Chapter 817: Chapter 817: A Show of Authority

So, at that moment, she got carried away and said that during the Spring Festival holiday, she happened to plan to visit and pay New Year’s respects to the elders of the Zhao family.

When she meets Zhao Gushen, she will definitely tell them about Zhao Gushen’s recent situation.

Her classmate listened and immediately said, relishing the drama, "Are you going to pay New Year’s respects at the Zhao family’s old mansion?"

Zhuang Mingyan: "..."

Zhuang Mingyan’s face almost darkened at that time.

She was going to pay New Year’s respects at Zhao Gushen’s parents’ house, but they might not even pay attention to her.

Going to the Zhao family’s old mansion too?

What a dream!

However, Zhuang Mingyan couldn’t bring herself to admit it.

After all, she had boasted.

And she had been doing so for many years.

Once a lie is told, a series of lies must follow to keep it going.

Now she was put on the spot, so she could only bite the bullet and go along with it.

She couldn’t find Zhao Gushen’s parents.

But her family was quite familiar with Zhao Dingye.

Moreover, she learned that the fifth day of the lunar year was their Zhao family’s annual fixed family banquet time.

Therefore, she chose that time wisely and went early to Zhao Dingye’s house to pay New Year’s respects.

And she seized the opportunity to suggest tagging along for New Year’s greetings.

Because her family had business cooperation with Zhao Dingye.

So, Zhao Dingye didn’t refuse.

Thinking it was nothing significant to pay some New Year’s respects, it wasn’t necessary to refuse over such a minor issue.

Thus, he brought Zhuang Mingyan along.

Zhuang Mingyan bit her lip, quickly shaking her head to deny Chi Jingsi’s words, "I didn’t mean that!"

Zhuang Mingyan took a deep breath, saying, "It’s not... it’s not that the elders became unpleasant because of me. It is because I made the elders feel bad."

It’s just that the Zhao family elders don’t like seeing her.

Saying it differently makes the meaning change.

Only then did Chi Jingsi reluctantly say, "At least you get it, and it’s not too late."

Zhuang Mingyan: "..."

Nothing is more lethal than Zhao Gushen’s mother personally stabbing her.

That’s when Zhuang Mingyan said to Zhao Dingye, "Uncle, sorry for causing you so much trouble today."

"I didn’t know that coming with you to pay New Year’s respects would cause so many issues."

"I just said it without thinking; if I had known earlier, I wouldn’t have said I’d come with you to pay respects. I wouldn’t want to trouble you and make the elders think I was disrespectful."

Zhuang Mingyan still wanted to explain herself.

She felt she could still try hard.

"I’m not an ill-mannered person."

Moreover, in ordinary families, paying a casual visit for New Year’s, how is it considered disrespectful?

On the contrary, it’s quite polite, isn’t it!

But the Zhao family elders had just said that, so she couldn’t voice it.

Otherwise, it would be seen as blaming the Zhao family.

"Grandpa is right; I came without notice. Plus, today is the family banquet; I shouldn’t have... shouldn’t have visited at such an unfortunate time today."

The old man was furious.

Who is your grandpa!

Yet he couldn’t be so petty and say it out loud.

He is old and can speak his mind.

But likewise, he needs to be magnanimous.

Avoid nitpicking over trivial matters.

It’s too embarrassing to do so.

Yet it’s too suffocating.

The old man gave a huge eye-roll in exasperation.

"I’ll find another time to visit; then I’ll definitely contact first," Zhuang Mingyan said. "But judging by then, it wouldn’t be considered New Year’s greetings; it would be like coming specifically to apologize."

"No need," the old man responded quickly, "Your intention to pay New Year’s respects, we have felt it. Your apologies, we understand now too."

"Young girl, you don’t need to come here anymore," said the old man.

"We’re old; we usually like peace," said the elderly woman gently.

"The old mansion’s address has never been a secret. Yet no one comes to disturb us because they know we don’t like being disturbed."

"Usually, it’s just a few old acquaintances that mutually visit each other. Other people, we don’t know or see," she said.

"Young girl, just be considerate of us. We’ve lived a long time; when young, we had to care for many things and people, couldn’t just do whatever we wanted. Even when facing strangers we didn’t know or even liked, we had to maintain a smile."

"Faced with unknown strangers who come over, we have to host them well, chat deeply with them to avoid being rude," she said.

"Such things have been taught from the moment we understand and once learned, we have to force ourselves to do constantly," she continued.

"Finally, now that we are of old age, we rely on our age to have some privilege to live how we like and no longer force ourselves as when young."

"Although we live our way, we don’t do anything morally wrong, violate the law, or harm others," she said.

"We just want a bit of freedom now, enjoy living our own small life. No need to host strangers, if we don’t know each other, what is there to talk about?"

"No need to understand people we don’t wish to know, no disturbances needed," she said.

"Young girl, this is our humble request at old age," she said. "Young girl, don’t press us for your own delight."

The elderly woman said many things, but the meaning was just one.

We don’t wish to see you.

Please don’t come.

Yet, the elderly woman said it pitifully.

Words had reached this point, if Zhuang Mingyan still wanted to visit, even under the guise of an apology, it would be pressuring others.

Now Zhuang Mingyan felt deeply blocked in her heart.

How is it, even coming to apologize, that it still was her fault?

This elderly woman is so cunning!

Having said all this, how could she still visit?

Even if not under the guise of an apology, the elderly woman’s words had blocked all her reasons for visiting.

Zhuang Mingyan took a deep breath and said, "I understand."

"Then... then I won’t disturb you anymore," Zhuang Mingyan said.

"Sorry for causing trouble to the elders today," Zhuang Mingyan said with heartfelt apology, casting a glance at Zhao Dingye.

Then she left.

Zhao Dingye’s face was stiff.

Today, regardless of anything, Zhuang Mingyan was chased away right before his eyes.

This situation couldn’t be avoided.

Zhao Dingye felt his dignity was entirely lost today!

Originally, he wanted to give Ye Fei a hard time.

But now, Ye Fei had seen such an embarrassing scene for him.

Where did he have any more regard now to make things difficult!

"She’s gone; can we open the door?" Zhao Dingye asked stiffly.

The old man finally said, "Open the door."

Housekeeper Hong then opened the door for them.

Chi Jingsi then said to Ye Fei, "Did you see that? Whenever you go out, as long as it’s someone you don’t like, no matter the reason, you need not be polite."