Chapter 25

“This Lu Er’s wife, it’s like she’s a different person!” Everyone couldn’t help but wonder. Although she still looked soft and weak on the surface, her logical and organized way of handling things was completely different from before.

Under everyone’s scrutinizing gaze, Wang Mingfang reluctantly took the ledger that Xia Qingning handed her, but she didn’t open it. She wasn’t willing to spit out the meat she had already swallowed. She started to play the emotional card with Xia Qingning:

“Qingning, it’s not that Auntie doesn’t want to give you the money. Look at our sewing machine, radio, and bicycle… none of them cost less than a few hundred yuan.”

As expected, Xia Qingning had already anticipated that she would find excuses to dodge and wouldn’t easily return the money.

Wang Mingfang stepped forward and grabbed Xia Qingning’s hand, “You use these things too, right? We’re family. There’s no need…”

“We’re not family!” Lu Jingzhe looked at Wang Mingfang, interrupting her and saying clearly, then he said as if reminding her and warning her, “You need to understand. You and my dad got divorced a long time ago. He never had any intention of remarrying you. We will never be family with you.”

Wang Mingfang didn’t expect Lu Jingzhe to be so ruthless and disregard her face in front of so many people. She was both angry and annoyed.

But these words gave her an opportunity to play the victim. The next second, her tears started to flow, and she said tearfully, “Jingzhe, you can’t say such heartless things. No matter what, I’m your brother’s mother. Wuwuwu…

All these years, I’ve been working like a horse in the Lu family, taking care of this house, taking care of your sister. I always gave her the good food, treating her better than my own granddaughter. Wuwuwu…

And when your wife first came to the Lu family, she was pale and thin, not presentable at all. Look at her now. She’s fair and beautiful. If I had mistreated her, even Heaven wouldn’t agree. Wuwuwu…

Back then, you and her… Lidong was so angry he wanted to kill someone. It was me who persuaded him. You’re all brothers, don’t be so petty. I’ve always put the Lu family first and devoted myself wholeheartedly. Now, I’m not accepted by either side. Wuwuwu…”

After she finished speaking, there were different voices in the crowd:

“They say stepmothers are hard to deal with, but I think ex-wives are not easy either. It’s not easy to be like Auntie Mingfang.”

“To be honest, she’s really good to the Lu family girl. We’ve all seen it.”

“When Xia Qingning married Lu Jingzhe, Auntie Mingfang didn’t say anything.”

In the midst of Wang Mingfang’s accusations and everyone’s discussions, Lu Jingzhe’s face became increasingly ugly, but he didn’t say a word. He was facing an old shrew, a cunning old shrew. He couldn’t argue with her in public.

Xia Qingning had learned what it meant to be eloquent today. Wang Mingfang was no ordinary person. Every sentence she spoke highlighted her own hard work.

She didn’t mention the dirty things she had done to the original body. In the end, she didn’t forget to bring up the old story of her “sleeping” with her brother-in-law to hurt her deeply. She was truly vicious.

Since Wang Mingfang wanted to establish a good persona as a kind ex-wife, then she would tear off her mask and let everyone see what kind of ex-wife she really was.

Xia Qingning slowly walked to Wang Mingfang’s side and looked at her confidently, “Auntie, I think Jingzhe is right. You and Dad have been divorced for so many years, and you both have remarried. You can’t really be considered family anymore.” She paused, then asked earnestly, “As for the fact that Dad will never remarry you, I think you know the reason better than anyone else.”

Xia Qingning deliberately stopped there. Everyone around looked at her with puzzlement.

Because the Lu family had only moved to the courtyard after Lu Baichuan resumed his work, everyone didn’t know much about their family’s past. Now, hearing Xia Qingning mention it, they were naturally very curious.

Hearing Xia Qingning say this, Wang Mingfang, who was good at disguising herself, visibly tensed up. But she kept reassuring herself, she couldn’t know, how could she know!

Seeing that she had piqued everyone’s curiosity, Xia Qingning continued, “When Dad was sent down to the countryside, you heard the news and took the initiative to propose a divorce, right…”

“You don’t know anything. Don’t talk nonsense.” Before she could finish, Wang Mingfang interrupted her, her voice hurried and flustered.

“Auntie, you know in your heart whether I’m talking nonsense or not. When you divorced, you even left your one-year-old child behind, didn’t you?”

“Not only that, but you also wrote a letter of guarantee to sever ties with them, right? Then you turned around and married the head of the Revolutionary Committee who investigated Dad.”

