Chapter 201: At the Dinner Table

She descended from the sky and, from a distance, discovered that this "home" differed vastly from her memory.

The original brick courtyard house had become a three-story Western-style building, and the rusted black iron gate had been replaced by a heavy, magnificent automatic door.

The courtyard entrance was bustling with people, with dozens of cars parked there.

This unfamiliar feeling made it seem as if the home that had once given her countless pains had never existed.

She suddenly halted her descent in the courtyard, causing a burst of clamor.

Yang Ze was handing cigarettes to strangers when he suddenly saw her; his face turned pale, his legs trembled, and he wanted to hide inside immediately yet feared drawing Yang Yi's attention.

Uncle Yang Yang Guangchang, smiling arrogantly while entertaining guests, saw Yang Yi suddenly appear in the courtyard; his expression shifted through several colors before settling on a warm smile as he stepped forward and said, "Little Yi is back! Your grandfather misses you terribly! By the way, do you know your grandfather is near death..."

Yang Yi said coolly, "Lead the way."

Having lost face before everyone, Yang Yang Guangchang instinctively wanted to scold her but forced himself to hold back; his expression finally remained fixed on warmth: "Come, come, I'll take you inside. Our family has changed so much; you haven't been back in so long, you probably hardly recognize it..."

Grandfather lived in the master bedroom on the first floor; several strangers sat inside, fawning over the old man on the sickbed, while tables, cabinets, and the floor were covered with various gifts.

As soon as Yang Yi entered, the guests stood up immediately; the warm atmosphere in the room instantly vanished, plunging the place into an eerie silence.

Yang Yi scanned the room; all were strangers, and judging by their attire, they seemed to be some kind of officials.

Finally, her gaze settled on the sickbed; that old man who had once been so imposing now lay half-reclined, his face wrinkled and marked by sickness.

Grandmother sat by the bedside, lifting her half-lidded eyes to glance at her before ignoring her completely.

"Oh, Little Yi is back! You've returned at the perfect time. Look, this is Mayor Wu and County Head Li; they just happened to come to see your grandfather today!" Aunt Chen Chen Cuilan broke the silence, enthusiastically introducing the guests to Yang Yi.

Yang Yi turned to look at Mayor Wu, County Head Li, and their entourage, frowning slightly.

Mayor Wu, reading the situation, immediately took his leave: "Since Captain Yang has returned, we won't disturb your family reunion!"

Yang Yang Guangchang quickly signaled his father, Yang Yang Yongyi.

Yang Yang Yongyi on the sickbed moved his eyelids and suddenly said, "How can you leave? My granddaughter has just returned; let us all have a meal together!"

Chen Chen Cuilan quickly shouted loudly, "Exactly! It's almost noon anyway! The meal is already laid out!"

The County Head and the Mayor hurriedly declined.

Yang Yi watched this scene with cold eyes, her expressionless face unmoving.

Suddenly, she spoke: "Since you are here, then stay and have a meal."

Once she had spoken, the Mayor and the County Head ceased their protests.

Everyone was invited to the dining room; Yang Hui, Yang Ze, and several people brought by the Mayor and County Head were busy serving dishes.

Yang Yang Guangchang invited the Mayor to take the seat of honor; the Mayor, terrified, repeatedly declined, while several officials hurriedly urged Yang Yi to take the seat of honor.

Yang Yi showed no politeness whatsoever and naturally sat in the seat of honor.

Yang Yang Yongyi, supported by his wife, stood aside with a grim face—he had always sat in the seat of honor at home, and given his age and seniority, he ought to sit there, yet no one had voluntarily yielded it to him?!

"Uneducated brat! Your grandfather hasn't even sat down yet!" Grandmother Li Li Meihua suddenly spat, glaring fixedly at Yang Yi in the seat of honor as if he were a thorn in her eye.

The entire living room instantly fell silent—perhaps no one expected the Yang family to be so foolish as to scold the most powerful person in the family in front of guests.

Everyone didn't even dare to exchange glances, pretending they had heard nothing.

Yang Yi acted as if nothing had happened, picked up the chopsticks before her, and tasted a peanut.

Mayor Wu and County Head Li each swallowed hard, exchanging a silent glance.

The County Head quickly stood up and said, "Captain Yang has worked hard and achieved great merit; whether at a national conference or even at the United Nations, she would sit in the seat of honor. Sitting here is only right and proper. Old sir, don't you agree?"

"Even if she turned the world upside down outside, in this house, I am still her grandmother, and her grandfather is still her grandfather! We raised her this big; what kind of attitude is this?!" Li Li Meihua spoke with righteous indignation.

