"Second Daughter-in-law Jing and Xiao You are very fond of your Granny. Xiao You loves to cling to her after coming home from school, and Second Daughter-in-law Jing is also very filial, helping your Grandpa with dinner when she gets home from work," Mr. Xie said.

"What kind of person my second sister-in-law is—you of all people should know. Is that what you call being filial? She’s only in it for the benefits. You’re well aware of how close she was with Aunt Zhang. For her own gain, she even betrayed Aunt Zhang. From someone who puts profit above all else, can you really expect genuine filial piety?" Jie Jingchen said sarcastically.

"If she hadn’t betrayed Zhang Hongying, I would have fallen into Zhang Hongying’s trap, and this family would have been torn to pieces," Mr. Xie retorted, glaring at Jie Jingchen with intimidating eyes.

’He just had to touch a raw nerve. I didn’t want to hear Zhang Hongying’s name, but this rebellious son insisted on bringing it up. Is he trying to kill me with anger?’

"Even if this family wasn’t torn apart by Aunt Zhang, it would be by Granny’s meddling. Your ex-wife is a prime example." Jie Jingchen stressed his final words.

"You..." Mr. Xie sputtered with rage. He shot to his feet, raising his hand to slap Jie Jingchen.

SMACK! The sharp sound of a slap echoed. Mr. Xie had put his strength into it, and since Jie Jingchen didn’t dodge, he took the full force of the blow.

His palm stung, and Mr. Xie froze. He stared at the red handprint on Jie Jingchen’s face, suddenly bewildered. ’Jie Jingchen has angered me plenty of times, and I’ve tried to hit him just as often, but I rarely succeed. He always knew how to dodge. He’s so agile I can’t even grab him. What’s been going on lately? Every time he infuriates me and I swing at him, I land a direct hit. This rebellious son... he’s stopped dodging.’

Jie Jingchen ran his tongue over his molars. "Dad, you know Mom. She won’t go down the same path as your ex-wife. Granny’s pressure won’t kill her; it will only push her to divorce you. And Dad, let me make this perfectly clear: if you and Mom divorce, I won’t be staying with you. I’ll go with her. After the divorce, I’ll change my last name."

Jie Jingchen’s words were both a reminder and a stark warning to Mr. Xie.

"You..." Mr. Xie pointed a trembling finger at Jie Jingchen. ’This rebellious son is really trying to be the death of me.’ He had felt a pang of guilt for slapping him, but after hearing those words, that guilt vanished into thin air.

There was nothing more to be said; further words would be pointless. Jie Jingchen turned to leave.

He had barely taken a step when Mr. Xie grabbed him, demanding harshly, "Where do you think you’re going? To run and tattle to your mother?"

Forced to a halt, Jie Jingchen narrowed his eyes. His expression was unreadable, his sharp gaze fixed on his father. For a moment, a flicker of helplessness crossed his deep-set eyes. "Granny runs to you to complain, and I run to my mom to complain. Isn’t that perfectly normal?"

’Run to Mom and complain? Honestly, the thought hadn’t even crossed his mind. He wasn’t the type to report every little grievance; some things he wouldn’t deign to mention.’

"Normal, my ass," Mr. Xie couldn’t help but swear. He tightened his grip on Jie Jingchen and threatened, "Jing Si, I’m warning you. If you dare go crying to your mother, I’ll make things difficult for you at the factory tomorrow."

A sardonic smile played on Jie Jingchen’s lips. "Dad, why did I leave the service? And why was I assigned to the machine factory? You’re going to make things difficult for me? Hmph. I dare you."

’Such arrogance!’ To Mr. Xie, Jie Jingchen’s words were like pouring oil on a fire. He drew himself up, revealing his imposing, authoritative side. "I’m the factory director. What I say goes."

Jie Jingchen’s eyes darkened, and he radiated an arrogant, commanding presence. "You make things difficult for me, and I’ll write a letter to my old unit. With pressure from the military, you can just wait to be removed from your post."

"You..." Now it was Mr. Xie’s turn to be threatened. He was so furious he felt he might drop dead on the spot. "I am your father!"

"You’re already planning to make my life difficult, and I’m supposed to care that you’re my father? Piss me off enough, and I’ll turn my back on my own family," Jie Jingchen said, looking as if he’d show no mercy to anyone.

"Rebellious son," Mr. Xie cursed.

"It’s not like this is the first day I’ve been one," Jie Jingchen shot back.

