Mo Sanniang quietly withdrew her hand from Lady Xie’s grip, her expression serene, as if the woman before her, who was fiercely berating her daughter-in-law, was someone she did not recognize since Ah Li’s days.
"Madam Xie, these are all matters of the Xie family, and as an outsider, I truly dare not interfere. If you have complaints about your daughter-in-law, you could speak to your son, or, you might as well directly address your daughter-in-law. Are you hoping to make me the messenger? I am truly sorry, Madam Xie, but I am not very familiar with you, your son, or your daughter-in-law; I fear I am not up to the task."
Lin Yuan truly wanted to applaud Mo Sanniang; the latter was becoming increasingly assertive. However, she liked it.
Lady Xie was slightly stunned, hurriedly waving her hands, "No, no, that’s not what I— I didn’t mean to use you as a go-between, I—I meant to..."
Seeing her hesitate again, Mo Sanniang grew impatient, "Madam Xie, if you have something to say, just say it. I still have business to attend to here."
Lady Xie saw that she was about to be sent away, steeled her heart, and *thump*, fell to her knees on the ground, tears rolling down uncontrollably like pearls off a string.
Mo Sanniang was so startled that she immediately leaped up from her chair. Lin Yuan, at the doorway, had not expected the old lady to resort to such an act and quickly helped Mo Sanniang shut the shop door. If passersby saw an old mother kneeling before Mo Sanniang, goodness knows what kind of ugly rumors would spread.
"Madam Xie, what is this, what are you doing? Stand up, please, let’s talk this out!" Mo Sanniang glanced at the shop door, thankful that Lin Yuan was standing guard outside; otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.
While speaking, Mo Sanniang struggled to help Lady Xie up, but as soon as her knees left the ground, Lady Xie knelt down again with a whoosh.
"Madam Xie, please speak your mind; this sudden kneeling, what is it for?" With no other option, Mo Sanniang also knelt in front of Lady Xie, somewhat helplessly persuading her.
Lady Xie clutched Mo Sanniang’s arms tightly, her tears flowing as if they cost her nothing, "Sanniang, today, consider it your aunt pleading with you! Can you, can you reconcile with Yuaner, please? It was all my fault before, turning away such a good daughter-in-law like you. I admit it, I was blinded by Ma Xiaoqian’s silver, but that Ma Xiaoqian is not only stingy but also heartlessly kicked me out. Sanniang, I truly have no other choice, you don’t know, after being kicked out, how many neighbors pointed at my spine and laughed at me! Sanniang, I’m begging you, don’t be mad at Yuaner anymore, reconcile with him. I won’t let him marry that wicked woman Ma Xiaoqian, I favor you, I favor you!"
Mo Sanniang, as if hearing a very funny joke, took a good long while before a sound that was neither a laugh nor a jeer squeezed out from her throat.
Lady Xie, uncertain, just stared blankly at her, hoping that this woman, who had always been respectful to her, would agree to her terms as before and reconcile with Xie Zhiyuan. That way, she wouldn’t be driven out of her home by her son and daughter-in-law and could return to her household, once again ruling the roost as before.
But her fantasy was ultimately shattered.
Mo Sanniang coldly removed her hands, stood up, a contemptuous smile playing on her lips, and sat back down in the chair she had been occupying earlier.
Lady Xie was bewildered by her reaction. What did this mean? A rejection? But hadn’t this woman clung to her son Yuaner so desperately in the past? Hadn’t she waited for Yuaner for so many years, even missing out on her prime years? Why, had she changed her mind today?
"Sanniang?" Lady Xie called out weakly, only to be coldly interrupted by Mo Sanniang.