Ma Xiaolan was both anxious and angry, and then everything went black.

It took her a while to stand up, leaning on the cabinet for support. She picked up the enamel mug, took a sip of water, and slowly walked to the bedside, clutching her chest.

Xiuxiu was still sleeping. After thinking about it for a while, she finally couldn't resist.

She stood up and walked towards the door.

"Mom, are you off work yet?"

Ma Xiaolan stopped and walked over, forcing a smile. "Xiuxiu, you're awake? Didn't you sleep well last night?"

Xiuxiu didn't dare to talk about what happened last night, only saying that she suddenly couldn't sleep and only fell asleep in the second half of the night.

Ma Xiaolan stroked her hair, "Alright then, you can sleep a little longer, you won't go to tutoring class today."

Xiuxiu rolled over, arranged her mother's pillow, and said, "I'm not going to sleep anymore. Mom, you must be very sleepy. You should go to sleep."

Ma Xiaolan took out two cents from her pocket and said, "Mom isn't feeling well today and can't make breakfast. Go out and buy me two steamed buns."

Xiuxiu took the money and went out.

"Xiuxiu, what's your mom doing? Why hasn't she made breakfast yet?"

"Mom isn't feeling well, so she can't make breakfast today."

“She’s not feeling well, she’s like this every day! And you, you’re eight or nine years old, and you still can’t even get a meal.”

Xiuxiu left without saying anything.

Ma Xiaolan rubbed her temples and went to the living room.

Zhang Guiying was sitting on the edge of a chair combing her hair, dandruff flying everywhere. Sun Juxiang was brewing tea next to her, and there was a dry steamed bun on the table next to them.

Upon seeing Ma Xiaolan's appearance, Zhang Guiying became angry, "Who are you trying to impress by putting on this half-dead act every day?"

"Mom, have you seen Xiuxiu's malted milk powder?"

Sun Juxiang glanced at her.

"What malted milk powder? How could I possibly want to see that?"

Ma Xiaolan took a deep breath. "Mom, the malted milk powder really was given to Xiuxiu by Jiang Xuan to help her grow. Xiuxiu is your own granddaughter, and you wouldn't want her to stay short forever, would you?"

Zhang Guiying scratched her head and said, "Xiuxiu is my granddaughter, but she is still a girl and will get married sooner or later. I gave the malted milk powder to Wenbo. Don't worry, Wenbo will remember your kindness as his aunt in the future."

Just then, Sun Jianfang and her son Tian Wenbo came out of the house looking disheveled.

Sun Jianfang's hair was like a bird's nest, and she was wearing a tattered nightgown with several patches.

Tian Wenbo is not short, probably a head taller than Xiuxiu, but he is also very thin.

Ma Xiaolan sighed and said, "Alright then, one can for each of the two children, to supplement their nutrition."

Sun Jianfang scratched his head and said casually, "There's only one can left. Mom made me return the other one."

"Why? Why did you do this? I've told you so many times, this was Jiang Xuan's gift to Xiuxiu." Ma Xiaolan's tears fell like beads from a broken string.

"Stop crying, stop crying! Are you mourning? Where did all these tears come from?" Sun Juxiang slammed the enamel mug on the table. "You're a jinx."

Hearing her husband's words, Zhang Guiying said impatiently, "No matter who sent it, once it's delivered to this house, it belongs to everyone. Your father and I aren't dead yet, and it's not your place to make decisions about this house."

Tian Wenbo didn't even think about stopping the fight; he even added fuel to the fire by saying, "Mom, the malted milk powder is so delicious, I want to have another bowl."

"Okay, I'll make it for you."

As Sun Jianfang passed by Ma Xiaolan carrying the malted milk powder, she even let out a smug hum.

Ma Xiaolan suddenly went berserk, snatched the malted milk powder, and hysterically shouted with red eyes, "What right do you have? This is Xiuxiu's!"

Everyone was stunned.

They never imagined that the timid Ma Xiaolan would dare to speak to them like that.

Zhang Guiying spoke first: "Are you crazy? Shouting like you're afraid no one can hear you, huh?"

"Do you have any conscience? All these years, I've worked hard to earn money, support your family, do your laundry and cook for you, and what have you done in return?"

"This house was allocated to me by the garment factory, and I've let you live here too."

"But how did you treat me? When I was sick, did you ever show any concern for me? When I worked the night shift, did you ever make me breakfast?"

Ma Xiaolan became more and more agitated as she spoke, and tears streamed down her face as she looked at Zhang Guiying: "When I was in confinement after giving birth to Xiuxiu, the factory sent me a basket of eggs, but I didn't even see a trace of them."

"besides……"

"Enough!" Sun Juxiang roared, "What's the point of talking about all this old, rotten stuff? Our Sun family paid money to marry you into the family, so it's only right that you cook a few meals and wash a few clothes for us. It's as if we've mistreated you."

Ma Xiaolan said excitedly, "What money did you spend? You gave a dowry of twenty yuan, but my family returned it all. You even sold the sewing machine that my parents gave as part of their dowry, so I have to beg someone to make a dress for Xiuxiu."

"Have you said enough? A woman who can't even give birth to a son, do you really think you can fly to the heavens?"

Sun Jianfang, who has a son, also chimed in with her curses: "That's right, my brother is really unlucky. How did he end up marrying a woman like you? I bet you won't feel right unless you turn the house upside down, will you?"

“Then let’s get a divorce!” Ma Xiaolan wiped away her tears and said resolutely, “Let Sun Jianjun find someone better.”

Upon hearing the word "divorce," Zhang Guiying became frightened.

There aren't many wives who can earn money and work so hard. If they get divorced, what will become of their family?

Besides, their son, Sun Jianjun, isn't even eligible for a housing allocation. Where will they live after the divorce?

Zhang Guiying quickly pulled Sun Jianfang aside, walked over to Ma Xiaolan, softened her tone, and said, "Xiaolan, you've always been gentle, why are you acting like you've swallowed gunpowder today? Look at you, what are you saying? Divorce, how awful!"

"I've had enough!" Ma Xiaolan cried as she rushed out the door, only to find Xiuxiu standing there.

The little girl held a steamed bun in her hand and looked at her in horror.

"Xiuxiu?"

"Mom, Mom, are you... are you going to divorce Dad?"

Ma Xiaolan felt as if a thorn was stuck in her throat, and she couldn't speak.

All these years, she has been enduring it all, so that her daughter can grow up healthy.

So whenever her daughter was around, she tried her best to avoid conflicts with them.

Today, she simply couldn't hold back any longer.

She patted Xiuxiu's head and said, "No, let's go, Mom will take you to your tutoring class to do your homework."

Sun Xiuxiu nodded and obediently went inside to get her schoolbag.

As soon as Zhang Guiying saw Xiuxiu come in, she quickly pulled her aside and whispered, "Xiuxiu, you should go and try to persuade your mother. She wants to divorce your father."

Xiuxiu held back her tears, went inside to get her little schoolbag, and burst into tears as soon as she stepped out.

"What's wrong, Xiuxiu?"

"Mom, I don't want you to divorce Dad."

Ma Xiaolan hurriedly wiped away her daughter's tears, saying, "We won't get a divorce, please stop crying."

Just then, Jiang Xuan returned.