Zhou Ping was at a loss for words but she did not think that she was wrong. Their family was about to be doomed all because of Gu Qingyao, yet her husband and son did not say anything about Gu Qingyao, the culprit, and even scolded herself instead. Was this reasonable?

“Can you blame me that the situation turned out like this? Who are you all to lecture me?”

Gu Jinlin replied, “What can you accomplish by getting angry at and criticizing Father? What do you want Father to do?”

Zhou Ping's cheeks were puffed and she did not reply.

Gu Jinlin explained patiently, “Mother, stop making noise already. If you continue, something will really happen to your relations.h.i.+p with Father. Think of how he treated you in the past twenty-over years.

“From the start, he understood that it was tough for you to raise the kids up and never once told you to go to work to earn money. Hasn't he been supporting this family by himself all these years? Has he ever gotten mad at you before?”

“He even slapped me twice previously!”

“That's because you deserved it. He would definitely hit you in that situation.”

“You…” Zhou Ping was furious.

Gu Jinlin explained, “The men of the Gu family are very considerate. Look at Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle. Our family has always been on good terms with each other. Eldest Aunt and Second Aunt have always been very nice to Yao Yao as well. This incident happened because Zhang Qiang started it. Forget it if you didn't comfort Yao Yao when a young lady like her suffered such grievance but you even said such things. How do you want Father to act?

“Send Yao Yao to the Zhang family for her to be married to Zhang Qiang? If Father does that kind of thing, do you think he will be able to stay in the Gu family? Do you wish for us to be hated collectively by Eldest Uncle, Second Uncle, Young Uncle, Grandfather and Grandmother? And chased out of the family?”

“I…” Zhou Ping was stunned. “I… I…”

Gu Jinlin added, “All in all, I'm telling you that Yao Yao is Young Uncle's daughter and Young Uncle is Father's biological brother. He will definitely not give Yao Yao away as he will not bear to do such a sinister act.

“Yao Yao is my younger sister and I cannot bear it either. Even if we have to pay a price and our family has to return to the village to farm, I will not give my younger sister to someone else.

“So… tell me, what are you making so much noise for?”

Zhou Ping was at a loss for words.

“But… but… our family is now…”

“You should be more gentle and considerate, and comfort Father. This way, Father probably will forgive you for that foolish thing you did previously. Don't make a din. Since it's impossible to give Yao Yao away, making so much noise now will not change anything and will only make Father and I dislike you. Don't make it such that in the end, we lose our jobs and your relations.h.i.+p with Father falls out.”

Zhou Ping stiffened and her complexion turned pale!

Gu Jinlin sighed. “You've been spoiled by Father throughout the years. As long as it's nothing overboard, he would usually go along with you. It's been so many years and he had never gotten angry at you and never hit or scold you. All he wanted was to live with you. When did he ever do anything sorry to you?

“But in the end? What he received in return was you treating his family like roadside gra.s.s that can be trampled on carelessly. You clearly know how much Father and I dote on Yao Yao but you still said such a thing as to marry Yao Yao off to Zhang Qiang. Mother, have you considered our feelings?”

Zhou Ping lowered her head and could not utter a word.

Gu Jinlin said, “Think about it yourself! If you still wish to spend your life with Father, stop doing such things that will hurt your marriage already.”

Zhou Ping was silent while Gu Jinlin led her to purchase groceries.