Chapter 143: Counterattack, Stabbed with a Knife

Chapter 143: A Counterblow Struck Back

"She’s pregnant?" Fan Yani gasped.

"Do you think the school expelled her because they found out she was pregnant?" Auntie Fatty mused.

"It was early dating—caught red-handed—it looked bad, so they expelled her," Fan Yani replied. "The school probably didn’t know about the pregnancy. How did you find out? Did Gao Xiuxiu say something? Or Big Girl..."

"Big Girl said it herself," Auntie Fatty explained. "I was working in the yard and could see next door. Big Girl came out holding a big apple and said she’s eating for two now, needs extra nourishment, even asked her grandma to cook her a chicken. She wasn’t exactly whispering—I heard her clearly. If anyone passed by, they’d have heard too. She really doesn’t care, just blurting it out like that."

Auntie Fatty didn’t quite understand—hadn’t Gao Xiuxiu and the others told Big Girl to keep it quiet? Big Girl wasn’t even engaged yet. Word was the boy she was with wasn’t even old enough to marry. After Big Girl was expelled, the boy’s parents hadn’t visited Gao Xiuxiu’s family. Auntie Fatty guessed they probably didn’t want their son to stay with Big Girl. That wasn’t going to fly.

"She actually announced it?" Fan Yani widened her eyes in disbelief.

"Exactly," Auntie Fatty confirmed. "Her grandma told her to lower her voice, but she said her baby isn’t something to hide—she and the baby’s father are in love."

Auntie Fatty was even more shocked than Fan Yani, even though she’d long known Big Girl wasn’t exactly well-behaved. What kind of child could Gao Xiuxiu, a mother like that, raise? Second Girl had been driven out by Gao Xiuxiu to live elsewhere. No matter how much Gao Xiuxiu doted on Big Girl, Big Girl never took studying seriously—she was only interested in chasing men.

Then again, Gao Xiuxiu always harped on her kids about having sons, acting like it was all that mattered.

"I think Big Girl wants everyone to know she’s pregnant," Auntie Fatty said, glancing around. "Just you wait—sooner or later, others will find out, not just us."

"..." Fan Yani could only conclude Gao Xiuxiu was nuts, and Big Girl wasn’t much better.

Babies, babies—always about having babies, having sons.

Couldn’t these people think about anything else?

With someone like Big Girl, others were probably just playing around with her. Neither she nor the boy had even graduated high school—even if they were repeating grades, they were still students. Weren’t they supposed to be preparing for college?

The boy was his family’s treasure, and they probably blamed his poor grades entirely on Big Girl. Big Girl, meanwhile, figured she could use the baby to climb up in status—marrying into wealth, living in a bigger house, enjoying a better life, not having to put up with her mother and grandma fighting. She didn’t like Second Girl either, resenting her sister’s attitude. As the older sister, shouldn’t the younger sister show some respect?

After Xu Yan got pregnant—with twins, no less—her pregnancy was stable, without complications. She still visited Song Fenglan and her husband occasionally, bringing over dishes. She walked there, saying she needed the exercise and shouldn’t just sit around.

"Found anyone yet?" Song Fenglan asked, not offering to send her own household staff to her daughter-in-law’s place.

Their family’s servants had been with them for years, and while Song Fenglan found them reliable, she couldn’t guarantee they’d perform just as well under Xu Yan’s management. Besides, some of the staff around Song Fenglan had been assigned by the relevant authorities. It was better for Xu Yan and her husband to hire their own help.

Their own hires would be their own responsibility—fewer complications that way.

"I asked my mom to help. She’ll bring someone over in a couple of days," Xu Yan said.

"Good. If it doesn’t work out, have your mom come stay with you for a while," Song Fenglan suggested. "But make sure you discuss it clearly with her."

"I did. She said she’s my mother—why would she take money?" Xu Yan chuckled. "I told her she should take what’s fair. If my sister finds out Mom’s always helping me like this, she’ll raise hell."

Xu Yan’s sister often accused their mother of favoring Xu Yan, saying Xu Yan’s in-laws were richer and everyone fawned over her. Hearing such remarks, Xu Yan could only roll her eyes.

