Old Master Cao walked into the dining room and saw those few people he really disliked.

"Bring all the dishes to my room."

"Cao Bin, you all go buy groceries and cook for yourselves."

"Starting today, the aunt won’t cook for you, won’t clean for you."

Old Master Cao thought he had made himself clear that day, but he never expected that they didn’t take it seriously.

Since they didn’t take it seriously, he certainly didn’t mind showing them a cold face.

Old Master Cao turned around and left, and of course the aunt listened to him and brought the dishes to his room.

Although he’s not very involved in family affairs due to his age, he’s the owner of the house and the one who pays.

Cao Bin felt embarrassed, glaring at Dai Yaning, "I’ve told you long ago, look at yourself."

Cao Bin stormed off angrily; he could still go eat in his parents’ room.

Cao Na quietly got up and left too. Honestly, seeing how they ate made her lose her appetite.

"Nana, where are you going?" Dai Yaning also resented what Cao Li had done, but this was dinner time, and if there was no food, what would she do?

The adults could do without food, and so-called guests could be ignored, but what about the child?

"I’m going to eat at Grandpa’s." Cao Na avoided Dai Yaning’s attempt to grab her hand.

"Can’t you help persuade your grandpa?" Dai Yaning was displeased by Cao Na’s actions.

Previously, she might have lashed out, saying how unfilial Cao Na was, but after so many confrontations, apart from being scolded by her mother-in-law a few times, it didn’t bring any benefit at all.

Dai Yaning couldn’t use common household tricks parents use on disobedient kids, which frustrated her immensely.

"How should I persuade him?" Cao Na retorted.

"Grandpa has already mentioned it several times."

"You might as well let sister think about what to do."

"This trouble was caused by sister, I can’t do anything about it."

Cao Na wouldn’t help. If she really made Grandpa change his mind, he would sarcastically say a line implying Grandpa always treats her best.

Knowing she’d end up being criticized either way, why even bother getting involved?

Cao Li was already upset and got in a worse mood upon seeing Cai Guoqing, and hearing Cao Na’s words, how could she hold back?

"Now you’re losing your temper, how dare you speak to Mom like that."

"I’m stating the facts, and whether my words sound nice isn’t important, what’s important is that your words of comfort don’t matter."

"I’m going to eat now." Anyway, Grandpa would get angry, and with so many books to read, Cao Na didn’t want to waste her time on such trivial matters.

Seeing Cao Na disappear, Cao Li wanted to explode, "Mom, talk to Nana."

"You tell her, will she listen to you?" Dai Yaning knew her elder daughter hoped she’d criticize her younger daughter, but she swallowed her words.

Old Master Cao, upon seeing Cao Na, immediately urged her to eat, "At last, I can eat peacefully; I’ve never seen such terrible table manners."

The old man usually ate slowly, savoring his food, but ever since Cai Guoqing’s group arrived, he found he had to grab for food at home, how could he bear it?

Cao Bin watched them eat heartily, even Cao Na ate with delight, which left him feeling uncomfortable, "Dad..."

"The door’s over there; if you’re going to speak for them, then go out," Old Master Cao didn’t even look at his son.

"I’m just worried they won’t have food." With his daughter ignoring him, the helpless Cao Bin could only fend for himself.

Without food, Old Master Cao coldly snorted, "Then why didn’t you consider what your dad was eating days ago?"

"I can’t even get enough in my own home."

"About what I mentioned last time, have you thought it over? I think your wife has issues with me, why don’t you move to your allotted house."

Old Master Cao had said everything he needed to say. If Cao Bin and his family felt he was being troublesome, they could just move out.

Cao Bin always thought his dad was just throwing a tantrum, "Dad, living here allows us to take good care of you."

Cao Bin really couldn’t imagine how life would be after they moved out; at least household chores would have to be done by themselves, and expenses would grow.

"Are you really taking care of me?" Old Master Cao could see through Cao Bin’s hesitation.

"You don’t have to leave, but Cao Li should go; doesn’t she have a husband’s family or a house? She’s been in Beijing for over two years now, surely the house should be renovated."

The old master wasn’t keen on driving his son away; after all, his goal was to get his granddaughter Cao Li out.

Should he leave or should Cao Li leave, what is there to consider?

"If your wife has complaints, she can leave."

"Such a daughter-in-law is not what I need."

"Anyway, if she dares to show a mean face to me or Nana, she should leave with her daughter early on, I’m not without caregivers."

"I have the aunt, and I have a granddaughter." Old Master Cao truly had no hope for Cao Bin; if he could control his wife, things wouldn’t have come to this.

"I don’t want it." Cao Na would never accept anything from Old Master Cao, "I prefer to earn on my own."

Though she’s living off rental income, Cao Na felt peaceful, saving what little she had and considering house options in slightly remote areas, since she couldn’t afford one in the city center.

Cao Na always remembered something Gong Ruini once said, that the houses in Beijing would become more valuable as more people came to develop there.

"What I give you, why should anyone else complain?" Old Master Cao glared, "Go back and tell your wife that if she stays, we’ll eat separately."

"I see your wife having plenty of free time, otherwise how could she have so much downtime." The old man thought his daughter-in-law was busy with work in the past and wouldn’t let such things happen. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

If that’s the case, then let Dai Yaning get busy. If work couldn’t keep her occupied, then at least she’d have personal matters to attend to.

"From now on, your yard and your clothes and such are your wife’s responsibility."

"Grocery shopping and cooking are her tasks, the aunt won’t assist anymore."

Cao Na was stunned, she really couldn’t imagine how her mother would collapse upon hearing Grandpa’s decision, well, she would certainly collapse.

Cao Bin was also shocked, what’s going on? Didn’t he already agree to let Cao Li move out, yet why was the old man treating them like this?

"Do you have any complaints?" Old Master Cao grumbled.

Cao Bin dared not have complaints, he’s not foolish, "I know, I will have her do it."

No matter what, they mustn’t move out, otherwise, if word got out to the old man’s friends, what would they think?

"Don’t always think about who wronged her, especially Cao Li, who constantly tries to deal with Zhao Gang’s group, is this the right way to go about it?"

"Obviously everything was suppressed from above, she insisted on stirring things up, look at where that’s gotten her, a complete mess."

Old Master Cao didn’t interact much with Zhao Gang’s group, but judging by their behavior and how they made their fortune, they’re quite cautious people, why would they let Cao Li have any leverage?

Cao Na kept her head down, eating, astonished at the foolish things her sister did upon returning to Beijing, feeling all sorts of admiration.

She truly didn’t know how her sister lived when she was in Yangcheng, how did she turn into this kind of person?