As soon as Yi Zhonghai’s silhouette disappeared beyond the doorway, the long-suppressed dissatisfaction of Mrs. Jia erupted like a breached dam. With a look of utter disgust, she spat a glob of phlegm right where he had been standing. Then, pulling at her shrill, grating voice, she shrieked:
"Humph, look at him. A complete good-for-nothing. He spends his days bragging about how incredible he is, acting as if this courtyard would stop spinning without him. Yet, when a real moment of truth came, he had to spend even more time than before dealing with some green, unweaned brat. He’s nothing but a spineless coward!"
When Jia Dongxu heard his mother disparage Yi Zhonghai this way, his heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly stepped forward to stop her, his face full of anxiety. "Ma, please, stop talking. The First Uncle must have his own reasons for arranging things this way. Don't speak ill of him behind his back. Think about it—I’m still counting on the First Uncle to look after me at the Rolling Mill. If these words accidentally reach his ears and he decides to trip me up or give me a hard time, what am I supposed to do?"
Chapter 18