"Dad."

Jingzhe was daydreaming at his own doorstep when he saw Gu Youtian returning, and he stood up, calling out joyfully.

This call of "dad" was full of genuine emotion.

Anyway, it’s the last time he would call him that; from now on, Gu Youtian would be his second uncle.

This heartfelt call of "dad" was just a return for the care Gu Youtian had given to the original owner.

"You shameless wretch, you still have the nerve to call me dad."

Gu Youtian, filled with anger from hearing people gossip about Rui Nian not wanting to be his son, couldn’t hold back when he saw his son and slapped Jingzhe repeatedly.

Jingzhe was stunned by the beating.

No matter if he had encouraged Gu Youtian to invest in the escort agency and failed or failed as a Scholar candidate, Gu Youtian had threatened to beat him, but it never happened.

Thus, in both lifetimes combined, he had never tasted the feeling of being beaten by his father.

He hadn’t expected Gu Youtian to hit him right upon meeting.

Without even a greeting.

"You brat, your wings aren’t even hardened yet, and you refuse to recognize me as your dad."

"I’ll make you see whose son you really are!"

"If I don’t beat you to death today, I am your grandson!"

Without waiting for Jingzhe to react, Gu Youtian grabbed a stick from the corner and started hitting Jingzhe with it.

Jingzhe couldn’t escape in time and took several hits on himself.

One hit landed on his forehead, causing him to see stars and feel a mix of sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy sensations in his nose.

Just like the feeling he had on the day he was blocked and beaten on his way to the Scholar’s exam by Mr. Xie’s third son.

Jingzhe began to howl in pain.

Mrs. Jia was the first to run out upon hearing the noise.

Although Jingzhe was soon not her son anymore, he was still flesh of her flesh, and Rui Nian had agreed to only endure humiliation in the big house to use its resources to achieve his own goals, recognizing her as his true mother in his heart.

The one who felt the most heartache for Jingzhe’s beating was his mother.

"Stop, now." Mrs. Jia stepped forward to take away the stick from Gu Youtian.

Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu arrived at the doorway just after hearing Jingzhe’s wails.

Gu Youtian looked at his wife, then his parents, filled with resentment. He was outside working hard to make money, and somehow his son was being adopted by the big house.

Is this an attempt to sever his bloodline or to express dissatisfaction with his second family?

His father isn’t senile either.

Gu Youtian pointed at Jingzhe and asked, "What’s going on here? Why does Rui Nian have to become the eldest’s son? Is it because the eldest died without a son to burn paper or leave offerings that we need to adopt my son?"

Mr. Gu said, "We’ll talk about this at home."

Gu Youtian said grimly, "So it’s true. I’m out trying to make money, and you’re conspiring at home to steal my family’s inheritance."

Mr. Gu said sternly, "You just got home, what are you doing?"

Mrs. Gu couldn’t bother feeling sorry for Jingzhe; she went up to support Mr. Gu.

Last time, Mr. Gu fainted because of the silk incident, leaving her anxious, fearing Mr. Gu might get too upset by Jingzhe again.

There is already a widow in the Gu family; she still wants to live with Mr. Gu until they’re a hundred.

Mrs. Gu said, "You’re listening to your father; we’ll talk at home."

Gu Youtian’s eyes swept fiercely, saying, "I’m going to find Tong Dajiao right now. What benefits did Tong Dajiao promise Rui Nian to make him want to call a dead man dad?"

Gu Youtian not only cursed Tong Huaqiong but also his deceased elder brother.

Gu Youtian felt that Tong Dajiao must have been involved in this matter; otherwise, with her usual attitude toward the second family, how could she allow a son from the second family to be adopted by the big house?

Tong Dajiao must be hiding something malicious.

Gu Youtian, blinded by anger, ran towards Tong Huaqiong’s house with the stick.

"Second Uncle."

Gu Baishuang and Tong Huaqiong had just finalized the details of the supermarket opening and were about to leave when they encountered Gu Youtian at their doorstep and called out.

Seeing Gu Youtian’s menacing posture with the stick, Gu Dahuan shouted inside, busy digging up the vegetable garden, that Second Uncle had arrived, and then he quickly followed him into the garden.

Considering Gu Youtian’s usual attitude towards the big house, coupled with the rumors outside that Rui Nian wanted to be adopted by the big house, Gu Dahuan dared not take Gu Youtian’s arrival lightly. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"Second Uncle, what brings you here?"

Gu Dahuan saw the stick in Gu Youtian’s hand and tightened his grip on the hoe.

Gu Youtian asked angrily, "Where’s Tong Dajiao."

Tong Huaqiong walked out from inside, standing in the corridor, coldly watching Gu Youtian who was here to settle scores, and said, "Second Brother, looking like this, what’s your business in my house?"

Gu Youtian initially wanted to smash the big house to bits, but seeing Tong Huaqiong’s calm demeanor and imposing presence, he felt a little intimidated.

Gu Youtian sneered, "What’s my business? Sister-in-law, do you have the nerve to ask? Do you not have your own son? Why adopt mine? Are you mocking me for my business failures, taking even my son?"

Tong Huaqiong knew it was about the adoption issue with Rui Nian.

Gu Youtian’s inability to hold his temper was expected.

Tong Huaqiong didn’t plan to quarrel with Gu Youtian, raising her eyes, she said, "You should ask why your son doesn’t want you as his father but wants to be our son’s. I said, I only spend money on my own son, Rui Nian just got the idea to be my son."

"Now you have no money, no resources, people follow the upward flow, not the downward one; it’s human nature, Rui Nian doesn’t want to be your son, you have to take it. I think Rui Nian has potential; if he follows me, maybe he’ll be Jingzhe’s help in his studies. Since you want to argue over this son, why not go home and discuss it with him, whether you want this son or not? I’d advise you to let him be adopted by me; anyway, his thoughts aren’t on you as his dad anymore."

Tong Huaqiong finished speaking and lifted the curtain, entering the house.

She deliberately provoked Gu Youtian.

Gu Youtian, with his strong sense of dignity, even if Rui Nian was a useless son, once the big house wanted to fight, for the sake of pride, Gu Youtian would hold Rui Nian tight under his family tree.

Failing to get anything out of Tong Huaqiong, on his way back, Gu Youtian realized one thing, that his second son wanted a better life and to study, wanting to be adopted by the big house.

The reason the whole old house didn’t oppose is rooted in Rui Nian’s own mind.

Mrs. Jia spoiled her son, whatever Rui Nian said went.

Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu might have opposed, but they couldn’t resist Rui Nian’s persuasion.

Also, why Tong Dajiao agreed to the adoption was certainly because the unfilial son secretly made some shady deal with Tong Dajiao.

That son is always selfish, and skilled at persuasion and manipulation; it’s no difficult task to convince Tong Dajiao.

His son can’t actively not recognize him as a father.

Gu Youtian’s authority was being challenged.

Alright, Rui Nian, you little bastard, previously seeing your promise, I did all I could to indulge your ambitions, thinking the second house could let you do whatever you wanted.

Today, he’s going to show Rui Nian who’s really the dad.