New ink fragrance in old times

Zhao Yue'e held Lin Xiya's hand tightly, her weathered eyes filled with complex emotions, including worry about her daughter's future and a hint of unspeakable blame.

"Yaya, when did you decide to return to the Tang family? Why didn't you discuss such a big thing with mother?"

Lin Xiya lowered her head even more, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, as if she was carrying a heavy weight. "Mom, I'm sorry... I don't think it's a good idea for me to stay at my parents' house like this forever."

Zhao Yue'e's tone was filled with confusion and disappointment: "Did Tang Ming say something to you?"

Lin Xiya lowered her head, twisting the corner of her clothes with her fingers, her voice as soft as a mosquito: "I discussed this matter with Tang Ming last night, and I think it's better to return to the Tang family."

Zhao Yue'e: "Mother knows you have your considerations, but mother hopes you can understand that returning to the Tang family is not that simple. The waters there are very deep."

Lin Xiya: "Mom, I..."

Zhao Yue'e couldn't help but reach out and gently tap Lin Xiya's forehead: "You are so confused, why are you so confused as to want to go back with him?"

Zhao Yue'e grabbed Lin Xiya's hand and said, "If you go back like this, how will you survive in the Tang family? They'll just look down on you, bully you, and pick on weaklings like you!"

Lin Xiya sighed, her eyes slightly red. "Mom, I understand everything you said. But now, I have to find a way out. I can't gamble with Qing'er's future. Tang Ming said that as long as we go back, he will do his best to protect us and won't let anyone bully us."

After hearing this, Zhao Yue'e frowned and spoke in a harsher tone, "Mother doesn't want you to break up with them, but the Tang family must admit their mistake first. Otherwise, even if Qing'er goes back, she will never be able to hold her head up high for the rest of her life."

Lin Xiya showed some hesitation on her face: "Mom, aren't you saying it too seriously? Tang Ming..."

"Don't make excuses for him!"

Zhao Yue'e interrupted her, her tone filled with anger: "How could I give birth to such a useless person like you! Look at you now, you have no idea what to do and are completely led by the nose by others."

Seeing that Lin Xiya was still in deep thought, Zhao Yue'e couldn't help but feel even more angry. She gritted her teeth and said in a low voice with a force that could not be ignored: "How could I have given birth to such a fool like you!"

Lin Xiya was stunned by her mother's sudden harsh words. She couldn't hold back the tears any longer and they rolled down like beads from a broken string. "Mom, I... I just..."

Zhao Yue'e looked at her daughter's aggrieved expression. Although her anger had not subsided, her tone softened a bit:

"Yaya, it's not that I don't feel sorry for you, it's that you don't understand. I've lived to this age, and I've seen all kinds of people. I can't just watch you jump into the fire pit. You have to plan for your own future, and you have to consider Qing'er as well."

Lin Xiya wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her sleeve and said with a sob, "Mom, I really have no other choice."

Zhao Yue'e's tone was a bit serious: "Yaya, look at Qing'er. What has he become because of you? He's narrow-minded. He thinks over everything someone says several times in his mind."

Lin Xiya felt a pang of sadness in her heart: "Mom, Qing'er is not like this. He is as steady and polite as our Dalang. It's just that so many things have happened in recent days..."

Zhao Yue'e sighed and said earnestly, "Yaya, look at what you've done to your child."

Lin Xiya: "Mom."

Zhao Yue'e: "Don't take it lightly. How many times has Qing'er smiled these days? She even dares not eat generously. In my opinion, Tang Ming's sisters are not easy to deal with. Qing'er must stay here. I will take good care of her, otherwise she will easily go astray in the future."

Lin Xiya felt mixed emotions when she heard her mother's words, but she also knew that her mother was doing it for her and Qing'er's good.

Finally, he nodded, his voice firm, "Mom, I understand. I will think more carefully about things in the future and won't make decisions so impulsively."

Seeing this, Zhao Yue'e's anger finally dissipated a little, replaced by a sense of relief: "That's right, it won't be too late to let the younger ones go back after the matter with the Tang family is completely resolved. Qing'er is my grandson, how could I harm him?"

