"..." Zhao Gushen took a deep breath, a bit worried about Zhao Guoxian’s intelligence.

"There are many surveillance cameras at our gate. You can just turn on the TV in the living room and switch to that channel to see."

"We can comfortably sit in the living room and watch the situation at the gate as if we’re watching TV," Zhao Gushen said.

"Besides, the cameras cover every corner of the entrance, ensuring a full view with no blind spots. You can switch to any angle you want, it’s very convenient," Zhao Gushen added.

Everyone: "..."

How could they have forgotten this point?

Sure enough, they were so angry with Zhao Dingye that they even overlooked such a simple problem.

Suddenly, everyone felt they’d entered an intelligence valley in their lives.

The old man coughed awkwardly and said, "So what are we waiting for? Back to the living room, let’s go back."

The old man gestured to drive them away.

Because the two elders stood inside, Zhao Gushen and the others surrounded them in circles.

To leave, the people on the outermost layer had to return to the living room first.

So, everyone went back to the living room again.

Aunt Lin turned on the TV and switched it to surveillance video mode.

The screen showed the entrance scene, and it was very clear.

Aunt Lin handed the remote control for the monitoring screen to Zhao Gushen. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Zhao Gushen then adjusted it to the most suitable angle.

Just right, he included all four people outside the door in the frame.

Housekeeper Hong also took out a walkie-talkie, making it convenient to communicate with them from the living room.

However, when the doorbell rang, Housekeeper Hong couldn’t open the door in time.

Because he thought the two elders wanted to watch the excitement.

If he opened the door early, wouldn’t the excitement be gone?

So, Zhao Dingye and his party were still left standing at the door.

In the picture, Zhao Dingye frowned, looking impatient.

Seeing that no one was opening the door.

He pressed the doorbell again.

This time, Housekeeper Hong finally clicked on the intercom button, but still didn’t open the door.

"Mr. Zhao Er," Housekeeper Hong still called very politely.

Zhao Dingye said impatiently, "Housekeeper Hong, why don’t you open the door?"

Housekeeper Hong said unhurriedly, "Mr. Zhao Er, isn’t it you, Mrs. Zhao Er, and Young Master Qing coming today?"

"Yes, what’s the matter?" Zhao Dingye said impatiently, "Can’t you see?"

"And that extra young lady..." Housekeeper Hong dragged out his words, then asked, "Who is she?"

Zhao Dingye frowned and said, "That’s Ming Yan, you don’t remember?"

Is Housekeeper Hong really senile, or just pretending!

"Truly don’t remember, I don’t know which family’s daughter is this young lady?" Housekeeper Hong asked again.

"From the Zhuang Family, Zhuang Mingyan, also Gu Shen’s junior," Zhao Dingye said.

"Oh, is that so?" Listening to Housekeeper Hong, it was clear he didn’t remember Zhuang Mingyan.

Zhuang Mingyan stood at the back, her face turning dark.

Zhao Dingye said impatiently, "What’s wrong? Can’t you open the door and let us in first? Do we have to explain at the door?"

Zhao Dingye felt extremely embarrassed.

A dignified member of the Zhao Family, yet he couldn’t even enter his own home.

Especially since this happened in front of outsiders.

Where could he put his face!

Some words, Housekeeper Hong couldn’t say.

The old man directly took the walkie-talkie from Housekeeper Hong and said, "Do you remember what day it is today?"

"Old Master," Zhao Dingye called out.

Zhao Dingye still respected the old master.

He didn’t expect the old master to speak directly.

Moreover, even at this point, he still refused to let him in.

Zhao Dingye felt a shiver down his spine.

"Today is our family’s feast, only once a year," the old master said coldly.

"If you don’t like coming, then don’t come!" the old master said angrily, "Stop begrudgingly doing disgusting things."

Zhao Dingye failed to catch his breath, turning red in anger.

What... what disgusting thing did he do!

This disgusting thing pointed clearly to bringing Zhuang Mingyan, didn’t it?

The old master almost spelled it out.

The disgusting thing was bringing Zhuang Mingyan, making Zhuang Mingyan herself disgusting.

Zhuang Mingyan’s face also turned red.

"What did I do?" Zhao Dingye asked still puzzled.

"I’m telling you again, it’s a family feast," the old master said coldly, "Do you not understand?"

"An outsider attending a family feast, what’s that about? Does that turn them into a Zhao Family member? How are we supposed to explain it if word gets out? What will the outside world say?"

"If everyone does this, casually bringing someone to a family feast, then it’s not a family feast, it’s a gathering!"

"If you think the once-a-year Zhao Family feast is beneath you, and is just an ordinary gathering, then you don’t need to come."

The old master took the opportunity to say, "Today, you should go back as well."

Zhao Dingye: "..."

How did it come to this?

He hadn’t even said a few words, yet the old master concluded.

The Zhao family’s feast had a small scope, just their family, Zhao Dinglian’s family, and Zhao Dinghuan’s family, plus the two elders.

But the smaller the scope, the more valuable it seemed.

Who would dislike the Zhao family’s feast?

Everyone wished they could attend.

It’s just that outsiders had no chance.

Even if he didn’t like Zhao Dinghuan, he didn’t want to sever ties with the Zhao family and miss the feast.

He still needed to maintain a relationship with the ancestral home.

If he didn’t attend the once-a-year feast.

He’d grow distant from the ancestral home.

A branch of the family that’s grown distant from the Zhao master family’s house, who would care?

So, Zhao Dingye wouldn’t dare look down on this family feast in any way.

Zhao Dingye was such a strange person.

On one hand, he knew the importance of the Zhao master family and never let go.

But on the other hand, he felt he was no less capable and thought he could replace them someday.

Zhuang Mingyan stood at the back, silent.

She came today, encountering humiliation before even entering.

But she couldn’t speak first.

Zhao Dingye brought her; as long as he didn’t give in, she wouldn’t have to leave.

Surely, Zhao Dingye wouldn’t have the nerve to ask her to leave!

So, she kept silent, pretending not to understand, staying quiet.

Sun Qihui gave Zhuang Mingyan a sidelong glance, curled her lips, and wore her contempt openly.

What was Zhuang Mingyan pretending to be confused about now!

When she should speak, she didn’t.

Zhao Dingye had to explain, "Coincidentally, Zhuang Mingyan came to our house to pay New Year’s visit today, and we were coming to the ancestral home. She said it has been years since she last saw Gu Shen and Ding Huan’s couple, and you two elders, so she wanted to pay a new year’s visit with us."

"She wasn’t planning to stay for the meal, just a New Year’s visit and she’ll leave."