Persuading Cheng Dongxue to Divorce

Yang Tai's words caused an uproar. The Cheng Family relatives seemed to wake from a dream. They stopped eating and stared at Zhang Yang.

Their eyes seemed ready to put his soul on trial.

Zhang Yang found it laughable. These people weren't all fools, but mocking him had been their favorite pastime for years, and they never tired of it.

Anyone with half a brain could see what was at stake.

Was Lin Cheng an ordinary man? No. In Gong City, he was certainly no minor figure. If Zhang Yang lacked the ability, would he dare hire someone to impersonate Lin Cheng just to apologize to him?

Without that ability, Zhang Yang would be digging his own grave.

"Yeah, he staged the whole thing. He has no real ability. A few hundred yuan can get you an extra, even one playing an important man."

Someone chimed in, apparently persuaded by Yang Tai's guess.

"Useless trash!"

"He's so desperate to look important. If he's useless, he should just admit it."

"There's no shame in being useless. He's shown his face every day for years, hasn't he? Why go to all this trouble?"

"A live-in son-in-law is practically another word for incompetent. Since he married into the family, he should behave himself. The Cheng Family will at least keep him fed."

"Keep this up, and he might not even be treated as well as a dog."

"Right. Dogs can eat at the table these days. They can even sleep on the bed."

"Maybe it's the pet dog, not this loser, who climbs into bed at night. At least the dog gets to sleep beside his beautiful wife."

"That must be it. They've been married for years, and Zhang Yang hasn't fathered a child. He's clearly not the one sleeping in her bed."

Zhang Yang had lived for a thousand years. He had learned countless things, possessed formidable strength, and never neglected his cultivation. His hearing far surpassed an ordinary person's, and these people weren't even trying to keep their voices down.

His face went pale as he listened. Had he been a hotheaded young master, he would have erupted long ago. With his strength unleashed, bodies might already have littered the room.

But Zhang Yang remained calm and rational, even as so many people pointed at him, gossiped, sneered, and bullied him.

Faced with attacks on his character, he could not behave like a madman. He needed a decisive way to stop the rumors.

He had one, but he could not reveal everything here and now.

Besides, he had already demonstrated his ability twice today. These arrogant people simply refused to believe it.

"Hmph... Zhang Yang, this is where you've gone wrong. You can be useless, live off your wife, even be unable to get it up, but you shouldn't hire someone to put on a show. What does that prove?"

Cheng Dongyu had finally found another chance to mock him. She seized it at once, eager to repay the humiliation she had suffered earlier.

"Zhang Yang, put on whatever show you like. Mud will never stick to a wall. Useless is useless."

Xia Shiying was quick to join in. His family had given Yang Su the best birthday gift today, and his wife Cheng Dongyu would be miserable when they got home. He would inevitably suffer for it.

Since Cheng Dongyu was so eager for revenge, he could hardly sit it out. He backed her without reservation.

"Zhang Yang..."

Seeing his pale face, Cheng Dongxue reached out to comfort him. She was the first to doubt the claim that he had staged anything.

Perhaps Zhang Yang could have arranged a performance at the birthday banquet. But what had happened at Elegant Residence could not have been staged. Her superior, Yang Qintian, would never have played along. She did not believe it for a moment.

"Enough!"

Lin Xiaofei was still a guest today. She abruptly stood up. She might have endured the others mocking Zhang Yang, but even she could not stand the way Cheng Dongyu was treating him.

"Why does your family always gang up on Zhang Yang? Whatever his faults, he's still part of the Cheng Family. Can't you discuss this at home?"

When even an outsider was angry, Cheng Lin could no longer sit by.

"Eldest Sister, you've gone too far!"

"I've gone too far? You keep indulging a useless man like him. That's what's going too far. Who suffers for it? The Cheng Family, especially Cheng Dongxue."

Cheng Dongyu made it sound as though she was defending the Cheng Family while continuing to tear Zhang Yang down.

But her words made Cheng Dongxue's chest heave with anger. She stood and fired back.

"I'm calling you my sister today because I respect you. I chose Zhang Yang. Whether I lose out or get hurt, that's my business. If you can't bear to watch, then don't. But you will not insult him to my face, especially in front of outsiders."

Zhang Yang remained seated. Hearing Cheng Dongxue and Lin Xiaofei speak up for him warmed his heart. He was lucky to have them both in his life.

"That's enough from all of you. Sit down," Yang Su scolded them as the elder of the family.

The White Jade Hairpin Zhang Yang had given her today was valuable. Of the gifts from her three daughters' families, it was by far the most precious.

So Yang Su had been somewhat kinder to Zhang Yang. She had not lost her temper or cursed at him.

"Dongxue, your eldest sister isn't entirely wrong. Zhang Yang ought to have a proper job. Hasn't he been looking these past few days?"

At Yang Su's words, Cheng Dongxue dropped back into her seat, feeling guilty. Zhang Yang had shown no sign of looking for work. Getting him to take a job might be impossible.

"Zhang Yang, I'm giving you a chance today. I won't say more while we're eating, but you must change. Otherwise, the Cheng Family cannot keep you."

"Exactly. Divorce him and drive him out of the Cheng Family."

With her mother's support, Cheng Dongyu grew even more emboldened.

Cheng Hai, on the other hand, seemed to be reflecting today. He had made plenty of mistakes with antiques and had long hoped to meet someone who could teach him. He just wasn't sure whether Zhang Yang truly had the knowledge.

Cheng Hai chose to watch in silence.

"Divorce is a great idea. Just look around: every young man here is a hundred times better than Zhang Yang. If they divorce now, someone will be ready to marry my cousin tonight."

Yang Tai joined in with renewed enthusiasm. His relatives supported him and the guests egged him on. How could he pass up such a chance to show off, especially when it meant putting Zhang Yang down? They were all eager to pile on.

Zhang Yang stayed silent. I must have been a butcher in my last life and slaughtered a lot of pigs. Now they've come for revenge. Why else would they all be after me?

"True. Cheng Dongxue is young and beautiful, and she hasn't had children. Remarrying won't be a problem. Young masters will line up for a chance."

Cheng Dongxue's face reddened with fury as she listened.

"I'm not rotten meat. I don't attract flies."

It was hard to imagine. Zhang Yang had been the center of attention at banquets like this in previous years, but today was worse than ever. Even Cheng Dongxue, his wife, could no longer bear it.