Chapter 93

Yáo Hóngméi felt both wronged and angry. She cursed in her heart: This mother and son are all heartless! Not a single one of them is good!

After cursing, she still helplessly raised her hand, picked up the small bowl of cold water-soaked rice, hesitated for a moment, picked up a spoon, and sent spoonful after spoonful into her mouth.

People who were in their confinement period were more afraid of the cold than usual. The cold rice chewed tasteless in her mouth. When she swallowed it, her entire stomach felt cold.

Yingying, who was sitting beside her, licked her lips and looked at her with longing eyes. She was hungry! Why was Mommy eating and not giving her any? Did Mommy not like her anymore?

Yáo Hóngméi wanted to give her some, but she was afraid that she would get a stomachache. At that moment, she couldn’t hold it in anymore. Tears fell into the bowl, one after another.

The rice mixed with tears tasted different in her mouth, but every mouthful she swallowed was filled with bitterness and grievance.

At this time, Lu Jingzhe was riding his bicycle and came back with Xia Qingning, who had just gotten off work. Xia Qingning was sitting in the back, holding a net bag filled with fruit.

As soon as they arrived at the courtyard, they saw the overturned coal stove. Xia Qingning walked over curiously and wanted to put it back up, but Lu Jingzhe stopped her. Xia Qingning was confused, then she saw him walk over, first tested the temperature, and then lifted it up and placed it on the steps.

Xia Qingning immediately understood. He was afraid that she would get burned, so he didn’t let her do it.

This man was so considerate. She hadn’t thought of that at all. If the stove had been really hot, her hand would probably have been burned by now.

Touched, Xia Qingning walked inside. As soon as she entered the house, she heard a low sob coming from Yáo Hóngméi’s room. She placed the net bag on the table and walked over with a look of confusion. As soon as she reached the door, she saw Yáo Hóngméi eating rice and crying at the same time.

Three-year-old Yingying was kneeling beside her, her big eyes fixed on the bowl in her hand. Xia Qingning walked in and was about to speak when she heard Yingying say:

“Mommy, Yingying’s tummy is hungry. Yingying eat…” Then she opened her mouth wide to Yáo Hóngméi, indicating that she should feed her.

Seeing this, Xia Qingning seemed to realize something. Yáo Hóngméi wasn’t as biased towards boys as Wang Mingfang. She had always been very fond of Yingying. She wouldn’t eat alone and wouldn’t give the child any food.

Thinking about this, she walked over and reached out to take the bowl from Yáo Hóngméi’s hand. When she got the bowl, she found that the rice inside was cold.

“Sister-in-law, you…” Xia Qingning stopped halfway through her sentence. Who would eat cold water-soaked rice if they had food?

Seeing Yáo Hóngméi’s tear-stained face, Xia Qingning understood. This Wang Mingfang and her son were truly heartless. They had actually left a woman who had just had surgery at home, ignoring her completely.

Especially Lu Lìdōng. Yáo Hóngméi had been married to him for a few years and had even given birth to a daughter for him. He didn’t even care about their relationship at all.

At this moment, Xia Qingning was incredibly grateful that the original owner hadn’t married Lu Lìdōng!

Xia Qingning put the bowl aside and said softly:

“Don’t eat it.” After a moment, she said: “Wait a minute.” Then she turned and went out.

Yáo Hóngméi looked at Xia Qingning, who was walking out, thoughtfully. Her previously vacant eyes suddenly held a glimmer of hope.

Xia Qingning went into the kitchen and brought out a large bowl and a small bowl. She went back to her room and brought out a can of malted milk. She opened the lid, scooped three large spoonfuls into the large bowl, and two spoonfuls into the small bowl. She picked up the kettle next to it and wanted to pour water into the bowl, but she found that the kettle was empty. There was no water inside.

No wonder the stove outside had overturned. It must have been that Yáo Hóngméi had wanted to boil some water but accidentally knocked it over, so she could only eat cold water-soaked rice.

Xia Qingning carried the bowl and turned into her room. She used the thermos in her room to pour water into the bowls, filling them both up. Then, she carried them into Yáo Hóngméi’s room.

She handed the large bowl to Yáo Hóngméi and said softly:

“Sister-in-law, have some malted milk first. I’ll make you something to eat after you finish this.”

Yáo Hóngméi was stunned for a moment, then she took the bowl with red eyes. She was about to feed her daughter when she heard Xia Qingning say:

“You drink yours. I’ll feed Yingying.”

Then she picked Yingying up from the bed and sat on the edge of the bed. She brought the small bowl to her mouth.

The little girl was starving. Smelling the milky aroma of the malted milk, she almost cried with hunger. She held the bowl with both hands and drank it in big gulps.

“Drink slowly. Don’t choke.” Xia Qingning saw her drinking so fast and reminded her.

Yáo Hóngméi, who was sitting beside her, looked at Xia Qingning, who was caring for her daughter. Her expression was very complex. There was confusion, surprise, and guilt…

After a moment, she picked up the bowl in her hand and buried her head in it. She also drank in large gulps.

The sweet malted milk, with its rich milky aroma, slid down her throat warmly. After finishing the bowl, her body and stomach felt warm.

Soon, Yingying also finished her malted milk. She lay back beside her mother with a satisfied look, licking her lips and saying:

“Auntie is bad, Xiaoshen is good, sweet, delicious…”

Listening to her daughter’s words, thinking about the actions of Lu Lìdōng and his mother, and then looking at Xia Qingning, who usually wasn’t close to her but was now the only one willing to help her, Yáo Hóngméi’s eyes were filled with guilt.

Then, thinking about the things that had happened in the past, Yáo Hóngméi felt a surge of guilt. She suddenly reached out and took Xia Qingning’s hand, saying regretfully:

“Qingning, I’m sorry! Lìdōng and I were wrong to you before. Everything that’s happening now is the retribution we deserve!”

Hearing her words, Xia Qingning wasn’t surprised.

Although Yáo Hóngméi and Lu Lìdōng didn’t know that he had a fiancée when they were dating, she knew that Wang Mingfang and her son had schemed against the original owner. Although she didn’t participate directly, she didn’t stop them either.

Yáo Hóngméi wasn’t a bad person at heart. Although the two sisters-in-law weren’t close, they hadn’t made things difficult for the original owner. Because of this, Xia Qingning didn’t stand by and watch them go hungry.

Now that she heard her say this, Xia Qingning wanted to give her a chance. She looked at Yáo Hóngméi and asked:

“Since you feel guilty towards me, are you willing to tell everyone the truth and clear my name?”