Chapter 5: What Was Before, Will Be the Same in the Future

When Fu’s Mother heard her daughter say that, she immediately glared at her. “You’re all grown up, and you still can’t speak properly? That’s your sister-in-law!”

After lecturing her daughter, she turned her gaze back to the couple and smiled again.

Since the two of them were holding hands as they came down, it clearly meant that they had cleared up the misunderstanding in the room.

It’s good that they talked it out. Once it’s cleared up, the family can still be happy together.

This time, with the Fu family’s future uncertain, the daughter-in-law was willing to let go of past grudges and follow along, and with the grandchild about to be born, it seemed like the whole family had hope for the future.

They were still a complete family.

Fu Haitang snorted when her own mother scolded her. What kind of sister-in-law was this woman, anyway?

She instinctively opened her mouth, but before she could argue, she saw the two already walking up to the table.

She could only hold back her words and swallow them back down.

Jiang Yuman came downstairs with a smile on her face, and although Fu Jingchen didn’t show any particular expression, his entire demeanor had softened considerably.

He even thoughtfully pulled out the chair for Jiang Yuman.

Both Fu’s Mother and Fu Wangshan noticed these gestures.

The elderly couple exchanged a look, feeling both pleased and happy.

“Haitang, what are you standing there for? Hurry up and go to the kitchen to bring the porridge,” Fu’s Mother quickly turned to Fu Haitang after seeing Jiang Yuman sit down.

Then, she looked at Jiang Yuman and explained, “When you two went upstairs, I was worried the porridge would get cold, so I had it kept warm in the kitchen.”

“Thank you, Mom,” Jiang Yuman smiled sweetly, looking at them, “Sorry for troubling you, little sister.”

Fu Haitang had intended to refuse, but her words got stuck in her throat. Furiously, she stood up and went towards the kitchen.

Hmph, who knows what kind of terrible things she must’ve done in her past life to end up with a sister-in-law like this!

If it hadn’t been for the fact that the woman actually said thank you, Fu Haitang wouldn’t have gone to bring the porridge at all!

Only then did Fu’s Mother cautiously ask, “Manman, Jingchen, what did you two talk about?”

Although Fu Wangshan didn’t speak, his gaze also shifted toward them.

Even though it looked like the relationship between their son and daughter-in-law had eased up a lot, hearing it directly from them would bring them more peace of mind.

“Dad, Mom, I’ve already talked things through with Jingchen,” Jiang Yuman replied seriously. “We’re going to the countryside together as a family.”

Then she added with a guilty tone, “Before, I was just afraid I wouldn’t be able to handle farm work, so I acted out and made you worry.”

“I’ve thought it through now. As long as we’re together, there’s no obstacle we can’t overcome.”

As she spoke, her expression carried just the right amount of guilt and helplessness, which instantly tugged at Fu’s Mother’s heartstrings.

“You weren’t being unreasonable. It’s your father and I who have let you down,” she said, wiping her tears. “Good child, you’re right. As long as we’re together, there’s no hardship we can’t face.”

Fu Wangshan also spoke up, his tone filled with emotion. “Don’t worry, dear girl. With our whole family by your side, we won’t let you suffer.”

“Yes, yes, yes,” Fu’s Mother echoed eagerly.

“Jingchen is so tall and strong, plus there’s your father, me, and your little sister. With us, how could we not be able to support you and the baby?”

“Even though life won’t be as comfortable as it is now, whatever your life was like at home before—after we go to the countryside, it’ll stay the same.”

When Jiang Yuman heard this, she couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat.

So it turned out that back in the Fu family, she had truly lived a life of eating and sleeping, doing absolutely nothing else.

She hadn’t expected the whole family to have such low expectations for her—so indulgent and doting.

Now they were even making promises right to her face, saying that even after being sent down, she’d still receive the same treatment.

But… this actually fit perfectly with what she wanted. If she really had to go down to the fields and farm, she wouldn’t last a day.

With a husband and in-laws like this, she might as well enjoy the good life.

