She won't clear her name; she'll throw away all the scum.

After hearing Dong Chunmiao's embellished words, Chen Xiangnan barely pieced together the truth and was so angry that he immediately prepared to go to her parents' house to fight.

He regretted countless times why he had rushed into marriage just because she was pretty and hardworking, without even asking about her family or thinking about her character. He got married in such a muddled way.

When they first got married, he felt like he'd struck gold, marrying such a beautiful wife. Although the dowry was small, she was gentle and understanding, and never interfered in his affairs.

Later, he discovered that she not only neglected her own affairs but also completely ignored household chores, spending all her free time helping out at her parents' house. He earned some extra money so she could buy some treats for their daughter, but the money immediately ended up in her mother's hands.

She didn't care if her daughter's clothes were dirty, but in the blink of an eye, she used the fabric her mother had given her daughter to make a new outfit for her nephew. She didn't care about the patches on his own clothes either; while washing his clothes, she would take money from his pocket to buy candy for her nephew.

If it weren't for his mother keeping an eye on Lingling all these years, Lingling might be five years old and still have never eaten candy or worn a new piece of clothing.

Now, she's rushing to do chores for her parents' family, which has ultimately caused her own daughter to end up in a hospital bed with a head injury.

But even so, she didn't seem to care much and was still making excuses for her family.

The two rotten apples his mother-in-law gave him were enough to make her weep with gratitude. His mother had cooked delicious food and given them new clothes over the years, but she hadn't shown any reaction to it.

Dong Chunmiao was still feeling bad about the medical expenses and food money that Grandma Xia had spent. It was just a minor bump; there was no need to go to the hospital. She could just stay home and rest for a few days. And this food—the old hen soup—it looked like it was made with good ingredients, and it smelled wonderful. It was not something a little girl like her should eat.

If she were given that money directly, she could buy some good meat and snacks for her nephews to take back home. Her mother would definitely praise her highly, and she would feel very proud.

Dong Chunmiao felt sorry for him, but she also knew that if she said these words, not only would Chen Xiangnan fight with her, but her fierce mother-in-law would also not let her off the hook.

"I'm going to settle accounts with them." Chen Xiangnan watched as Grandma Xia paid the bill, ordered food from outside, and fed Lingling bite by bite. Meanwhile, Lingling's biological mother kept saying, "A girl doesn't need to eat so well," and he was filled with resentment.

“We can’t go! They didn’t do it on purpose.” Dong Chunmiao was terrified when she heard this. Her nephew was young and didn’t understand. Why was he arguing with them over such a small thing?

Chen Xiangnan pushed her away and walked out. "Your two nephews are almost of elementary school age. They're not little anymore and should be more sensible. Lingling is even younger than them. Besides, if children don't understand, don't adults understand?"

Dong Chunmiao hugged him tightly, "Boys mature later. Besides, if Lingling had been more sensible and given them the food, why would they have pushed them?"

Chen Xiangnan's face darkened even more. "Are you implying that Lingling is in the wrong?"

Dong Chunmiao: "That's right. In the countryside, even five-year-old girls can go up the mountain to collect firewood. But Lingling stays at home all day and doesn't have to do anything. She eats more than anyone else."

These words, once spoken, made Chen Xiangnan lose his temper, and he raised his hand as if to hit someone.

He hesitated for a long time, but he still put his hand down and left the ward. Dong Chunmiao immediately chased after him and grabbed his arm.

Dong Chunmiao was a little scared just now, because Chen Xiangnan never hit her. Thinking about it carefully, he was actually quite good to them, mother and daughter. He would bring back delicious food for them to eat in the past, and occasionally he would bring her any good things he got from his temporary job.

When did she stop bringing them nice things? Dong Chunmiao's memory was a little hazy. It seemed to be when she noticed that Lingling was getting thinner and more introverted, and that she had taken the things to her parents' home, leaving none for her daughter.

But what could she do? That was her family, her own parents, brothers, and nephews.

