Glory

She signaled to Mother Yu, who then pulled a list from her sleeve and read aloud: "One gold-inlaid jade hairpin, one gold-and-jade fish treasure hairpin, one pearl forehead ornament, one tortoiseshell comb box..."

After finishing, she handed the list to Zhang Yuniang.

Song Yifeng’s face turned pale.

All these pieces of jewelry had been pawned and converted into silver; the farmland had been sold to Wang Wenzhi for only a thousand taels. How could he possibly produce the jewelry and farmland to return to the Ye family now?

He glared fiercely at Ye Chongming. "Don’t go too far."

Ye Chongming raised his eyes in surprise. "All these years, you used my silver to study, take the imperial exams, and gain fame and benefits. You used my silver to buy houses and land, saving on rent and earning income every year. I haven’t even calculated all that. Now, I’m only asking for the principal back, and you say I’m going too far? So, in this world, only you are allowed to take advantage of others, and others aren’t even allowed to seek justice? Who exactly is going too far?"

Ye Hongchang had grown impatient with arguing with Song Yifeng. With a dark expression, he shouted, "If you want to break off the engagement, return the silver. If not, get out."

"Fine, I’ll return it," Song Yifeng said. "But I have one condition."

Ye Jiaxing was so enraged that he rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward, intending to throw a few punches at Song Yifeng. "The engagement hasn’t been broken off yet, so I’m still your brother-in-law. A brother-in-law disciplining his future brother-in-law is only natural. As long as no one dies, even if this reaches the highest authority, I’d be in the right."

With that, he raised his fist to strike.

Song Yifeng was startled. Guizi hurried forward to shield him.

Ye Chongming shouted, "Jiaxing, stop!"

Ye Hongchang also stood up and grabbed Ye Jiaxing’s arm. "Jiaxing, don’t be impulsive."

Ye Jiaxing glared fiercely at Song Yifeng, his expression menacing, and silently mouthed at him, "When there’s no one around, just wait—I’ll make sure you’re done for."

Song Yifeng had always moved in scholarly circles, where people valued refinement and resolved conflicts through cunning and rhetoric. Direct physical confrontations like this were rare, at least in his experience.

He was determined to break off the engagement, but after being frightened by Ye Jiaxing, he realized the Ye family would not let the matter rest. So, he took the opportunity to back down. "Alright, alright, I’ll return it. Isn’t that enough?"

Seeing Ye Jiaxing retract his fist upon hearing this, Song Yifeng tried to salvage his dignity. "I’ll have you know, you’re using force to pressure me into breaking off the engagement. If word gets out, I’d still be the one in the right."

He turned to Madam Wu and said, "Madam Wu, you and Matchmaker Zhang witnessed everything today. If you spread word of today’s events, you must not be biased."

The Ye family members present were both angered and amused.

Madam Wu and Zhang Yuniang had been brought by the Ye family as witnesses. Now, Song Yifeng was asking them to testify on his behalf. This man’s face was indeed thick as a wall, and his heart was even darker.

Madam Wu said leisurely, "A brother-in-law disciplining his future brother-in-law is only natural. Recommended Man Song, the engagement hasn’t been broken off yet, has it?"

Her words left Song Yifeng speechless.

The expressions of the Ye family members softened slightly.

"Enough with the nonsense. Produce the house deed and land deed, then write an IOU," Ye Chongming said.

"The farmland and jewelry have all been sold to make up this thirteen hundred taels of silver," Song Yifeng said shamelessly, pulling out the silver note from his robe and slapping it on the table. "As for the remaining seventeen hundred taels, I’ll write an IOU.""We don't trust you." Ye Jiaxing continued playing the bad cop with a cold snort. "Who knows when you'll repay that over seventeen hundred taels? With your character, you might just pretend that debt never existed. Your house was originally bought for fifteen hundred taels - we'll take the house as compensation. We'll forgo the remaining two hundred-plus taels and the jewelry."

This was the strategy the Ye family had devised after receiving information from Zhou Xiang.

If they pushed too hard, not only might Lu Qi and the Wu couple form a poor impression of the Ye family, but if Song Yifeng were to tarnish the Ye family's reputation among the scholars of Lin'an City, or if Yu Shi were to spread rumors in the streets, the losses would outweigh the gains.

After all, Song Yifeng wasn't trying to avoid repaying the silver - he had promised to write an IOU.

Rather than pursuing silver that might never be recovered while losing their reputation for benevolence and generosity, it was better to directly claim the Song family's existing assets.

Using two hundred-plus taels of silver and those jewelry pieces to buy the Ye family a reputation for decency, while simultaneously securing Song Yifeng a reputation for ingratitude, was considered worthwhile.

For Song Yifeng, who was about to lose everything, several hundred taels of silver were extremely important. Therefore, he was filled with the satisfaction of having gained an advantage, with no mind to consider anything else.

He immediately took the house deed from his bosom and slapped it on the table. "Fine, write the divorce papers then."

Wen Tao was thus tasked with writing three copies of the divorce documents. The stated reason was quite lenient, merely stating that the elders of both families found the marriage unsuitable and mutually agreed to dissolve the engagement, clearly noting that Song Yifeng had returned all expenses incurred, with no further obligations between them.

Ye Yaming had instructed Wen Tao to draft these divorce papers the previous night. After reviewing and making a few word changes, she had ordered him to copy them exactly today.

Having reviewed countless contracts in her previous life, Ye Yaming paid great attention to textual details, ensuring the divorce papers contained no loopholes whatsoever.

As for the true reason for the divorce, Ye Yaming felt it unnecessary to state it in the documents. If written inappropriately, Song Yifeng would never sign, only creating complications during the separation process.

Song Yifeng read the wording and was indeed quite satisfied, immediately signing his name and imprinting his fingerprint.

Madam Wu and Zhang Yuniang also signed and fingerprinted - Madam Wu was educated; Zhang Yuniang became a matchmaker precisely because she was literate and could understand marriage documents and sign her name.

The Ye family had Ye Chongming sign and fingerprint.

Of the three copies of divorce papers, the Ye family and Song Yifeng each kept one, while the remaining copy was taken by Zhang Yuniang to be filed at the government office.

Song Yifeng placed the divorce papers in his bosom, feeling as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. His demeanor made Ye Jiaxing clench his fists again.

"I hope this matter ends here. If I hear you damaging my reputation outside, I will certainly publicize certain matters. I'm only seventeen this year, placed seventh in the provincial examination - passing the Imperial Examination to become a Presented scholar won't be difficult for me. Consider carefully whether you want to make an enemy of me. If we part amicably, we might still preserve some goodwill between us."

After delivering this threat, Song Yifeng left the Ye residence with Guizi.

Watching Song Yifeng's figure disappear beyond the courtyard gate, Ye Yaming emerged from the adjacent side hall and entered the main hall, just in time to hear Old Madam Ye thanking Madam Wu.

As she entered, Old Madam Ye's voice faltered. She looked up at Ye Yaming, her eyes filled with worry and concern.

If Madam Wu hadn't been present, Ye Yaming wouldn't have needed to act. But with Madam Wu there, if she appeared too calm and composed, it would make Madam Wu think the Ye young lady was too heartless, or even suspect this was all the Ye family's scheme.