Exaggerated shouts accompanied by rapid footsteps, and Fan's mother's familiar figure appeared before the three of them.

Fan's mother glanced past Hu's mother, who was pouring water to wash vegetables, and Shui Qing, who was chopping vegetables, and looked straight at her youngest son, who was kneading dough. Her face showed great heartache.

She cried out in anguish, “My son, you have suffered so much! After you separated from the family, you even had to do chores in the kitchen.”

You're a scholar, if word gets out, people will laugh you to death!

"It's all my fault. I didn't arrange a good marriage for you back then, which is why you've suffered so much."

Shui Qing, used to it, quietly watched her mother-in-law's performance.

Her mother-in-law has a strong desire to perform, especially in front of people and in large groups of people, where her acting skills are outstanding and her abilities are superb.

She could cry and wail with ease, and her skill in doing so often amazed her.

“Mother, even if word gets out that I can knead dough, people won’t laugh at me. Besides, I never cooked when I was at home, but I did all the farm work, like plowing, sowing, weeding, harvesting, and carrying. Now I’m just kneading dough, which is much easier than farm work,” Fan Jin explained in a cold voice.

Fan's mother's sobbing immediately stopped.

Although the youngest son was a scholar, the academy would give him a break during the spring planting and autumn harvest seasons. Since his family had a lot of land, they couldn't afford to hire help later, so even though the youngest son was studying, he still had to work in the fields.

Why did he have to say it in front of his mother-in-law? How could she, his own mother, save face?

Mother Hu's expression darkened.

She didn't arrange a good marriage? Is that because her daughter is no good?

She stood up and asked Fan's mother, "Mother-in-law, what do you mean by that?"

"What could it mean? Look at your wonderful daughter, how capable and competent she is, she makes my son run around like a headless chicken, and I can't even say a few words about it?"

The Hu family is so domineering, they even try to bully me in my Fan family? They think I can't even speak? She's my own daughter-in-law, I can say whatever I want!

"What? I'd like to see if she dares to disrespect me, her mother-in-law!" Mother Fan said fearlessly.

As a butcher, Hu's father exuded a murderous aura, which made her unconsciously afraid. But she was not afraid of Hu's mother at all!

Especially after raising a daughter who doesn't listen to her mother-in-law, how dare she act arrogantly in front of her?

She won't tolerate it.

Mother Hu's chest heaved violently with anger. She thought that her son-in-law was a good man after all, and the person in front of her was her son-in-law's own mother. Especially since they had separated their households, she couldn't let it affect the harmony between her daughter and son-in-law.

But she couldn't swallow her anger when her mother-in-law openly disliked her daughter!

She said calmly, "It was Old Master Fan who proposed the marriage. He must have been the one who chose you. If your mother-in-law is not satisfied, she can give him her opinion. Maybe he will even appear in your dream tonight."

At home, Fan's mother regarded her husband as her master and had been obedient to him for decades. Especially after the death of the head of the household, she was old and even more afraid of death.

His arrogant demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by a deathly pale expression.

She felt her whole body stiffen and she couldn't move. She looked around with her neck and head, and mumbled, "I... I didn't?"

He then hurriedly stated, "I am satisfied with the choice made by my husband. There's no need for a dream! I have no objections."

Shui Qing wanted to laugh, but she held it back.

Her mother is a real expert; she's got real skills.

Mother Hu stopped there, not delving deeper into the topic, and instead turned to scold her daughter: "Your mother-in-law is also your own mother, and you should treat her with the same filial piety as your own mother."