"Yang Yilin, you're a paid employee, so think things through before you act. Don't let people look down on you!"

Yang Yilin opened and closed her mouth as she looked at herself in the mirror.

“Yang Yilin, I think you know the truth better than anyone else. If you're really worried about your parents, you should advise them on what they should and shouldn't do. You work in the county town, so your family has seen the world. Don't you have any common sense? Don't you know what's best for you? Do you think coming to us is the best solution?”

Yang Yilin then turned her face to Er Ye.

Yang Xiaogu and Hu Youjin looked at Er Ye with suspicion.

Er Ye remained calm, holding the dressing mirror and looking at Yang Yilin with a composed expression.

Her tone was neither too loud nor too soft, and her pace was neither too fast nor too slow, but she possessed an air that compelled listeners to obey.

Yang Wanwan felt deeply gratified.

She used to think that Futaba was quiet, reserved, and had a sharp eye. Now, Futaba is slowly blossoming with her own unique charm.

Calm, composed, and quick-witted.

Add to that her stunning beauty...

Yang Wanwan thought for a moment and decided that she should get Er Ye a pair of black-rimmed glasses without a prescription.

Okay, I'll go buy it later.

Such a beautiful Futaba should be kept well hidden away by her older sister right now.

Er Ye then said, "Yang Yilin, do you think your man will see you if you make a scene? Will he think you're a smart person? What will your in-laws think of you? Will they stand up for you?"

Yang Yilin was stunned by Er Ye's question.

Er Ye continued, "Think about it yourself, do you think they would go against the Public Security Bureau? You've come to cause trouble for us, do you think they're annoyed with us, or annoyed with you?"

Yang Yilin stubbornly insisted, "They are my family, of course they will help me!"

"Help you? Why have I never seen them come over? If they want to help you, have they gone to the police station?"

Yang Yilin thought of her in-laws' strange expressions, and how her husband, after hearing about the incident, made a special phone call to Fuxing Reservoir Village to ask others about the whole story, and then gave her an unfriendly look.

Yang Yilin suddenly felt her hands and feet were ice cold.

"Yang Erye, you're so young, but you're quite good at sowing discord! Don't think that just because you're spouting nonsense here, I'll have any other thoughts about my in-laws and husband. They're not like you, cold-blooded and heartless!"

"Yang Yilin, stop deceiving yourself and face reality. Your father-in-law has been arrested, and your mother-in-law has been detained for causing trouble. Do you think they'll be proud of such a disgraceful thing? Do you think they'll treat you well? You're just taking out your frustrations on us because you're also holding back at home!"

Er Ye's words were like a sharp arrow, piercing Yang Yilin so hard that her hair stood on end. She screamed, "Yang Er Ye, you're talking nonsense!"

"Whether I'm lying or not, you know the answer in your heart. If you hadn't had the child, I wonder if your husband would have divorced you!"

"Ah...stop talking! Stop talking! Yang Erye, you gossipy old woman, you brat!"

Yang Xiaogu was stunned. Seeing Yang Yilin lose control, she quickly pulled Erye behind her. "Yang Yilin, Erye is absolutely right! If you're still a sensible person, go back and live an honest life. If you're completely confused, we'll tell your husband about your disturbance at the store and see if he's happy!"

Yang Yilin suddenly burst into tears, "You're all bullying me, bullying me!"

Er Ye scoffed, "Yang Yilin, stop playing the victim! I was only nine when my parents died. I knew then that everything had to be done honestly and fairly, and that I had to rely on myself. Crying solves nothing, and relying on others earns no respect. What are you so guilty about? Trying to gain sympathy by crying and sobbing? Are we supposed to comfort you? Is that interesting? Just go!"

Yang Yilin choked.

She glared at Er Ye: "Yang Er Ye, you really are, really heartless!"

"I'm heartless? Ha!"

Yang Yilin wiped her eyes and said, "Since you're so heartless, don't come to us for help in the future. Just you wait and see!"

Futaba commented: "All bark and no bite, all talk and no action, that's about it."

Yang Yilin left in a fit of anger.

After walking a few steps, Yang Yilin saw Yang Wanwan standing under the tree with a smile on her face, and glared at her fiercely.

Yang Wanwan returned to the shop with great interest. "Er Ye, well done."

Aunt Yang kept praising, "Our Er Ye is really good with words! You Jin, look at Wanwan and Er Ye, they're amazing!"

Er Ye then revealed a hint of embarrassment, "Aunt, Eldest Sister, I was just telling the truth. It's only because Yang Yilin is at a disadvantage that I feel no guilt in criticizing her. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't dare to say whatever I'm thinking. I'd have to consider whether she has anyone backing her up!"

Haha, what a bully who picks on the weak and fears the strong!

Well, you could also call it assessing the situation and making judgments.

Yang Wanwan smiled and said, "Er Ye is very capable."

Wednesday.

The last class in the morning was a self-study period. When Liu Xiangshang arrived at the classroom, he walked around the classroom with his hands behind his back before standing on the podium.

"Please put down your pens, students. We're going to talk about something."

Liu Xiangshang spoke in a solemn tone.

Only a few students buried in their studies looked at the podium; most remained engrossed in their own learning.

"Knock knock!"

Liu Xiangshang tapped the podium with a chalk brush, which drew more attention from the students, but many others remained engrossed in their work.

Yucai Middle School has a strong academic atmosphere, and students like to arrange their own study time. Often, while the teacher is lecturing, the students are studying on their own below the podium.

"Today's matter is quite important, so please put down your questions and listen to me."

Liu Xiangshang emphasized again that only then did those bookworms reluctantly look up at him, their eyes filled with resentment: What's wrong? We were doing a problem at a crucial point!

Liu Xiangshang was also at a loss with these people; they loved to learn, so what could he do about it?

Liu Xiangshang reassured the bookworms for a while, and then said, "While studying is important, character is the first passport for us to stand in society. I don't want the classes I teach to have only grades and no good character."

At this point, even the few bookworms who never looked up raised their heads, exchanging bewildered glances, wondering what Liu Xiangshang was going to say.

"Today, I'd like to take up a little of your time to talk about a theft case."

Yang Wanwan had been working on her problems with her head down until this moment, when she finally looked up.

Stealing had become her specialty for being framed, and she couldn't help but pay attention to it.