She paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone present with a sharp, piercing look.

“We, mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, are getting along very well! We're closer than mother and daughter! Anyone who's jealous and tries to sow discord is going against me, Wen Yuzhen, and my son, Lu Linchuan! They should think twice before acting!”

After saying that, she stopped watching the farce, straightened her back, turned around, and walked steadily back to her own courtyard.

The entire residential compound was completely silent.

Everyone was stunned by the astonishing aura emanating from this old woman from the countryside.

After a while, whispers broke out in the crowd.

"My God, Battalion Commander Lu's mother is amazing..."

"This isn't some country old lady, she's more like a mother hen protecting her chicks! Anyone who touches her is doomed!"

"However... what she said makes sense. It's a matter of mutual consent between the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, what business is it of ours?"

"Sigh, if only my mother-in-law were half as protective of me as she is. I gave birth to her grandson, but she still complains that I don't have enough breast milk and makes me eat pig's trotter soup every day. She even pouts when she sees me."

"What you're talking about is nothing! My mother-in-law even secretly went through my closet and took all my savings for her youngest son!"

In an instant, envious and jealous glances were all directed at the wooden gate of the small courtyard that had just been closed.

Su Wantang, that woman who was protected like a treasure by her mother-in-law, her life is just too good!

Meanwhile, inside the courtyard gate.

Su Wantang stood at the doorway of the main room, quietly watching her mother-in-law walk back from outside.

She heard every word of the arguing and shouting outside.

When Wen Yuzhen walked into the courtyard and saw her, the murderous aura on her body instantly vanished, and her face revealed that familiar, gentle smile.

"Wan...Wan Tang, you heard everything?" She rubbed her hands together, somewhat uneasy. "Was Mom...too fierce? Did she scare you?"

Su Wantang didn't say anything, but stepped forward and gently hugged her small but resilient mother-in-law, who had fought for her and shielded her from all the open and hidden attacks.

Her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

"Mom, you're so kind."

She hasn't felt maternal love for a long time since her parents passed away.

But her mother-in-law gave her maternal love and made her feel like she had a mother.

"What's the big deal? I treat you like my own daughter," Wen Yuzhen said. "Let's go back inside. It's windy outside, don't let it blow on you."

"Mm." Su Wantang nodded.

As the days went by, Su Wantang's belly grew bigger and bigger, and before she knew it, New Year's Eve arrived.

A thin layer of frost had condensed on the windowpane; a breath of air could dissolve a small patch of hazy moisture.

Lu Linchuan was standing on a small stool, his tall body leaning slightly forward, carefully pasting a red paper-cut window decoration of "Magpie on Plum Blossom" onto the glass.

His fingers were long and slender, yet his movements were steady. He dipped a small brush into diluted paste, applied it evenly to the back of the window lattice, and then precisely pressed it into the center of the window.

That vibrant red instantly brightened up the room, which had been somewhat grayish-white in the winter sun.

Su Wantang, wrapped in a thick cotton-padded coat, sat on a chair not far from him, holding a cup of warm malted milk powder. Her belly was already as big as a small hill, and even bending over to put on her shoes had become a difficult task.