"Creak—" The courtyard gate slowly opened, and a woman with gray hair appeared at the door.

She had slanted eyes and held a chicken-herding stick in her hand, giving her a somewhat shrewish look.

"Who are you?" Zhong Shuzhen looked at the unfamiliar face in front of her with wary eyes, sizing the other person up and down.

“I am Xiumei’s mother, and I have come to see her.”

Meng Shuyun also sized up the woman opposite her without showing any weakness, her gaze sharp.

Su Xiumei was engrossed in her work when she heard the sound and looked up. When she saw that it was her mother, her face was instantly filled with surprise.

After the initial surprise came endless helplessness.

In all the years she's been married into the Zhou family, none of her family members have ever visited her.

She was often gossiped about behind her back by her in-laws, who said she was treated like she had been sold.

For eight whole years, the two families had no contact whatsoever, but even so, she still occasionally gave money to her family.

After Chung Shu-chen discovered this, the two had a big fight, and Chung Shu-chen even threatened her with divorce.

In addition, her womb was uncooperative; she gave birth to two daughters and not a single son, making her life in her husband's family even more difficult.

"Oh, our in-laws are here!"

When Zhong Shuzhen saw what Meng Shuyun was carrying, she forced a smile and said, "Come in quickly. Why didn't you tell us you were coming? We could have prepared. You came so suddenly, and the house is all empty."

Meng Shuyun sidestepped Zhong Shuzhen's outstretched hand and said coldly, "If I had given you a heads-up, how would I have seen how you tormented my daughter!" Then she turned and called out, "Xiumei, come here."

"Mom, that's not true. I'm just doing some housework. It's my duty to be filial to my parents-in-law."

Su Xiumei lowered her head and explained softly, her voice tinged with timidity.

"That's right, mother-in-law, which daughter-in-law doesn't have to do chores!"

While saying this, Zhong Shuzhen was actually making plans in her heart.

This was only the second time she had met Meng Shuyun, so she still had to maintain a polite facade.

Moreover, Su Xiumei was a very capable worker, and in front of her family, he had to put on a show.

Besides, seeing the steamed egg cake, a piece of cured meat, and a tray of eggs that Meng Shuyun was carrying, she had to give her a friendly look.

Once this person leaves, they can do whatever they want.

"Grandma, I'm hungry. I want steamed egg custard. I want steamed egg custard."

A six or seven-year-old boy rushed out of the room shouting and bumped into Zhong Shuzhen's stomach.

The child was as fat as a calf, with eyes narrowed to slits, clearly indicating he was often fed delicious food.

"Okay, okay, I'll make it for you tonight. It'll be dinnertime soon. This is your mother-in-law, quickly call her over."

Zhong Shuzhen said with a look of doting affection.

"Who are you? I don't know you. I don't want it, Grandma. I want steamed egg custard. I want steamed egg custard."

The little boy was being coquettish and wouldn't listen to Zhong Shuzhen at all.

Zhong Shuzhen smiled and explained to Meng Shuyun, "This child is my grandson Dazhuang. He's been spoiled and doesn't know any better. Please don't take offense."

When Dazhuang saw Su Xiumei standing to the side, he immediately pointed at her nose and ordered, "Auntie, you go and make me some steamed egg custard right now, or I'll have my grandma beat you to death!"

Su Xiumei's face turned deathly pale, and she lowered her head even further before turning to go to the kitchen to steam egg custard for him.

Meng Shuyun looked over coldly, grabbed Dazhuang by the collar and lifted him up, asking sharply, "Who did you just say you were going to kill?"

Dazhuang was so frightened that he cried loudly, "Grandma, kill them! They're all bad things, they're all a waste of money!"

Zhong Shuzhen's expression changed drastically. She quickly pulled her eldest grandson from Meng Shuyun's arms and held him protectively in her embrace. "Children say things without thinking, children say things without thinking, it's just kids joking around." She quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Xiumei, did that old bastard hit you again?"

Meng Shuyun's eyes flashed with a fierce light as she asked with certainty.

Su Xiumei stammered, unable to utter a complete sentence for a long time, only repeatedly explaining, "Mother, it's not true. I, I just did a little extra work, nothing else... It's not what you think." As she spoke, tears streamed down her face.

"Don't you dare bully my mom!"

"Grandma, you're not allowed to hit my mom! When Dad comes back, I'm going to tell him!"

Two childish voices rang out, and two small figures carrying two large baskets filled with pig feed on their backs ran over quickly.

Zhong Shuzhen was so angry her nose was crooked. She scolded him angrily, "When have I ever bullied your mother! You idiots, how dare you talk bad about me like that? Believe me or not, I'll make sure you don't get any dinner tonight!"

“You must be Xiaoli and Xiaojuan, right? I’m your grandma. Does your grandma beat you sisters and your mother? Tell grandma everything, and I’ll stand up for you.”

Looking at the two thin children, a stark contrast to Dazhuang in Zhong Shuzhen's arms, Meng Shuyun's eyes were filled with heartache.

How old are these two children? They're so thin and small, carrying baskets bigger than themselves on their backs, walking with such difficulty.

The two little girls looked at Meng Shuyun, then at Su Xiumei, and confirmed that the person in front of them was their grandmother.

The slightly older girl, Xiaoli, asked with a hint of uncertainty, "Are you really our grandmother? Really? If we tell you, will you stand up for us?"

The one shorter than Meng Shuyun was named Xiaojuan. She stared at Meng Shuyun with her big eyes, asking curiously, "Grandma, is it really you? Why haven't you come to see Mom all these years?"

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