“Dad, Mom, Sis, you’re here.” In front of them, Lu Yanshen maintained the most basic courtesy expected of the Xie family’s son-in-law.
Unlike Xie Wantang, who never addressed Mrs. Lu as “Mom,” instead using the heavily sarcastic “my dear mother-in-law” with every word.
“Yanshen, where did you find this girl?” Father Xie felt both gratitude and guilt toward Lu Yanshen.
He was grateful that Lu Yanshen had rushed back from abroad for Xie Wantang, this troublemaker, and guilty because Lu Yanshen remained calm and composed toward her maternal family, not taking out his frustration on them due to Xie Wantang’s immaturity.
“In-laws, where she was found isn’t the main point. Tangtang’s safety is what matters most.” Old Mrs. Lu stood on Xie Wantang’s side, rising to her feet and shielding her.
“Yes, yes, of course.” Father Xie nodded with a smile. Since Old Madam had spoken, he naturally smiled and agreed wholeheartedly.
Mother Xie was deeply dissatisfied with Xie Wantang.
Having her marry Lu Yanshen was already a high climb for her and their Xie family.
Before the wedding, she had been told that the capital was different from their hometown of Haishi, and that the elite social circles were strictly hierarchical.
The Lu family belonged to the top tier of the elite, while the Xie family was merely at the bottom.
Her ability to marry into the Lu family was thanks to her good grandmother, who had coincidentally saved Old Mrs. Lu’s life. Grateful, Old Mrs. Lu learned that she had two granddaughters and gave her grandmother a token as a pledge.
Thus, the two elders made an oral agreement to become in-laws through their descendants.
Otherwise, such immense wealth and status would never have reached the Xie family, no matter how things were arranged.
Yet, Xie Wantang didn’t cherish it. Just because Lu Yanshen was busy and couldn’t return in time to celebrate her birthday, she threw tantrums and made a scene. In the end, she even went missing, ran away from home, and, even worse, wanted a divorce from Lu Yanshen?
Who knew what was going on in that foolish head of hers.
If it weren’t for Lu Yanshen’s own refusal, they would have had Xie Bailu replace her in their second year of marriage.
And she still wanted a divorce?
Did she know how many women in the capital were eager to take her place?
“Well then, let’s eat first. We can talk while we eat.” Elder Lu spoke up at the right moment.
“Dad, it’s like this. There are a few dishes that Aunt Liu and the others aren’t very skilled at, so I had them set aside. I was waiting for Wantang to come and stir-fry them. Since the dishes aren’t ready yet, if we want to eat, Wantang might have to put in a little effort.”
Mrs. Lu stepped forward to explain. She hadn’t expected Lu Yanshen to invite Xie Wantang’s parents either.
Elder Lu glanced at his son.
Mrs. Lu felt a bit uneasy. She had only wanted to make things difficult for Xie Wantang, taking the opportunity to teach her a lesson on behalf of her son—for running away from home, for going missing, and causing chaos for everyone.
But she never expected her husband to be blamed by her father-in-law because of it.
“My dear mother-in-law, isn’t Aunt Liu a longtime member of the household? I’ve only been married into the Lu family for a little over three years, right? If Aunt Liu isn’t skilled at the dishes you all enjoy, I suggest that someone as useless as her should just be fired.”
“What do you think?”
Xie Wantang, having been singled out, glanced at Aunt Liu and then looked at Mrs. Lu, speaking with utter frankness.
“…What did you say?” Mrs. Lu was stunned. For a moment, she thought she had misheard.
Shouldn’t Xie Wantang have obediently stood up and said politely, “Alright, Mom, I’ll go cook right now. Please wait a moment”?
Instead, Xie Wantang actually suggested she fire Aunt Liu?
Aunt Liu was not only her trusted confidante but also the cook her family had given her as part of her dowry when she married into the Lu family. She had been with her for a lifetime.
What kind of nonsense suggestion was Xie Wantang making?