Xia Qingning didn’t give Wang Mingfang a chance to breathe and continued, “Your letter of guarantee is still with Dad. It’s also a fact that you married the head of the Revolutionary Committee. Dad was suffering in the countryside, but you were enjoying yourself in the city. You’re a person like that. Jingzhe doesn’t consider you family. Where is he wrong?”

Hearing this, everyone sighed. They finally understood why Lu Baichuan had always been cold towards Wang Mingfang, no matter how she tried to show him affection.

What kind of man would want a woman who was so heartless and abandoned her husband?

“Dad has never mentioned this because he was considering your reputation. It’s already awkward enough that you’re living here with your identity. Now, you’re asking Jingzhe to consider you family. Isn’t that too much to ask?” Xia Qingning pressed on, looking at Wang Mingfang and asking one question after another.

Her past was exposed, and Wang Mingfang was both ashamed and angry. Although Xia Qingning’s words were all true, she was still trying to find excuses to defend herself:

“At that time, under those circumstances, I did that to protect myself. I wanted to make my own life better and then bring the child back to be with me so that he wouldn’t suffer. Was I wrong?

Besides, that was all in the past between me and your Dad. I haven’t done anything wrong to you younger ones in this family. When you and Lu Jingzhe did that thing, my son suffered such a great humiliation, and I didn’t even say a harsh word to you. Now, you two are ganging up on me and humiliating me. Do you have any conscience…”

“Why was I in Lu Jingzhe’s bed? Don’t you know the reason better than anyone else?” Xia Qingning couldn’t help but interrupt her and asked back.

When she said this, everyone was shocked again. Last time, Xia Qingning said that she was put in Lu Jingzhe’s bed by Wang Mingfang and her son. Could there be something hidden about what happened that year?

Lu Jingzhe couldn’t help but look at Xia Qingning, as if thinking.

“What do I know? I don’t know anything! Could it be that I tied you to his bed?” Wang Mingfang immediately denied it.

Xia Qingning knew that she had no evidence now, and even if she told the truth, people wouldn’t believe her. She didn’t bother to defend herself and said, “You keep bringing this up because you want Jingzhe to feel guilty and remorseful. But what’s wrong with him?

Back then, he was already a battalion commander in the army. He had such good conditions. There were many women who liked him, women from good families. Would he have any improper thoughts about me, a country bumpkin?

He was forced to marry me. So what has he done wrong to you?”

After Xia Qingning said this, even the indifferent Lu Jingzhe couldn’t help but be moved. She actually belittled herself to protect his reputation.

At this point, Xia Qingning changed the subject again. She suddenly stared at Wang Mingfang, “As for why I appeared in his bed, you know as well as I do. Don’t forget, Dad gave his life to save your son. You treat me like this. Aren’t you afraid that he’ll be restless in his grave and come to haunt you in the middle of the night?”

“You’re talking nonsense. We didn’t do anything. I, Wang Mingfang, am upright and honest. I’m not afraid of any ghosts or spirits…”

Wang Mingfang loudly defended herself, but she was clearly lacking confidence. She looked very flustered.

At that moment, she suddenly saw her son, Lu Lidong, walk into the courtyard. It was as if she had finally found her support. She cried out, “Wuwuwu…”

Lu Lidong heard the crying, his face changed drastically. He quickly walked to Wang Mingfang, grabbed her hand, and asked, “Mom, what’s wrong?”

“Lidong, you’re back. I just wanted to come over and help you take care of the child, to ease the burden on you and your wife. I didn’t expect to be bullied and wronged like this. I can’t stay in this house anymore. I’m going to pack my things and leave right now…” As she spoke, she pretended to walk towards the house.

She hadn’t said she was going to leave after arguing for so long. Now that her son was back, she was pretending to be weak and pitiful, crying and saying she was leaving. This was clearly a ploy.

Lu Lidong immediately grabbed her and said to her loudly, “Mom, this is your son’s home. If you want to stay, stay. No one can drive you away.”

“I’m just a nuisance here. No matter how well I do, how well I take care of Xiaoxue, I’m always an outsider. They can kick me out whenever they want… Lidong, I don’t want to make things difficult for you. I’m leaving now.” Wang Mingfang continued to wail.

Wang Mingfang used this trick of crying and making a fuss to gain sympathy. She thought that Lu Jingzhe would have to give her some face in front of Lu Lidong. As expected, the next second, she heard Lu Jingzhe say in a low voice:

“Wait…”

Wang Mingfang was overjoyed. She was waiting for Lu Jingzhe to ask her to stay, but the next second, she heard him say coldly, “Before you leave, return the salary.”