In the hall, after Old Master Zhao spoke, Zhao Tianlong’s expression was somewhat unpleasant. However, his three brothers were all beaming with schadenfreude. Ye Qingmei was Zhao Tianlong’s daughter, and for the Old Master to make things difficult for Ye Qingmei was indirectly showing disrespect to Zhao Tianlong. They relished seeing this.
Fang Yuan’s face showed a flicker of pity. Just as she was about to intercede, someone beside her spoke faster.
“Father is right. This kind of slut, raised outside, who knows how many unsavory people she’s mingled with. Since she wants to acknowledge her ancestors, she needs to be taught the Zhao family rules properly!”
It was the wife of Zhao Tianqi, the fourth son of the Zhao family. Dressed gaudily, she spoke in a peculiar, mocking tone. After speaking, she cast a gloating glance at Fang Yuan.
Seeing this, Fang Yuan’s eyes flashed with annoyance. The four sons of the Zhao family were engaged in secret strife, and similarly, their wives couldn’t stand each other. It was said that the Zhao family alone could be turned into a palace intrigue drama.
“Exactly! Everyone knows that our Zhao family in the capital values rules the most. This Ye Qingmei is ungrateful. She rejected third brother before and now regrets it, wanting to join our Zhao family. This is treating our Zhao family like monkeys! If we don’t show her what for, and she truly acknowledges her ancestors later, won’t our Zhao family be in chaos?” said the wife of Zhao Tianwen, the second son of the Zhao family, her tone filled with mockery.
“Just let her wait. If you ask me, Grandpa is too soft-hearted, only making her wait an hour. That’s too easy on her,” someone in the hall said. It was Zhao Lu, the daughter of the Zhao family patriarch, the eldest daughter of the Zhao family.
Fang Yuan looked anxious. Seeing this, she quickly said, “Father, Qingmei is still young. She was abandoned outside not long after she was born. To have achieved such a career at such a young age, she must have suffered a great deal.”
However, as soon as she finished speaking, Zhao Lu immediately retorted, “Third Aunt, Father is doing this for the Zhao family’s rules and reputation. If you’re pleading for your daughter out of personal favoritism, that’s really unreasonable.”
“Besides, what is the little fortune she has in Jiangnan compared to our Zhao family? If the family didn’t need it, we wouldn’t even accept it if she offered it to our Zhao family.”
After Zhao Lu finished speaking, a flicker of disdain flashed in her eyes. She also muttered quietly.
“A listed company, and a helpless wild girl, how can she have such a fortune? Perhaps she’s done some shady business. We don’t want people like that in our Zhao family.”
“Zhao Lu!” Fang Yuan’s eyes immediately reddened upon hearing this. She owed her daughter too much and would never allow anyone to slander her daughter like this.
“Enough! Everyone be quiet! Just let her wait for an hour!” Old Master Zhao frowned and slammed the table, causing the hall to fall silent.
At the same time, outside the main gate of the Zhao family, the Li Xiaotian family was still waiting. It was now noon, and the sun hung high in the sky, making it extremely hot. Adults could tolerate it somewhat, but young children with weaker bodies couldn’t.
Tiantiang, with a pale face, said to Li Xiaotian and Ye Qingmei, “Daddy, Mommy, why isn’t that uncle out yet? How much longer do we have to wait? Tiantian is hot and uncomfortable. Tiantian wants ice cream.”
Ye Qingmei affectionately hugged Tiantian, then stroked her daughter’s cheek and said softly, “Be good, Tiantian. That uncle will be here soon. Just wait a little longer.”
Li Xiaotian frowned and cast a deep glance at the Zhao family gate, murmuring to himself, *The Zhao family is rather unappreciative!*
In the blink of an eye, the family waited for another ten minutes. The bodyguard who had entered the mansion to report hadn’t come out yet. A flicker of anger flashed in Li Xiaotian’s eyes, and he took a step forward.
“Stop! What do you think you’re doing?” a bodyguard at the door looked at Li Xiaotian coldly.
Li Xiaotian frowned and glanced at the other person, saying.
“It’s too hot outside. You should have a reception hall in a prominent family like yours, right? Let us wait in the reception hall.”
“Hmph! Let you in?” The bodyguard glanced at Li Xiaotian with disdain and then said mockingly.
“To wait in our Zhao family’s reception hall, do you think you’re worthy? The Zhao family reception hall is only for the Zhao family’s guests. You have no right to enter!”
“Exactly! Don’t even look at yourselves. So many people in the capital want to enter the Zhao family’s gate, and not everyone is qualified to wait in the Zhao family reception hall. Like you commoners, you should obediently wait at the door. It’s good we haven’t driven you away,” another bodyguard next to him said, his tone full of contempt.
A cold glint flashed in Li Xiaotian’s eyes, and he looked coldly at the three bodyguards in front of him.
“Xiaotian, don’t be impulsive. Let’s wait a little longer. That person will probably be out soon,” Ye Qingmei reminded him, fearing Li Xiaotian might lose his temper and cause trouble. After all, this was the Zhao family, and the Dragon King Hall that Li Xiaotian belonged to might not be able to offend the Zhao family.
Li Xiaotian took a deep breath and then smiled at Ye Qingmei.
“Then let’s wait another ten minutes!”
After speaking, Li Xiaotian repeated, “Only ten more minutes!”
If the Zhao family still remained unappreciative after ten minutes, then Li Xiaotian would no longer show them any courtesy!
“Hmph! Country bumpkins!” one of the bodyguards at the door sneered. At the same time, he signaled to his two companions. The three of them moved to the shade of the main gate, looking smugly at the Li Xiaotian family.
Li Xiaotian’s expression was blank. He returned to Ye Qingmei’s side and placed a hand on Tiantian’s head, blocking the sunlight.
Time ticked by, and Li Xiaotian’s anger grew. Even Ye Qingmei beside him understood that the Zhao family was doing this intentionally.
If the Zhao family truly wanted them to enter, they could have just made a phone call. Why make their family wait outside for nearly half an hour?
Ye Qingmei looked distressed and said to Li Xiaotian, “Xiaotian, why don’t we go back? We can arrange to meet Aunt Fang separately another day.”
“Let’s wait a bit longer,” Li Xiaotian said. If Ye Qingmei still wanted to see Fang Yuan in the future, then this hurdle with the Zhao family had to be overcome. Otherwise, even if they could meet later, the Zhao family would likely find all sorts of ways to force Ye Qingmei to hand over her company.
In the blink of an eye, ten minutes passed. Li Xiaotian looked into the depths of the Zhao family gate, and a cold smile curved his lips. Very well, if the Zhao family insisted on seeking death, then he would not be polite.
“Qingmei, come with me!” Li Xiaotian said calmly, then strode towards the Zhao family gate.
“Stop!”
“Presumptuous! The mansion hasn’t given the order for you to enter the Zhao family yet, and you dare to force your way in?”
“Hurry and stop! Don’t force us to take action!”
The three bodyguards at the main gate saw Li Xiaotian walking directly into the gate. Their faces changed dramatically, but then they became furious. The Old Master had ordered this family to wait outside for an hour. If they were allowed to enter early, wouldn’t they, the bodyguards, be blamed by the family?
In an instant, the three bodyguards stepped forward to block Li Xiaotian. One of them was even more excessive; a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he kicked towards Li Xiaotian’s right leg.