After transmigrating, I became a stepmother.

For a moment, the room was filled with the sound of Wang's sobbing, interspersed with the Second Master's slightly angry reprimands, the ups and downs creating a strangely comical effect!

After a while, seeing that the old lady clearly did not intend to speak again, the two exchanged a glance, a strange look flashing quickly in their eyes.

The second master coughed lightly, looking deeply apologetic, and said, "Mother, I've heard from Wang Shi that you said you wanted to divide the family property yesterday in a fit of anger. I know it must be because Wang Shi went too far that someone as magnanimous and reasonable as you would say such disregard for the future of your children and grandchildren. It's all the fault of your son and daughter-in-law. Please don't be sad! It's unfilial of us to have to worry about us, your unworthy juniors, at your age!" After saying this, he bowed deeply again, his head bowed low, displaying an attitude of humility and remorse.

"As the saying goes, 'While parents are alive, the family should not separate.' Now that Mother is in good health, how can we, as sons and daughters-in-law, do such an unfilial thing as separating the family? Isn't this cursing Mother? How can we face the world after this? How can we face Father in the afterlife? Please, Mother, have more compassion and understanding for us so that we can be even more filial to you in the future!" By the end, his voice was choked with sobs, and he looked extremely sad.

Wang's sobs never stopped; she covered her face with a handkerchief, her tears falling like raindrops. When the Second Master's voice was low and somber, she would sob softly; when his voice was passionate, her cries would be like the clatter of a large stringed instrument, her tears falling like rain.

Lin Hao said she had never seen such a controlled and expressive way of crying before, and that she had truly learned something new today! It was like the way those innocent, pure characters in TV dramas cried had come to life. Art imitates reality, and it's true!

Seeing the two men standing on the moral high ground, putting the old lady in a difficult position, Lin Hao hesitated whether to help. To be honest, she didn't know where to start. She couldn't think of any solutions for the moment. Just as she was getting anxious, she suddenly heard the voices of servants greeting her from outside.

As soon as Gu Liunian entered the room, Lin Hao looked at him as if he had seen a savior. Her bright eyes shone with an undeniable brilliance, making him involuntarily shift his gaze slightly to avoid the somewhat scorching temperature.

At this moment, Lin Hao was thinking, "Finally, I don't have to worry anymore. With Gu Liunian, this big shot, around, I, a newbie, shouldn't just throw my life away. I should just watch the show quietly."

Gu Liunian bowed slightly to the old lady, sat down next to Lin Hao, turned his gaze to the second couple, frowned slightly, and asked in a deep voice, "What were you saying just now?"

The crying that had bothered Lin Hao for so long disappeared the moment Gu Liunian entered, leaving only silence in the room. This made his voice, which was not loud to begin with, seem exceptionally clear, with a subtle sense of penetrating the heart. The second wife and her husband stood to the side, looking somewhat like naughty children waiting for their parents to punish them.

"It's nothing much, really. It's all my fault. I'm not careful what I say around the children. I was just making wild guesses about Yu-ge'er's future, but they got the children to misunderstand and think it would come true. As a result, yesterday Yi-ge'er spoke without thinking and told Yu-ge'er what he said, and the two boys got into a fight and ended up with injuries." Wang Shi took a small step forward, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief, while repeating Gu Liunian's words verbatim. Her face was full of regret, and she even lightly slapped herself after speaking.

Hearing this, Lin Hao sighed again. Look at how she'd been manipulated! She'd cleverly avoided the real issue and focused on the trivial. Clearly, it was Lin Hao who couldn't stand seeing the eldest son's wife doing well, being jealous and making malicious assumptions. Now, she'd portrayed it as an unintentional act of caring for the little bun. What a masterful use of euphemisms! Her writing skills are impressive! If she's so talented, why doesn't she write a book?

Gu Liunian seemed to hear Lin Hao's thoughts and coldly retorted, "You don't need to scold or beat me in front of me. I don't have time to look at these things. Since you know it's just wild speculation, you shouldn't have said it out loud, let alone said it to an ignorant child. Didn't the Wang family teach you these things?"

Wang was clearly startled by Gu Liunian's outburst, speechless and looking pleadingly at her husband. Meeting his wife's gaze, the Second Master, Gu Jingnian, patted her hand reassuringly, then turned to look at Gu Liunian, a flash of displeasure in his eyes before his gentle expression returned. He spoke softly, "Brother, she doesn't know how to talk, don't take it to heart!"

He paused, then said, "Logically speaking, she should be severely punished for making such a mistake, but after all, she gave birth to Yi-ge'er for the Gu family. Even if she didn't do anything great, she still put in a lot of effort, so it's not right to make Yi-ge'er suffer as well. Besides, she's an ignorant woman who doesn't understand any principles, so it's understandable that she might have said something wrong. Your brother has already disciplined her, so shouldn't we give her a chance to correct her mistake?" After saying this, he looked at Gu Liunian earnestly.

Gu Liunian showed no emotion whatsoever, simply saying calmly, "What you said makes some sense." Before the agitated Gu Jingnian could say anything, he continued, "But mistakes should still be punished, otherwise chaos would ensue. Since you two believe you've acknowledged your mistakes and think it's no big deal, there's no need to say anything more. Rather than harboring resentment towards each other later, it's better to separate now and preserve the last shred of dignity." He paused slightly, Gu Liunian's eyes turning cold as he looked directly at Gu Jingnian, forcing him to avert his gaze. But upon realizing his own movement, Gu Jingnian turned around, attempting to meet Gu Liunian's eyes.

But Gu Liunian stopped looking at him, reached out and picked up the teacup, gently stroked the lid, and said in a deep voice: "To outsiders, just say that you have reached the age where you should learn to stand on your own. I will not treat you unfairly. You know about the family property when Father was alive. Half of it will be given to you. As for the rest, you don't need to think about it."

"They're both experts!" Lin Hao sighed, watching the two brothers' performance. She realized she was better suited to a life of leisure; the world of experts wasn't for her. Luckily, she'd decided to cling to Gu Liunian, her powerful backer—her confidence was truly impressive!

After a moment's thought, the couple exchanged glances, and finally, Gu Jingnian spoke up: "Since this is what Mother and Elder Brother wish for, I, as the younger brother, will naturally listen. I only hope that after the division of the family property, we brothers can still help each other and not become estranged!" After saying this, without looking at Gu Liunian's reaction, he continued to say to the old lady: "I hope Mother takes care of her health. I will come to visit you whenever I have time!" He then bowed again.

"You're so kind!" the old lady said calmly.