Cheng Tao was startled by his sudden sharp tone, not understanding why he was suddenly angry.
"Uncle..."
Yang Yunian waved his hand impatiently, unwilling to continue.
"That's all there is to say. From now on, don't come looking for me."
Before Cheng Tao could react, she saw him stride out.
Fortunately, Song Yulian arrived in time and blocked him at the door.
She also thought Yang Yunian had come to discuss the homestead.
However, when she asked, Yang Yunian was furious.
"You still have the nerve to ask! You know very well why I won't help!"
Mentioning this, Song Yulian felt guilty.
She did have leverage in the hands of those from the Old Yang family, but that was her fault, what did it have to do with Cheng Tao.
"Brother, I know you don't like me, but Cheng Tao is the only daughter of the second son. If even you don't help her, she'll truly have nowhere to turn!"
Cheng Tao's reputation was such that she was not suitable to live in Wujing Village. People were gossiping about her so much that she couldn't hold her head up.
Yang Yunian, unable to bear it any longer, kicked her away.
He didn't want to continue speaking, but Song Yulian was truly detestable.
This scene was witnessed by Cheng Tianhua. His eyes widened in fury, and he roared, "Yang Yunian, you're going too far! Don't you even look at where you are, allowing yourself to bully people!"
Cheng Tianhua ignored Song Yulian on the ground and clenched his fists, launching a fierce punch at Yang Yunian.
He wasn't particularly concerned about Song Yulian, but purely felt his masculine pride challenged.
Yang Yunian didn't want to fight, and dodged a few times.
But Cheng Tianhua pressed forward relentlessly, leaving him with nowhere to retreat.
Anger filled his chest, consuming his reason, and he couldn't help but clench his fist and retaliate.
"I'm going too far? Since you're here, let's clear things up once and for all today. Let the villagers of Wujing Village hear clearly who is truly going too far!"
Cheng You heard the commotion outside and hurried out.
She immediately saw the two men fighting.
"Director Yang!"
Cheng You ran forward to stop them, "Director Yang, calm down. Let's talk things through properly."
After much persuasion, she managed to separate them.
Cheng Tao covered her face and cried, "Uncle, if you don't want to help me, fine, but why must you treat my parents like this!"
Yang Yunian's face turned ashen, and he gritted his teeth, "You know they are your parents. If that's the case, then what kind of uncle am I to you!"
Cheng Tao didn't realize there was something hidden in his words and continued to cry.
"I know you're unhappy about my mother remarrying, which is why you've ignored us all these years."
"Nonsense!" Yang Yunian roared.
He couldn't stand it anymore. Dealing with such people was unbearable!
"What does Song Yulian remarrying have to do with me? It's her own business who she marries, be it anyone! But what she should not have done, what she absolutely should not have done, was to get involved with someone else before the second son died! While my brother was bedridden, she was having a good time in another man's bed. I ask you, is there any reason for this in the world!"
Yang Yunian had held this in for over a decade.
Now that he had finally spoken it, he didn't feel relieved, only a sense of desolation.
His brother had been dead for so many years, yet he was still being talked about.
Seeing everyone's varied expressions, he let out a cold laugh.
"Cheng Tianhua, you probably thought this matter would never be brought up again, didn't you? After all, you and Song Yulian were so secretive about your affair, how could anyone find out!" Yang Yunian gritted his teeth tightly.
His icy voice made Cheng Tianhua tremble.
The Yang family actually knew!
"I didn't want to say anything, but you kept pestering me! Since you keep calling our Yang family heartless for not helping your niece, then I'll tell you clearly today..."
Song Yulian seemed to realize what he was about to say and clung to his leg, begging, "Don't... don't say it!"
Yang Yunian exploded in rage and kicked her away.
"Cheng Tao is not my second brother's daughter at all!"
This statement stunned many people around.
Soon, someone made a connection.
"I remember Cheng Tao was premature, wasn't she?"
"Indeed. I heard she looked like she was full-term when she was born, not like a premature baby at all."
"Perhaps she wasn't premature at all. Maybe she was already pregnant before getting married."
"..."
Cheng You glanced at Cheng Tianhua, and a heavy stone in her heart suddenly loosened.
The truth was out.
She was quite surprised that the Yang family knew from the beginning and had tolerated it for so long.
Everyone began to speculate about whose child Cheng Tao really was.
As they guessed, some people suspected Cheng Tianhua.
As soon as Song Yulian entered, she had eagerly had Cheng Tao change her surname.
Moreover, Cheng Tianhua treated Cheng Tao much better than Cheng You. If she wasn't his own daughter, could he act like this?
The more they thought about it, the more they believed Cheng Tao was Cheng Tianhua's daughter.
But Yang Yunian suddenly changed his mind.
Cheng You was as beautiful as a flower. Her small face, unadorned, was still radiant, indicating good genes from her parents.
Looking closely, she did resemble Cheng Tianhua a bit.
However, Cheng Tao and Cheng Tianhua bore no resemblance to each other at all.
Could it be that she wasn't Cheng Tianhua's child either?
Cheng You scoffed, "Dad, you've really given everyone a big surprise. No wonder you wanted me to yield to Cheng Tao in everything, even giving them the dowry my mother left me. So, Cheng Tao is your biological daughter?"
The situation had reached this point, and Cheng Tianhua knew further denial was futile.
Everyone had already made up their minds.
"I wasn't supposed to marry your mother, but your Aunt Lian. But the family disagreed, and we broke up later. She only knew she was pregnant after marrying the second Yang. Cheng You, I owe Cheng Tao a lot, and I'm just trying to compensate her."
Cheng You scoffed, "Do you think saying this can cover up your affair with Song Yulian? If you truly feel indebted, compensate her with your own things. Using my mother's dowry, how dare you?"
Song Yulian clenched her fists tightly, her fingernails digging deep into her flesh.
She felt no pain, because the way these people were looking at her was like being cut into a thousand pieces.
"Cheng You, it's because of your mother that your father and I didn't end up together. Your mother owes us!"
She was consumed by jealousy of Jiang Qing.
Jealous of her good background, jealous that she could marry Cheng Tianhua, jealous that her children could openly call Cheng Tianhua father.
Cheng You rubbed her wrist and gave Song Yulian a cold look.
In front of everyone, she slapped her across the face.
"My mother owes no one in this life! You and Cheng Tianhua didn't break up because of family disapproval, nor because of my mother. You looked down on Cheng Tianhua for being poor, and Cheng Tianhua looked down on you for not being beneficial to him, so you parted ways. One married into the Old Yang family, and the other married my mother and became the production team leader. You are hypocritical, greedy, selfish, and you still want to implicate my mother. Take a look at yourself in the mirror and see if you're worthy!"