When Xu Yan’s sister was pregnant and in confinement, their mother had helped plenty. Back then, her sister hadn’t claimed their mother favored her—instead, she complained their mother didn’t visit daily. But that was because there wasn’t room—Xu Yan’s sister lived with her in-laws. Their mother couldn’t visit often, especially since she’d clashed with Xu Yan’s sister’s mother-in-law before. Better to keep her distance.

If Xu Yan’s sister had sided with their mother, things might’ve been different. But she mostly took her mother-in-law’s side. Their mother saw that clearly and visited even less to avoid trouble.

"Exactly," Song Fenglan agreed. "Paying her is only right. If your sister’s unhappy, tell her to pay your mom too—problem solved."

"My sister would never pay," Xu Yan said. "She just whines about fairness but never puts her money where her mouth is. I don’t care—she can stew in it. Should I obsess over her opinions all day?"

Xu Yan wasn’t happy discussing her sister, who was always running her mouth. Recently, her sister had even asked Xu Yan to help her uncle’s son—her husband’s cousin—find a job.

They just wanted to get into the Song family’s company and snag an easy job.

Xu Yan flat-out refused, saying they never interfered with the Song family's business. She and Qin Zihang were content just receiving dividends. They were lucky no one had taken their shares—expecting more would be pushing it.

"Take it easy. If you feel unwell, take leave and rest," Song Fenglan said.

"Work’s okay—I can manage," Xu Yan replied. "If it gets too much, I’ll rest. I won’t push myself to keep working nonstop."

Xu Yan knew her limits and wasn’t about to overwork herself to the point of miscarriage.

When Qin Yizhou returned and spotted items on the table, he asked, "Was our daughter-in-law here?"

"She dropped in for a bit," Song Fenglan said. "I told her not to visit too often, but she said she just wanted to stretch her legs."

"She likes coming to see you, her mom-in-law," Qin Yizhou remarked. "Well, you stay out of their business and even give them extra money. Who wouldn’t love you?"

"If I can’t help with much, then money never hurts," Song Fenglan said.

Qin Lian’s wife, Zhu Meng, knew Song Fenglan had given Xu Yan plenty. She couldn’t help feeling a little jealous—everyone’s mother-in-law was different. Tian Keshu’s parents had passed away one after another, and her brothers treated her even worse. None of them sided with her, leaving her with no home to return to. Whenever she visited, her brothers’ wives treated her like dirt.

Tian Keshu was just over fifty and sick of washing dishes. She approached Qin Lian, hoping to live with him and his wife.

"I can help with the kids and cook for you," Tian Keshu said to Qin Lian in the supermarket. "You’ve got an extra room, right? Wouldn’t it be just right for me?"

"You’re not moving in with us," Zhu Meng cut in from where she was stocking shelves.

"Why not? I’m your husband’s birth mother. You’re not living with the others, so—"

"We’re not living with his parents, but that doesn’t mean you can stay here," Zhu Meng said firmly. "Grandma’s last words were that she’d never forgive you in this lifetime. She made us promise not to let you set foot in our home. If you need a place, rent one."

"How am I supposed to afford rent? Look at my hands—they’re ruined!" Tian Keshu’s hands, constantly soaked in water, had peeled raw. She couldn’t stand dishwashing anymore, but no one would hire her for anything else. She was at her wit’s end.

Once, she’d cared for a man in his sixties, but his kids were so paranoid she’d steal from them that they watched her like a hawk. When they dug up her past, they kicked her out immediately, terrified she’d marry their father and claim his property.

Stuff like that happens—housekeepers marrying old men and inheriting everything.

"I’m Li An’s mother," Tian Keshu insisted. "I brought him into this world and raised them. Look at me now—you can’t just abandon me!"

"You get free rice, oil, and groceries from us every month. You think that stuff’s free?" Zhu Meng shot back. "Why only come to Li An? Where’s your daughter?"

Zhu Meng couldn’t stand Tian Keshu’s antics. "Weren’t you all over your stepsons when you remarried? They won’t lift a finger for you?"

"Don’t bring them up. Their father and I divorced. Even if we hadn’t, they wouldn’t lift a finger," Tian Keshu said bitterly. She felt like she’d thrown away years on other people—she should’ve worked and saved instead. "If you won’t help me, should I camp outside your store every day?"

