Chapter 377: If Soft Doesn’t Work, Then Use Hard

**Chapter 377: If Gentle Doesn’t Work, Get Tough**

Zuo Shangdang’s eyes were rimmed with dark circles.

The night before, chaos had reigned in the household until midnight. After finally sending Lin Zhaodi away, Qi Sanmei and Zuo Nanfu had settled down.

But then Lu Yazhi started making a fuss.

One moment, the blanket wasn’t comfortable; the next, she didn’t have her face cream. Then she complained about using clothes as a makeshift pillow. Zuo Shangdang was driven to the brink of collapse.

Before he could even lose his temper, Lu Yazhi began sobbing.

She fretted over her son, worried about the future, and was terrified of living with Qi Sanmei and Zuo Nanfu.

By the time they finally managed to close their eyes around three or four in the morning, it was already five o’clock—when Qi Sanmei promptly started banging around and shouting outside.

“Shameless slacker! The sun’s scorching your lazy ass, and you’re still clinging to your man, refusing to get up? Can’t you see how late it is? The roosters have crowed three times already! Still not up to cook—are you trying to starve me to death?”

“I knew you were no good! Do you even know your duties as a wife and daughter-in-law? What, you think you’re some brothel girl who only has to sleep with men and do nothing else?”

“You spoiled brat! Expecting an old woman like me to serve you instead? Trying to starve us to death so you can take over the Zuo family’s wealth? Yeah right—keep dreaming!”

Lu Yazhi trembled in Zuo Shangdang’s arms. Suppressing his anger, he got up and said to Qi Sanmei, “Mom, can’t you keep it down? It’s only five in the morning—who gets up this early?”

“What’s wrong with five? Back home, your father and I were up by four! By five, Sister Mei would’ve already made breakfast for us. What, now we’re supposed to bend to your whims in our old age? Ungrateful wretch—I should’ve birthed a brick instead!”

Qi Sanmei and Zuo Nanfu refused to back down, demanding that Lu Yazhi get up and serve her in-laws—one wanted minced pork noodles, the other pork bone congee.

But the place had been cleaned out the day before. All the food was gone, even the decent pots, pans, and stove. How were they supposed to cook?

And all Lu Yazhi could do was cry.

With all the chaos, Zuo Shangdang couldn’t sleep either. Under Lu Yazhi’s tears, he staggered out to grab breakfast.

Once they’d eaten, Qi Sanmei and Zuo Nanfu started up again.

One demanded Su Jiao massage her aching back; the other ordered Lu Yazhi to knead his sore legs.

In less than 24 hours, the entire family was at their wits’ end. Just the thought of Qi Sanmei and Zuo Nanfu staying at Longxiang Manor long-term made Zuo Shangdang feel suffocated.

Leaving the family behind at Longxiang Manor, Zuo Shangdang hightailed it back home without delay.

This trip wasn’t mainly about reclaiming the furniture, appliances, and car that Zuo Zuying and Hou Li’s group had looted the day before.

The priority was to win Hou Li over.

Whether it meant begging, playing the doting husband again, or even getting on his knees—he needed to win her over quickly so he could send Qi Sanmei and Zuo Nanfu back home.

Otherwise, if this continued, none of them would survive.

Getting off the bus, Zuo Shangdang practiced his lines as he walked home.

“Lili, you have to believe me. You’re the love of my life—you know how I’ve treated you all these years. Don’t you?”

“It’s all a misunderstanding! You know Yazhi and I grew up together. To me, she’s like family. Now that she’s all alone, I just felt sorry for them and helped out a little—I never thought it’d cause such a huge misunderstanding!”

“Please believe me. Even if I wronged the whole world, I’d never wrong you. Besides, we have three kids together. Don’t embarrass us—people will be talking about us.”

Zuo Shangdang reined in his exaggerated expression and dropped his arms. “Right, that’s what I’ll say.”

Start gentle—Hou Li, to put it nicely, is soft-hearted; bluntly, she’s a bit naive. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have stayed in the dark all these years.

This time, she must’ve found out because of that sly little troublemaker.

Thinking of Zuo Zuying, Zuo Shangdang felt his head throb again. That kid was no pushover. If it were someone else’s child, they might even help keep the secret, scared their mother would cause a ruckus and tear the family apart.

But his son? He did the exact opposite!

“That little bastard! What good does it do him to make his parents get divorced?”

Pushing thoughts of Zuo Zuying aside, Zuo Shangdang began practicing a tougher stance.

Start gentle, then turn tough if needed.

He bulged his eyes, twisted his face into a scowl, and rehearsed aloud to himself: “Hou Li, are you done yet? All these years, what have I been busting my ass for? What do you take me for? Always suspicious—you’ve got way too much free time!”

“Have I spoiled you too much? Go ask around town—what other wife has it this easy? Don’t I bring home the money? Don’t I drink and beat you? Don’t bite the hand that feeds you!”

With a sharp breath, Zuo Shangdang slammed his fist into his palm. Yeah, that’s how he’d say it.

He turned and picked up speed toward home.

As he reached the front gate, he puffed himself up and marched forward. “Lili… huh?”

Inside the Zuo house, Old Zhao and his wife were poking around with their sons and daughters-in-law.

The sons fawned over their parents, putting on a show of filial piety, but daggers hid behind their smiles as they exchanged words.

All three couples had their eyes on this place—a two-story building, the first in town, built by Zuo Shangdang after he struck gold outside.

Rumors said it was modeled after city houses, cost a fortune. Owning it meant strutting around town like kings.

Zuo Shangdang gaped at the intruders. “What are you doing in my house? Why are you moving my stuff? Where’s Lili?”

“Lili—” He ignored the Zhao family and shouted inside.

Old Zhao beamed like a used-car salesman. “Brother Zuo, I always knew you were a man who’d go places. Look at you now—moving your family to the big city! Don’t worry, I’ll take great care of this house. Come visit anytime.”

Zuo Shangdang barged past Old Zhao and stormed inside. “Lili, I’m back! Let me explain—”

Old Zhao grabbed his arm. “She’s not here. Just us. Where do you think she is? Didn’t you pick her up a week ago?”

Zuo Shangdang froze. “What? A week ago? Where? And how did you get into my house?”

Old Zhao’s smile curdled. “What’s your angle, Zuo Shangdang? You already took the money. Are you pulling this act now?”

Suddenly, it clicked. “Oh, I get it. Did Zhao Gang owe you money? Is this some kind of shakedown?”

“Cut the crap—I’ve got your receipt and the sales contract. Get out. Now. Or I’ll knock your teeth in.”

The three Zhao brothers cracked their knuckles, glaring at Zuo Shangdang with murder in their eyes.