Chapter 52

Sure enough, the next second, a middle-aged beautiful woman in a white suit and pearl necklace said with displeasure in her tone, "Xiahou Shang, the surgery is about to start, where are you going?"

The woman’s words focused the attention of everyone in the room on Xiahou Shang.

Zhang Zhiyi was also shaking his head at Xiahou Shang.

Xiahou Shang turned around and smiled at his mother Zhang Yuyao, saying, "I have something to explain to Zhiyi."

"Whatever you have to say, wait until the surgery is over." After saying this, she cast a warning glance at Zhang Zhiyi, sarcastically remarked, "Look at the occasion, your uncle is about to have surgery, don’t cause trouble at this time."

It seemed she was reprimanding Xiahou Shang for not understanding the rules, but she was actually mocking Zhang Zhiyi for not being a virtuous wife and causing trouble for Xiahou Shang.

It was well known in the Xiahou family that the grand eldest daughter-in-law Zhang Zhiyi, who came from a poor background, was never acknowledged by her mother-in-law Zhang Yuyao. They were used to Zhang Yuyao’s constant targeting and exclusion of Zhang Zhiyi, and this time was no different.

Generally, the old family head and old lady wouldn’t interfere in the affairs of the younger generation.

However, this time, the old family head surprisingly spoke up.

He said, "Yuyao, since Zhiyi is Shang’er’s wife, she is the grand eldest daughter-in-law of my Xiahou family. Wherever Shang’er sits, she should sit there as well."

With the old family head speaking, everyone in the room was amazed.

Even Zhang Yuyao found it unbelievable.

Previously, she had openly and secretly excluded Zhang Zhiyi, and her father never commented. Why would he suddenly speak up for Zhang Zhiyi?

Xiahou Shang was also surprised, but with the old master’s words, no one dared to disobey.

At that moment, a woman sitting ahead of the ladies stood up; she was Xiahou Shang’s cousin Xiahou Ruming.

Xiahou Ruming was the only daughter of Xiahou Huaiyu, carrying her mother’s surname, and grew up in the Xiahou family. With few girls and many boys in the Xiahou family, the pretty Xiahou Ruming was favored by the whole family.

Only she dared to break the rules and sit in the grand eldest daughter-in-law’s seat.

Hearing her grandfather’s words, Xiahou Ruming immediately stood up and turned to Zhang Zhiyi, apologetically explaining, "Sorry, big cousin sister, I didn’t see you coming over, thought you wouldn’t come, so I sat in your seat."

Xiahou Ruming voluntarily walked to Zhang Zhiyi’s side, smiling, "I’ve returned the seat to you, go ahead."

Of course, Zhang Zhiyi could sense what Xiahou Ruming was mocking, she faced the sweet-smiling Xiahou Ruming and calmly explained, "You know, your big cousin brother, as the City Lord of Yujiang City, is busy with public affairs. As a member of the Xiahou family, he naturally should care about the elders’ health. But as City Lord, he should care more about the citizens of the entire city. We couldn’t ignore the larger family for the smaller one."

"The reason we arrived a bit late was due to some urgent public affairs needing arrangement and manpower. Ruming sister, not everyone is as leisurely and readily available as you."

After saying this, Zhang Zhiyi took Xiahou Shang’s hand and went to the seat where she should sit.

Indeed, Zhang Zhiyi never received Zhang Yuyao’s recognition, but it didn’t mean anyone in the Xiahou family could trample over her.

She would not argue with Zhang Yuyao, because Zhang Yuyao was Xiahou Shang’s mother. Plus, Zhang Yuyao never crossed Zhang Zhiyi’s bottom line.

However much Zhang Yuyao disliked her or looked down on her background, she never resorted to breaking their relationship or forcing her to leave Xiahou Shang.

Zhang Yuyao was just upset.

She was upset that her outstanding son hadn’t found someone who matched him in every way, like a golden phoenix, but a small dove that flew out from the mountain valleys.

As if a fresh flower was stuck in cow dung.

That kind of disparity, Zhang Zhiyi could understand.

In such a situation, Zhang Zhiyi would not deliberately oppose her mother-in-law.

Because she understood, regardless of their rocky relationship, they were both on the same rope, as they both truly loved the same boy.

Being publicly taught a lesson by Zhang Zhiyi, Xiahou Ruming felt unexpected and angry.

A poor thing that couldn’t stand on the stage, what right did she have to educate her?