Tian Keshu threatened to make trouble for their business, knowing shopkeepers dreaded disruptions. She didn’t care that this wasn’t her son’s store—she only cared about her own misery.

"You’ve got more than one place. Let me stay in the other one—"

"No. You’re alone—you don’t need a big place," Zhu Meng said. "Keep renting. If you want to live nearby, fine, we’ll pay for it and keep giving you groceries. Don’t ask for more."

Zhu Meng would’ve rather left Tian Keshu to her own devices, but their family couldn’t afford the drama. Qin Lian’s reputation was already shaky, and business was finally picking up—they couldn’t have Tian Keshu messing it up. So Zhu Meng agreed to cover rent but insisted Qin Ya chip in too. Fair’s fair—she couldn’t contribute nothing. As for Qin Ya’s dowry? That was her business.

That night, Qin Ya had a sit-down with Qin Lian and Zhu Meng. After Zhu Meng laid it out, Qin Ya turned to her brother.

"Li An, is this your idea too?" Qin Ya frowned.

"Sis, just pitch in a bit less," Qin Lian said.

Zhu Meng glanced at Qin Li’an, then turned to Qin Ya. "Sister, we’re not asking you to contribute much. How about this—you cover one-third of the rent, and we’ll handle the rest. As for Mom’s monthly staples like rice, oil, and flour, we’ll provide them from our side."

"Alright." Qin Ya didn’t want to contribute, but she knew if she didn’t, Zhu Meng would blame Li’an. She didn’t want to put her brother in a tough spot. Besides, Tian Keshu was indeed their biological mother, and her sister-in-law wasn’t demanding she shoulder the bulk of the expenses.

Once the financial arrangements were settled, Qin Ya left.

After she was gone, Qin Li’an looked at his wife. "Is this really okay?"

"How is it not okay?" Zhu Meng said. "She’s your sister’s mother too, not just yours. We still have a child to raise—we can’t spend all our money on your mom. Your sister should contribute her share; it shouldn’t all fall on us. I didn’t even ask her to cover the majority—we’re still taking the bigger portion. And I didn’t suggest she take your mom in either. Someone like your mom is nothing but trouble wherever she goes. The only way to handle her is to keep her on a tight leash, not let her stir things up."

Zhu Meng wanted nothing to do with Tian Keshu, but she knew exactly what kind of person she was. Someone with nothing to lose could easily make a mess of things. It was better to spend a little more money to keep Tian Keshu living quietly under our terms. As for her wanting more—that wasn’t happening. Zhu Meng would never let her children interact with Tian Keshu. She’d rather pay someone else to take care of them than let Tian Keshu near them.

Besides, my parents lived nearby. If necessary, they could ask for help—there was no need for Tian Keshu to get involved.

"And don’t think that if we don’t ask your sister to contribute now, your mom will leave her alone," Zhu Meng added. "It’s better to have your sister pay part of the rent now so your mom has no excuse to go after her. If your mom does confront her, your sister can at least say she’s already contributed. Or should we lie and say she didn’t chip in?"

"No—"

"Then it’s settled," Zhu Meng cut in. "Your mom’s no fool—she’s selfish. She only cares about herself, never others. What’s so bad about washing dishes? If she doesn’t want to do that, she could find other work—it’s not impossible. But she just refuses, wanting to sit back and freeload. Having a mother like this is truly exhausting."

Zhu Meng had no respect for Tian Keshu—a mother-in-law like her was no good. Dealing with a shameless mother-in-law required a firm approach. She wasn’t worried about Qin Li’an or Qin Ya being upset; her priority was her own child.

"Our house has empty rooms, but they’re not for your mom," Zhu Meng said.

"She can’t live with us," Qin Li’an frowned slightly. He himself despised his mother, let alone his wife.

When You Yun heard about Tian Keshu’s actions, she wasn’t surprised. Tian Keshu was getting older and didn’t want to work—of course she’d turn to her two children. Li’an had finally found stability, and naturally, neither he nor his wife wanted Tian Keshu to ruin their lives. But in the end, they’d still compromise.

