They saw Cen Huai’an pinning Cen Huai’ze to the ground, while Cen Huai’ze kicked and struggled, glaring fiercely at Cen Huai’an, “Let go of me! Let go of me!”

Cen Huai’xin was sitting aside, wiping her tears, and her white coat was dirty on the front.

Xi Wang’s face instantly darkened.

She stomped over in high heels, grabbing Cen Huai’an by the shoulder and pulling him back roughly, “What are you doing?”

Her tone was very harsh.

Cen Huai’an was almost knocked to the ground, stumbling backward.

Cen Zhengnian quickly ran over to support him.

Chuxia also came over, looked down at An’an to make sure he was okay, then frowned at Xi Wang and the two children, showing her displeasure.

Chuxia knew Cen Huai’an’s nature very well.

He wouldn’t pick fights with others and had never initiated a fight since coming to the capital, only responding if provoked.

Jiang Shengnan quickly helped Cen Huai’xin up, looking anxious. “What’s going on? Why did they start fighting?”

Xi Wang dusted off Cen Huai’ze and, with a cold face, said, “Mom, Xiao Ze and Xin Xin have been wronged right after they arrived. Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”

“Xi Wang!” Cen Zhengshi called out loudly.

Xi Wang’s voice was even louder, filled with grievance. “Oh, so your whole family is bullying me, the outsider? If you don’t welcome us, I’ll just take Xiao Ze and Xin Xin and leave!”

Jiang Shengnan quickly stopped her, and Cen Zhengshi also reached out to pull her, frowning and saying, “What are you doing? We’re here for the New Year. It’s just a little kids’ fight. Does it need to be taken so seriously?”

“Cen Zhengshi, listen to what you’re saying! Your son and daughter were bullied and pinned to the ground! How can you be so indifferent!”

Chuxia, watching from the side, was surprised to see that despite her refined appearance and seemingly good upbringing, Xiwang was excessively indulgent with her children.

She turned to Xiwang and said, “The situation isn’t clear yet, so don’t blame my son arbitrarily. It’s not certain who started the trouble! I know my child well—An’an wouldn’t pick a fight easily. He’s played with the Jiang family kids for years without ever causing any conflict or fighting. So how come they’re fighting now that you’re back?”

Xiwang exploded, pointing angrily at Chuxia, “Watch your words! Are you accusing us? My children wouldn’t just start a fight as soon as they come back! Who’s being biased here, I wonder!”

“Enough, stop arguing!” Cen Father’s voice cut through the commotion, and his authoritative presence silenced Xiwang, who pursed her lips and fell silent.

“An’an, tell us what happened,” Cen Father said, looking at An’an, who was the calmest at the moment.

“We just arrived at the yard, and Cen Huaixin wanted to ride a horse, so she asked me to lie down so she could ride me. I didn’t agree, and when she tried to push me from behind, I dodged, and she accidentally fell and started crying. Cen Huaize saw her crying and tried to hit me, but I didn’t want to fight, so I pinned him to the ground instead.”

An’an explained clearly and calmly, contrasting sharply with Cen Huaize’s response.

Chuxia’s anger flared, her face icy, while Cen Zhengnian also showed visible anger.

“Brother, your children are really poorly raised,” Cen Zhengnian said bluntly, showing no consideration for Cen Zhengshi.

Cen Zhengshi looked embarrassed. “I often let them ride horses at home, so she might be used to it.”

Chuxia shot back, “You can indulge her in riding horses, but my son isn’t her biological father or older brother and won’t agree to her unreasonable demands! Also, this incident was clearly caused by your children. Xiwang came over and pushed my son without understanding the situation. How could a child withstand an adult’s strength? If Zhengnian hadn’t caught him, what would have happened if he fell? Every spoiled child has a unreasonable parent behind them!”

“Who’s being unreasonable?” Xiwang didn’t believe Cen Huai’an’s account and was fuming, “My child hasn’t even spoken yet. How do we know if An’an is lying?”

“Enough!” Cen Father shouted.

His stern gaze was directed at Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin, “You two, tell us the truth. Is it as An’an said? Don’t lie!”

The two children looked around nervously, unsure of what to say.

Faced with Cen Father’s intimidating gaze and the frightening look from Little Huazhd, their prepared excuses were lost.

They stammered, “It’s… it’s like An’an said.”

Xiwang’s face alternated between red and white as she squeezed Cen Huaize’s arm, “Don’t be scared by others. Tell the truth.”

Cen Huaize pulled away from Xiwang’s grip, his expression impatient. He looked up at Cen Father’s stern gaze and immediately lowered his head, saying quietly, “Mom, I’m telling the truth.”

