Chapter 179 A lifetime is too long

She is kind, down-to-earth, and hardworking. Have you seen how much she has worried about this family? Have you seen how much she has done for me? Can a single rumor negate everything about a person?

"other people?"

Song Yazhi pointed at Fang Wanyu, her voice sharp and almost piercing, "Wanyu is like my own daughter, she grew up under my nose since she was little, how could she be an outsider? Would she harm me? Would she lie to me? Would she make up stories to slander her own family? Tell me, what does she want? Why would she do this to me?"

The one who should truly be considered an outsider is Qiao Wanyin!

It's that woman with a bad reputation who's always causing trouble!

She's that woman from the countryside, dressed plainly, not very talkative, but always pretending to be aloof!

It was that woman who suddenly appeared and stole her son's attention and heart!

Qiao Wanyin pursed her lips, her nails digging deeply into her palms.

She lowered her head, her eyelids drooping, concealing the grievances and pain in her eyes.

She suppressed the discomfort in her heart, as if she were forcibly pressing a ball of fire into cold water, letting only the smoke rise silently.

She didn't say anything, but stood even straighter, her back as upright as an unbending bamboo.

She understood that her mother-in-law was in a fit of anger at this moment, her emotions boiling over like water, and nothing she said was worth listening to.

Even so, being so openly disliked, treated like an old garment, still made me feel suffocated, as if a heavy stone was pressing on my chest, making it hard to breathe.

Fortunately, she is no longer the weak and timid person she used to be, and she no longer lets others bully her or accept her fate passively.

If it were the old her, she would probably have turned pale with fright at this scene, hiding in a corner to secretly wipe away her tears, not daring to say a word in defense.

"mom."

Fu Lian'an's tone lowered, his voice soft yet carrying undeniable weight, "Please respect my wife."

Song Yazhi suddenly raised her head and stared intently into her son's firm and calm eyes. Suddenly, she felt that the person in front of her was a stranger, as if she did not know this son she had been with day and night at all.

When did that child, who was always docile and obedient and never talked back to her, become so tough?

Now, for the sake of an outsider, he actually said such rude things to her face!

The evidence was right in front of her—she had personally witnessed the strange man loitering suspiciously at the entrance of the military area, and she had also secretly found out his call records with Qiao Wanyin.

She was convinced that this woman must be having an affair!

But her son still foolishly stood by her side, protecting her at every turn, without any bottom line!

This is infuriating!

A surge of anger rushed from her heart to her head, making her temples throb.

She was both anxious and resentful, her chest heaving violently. She gritted her teeth and said, word by word, "Adong, I never thought you could be so foolish! You were kept in the dark by her, and you even spoke up for her. How can you face your father's expectations of you back then?"

Fang Wanyu stood aside, taking in the anger on Song Yazhi's face. She was secretly pleased, feeling as if she had drunk a sip of warm wine in the cold winter, making her feel comfortable all over.

As long as Song Yazhi can stay here and be with Qiao Wanyin every day, Qiao Wanyin will never have a peaceful life.

The more friction there is, the deeper the conflict becomes, the more advantageous it is for her.

She subtly raised the corners of her mouth, her eyes slightly upturned, revealing a cold and meaningful smile. Then she lowered her head, composed herself, and pretended to be concerned.

"Aunt Song, please don't get angry."

She gently advised, her tone as soft as a spring breeze, "You've had a long and tiring journey from your hometown to the city. It must have been so hard for you. Getting angry over such a small thing would only harm your health for no reason. It's not worth it."

Then, she slowly turned to Fu Lian, her eyes gentle and her expression considerate, and said, "Brother Maidong, it's inevitable that Auntie will misunderstand Sister Wanyin because she doesn't know her well. After all, we haven't lived together and don't know her character."

"Let her stay here for a few more days and see for herself how Sister Wanyin manages the household. She'll then know what kind of person Wanyin is. You can't see into someone's heart. The longer you spend time with them, the more the truth will come out."

"The most important thing now is to let Auntie rest well and get enough rest so she can see things clearly, don't you think?"

Fu Li'an frowned slightly, his gaze lingered on Fang Wanyu's face for a moment, and then slowly moved away.

He didn't reply, but just stood there silently, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the back of his hand, clearly not buying into these "thoughtful" words.

Qiao Wanyin listened quietly to the sound, her hands folded in front of her, her fingertips slightly cool.

Her heart was filled with mixed feelings, a complex mix of emotions.

She knew that Fu Lian was protecting her and didn't want her to be wronged, but this straightforward confrontation would only make her mother-in-law more disgusted with her, thinking that she was "seductive" and had stolen her son away.

Such a head-on confrontation will only make her situation in her husband's family more difficult.

“Mai Dong,” she said softly, her voice gentle yet firm, “I’ll go tidy up the room first so Mom can get some rest.”

After she finished speaking, she turned and went into the kitchen, carefully put down the cleaver in her hand, washed her hands, and then went to tidy up the bed and bedding in the guest room.

Seeing this, Fang Wanyu immediately seized the opportunity, smiled and stood up, saying, "Aunt Song, how about I show you around the courtyard? This place has a nice environment, with shady trees and fresh air. You can take a walk and relax."

Before Song Yazhi could respond, she gently took the other's arm and pulled her out, her steps light and quick, as if afraid of being interrupted or stopped.

Fu Lian watched them leave, then quietly went into the guest room.

The room was softly lit, and Qiao Wanyin was bending over to spread out the sheets, her back view slender and quiet.

He walked over quietly, gently hugged her from behind, rested his chin on her shoulder, and said in a low voice, filled with heartache and guilt, "Qingqing, I'm sorry, I made you feel bad today."

Qiao Wanyin stiffened slightly, then relaxed, a gentle smile appearing on her lips.

She gently patted his arm, turned around, looked up at him, her eyes bright as if they held stars: "It's quite unfair, after all... I really didn't take that jade ruyi from your house."

I can't just take the blame for something I didn't do, can I?

She paused, a sly glint in her eyes, and lowered her voice: "But—my husband is so supportive of me, standing by my side. Even if the whole world doubts me, he will protect me without hesitation... I feel quite sweet inside."

Fu Li'an looked at her with a sense of self-reproach, his eyes filled with heartache and guilt.

He raised his hand and gently ruffled her hair, his fingertips running through her soft strands. His voice was deep and gentle: "Silly girl, how can you laugh when you're wronged? Aren't you really sad?"

Qiao Wanyin tilted her head slightly, squinted her beautiful and lively almond-shaped eyes, and still had a relaxed smile on her lips, as if the grievances she had just felt had never existed.

"How can you live if you can't laugh?"

She asked softly, without a trace of complaint in her tone, "There are so many unpleasant things in life. If you have to live with a frown for every single thing, wouldn't your life be completely soaked in bitterness?"