Chapter 5: What Was, Will Be

Hearing her daughter’s remark, Fu’s mother shot her a glare. “You’re all grown up, can’t you speak properly? That’s your sister-in-law!”

After giving her daughter a lecture, she turned back and saw Jiang Yuman and Fu Jingchen approaching the dining table hand in hand, their faces radiating warmth.

Seeing the couple holding hands meant that they had resolved their misunderstandings in the room.

That was good; it meant the family could still get along well.

With the uncertainty of their future going to the countryside, the fact that their daughter-in-law could set aside past grievances to join them, and that a grandchild was on the way, everyone felt as if there was hope on the horizon.

They were still a complete family.

After being scolded by her mother, Fu Haitang let out a huff. Where was the essence of sisterhood in that woman?

She instinctively opened her mouth, but before she could retort, she saw the couple had already settled by the table, compelling her to swallow her words.

Jiang Yuman came downstairs with a smile, while Fu Jingchen, though seemingly expressionless, had softened considerably, even pulling out a chair for her.

Fu’s parents observed all of this with pleasure and satisfaction.

“Haitang, why are you still dawdling? Hurry and go to the kitchen to get the porridge.” After seeing Jiang Yuman seated, Fu’s mother quickly turned to Fu Haitang.

Then, looking back at Jiang Yuman, she explained, “You both went upstairs, and I was worried the porridge would cool down, so I was warming it in the kitchen.”

“Thank you, Mom.” Jiang Yuman glanced at them and sweetly replied, “I appreciate it, little sister.”

Fu Haitang had intended to refuse, but those words lodged in her throat, making her angrier as she stood up and headed to the kitchen.

Hmph! I don’t know what misdeed I committed in my past life to end up with such a sister-in-law!

If it weren’t for the fact that this woman had the audacity to say thank you, she wouldn’t have gone to fetch the porridge!

Fu’s mother cautiously asked, “Manman, Jingchen, how did you two come to an agreement?”

Though Fu Wangshan didn’t speak, his eyes also focused on the two of them.

While it appeared that their son and daughter-in-law’s relationship had significantly warmed, hearing their own words would reassure them even more.

“Mom, Dad, we’ve made everything clear.”

Jiang Yuman said earnestly, “We’re all going to the countryside together.”

After a pause, she added apologetically, “I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to handle farm work, which is why I acted irrationally and worried you both.”

“Now, I’ve realized that as long as we are together, there’s no hardship we can’t overcome.”

As she spoke, an appropriate blend of guilt and vulnerability adorned her face, instantly striking a chord with Fu’s mother.

“It wasn’t you being unreasonable; it was me and your dad who weren’t good enough for you,” she said, wiping tears from her eyes. “Good child, you’re right; together, there’s no difficulty we can’t face.”

Fu Wangshan also spoke with excitement, promising, “Daughter, don’t worry, with our family together, we will make sure you don’t suffer.”

“Exactly.” Fu’s mother chimed in, “With Jingchen’s height, and with your dad, me, and your little sister here, how could we not take good care of you and the baby?”

“Even if we can’t live as comfortably as now, it will still be the same as it was before; you’ll still have everything at home after we go to the countryside.”

Jiang Yuman felt a rush of sweat at those words.

In the original owner’s life in the Fu family, she truly was pampered to the extent that she did nothing but eat and sleep, hardly lifting a finger.

She hadn’t expected the family to have such low and accommodating expectations of her.

They promised that even after going to the countryside, she’d be treated the same as before.

However… this matched her own desires; if she had to farm, she would genuinely tire out.

With such a husband and in-laws, why not enjoy life?

“Mom, why?!”

Just then, Fu Haitang came from the kitchen with a bowl of porridge and, overhearing the conversation, felt her blood boil.

“What family treats their daughter-in-law like ours? She’s more like an ancestor than a wife!”

That might have been acceptable before since they had hired help, but now they were going to the countryside, and her parents were being so indulgent towards this bad woman!

“Shut up!” Fu Wangshan’s face darkened. “Your sister-in-law has no complaints and is willing to endure hardship with our family. Why should we resent her?”

Hearing this, Fu Haitang retorted, “That doesn’t mean she gets to do nothing.”

Although she too would face hardship, she had grown up as the young lady of the family.

She had never expected to have to host this “ancestor” come into their house after going to the countryside.

Fu Wangshan slammed the utensils onto the table, scolding, “What do you expect your sister-in-law to do?”

“Do you want her to serve you? Do you want your mom and I to serve you every day, too?”

After such an event, their daughter-in-law had chosen to stay loyal. This kindness was something that the family had to remember!

That girl had endured such great suffering; they needed to be conscientious.

Fu Haitang looked at her father’s heavy expression, biting her lip and refraining from retorting.

In the family, her biggest fear was her father, Fu Wangshan.

She turned her gaze to Fu Jingchen, hoping he would say something fair.

To her surprise, as soon as she glanced at him, she found her brother was serving a plate of food in front of Jiang Yuman, even looking up slightly, “Would you like anything else?” He was so attentive.

“No, I’m fine.” Jiang Yuman shook her head, even casting a concerned glance in Fu Haitang’s direction.

Seeing this scene, Fu Haitang felt a whirlwind of confusion.

This woman truly was a vixen, seducing her parents into submission, and now even her brother was completely enthralled by her!

Feeling isolated, Fu Haitang could only resentfully poke at the food in her bowl.

Just wait! The fox’s tail will show itself one day.

She wouldn’t believe Jiang Yuman’s transformation was so quick!

Fu Haitang’s actions didn’t escape Jiang Yuman’s notice.

However, she wasn’t worried.

In the original story, Fu Haitang was hard on the outside but soft on the inside, heavily influenced by her cruel sister-in-law, which led to a long-lasting enmity with the protagonist.

It was clear how deep the psychological trauma had been for her.

Changing overnight would indeed be difficult.

But she wasn’t a bad person; in fact, she was quite good.

As long as they lived under the same roof and got to know each other better, their misunderstandings would surely be resolved over time.

With these thoughts in mind, Jiang Yuman recalled another matter, wondering if when they went to the countryside, they might encounter the female lead of the book.

However, this time she was present, so it seemed there wouldn’t be any need for the female lead after all…

“Oh, right, Manman.”

Fu’s mother seemed to remember something suddenly and asked, “Since you’re going to the countryside, shouldn’t you inform your parents?”

Parents?

Jiang Yuman froze for a moment before realizing that Fu’s mother was referring to the original owner’s family.

One was the manager of a textile factory, and the other was a very decent girl working in the same factory.

It was a pity; one was a scumbag father, while the other was a stepmother.

Especially that stepmother, with her sweet words but poisonous heart, pretended to be motherly in front of the original owner while only thinking of her own biological daughter.

Ever since the original owner married Fu Jingchen, she had swindled quite a bit of money and jewelry.

If Fu’s mother hadn’t brought it up, Jiang Yuman would have almost forgotten about it!

“Oh, yes, of course.”

Recalling this, Jiang Yuman showed a warm smile. “I need to go back home to inform them.”

And maybe bring back some of her belongings as well.