Madame Qiao's anger intensified. She had not expected Qiao Xuan to be so adept at handling the situation. It only fueled her regret further. She wondered why she had allowed Qiao Xuan to marry Shao Yunduan in the first place. Perhaps she should have sent her to become a nun instead.
Qiao Wei couldn't bear Qiao Xuan's deliberate arguments. "You did this on purpose! What a pathetic excuse! Qiao Xuan, you are truly wicked!"
Qiao Xuan inwardly sighed, thinking, "How can you be so foolish?"
Unsurprisingly, Ms. Fang didn't take kindly to Qiao Wei's accusation. She retorted, "Elder Miss Qiao, my daughter-in-law is telling the truth. We were all eager to explore the province, so we came together as a family."
Yang Xiaoni chimed in, "Yes, we were all excited about this trip. My Fifth Sister-in-law is incredibly kind and patient, explaining everything to us because we are unfamiliar with the area. It's only natural that she got caught up and forgot to inform you. Can't you understand that?"
Taotao chimed in, saying, "We're not perfect, we can forget things!"
"Yeah, stop nitpicking!"
"You're right, everyone can forget things!"
Qiao Xuan smiled warmly and contentedly, her eyes sparkling with joy. It was indeed a delightful day.
Qiao Wei's face contorted in frustration. What was going on? How had Qiao Xuan managed to win everyone over? Had she bought them off?
Qiao Kou couldn't help but feel bitter and envious. It seemed like the women from the Shao Family were all standing up for Qiao Xuan and contradicting Qiao Wei. Qiao Xuan was incredibly fortunate to have such supportive in-laws.
In the end, it turned out that Qiao Xuan was the one who had struck gold.
Qiao Xuan's popularity among the Shao Family took Madame Qiao by surprise. She hadn't expected the women from the countryside to stand up for Qiao Xuan and contradict her own daughter.
Yet, she couldn't deny that Qiao Xuan had carelessly fallen into their trap, leaving her with no excuses to defend her. Madame Qiao sighed inwardly, realizing that her daughter's impulsive behavior had put her in a difficult position.
Trying to diffuse the tension, Madame Qiao forced a smile. "Wei has always wanted to travel with Xuan, and she was disappointed when it didn't happen. That's why she spoke rudely. Please, Mrs. In-law, don't be angry with her."
Qiao Xuan gracefully responded, "It's alright, Mother. My mother-in-law is understanding and forgiving. She won't hold any grudges against my sister. She explained herself to avoid any misunderstandings."
Yang Xiaoni chimed in, "Yes, my mother-in-law is truly wonderful. She treats us with so much kindness!"
The two sister-in-laws exchanged a warm smile, appreciating each other's positive qualities.
Yang Xiaoni, being down-to-earth and genuine, continued to speak highly of her mother-in-law, unaware of the underlying tension. However, Qiao Xuan noticed Madame Qiao's subtle mockery of her mother-in-law and refused to let it slide. She wouldn't allow Madame Qiao to belittle her mother-in-law.
Ms. Fang, feeling pleased and grateful, beamed and said, "That's because you are so kind, so I treat you well in return. I'm not a mean person! Please come in and have a seat, Mrs. In-law!"
Madame Qiao tightly held Qiao Wei's hands, maintaining a smile as they took their seats. Chunyu then served the tea.
As Madame Qiao sipped the tea, she suddenly realized that she had nothing more to say. How could she interrogate Qiao Xuan about the house or her decision to leave without them? She was at a loss for words and unsure how to proceed.