Guan Hui’e didn’t understand, so Zhou Guobin explained in detail.

Though Zhou Guobin didn’t know all the specifics, he knew the general situation.

The Ji family’s eldest daughter had favored a junior official without connections, and the family considered marrying down. The young official was very capable and valued by senior leadership. During the upheaval, this official was implicated by his mentor and sent for reform in the labor camps. Everyone thought Miss Ji would remain faithful, creating a beautiful story, but after persisting for two years, she filed for divorce.

Not only did she divorce him, but she also took their son abroad.

Of course, Miss Ji’s actions weren’t necessarily wrong. Many similar situations occurred during those years, and some acted even more ruthlessly than Miss Ji. Some couples would twist the knife during divorce, stepping on their former spouse to clear themselves. Such betrayal from family members not only caused physical suffering but could almost completely break one’s spirit.

One could endure external pressure, but when the closest family could act this way, what was left to persist for?

“The Ji family had many members, and though Tang Hongen’s position wasn’t prominent then, he was in a precarious situation. The Ji family’s choice wasn’t wrong.”

Low returns, high risk – the Ji family’s unwillingness to gamble didn’t mean they lacked foresight.

What happened later exceeded the Ji family’s expectations. Several years after Ji Ya’s divorce from Tang Hongen, he not only regained his position but was considered “principled” for refusing to betray his mentor. Maintaining one’s beliefs through hardship was itself praiseworthy. With Tang Hongen’s capabilities, his career soared after reinstatement. In less than ten years, he rose from a minor official in Yu Nan Province to Mayor of the Special Zone!

Guan Hui’e suddenly understood:

“No wonder Ji Ya seems unstable.”

Could it be from the shock?

After the divorce, her ex-husband prospered while the Ji family showed signs of decline. Such a comparison could easily disturb someone’s narrow-minded.

Guan Hui’e could tell Ji Ya wasn’t broad-minded, always suspicious and assuming any pretty girl had something to do with her son. Why not just chain her son up?

Zhou Guobin had found it strange that Tang Hongen showed no animosity toward the Ji family after his reinstatement or upon becoming Special Zone Mayor. Why wait until Old Ji’s death to trouble the family? This didn’t match Tang Hongen’s reputation.

Now it seemed clear – this was about their child.

Tang Hongen hadn’t remarried in all these years since his reinstatement. How could a successful middle-aged man not care about his only son?

Whether from guilt or pride, the Ji family refused to admit their poor judgment, naturally creating conflict with Tang Hongen. Divorced couples could torment and punish each other through their children.

Zhou Guobin didn’t know what to say – in Tang Hongen’s position, he might have done the same.

Some hardships a man could bear alone, but some things must be fought for!

After pondering for a while, Guan Hui’e’s anger flared again:

“So the Ji family, beaten down by Tang Hongen, only dares to bully Xia Xiaolan? Wait, how did that girl get involved? Does she know Tang Hongen?”

Guan Hui’e wanted to curse – how disgraceful! Old Ji spent his life educating others, yet couldn’t properly teach his own family?

Zhou Guobin was also curious.

How did Xia Xiaolan get involved?

Didn’t she mention coming from Pengcheng when she first visited?

Zhou Guobin knew Xia Xiaolan had been self-employed, but he didn’t look down on her for it. Being able to earn money and improve family conditions made her better than Zhou Yi, who just idled at home. Besides, running her business hadn’t affected her studies – she still ranked third nationally.

“We can ask when she comes for dinner on Sunday.”

Guan Hui’e nodded, “So we’re just letting this matter go? Tang Hongen is Tang Hongen, we can’t wait for him to resolve this.”

“How could we? Xiaolan is Zhou Cheng’s girlfriend, not Tang Hongen’s daughter-in-law!”

Zhou Guobin felt Mayor Tang hadn’t handled this well either, otherwise, why would Ji Ya approach Xiaolan again?

Just because she wasn’t their daughter-in-law, they weren’t giving it their all!

This was why Zhou Guobin and Guan Hui’e could maintain a harmonious marriage without fighting – they were very similar. One moment they’d think Xia Xiaolan was too accomplished to be their daughter-in-law, but when someone bullied her, they’d set aside those thoughts and deal with the bully first.

Zhou Guobin wouldn’t bother with Ji Ya directly – a mere woman without achievements wasn’t worthy of dialogue with him.

If anyone, he’d approach Ji Ya’s brother. With Old Ji gone, Ji Ya’s eldest brother Ji Lin was the family’s decision-maker. If Ji Lin said he couldn’t control his sister, the Zhou family could help manage her – consider it a tribute to Old Ji!

…

Ji Lin hung up the phone with a massive headache.

He never expected to receive such a call.

The Department Head of Huaqing’s Architecture Department had called, speaking diplomatically but clearly. He impartially explained the situation, expressing bewilderment at Ji Ya’s behavior throughout.

“This isn’t something Junior Sister Ji should do. It’s inappropriate and would cause a scandal if word got out.”

The Ji family knew Ji Ya had issues.

Perhaps they shouldn’t have let her return to China; her condition seemed to have worsened… As the eldest brother, Ji Lin was exhausted. He accommodated Ji Ya endlessly, firstly because she was the family’s little sister whom they’d always spoiled, and secondly, because Ji Lin felt her current state was related to the family’s urging her to carefully consider her marriage to Tang Hongen.

The Ji family didn’t want Ji Ya to suffer with Tang Hongen, not knowing when the upheaval would end, so they let her choose.

Ji Ya ultimately chose divorce.

Who knew the situation would reverse dramatically a few years later? Each of Tang Hongen’s promotions felt like a slap to the Ji family’s face.

Ji Lin didn’t regret confronting Tang Hongen head-on, gritting his teeth to maintain their stance. Having made their choice, there was no turning back. It was better than crawling back to reconcile after Tang Hongen’s success – that would have caused even worse gossip, labeling the Ji family as opportunists.

But what was the point of Ji Ya fixating on a Huaqing female student in this matter with Tang Hongen?

Missing the point and acting emotionally – Ji Lin had a splitting headache.

“Where’s Ji Ya? Who let her out? Didn’t I say to watch her carefully?!”

Ji Lin’s wife responded coldly.

Ji Ya was the family’s princess – if she wanted to go out, who could stop her?

Forcing her would only trigger an episode. But Ji Ya had been gone so long… Ji Lin’s wife worried about what trouble this troublemaker might cause the family, making her eye twitch at the thought.