Lingling is just a girl. If she were a boy, I would definitely have saved it for her.

As she thought about it, she realized that Chen Xiangnan stopped giving her money and nice things because she hadn't given him a son, which was why he was becoming increasingly indifferent to her.

"Xiangnan, don't be angry. I will definitely try my best to give you a son. Please don't treat me like this. And Lingling, she will be discharged from the hospital soon. We won't waste any money." Dong Chunmiao's eyes were filled with tears, but her words were firm and strong. She still held Chen Xiangnan's hand tightly, afraid that he would really go to her parents' house to cause trouble.

Outside the ward, the others who overheard this looked at Chen Xiangnan with disdain. He seemed so refined, yet he was actually a sexist. His wife looked so pitiful; she was so thin she was almost unrecognizable, and she was crying and begging him.

In this era, most people actually have some preference for sons over daughters, but it's not that they don't love their daughters. Families that are so harsh on their daughters are, after all, a minority.

A man who thinks it's a waste to have his daughter hospitalized is really no good.

A kind-hearted old woman came over and earnestly advised, "Young man, both children are your flesh and blood, and women hold up half the sky. If you raise your daughter well, she can take better care of you in the future, right? Don't be afraid to waste money when your child is sick."

Others chimed in, "Yes, daughters are much more considerate than sons."

“I have two daughters who both work in a factory. They give us money every month, afraid that we are having a hard time. Daughters are no worse than sons.”

“My married daughter still comes to visit us often, but I only get to see my son once a year during the Lunar New Year. Some sons are really not as good as daughters.”

"You still need to take good care of yourself when you're sick."

Chen Xiangnan realized they had misunderstood, and his face turned even more ashen. Just as he was about to explain, Dong Chunmiao retorted unhappily, "What do you know? Daughters are all a waste of money. You just need to collect a dowry and marry them off. Why raise them so well? Sons are the ones who carry on the family line and are the real family."

“A little girl, hospitalized, what a waste of money. With that money, I’d rather buy my nephew some clothes.”

“I don’t know what my mother-in-law is so worried about. It’s just a cut on her head, she’s not going to die, but she insists on taking her to the hospital and even buying her chicken soup. Does she, a young girl, deserve to drink such good things?”

Everyone was stunned by her shocking words; it turned out that this was the woman who favored sons over daughters.

Seeing that no one spoke for a while, Dong Chunmiao thought she was right and became even more smug. "My wretched girl refused to share her food with my nephews and even fought with them. She was pushed down and bumped her head. It was clearly her fault, but my husband insisted on settling scores with my family. How could that be reasonable?"

She felt that her family had suffered an undeserved misfortune, being unfairly targeted like this, and she had nowhere to seek justice.

The old woman who had just spoken out against Chen Xiangnan looked a little embarrassed. "Young man, I'm sorry, I misunderstood you. I thought it was you... that person who favors sons over daughters, but it turns out it's your wife. Hearing what she said, she really went too far."

"Having a wife like this means I'll never have a peaceful life."

"This is the first time I've seen someone like this, who doesn't love their own children but loves other people's children instead."

"This person doesn't treat their daughter like a human being at all. Is she really their biological daughter?"

"She's a woman herself, how could she say such a thing?"

"No wonder she demands a man like that. If I married a woman like that, I definitely wouldn't be able to live with her and would have to get a divorce."

"So, you can't just look at a woman's appearance when you're looking for a wife."

"Most women aren't like that; she's a minority."

"How can anyone be this stupid? It's terrifying."

Everyone started criticizing her. Chen Xiangnan genuinely thought she was stupid; who would say something like that? He had originally wanted to explain, but now there was no need, because everyone was looking at him with pity.

He was even more embarrassed.

While Dong Chunmiao was arguing with someone, he sneaked away.

Under the cover of night, he rode his bicycle to his wife's family home in the countryside and kicked open the gate to the courtyard.

"Who?"

"it's me."