Chapter 173 Turning the Tables

In Song Yazhi's eyes, she will always be an outsider, a country bumpkin who came to the city, and she is no match for the confidante she has known since childhood.

"Is the tea ready?"

Song Yazhi's voice came from the living room, carrying a hint of urging, breaking the silence in the room.

Fang Wanyu immediately put on a sweet smile, her tone light as if the threat from before had never happened: "Coming, Aunt Song!"

She turned and walked toward the living room, her high heels making a crisp sound on the floor.

Before leaving, she didn't forget to glance back at Qiao Wanyin.

That glance was meaningful, like the pity of a victor for a loser, or a silent declaration: You lost, there is no place for you here.

When Qiao Wanyin returned to the living room with the tea tray, Song Yazhi and Fang Wanyu were already sitting side by side on the sofa, leaning close together, chatting and laughing.

Several side dishes were laid out on the coffee table, exquisitely packaged, brightly colored, and fragrant, clearly not ordinary home-cooked dishes.

"Mom, here's your tea."

Qiao Wanyin carefully placed the teacup in front of Song Yazhi, her movements slow and gentle, as if afraid of spilling a single drop.

Song Yazhi didn't even glance at her, her gaze remaining fixed on Fang Wanyu. She said in a gentle tone, "Maidong was quite a handful when he was little, always running around everywhere. It's a good thing you always took care of him, otherwise who knows what kind of trouble he would have caused."

"Please don't say that."

Fang Wanyu lowered her head and smiled, her eyes crinkling, her posture humble. "Brother Maidong has always taken good care of me, protecting me since I was a child. How could I dare to take credit for it?"

Qiao Wanyin stood to the side, her fingers icy cold.

She felt like an outsider, as if the atmosphere of the entire living room didn't belong to her.

She tried to straighten her back, but felt an invisible chill creeping up from the soles of her feet.

She cleared her throat, trying to break the suffocating silence: "Mom, I'll go cook. The Ophiopogon japonicus will need to eat when it comes back later; we can't just rely on these cold dishes."

"No."

Song Yazhi coldly interrupted her, her tone leaving no room for negotiation, "Wanyu brought enough food, all carefully prepared. Sit down, we haven't finished talking yet."

Qiao Wanyin sat down stiffly, placing her hands on her knees, her knuckles turning slightly white.

She felt extremely uncomfortable, as if all her coverings had been stripped away, leaving her naked and exposed to scrutiny.

"I've thought about it."

Song Yazhi took a sip of tea, slowly put down her cup, and turned her gaze to Qiao Wanyin, "Since you don't admit to taking the jade ruyi, then let's search your belongings."

"What?"

Qiao Wanyin suddenly stood up, the chair scraping loudly on the floor. "You're going to search my things?"

"What, are you panicking?"

Song Yazhi squinted at her, her eyes sharp as knives. "I'm asking you a question, and you can't even sit still. Are you hiding something?"

"I didn't..." Qiao Wanyin's voice trembled slightly. She forced herself to calm down, but could not suppress the anger and grievances in her heart. "But these words are too harsh! I am your daughter-in-law, not a thief. How can you search me just like that?"

Fang Wanyu immediately chimed in, her tone gentle yet tinged with just the right amount of concern: "Aunt Song, isn't this a bit inappropriate? After all, Qiao Wanyin is family too. Why don't we wait for Brother Maidong to come back before dealing with it? He has to uphold justice."

Fang Wanyu's lips curled up slightly, her eyes flickered, and the curve of her lips carried a faint smile.

She said softly, "Wanyin, something doesn't sound right about what you're saying. Are you still doubting me? We've lived together for so long, and I've always treated you like an older sister. Why do you still see me like this?"

“If I really wanted to get something, there would be plenty of opportunities. Why did I have to pick those two days to make my move? Aunt Song was visiting at the time, and with so many people coming and going, it was so inconvenient. Was it worth taking that risk?”

Qiao Wanyin snorted coldly, her sharp eyes sweeping across the other person's face, her voice as cold as ice: "Because you took action those two days, which was a perfect opportunity to shift the blame onto me! You're quite shrewd, choosing the time right after I moved in and before Mai Dong and I officially registered our marriage. Once this happened, everyone naturally suspected me, the new outsider."

"Comrade Fang, you've really gone to great lengths to break me up with Mai Dong. First, you secretly spread rumors that I was restless; now you've staged this whole lost-things act to make me take the blame. You've really got a good plan, step by step."

Song Yazhi was not stupid. She frowned slightly and carefully considered Qiao Wanyin's words.

This argument doesn't sound so untenable; it's logically sound and well-organized.

She couldn't help but scrutinize Fang Wanyu, a hint of doubt creeping into her heart.

Fang Wanyu has always had feelings for her son Maidong, and everyone in the family can see that.

She always showed him care and concern, and even after he married someone else, she couldn't hide the disappointment on her face.

Now that Mai Dong has married someone else, it's not entirely impossible that she harbors resentment, feels unhappy, or even wants to sabotage the marriage.

But this Qiao Wanyin...

It might not be that clean!

Song Yazhi knew in her heart that this new daughter-in-law was no ordinary person with a complicated background, and she had just returned from Hong Kong. Her words and actions always carried a certain mystery.

Was her sudden appearance in Mai Dong's life really just a coincidence?

Fang Wanyu's eyes reddened, tears welling up in them, her voice trembling slightly, filled with grievance and resentment: "Aunt Song, you have to believe me! How could I do such a thing? From childhood to adulthood, I've never even taken a needle from anyone! She must have stolen something and turned around to frame me, trying to make me lose face in front of you!"

"Oh!"

Qiao Wanyin's eyebrows curved into a smile, a mocking sneer playing on her lips. Her voice was as cold as a blade, "Who's really trying to shift the blame? We'll find out when Maidong gets back and we'll ask him. The truth will out. Whoever has a guilty conscience is just playing the victim!"

"If I really took it, he should have noticed long ago, given how long we've lived together. I live in his house, and my every move is under his watchful eye. How could it be so easy for me to steal it? Besides, the jade ruyi was hidden in his own cotton-padded jacket, tucked into the lining of his coat. How could I possibly take it and put it back without anyone noticing? Do you think Maidong is blind?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Wanyu's heart skipped a beat, as if she had been doused with cold water from head to toe.

Her expression changed slightly, and her fingertips felt a little cold.

The jade ruyi was actually secretly placed deep inside Qiao Wanyin's wardrobe by one of the older women in the mutual aid group, and then deliberately led Song Yazhi to "discover" it.

The plan was flawless, but she forgot—Qiao Wanyin hadn't even touched that cotton-padded coat!

If the investigation continues, that woman will eventually confess to instigating it once she is interrogated.

By then, the truth will be out, and she will not only be disgraced, but also be kicked out of her home and never see Mai Dong again.

The most important thing right now is to shut Qiao Wanyin up, completely disrupt her rhythm, and prevent her from continuing her investigation.

"Sister Wanyin, how could you do this?"

Fang Wanyu immediately put on an extremely hurt expression, her eyes instantly reddening, and her voice trembling so much that she was about to cry.