"Your ex-wife really has it good now—no more dishwashing," You Yun remarked to Eldest Brother Qin in their home. "She’s mooching off Li’an and his wife."

"She…" Eldest Brother Qin hadn’t thought about Tian Keshu in a long time.

Even now, he still resented her. If not for Tian Keshu, he would’ve climbed higher within "the system" and been in a much better position now. Though he was now an executive in a private company, he missed his days working within the system. His former colleagues had risen to high-ranking positions.

"Did Li’an and his wife make arrangements?" Eldest Brother Qin asked.

"Of course they did—they had to," You Yun said. "I heard they’re renting a place for her and covering her meals."

"…" Eldest Brother Qin thought Tian Keshu was living too comfortably.

"Li’an and his wife had no choice—your ex-wife is too aggressive," You Yun said. "They run a business—if she raises hell, they’ll have to give in."

By forcing her son and daughter-in-law like this, Tian Keshu was only making them resent her more. You Yun suspected Tian Keshu didn’t even care about their filial piety—she just wanted her cushy life.

"What a headache," Eldest Brother Qin muttered, unable to feel happy about it.

Once, he had hoped Tian Keshu would suffer, that her life would only get worse. But reality didn’t work that way—both her kids landed on their feet. Li’an had straightened out his life, and Qin Ya had married into a good family. Tian Keshu demanded they support her in her old age, and they were stuck with it. She knew how to raise hell, and no one could stop her.

When Song Fenglan heard that Tian Keshu was moving near Eldest Brother Qin’s place, she thought to herself that this’ll be entertaining.

Tian Keshu wasn’t a good person. If she ran into You Yun a few more times outside, would she really stay quiet? Eldest Brother Qin still held onto most of his wealth, not passing it to Li’an—it was clear he intended to leave everything to his younger son.

All these years, Song Fenglan still hadn’t visited the Qin household. Old Man Qin spent his days fishing, carefree and living it up.

"So she’s really living in the same neighborhood?" Song Fenglan took a bite of an apple while sitting on the living room sofa.

"Yes, the same neighborhood," Qin Yizhou agreed. "It’s easier for Li’an and his wife to manage this way—no need to travel far. Since they’re not under the same roof, your sister-in-law can’t complain."

"No wonder they say marry rich and pop out kids," Song Fenglan mused. "Isn’t that exactly what Tian Keshu did? Her children have money, and to avoid unnecessary trouble, they’ll cough up for her keep."

"They won’t let her buy anything else. They won’t give extra money," Qin Yizhou said.

"Her kids cover all the basics—food, clothes, a roof over her head, even her daily needs," Song Fenglan remarked. "I’ve always heard people say that bad people live better than good ones, that scoundrels live carefree. Turns out, it’s not wrong. Tian Keshu hasn’t suffered much either—washing dishes for a few years, then deciding at this age she just won’t do it anymore."

Tian Keshu was never one to endure hardship.

She knew her kids didn’t really care for her, which was why she resorted to threats. If they had been closer or if they were struggling themselves, perhaps she wouldn’t have acted this way.

"True, she hasn’t suffered much," Qin Yizhou nodded. "Li An and his wife set her up just to keep their supermarket running smoothly."

"Right," Song Fenglan agreed. "Throw money at it, less hassle."

Tian Keshu hadn’t broken any laws—just moral and social norms. Folks like her know just how to coast through life, relying on their children’s money to make things easier.

Song Fenglan naturally wouldn’t tell Qin Li’an and the others not to treat Tian Keshu so well—it wasn’t her concern.

But Tian Kexian thought her sister was living way too easy. Tian Kexian’s husband was a gambler, bleeding them dry, still without a home of their own. With home prices climbing every day, their panic was pointless—they had no money and couldn’t borrow enough to buy a place.

Tian Kexian’s whole family was squeezed into a shoebox, with less per-person space than Tian Keshu’s.

To keep Tian Keshu from causing trouble, Qin Li’an and his wife rented her a one-bedroom apartment with a kitchen and bathroom—no roommates, no drama. Their goal wasn’t to give her a better life but to avoid her offending others, which would only bring trouble back to them.