“Mom, why should she?!”

Just then, Fu Haitang came over from the kitchen holding a bowl of porridge and happened to catch this part of the conversation. She was so angry she felt like her lungs would explode.

“What kind of family treats a daughter-in-law like this? She’s not a wife—she’s a living ancestor!”

It had been one thing before, when they had a housemaid.

But now they were about to go to the countryside, and her parents were still spoiling this awful woman!

“Enough!”

Fu Wangshan’s expression darkened. “Your sister-in-law isn’t looking down on our family—she’s willing to go with us to the countryside and endure hardship. And you’re asking why?”

Fu Haitang refused to back down. “That doesn’t mean she shouldn’t do anything at all.”

She was going to suffer right alongside them, after all. But she had grown up as the daughter of a military commander. Even she didn’t expect special treatment. Now this woman wanted to act like an ancestor even after they were sent down?

Fu Wangshan slammed his chopsticks down heavily on the table and barked, “What exactly do you want your sister-in-law to do?”

“You want her to serve you? Then tell me—do you want your mom and me to serve you every day, too?”

After everything that had happened, the fact that their daughter-in-law was staying with the family and not abandoning them—that was a debt of gratitude they would never forget!

The girl had already suffered enough. They had to have a conscience.

Fu Haitang looked at her father’s darkened expression and bit her lip, not daring to talk back.

In this family, the person she feared most was Fu Wangshan.

She could only turn her gaze to Fu Jingchen, hoping her Big Brother would speak a word of fairness on her behalf.

But to her surprise, when she looked over, she saw her brother placing a dish in front of Jiang Yuman.

He even lifted his gaze slightly and asked gently, “Do you want anything else?” He couldn’t have been more attentive.

“No need.” Jiang Yuman shook her head and even glanced at her with what looked like concern.

Seeing this, Fu Haitang felt the world spinning around her.

That woman really was a vixen. Not only had she charmed their parents into complete submission, but after just one trip upstairs, she had even gotten her brother wrapped around her finger!

Feeling utterly alone and unsupported, Fu Haitang could only jab her chopsticks angrily into her bowl of rice.

Just wait—sooner or later, that fox’s tail would show.

She would definitely stay alert. There was no way she believed Jiang Yuman had truly changed so quickly!

Fu Haitang’s every move had been seen by Jiang Yuman.

But she wasn’t the least bit worried.

In the novel’s plot, Fu Haitang was all bark and no bite. Because of the malicious ex-wife, she harbored deep hostility toward the female lead for a long time afterward.

One could only imagine the psychological trauma the original host had inflicted on her.

It was understandable that change wouldn’t happen overnight.

But Fu Haitang wasn’t a bad person—far from it.

As long as they lived under the same roof, and the family got to know each other, the misunderstandings would be resolved eventually.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yuman remembered something else. If she wasn’t mistaken, once they moved to the countryside, they’d meet the novel’s female lead.

But this time, with her in the picture… it didn’t seem like the female lead would matter much at all.

“By the way, Manman—”

Fu’s mother seemed to suddenly recall something and asked,

“Since you’re going to the countryside with us, shouldn’t you inform your parents?”

Parents?

Jiang Yuman paused for a moment before realizing that Fu’s mother was referring to the original host’s birth parents.

Her father was a supervisor at the textile factory, and her stepmother was a female worker there—both held decent jobs for the times.

Unfortunately, one was a scummy father, and the other a manipulative stepmother.

Especially that her stepmother—sweet on the outside, venomous on the inside. She put on the face of a loving mother in front of the original host, but in reality, she only ever had eyes for her own daughter.

Ever since the original host married Fu Jingchen, that woman had tricked her out of quite a bit of money and jewelry.

If Fu’s mother hadn’t brought it up, she would’ve nearly forgotten!

“Yes, of course.”

Thinking of this, Jiang Yuman gave a gentle smile. “I want to go home myself and tell them in person.”

And while she was at it—retrieve what belonged to her.