Chapter 171 Reshaping Life
In her mother-in-law's mind, Fang Wanyu was innocent, while she herself had been presumed to be the sinner from the very beginning.
This unfair treatment sent a chill down her spine.
...
I didn't take it before because it wasn't necessary.
Fang Wanyu had always lived in the Fu family home and never lacked anything in terms of food, clothing, or daily necessities, so she had no need to steal anything.
At that time, she was not yet married and had a special status. The Fu family treated her like their own daughter and she could ask for anything she wanted.
Taking the jade ruyi would be meaningless to her and might even bring her trouble.
The reason I'm taking it now is so I can use it to frame someone!
Now that she is married, her relationship with the Fu family is no longer so close, and she needs to draw a clear line.
If Yu Ruyi were to disappear at this time, and she happened to have entered the study, suspicion would naturally fall on someone else—especially the newcomer Qiao Wanyin.
This way, he could both clear himself of any wrongdoing and take the opportunity to get rid of her—killing two birds with one stone.
She knew in her heart that her mother-in-law never liked her.
From before marriage to after marriage, Song Yazhi never truly accepted her.
Even though she was careful and thorough in everything she did, she was still criticized and people always felt that she was not good enough for Fu Li'an.
In her mother-in-law's eyes, she came from an ordinary background, had an average family, and was not particularly well-educated. The only thing she could boast about was Fu Lian'an's affection for her.
It's unrealistic to expect to change someone's opinion with just a few words.
Once feelings and prejudices are formed, they cannot be reversed with a few words of explanation.
She understands these deeply ingrained family values all too well, especially in the mother-in-law/daughter-in-law relationship, where preconceived notions often determine everything.
No matter how hard she tried, it couldn't overcome the simple statement, "I just don't like her."
Now she just hopes Fu Lian will come back soon so she can talk things out in person.
He was her husband, her only support in this marriage.
As soon as he returns and sees his mother making baseless accusations against his wife, he will definitely stand up for her.
She believed he wouldn't let her bear all of this alone, nor would he allow the misunderstanding to deepen.
"Mom, you must be exhausted from your journey. Why don't you rest for a while? I'll go make dinner now, and we can discuss it properly when Maidong gets back, okay?"
She spoke very softly, with concern and consideration, trying to ease the tense atmosphere.
She didn't want to escalate the conflict or allow the standoff to continue.
She only wanted to calm things down temporarily and make a decision after Fu Lian returned.
Song Yazhi stared at her coldly, her tone stiff: "What? You think that just because you've coaxed my son, I can't do anything about you?"
Her eyes were full of mockery and wariness, as if Qiao Wanyin really had some ulterior motives.
In her eyes, Qiao Wanyin was nothing more than a woman who was good at pretending, using gentleness and thoughtfulness to deceive her son.
But as a mother, she saw it clearly and would never allow such a person to remain in the Fu family.
“That’s not what I meant… I genuinely felt you were tired and needed to rest.”
Qiao Wanyin hurriedly explained, her voice trembling slightly, but she still managed to control her emotions.
She didn't want to argue, nor did she want the situation to get out of control.
She only wanted to express her concern, but she didn't expect it to be misinterpreted as having ulterior motives.
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Song Yazhi interrupted her directly, "Just tell me straight, what do you want for me to divorce my son?"
She no longer concealed her purpose, her tone was firm, and her attitude was resolute.
She didn't come here for a heart-to-heart talk; she came here to lay her cards on the table.
From the moment she walked in, she had already made up her mind to make Qiao Wanyin leave.
"Let me tell you, I will never allow someone with a tarnished reputation and shady dealings to become my daughter-in-law!"
She spoke those words carefully, as if delivering a verdict or a warning.
In her mind, Qiao Wanyin had already been convicted, needing no trial and no room for argument.
She didn't care about the truth; she only cared about whether her son could escape "danger."
"divorce?"
The envelope in Qiao Wanyin's hand fell to the ground with a "thud".
That soft sound was like the snapping of a string in her heart.
She stood there, stunned, her face pale, her fingers trembling slightly.
She looked down at the envelope lying on the ground. It was something she had specially prepared for today—a letter of greeting to Fu Li'an's mother, along with a photo of her and Mai Dong.
She originally planned to hand it to her mother-in-law personally when she arrived, hoping to use this opportunity to get closer to her.
But now, the letter lies quietly on the ground, like a futile hope that has shattered silently.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at her aggressive mother-in-law. Her throat tightened, and her voice trembled involuntarily: "Mom, how could you... how could you wrong me like this?"
Why not?
Song Yazhi raised an eyebrow, her eyes filled with disdain and contempt, and a mocking smile curved her lips. "A person like you, who is lazy and idle all day long and has caused so many scandals, is not worthy of marrying into our Fu family!"
Qiao Wanyin's chest heaved violently, as if an invisible hand was gripping her heart tightly, making it difficult to breathe.
Her fingers gripped the corner of the apron tightly, her knuckles turning white from the force, as if the fabric was the only thing she could hold onto at that moment.
She has been in this world for more than half a year.
She awoke from that drowsy, rainy night and became the new owner of this body.
She has been quietly cleaning up the mess left by the original owner of this body—the debts, the tarnished reputation, the gossip among the neighbors…
Each and every one of these things, like thorns, entangled her steps.
But those dark histories are like plasters, sticking to your body and impossible to shake off.
No matter how hard she tries to change, or how hard she works from dawn till dusk, when people mention her, they still say, "That's Qiao Wanyin, she used to be quite disrespectful."
"Mom, I swear, I really didn't take the jade ruyi!"
Her voice trembled slightly, filled with anxiety and grievance, "That thing is valuable, how could I possibly take it without permission? If you want to investigate, I can cooperate! Mai Dong and I are truly together, and I never intended to deceive your family!"
"sincere?"
Song Yazhi sneered, her eyebrows raised high, her eyes sweeping across her face like knives. "What have you been up to in the village? You're always loitering around the village entrance, seducing the son of this neighbor and flirting with the man of that neighbor, too lazy to even lift a finger in the fields! And now you've learned to pretend to be virtuous? You're actually quite convincing at it!"
Qiao Wanyin opened her mouth, her lips moved slightly, but she couldn't utter a single word.
She wanted to explain, but what could she say?
Should we tell her that the Qiao Wanyin who acted recklessly in the past is long dead, and that the current Qiao Wanyin is a soul that has traveled from modern society hundreds of years in the future?
A modern woman, armed with reason and common sense, is forced to remain trapped in this despised body, gradually reshaping her life.
She can't possibly say it out loud, can she?
Who would believe that?
Who would believe the words of a "madman"?
Just as I was thinking about how to explain myself so that the misunderstanding wouldn't escalate, I suddenly heard light footsteps outside the door.
Tap, tap, tap—from afar, crisp and clear, like spring raindrops falling on a bluestone slab.
"Aunt Song, it really is you!"
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