The entire Ye family, especially Mr. Ye, Ye Tianchen's eldest and second uncles, all felt utterly humiliated.
The Qi family's visit to break off the engagement would be an even greater disgrace and embarrassment if word got out than Ye Tianchen peeking at Liu Rumei, the eldest daughter of the Liu family, taking a bath.
Ye Tianchen's act of spying on Liu Rumei bathing had indeed become a joke, but it could be perceived as just the foolishness typical of an indulgent and uneducated youth.
In the eyes of these indulgent youth, such individuals were numerous in the Capital City, and not at all surprising, considering Liu Rumei was the most beautiful woman in Capital City; countless young masters desired to peek at her bathing.
Ye Tianchen was merely bolder, turning thoughts into action, which was not too disgraceful.
However, this time Qi Changsheng personally going to the Ye family to break off the engagement was an obvious act of disdain towards the Ye family, a breach of promise, even outright disrespect.
This would genuinely turn the Ye family into a laughingstock, likely unable to hold their heads high ever again.
Faced with Qi Changsheng's claim of his daughter Qi Ruxue and Qin Heng of the Qin family falling in love at first sight, mutually enamoured, it was clear to everyone that this was just an excuse to somewhat save face for both the Ye and Qi families.
In reality, it was because the Qi family deemed the Ye family truly deteriorated, lacking the necessity for collaboration, hence their desire to break off the engagement and ally through marriage with the powerful Qin family instead.
Just as Qi Changsheng offered two generous conditions,
first, for Ye Tianchen's father, Ye Hong, to become the Municipal Party Secretary of H City, and second, to assign half the shares of the renowned Sea King Group to the Ye family. Before the elders of the Ye family could even speak, Ye Tianchen stood up to respond, immediately agreeing to both conditions as if he feared the Qi family might retract their offer.
"Of course, of course, my Qi family has always kept its word. Tianchen, rest assured, as soon as you agree to break off the engagement, I will immediately fulfill our promises."
Seeing Ye Tianchen, the person concerned, agreeing made Qi Changsheng extremely pleased and he quickly spoke up.
The Qi family now really wanted the Ye family to agree to break off the engagement, for then they could collaborate strongly with the Qin family.
What did the position of a Municipal Party Secretary matter? What did half the shares of the Sea King Group matter, if the two families could combine strength, they could regain tenfold or a hundredfold what they offered.
"Shut up, get out, when the elders are speaking, where is it your place to interrupt?"
Ye Tianchen's eldest uncle, Ye Mubai, was the first to scold Ye Tianchen harshly.
"Discipline-less brat, too presumptuous, still not getting out?"
His second uncle, Ye Heguo, also glared at Ye Tianchen as he yelled.
Ye Tianchen's sudden interjection had disrupted the plans of Ye Mubai and Ye Heguo.
Originally, they knew the Qi family wished to dissolve the engagement, an unchangeable reality. Since the Qi family planned on making a compensation, it was better to gradually increase demands, squeezing out a better deal as the Ye family's fortunes had declined, making it difficult to leverage familial power for influence. Why not let the Qi family handle these affairs?
But with Ye Tianchen's sudden interjection, Ye Mubai and Ye Heguo lost their leverage, deprived of any benefits, naturally they were upset and felt compelled to scold Ye Tianchen.
Ye Hong and Luo Yan, both didn't expect their son to suddenly speak up, and with the patriarch there, Ye Tianchen showed no concern, which surprised people somewhat.
"Get out? How should I get out? Why don't you show me?"
Ye Tianchen didn't even glance at his eldest and second uncles, knowing these two never really considered them as family, seeing only absolute interests, ready to sacrifice everything when necessary.
Such people, Ye Tianchen felt, were not worthy of respect anymore.
"You... too presumptuous, disgraceful descendant,"
Ye Mubai said, his face turning red and then pale with anger.
"Young brother, look at the good son you have tutored! Is this how he should speak to his elders? Won't you manage him?" Ye Heguo reproached his younger brother Ye Hong.
Ye Hong was about to speak up for his son Ye Tianchen, for after all, they were a family, and with his father also present, Ye Hong, a filial son, hoped for harmony within the family regardless of how his brothers treated him or their father treated him.
But Ye Tianchen was different, whether before his rebirth or after, he had little affection for these members of the Ye family because they never truly treated him as family.
"The sons my father raised are far better than those raised by you two families, and I need to clarify something, I am the one breaking off the engagement with the Qi family, not you. Naturally, any compensation from the Qi family should go to me. If you want it, then you go break off the engagement with the Qi family. I won't!"
Ye Tianchen didn't give his father, Ye Hong, a chance to speak. He knew his father was a filial son and always considered the whole family, certainly compromising, which would not only prevent any gain but would subject him to further attacks from his uncles. This exemplified the principle of the weak being preyed upon.
"You..."
"Dad, look at this unworthy grandson, spoiled to such an extent that he dares to talk to his elders in such a manner. Does our Ye family have no rules left?"
Ye Mubai and Ye Heguo were infuriated, left with no choice but to let their father, Ye Yuanshan, decide.
"Elder Mr. Ye, I think let's settle the matter just like this. As for the two compensations mentioned, my Qi family will handle them promptly," Qi Changsheng quickly interjected.
