Don’t Cross Someone’s Bottom Line

“And the most important thing is, in the past, Ye Mo’s power was relatively weak, so it was easier to garner sympathy. Her grandmother treated her well more out of pity.”

“You’re wrong. Even though her grandmother doted on her, the way she was raised was still based on strict traditional values—obedience to men. Understand?” The person speaking was one of Ye Mo’s old neighbours. Others might not see it clearly, but the old neighbours knew the truth.

“So, you’re saying that all the grievances the General’s wife endured in that household were ultimately because of her grandmother’s influence?”

“Exactly. Later, when the General’s wife awakened to her own power, her grandmother naturally couldn’t handle it. In her mind, her son was still the most important person.”

Everyone quickly pieced things together, and the online audience sighed in unison, recalling how her grandmother had caused so much trouble in the past, and they had witnessed it all clearly.

The truth was, Ye Mo’s grandmother had received so many benefits from Aunt Yu and Ye Mo, but she never once spoke up for them. As for Yu Fengqi, no matter how little he contributed, he remained her precious son in her heart.

“The way Grandma Yu thinks is truly bizarre. I’m starting to think that it might actually be better not to have children.”

“I suspect that the reason people are struggling to have children nowadays is because of toxic mind sets like this.”

“It’s possible!”

“My god, if that’s the case, it’s terrifying.”

By the end of the discussion, people were almost blaming Grandma Yu and Yu Fengqi for society’s declining birth rate.

Qin Lin, witnessing this farce, was enraged. He summoned Yu He and harshly reprimanded her, “You should’ve known that in the end, your family would be the ones looking like fools! I really don’t understand what you’re all thinking. Do you think you’re strong enough to shake a tree? I’m not underestimating you, but your family doesn’t have the capability for that.”

“Look what’s happened now! The entire internet is scolding you, and it won’t be long before they start targeting me. Can’t you behave for once? Is it so hard to just live quietly? Do you really enjoy being cursed at like an animal?”

Though Ye Mo was now with Mo Mo, Qin Lin had always regarded her as a little sister. Seeing others slander her made him furious.

Yu He, after being severely scolded, was grounded for a month. She, in turn, became angry with her own father. “Dad, am I short of food or clothes for you? Can’t you just stay out of trouble? The past is the past. Why dig it all up again? How do you think this makes me look? I’m His Highness’s secondary wives (concubine) now. I represent his face, too!”

Yu He hadn’t initially known about her father’s actions, but when she found out, she didn’t stop him. After all, causing trouble for Ye Mo made her feel good. But she never expected things to backfire so badly. Now, their whole family was being scolded online, and even His Highness had chewed her out. She could already imagine the women in the palace laughing at her.

With no powerful backing, Yu He already felt inferior. Now, her family was dragging her down even further.

“Dad, can we stop talking about her? We can’t compete with her at all.” Yu He felt utterly defeated.

However, just because they stopped, didn’t mean others would let them off.

Though Grandma Yu had quieted down, people in District Eight believed that having this “bad apple” around would affect the General’s wife’s mood. So they began targeting Grandma Yu and Yu Fengqi directly.

“Your mother is suffering in District Eight while you’re living it up in District One. Don’t you want to bring her over?”

“Yeah! We heard Yu He is now a secondary consort to Prince Caser, and she has a house in District One. Why not let your mother live in luxury too?”

“Yu Fengqi, where’s your sense of filial piety? Why don’t you show it to your own mother?”

“Grandma Yu, why aren’t you speaking up? Don’t you want to live with your beloved son?”

“Exactly! You’ve always doted on your son, and now he’s in District One, living the good life. Why don’t you let him take you there?”

“Has Grandma Yu gone quiet now? Are you afraid of hurting your son? Why weren’t you worried about hurting the General’s wife when you caused trouble before?”

“Come on, everyone knows you only pitied the General’s wife. You never actually cared for her.”

“Right! I really feel for Aunt Yu. I heard that the house Grandma Yu is living in now was bought by Aunt Yu, but she never once praised her.”

“I also heard that Aunt Yu has suffered a lot at her in-laws’, largely because of Grandma Yu. Since Grandma Yu never valued her own daughter, her in-laws took advantage and mistreated her. I really feel sorry for the women in the Yu family.”

“Oh please, Yu He was pampered by her parents.”

“Exactly! Don’t pity the wrong person!”

Now, most of the online community was directly targeting Grandma Yu and Yu Fengqi. Yu Fengqi was too scared to even leave his house. From inside, he could occasionally hear people outside shouting, “Yu Fengqi, bring your mother to Main Planet One!”

During this time, Grandma Yu saw all the online taunts and began to reconsider. District One did sound appealing to her.

But it was far away, and she couldn’t be sure her son would treat her well. Moreover, the cost of living there was high. She felt capable of going but wasn’t sure she’d be able to come back.

For now, living alone in her middle-class house area was comfortable. She had some money saved, and as long as she didn’t stir up trouble, she could live well.

If her son really invited her, should she go?

Then, Grandma Yu realized the real issue: as long as Yuan Lili was around, she could never count on her son to treat her well.

At that moment, she began to reflect on how good her daughter and granddaughter had been to her. If she hadn’t caused so much trouble, could she still be living in that garden villa?

Would she still be receiving the generous monthly allowance from her granddaughter?

Both Aunt Yu and Ye Mo had treated her exceptionally well. Whenever they had money, they gave it to her, which had only made her more arrogant. She thought she could treat them however she wanted, and they would never complain. But she forgot one crucial thing: everyone has dignity. No one can selflessly give without limits, except perhaps one’s parents.

However, if someone pushes things too far, even parents will eventually stop giving. That’s why everyone needs to have boundaries, and while maintaining your own, you must respect others’. This is true even between parents and children.

No one can tolerate someone crossing their bottom line.

(End of Chapter)