After that, Fang Qiao truly enjoyed a period of peace.

More than a month has passed in the blink of an eye, and Fang Hai's second child is 100 days old.

He wanted to hold a 100-day celebration for his daughter and invited Fang Qiao to his home for dinner.

The baby was premature and too weak to have a full-month celebration, so Fang Qiao definitely had to attend the 100-day celebration.

She personally braided a colorful rope as a gift for her little niece.

The five-colored rope is inexpensive, but it has a very good effect in warding off evil spirits. The five colors represent the five directions, which are mutually reinforcing and restraining, and can help avoid illness and welcome good fortune, and prevent one from contracting diseases and plagues.

Fang Qiao also bought a small wooden peanut, about the size of a fingernail, to hang on it.

Peanuts are commonly known as "longevity fruit," symbolizing longevity, wealth, and good fortune—a very auspicious and fitting choice.

Fang Qiao took it out and handed it to Dong Ping, who was overjoyed.

"I thank her aunt on behalf of the child."

Fang Qiao reached out and teased the child Dong Ping was holding, asking with a smile, "Sister-in-law, what's her name?"

"Her name is Kang Ning, Fang Kang Ning. It means peace and good health," Dong Ping replied with a smile. "She was born prematurely and was weak, so I wanted to give her an auspicious name."

"Sister-in-law, you have a great name. Who came up with it?"

"I named her," Dong Ping said shyly. "Her grandma said that girls don't deserve good names and that any name would do. She insisted on calling her Erni. I was angry about that, so I spent the whole night looking through the dictionary."

"Never mind her, that's just how she is. If it weren't for my grandfather, I would have been called Erni by her too."

"Kangning, Ningning, that sounds so nice!" Fang Qiao gently touched Kangning's little face with her fingertips: "Let your aunt touch our little Kangning."

"Do you want to hug her?"

"OK."

Fang Qiao took Kang Ning from Dong Ping's arms. The two sisters-in-law were talking inside when Fang Xue came in from outside.

"Oh, it's so lively inside." She was heavily pregnant and holding her back, looking very tired. "Sister-in-law, could you please bring me a chair?"

Dong Ping responded and moved a chair in front of Fang Xue.

"Big sister, please have a seat."

"Thanks, sister-in-law." Fang Xue slowly sat down, supporting her waist. She glanced at Fang Qiao with a smug look in her eyes, exuding a sense of triumph.

She said in a teasy tone, "Sister-in-law, I don't want to trouble you, but I'm feeling unwell during my pregnancy, with aches and pains all over my body. You can understand, right?"

Dong Ping smiled politely and said, "It's alright, I understand, no trouble at all."

Fang Xue and Dong Ping's relationship was also just so-so. They made small talk for a few minutes, but the atmosphere remained somewhat awkward.

After years of seeking medical treatment, she finally became pregnant and was overjoyed. She had come to show off, but neither Fang Qiao nor Dong Ping had any particular reaction.

She had originally planned to wait for them to ask, so she could mention that she was having a son, but unfortunately, those who were supposed to play along ignored her.

Feeling embarrassed, Fang Xue made up an excuse and went out to show off to other people.

Fang Qiao glanced at her flat stomach as she left, then turned to Dong Ping and asked, "Are you sure she's pregnant?"

"I'm pregnant," Dong Ping said. "I just turned three months pregnant a few days ago, and everyone's been telling me I'm carrying a son. I haven't even shown yet, but I'm already showing a big belly, and I'm treating it like I've never been pregnant before. It's so exaggerated."

Fang Qiao: "..."

Hmmmm... what's going on? I don't see any signs of pregnancy in her face. Could it be that she's faking a pregnancy?

Fang Qiao wasn't interested in Fang Xue's situation; whether her pregnancy was real or fake, it was none of her business. Unaware that she had already stumbled upon the truth, Fang Qiao quickly put the matter out of her mind.

Kang Ning didn't invite many people to her 100-day celebration; they were all close relatives and friends from Fang Hai and Dong Ping's families. There were only two tables of food and drinks.

Fang Hai organized the banquet; he was the chef himself, and although he hadn't officially graduated yet, his skills were quite good.

The main advantage is saving money. Buying groceries and cooking them yourself is much cheaper than buying ready-made dishes from a restaurant.

Yang Fengxia and Fang Yaozu also arrived, but one sat alone in a corner smoking in silence, while the other followed behind Fang Hai with a sullen face and a face full of resentment, constantly nagging.

"Eat, eat, all you know is eating! Your poor little brother is still suffering in the study class, and instead of worrying about him, you have the nerve to throw a big feast at home! You heartless dogs, how can you even eat this? Aren't you afraid of choking on all this good stuff!"

Fang Hai didn't want his relatives and friends to watch the spectacle, so he endured it for a long time, but finally he couldn't bear it any longer.

"Mom, today is a special day for Kangning, and I don't want to argue with you. If you want to stay for dinner, shut up and don't spoil the fun. If you don't want to eat, then leave!"

Yang Fengxia glared at him, her eyes wide. "Now that you're all grown up, you want to kick me out? Do you even recognize me as your mother?"

"Think what you want." Fang Hai turned and went into the kitchen. "I have to cook, I don't have time to argue with you."

Once the kitchen door closed, Yang Fengxia was locked out.

She looked at the closed door, somewhat unable to accept Fang Hai's attitude towards her.

Her son had always been very filial, but unexpectedly, after the family split up, he even disowned his own mother.

It's all Dong Ping's fault!

She was the one who instigated it all!

Yang Fengxia was furious and was about to go and cause trouble for Dong Ping, but she was stopped by Fang Xue in the yard. "Mom, Mom, where are you going?"

"Where are you going?" Yang Fengxia snorted coldly, "I'm going to cause trouble for Dong Ping."

"Why are you causing trouble for her for no reason?" Fang Xue advised her, "It's already come to this, stop making a fuss and just live a peaceful life. That way, when you get old, your daughter-in-law will still be filial to you."

“My daughter, your brother is still locked up. I’m heartbroken every single day. How can I live a peaceful life?” Yang Fengxia said with a sob in her voice. “My heart is aching.”

Fang Xue felt annoyed, but she still had to coax her: "Mom, I feel bad too when you're suffering, but we still have to live our lives no matter how bitter it is. What's the use of crying every day? Anyway, my little brother will be released next September, so we can just wait."

"Wait! Wait! Wait! You're not the one who'll be suffering in there for a year, you make it sound so easy for you!"

After Fang Xue's persuasion, Yang Fengxia came to hate her as well.

Fang Xue was also annoyed: "Then what do you suggest we do?"

Yang Fengxia just didn't know what to do. If she knew what to do, she wouldn't be running around here like a headless wing.

She looked miserable and at a loss for what to do.

Fang Xue sighed and said, "Mom, a year will pass quickly, and my little brother will be born soon. By then, my son will be born too. With this son, I'll be able to say a few words to my mother-in-law. Then we can find someone to help my little brother get a job, and life will be much better."

"Stop bringing up my sister-in-law's affairs. Once a daughter is married, she's like water spilled from a cup. Even if I wanted to help her family, I'm powerless to do so. After all, you'll still have to rely on my sister-in-law to support you in your old age. Think about it carefully, won't you? What good will it do you to fall out with her?"