Chapter 10: Remember Your Identity

Dou Hongyan said, “People often don’t rise early without profit, and your grandmother is no exception. But she is also a mother, and a mother would stop at nothing for her child.”

Shen Yuheng was clever and quick to understand, but he still had doubts. “I know, just like a mother for me. But if that’s the case, why should I still spend time with grandmother?”

Dou Hongyan patiently explained, “But a mother is also human, and humans can feel heartache. Especially between parents and children—the deeper the love, the sharper the resentment. You’ll understand when you become a parent yourself.”

Shen Yuheng was only thirteen, just old enough to discuss marriage arrangements, so he couldn't fully grasp Dou Hongyan’s words.

Yet he knew he wanted to be his mother’s child in his next life.

When he became a father, he would never abandon his wife and children like the Shens did. Nor would he, like that man, be so jealous that he couldn’t bear to see his own son close to his mother, even going so far as to separate birds by gender before allowing his mother to keep them.

The uproar in Tingyu Garden finally died down past midnight.

Early the next morning, before dawn, the noise resumed—Shen Yishuyi’s imperious scolding mingled with Liu Xiner’s brazen displays of authority.

She believed that having brought back four children, her status should far surpass that of Dou Hongyan, an unpopular merchant’s daughter.

Having stayed up late the night before and still basking in her triumph at finally taking control of the Hou residence, she was full of self-satisfaction.

But today, taking a closer look at Tingyu Garden’s furnishings, her brow furrowed.

She recalled the jade, redwood, precious treasures, and glazed artifacts she had seen the day before at Jifu Hall and Dou Hongyan’s place—and felt an instant pang of imbalance.

She bit her lip as she stared at the small coral tree in the main hall, its surface coated in dust.

Over time, even the pearls on the coral had yellowed and gathered grime, not to mention the bright red coral that was now dull and gray.

A musty atmosphere filled the air. Without comparison, there’s no pain—she had seen clearly yesterday that the red coral at Dou Hongyan’s was half her height!

The pearls were as large as eyeballs!

“Husband,” Liu Xiner bit her lip, speaking up for Shen Yishuyi, “look at the ornaments in this house. All the fine things are with the lady. Here, there’s nothing. I feel sorry for you.”

“What?” Prompted by her, Shen Yishuyi noticed not only the dilapidated courtyard but the shabby possessions as well.

Immediately displeased and emboldened by Liu Xiner’s encouragement, he sought to assert his status in the residence. “Bring the steward here. How could he neglect the future lady and young masters and misses of the Hou residence like this?”

Surrounded by women who adored him, Shen Yishuyi felt exhilarated.

That rough woman from the Dou family—he would divorce her sooner or later. This Hou residence was his, as was the noble title he would inherit!

The steward received the order but, unable to decide on his own, he anxiously glanced at the treasury before timidly approaching Dou Hongyan.

“Madam... the young master wants new items to decorate the courtyard. Please take a look at these…”

Over the years, Dou Hongyan had managed the household meticulously, and the steward dared not act without her consent.

Seeing the steward’s fear before Dou Hongyan, Shen Yishuyi frowned. “What’s this? I’m the master of the Hou residence. Do I need to ask this woman’s permission just to open the treasury?”

“Hmph.” Dou Hongyan let out a mocking laugh.

Glancing at Shen Yishuyi, who was shamelessly demanding money, she said pointedly, “If you want good things, are you sure you have the blessing to hold onto them? Be careful you don’t lack the fortune.”

Many of the items in the courtyard were gifts from that man.

Those rare treasures that no one in the world could match were dismissed by that man, but now Shen Yishuyi seemed to have developed an eye for them.

If Shen Yishuyi moved them... Dou Hongyan was both anxious about how that man might rage and curious about Shen Yishuyi’s fate.

Shen Yishuyi failed to catch the underlying meaning and only grew angry. “Dou, remember your place! I’m the head of this family. If you don’t respect your husband, I can divorce you anytime!”

“Fine, then go ahead,” Dou Hongyan said, losing patience.

She lifted her chin, a refined half of her face emerging from the snow-white white fox fur collar.

With an air of nobility and arrogance, she told Shen Yishuyi, “There are plenty of things in the warehouse. If you’re lucky, you can choose for yourself.”

If fortune favored him, he might not end up with the items that man had gifted—then Shen Yishuyi could consider himself lucky.