"This place is really nice," Tian Kexian said as soon as she stepped inside, looking around. "Faces the right way, has a balcony, gets plenty of sun. After the mess you made for Li An, they still rented you such a decent place."

"It’s okay, but it’s cramped," Tian Keshu replied, though she wished the living room and bedroom were larger. She had asked for a bigger place, but Qin Li’an and his wife refused, insisting this was the most suitable. The apartment was on a low floor, not high up.

Tian Keshu complained about dampness, but Zhu Meng countered that at her age, climbing stairs would be difficult. Not all buildings had elevators, so a lower floor was more convenient for her.

What could Tian Keshu say? If her daughter-in-law got upset, she had to bite her tongue. Since they were paying for her rent and food, she didn’t dare make a scene—scared they’d finally lose it and toss her out.

Kids ditching their parents wasn’t exactly rare. Tian Keshu didn’t want that, so she had to behave.

"Big Sis, don’t you get lonely by yourself?" Tian Kexian asked.

"It’s fine," Tian Keshu said.

"How about having my daughter come stay with you?" Tian Kexian suggested. "We could stick a bed in the living room, or she could share yours."

"No," Tian Keshu refused. "Your daughter should stay with you."

"It’s only because we don’t have enough space!" Tian Kexian argued. "Sister, if you hadn’t offended people back then, I wouldn’t have rushed into marriage—wouldn’t have ended up with this deadbeat. My life wouldn’t be this miserable."

Tian Kexian harbored deep resentment toward her sister. Why did Tian Keshu get to live so comfortably while she struggled in the mud, unable to escape? Years ago, Tian Kexian had wanted a divorce, but her family and others pressured her to stay, insisting her husband would change.

Decades later, he hadn’t—still a deadbeat, gambling away what little they had. When he couldn’t find money Tian Kexian had hidden, he’d beat her.

"Still no," Tian Keshu said. "Picking a loser was on you. You were too hasty."

"What choice did I have? You ruined everything!" Tian Kexian snapped.

She often imagined how different her life would’ve been if she’d married Second Brother Song. Even with daughters, the Song family wouldn’t have looked down on her. But her sister’s actions ruined everything—if only you hadn’t pissed off Song Fenglan back then, maybe things would’ve turned out differently.

"I’m not asking to move in—just my daughter," Tian Kexian pressed. "She—"

"Your daughter stays with you," Tian Keshu cut in, worried about the extra cost and her kids getting mad. "My son and daughter-in-law would never agree."

"You’re Li An’s birth mother. They can’t just cut you off," Tian Kexian insisted.

"No," Tian Keshu said firmly. "I told you—no. Stop fussing over me being lonely. I’m fine alone. If you really care, get your daughter hitched to a decent guy. Then she can move out and start her own life."

Tian Kexian’s daughter was still young, but she wasn’t in school anymore. Tian Kexian didn’t want her daughter to stay at home all the time, watching her and her husband argue. The whole family was still renting a tiny place, packed with all kinds of junk.

"You’re really stingy," Tian Kexian said. "Worried my daughter’s gonna mooch off you?"

"Yes," Tian Keshu replied. "My son and daughter-in-law won’t let your daughter freeload."

Tian Keshu knew her son and daughter-in-law didn’t want her around. Taking in her sister’s kid would just make things worse. She just wanted to live cautiously now, avoiding anything that might upset them. Just getting by like this was hard enough for her. Especially after two failed marriages, she knew men were no damn good. Now that she depended on her son and daughter-in-law, she had to consider their feelings.

Tian Keshu wasn’t like Eldest Brother Qin’s mom—she didn’t have the guts to stir up trouble like her. Tian Keshu was all bark and no bite. When she threatened to cause a scene, it was only to ensure her son and daughter-in-law would provide her a place to stay. If things really escalated, it would be mutual destruction, and she wouldn’t have a good life either.

"You—" Tian Kexian was furious inside. She wanted to smash everything around her. Why did her sister always land on her feet? Why’d she always get the breaks?

Tian Keshu lucked out marrying Eldest Brother Qin back in those days when class divisions were strict, and no one knew about the Tian family’s past. Tian Kexian, much younger than her sister, could only resent her powerlessness.