Qi Changsheng, a cunning man, having mingled many years in the Capital City and being part of a prominent family, obviously understood the intentions of the other two sons of the Ye family. Continuing in this way would only lead them to demand excessively. Since Ye Tianchen, the person involved, had agreed, it was best to seize the moment and finalize the agreement.
Ye Yuanshan glanced at Ye Hong and had always felt in his heart that his third son was dutiful, uncontentious, and uncompetitive, unlike the eldest and second sons, who were always thinking about the Ye family's property, so he finally opened his mouth and said:
"Alright, that settles it, go back and tell Brother Meng Xian, my sincere apologies, and I hope he won't take offense."
"What are you talking about, Elder Ye? It's actually my Qi family that was at fault here. I represent the Qi family and apologize. With this, I'll take my leave!"
Qi Changsheng quickly stood up and said politely.
Seeing Qi Changsheng leaving, Ye Mubai and Ye Heguo, gritting their teeth in anger, could have gained a lot of advantages, but now they all vanished, all because of Ye Tianchen.
"Today the weather is so clear, and the views are so pleasing, so pleasing…" Ye Tianchen started singing with a smile.
"Little brother, what a good son you've taught, hmph!" Ye Mubai, furious, snorted coldly and walked away.
"Dad, this…"
Ye Heguo was also furious, having gained no benefits and inadvertently helped the third brother and his family, he always hoped that father Ye Yuanshan would make a decision.
"Shut up, go away, this matter ends here." Ye Yuanshan scolded Ye Heguo.
The engagement was broken off just like that, and Ye Tianchen had secured benefits for his family.
After leaving the Ye family ancestral home, seeing his father Ye Hong somewhat guilty—for so many years, he had never argued with his brothers, even though the father and brothers weren't always kind or sometimes even a bit rejecting to him—Ye Hong still tried his best to maintain harmony within the family, as he believed blood was thicker than water.
Ye Tianchen and his father Ye Hong walked at the front, with their mother and sister following behind, leaving the Ye family ancestral home together. Ye Tianchen patted his father's shoulder and said,
"Don't overthink it, let's move out of the Ye family ancestral home. Why make yourself suffer?"
Ye Hong looked up at his son and suddenly realized his son had changed. The former Ye Tianchen would never have been so sensible and wouldn't have spoken those words. Whenever the father and son talked, it either ended in shouting or chaos, but now the atmosphere had completely changed, becoming very harmonious.
"Tianchen, you…"
"From now on, I will be sensible, will no longer worry you and mom. We already have a house outside, and uncle and second uncle don't want us to come back and contest the family assets. Let's give it to them; brothers for a lifetime. I think you don't care about those assets, you just want the family to be harmonious."
Hearing Ye Tianchen's words, Ye Hong froze, never having expected his son to see things so clearly.
He had long realized the fact that his older brothers always had prejudice against him. Staying in the Ye family ancestral home, or keeping a room there, would always lead to quarrels between brothers. Perhaps moving out would lead to more harmony!
Only, his father Ye Yuanshan had aged, and Ye Hong had wanted to show filial piety. Now, persuaded by Ye Tianchen in this way, it seemed there indeed was no need.
"Alright, we will move out and live on our own, just the four of us, happy and content." Ye Hong said with a smile.
Ye Tianchen also happily nodded, having finally convinced his father, ensuring his parents wouldn't have to suffer insults at the ancestral home from his uncle and second uncle in the future.
"Bro, what were you and dad talking about, why are you so happy?"
His younger sister, Ye Qianwen, holding their mother Luo Yan's hand, walked up and asked with a smile.
"I won't tell you; it's a secret!" Ye Tianchen playfully said.
"Ugh, mom, big brother is bullying! He and dad have a secret and won't tell us?" Ye Qianwen pouted her cute little mouth and stuck her tongue out at Ye Tianchen.
Ye Hong, smiling, turned to his wife and daughter and said:
"I've decided to move out from the Ye family ancestral home. From now on, it will just be the four of us, except for visiting during festivals and dad's birthday."
"Really, dad? That's great, hehe!" Ye Qianwen was the first to laugh joyfully.
Luo Yan looked at her husband Ye Hong with a bit of surprise, not knowing why he suddenly changed his mind. She had long advised her husband to move out of the Ye family ancestral home and just live happily as a family of four, but her husband had never agreed.
Now, having just walked alongside his son and not even ten meters out, he had changed his mind, which was indeed strange, but at the same time very happy, because this meant their family of four could live together, happy and content, no longer having to endure those frustrations.
"Let's go, let's go home, and have a big feast!" Ye Tianchen laughed heartily.
Looking at his son Ye Tianchen's retreating back, Ye Hong couldn't help but ask in a low voice:
"Yanzi, do you think our son has changed?"
"Yes, he's become sensible, more and more like a man. We should be happy about that."
Luo Yan smiled affirmatively, nodding her head. She could almost envision the happy and fulfilling life the family of four would lead due to her son's transformation.
[PS: Thank you brothers for your support, the collection and recommendation tickets are increasing fast. During the new book period, collection and recommendation are greatly needed; everyone please show some support, thank you all!]