Chapter 174: Realization

Ma Meifang walked out of the house like a zombie, her steps stumbling.

She was in a daze, her eyes hollow as she stared at the gurgling river in front of her.

At this moment, her heart was filled with endless despair and sadness. For so many years, she had worked hard and served the family like a cow or a horse.

 But in the end, all she got was her mother-in-law’s disdain and her husband’s betrayal.

Ma Meifang closed her eyes, tears silently sliding down her cheeks. She walked forward step by step. She wanted to end all this pain.

Just as she was about to jump into the river, a hand grabbed her.

“Sister Meifang, what are you doing?”

Ling Yao pulled hard, pulling Ma Meifang away from the riverbank. She didn’t expect Ma Meifang to choose this path.

Ma Meifang opened her eyes and looked at Ling Yao, tears flowing out of her eyes like a broken dam,

 “Sister Lu, I can’t live anymore. Huzi is going to marry someone else. He’s going to divorce me. What should I do? What should I do… woo woo woo…”

She threw herself into Ling Yao’s arms and burst into tears, as if she wanted to pour out all her grievances and pain.

Ling Yao gently patted Ma Meifang’s back, comforting her, “Sister, don’t think about it. Think about your daughters.

 If you leave, what will they do? Your mother-in-law and Huzi already dislike them so much. They’ll definitely treat them even worse in the future.”

Hearing the word “children,” Ma Meifang’s body trembled. Yes, she had three daughters. If she left, how would they live?

Her mother-in-law and Huzi already disliked them so much, and they would definitely treat them even worse in the future.

Ma Meifang gradually regained her senses. She looked at Ling Yao gratefully, “Sister Lu, thank you!

 I’ll live well from now on.” Even if it wasn’t for herself, she had to live for her daughters. For them, she had to live strong.

“Sister Meifang, are you willing to tell me in detail what happened?” Ling Yao asked softly.

Ma Meifang hesitated for a moment and told Ling Yao everything Old Lady Zhang had said,

“My mother-in-law said that Huzi and I never got a marriage certificate, so we’re not really husband and wife.

She also said that I shouldn’t stop Huzi from marrying another woman.

That woman is not only from the city, but her parents are also officials.

 And that woman is already pregnant with Huzi’s child…”

The lower Ma Meifang’s voice became, the more she sobbed.

Ling Yao’s eyes became colder. She gently patted Ma Meifang’s back, comforting her,

 “Sister Meifang, they hurt you like this. Have you ever thought of making them pay for what they did?”

Ma Meifang looked at Ling Yao in confusion, “What do you mean…”

“With Zhang Huzi’s current behavior, you can completely write a letter to the leader to report him for having an affair.”

Hearing this, Ma Meifang shook her head, “My mother-in-law said that if I dare to spread this around, she’ll spread rumors everywhere saying that my three daughters are bastards I had out of wedlock…”

Ling Yao’s brows furrowed even tighter, “Then are you really going to continue living like this?

After Zhang Huzi gets married, they will only treat you and your three children even worse.

Do you want your three children to be bullied by the Zhang family for the rest of their lives?

Even if you don’t think about yourself, you have to think about your three children, right?”

“But… I can’t do anything. If I leave the Zhang family, I won’t be able to support my three children…”

 Ma Meifang buried her face in her hands and cried. She cried for her own incompetence, cried for her own helplessness.

“I can help you, but you have to listen to me.” Ling Yao looked at Ma Meifang.

 She was willing to help her, but first, Ma Meifang had to be strong herself, willing to trust her before she could help her.

Ma Meifang hesitated for a long time, then finally bit her lip and nodded forcefully,

 “I’ll listen to you.” Ling Yao was right. Even if it wasn’t for herself, she had to think about her three daughters.

With her mother-in-law’s personality, her three daughters would definitely be sold like commodities in the future.

Ling Yao smiled and patted Ma Meifang’s shoulder, “Come back with me first. I’ll teach you how to write a letter of accusation.”

“I didn’t go to school, I don’t know how to write.” Ma Meifang said a little embarrassed.

 Her parents died young, and she grew up eating food from different families. She never went to school.

Ling Yao thought for a moment, “It’s okay, I’ll help you write.”

“Thank you, Sister Lu! I will never forget this kindness. From now on, I will do whatever you ask.”

Ma Meifang knew that Ling Yao was genuinely trying to help her.

“Let’s go.”

“Okay!” Ma Meifang wiped away her tears, a smile she hadn’t shown in a long time blooming on her face.

 At this moment, she seemed to see a bright future for herself and her daughters.

Just as Ma Meifang pushed open the door, a cup flew towards her face.

 She quickly dodged to the side, but the cup still hit her shoulder, making her wince in pain and almost cry.

“Where have you been? There are so many chores to do at home, are you trying to rebel?” Old Lady Zhang stormed up to Ma Meifang and twisted her arm.

Ma Meifang gasped in pain. Thinking of Ling Yao’s words, she pushed Old Lady Zhang away. Ling Yao was right.

She couldn’t be so spineless anymore. From now on, she would live for herself and her daughters.

Old Lady Zhang didn’t expect Ma Meifang, who had always been submissive, to dare to resist. She trembled with anger,

 “Alright! You bitch, you dare to fight back? You’ve gone too far! I’ll teach you a lesson today!”

She cursed angrily, looking around for something to hit Ma Meifang with.

Soon, Old Lady Zhang’s gaze fell on the broom in the corner.

She walked over in three strides, grabbed the broom, and without saying a word, hit Ma Meifang hard.

“Ouch!” Ma Meifang couldn’t dodge and took a hard hit from the broom. Her face turned white in pain.

 She grabbed the broom, her eyes cold as she looked at Old Lady Zhang, “What am I to you?!”

Old Lady Zhang was scared by Ma Meifang’s gaze and took a step back, but her mouth was still hard,

 “You’ve gone crazy today? You dare talk to me like that? When Huzi comes back, I’ll make him teach you a lesson.

 We’ll see if you dare to be so arrogant with me again.”

As soon as she finished speaking, footsteps sounded from outside.

Ma Meifang recognized that it was Zhang Huzi who had returned. A wave of fear washed over her.