Chapter 199 Looking Down
"Wanyu, are you free today?"
Song Yazhi suddenly looked up at Fang Wanyu, who had been sitting quietly to the side, and said in a gentle and kind tone, "I want to go to the mutual aid center. I heard that Qingqing is doing quite well there? I haven't been there for a long time, so I might as well check on my daughter-in-law's work."
Qiao Wanyin paused, her heart pounded, and a chill of unease crept up her spine and down her neck.
She didn't turn around, but her fingers had already quietly tightened their grip on the strap of the cloth bag, her knuckles turning white again.
My mother-in-law wants to go to her workplace too?
Why should we "care" about her in front of so many people?
"I'm free! I'm free!"
Fang Wanyu immediately chimed in, a smile spreading across her face and her eyes sparkling, "I happen to have nothing to do today, and I was just thinking of going to see where Sister Wanyin works. I always feel that the mutual aid center she talks about is particularly meaningful."
On the way, Qiao Wanyin walked in front, her pace much faster than usual, as if she wanted to leave the two behind her far behind.
She lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the dirt road beneath her feet, the gravel and dry grass making a soft rubbing sound on the soles of her shoes.
Fang Wanyu and Song Yazhi walked side by side behind, occasionally whispering and laughing. Their words were carried by the wind and drifted intermittently into Qiao Wanyin's ears.
The laughter was gentle and polite, and the tone was intimate, as if the three women—mother-in-law and daughter-in-law—were a harmonious family.
"Director Qiao, you've arrived!"
A cheerful voice came from the doorway. It was Li Sao, whose husband was the company commander in Fu Li'an's company. He was quite respected among the military families. "We've been waiting for you to come and take a look at the arrangements for next week's literacy class. The lesson plans are almost finished, and we're just waiting for you to set a time."
Qiao Wanyin tugged at the corners of her mouth, forcing a smile, but the muscles in her cheeks were so stiff they were almost unresponsive.
She nodded and replied softly, "Thank you for your hard work. I'll go in and take a look now."
"This must be your mother-in-law, Commander Fu's mother, right?"
Song Yazhi suddenly stepped forward, squeezed next to Qiao Wanyin, her face beaming with smiles, and her voice loud and enthusiastic, "Hello everyone, I'm Maidong's mother, and also Qingqing's mother-in-law. I heard she works in this area, so I came here specifically to see her and check on her work."
Upon hearing the commotion, the military dependents gathered around, their faces filled with curiosity and respect.
Some people offered hot water, some proactively introduced recent work progress, and many more chimed in, vying to praise Qiao Wanyin.
"Director Qiao is really capable. Last time, he mediated the conflict between the Zhang family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and he convinced both families!"
"Yes, the literacy classes she runs attract women from even neighboring villages!"
"Kind-hearted, down-to-earth, and unpretentious, he is truly a role model for our military families!"
Song Yazhi stood in the center of the crowd, her hands clasped in front of her, a kind smile always on her lips. She nodded in agreement from time to time, her expression full of pride and satisfaction, as if she was truly honored by her daughter-in-law's achievements.
But Qiao Wanyin knew very well what was going on.
That amiable and radiant demeanor is nothing but an act for others to see.
At home, she had to wait for her mother-in-law to finish eating before she could even have a hot meal; if she said the wrong thing, she would be ridiculed all day long.
This performance is merely an attempt to establish herself as a "reasonable mother-in-law," so that she can appear more dignified in front of others.
"Mom, please sit down and rest for a while. There's a wooden stool over there."
Qiao Wanyin stepped forward and said softly, trying to keep her tone calm, "I have some important business to attend to. Can you wait for me here?"
Song Yazhi waved her hand lightly and naturally, as if she didn't care at all. "Go do your thing, don't worry about me. I'm going to chat with my girlfriends for a while and get familiar with the environment here."
Turning to Fang Wanyu, he smiled and said, "Wanyu, haven't you always wanted to get more involved in the work with military families? Learn from Qingqing; she's a role model here. Work hard, and you'll be able to take charge in the future."
Fang Wanyu obediently responded, nodding meekly, "Yes, Mom, I will definitely learn from Sister Wanyin."
After saying that, she smiled at Qiao Wanyin and followed her into the house.
As soon as the door closed, the light inside the room dimmed instantly.
The smile on Fang Wanyu's face vanished instantly, her expression turning as cold as frost.
She turned around, stared at Qiao Wanyin, and spoke in a low, clear voice:
"Qiao Wanyin, how are you feeling today?"
Qiao Wanyin rubbed her throbbing temples, her fingertips gently pressing her forehead, her brows furrowing slightly, as if a fine needle was piercing her brain.
She looked up at the woman standing opposite her, her tone tinged with weariness and impatience, "Fang Wanyu, what exactly do you want? Blocking my door in the middle of the night, are you crazy?"
"It's very simple."
Fang Wanyu said in a low voice, her voice sounding as if it were squeezed out from between her teeth, carrying a chilling coldness.
She took a step closer, her gaze sharp as a knife. "You don't deserve the position next to Fu Li'an. That's what I deserve. And that thing you're hiding—hand it over, it's mine."
Qiao Wanyin chuckled, a mocking smile curving her lips, as if she had heard the biggest joke in the world.
She slowly raised her eyes, her gaze sweeping contemptuously across the other person's face. "Why don't you say this to your sweetheart? Do you really think Fu Lian would dump his wife and children for you? Don't daydream."
"Besides, what is that 'thing' you're talking about?"
Her tone suddenly turned cold, and her voice rose a few decibels, "Who gave you permission to spout nonsense and do such supernatural things? Do you think this is a movie? Or do you think you're the villain in a novel, able to concoct a shocking secret out of thin air?"
Fang Wanyu raised an eyebrow, her eyes flashing, as if a dark fire was burning deep in her pupils.
She stared coldly at Qiao Wanyin, a barely perceptible sneer curling at the corner of her lips. "A few days ago, you kept going to the black market, and then suddenly disappeared without a trace, and we couldn't find you all day. You think I didn't know? I saw it all."
"where have you been?"
She took a step closer, her voice low but sharp, "Tell me the truth! Don't try to fool me. I'm not blind."
She's someone who's been reborn.
In her past life, she lived a humble and repressed life, constantly disliked by her family and unable to even get a hot meal.
She would sit in the corner of the dilapidated house and read old novels to pass the time. She had read so many novels with plots about space, golden fingers, and transmigration that she could recite them by heart.
Since fate has given her a second chance at life, and since she can come back, then this world may very well be full of miracles.
What gave Qiao Wanyin, an ordinary woman, the confidence to suddenly become so powerful?
Why are they acting more and more strangely?
Therefore, she deduced that Qiao Wanyin must be hiding something.
For example, a secret space that could make her disappear into thin air.
Otherwise, how could a living person be buying groceries at the entrance of the residential compound one second and then vanish into thin air the next?
Surely it can't be flying or disappearing underground, right?
Qiao Wanyin sneered, crossed her arms, and looked down at her. "Have you been reading too many novels and gotten confused? How dare you say such absurd things? 'Space'? Are you trying to attend a science fiction convention? Or are you planning to hold a press conference at the Academy of Sciences?"
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