Yang Yi, as if she still heard nothing, picked up her wine cup on her own.

Seeing this, the Mayor quickly stood up, took the wine bottle, and poured her a glass—neither too much nor too little, enough so it wouldn't spill when she raised the cup, yet not so little as to be insignificant.

Yang Yang Guangchang quickly grabbed Li Li Meihua's arm: "Mom, say less; guests are here!"

"What if guests are here? Ungrateful thing! You killed your father, and your mother, Zhao Hongli, abandoned you! Without us, could you have achieved what you have today? Instead of being grateful, you act so high and mighty!" Li Li Meihua grew more and more agitated, her tone full of grievance and resentment.

The Mayor and the County Head sat uneasily, swallowing repeatedly.

Everyone who had accompanied the leaders felt their hair stand on end upon hearing this speech, wishing they could disappear immediately.

Yang Yi's expression remained calm as she poured and drank for herself.

"Grandmother, with so many leaders here, what are you saying?" Yang Ze hurried forward to support Li Li Meihua, signaling her vigorously with his eyes: "You, old sir, please sit down immediately; I specially had the restaurant prepare braised pork and steamed egg with minced meat, which are perfect for your teeth!"

Li Li Meihua wanted to say more, but her son and grandson squeezed her hand hard to signal her, so she reluctantly fell silent, filled with resentment.

Yang Yang Yongyi and Li Li Meihua were seated to Yang Yi's right; the Mayor and County Head sat in order to her left; Yang Yang Guangchang, Chen Chen Cuilan, Yang Ze, and Yang Hui sat in order; thus, the banquet began.

The Mayor reported the recent situation regarding anomalous creatures in the city to Yang Yi: "... In the past month, the number of casualties is around ten; compared to other regions, ours is relatively low... All thanks to your influence; the Provincial Anomaly Bureau has been very supportive of our area; whenever an anomalous creature appears, they arrive immediately to resolve it..."

Yang Yi nodded but said nothing.

The Mayor and the County Head were both excellent at livening up the atmosphere, ensuring the dinner table wasn't too cold, while also reporting the city's recent key work priorities, hoping to leave a good impression on Yang Yi.

Upon hearing them speak of work, the Yang family fell much quieter.

After the Mayor and others finished their work report, Yang Yang Guangchang finally found an opportunity to interject: "Little Yi, look, your cousins Tanggetang are idle at home; could you find them jobs? It would also be contributing to the country..."

The Mayor and the County Head exchanged a silent glance, waiting quietly for Yang Yi to speak.

Yang Yi's lips curled slightly; ignoring Yang Yang Guangchang, she asked the Mayor in a cool tone: "What is the educational threshold for civil service examinations in our city?"

If she truly intended to arrange something, she certainly wouldn't ask this question; she would simply issue a single order.

"This..." The Mayor, reading the situation, followed her lead and said, "Usually, it is a bachelor's degree."

"Usually" was "usually," but everyone knew there were many tricks involved; aside from falsified degrees and open recruitment with secret appointments, even creating a position specifically for a leader's relative was common.

If Yang Yi needed it, the Mayor naturally had multiple methods to make the Yang family swim like fish in the city's bureaucratic system.

After the Mayor answered, Yang Yi said nothing more.

Yang Ze and Yang Hui exchanged glances, a flash of resentment crossing their faces.

Yang Yang Guangchang did not follow Yang Yi's lead on the issue of education; instead, he sighed: "Little Yi, I know you harbor resentment toward us, but we are still family; bones may break but tendons remain connected; we all share the same blood in our veins. Now that you have succeeded, helping your cousins is no big deal for you; why be so... ah..."

"Ungrateful wolf! Ungrateful!" Suddenly, Li Li Meihua threw her chopsticks onto the table, glaring fixedly at Yang Yi.

Yang Yi's hand paused, and she set down her chopsticks.

The mayor and the county magistrate also quickly set down their chopsticks.

"Mayor Wu, what crime is long-term domestic violence and abuse of minors?" Yang Yi asked calmly, as if unaware of the storm her words would stir up.

"This..." Mayor Wu's mouth stuttered, and he looked toward the secretary standing by.

The secretary hurried forward. "Those guilty of abuse are sentenced to imprisonment of under two years; if the victim suffers serious injury or death, the sentence is approximately over two years and up to seven years."

"Good." Yang Yi lowered her gaze, her tone flat: "Then please find me a lawyer, Mayor Wu. I intend to file a lawsuit, and have the police come as well."