Chapter 11: Returning to the Old Jian Family House (2)
"I firmly believe Yiling did nothing wrong! And you should hurry and get rid of that servant. Since Yiling doesn't like her, why keep her around? You hire servants to take care of the family, not to make life miserable for them!" The matriarch turned her head away, signaling that her opinion was unshakeable.
Jian Yiling watched the two adults argue and reached out to tug at her grandmother's sleeve.
The matriarch looked down at her. "Don't shout; I made a mistake."
Jian Yiling recognized she was partly at fault—after all, she shouldn't have quarreled with her brother just because he made a good friend of the opposite sex. She realized that her previous behavior was a bit petty.
As for whether she had pushed him, she didn't feel like getting into an unproductive argument at that moment. Insisting she hadn't done it in front of her grandparents without any evidence would only disappoint her parents and brother without yielding any positive outcome.
"Yiling, you…" The matriarch looked at her in surprise.
Hearing Jian Yiling speak earnestly touched Jian Shuxing's heart. It was clear that this child genuinely recognized her mistake.
At that moment, the grandfather, who had been silent since they arrived, spoke up. "Yiling, come here."
Jian Laotai beckoned to Jian Yiling.
After hesitating for a moment, she carefully walked over.
Sitting on the sofa, Jian Laotai reached out and gently patted Jian Yiling's head. "I called you over to ask how your father plans to handle this situation. But seeing you admit your mistake, I'm relieved."
Like the matriarch, Jian Laotai also favored his only granddaughter. Whatever she wanted, he typically accommodated. However, as the head of the Jian family, he also understood that this incident had caused serious harm to one of their children.
His expression softened as he said to his precious granddaughter, "As for your brother's situation, let's consider it forgotten. After all, digging deeper into your mistakes won't change the fact that your brother was hurt. However, you still need to face the consequences and follow through on the necessary actions. And this better not happen again. Do you understand?"
Jian Yiling nodded.
He continued, "As children of the Jian family, we can be tough on outsiders, but we absolutely cannot harm our own family. This time, we'll overlook it since you're still young and it's your first offense."
Jian Yiling nodded again.
She had no doubt that her grandfather would enforce punishment, given that in the original story, it was indeed her grandfather who ordered her to be expelled from the Jian family.
Seeing enough, the matriarch stepped forward and pulled Jian Yiling away from Jian Laotai. "You old man, stop being so fierce! You're going to scare her!"
While the matriarch expressed her thoughts, there was still a hint of apprehension in her voice towards her husband.
After all, she had spent a lifetime supporting and loving him, and she knew his temperament well.
She could afford to make a scene over minor matters, and he would indulge her. But when it came to serious issues, he was firm and resolute. If she didn't know her place, their marriage might not survive such tests.
Jian Yiling felt the warmth of her grandmother's protective nature and smiled slightly. The old house, with its creaky floors and warm, familiar smells, felt safe amidst the storm of family discussions.
"Let's sit down and discuss this calmly," Jian Shuxing suggested, trying to ease the escalating tension in the room.
As they settled into the living room, Jian Yiling felt a sense of relief wash over her. Despite the circumstances, being surrounded by her family gave her a feeling of security.
As the night wore on, they began to share stories, laughter breaking through the earlier tension. In that moment, Jian Yiling realized that, while mistakes might lead to serious conversations, love and support from family were always there to guide her back home.