Chapter 11: Giving Ziheng a big deal

The daughter-in-law was already unhappy in her heart. When she saw Chen Ping'an bringing gifts to Mrs. Wu, she became even more envious. Now that she saw Mrs. Wu giving her the cold shoulder, she didn't want to stay there anymore, regardless of how thick-skinned she was. The display of motherly love and filial piety was so ostentatious that it was hard to look at, so she saw no reason to make herself unhappy.

Jiang Yar was standing quietly on the side. She couldn't intervene in this matter and didn't dare to. After the family separated, the elder daughter-in-law and mother-in-law always clashed.

The daughter-in-law stood up to leave, but was stopped by Mrs. Wu. "Wait, what I'm about to say is also a family matter. You should stay and listen."

The daughter-in-law's expression was very unpleasant. She was facing away from Mrs. Wu and was originally planning to refuse directly. But without backbone, she could only reluctantly put on a smile. "Mother-in-law, what family matter is it? Do I need to be present?"

"Of course, it's a great joy for our Chen family. Both the first and second households should attend," Mrs. Wu said with a smile, despite already receiving gifts from Ping'an.

The daughter-in-law was stunned. "What great joy?"

"We won the top spot in the county examination. Isn't that a great joy? This is something that rarely happens in the history of Chen's Village," Mrs. Wu said sternly, looking at the daughter-in-law.

"Yes, of course, it's a great joy," the daughter-in-law responded with a forced smile. But in her heart, she cursed Mrs. Wu. When their son Heng passed the county exam, she didn't see Mrs. Wu so happy.

"Ping'an, I've decided to celebrate this for you. We'll make everyone in Chen's Village happy for you." Mrs. Wu said, holding Ping'an's hand.

This wouldn't have happened in the previous life. That year, when Chen Ping'an barely passed the county exam, Mrs. Wu was not pleased, especially compared to how well his nephew had done in the exam.

But in this life, Chen Ping'an glanced at Jiang Yar standing behind him and said, "Mother, there's no need to make a fuss. It's just the county exam. There's still the provincial exam and the metropolitan exam to come in quick succession. I'm energetic enough to study more."

"Mother wants to celebrate for you," Mrs. Wu said. Hearing her son being so obedient, she felt extra affectionate. This was Ping'an's first exam, and he had achieved such a good result.

Chen Ping'an shook his head. "It's really not necessary." Mrs. Wu asked again, and if Ping'an agreed, she would organize it for him.

But Chen Ping'an shook his head again with a smile. "When have I ever lied? I just want to pass the exams as soon as possible."

Seeing her son's ambition, Mrs. Wu was even more pleased. She nodded repeatedly, "Good, whatever Ping'an says goes. When Ping'an passes the exam, I will organize a grand celebration for him, and everyone in Chen's Village will be invited."

This time, Chen Ping'an nodded and said, "Okay, I will definitely pass the exam for you, mother."

"Good, good. My son has determination. I'm naturally happy," Mrs. Wu said.

Just then, there was a cold snort from the daughter-in-law, who sarcastically remarked, "One dares to answer, and one dares to agree. Quite a match."

She had been listening quietly and found it amusing how the mother and son conversed. Now she suspected that Mrs. Wu had deliberately kept her there to make her feel uncomfortable.

Mrs. Wu's face immediately turned sour. "No one forced you to stay. If you don't want to, you can leave."

"It was you who asked the daughter-in-law to stay just now. Besides, who knows if this top spot is genuine?" The daughter-in-law was not holding back in her sarcasm.

Mrs. Wu was naturally sharp-tongued and quick-witted. In a verbal battle, no one could gain an advantage over her.

Moreover, Chen Ping'an was her favorite. She couldn't bear to say a word against him, especially not from the daughter-in-law's provocations.

Now she couldn't sit still any longer.

"Yar, take Ping'an inside to review. Let's hold off on this matter for now," Mrs. Wu said as calmly as possible.

Jiang Yar nodded repeatedly. "Yes, mother-in-law," she said softly to Ping'an. "Ping'an, let's go inside." She had experienced this many times before and always took Ping'an away when the quarrels escalated between her mother-in-law and the elder daughter-in-law.

Normally, Ping'an obediently left, but this time, he stopped in his tracks. "Mother, it's not worth it for such matters."

"Be obedient, Ping'an," Mrs. Wu said.

"Mother, Ping'an is grown up now. What matters can't he know about? He's upright and proper, why should he be afraid of anything?" The daughter-in-law spoke up, still clashing with Ping'an.

Ping'an looked at the daughter-in-law with calm eyes. "Sister-in-law, the pure will be proven pure, and over time, the truth will be revealed."

The daughter-in-law sneered, "One dares to respond and the other dares to challenge." Her sarcasm was still directed at Ping'an.

Mrs. Wu was a sharp-tongued person and wouldn't lose in a verbal battle. Besides, she cherished Ping'an and wouldn't let the daughter-in-law have her way.

This time, she couldn't sit still any longer.

"Yar, take Ping'an inside to review. Let's leave this matter for now," Mrs. Wu said to Jiang Yar as calmly as possible.

Jiang Yar nodded repeatedly. "Yes, mother-in-law." She turned and whispered to Ping'an, "Ping'an, let's go inside." She had been through this many times before, and her mother-in-law always made her take Ping'an away. This time was no exception.

Previously, Ping'an always obediently left, but this time, he stopped in his tracks. "Mother, it's not worth it for such matters."

"Be obedient, Ping'an," Mrs. Wu said.

"Mother, Ping'an is grown up now. What matters can't he know about? He's upright and proper, why should he be afraid of anything?" The daughter-in-law spoke up, still clashing with Ping'an.

Ping'an looked at the daughter-in-law with calm eyes. "Sister-in-law, the pure will be proven pure, and over time, the truth will be revealed."

The daughter-in-law sneered, "One dares to respond and the other dares to challenge."

This time, she couldn't sit still any longer.

Taking Jiang Yar away, he was unwilling to let her fall into such a situation and be exposed to such things. In his past life, he had seen plenty of the scheming and infighting among women in the inner chambers, so he didn't want Jiang Yar to experience it.

After seeing Ping'an leave, Mrs. Wu could no longer suppress her inner arrogance. She stood up and said, "Daughter-in-law, it seems like you're becoming bolder."

"Mother-in-law, I'm just speaking the truth," the daughter-in-law replied.

"Even now, you still haven't repented. Ping'an's performance in the exams is better than Ziheng's, and yet you still doubt him," Mrs. Wu directly confronted the daughter-in-law, hitting a nerve.

The daughter-in-law also stood up and said, "Mother-in-law, Ziheng relies on his own abilities. If you don't believe it, the truth will be revealed at the provincial exams."

"Then I'll wait for the provincial exams," Mrs. Wu naturally believed in her son. "If Ping'an passes the exams, you will apologize to him."

"Okay," the daughter-in-law readily agreed, confident that Ping'an wouldn't pass. "But if he doesn't, what will you do?"

"What do you want me to do?" Mrs. Wu couldn't afford to lose face.