Ma Qingxiang’s body couldn’t move, and his hands pounded weakly against the bed.

Hearing the commotion, Ma Hongxia couldn’t bear it anymore and came to check. She froze at the scene in front of her. Her own father was lying on the bed, eyes rolled back, with Comrade Jiang Manyue holding him down.

“Jiang Manyue, are you crazy?” She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

Yes, this crazy woman was stuffing filth into her father’s mouth.

After a few seconds, she finally reacted and rushed to pull Jiang Manyue away. “What are you doing to my father?”

But she wasn’t strong enough. Jiang Manyue flung her aside and kept shoving the stinking cloth into the old man’s mouth.

“Does it taste good? If you can’t shut that filthy mouth, I’ll help you.”

Jiang Manyue showed no mercy. She didn’t let go until he stopped cursing.

“Father, are you alright?” Ma Hongxia watched in panic as her father gagged and vomited.

Ma Qingxiang coughed violently, face pale, unable to speak.

Well, what’s wrong now? Done cursing already? Lost your taste for it?

“Jiang Manyue, it’s one thing to stop caring for him, but you’re trying to kill him,” Ma Hongxia yelled.

Jiang Manyue shot a cold look at the stinking Ma Qingxiang. “Whoever’s father he is, that person should take care of him. Don’t try to trap me with moral obligations.”

If he dared spit filth from his mouth again, she wouldn’t hesitate to shove even more in.

Ma Hongxia fumed, but she didn’t dare approach. She cursed under her breath, too afraid to get closer.

She had already suffered once. The woman before her was nothing like before.

Now that the free caregiver was done, Ma Hongxia had no choice but to care for him herself.

Debts have their owners. Whoever’s father is paralyzed should be the one to serve him.

That night, Ma Qingxiang cried and made a fuss, waking her several times. If she was even a little slow, he’d curse her.

Meanwhile, Jiang Manyue finished her sewing and slept soundly in the master bedroom.

The next day, in the provincial hospital’s ward.

“When will the hospital fees be paid? The total is 129 yuan, 5 jiao, and 4 fen,” the nurse asked, holding the bill and eyeing the embarrassed trio with disdain.

Liu Cuihua fumbled through her empty pockets but didn’t find a single coin.

“I—I don’t have any money.”

Ma Xiangyang sat on the hospital bed, his face dark as ink.

He didn’t have money either. His wages ran out every month, and it was always Jiang Manyue who made up the difference.

He looked helplessly at Bai Wanrou. “Wanrou, do you have any money? Can you pay for it now?”

Bai Wanrou looked at him in disbelief. She never expected he’d ask her to pay.

All her savings over the years had gone to fund her brother’s wedding.

“Xiangyang.” She bit her lip, her eyes red with grievance. “I’m sorry, I don’t have any money either.”

“You know my salary isn’t much, and I have to support Xiaojun.”

Seeing her like this, Ma Xiangyang’s heart ached.

He straightened up and looked at the nurse. “Wait a bit. I’ll call someone to come pay.”

The nurse raised her brows, unimpressed. “Are you sure?”

“If you can’t pay, then you need to check out immediately.”

Getting kicked out for not paying was a slap in the face. Ma Xiangyang’s pride burned.

“It’s just over a hundred yuan. Jiang Manyue will definitely come running to pay soon,” Liu Cuihua muttered.

“She chased after my son for seven years and even gave money willingly. She’ll pay.”

Bai Wanrou sneered coldly. “She’s probably already on her way.”

The nurse glanced at them with contempt. She’d seen their earlier drama, and the people in the neighboring beds whispered quietly.

“Shameless. His wife was nearly driven to suicide.”

“I heard he got hurt trying to save his widowed sister-in-law. Behind the scenes, he was fooling around with her.”

“If I were that woman, I’d let him die before paying a cent.”

The nurse kept urging them, and the comments didn’t stop. Ma Xiangyang’s face flushed hot with shame.

But he was still confident. “Mother, call her. I bet she’ll be here within an hour.”

An hour passed.

The nurse returned impatiently. “When are you paying?”

Ma Xiangyang clenched his fists. That woman was really leaving him to rot.

He stared at the door, but after a long time, there was still no sign of Jiang Manyue.

He thought she was just throwing a tantrum, but surely she wouldn’t really abandon him.

His face burned with humiliation, but he gritted his teeth. “I’ll pay tomorrow.”

The nurse stared at him with clear disdain. “No money? Then discharge immediately.”

The people nearby chuckled, covering their mouths.

“I told you. His wife won’t come.”

“What kind of woman would pay for a husband who cheated with his sister-in-law?”

Unable to borrow money, Ma Xiangyang had to check out. He returned home in a wheelchair, his face dark.

Jiang Manyue woke up refreshed. She hadn’t slept that well in years.

She cooked a big bowl of tomato and egg noodles and sat at the table eating alone.

Ma Hongxia came out with a basin of soiled clothes, her eyes ringed with dark circles.

She hadn’t slept all night. Ma Qingxiang had soiled himself three times.

She wasn’t in the mood to eat. The stench from the clothes made her gag.

Then she saw Jiang Manyue eating alone, and her eyes filled with resentment.

Ma Xiaojun was already starving, eyes shining. Like always, he sat down, waiting for breakfast.

But the table was empty except for Jiang Manyue’s bowl.

“Where’s my noodles?” he pouted, demanding.

“Cook for yourself,” Jiang Manyue said without looking up.

Before, she always made his favorite food and served it early.

Today, she ate alone. Ma Xiaojun huffed into the kitchen, lifting the pot lid.

There was nothing left. Not even soup.

“You didn’t cook for me?” He was starving. Last night, he’d eaten the burnt food Ma Hongxia made.

Before, Jiang Manyue worried about him going hungry. She gave him all the good food and even put eggs in his school bag.

Now? No more charity. He wasn’t getting a grain of rice from her.

Ma Xiaojun, frustrated, tried to grab her bowl. Jiang Manyue struck his hand with her chopsticks.

With a sharp smack, he clutched his hand and started crying.

“You wicked woman, you won’t feed me.”

Just then, Bai Wanrou pushed Ma Xiangyang home, full of anger and ready to make Jiang Manyue apologize.

But before she stepped inside, she heard crying.

“What’s going on?” she asked, seeing Ma Xiaojun in tears.

The boy ran to her like he’d found his savior, hugging her tightly.

“Second Uncle, you’re back!”

Ma Xiangyang comforted him, “What happened?”

Ma Xiaojun pointed at Jiang Manyue, sobbing. “That wicked woman took my room and threw my stuff out.”

Ma Hongxia joined in. “Second Brother, she’s gone mad. She won’t cook and even hit me.”

“She ignored Father last night and stuffed his mouth with filth.”

Ma Xiaojun showed the bruise on his hand. Both of them started listing Jiang Manyue’s crimes.