"Our parents are gone. Can’t you help me?" Tian Kexian asked.

"I can’t. Look at me—I’m barely scraping by myself," Tian Keshu said. "Look at my hands. I couldn’t stand washing dishes anymore, so I ended up like this. You’re still young—why not get a live-in housekeeping job? If you do a good job, you can earn some money. Your reputation is much better than mine. If you’re worried about running into people you know here, try another city."

"Another city?" Tian Kexian scoffed. "You stay in the capital, but you want me to leave?"

Tian Kexian refused to leave the capital. She wanted to stay here forever. She didn’t want to clean houses or scrub dishes—she was holding out for a windfall. Right now, she sold vegetables at a shop, earning little. Housekeeping paid better, but she thought it was beneath her, dealing with fussy rich folks.

"Put something aside while you’ve still got time," Tian Keshu said. "Don’t wind up like me, broke after all that work."

When Tian Keshu washed dishes, the pay was low, and she still had to rent a place—at least meals were provided. Otherwise, her life would’ve been even worse.

"Wait till you’re my age—you’ll see how screwed you are without cash," Tian Keshu said. "Li An and his wife have money, so I can turn to them. But what about your children? You know their situation."

Tian Kexian’s children were poor, with little to their names. Relying on them in the future wasn’t realistic.

In the end, Tian Keshu still refused to let Tian Kexian’s daughter stay. The sisters had a huge, bitter argument.

When Zhu Meng found out, she was relieved Tian Keshu hadn’t agreed. If she had, Zhu Meng would’ve kicked the girl out. Blood or not, Zhu Meng wasn’t about to bankroll anybody.

The news reached Song Fenglan, who also heard that Tian Kexian was still hung up on marrying Second Brother Song.

Cao Fang had known about Tian Kexian’s situation, but hearing people still talk about it after all these years annoyed her. She visited Song Fenglan, not to blame her or Second Brother Song—it was all Tian Kexian’s wishful thinking.

"Back then, even without my issues with Tian Keshu, my brother wouldn’t have married Tian Kexian," Song Fenglan said, handing Cao Fang a banana.

"Your brother never mentioned it, so I pretended not to know," Cao Fang replied.

"Don’t underestimate my brother just because of his limp. After returning to the city, plenty of young women wanted to marry him," Song Fenglan said. "He had a stable job, a salary, and a good family background. A minor limp didn’t matter."

"Even now, many young women like your brother, hoping to bear him a son," Cao Fang said. She wasn’t blind—she saw how women flocked to Second Brother Song at those business dinners.

Once, when Second Brother Song came home, his female secretary was in the car with him, along with a male driver. He wasn’t drunk—just returning normally. But the secretary hugged his waist after he got out, muttering some shady nonsense. He quickly pushed her away.

Cao Fang saw it all, including her husband’s exasperated expression. He immediately told the secretary he wasn’t interested and had her collect her pay from accounting the next day.

Cao Fang trusted him. She wasn’t stupid—if she’d been some jealous shrew, she’d never have become Song Fenglan’s right hand back in the day.

"Is it ’cause all I gave him was a daughter?" Cao Fang said. "Even now, women still throw themselves at him, figuring if they pop out a son, I’ll get dumped."

Cao Chunmei, Cao Fang’s cousin who tried to be a surrogate, was one of those women—hell-bent on having Second Brother Song’s baby.

Cao Fang knew it all depended on the man’s attitude. If he wasn’t interested, it was no big deal. But if he was game, no amount of watching would stop him from stashing some mistress somewhere.

Here is the fully translated version in English:

Second Brother Song always informed Cao Fang when he wouldn't be coming home at night or when he went on business trips. He cherished his current life and never insisted on having a son—a daughter was just as valuable. Having gone through so much, Second Brother Song had long since moved past such concerns.

Cao Fang’s parents had repeatedly urged her to have another child, telling her that her career wasn’t everything. But Cao Fang refused—she valued her work, and she and Second Brother Song had long agreed that one daughter was enough. Her parents worried that men often changed their minds, saying one thing but acting differently later.

Older men could still father children with younger women, but for older women, becoming pregnant became far more difficult.

"Second Brother has never wanted a son. If he did, he would’ve asked you to have one long ago," Song Fenglan said.