Just because her grandfather spoke a word in her favor, did she think the grandpa would continue siding with her?

Utterly foolish!

Grandpa obviously noticed there were outsiders today and wanted to give face to her as the City Lord’s wife.

Zhang Yuyao heard Zhang Zhiyi’s retort to Xiahou Ruming, she glanced at her meaningfully.

As Zhang Zhiyi sat behind her mother-in-law Zhang Yuyao, she heard her mother-in-law cynically say, "Your mouth isn’t usually so lively, why don’t I usually see you use it?"

Zhang Zhiyi faintly sensed some satisfaction in Zhang Yuyao’s words.

She thought to herself: Could it be that her mother-in-law liked her being straightforward?

Zhang Zhiyi truly wanted to spend her life with Xiahou Shang, and also wanted her mother-in-law’s recognition and blessing.

She knew her mother-in-law came from a prestigious background and disliked unrefined women. Therefore, in front of her mother-in-law, she tried to tolerate where possible and abide by the ’endurance and departure’ style.

Now it seemed, her judgment was probably wrong.

This mother-in-law perhaps didn’t like her being a pushover and bullied.

Yet, the mother-in-law was constantly bullying her!

Zhang Zhiyi replied, "She wasn’t talking about me, she was slandering Brother Shang." Noticed her mother-in-law’s gaze had softened, she quickly flattered, "They can slander me, but Brother Shang is my bottom line."

Hearing this, Zhang Yuyao looked Zhang Zhiyi up and down, finally snorted, "At least not too stupid, knowing how to protect your husband."

Finished speaking, she turned away and ignored Zhang Zhiyi.

Zhang Zhiyi secretly stuck out her tongue and tilted her head, meeting Xiahou Shang’s smiling eyes.

Realizing her earlier words might have been heard by Xiahou Shang, Zhang Zhiyi’s ears burned with heat.

Watching the Xiahou family’s drama unfolding from backstage, Ye Mingluo and his group silently acknowledged the difficulty of being a noble family’s daughter-in-law.

Bang!

The door to the operating room suddenly opened; Xiahou Huai Gui lay on the surgical bed, pushed into the operating room by several fully armed doctors.

To facilitate surgery, Xiahou Huai Gui wore only a pair of shorts, he lay on the bed, watched through the glass, like a mummy unearthed from the pyramid.

Seeing Xiahou Huai Gui in this state, many had an unbearing expression in their eyes.

Xiahou Huai Gui, so brilliant and dazzling, yet tormented by a strange illness beyond recognition, who wouldn’t sigh with envy for his talents?

Mrs. Xiahou was crying like rain on the spot, her lips trembling as she cried, "Huai Gui!" She almost fainted from excitement.

Seeing this, Xiahou Huaicai and Xiahou Huaiyu hurried to their mother’s sides, crouching to tightly hold her hand.

Xiahou Huaicai solemnly advised his mother, "Mom, calm down, as long as Medicine Farmer Star successfully removes the parasites in little brother, he’ll regain his health. Please stop crying, don’t affect Medicine Farmer Star’s surgery."

Only then did Mrs. Xiahou clamp her teeth, not daring to make a sound.

Ye Mingluo’s peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a red figure stealthily entering the observation room; he turned around and saw Huo Wen’an standing against the wall in the last row.

Ye Mingluo got up and went to stand beside Huo Wen’an against the wall.

Noticing Huo Wen’an’s lifeless gaze at Xiahou Huai Gui, Ye Mingluo felt heavy-hearted and suddenly gripped Huo Wen’an’s shoulder. "A Zui, don’t look."

He knew Huo Wen’an saw Xiahou Huai Gui like this and was reminded of his future self.

Suddenly, Huo Wen’an emitted a short mocking laugh and raised his chin to look at Ye Mingluo, appearing rebellious and free. "Doctor Ye, if I become like him, please use your scalpel to kill me."

Ye Mingluo felt his heart jump.

Just at this moment, someone shouted, "Medicine Farmer Star is here!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Mingluo immediately raised his head and looked through the glass at the sterile operating room and saw a doctor in sterile surgical attire entering.

The doctor wore a gas mask, black hair hidden beneath the surgical cap, and slender fingers wrapped tightly in rubber gloves.

Due to the clothes wrapping her tightly, her graceful figure stood out.

Staring at Medicine Farmer Star’s evidently more voluptuous chest than any man’s, Ye Mingluo blurted out, "Wow! Medicine Farmer Star is actually a lady!"