Chapter 46

Chapter 46

"Shut up! You old bastard!" Mother Huo's pent-up rage exploded. She had been chopping vegetables in the kitchen and hadn't put down the cleaver when she came out to see what was happening.

Hearing this, she could no longer hold back. Raising the cleaver, she cursed, "If you dare spout any more nonsense, you think I won't chop you down?"

"You dare?" Old Man Huo recoiled, startled and furious, at the sight of her brandishing the knife.

He never imagined that Mother Huo, who had always endured silently and worked like an ox, had changed so much—and now she actually dared to threaten him with a knife!

This wife of his had truly gone mad!

Huo Weicheng and Lin Meilan were stunned too. They'd thought Old Man Huo could easily cow Mother Huo into forcing Gao Mingzhu to give up the job.

But they never expected Mother Huo wouldn't even give Old Man Huo any face.

Lin Meilan quickly shot Huo Weicheng a look, signaling him to step in.

Huo Weicheng steeled himself and stepped in to smooth things over: "Hey! Dad! Mom! Stop arguing! Waving knives around like that—what kind of example is that? People will laugh at us!"

"Now you decide to be the dutiful son?" Mother Huo sneered, her eyes like ice picks boring into Huo Weicheng.

When Lin Meilan yelled at her these past few days, he just stood by and watched.

Now, for his father and his wife's family, he suddenly finds the courage to speak up?

Her heart turned to ice, and she spat, "You ungrateful bastard!"

"Mom! What are you saying?" Huo Weicheng's face turned red with anger.

But catching Lin Meilan's gaze, he swallowed his temper and coaxed softly, "Things have been chaotic at home lately, and my mind's in a mess, but I've always seen you as my real mother..."

Mother Huo just sneered, her eyes filled with mockery.

Huo Weicheng's skin crawled under her stare. He licked his lips, steeled himself, and pressed on, "Mom, look, if Third Sister-in-law really takes the accountant job, my wife will divorce me. Please, take pity on me, go talk to Third Sister-in-law and tell her to give up the idea. Teaching at the commune is such a respectable job! And if she's worried about Huaichuan needing help, I'm still around in the village—I can help him out when needed..."

Mother Huo cut him off sharply. "Get lost!"

Who do you think you're fooling with that sweet talk? Since Huaichuan came back, except for the first day when the whole family went to gawk, did this couple ever take the initiative to care for Huaichuan?

Now, for the sake of a job, they suddenly remember to sweet-talk?

She couldn't let Mingzhu's job be taken away!

Afraid Lin Meilan would divorce him? Fine!

"If you dare mess with Mingzhu's job," Mother Huo declared with a tone of finality, casting a cold glance at Old Man Huo, "then I'll divorce too!"

What?

The Huo family was dumbfounded again.

Mother Huo yanked off her apron, turned, and marched into the kitchen. She picked up the freshly cooked meal and headed straight to the backyard.

Even if Mingzhu and Huaichuan had already eaten, she'd rather feed the food to the dogs than to these ungrateful bastards!

Everyone stared dumbfounded at Mother Huo's determined back as she walked away.

Old Man Huo shook with rage, his chest heaving. Pointing at the door where Mother Huo had vanished, he roared, "This is mutiny! I haven't even said I'll divorce you, and you dare talk divorce? I'll throw you out, believe me!"

But no matter how Old Man Huo stomped and cursed, Mother Huo didn't slow down.

Lin Meilan watched Mother Huo walk away, then slumped to the ground. She opened her mouth to wail and throw another fit.

Huo Weicheng knew full well Lin Meilan wasn't really after a divorce—she just wanted to pressure the family into making Gao Mingzhu give up the job.

But Mother Huo's stance was so firm that even he got fed up. He snapped, "Enough! Stop your blubbering! That job is dead in the water! If you want a divorce, get lost now! If not, then get your ass in the kitchen and cook! We're starving!"

Lin Meilan's fake sobs died in her throat. She looked around the Huo family—no one was paying her any mind. She pressed her lips together, not knowing how to cry anymore.

Meanwhile, Niuwa and Zhuwa had finished packing their bags and, totally lacking any sense of the situation, ran over excitedly to ask, "Mom! Are we still going to Grandma's?"

"Go, my ass!" Lin Meilan, fuming with nowhere to vent, burst out cursing. "Both of you, get the hell out of my sight!"

Go back to her mother's house? Fat chance!

The Lin family had given her strict orders: she must get that job. If she went back empty-handed, her own family would probably kick her out the moment she arrived.

------------