"Exactly," Cao Fang replied, glancing around before lowering her voice. "A few years ago, a woman showed up at our door claiming to be an old friend of Second Brother’s. She said she regretted her past mistakes and wanted to see him again. Second Brother told her to leave and ordered the servants not to let her in."

When Cao Fang questioned him about it, Second Brother Song explained that he had known the woman during his time at the farm—there had been some mutual attraction, but nothing ever developed before things fell apart. She hadn’t truly cared for him; she had only wanted him to do more labor for her. His leg injury was partly caused by those educated youths.

"That woman even tried to approach me, offering to work as a servant in our household. I refused," Cao Fang said. "Later, whether it was Second Brother who dealt with her or she simply gave up, I never saw her again."

"If Second Brother told her to go away, that means he had no feelings for her," Song Fenglan said.

"He made that clear to me," Cao Fang said. "I'm not naive—I understand the situation. If Second Brother had truly loved her, he would’ve pursued her instead of marrying me."

Cao Fang knew that Second Brother Song didn’t love her deeply, nor did she love him passionately. They had met at the right time, married, and had a child—together more like companions than romantic lovers, neither ever considering betrayal.

"This Tian Kexian really talks too much," Cao Fang remarked.

"She married poorly. Once, she confessed her feelings to Second Brother, and he immediately shut her down by saying, ‘I’m her Second Brother,’" Song Fenglan said. "That single sentence crushed her."

"And yet she still brings it up. People who don’t know better might think there was something between them and that you were the one who stood in the way," Cao Fang said, recalling how others had suggested Song Fenglan was the obstacle. "I always correct them—it wasn’t you. If Second Brother had felt even slightly more for you, he’d never have considered Tian Kexian."

Who did Tian Kexian think she was anyway? There was nothing special about her, yet she had the audacity to speak like that.

Cao Fang believed Song Fenglan was the real victim in all this. Tian Kexian kept dragging her into the story, making it seem as though Song Fenglan had blocked her from being with Second Brother Song.

"Shameless, spreading whatever nonsense she pleases," Cao Fang said. "Clearly trying to make people misunderstand you."

"Most people won’t be fooled," Song Fenglan said. "Only the gullible ones might. Second Brother and Tian Kexian were never compatible—her temper was bad, she wasn’t even particularly attractive, and she lacked any real skills. There wasn’t a single quality about her that could’ve interested Second Brother. How could she possibly think they belonged together?"

The Songs didn’t marry solely out of love. They considered many factors before marriage—never rushing into anything or making excessive sacrifices for each other. They certainly wouldn’t mistreat their own family for someone easily replaceable.

"Exactly," Cao Fang nodded. "I know that. But I still feel sorry for you, caught in the middle. You don’t socialize much or attend many events, so people talk."

As Second Brother Song’s wife, Cao Fang frequently attended gatherings, from charity events to various other functions—never neglecting her professional responsibilities.

"I’m fine. Out of sight, out of mind. Even if I hear things, I ignore them," Song Fenglan said. "Their little tricks are obvious. The Tian family just loves causing trouble. They have no real power—just noise without substance. They can say whatever they want without consequences."

The Song family never harassed Tian Kexian, but she ended up beaten by her husband. He was a gambler who heard rumors that she still harbored feelings for Second Brother Song. Knowing a man like Second Brother would never want her, he took his anger out on her—beating her so severely that even her children hid in fear.

Unable to endure it any longer, Tian Kexian grabbed a fruit knife and stabbed him multiple times. Blood was everywhere. Terrified, she called the police. Her husband survived but was gravely injured, barely clinging to life. Tian Kexian was arrested, and now everything depended on whether he would recover.

When Tian Kexian’s brother learned of the incident, he refused to get involved, leaving the problem to Tian Keshu. Tian Keshu was shocked—she never imagined her sister would go this far. Despite her dislike for Tian Kexian, she couldn’t abandon her own sibling.

"Find your aunt's husband a good doctor—he mustn't die," Tian Keshu urged Qin Lian. "If he does, your aunt is ruined. After years of enduring abuse, this was her first act of resistance. She didn’t intend to kill him."