Aunt Liu’s cooking was incredibly delicious—she had been eating it her whole life and was long accustomed to it.
Besides, it wasn’t that Aunt Liu couldn’t cook; she had only said so to make Xie Wantang do it.
Could Xie Wantang really not understand?
She thought she was doing it on purpose.
But why would Xie Wantang act this way?
How dare she behave like this?
“Mother-in-law, you really must be getting old. I’m standing so close, and my voice isn’t soft either. How about this—let Elder Brother or Yanshen help you make an appointment with an ear, nose, and throat specialist to get a thorough checkup? Hearing problems can be serious or minor, you know.”
“…”
Xie Wantang earnestly suggested she get checked up, even hinting that she was old. Mrs. Lu was nearly driven mad with anger.
Yet, at this very moment, she couldn’t truly lose her temper.
She had to maintain the dignity befitting her position as Mrs. Lu in front of the elders and the Xie family.
Old Mrs. Lu secretly chuckled to herself. Tangtang should have acted like this long ago.
“Aunt Liu, will we still be able to have dinner at home today?” Elder Lu asked Aunt Liu with a stern face.
“Yes, Elder Lu,” Aunt Liu replied nervously.
“Good, then go serve the dishes.”
“Yes.”
Mrs. Lu ultimately said nothing and led Mother Xie to the dining area.
Xie Wantang’s sister-in-law came over to guide Xie Bailu.
Soon, only Lu Yanshen and Xie Wantang remained in the living room, facing off against each other.
The two remained silent, communicating through their eyes.
Xie Wantang: Lu Yanshen, what do you mean by bringing them here?
Lu Yanshen: Don’t you want a divorce? Since the marriage was an alliance between the two families, if you want a divorce now, it must be discussed by both families.
Xie Wantang: Bringing them here won’t change anything. This divorce will happen, and they can’t stop me.
Lu Yanshen: Then let’s go over.
“Yanshen, Tangtang, come eat,” Old Mrs. Lu called.
“Coming.”
The two responded in unison, displaying remarkable coordination.
Pah, pah, pah…
Xie Wantang silently cursed three times.
At the dining table, Elder Lu sat at the head, with Old Madam to his left, followed by Lu Wentao and his wife, then Lu Yanze and his wife, and finally Lu Yanshen.
To his right were Father Xie, Mother Xie, Xie Bailu, and the last seat was reserved for Xie Wantang.
Xie Wantang and Lu Yanshen arrived late. When Xie Wantang sat down beside Xie Bailu, Xie Bailu looked at her, pursed her lips, and gestured for her to check her phone.
Xie Wantang took out her phone and saw the message Xie Bailu had sent: “Wantang, what’s going on? I heard you want to divorce Lu Yanshen?”
“Yes,” Xie Wantang typed out a single word.
Xie Bailu glanced at it and gasped in shock at her straightforwardness.
How could she answer so decisively?
Didn’t she love Lu Yanshen?
How could she bear to divorce him and give up her position as Mrs. Lu?
Xie Bailu didn’t understand.
And Xie Wantang didn’t need her to understand.
She did love Lu Yanshen, but she wasn’t foolish enough to keep loving him unconditionally after he had betrayed her heart.
“Since everyone is here, there’s something I’d like to say before we start eating.” Xie Wantang glanced at Lu Yanshen across from her, but seeing him remain unmoved, she gently bit the inside of her lip and stood up.
“Wantang, you have no manners at all! Old Master and Old Madam haven’t spoken yet—what do you think you’re doing, standing up like that?” Mother Xie scolded Xie Wantang angrily.
“Mrs. Xie, you only gave birth to me; you didn’t raise me. Three years ago, when you went to Haishi to bring me back, I didn’t receive a single cent of the bride price they gave. You’ve already taken full advantage of the benefit of having given birth to me.”
“I haven’t held it against you, so there’s no need for you to adopt a motherly tone and lecture me now.”
“Xie Wantang, you—” Mrs. Xie was so enraged she nearly fainted on the spot.