"What's wrong with you, woman? You're so young, and you've already developed this shaky hand problem? The restaurant is reopening tomorrow, and you've smashed all the bowls. Are you expecting customers to eat with their hands tomorrow?"
Seeing the broken pieces on the ground, Zhao felt both heartache and anger. When she saw Zhao Juan break the bowl but still standing there dumbfounded, she couldn't help but scold her.
Zhao Juan lowered her head, looking timid and hesitant: "Sister-in-law, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I'll definitely be more careful next time."
"Next time? Next time and next time, there will always be a next time! How many times have I told you? If you had any sense at all, you wouldn't be like this!"
Zhao's voice was sharp and piercing, as if it could blow the roof off.
Zhao Juan glanced behind Zhao Shi and saw a figure standing there. A look of triumph flashed in her eyes, but then her eyes quickly filled with tears, and large teardrops slid down her cheeks.
She choked back tears as she said, "Sister-in-law, I... I really didn't mean it. I... I've never done housework before, I'm clumsy..."
Hearing this, Zhao became even angrier and interrupted her before she could finish speaking:
"So you're the one who enjoys a life of luxury, while we're all just born to work hard?"
Besides, how many times have I taught you? When have you ever listened? I think you just don't want to work, you want to slack off! Or maybe you're up to no good and just want to make things difficult for us!
"I really didn't! Sister-in-law, I know you dislike me because of what happened before, but I've really changed. Please forgive me!"
Zhao was talking about washing dishes, but Zhao Juan kept rambling on and on, her words implying that she had been taking revenge on Zhao Juan. Zhao rolled her eyes in anger and couldn't help but raise her voice:
"Stop talking nonsense! If you break this bowl again, I don't think you need to wash it; you might as well just get out!"
Behind them, Old Lady Gan, who happened to be passing by, saw all of this.
Old Mrs. Gan had very mixed feelings about Zhao Juan. Although she didn't like her overall, she felt a little sorry for her seeing her being bullied like this by Zhao Shi, and couldn't help but speak up:
"Alright, alright, eldest daughter, she's new here and doesn't understand many things. Just teach her properly, why get so angry?"
Seeing that Old Lady Gan was also speaking up for Zhao Juan, Zhao felt even more unhappy:
"Mother, where have I not taught her properly? But look, she broke three bowls at once! If this continues, our guests won't even have bowls to eat from!"
Grandma Gan glanced at the ground and couldn't help but frown, but still felt there was no need to get so angry over these three bowls, and continued to persuade her:
"She didn't do it on purpose, she'll learn slowly."
"Take your time learning? She's been learning for days!"
Seeing that her mother-in-law was not only siding with her but also with Zhao Juan, Zhao became angry.
"You don't favor your own family, so why are you favoring her? Could it be that you really can't bear to part with this daughter?"
Grandma Gan was also a little unhappy: "Eldest daughter, what do you mean by this? When have I ever shown favoritism towards her? I just felt sorry for her and wanted to say something fair. Why are you saying all this nonsense?"
Zhao snorted coldly and didn't say anything, but the expression on her face clearly showed that she was not convinced.
Seeing this, Old Mrs. Gan didn't want to argue with her anymore. She just sighed and said to Zhao Juan:
"My eldest daughter-in-law is straightforward and sometimes says hurtful things. Don't take it to heart. Just be more careful and attentive in the future."
Zhao Juan nodded quickly, looking extremely grateful: "Thank you, Mother... Aunt, I understand. I will definitely do my job well and will never make my sister-in-law angry again."
When Grandma Gan thought of Zhao Juan's arrogant and domineering behavior in the past, and then looked at her well-behaved and sensible appearance now, her prejudice against her gradually lessened, and she felt more pity for her instead.
Little did she know that Zhao Juan's weak and innocent appearance was entirely an act!
After Granny Gan left, the tears in Zhao Juan's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by a sly glint.
She looked up at Zhao's angry departing figure, a cold smile playing on her lips, thinking to herself: Try to fight me? You're still too green!
Similar incidents happen almost every day.
Zhao had always disliked Zhao Juan, and when Zhao Juan deliberately or unintentionally acted pitiful in front of others to gain sympathy, making her look like a villain, it fueled Zhao's anger even more, and she wished she could kick Zhao Juan out immediately.
The Gan family, including Old Mrs. Gan, were all deceived by Zhao Juan's appearance, believing that she had truly reformed and wanted to start anew.
Seeing that Zhao's attitude towards Zhao Juan was getting worse and worse, they thought that Zhao was narrow-minded and deliberately making things difficult for Zhao Juan, so they all advised Zhao to be more magnanimous and not to stoop to Zhao Juan's level.
Zhao felt extremely wronged by the Gan family's misunderstanding, but there was nothing she could do.
She didn't understand why, even though Zhao Juan was the one who did something wrong, her family always blamed her.
However, Zhao Juan's scheming went far beyond that.
She sensed the undercurrents between Zhao and Old Lady Gan, and intentionally wanted to escalate their conflict. So, she began to say ambiguous things to Old Lady Gan, trying to sow discord between Zhao and Old Lady Gan.
“Auntie… Yesterday I overheard my sister-in-law complaining to Qiao’er about you, saying you’re biased… Auntie, I didn’t mean to sow discord between you and my sister-in-law, it’s just that you’ve been so good to me, and I wouldn’t feel at ease if I didn’t tell you this!”
"Tell me, you're only speaking up for me out of pity. No matter what, I can't surpass my sister-in-law. Why doesn't she understand?"
“I also heard her talking about retirement and retirement... I don’t understand what she meant. You said my sister-in-law is still young, why is she already worrying about her life when she gets old?”
Old Mrs. Gan's expression changed, and she snorted coldly—Worry about what! That was clearly directed at this old woman!
Although Grandma Gan knew that Zhao Juan's words could not be completely trusted, a seed of doubt was still planted in her heart.
In addition, she had indeed been biased in the past and had been harsh on Zhao Shi. It was hard to guarantee that she wouldn't hold a grudge, and it wasn't impossible that she would say these things in anger! Thinking of this, she became even colder towards Zhao Shi.
Zhao noticed the change in Old Lady Gan's attitude towards her, and felt even more distressed.
She didn't understand. It was one thing for her mother-in-law to side with her sister-in-law before, but now she was siding with Zhao Juan, an outsider! Could it be that she was really that bad, or that no matter what she did, she was always an outsider in other people's eyes?
As Zhao thought this, she felt a lump in her throat.
Ganli saw all of this, snorted coldly, and asked Maria in her heart:
So, do you still think Zhao Juan can change her ways?
Maria remained silent for a long time before finally speaking weakly. Although she lacked confidence, she still felt that Zhao Juan's reaction was only natural:
[Mrs. Zhao had always disliked Zhao Juan, and when she taught Zhao Juan how to do things, she inevitably harbored prejudice. Zhao Juan sensed this and retaliated, which is perfectly normal. Everyone has their own little schemes.]
【Well, let's keep watching then.】
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