Chuxia found it amusing from the side. “The truth is out. Xiwang, are you expecting your child to lie and make up reasons that An’an is at fault?”

Xiwang glared at her, “Your son is the one lying!”

She looked down and tried to question Cen Huaixin but was reprimanded by Cen Zhengshi, “Xiwang! Haven’t you caused enough trouble? This is clearly Cen Huaixin and Cen Huaize’s fault.”

He sighed, “It’s my fault for not disciplining them properly and letting them develop such overbearing behavior.”

Xiwang was displeased, “What? Are you blaming me for not raising the children well?

Cen Zhengshi, do you have a conscience? I’ve raised and cared for the children. What have you done to help?

Now you’re blaming me? What were you doing before?

And now you’re convicting Cen Huaize and Huaixin without seeing the facts. Aren’t you a responsible father?”

Xiwang focused on arguing with Cen Zhengshi, ignoring everyone else.

Cen Zhengnian watched his older brother being scolded and even unconsciously apologizing, shaking his head and sighing: His older brother wasn’t the same as before.

Cen Father intervened again, “If you keep arguing, you’ll all be thrown out! Cen Huaize, Cen Huaixin, come and apologize to An’an.”

Hearing this, Xiwang pulled Cen Huaize and Cen Huaixin out without letting the children apologize.

She believed that since Chuxia and the in-laws had been together for a long time, the in-laws were biased towards Chuxia and An’an.

Cen Zhengshi immediately went to pull her back, and they struggled in the yard.

Jiang Shengnan watched with a worried frown, and Cen Father’s furrowed brows remained unrelenting.

Chuxia saw the commotion and figured it wouldn’t be resolved anytime soon.

She doubted that Cen Huaize, Cen Huaixin, and Xiwang would apologize by the evening.

She shook her head, told Jiang Shengnan and Cen Father something, and left with Cen Zhengnian and An’an.

“An’an, Mom didn’t make you wait for Cen Huaize, Cen Huaixin, and Xiwang’s apologies. Are you upset with me?” Chuxia asked.

Cen Huai’an shook his head, replying firmly, “They wouldn’t apologize now. Mom, it was right for us to leave.”

Chuxia patted his head and said, “This matter won’t be resolved easily.”

Cen Zhengnian nodded, “I’ll make sure my brother gives An’an an explanation.”

In the evening at the courtyard house:

“Xi Wang, what’s wrong with you today? You were never this unreasonable before.”

After Chuxia’s family left, Xi Wang stopped arguing with Cen Zhengshi.

During dinner that evening, Xi Wang, Cen Zhengshi, and their children appeared normal, but Jiang Shengnan ate with discomfort.

Xi Wang took off the earrings she was wearing and placed them in her jewelry box.

She turned around and said, “A child who cries gets milk. We haven’t been to your parents’ home for so long. If we don’t make a fuss about the children, how will we know if your parents are biased or not?”

Cen Zhengshi felt a surge of anger but dared not raise his voice, fearing it would disturb his parents in the main house.

He pointed at Xi Wang and said, “You’re being unreasonable! My parents are not biased. Didn’t my mother send less stuff to you while you were in the military?”

Xi Wang snorted, “What does that matter? It’s all stuff you can buy with money. What’s important is whether your position can be moved. The capital is so prosperous. Your brother can come to the capital, so why should we stay in that remote mountain where even buying vegetables is a challenge? I’m doing this for your sake. If you’re good, we’ll all be good.”

Cen Zhengshi scratched his head in frustration, “My brother came to the capital because of his own abilities and leadership assignments.”

Xi Wang stood up and walked over to stand in front of Cen Zhengshi, looking at him, “Do you believe it? Cen Zhengnian’s unit is affiliated with the military. If your parents didn’t help, could he have been moved so easily? I’m not asking your parents to help with your promotion or move to the capital, just to transfer from that remote mountain to a place where buying groceries isn’t a hassle. Isn’t that reasonable?”

Cen Zhengshi shook his head, “My parents won’t help. After we started working, they said everything depends on ourselves.”

Xi Wang sighed and took Cen Zhengshi’s hand, “If you won’t think about us, at least think about the children. What kind of educational conditions are there in the mountains? How did Xiao Ze and Xin Xin develop so many bad habits? They learned them from school.”

When it came to the children, Cen Zhengshi also frowned, “Today, Xin Xin and Xiao Ze were indeed wrong. You can’t just spoil them.”

Xi Wang instinctively said, “They’re still young and don’t understand.”

