Chapter 374: The Zuo Family Has No Descendants of Reform-through-Labor

**Chapter 374: The Zuo Family Shall Have No Convict Descendants**

"And what's the point of that mistress anyway? Is she some holy statue we’re supposed to bow to? Can’t she even take care of her in-laws? Didn’t she see how her own aunt looked after the old lady?"

"You still have the nerve to bring up that barren Hou woman! All these years, when have I ever acknowledged her? Do I need her service now?"

"Let me make this clear—we’ll take the two hundred yuan a month, but from today on, we’re not going back. Your father and I are staying here!" Qi Sanmei shot a glance at her husband as she spoke—this was their prearranged plan.

"Ahhh—" Lu Yazhi gasped in shock. She had barely met them before being verbally attacked. This old woman clearly had it out for her. If they stayed, there would be no peace for her.

Qi Sanmei’s sharp triangular eyes flared. "Shut your trap! This is my son’s house—I stay as long as I damn well please! Like hell it’s your business! Don’t like it? Then get the hell out!"

"Shameless tramp, just like your aunt—spreading your legs for any man! You’ve clung to my son all these years, never teaching him anything decent, only thinking of your own pleasure! Heartless, scheming bitch! You’ve turned a good man into a waste, made him forget his parents! Back in the day, a slut like you would’ve been beaten to death! $#@%!..."

Qi Sanmei’s rage spiraled, her curses fouler by the second. Zuo Shangdang was her flesh and blood, raised by her alone, finally successful—only for this whore to steal the rewards.

Looking at Lu Yazhi’s expensive clothes and those pampered, useless hands, Qi Sanmei could barely contain the urge to strangle her.

Lu Yazhi’s face flamed red with shame, tears brimming in her eyes as she trembled under the old woman’s murderous stare.

Zuo Shangdang pulled her close and snapped at Qi Sanmei, "Mom, enough already! What does this have to do with Yazhi? You're always poisoning everyone around you—no one near you stays clean!"

After all these years, aren’t you tired? Let me make myself clear—if you stay, behave yourselves and keep the peace. Start your damn drama again, and you go back to the countryside. I don’t have time to deal with your nonsense. You may be bored, but I have work!

Qi Sanmei opened her mouth to fire back.

*Hem*—Zuo Nanfu cleared his throat pointedly.

The words died on Qi Sanmei’s lips, though her stare stabbed through Lu Yazhi like daggers.

Meanwhile, Lu Yazhi continued clinging to Zuo Shangdang, playing the victim in his arms. Zuo Nanfu snorted, giving his son a dark glare.

Only then did Zuo Shangdang awkwardly release her. "Alright, alright—it was all a misunderstanding. Go to your room and tidy up."

Lu Yazhi nodded timidly and hurried off to her room.

Qi Sanmei’s eyes nearly popped out of her head. This Lu Yazhi was worse than Hou Li.

At least Hou Li had some decency—she wouldn’t throw herself at a man in public like that! Trashy, like a back-alley whore, practically glued to him in front of elders. Raised in a damn gutter!

Zuo Nanfu gritted his teeth. "Zu Ying told me that bastard son of yours outside got mixed up in a murder case and is locked up now? Listen well—I, Zuo Nanfu, will *never* recognize a convict as my grandson!"

"My only grandson is Zu Ying. Everything in this house belongs to him. I won't let you flush our money down the toilet bribing people for that criminal! Since hardly anyone knows about him, wash your hands of him now before he drags us all down!"

His tone was ironclad. Once, he had secretly rejoiced at having another Zuo heir. But now, knowing the boy was a murderer and his son wanted to squander family wealth on him, he would’ve disowned him on the spot.

If Zu Ying hadn’t existed, he might have spent every last penny to save that final scrap of decency. But with another heir in place, spending fortunes to bail out a criminal was pointless.

Even if it were Zu Ying behind bars, the logic would be the same—with Lu Jin’an around, he wouldn’t risk the entire Zuo family for him either.

We live for the living. We can’t sacrifice our happiness for someone who broke the law.

Hearing his father’s harsh words, Zuo Shangdang went sheet-white.

Su Jiao, supporting Lin Zhaodi from the restroom, also turned pale.

Zuo Shangdang’s knees buckled. "How… how did you know? Wait—Zu Ying told you? He… he knows? What about Hou Li? Hou Li knows, doesn’t she?"

Zuo Nanfu snorted coldly, "You’re just pretending not to know."

Seeing his son’s troubled expression, he softened his tone. "It’ll come out eventually. This is actually a good opportunity."

"Back when the children were small, they needed looking after. Now that Zu Ying and the others are grown up, they don’t need anyone to manage them anymore. Hou Li’s no fool—she’d never leave a successful man like you. And even if you split, you think the kids would choose her? So what’s there to worry about?"

"If she keeps quiet and stays in line, we can let her keep the title of Mrs. Zuo for Zu Ying's sake. But if she causes trouble, just divorce her outright. After all, the Hou family has no one left. She’s lived the good life with us all these years—we owe her nothing!"

Zuo Shangdang’s head was spinning—everything was crashing down at once.

Zuo Nanfu continued, "Of course, let’s set Hou Li aside for now. Let me spell it out—the Zuo family won’t tolerate a convict in its bloodline. I will never accept such a grandchild!"

Inside the room, Lu Yazhi was bending over to pick up clothes scattered across the floor when Su Jiao burst in, her face ghostly white.

"Mom, it’s awful!"

Tears spilling from her eyes, Su Jiao urgently grabbed Lu Yazhi’s arm. "Mom, you have to save Jin’an! That old man’s throwing a fit outside—he says he won’t pay a single cent to help Jin’an and refuses to recognize a convict as his grandson! What do we do? What’s going to happen to Jin’an?"

Lu Yazhi shot up in shock, dizzy from the sudden surge of anger.

Su Jiao quickly steadied her. "Mom, Mom, are you okay? You can’t fall apart now—Jin’an is counting on you to save him!"

Though Su Jiao tried to comfort Lu Yazhi, tears kept streaming down her face.

How had their happy family fallen apart like this?