Chapter 173: A Bolt From The Blue

“Have you never thought of changing?”

Ling Yao looked at Ma Meifang, whose face was haggard and whose eyes were dull.

An indescribable sadness and anger welled up in her heart.

She knew what kind of person Ma Meifang was. Her thinking was extremely traditional.

She believed that once a woman got married, she had to stay with her husband for life, no matter how difficult or challenging life was, she had to endure it silently.

However, it was this ignorant and foolish notion that ruined Ma Meifang’s life, and even more so, ruined the lives of her three innocent daughters!

In her previous life, after she achieved success in her career, she had specially returned to look for Ma Meifang.

But at that time, Ma Meifang had already passed away, and her two remaining daughters were sold by Old Lady Zhang’s family to a divorced man and a cripple respectively. They lived miserable lives.

Recalling all this, Ling Yao’s fists clenched involuntarily. In this life, she finally had the chance to change their fate.

She would never let them repeat the mistakes of her previous life.

Ma Meifang shook her head and smiled bitterly, “What can I change? I can’t even read.” She was just a woman.

 Besides taking care of her husband, mother-in-law, and daughters, what else could she do?

Ling Yao knew that it wouldn’t be easy to change Ma Meifang’s thinking, “Sister Meifang, the world is big.

 You can go out and see more. And the great man also said that women can hold up half the sky.

Don’t underestimate yourself. If you want to change, I can help you.”

She reached out and patted Ma Meifang’s shoulder, giving her an encouraging smile.

Ma Meifang smiled, “Sister Lu, thank you!”

“Then I’ll go back. If you have any difficulties, come find me.”

Ling Yao knew that it wouldn’t be long before Zhang Huzi would ask Ma Meifang for a divorce.

Because Zhang Huzi had a mistress outside, and she was pregnant with his child.

In her previous life, Ma Meifang didn’t want to get a divorce.

She cried and begged Zhang’s mother and son, only to find out later that she and Zhang Huzi never even got a marriage certificate.

After Zhang Huzi married someone else, Old Lady Zhang made a shameless request.

She asked Ma Meifang and her daughters to stay at home and serve them as servants. In the end, Ma Meifang died of overwork within a year.

Thinking of Ma Meifang’s tragic experience in her previous life, Ling Yao shook her head and sighed.

“Captain’s wife! You’re leaving? It’s almost time for dinner. Stay and have dinner.”

 Seeing Ling Yao come out from inside, Old Lady Zhang said with a cheerful smile.

If she could flatter the Captain’s wife, maybe the Captain’s wife would say a few good words to the Captain, and her son would be promoted.

Ling Yao didn’t even give Old Lady Zhang a glance. She walked out of the house.

Old Lady Zhang gritted her teeth, “tsk”ed at Ling Yao’s back, “What a thing!” If she wasn’t the Captain’s wife, she wouldn’t bother with her.

She glanced at Ma Meifang coming out of the room. Old Lady Zhang walked over, reached out and pinched the flesh on her arm,

 “What good are you? You can’t even give birth to a son. Don’t you dare go make dinner. Do you want to starve me to death?”

Ma Meifang’s brows furrowed in pain, but she didn’t dare to say anything. After Old Lady Zhang let go of her, she lowered her head and walked towards the kitchen.

Ma Meifang shook her head and smiled self-deprecatingly as she thought about Ling Yao’s words. What was she thinking? What could she change?

Zhang Huzi’s voice came from outside, “Mom, is dinner ready?”

“No, your wife is just lazy all day long. If I didn’t urge her, she wouldn’t be making dinner now.”

Zhang Huzi frowned unhappily, “Mom, I have something to tell you. Let’s go to the room and talk.”

Old Lady Zhang nodded and followed Zhang Huzi into the room.

Closing the door, Zhang Huzi pulled Old Lady Zhang to sit down on the chair, “Mom, Yingzi is pregnant. I’m going to get a marriage certificate with her.”

“Really?” Old Lady Zhang clapped her thighs in delight. Yingzi was not comparable to Ma Meifang.

 Not only was she from the city, but her parents were also leaders. If her son married Yingzi, his future prospects would be unlimited.

“She’s been pregnant for two months. I want to have a wedding with Yingzi, but it’s just that woman…” Zhang Huzi looked worried.

“Mom will take care of it. Don’t worry about that.” Old Lady Zhang said with a smile.

 Back then, her son and Ma Meifang didn’t get a marriage certificate.

 They only had a wedding banquet in the village. She and her son were not really husband and wife.

Later, she would make it clear to Ma Meifang. She wouldn’t kick her out. After her son married Yingzi, and Yingzi gave birth to a child, they would need someone to take care of them.

She and her son would also need someone to take care of them.

Ma Meifang could stay and take care of their family. And those three daughters, the money spent on them over the years couldn’t be wasted.

In a few years, she would marry them off and get a dowry.

Ma Meifang was busy in the kitchen, unaware of the plans of Zhang’s mother and son.

After serving the dishes on the table, Ma Meifang shouted to the room, “Mom! Huzi! Dinner is ready.”

 As for her and her three daughters, they could only eat what was leftover. They were not qualified to eat at the table with them.

Old Lady Zhang and Zhang Huzi came out of the room, sat down at the table, and started eating with gusto.

Since Ma Meifang came to their house, they had been living a life of luxury, with food and clothing provided.

After finishing their meal, Zhang Huzi winked at Old Lady Zhang and went out.

Old Lady Zhang nodded knowingly. After Zhang Huzi left, she beckoned Ma Meifang, “Come here, I have something to tell you.”

Ma Meifang walked to Old Lady Zhang’s side with her head lowered.

“Meifang, you’ve been in our house for ten years, right?”

“Yes.” Ma Meifang nodded.

“We’ve seen all the hard work you’ve put into the family over these ten years. But you also know that Huzi is the only son in our family.

 I only have Huzi, my son. You love Huzi so much, you wouldn’t want Huzi to be without an heir, right?”

“Mom, don’t worry. I’ll definitely try my best to give Huzi a big, fat son.”

Old Lady Zhang smiled, “Huzi is no ordinary person. With his talent, he will definitely achieve something great in the future.

You wouldn’t want to hold him back, right?”

Hearing this, Ma Meifang’s heart tightened. A bad feeling welled up in her heart, “Mom, what do you mean?”

“Huzi already has someone he likes. She’s not only from the city, but her parents are also officials. Now, she’s already pregnant with our Huzi’s child…”

“Wh… what?” This news struck Ma Meifang like a bolt from the blue. She was caught off guard and staggered involuntarily.

She widened her eyes, her face full of disbelief, her voice trembling as she asked, “What should I do?” What about her daughters?

Old Lady Zhang shrugged, “You and Huzi never got a marriage certificate, so what kind of husband and wife are you?

But, for the sake of you serving us diligently for so many years, you and your three daughters can continue to live here.

But there’s one thing you need to listen to me.

Don’t go gossiping outside. If others find out the truth, I’ll say that your three daughters are bastards you had out of wedlock.”