Chapter 242 Not Alone

She sneered, her voice low but clear, "Blame me? Ha... Didn't you dislike this daughter-in-law from the very beginning? You looked down on her from the bottom of your heart, thought she was unsophisticated, thought she was uncultured, and thought she wasn't good enough for your son."

"If you really thought she was good, how could I possibly persuade you? You would have already protected her, and you wouldn't have listened to any of my gossip."

Song Yazhi froze abruptly, as if her most sensitive spot had been hit. Her lips trembled slightly, and she couldn't utter a single word.

yes--

If she hadn't disliked Qiao Wanyin from the beginning and always thought she was a country bumpkin who didn't know the rules or manners, how could she have so easily believed Fang Wanyu's words?

If she hadn't already sown the seeds of prejudice in her heart, how could those rumors have so easily taken root and sprouted?

She always thought she was doing what was best for her son, that she was looking out for him, but in the end, she became a knife in someone else's hand, personally hurting the daughter-in-law who was sincere and filial to her.

impossible!

She should have realized it sooner.

Qiao Wanyin is so sensible and tolerant. She has never talked back to her or held a grudge. Where can you find a wife like that?

But now, it's all too late.

Her son no longer believed her.

The look in his eyes when he looked at her was no longer one of affection or respect, but of alienation, disappointment, and bone-chilling coldness.

"Adong, Mom is leaving, she's leaving today!"

Her voice was low and hoarse, and tears finally fell, not for herself, but for the daughter-in-law whose heart she had broken.

She admitted it.

This fall was a complete and utter defeat for her.

She used to hear the saying "a son is no longer under his mother's control when he grows up," but she didn't believe it.

She always felt that the son she had raised with such hardship would definitely listen to his mother, respect her, and never leave her side.

But now she understands—these words were not a lie.

Children will eventually grow up, have their own wives, their own families, and their own lives.

And she was just a shadow that was gradually pushed away.

Fu Li'an took a deep breath, his chest heaving, his face pale, and his lips slightly blue.

He had just undergone surgery and was so weak that he looked as if a gust of wind could blow him over, yet his back was ramrod straight.

His voice was deep, each word seeming to be squeezed out from the depths of his throat, heavy and calm: "Okay, I'll have someone take you to the train station."

He didn't look at her again; his gaze was as calm as a stagnant pool, yet unfathomable.

Then, he turned his head to look at Zhang Jianshe standing to the side, his tone suddenly turning cold, carrying an iron-like pressure:

"Zhang Jianshe, I have submitted your materials. Your smuggling records in Gangcheng, evidence of identity fraud, and the purpose of this smuggling trip have all been handed over to the relevant departments. The investigation results will be available soon."

He was still weak when he spoke, his face pale and sickly, but his eyes were as cold as ice, as if they could freeze one's soul.

Zhang Jianshe, who had been wearing a nonchalant smile, suddenly froze.

He forced a smile, trying to maintain his composure, and said in a seemingly relaxed manner:

"Commander Fu, you can't say things like that. I'm a legitimate businessman, a law-abiding citizen, and a major taxpayer. Don't make things up and ruin my reputation."

"I'm not just talking nonsense."

Fu Li'an interrupted him directly, his voice not loud, but carrying an unquestionable authority, "We have long known everything you have been doing in Hong Kong. You have been using the name of the trading company to smuggle weapons, sell counterfeit medicine, and collude with foreign forces to spy on military intelligence."

"As for sneaking in this time—did you think you could get away with it by changing your name and buying a fake passport? You were already being monitored within three hours of entering the country."

Cold sweat instantly beaded on Zhang Jianshe's forehead, and large beads of sweat slid down his temples.

He subconsciously touched his tie, stiffly straightened it, and forced a smile.

"Commander Fu, these words... involve lives. You can't just say things like that. If you don't have evidence, you'll be held legally responsible if it gets out."

His voice was already trembling, his eyes darting around, and he dared not look directly at Fu Li'an.

"Oh."

Fu Li'an smiled sarcastically, the corners of his mouth slightly upturned, but his eyes held no smile, only a chilling coldness. "Nonsense? You'll find out in three days who's spouting nonsense. Then, let's see if you still dare to be so arrogant."

Zhang Jianshe's face twisted instantly, his features seemed to be squeezed tightly by an invisible force, veins bulged on his forehead, and his lips trembled slightly with anger.

He suddenly pulled a neatly folded piece of paper from his suit pocket, his hands trembling so much he could barely hold it. His voice was hoarse as he roared, "Fu Li'an! You dare to sue me? You actually dare to sue me? Then I'll take this paper to your boss! I'll ruin your wife's reputation! I'll make sure she can never hold her head up high again!"

Fu Li'an clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, and blood seeped out of the already cracked wounds again, slowly flowing down between his fingers.

His knuckles turned deathly pale from the excessive force, as if the bones were about to break.

He stared intently at Zhang Jianshe, his eyes bloodshot, as if they were burning with fire, his rage almost capable of incinerating the other man.

“Li An”.

Qiao Wanyin gently pressed his hand down; her palm was warm, but the force was not to be underestimated, signaling him not to act impulsively and not to get himself into deeper trouble.

She looked up at Zhang Jianshe, her gaze calm as still water, but a faint smile slowly curved her lips, carrying a hint of mockery and composure: "Go ahead, go wherever you want. I want to see what kind of trouble you can stir up."

Zhang Jianshe was taken aback, completely unprepared for her reaction.

I thought she would panic and beg, but she was not afraid at all and remained calm.

His heart skipped a beat, and his voice trembled slightly: "You...you're not afraid?"

He stared down at the paper, pointing hard at the handwriting. "It says in black and white—you, Qiao Wanyin, borrowed 50,000 Hong Kong dollars from me! It's signed and has a fingerprint! You dare say it wasn't you?"

"Yeah?"

Qiao Wanyin walked slowly and deliberately, the sound of her high heels clicking on the ground crisp and steady, each step feeling like it was stepping on his heart.

She reached out and snatched the paper from his hand without hesitation, her movements swift and decisive.

She tapped the signature with her fingertip, her gaze sharp as a knife: "Look more closely, which 'Man' is written here?"

Zhang Jianshe subconsciously leaned closer to take a look, his pupils suddenly contracted, his face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead: "You...you're not Qiao Wanyin? This says...Qiao...Manqing?"

"Yes, Qiao Manqing."

She smiled coolly, but her tone was firm and unwavering, “But on my household registration, it’s Qiao Wanyin—'Man' is the character for vine, with the grass radical on top and the character ‘Man’ below it.”

"And the signature on this paper is the 'Man' in 'Manmiao', without the grass radical at the bottom."

"The two characters have the same pronunciation, but are written differently and have different strokes. They are not the same person at all."

“Mr. Lin, you think you can slander me in public with a document that has nothing to do with me? You underestimate me.”