Lin Xiya looked at her mother gratefully, tears blurring her eyes again: "I understand, Mom, thank you."

Zhao Yue'e approached Lin Xiya again, gently stroking her hair with her hand, her tone filled with love:

"Yaya, mother won't harm you either. You have to remember that it's the Tang family that must bow down in this matter. It's a good thing it was Tang Ming who said this today. If you had said it, I'm afraid it would have chilled the hearts of your brothers. Don't be so foolish again in the future."

Lin Xiya nodded heavily, then she asked softly, "Mom, I noticed that my third brother didn't talk to me today. Is he angry?"

Zhao Yue'e sighed, her eyes filled with tenderness. "Silly child, he's been attached to you since childhood, how could he be angry with you? He just feels uncomfortable because he thinks you made such a big decision without discussing it with him first."

Lin Xiya felt a little relieved and a smile appeared on her face: "That's good, I thought he was angry with me."

Zhao Yue'e gently patted the back of Lin Xiya's hand and said earnestly, "However, judging by the current situation at the Tang family, besides those confused people in the Tang family, there's a good chance that your sisters are behind this."

Lin Xiya was slightly startled, her eyes filled with helplessness and bitterness. "Mom, they married well, and we really can't afford to offend them individually. After all, it's us who need their help now, so we have to flatter them."

Zhao Yue'e curled her lips into a cold smile, her eyes revealing a hint of disdain. "I'm not a pushover. Whose ancestors didn't have wealth? In the past, they weren't even worthy of carrying your shoes. I think Tang Ming is a child. I used to think he was honest and decent, but now I think he's too honest. He's simply stupid."

Lin Xiya quickly defended Tang Ming: "Mom, I feel bad when you say that about him. He has his own difficulties."

Zhao Yue'e gently patted the back of Lin Xiya's hand and said earnestly, "You still don't like to listen to what I say about him. When his sisters became successful, he rushed over to curry favor with them, flattering them without any sense of propriety. He thinks too little of himself, so how can others look at him in the eye?"

At this point, his tone became even more stern. "You and the children are suffering this time, but he's trying to use this to gain benefits. He doesn't even consider whether he can control others with his own strength. You must remember that kind people are easily bullied, and kind horses are easily ridden."

Lin Xiya remained silent, a mixture of emotions welling up in her heart. She knew her mother's words, though sharp, were also true. Tang Ming was indeed a little too dependent on his sisters; after all, his foundation was too weak.

Zhao Yue'e continued, "He's the only surviving male in the family. His parents doted on him, and his sisters all spoiled him. But that was in the past. Now they're all married, and they're not fools anymore. They all have their own plans. Don't tell Tang Ming everything in the future. Be careful of those people when you go back this time."

Lin Xiya nodded, tears glistening in her eyes: "Mom, I understand. I will be careful and won't suffer any loss again."

Zhao Yue'e sighed, her face filled with worry. "You must take mother's words to heart and be prepared. Spend more time with your sister and ask Miss Zhai if you have any questions. She's an understanding person and can give you some advice."

Lin Xiya nodded again, her voice choking with sobs. "I understand, Mother. I will. I will keep in touch with my sister and listen more to Miss Zhai's opinions."

Zhao Yue'e felt a pang of sadness when she saw her daughter like this. She gently hugged Lin Xiya and softened her voice:

"Yaya, mother knows you're feeling miserable. But you have to remember that you must stand up for yourself, for Qing'er and the others, and for yourself. Mother can't be with you forever, you have to learn to protect yourself."

Lin Xiya felt warmth and strength in her mother's arms.

She hugged Zhao Yue'e tightly, tears silently falling: "Mom, I will. I will stand up and won't let anyone bully me anymore."

Zhao Yue'e gently patted Lin Xiya's back and comforted her, "Okay, Mom believes you. You're such a grown-up, why are you still crying?"

Lin Xiya wiped away her tears and nodded: "Mom, don't worry, I will take good care of myself."