Chapter 32: Treat Her Like a Bodhisattva and Offer Incense Three Times a Day

Chapter 32: Treat Her Like a Bodhisattva and Offer Incense Three Times a Day

Inside the police mediation room, Zhao Gui and Wang Yanping looked utterly disheveled.

Su An asked gently, “Director Wang, Officer Zhao, if you had to deal with a mother-in-law like that, could you handle it?”

Wang Yanping forced a bitter smile.

“Su An, she’s an elderly person. As younger generations, we need to be more understanding.”

“Even if she goes too far, we shouldn’t resort to violence, should we?”

Zhao Gui nodded hurriedly, “Director Wang is right. Assault is illegal. Talk it out, and if that doesn’t work, take a step back.”

“If you can’t reason with her, what can you do? You can’t just beat her to death; that’s illegal!”

Su An smiled, “I didn’t touch her.”

“Did you know his ex-wife passed away? Have you looked into how she died? I’ve heard from many people that his ex-wife was often injured.”

“Director Wang, you handle these cases, right? Do you know anything about this?”

Wang Yanping shook her head, “I haven’t heard of this incident. They haven’t approached us, and no residents have given us feedback either.”

Su An pretended to be troubled, “It’s not that I don’t want peace. I’ve already married into the family, signed the marriage certificate, and even swore an oath in front of the Chairman’s portrait.”

“It’s just that they’re making it impossible for me to live in peace!”

Realizing there was more to the story, Wang Yanping quickly pulled up a stool and sat beside Su An.

"Su An, if you have any difficulties, you can tell me. If I can help, I'll try my best to mediate."

Su An hesitated before explaining, "You wouldn’t believe how strange the Zhao family is."

"Zhao Daxing wants to marry a wife, but Xiao Jiliang doesn't want me as a daughter-in-law."

"On the first day I entered the family, she encouraged the kids to attack me. Everyone in the building knew about it. I disciplined the kids and went back to my parents' house."

"A few days ago, Zhao Daxing came to bring me back. As soon as I got home, my mother-in-law didn’t say a word, just told Zhao Daxing to beat me for being disobedient."

"While chasing me, Zhao Daxing tripped and broke his arm. But when it reached my mother-in-law's mouth, it became me hitting him. Look at my skinny arms and legs—do you really think I could take down Zhao Daxing and send him to the hospital?"

"I wish I had investigated more thoroughly beforehand. If I had known my mother-in-law was like this, even if my stepmother pressured me, I wouldn't have married into this family."

Zhao Gui looked at Su An interrogatively and asked, "What happened today?"

Su An looked hurt, "They wouldn’t let me in, so I was left outside. No matter how much I knocked, they didn’t open the door, so I kicked it. The door was old and barely held up when I kicked it—the whole frame came crashing down."

"I was scared to death and hid in the room. Then you all came. As for the blood on my mother-in-law's face, to be honest, I have no idea where she got it!"

"If you ask me, this is what happened. But if you ask others, it might be a different story. After all, my mother-in-law goes around crying that I bully her all the time."

"Now, the neighbors think I’m some kind of monster. I’m innocent, but there’s no way to prove it now."

Wang Yanping was a bit puzzled, "You just entered the family, why does your mother-in-law have such a big problem with you?"

Su An thought about the situation from her previous life and, after hesitating for a moment, still said,

"I’m not exactly sure, but I think she might feel like someone is trying to take Zhao Daxing away from her."

After questioning for a bit, even Zhao Gui and the Women's Committee Chair, who had mediated countless bizarre cases, felt a pang of sympathy for Su An.

After all, it was a family matter, and they couldn't help much, so they could only keep advising Su An to be generous, to let the elder have their way, to endure, because a harmonious family leads to peace and prosperity.

Su An had heard these words all too often in her past life.

Even now, hearing them still felt harsh to her ears.

Given the image she had built in front of Wang Yanping and Zhao Gui, she was clearly the innocent victim, so why were they still trying to counsel her?

After filling out a mediation form, Su An left.

Xiao Jiliang was in the next mediation room, just finished crying her heart out while holding the plump woman's hand. Her stomach was already growling with hunger, yet she stayed, waiting for the police to punish Su An.

To her shock, Su An came out of the mediation room, turned, and left, smiling and waving goodbye to the police and the Women's Committee Chair.

Xiao Jiliang was so furious that she immediately started causing a scene, rolling on the floor and crying.

She demanded that the police punish Su An severely, or at the very least, detain her for half a month.

If nothing happened, wouldn't this whole trip have been a waste of time? If Su An knew she couldn't be touched, wouldn't she become even more arrogant and try to boss her around in the future?

In the end, Zhao Gui and Wang Yanping were forced to personally escort Xiao Jiliang back, and in front of everyone, they scolded Su An for hitting someone and using violence.

Su An nodded obediently in agreement.

Xiao Jiliang's anger still hadn't dissipated, but there was nothing she could do.

The next day, Zhao Daxing was discharged and returned home.

Seeing his personal belongings that Su An had swept into the storage room, he started another commotion.

Su An said nothing; let them scold her, as they didn't dare to lay a hand on her anyway.

That night, Zhao Daxing shamelessly tried to enter Su An's room, only to be kicked out. His casted hand almost broke again.

Looking at the occupied master bedroom, the mother and son wore gloomy faces.

"Is this what you call being honest and humble? I never approved of her from the start, and now the whole family can't keep her in line!"

"I suggested bringing Little Sister from Lili's side; she's still a little aunt to our eldest grandson. With that relationship, she'd take better care of us."

Zhao Daxing thought of his sister-in-law's dark complexion and sturdy figure, and his face darkened.

"Mom, I'm a leader now, big or small. How could I possibly take Honghong anywhere with me? Just her figure alone—how much food would she waste per meal? I've inquired about Su An's background; she lived under her stepmother, didn't dare to make a sound, and was excellent at doing laundry and cooking. Besides, no one from her natal family would back her up, even if she were beaten to death. Who knew she'd turn out like this in our family!"

Xiao Jiliang said with irritation, "You disapprove of Honghong because she's not attractive, but this brat looks like a vixen. You've married her, so what can you do with her? She beats the children, angers your mother, won't let you into her room, and you married her to be filial to me and take care of the children? You might as well treat her like a goddess and worship her every day!"

Zhao Daxing's eyes flashed a dim light. "Women, they're all the same. Once a woman commits to someone, even the most stubborn ones will eventually calm down."

"Mom, go to Uncle Hanhan's place and get some medicine for breeding pigs."