Lu Jiaxuan carried two bowls of thin corn porridge and two yellow millet buns. Just as he heard the door open and began to smile, a person suddenly darted out of the house. Before he could see who it was, another person rushed out as well.

He froze for a moment, glancing between the inside and outside of the house, before snapping back to his senses at the sound of Wang Guizhi’s shouts.

“Oh no, something’s gone wrong! Mother, quick! There’s trouble!”

He didn’t even bother to look inside and ran straight toward the main room.

Zhou Jiaojiao, who was holding half-pound of brown sugar, and Lu Jiahe with his wife Wu Xianglan, along with Liu Sanjin, heard the shouting outside and hurriedly came out to see what was going on.

“Mom, something has happened! My sister-in-law’s parents just ran out shouting, saying that our Lu family is abusive and wants to drive her to her death—over the three-room brick house!”

Lu Jiaxuan felt a bit embarrassed to mention it. When he and Zhou Jiaojiao got together, he had promised she’d live a good life. When they got engaged, they set up a home, and being the youngest son, his mother had favored him and had a spacious, south-facing room with fine furniture specially built for him.

But Jiaojiao’s mother had her sights set on his sister-in-law’s three-room brick house—a place so well-built it was considered the best in all the nearby villages. That house was built with money from his eldest brother to make life comfortable for his sister-in-law and her children. As for him, as just the warehouse manager for the production team, there was no way he could afford a brick house with a yard of his own.

But since Jiaojiao’s mother insisted, and he and Jiaojiao were in love, when it came time for the wedding, he couldn’t refuse. His mother came up with the idea of renting his sister-in-law’s place. Though he wasn’t confident about it, he was surprised when his sister-in-law agreed.

They had mentioned returning the house several times over the past six months, but each time, his mother had intervened, insisting they had already paid rent and had nothing to feel guilty about.

Hearing Lu Jiaxuan’s words, Zhou Jiaojiao turned pale, nearly dropping the brown sugar. She had set her sights on that three-room house from her very first visit to the Lu family. Though the Lu family’s old house was fine, it was nothing compared to a brick house. She had been living there for half a year, decorating it to her taste. Moving out now was unthinkable.

“This is outrageous!” Liu Sanjin declared. “I never wanted them to build that house in the first place. But for three yuan a month in retirement money, and his promise to live separately while remaining part of the family, I agreed. Have I ever treated Shen Meng poorly? And if we’re still one family, that house is mine to lend. I say my fourth son can live there if I want him to! Let’s see what her parents think they can do about it! Come on, let’s go over there—I want to see what she plans to do!”

With that, Liu Sanjin stormed out. Wu Xianglan and Lu Jiahe quickly followed. She and her husband earned very little, so they relied on the old couple’s pension to eat well, so she had to coax the old lady.

Just as Zhou Jiaojiao was about to leave, she noticed that Xie Jinghao hadn’t budged. She hesitated briefly and asked, “Sister-in-law, aren’t you coming with us?”

Without even glancing up, Xie Jinghao touched her belly and replied, “No, I think I’ll stay here. Walking is too hard with my belly this big, and Xiao Gang still needs to go to sleep soon.”

She had no intention of getting involved. As far as she was concerned, the family saw Shen Meng an idiot and were all trying to manipulate her. She’d take care of her own family and maybe help her eldest brother’s children a little, but that was enough. She didn’t want to play the villain here.

Seeing her dismissive attitude, Zhou Jiaojiao forced a smile, then took Lu Jiaxuan’s hand and walked off, thinking that things were fine as long as her plans weren’t interfered with.

Meanwhile, Shen Meng quickly took advantage of the few minutes she had alone. She pulled out a bottle of saline from her space and gulped down half of it, then stuffed half a piece of cake into her mouth. Every swallow made her forehead throb with pain.

Feeling a bit stronger, she took out a cream to pale her face, applying it until she looked as washed out as a candle near its end. Before anyone could enter, she hurriedly stashed everything back in her space.

Liu Sanjin walked in with a stormy expression, about to launch into a scolding, but paused when she saw Shen Meng’s ghastly appearance—ashen face, bloodless lips. She was completely different from the Shen Meng who was carried into the house before, speaking sharply and scolding people vigorously.

It wasn’t just her; everyone who followed in behind—Lu Jiaxuan, Zhou Jiaojiao, and the rest—was equally stunned. She really looked like she was on death’s door.

Wu Xianglan felt a chill run down her spine. Meeting Shen Meng’s gaze, she grew nervous, looking away as fear made her body go weak. She had come here hoping to gain something, not to witness her sister-in-law’s death. Now she was regretting it. What if Shen Meng really died and returned to haunt her?

Feeling her anxiety mount, she lowered her head even more. Her heart filled with regret. I should never have come. Getting gored by a bull is no joke—men don’t survive it, let alone a frail woman.

Seeing the varied expressions of those around her, Shen Meng was inwardly pleased—everything was going just as planned. Judging by the time, her father should be back with the children any moment now. It was time to put on her show.

“Mother, Jiaxuan, Jiaojiao, Jiahe, and Xianglan, what… what do you want?”

“M-me? Nothing, Sister-in-law, nothing at all! I just came to check on you!” Wu Xianglan stammered, her voice going up in a shriek.

Zhou Jiaojiao, seeing that the situation wasn’t going her way, squeezed out a few tears and rushed over, ready to throw herself on Shen Meng.

“My poor sister-in-law…”

But Shen Meng wailed, her voice piercing, “Mingyang, Mingliang, Mingfang, and my little Mingkai… Mingkai, where are you? I might not make it, my children, where are you? I need to see you, my children! I’m so sorry!”

Her cry stopped Zhou Jiaojiao in her tracks, freezing her midway through her attempt to cry, her expression awkward and half-formed.

Outside, Shen Fugui held two small children by the hand, followed by nine-year-old Mingyang and seven-year-old Mingliang. Hearing the weeping inside, they stopped in their tracks.

“Let’s go, let’s go! Mingkai, my good boy, hurry in and see your mother, or you might not get to see her for the last time.”

Lu Mingkai was Shen Meng’s biological son. Despite her occasional beatings, he was still only three and held a deep affection for her. He began to wail at his grandfather’s words.

Mingfang is six years old. Although she is young, she has done a lot of housework. She doesn’t have much feelings for the original owner, but she is still scared when she hears that someone is going to die.

As for Mingyang and Mingliang, they merely exchanged a silent glance, faces expressionless, secretly thinking how much better it would be if the wicked woman died.

Shen Meng, still calling out for her children, had wisely put in eye drops ahead of time, or she might not have been able to bring herself to tears.

“Mother! Waaa, Xiao Kai doesn’t want you to die!”

Hearing the small, tearful voice, Shen Meng looked down and nearly cursed aloud. Heaven help her, she realized at once that this crying, adorable child was her very own son.