Chapter 207 has no other meaning
“Not only that, they even interfere with my work. They say that I’m too tired and it’s not good for the children, and they force me to take leave from the company. But as soon as outsiders come, such as relatives and friends, she immediately pretends to be a caring and gentle mother-in-law who cares about her daughter-in-law, asking about her well-being, serving tea and water, and acting better than anyone else.”
"I really... can't take it anymore."
Her voice finally broke into a sob, her eyes red and swollen. "I'm not made of steel. I need understanding and support too. But I'm the only one in the family bearing all of this."
Qiao Wanyin didn't want to wrong herself anymore.
For so many years, she has endured it all, thinking that for the sake of family harmony and the safe birth of her child, she would grit her teeth and persevere no matter how difficult it was.
But reality pushed her step by step to the brink of despair.
She could no longer remain silent.
If she doesn't tell the truth, the rift between her and Fu Lian will only widen and eventually become an abyss that cannot be healed.
His mother-in-law is his own mother, and it's a man's nature to protect his mother; this is something that can't be changed.
She never wanted to touch that instinct, nor did she want to put him in a dilemma.
But she knew even more clearly that if she continued to hide it, it wouldn't just be her who would be hurt, but also their marriage and their unborn child.
But Fu Li'an is neither a fool nor someone who cannot distinguish right from wrong.
Given solid evidence, he will calm down and use his own judgment to determine right from wrong.
She trusted him, which is why she brought these things out.
He gripped the paper tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force, his palms sweating, and a small patch of the paper's edge already damp with sweat.
He knew that his mother had never liked Qingqing. When they were discussing marriage, she strongly opposed it, saying that Qiao Wanyin came from an ordinary background and had a stubborn personality, and was not good enough for him, her only son.
Even after he reluctantly agreed to the wedding, he always kept a cold face and never truly accepted her.
But how could a grandmother want to harm her own grandson?
Using drugs with unknown ingredients can gradually affect fetal development and may even endanger the fetus's life.
This was something he simply couldn't accept. Just thinking about the possibility made him feel like he'd been punched hard in the chest, leaving him breathless and suffocated.
“Qingqing,” he finally spoke, his voice hoarse, as if there was grit stuck in his throat, “Don’t be afraid, I’ll go talk to Mom and ask her face to face what really happened.”
He paused, his tone slightly hesitant, "But she is, after all, my mother. Perhaps... her methods were just wrong, but her intentions were still for the good of the child. Don't misunderstand her good intentions."
Qiao Wanyin sensed the wavering in his tone.
The idea that "parents are never wrong" was ingrained in him.
From childhood to adulthood, everything my mother said was right, and even her extreme behavior was always explained as "for your own good."
She knew that breaking this mindset required not only evidence, but also time.
“Mai Dong,” her voice softened, and she reached out to gently grasp his wrist, her gaze sincere and sorrowful, “I’m not asking you to take sides, nor am I asking you to choose between her and me.”
"I just want you to know the truth. I want there to be no secrets or suspicions between us. I don't want these things to create a rift between us, to the point where we can't even speak to each other anymore."
Fu Lian raised his hand and gently stroked her hair, his movements tender, his tone gentle yet firm, "I understand, Qingqing. It's right that you're telling me all this. I'm very grateful that you're willing to be honest."
"No matter what happens in the future, you must tell me immediately. Don't bear it alone. We are husband and wife, and we should face it together."
That night, he called his mother to the end of the corridor.
Moonlight slanted in through the window, falling between the two of them like a cold boundary.
"Mom, I have something I'd like to ask you."
He spoke softly, his tone hesitant and solemn, as he gently supported his mother's arm, guiding her to slowly sit down on the bench beside him.
The bench was made of stainless steel, the kind commonly found in hospital corridors. Its surface was somewhat cool, and it gleamed faintly in the slanting afternoon sunlight.
Upon seeing his expression, Song Yazhi immediately became alert, her brows furrowing slightly, a hint of unease flashing in her eyes. "What's wrong? What did she say to you again?"
Her voice was low, but her speech was rapid, clearly indicating that she had a premonition that what was to come would not be easy.
"Qingqing is alright."
Fu Lian shook his head, then sighed heavily, as if trying to expel the pent-up emotions in his chest. He then tried to suppress his emotions and not let his tone sound too heavy. "I want to ask you, what exactly is the medicine you've been giving Qingqing lately?"
His gaze was fixed on his mother, his eyes filled with both questions and a hint of cautious probing.
"She said she felt unwell all over after drinking it, with dizziness, nausea, and sometimes stomach pain. Could it be that something unsuitable was added to it?"
He spoke these words slowly and deliberately, his voice not loud, yet it was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples.
Upon hearing this, Song Yazhi's face froze. Her previously concerned expression instantly solidified, as if she had been frozen in place.
Immediately afterward, she exploded in anger, her voice suddenly rising: "What does she mean by that? I just left, and she's already complaining about me to you?"
She stood up abruptly, her voice trembling with intensity.
Her voice carried far down the quiet corridor, echoing between the white walls. Even the young nurse writing medical records at the opposite nurses' station couldn't help but look up and glance in their direction, her face showing a mixture of embarrassment and surprise.
"Mom, please keep your voice down."
Fu Li'an quickly reached out and pressed her trembling hand, feeling the coldness and slight trembling of her mother's palm with his fingertips. "Qingqing wasn't blaming anyone, she just felt uncomfortable and worried, so she told me... She didn't mean anything by it."
"Worry?"
Song Yazhi glared at her son, her eyes wide with anger, the wrinkles around her eyes deepening with her emotions. "How many connections did I pull to get this prescription? Running to traditional Chinese medicine clinics, consulting experts, asking around and begging for medicine—how much effort did I put in? I got up before dawn every day to brew the medicine, and I even had to choose the herbs myself, afraid that one wrong ingredient might harm someone, and all I got in return was a 'feeling unwell' and a doubt?"
Her voice trembled slightly, not only with anger but also with the grievance of being misunderstood. "Adong, you are my son. Tell me the truth, would I harm your own flesh and blood? Would I joke with my grandson's life?"
Fu Li'an was speechless for a moment. His lips moved, but he ultimately remained silent.
He looked down at the ground, where a little dust clung to the tile grout, reflecting his complex emotions.
In his memory, his mother was indeed domineering, spoke forcefully, and never allowed anyone to contradict her.
She was truly exceptional towards her two children, never showing any favoritism or neglect.
When my younger sister was little, she had a fever of 40 degrees Celsius. She would stay by her bedside all night, wiping her body with a wet towel to lower her temperature, without daring to close her eyes for even a moment.
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