Chapter 21:  Angering One Person at a Time

Lin Zhaozhao looked at Song Yuntang with reddened eyes, her voice choked with tears, “I only came back to see my father, mother, and brothers. I haven’t targeted you at all. Mother and cousin can testify to this. But you beat my maidservant for no reason, and not only did you not apologize, but you also pushed me!”

Her aggrieved expression would move anyone to sympathy.

Song Yuntang knew she couldn’t out-act Lin Zhaozhao, so she gave her a thumbs-up. “Your acting is top-notch. It’s a shame you’re not an actress.”

Song Changbai glared at her. “What actress? We all saw what happened. Don’t twist the facts.”

Zhao Qiao’e was also heartbroken.

“Táng’er, you’re letting us down.”

Song Yuntang laughed indifferently. In terms of daily life, Zhao Shi had indeed taken good care of her, but she was also muddle-headed. Although the original owner was her biological daughter, she still wanted to treat her and Lin Zhaozhao equally, but with her subjective bias, she couldn’t achieve this.

Since there was no real affection, she should consider herself more in the future. She would slowly accumulate wealth and leave this family if she didn’t want to stay.

“If an actress wasn’t good, would you even watch them?”

The father and sons looked at Lin Zhaozhao, then at Song Yuntang. Based on their interactions with Song Yuntang, they felt she wasn’t unreasonable, but the scene they saw when they entered was real, and they were at a loss for a moment.

Song Jinbao looked at Lin Zhaozhao. “昭昭, I believe Táng’er wouldn’t hit someone for no reason, but if her actions made you uncomfortable, I apologize.”

Hearing this, Song Yuntang’s face turned cold.

“I, Song Yuntang, unlike someone else, have always been open and honest, daring to do and daring to bear the consequences. I admit I hit her, but you hit people first, then you try to cover it up and deny it. Your character is truly despicable! I won’t apologize, and no one has the right to apologize on my behalf!”

Having said that, she left the hall with a cold face.

Lin Zhaozhao watched Song Yuntang’s back, a stronger hatred flaring in her eyes.

Bitch!

She even had the nerve to hit someone!

The key was that the Song family members, who had unconditionally believed her before, didn’t blame her after witnessing Song Yuntang push her!

As expected, no matter how nice the words were, they were still not as good as blood ties.

Meanwhile, after hearing Song Yuntang’s words, the father and sons looked thoughtfully at Lin Zhaozhao.

As they thought, Song Yuntang wasn’t unreasonable. Ignoring her recent unusual behavior, she had never done anything outrageous in the three years she had been at the Song family, let alone hitting anyone. Moreover, according to her words, Zhaozhao had hit someone first.

“昭昭, what exactly happened?”

Lin Zhaozhao clearly didn’t want to say more, but Song Changbai said, “Song Yuntang hit the girl, Fenghong, who was beside Zhaozhao, without asking anything. She wouldn’t apologize and almost pushed Zhaozhao down.”

Song Jinbao nodded, then looked behind Lin Zhaozhao. “Fenghong, did you do anything to provoke her before she came in?”

He still didn’t believe that Song Yuntang would hit someone for no reason.

Fenghong, clutching her cheek, which was red from Song Yuntang’s slap, her eyes darted around.

“This servant has been by the young miss’s side the whole time and hasn’t done anything.”

To prevent this family from getting to the bottom of things, Lin Zhaozhao chuckled self-deprecatingly.

“I’m the one being bullied, yet Father and brother are still questioning my maidservant. It’s truly disheartening. I came to Rongshu Village because my second brother saw Song Yuntang selling clothes in town a few days ago and thought she was having a hard time, so he asked me to check on her. Now it seems I’ve disturbed everyone.”

With that, she left with Fenghong.

The family quickly chased after them.

“昭昭, we didn’t mean that.”

Lin Zhaozhao, with reddened eyes, instructed the coachman to harness the horse to the carriage.  After all, she had been their daughter for over ten years, and this scene made the family feel a little uncomfortable.

“Father, you shouldn’t have asked like that. Don’t be angry,” Song Jinbao said.

“I’m not angry. I just feel that after thirteen years in this family, I’m still not as good as blood relatives.” Lin Zhaozhao sniffed. “But I understand. After all, she’s the one who will be by your side to take care of you in the future.”

Zhao Qiao’e looked at her with a heartbroken expression. “昭昭, don’t think that way. In our eyes, you and Táng’er are the same; you’re both our daughters.”

Lin Zhaozhao looked moved. “Mother, hearing you say this makes me very happy. But things have already been unpleasant today, so I won’t stay long. I’ll come see you again when I have time.”

“Then, 昭昭, wait a moment. Mother will catch a chicken for you to take to town to eat.” Zhao Qiao’e said, walking towards the chicken coop.

Song Jinsheng instinctively looked at her.

“Mother, we only have one rooster and two hens left. It’s hot, and the hens don’t lay many eggs. Sister-in-law and brother won’t have any eggs to eat. Why don’t you give Zhaozhao something else?”

Zhao Qiao’e was stunned and stopped.

“We don’t have anything valuable…”

Seeing this, Lin Zhaozhao quickly said, “Mother, I’m already satisfied just seeing you. The family is having a hard time, so don’t prepare anything for me. I can buy things in town.”

“What you buy in town is not the same as what we raise ourselves! This is the intention of your father and mother.”  She turned and continued towards the chicken coop.

Mainly, every time Lin Zhaozhao came before, she would let her take something back. This time, they had already had an unpleasant argument, and if she didn’t let her take something, she might overthink things.

After all, she was their daughter for over ten years, and they would still feel sorry for her if they didn’t see her for a long time.

Song Yuntang suddenly appeared at the door. She sighed.

“My own daughter-in-law hasn’t eaten a single piece of chicken from home during her pregnancy, but when an outsider comes, you rush to give her one after another. You’re putting on a show.”  She looked at Lin Zhaozhao and sneered, “You say you don’t want it, but you really don’t want it. That wealthy family is stingy; they don’t even want to buy a chicken for you.”

Her words were a direct attack, aiming to anger everyone.

Hearing this, Lin Zhaozhao could no longer maintain her good girl demeanor. She felt that she had lost all face in front of Song Yuntang today.

Lin Zhaozhao was trembling with anger. She clenched her fists, trying to suppress the urge to rush forward and beat Song Yuntang.

“I don’t want the chicken. I’m leaving.”

With that, she quickly got into the carriage and urged the coachman to leave.

Zhao Qiao’e watched Lin Zhaozhao leave, then looked at Song Yuntang, sighing helplessly.

“Táng’er, why do you have to do this? You know how your father and mother treat you. Why do you have to compete with Zhaozhao? She won’t be staying here for long.”

“Do you think I’m competing with her?” Song Yuntang smiled indifferently. “Forget it, think whatever you want.”

With that, she returned to her room and closed the door.

Song Jinbao sighed, “Alas, what a mess.”

Seeing everyone’s expressions, Song Changbai couldn’t help but say, “In this matter, Zhaozhao is not at fault. Song Yuntang was the one who struck first.”

Liu Shi finally spoke up, “No, Táng’er hit them for me.”