Mr. Xie was learning a harsh lesson: this fourth son of his had a rebellious spirit. If you acted tough, he acted tougher. Neither his authority as a father nor his position as the factory director could suppress this boy.

Mr. Xie took several deep breaths, struggling to suppress his temper. He closed his eyes to compose himself. When he opened them again, his face was the very picture of gentle benevolence.

’Watching his father’s instant transformation, Jie Jingchen wanted to laugh.’

"Jing Si, what your wife did this time... it was too much," Mr. Xie said, his voice now much softer.

"I allowed it." Jie Jingchen’s words made his father choke.

Mr. Xie gritted his teeth, reminding himself, ’Don’t get angry. Don’t get angry. Speak calmly.’ "Your wife thinks your Granny is dirty."

Jie Jingchen raised an eyebrow. ’No matter how much Qin Mei disliked Granny, she wouldn’t accuse her of being dirty.’ "Did Granny say that?"

Mr. Xie shook his head. "No, your Grandpa told me. He said Granny was devastated that your wife found her dirty. She’s been staying in her room and refuses to come out."

Jie Jingchen thought back. It was true he hadn’t seen Granny since he got home from work. He had only seen Grandpa bustling around the kitchen. And now that he thought about it, Grandpa had looked at him several times as if he wanted to say something, but always stopped short.

’Granny was capable of sowing discord, but Grandpa wasn’t.’

Mr. Xie sighed. "Your Grandpa said that your Granny sat on the edge of your bed for a little while. After she left, your wife immediately stripped the sheets and washed them. Even though she didn’t say a word, her actions deeply hurt your Granny. Jing Si, I know your Grandpa and Granny are getting on in years, and they have a certain smell about them... but your wife’s actions were just too blatant. Everyone gets old. She’ll be old one day, too. If she finds the elderly dirty now, one day her own descendants will find her dirty as well."

Jie Jingchen’s brow furrowed as he fell silent, deep in thought.

’Their bedsheets were hanging in the yard to dry. Grandpa hadn’t lied, and his father wasn’t making things up.’

Seeing that his son wasn’t arguing, Mr. Xie seized the opportunity. "Jing Si, you should clean up the room next to yours and let your Grandpa and Granny move in. They’re getting old, and it’s inconvenient for them to go to the toilet at night. That room has its own toilet, so it would be perfect for them."

"No," Jie Jingchen refused flatly.

Mr. Xie raised his eyebrows, confused. "Why not? Are you afraid of upsetting your wife?"

Jie Jingchen raised a hand and rubbed his temples. "This has nothing to do with Qin Mei."

"Jie Jingchen, she thinks old people are dirty! There’s something wrong with her character. Your mother would never approve of a daughter-in-law like that!" Mr. Xie glared at his son furiously. ’He’s forgotten his own family now that he has a wife. Are all of us worth less to him than she is?’

"That room is occupied," Jie Jingchen said.

"Who’s in it? Jing Wu?" Mr. Xie sneered, convinced that Jing Si was just using Jing Wu as an excuse.

"No," Jie Jingchen denied.

"If it’s not Jing Wu, then who?" Mr. Xie pressed.

"My brother-in-law," Jie Jingchen said.

"..." Mr. Xie was speechless.

Only when Jie Jingchen returned to their room did Mrs. Xie end her conversation and get up to leave. Before she left, she gave him a long, deep look, her eyes filled with a complex, unreadable emotion. She didn’t even have the heart to ask about the clear red handprint on his face. To her, a physical wound was far less tragic than a sorrow that could not be spoken.

Qin Mei had been about to proudly show Jie Jingchen the bankbook her mother-in-law had given her, but the sight of the red mark on his face made her pupils constrict. "Who hit you?" she asked in a cold voice.

"Qin Mei," Jie Jingchen said, his expression complicated and unreadable as he stared at her. He just continued to gaze at her, saying nothing more.

Seeing the deep, unreadable emotion he kept suppressed in his eyes, Qin Mei reached out and gently caressed the handprint on his cheek. "Did your dad do this?" she asked, her voice laced with heartache.

Jie Jingchen didn’t answer, merely looking at her with a dark, inscrutable gaze.

"Does it hurt?" she asked, full of concern. When Jie Jingchen just shook his head blankly, Qin Mei frowned and sharply dragged her fingertip across the mark.

"Ow!" Jie Jingchen cried out in pain.