watched her kneel for so long without a flicker of concern. It must be for Ji Tanyuan, then.

Hah. Wen Yi’an felt no gratitude, only a surge of bitterness.

He would stand up against his family for his younger brother’s household. So, it turned out she wasn’t worth him defying his family for.

Wen Yi’an withdrew her hand and smiled faintly. “It’s fine. This is only proper. Your grandmother is my grandmother too.”

“I’m sure Tanyuan would understand as well.”

Ji Tanyuan did not understand. What was there for her to understand? That woman was certainly not her grandmother. Addressing her as “grandmother” was already giving Zhong Yan face, there was no deeper affection to speak of.

Ji Tanyuan’s smile faded slightly. A traitor had emerged in their ranks, this sister-in-law was no true ally.

The old lady’s anger eased somewhat. “Yi’an is still the sensible one.”

She then glanced at Ji Tanyuan. “What do you think, Tanyuan?”

Ji Tanyuan smiled gently. “If elder brother wants to kneel, then let him. It’s not as if Grandmother can’t bear it.”

She then looked up at Zhong Yan, who was still watching from upstairs. “Honey, why don’t you come down too?”

“Let’s all join in together.”