Gu Lejia refused to listen to any explanations. "Did someone put you up to this? You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?

"Don’t forget, this is the Gu family. We won’t tolerate you treating members of the Gu Family like this."

Jin Qianqian had planned to just watch the show and let it go, but she didn’t expect the fire to turn on her.

She slammed her teacup down, shot to her feet, and yelled, "Stop with the passive-aggressive remarks. If you’re so uncomfortable here, then get out! I’m not going to put up with it."

With that, she strode to the doorway and glared at Gu Lejia, who was standing at the entrance to the kitchen.

"Aunt Seven is home?" Gu Lejia was momentarily flustered, but he quickly regained his righteous indignation. "This old hag plays favorites. She knew perfectly well I can’t eat seafood, yet she added it to every single dish. We can’t keep someone like that in our family."

Jin Qianqian folded her arms and stared him down. "We really need to get this straight. Yes, this is a Gu family home, but it’s *my* home with your Seventh Uncle. It has absolutely nothing to do with you.

"I don’t know what kind of power trip you’re on or what schemes you’re plotting, but let me make one thing crystal clear: in this house, you are merely guests. Got it?"

Gu Lejia’s gaze flickered away. "Aunt Seven, I don’t understand what you’re talking about. Shouldn’t we be discussing the matter of these servants?

"If they do their jobs poorly, am I not allowed to say anything? Or are they acting under someone else’s orders, deliberately treating me this way?"

Jin Qianqian let out a cold snort. "It seems we’ve been too polite to you lately, so much so that you’ve forgotten your place.

"Never mind that your Seventh Uncle and I are your elders—simply by virtue of being a guest in this house, you have no right to be bossing anyone around."

If it weren’t for her brother-in-law back in their hometown, Jin Qianqian would have had this guy thrown out on the street.

Xiuxiang, who had been standing silently on the sidelines, covered her mouth and stared at Jin Qianqian in feigned surprise. "Aunt Seven, you’ve gone too far. No matter how you put it, he’s a descendant of the Gu family. How can we of the Le Family not even be allowed to speak?

"In any other household, a nephew can be considered to have half a say in his uncle’s home."

Jin Qianqian turned to Xiuxiang with a sneer. ’A few good days and she can’t even hide her true colors anymore?’

"Oh? Why don’t you give me an example, then? I’d love to go ask around and see what kind of shameless family operates like that.

"Also, don’t call me Aunt Seven for now. After all, my eldest sister-in-law hasn’t drunk your ceremonial tea yet. Whether she even acknowledges you is another matter entirely. You had best call me Mrs. Gu."

Xiuxiang’s face went pale. "But we have a marriage contract."

"So what? It’s just a handwritten piece of paper. The household registration is still with my sister-in-law. Until you’ve registered with the government, your status as a daughter-in-law isn’t official." Seeing as they were deliberately picking a fight, Jin Qianqian didn’t mind rubbing salt in the wound.

"Aunt Seven, this is between Xiuxiang and me."

Jin Qianqian rolled her eyes at him. "I never said it was my business. But since you’re prancing around under my roof all day, you should know whose rules to follow. Stop making trouble out of nothing.

"If you find Mrs. Huang’s cooking isn’t to your liking, you’re more than welcome to go back to fending for yourselves, just like you did before."

After saying her piece, Jin Qianqian finally felt the tightness in her chest release. She had been holding it in for so long she thought she might burst.

"You—" Gu Lejia pointed a finger at Jin Qianqian, which startled Liu Xiaohua into quickly stepping in front of her, arms spread wide to shield her.

"What? Are you going to strike me, your own aunt?" A fire ignited in Jin Qianqian’s heart. ’It seems I’ve spent the last few days feeding an ungrateful cur.’

Gu Lejia had no intention of actually hitting her, nor did he dare, but he refused to back down. "Don’t think you’re safe just because Seventh Uncle protects you. You’ve only been in the family for a few years. When I go home and see our grandparents, I’ll be sure to tell them all about your wicked behavior."

"I never realized I had such a fine nephew. I’m just curious, what wicked behavior has your Aunt Seven been up to?" Gu Wenheng was standing just inside the main gate with Hong Tianbao and two young maids, watching Gu Lejia with a humorless smile.

He had only gone to the estate to check on the production of a batch of glass, which made him a little late getting home. He never expected to walk in on a scene like this.

"Seventh Uncle! Why are you back?" Gu Lejia felt a pang of guilt. From past experience, if Gu Wenheng wasn’t home by mealtime, he usually wouldn’t be eating at home at all.

"Did I come back at a bad time? It seems I’ve interrupted your performance. Please, continue." Gu Wenheng made an inviting gesture, but it sent Gu Lejia stumbling back several steps in fear.

"You weren’t frightened, were you?" Gu Wenheng’s expression changed in an instant as he walked over to Jin Qianqian, his face etched with concern. He looked her up and down a couple of times.

"Not frightened, just disgusted," Jin Qianqian said, pulling no punches. "A few good days and they’ve completely forgotten their place."

Gu Wenheng gently rubbed her back. "Don’t be angry. They’re just clueless people. If you don’t want to deal with them, we’ll just throw them out."

Gu Lejia’s expression changed instantly. "Seventh Uncle, you won’t even listen to the whole story! You’re just taking this woman’s word for it? She’s spouting utter nonsense! While you were gone, she ordered that old hag to find ways to torment us."

Mrs. Huang immediately cried foul. "I was just doing my duty, cooking in the kitchen, when Young Master Le came in and started picking a fight.

"The pot is used for cooking seafood all day. It’s bound to have a hint of the sea in it. I really wasn’t trying to cause any trouble."

Jin Qianqian sneered. "I am the mistress of this house. Do I really need to resort to the kind of dirty tricks you’re imagining?

"If I truly had no tolerance, I would have refused to let you stay here in the first place. I just never expected that my compromise would only fuel your arrogance."

Gu Lejia suddenly pointed at Liu Xiaohua. "She has nothing to do all day, so why didn’t you have her help, Aunt Seven? That way the old hag wouldn’t have gotten things mixed up."

Jin Qianqian said, "Are you asking to have Little Hua?"

Gu Lejia glanced at the two young maids who had entered with Gu Wenheng. "That would work too. Then we wouldn’t have to trouble you anymore, Aunt Seven."

Gu Wenheng could not take it anymore. He kicked Gu Lejia straight to the ground. ’Ever since I came to this ancient era,’ Gu Wenheng thought, ’my temper has gotten so much worse. Have these people never been educated? Do they have no basic sense of propriety or shame?’

"From now on, you will take care of yourselves. I will provide you with the room you are currently staying in and one stove in the kitchen. I don’t care if you eat the finest delicacies in the land; we will not interfere.

"This is the last thing I, your own uncle, can do for you."

Gu Lejia bit his lip. "What about money for expenses?"

Gu Wenheng looked him up and down. "You have perfectly good hands and feet. What, you can’t even support yourself?"

Gu Lejia’s temper flared in response. "Who says I can’t? I can definitely support us."

Xiuxiang’s composure was about to crack. She couldn’t stop herself from secretly tugging on Gu Lejia’s sleeve.