Cen Zhengshi furrowed his brow deeply, “They’re not that young. Kids who grew up in our compound have been spoiled and caused a lot of trouble. Do you want to see Xiao Ze and Xin Xin turn out that way and eventually drag the whole family down?”

Xi Wang looked at his face for a while and, seeing that Cen Zhengshi was serious about this issue and speaking the truth, reluctantly nodded, “Alright, then you need to manage them more. They listen to you. Also, you must bring up the issue of transfers with your parents. Didn’t you see today? Mom and Dad clearly prefer An’an. They believe whatever he says and even intentionally scared Xiao Ze and Xin Xin.”

Xi Wang was genuinely angry at that moment.

She usually cared about her image, but since she wanted to test things, she didn’t hold back this time.

Cen Zhengshi looked at her helplessly, “I told you to bring the kids to my parents during the holiday, but you didn’t want to. Xiao Ze and Xin Xin haven’t spent time with my parents in years, so they don’t really know them. They’ve lived with An’an before, so naturally, they understand An’an’s character better.”

Xi Wang was a teacher, and she also had time off during the holidays.

But she preferred to take the kids to her parents’ house, which was close to their station in the city.

Cen Zhengshi wanted to show he could succeed without relying on his family, so he voluntarily stayed in the military during the holidays.

Given the distance from the northwest, it was inconvenient for the children, which was why he hadn’t visited his parents in many years.

Xi Wang had something to say too, “You don’t have much leave time. How can I bring two children back by myself?”

That was indeed a problem.

There are many thieves and pickpockets on the train. As a woman with no great strength, it’s worrisome to take two children on a train.

Cen Zhengshi dropped the subject.

In the main house, Jiang Shengnan and Cen’s father were also talking.

She sighed deeply, “Xi Wang is unhappy. She has seen so many soldiers in the military; she knows what’s behind her words.”

Cen’s father said, “What does she have to be unhappy about? She hasn’t come to see us for years, and we haven’t said anything bad about her.”

Jiang Shengnan folded and put away the clothes, saying, “You can’t blame her. If you’re going to blame someone, blame our son. She’s a daughter-in-law. Whether she comes to see us or not is a matter of heart. But Zhengshi hasn’t come back for so long; it’s unreasonable. But Zhengnian is busy with work and hasn’t come back, so I’m not saying anything about it.”

Human hearts are soft.

One child is considerate and often thinks of me and my husband, while the other only calls occasionally during the holidays.

Naturally, Jiang Shengnan prefers Chuxia.

Cen’s father’s brows were tightly knitted, “Chuxia has everything she has.”

Jiang Shengnan looked at him, frowning as well, “What she wants probably isn’t just those things.”

Cen’s father and Jiang Shengnan have their positions and the house in the capital.

Thinking of this, they exchanged glances, their brows furrowed even more.

That night, Cen’s father and Jiang Shengnan had trouble falling asleep. Children are a debt.

When they’re young, you worry about their health; when they grow up, you worry about their development.

Until the moment you close your eyes, you’re always concerned.

The next day, Cen’s father called Cen Zhengshi to the study.

They talked for a long time.

When they came out, Cen Zhengshi looked guilty, while Cen’s father still had a stern expression.

His back was still straight when he walked, but once he entered the room, he appeared tired.

Jiang Shengnan sympathetically rubbed his shoulders, “What did you talk about?”

“We discussed his work transfer. I will only help him with this transfer. Zhengshi needs to focus on work, and he agreed to compensate Zhengnian with the courtyard house. In the future, you won’t need to take care of Zhengshi’s family too much. Just make sure to compensate Zhengnian and Chuxia more.”

Jiang Shengnan stopped her actions, looking stunned, “How can you agree to this? Didn’t we say we wouldn’t help with work matters? A courtyard house isn’t worth as much as what you promised Zhengshi!”

Cen’s father sighed, his shoulders slumping further.

Cen Zhengshi, over thirty, was crying in front of him about the hardships his family faced in the mountains.

He couldn’t help but soften his heart.

Moreover, Cen Zhengshi had merits; he wasn’t just idly passing time in the military. Otherwise, Cen’s father wouldn’t agree to help.

Jiang Shengnan understood that parents could never be completely tough on their children.

In addition to this, after Cen Zhengshi’s talk with Cen’s father, he took Xi Wang, Cen Huai’ze, and Cen Huai’xin to Cen Zhengnian’s research institute to apologize to Chuxia and An’an.

Xi Wang had achieved her goal.

Now, her demeanor was completely different from before.

She smiled at Chuxia and An’an, although Chuxia found her smile very insincere.