Chapter 24 – I Just Don’t Want Shuhui to Have It Easy!

Big Sister-in-law actually knows about Yaya?
She was the very first person in this vast estate who ever invited her over…

From the pavilion, Yao Shanshan had witnessed it all—Shuhui came, exchanged only a few words with the third sister-in-law, then left.

What was that supposed to mean?
As the eldest daughter-in-law, shouldn’t she have stepped in?
Or did Qin Third’s wife whisper something to her?

“I’m done arguing with you. Anyway, the garden is coming down. Prepare yourself.” Qin Ying threw the words over her shoulder and strode off.

The heated quarrel had made her hives itch unbearably. All she wanted now was ointment.

Minfang glared daggers at her retreating back. Her legs gave out, and she slumped against the stone table in the pavilion.

“Tear down my garden? My pavilion? Over my dead body!”

She continued shouting at the empty air: “A spinster bossing everyone around in her mother’s house all day—if word gets out, won’t she drown in people’s spit?”

“Mom, please calm down, don’t hurt your health,” Wan Qing soothed gently.

Yao Shanshan waddled up, pushing Wan Qing aside to sit right in front of Minfang. Her tone was half sulky, half aggrieved.

“Mom, didn’t you see? Eldest sister-in-law came, took one look, then left. Not a shred of concern for you. Didn’t even try to mediate. And after all the good things you’ve given her!”

Minfang was still dizzy from anger. She pressed her forehead and said weakly, “She hasn’t been married in long. I scolded her so badly before—of course she doesn’t feel close to me.”

She’d sent tonics because she’d heard Shuhui’s health was poor. If she accidentally got pregnant again, she might not carry to term.

It was for the sake of a grandson, not for Shuhui.

She never expected Shuhui to be grateful.

Once Minfang’s temper cooled, her mind could shift into unusual clarity. She’d even accepted that Shuhui might never call her “Mom,” or might not even like her at all.

But Yao Shanshan wouldn’t let go.

“Come on, Mom! You’re her mother-in-law. Something this big happens, and she doesn’t stand by you—fine. But she didn’t even show her face! What kind of eldest daughter-in-law does that?”

Shanshan was eight months pregnant, yet she insisted on weighing in. No way would she let Shuhui escape this muddy water so easily.

Minfang waved her off, weary: “Enough, enough…”

Before she could finish, Wan Qing slapped her own forehead. “Oh, how could I forget!”

“What? You’ve got a solution?” Minfang perked up instantly, eyes gleaming. Shanshan also turned to her, though skeptical—how could mild, timid Wan Qing ever best the sharp, cunning aunt?

“Well… there is a way.” Wan Qing dragged it out, adopting a mysterious air.

“Then spit it out already!” Minfang urged, impatient.

Basking in their expectant stares, Wan Qing squinted toward the Bamboo Pavilion, then finally revealed:

“We can ask Eldest Sister-in-law for advice.”

…

Minfang: “……”

Shanshan: “……”

Dead silence. Even the crows flying overhead seemed embarrassed.

“Wan Qing, go home and nap. I can’t deal with your nonsense right now,” Minfang muttered, holding her forehead again. She didn’t even have the strength left to scold.

But Wan Qing caught her arm and tugged her along. “I’m not joking, Mom.”

“Back at university town, Eldest Sister-in-law and I were… well, not classmates, but contemporaries. She studied at Jing University, I was at Geo University. Back then she was famous on the campus forums—beautiful and smart.

There was this public basketball court between our schools. The boys were always fighting over it, sometimes even brawling. Guess who solved it once and for all? Eldest Sister-in-law.”

Minfang blinked, intrigued. “How did she solve that?”

Wan Qing gave a sly grin. “She petitioned the community. They converted the basketball court into a senior citizens’ activity center.”

“……”

Minfang froze mid-step. Then turned right back the way she came.

She was not about to let her beloved garden become a senior center.

“Wait—Mom! Trust me, Eldest Sister-in-law can help you!” Wan Qing pleaded, dragging her onward toward the Bamboo Pavilion.

---

Central Pier, Coffee Shop.

Wang Ma shuffled in hunched, heading straight to a corner booth. She greeted the woman across nervously: “Miss… long time no see.”

“If you hadn’t botched things so badly, I wouldn’t have to see you,” the woman said coldly. “How did you manage to sneak out today?”

Fidgeting, Wang Ma explained the chaos at the Qin house. “It’s a mess… no one noticed me, so I slipped out.”

“Tsk. Those two old crones—never too tired of bickering.”

Then the woman’s eyes sharpened, pinning Wang Ma. “Didn’t I tell you to make things hard for Shuhui? To stir up resentment against her? And you still failed? I’m paying you for nothing?”

“N-no, Miss! Shuhui just doesn’t fall for it. She’s not afraid of anything. Looks gentle on the outside, but that’s a façade—her heart is ruthless!” Wang Ma nearly swore an oath.

The phone on the table buzzed nonstop. Irritated, the woman snatched it up and barked: “What now?”

Whatever the caller said only deepened her scowl. “Fine, then make the poster first. Announce it publicly—we’ll deal with the rest later. Who does that little illustrator think she is?”

She hung up and glared back at Wang Ma.

“If she won’t fall for tricks, why don’t you sabotage her from behind? I don’t care how—you figure it out. I just don’t want to see Shuhui living comfortably. Now go.”

Wang Ma shrank into herself. “Yes, Miss.”

---

Bamboo Pavilion, late afternoon.

The sun played hide-and-seek behind the clouds.

The sunroom was no longer pleasant. Shuhui was packing her things to work inside instead when she heard voices at the gate.

“Eldest Sister-in-law, could you open up for us?”

Turning, she saw Minfang and Wan Qing waiting at the iron gate. A short distance behind waddled Yao Shanshan, cradling her belly.

“…?”

What, they came here for a tea party?

The living room was full of Qin Suining’s dolls and toys, so Shuhui led them to the tea room. Liu Ma served tea and set out plates of fruit.

Shanshan received plain boiled water. It pleased her faintly—at least Shuhui wasn’t completely clueless about courtesy.

Across the table, Minfang opened her mouth several times but couldn’t speak. Shuhui didn’t prompt her, sipping her tea leisurely.

Finally, Wan Qing sighed and came out with it:

“Eldest Sister-in-law, could you help Mother think of something? She truly loves that garden and the pavilion.”