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

On the other side, Grandma Xia and the others tidied up the house and prepared to go to sleep. Their family was large and they were scattered across three households.

Chen Xianghong slept in one room with Grandma Xia, Old Chen and his two sons went to sleep, and Chen Xiangdong's family slept in another room.

"Mom, does your third aunt want to make up with you today?"

Grandma Xia lay on the bed staring at the ceiling. "We never actually had a fight."

Chen Xianghong: "Then what does she mean?"

Grandma Xia: "She used to look down on me, but now that she's found me to be someone not to be trifled with, she's backed down."

Chen Xianghong: "She's someone who relies on her father, why does she look down on you? Mom, you got this job through your own hard work."

Grandma Xia: "If a person can't stand on their own two feet, even if they're a god, it's useless. If you're soft-hearted, you'll be bullied. If a relative your age offered themselves up for you to take advantage of, would you take it?"

Chen Xianghong said righteously, "I won't take advantage of it. I'll only use what's mine. If it's not mine, don't even think about letting me see it. I feel guilty using things that are taken advantage of."

Grandma Xia: "The relatives want to ask you for some help, will you help them?"

Chen Xianghong: "I won't help people like my second aunt and aunt. I'll help if it's a give-and-take situation."

Grandma Xia: "Then imagine, what would you need our help with in the future? What would you be unable to solve on your own?"

Chen Xianghong: "People always face difficulties in life, and that's when you need help."

Grandma Xia asked, puzzled, "What if your future mother-in-law wants you to go over and help her often?"

Chen Xianghong immediately thought of Yu Hongzhen. She had met his mother before; she was a very gentle woman who even served her food when they ate together.

If it were her...

"Of course I'm willing to help her, she'll be my mother in the future too."

Grandma Xia: "Even if you have to take leave frequently, you'd be willing."

Chen Xianghong: 'Yes, family is more important than work. If it were you, Mom, and something happened to you, I would do the same.'

Mrs. Xia:......

"I won't do that."

Chen Xianghong: "Brother Yu's mother is not like that. You have never met her, so you certainly don't know. She is a very good person."

Grandma Xia immediately grasped the key point: "You mean, you've met his mother? How far have things progressed between you two?"

Chen Xianghong covered her mouth, wondering why she had blurted this out; her mother would definitely be angry.

"Last time, his mother said she wanted to meet me, so Brother Yu brought her to my supply and marketing cooperative... We just had a meal together outside."

"Mom, his mother is really nice. She always speaks softly. Their family won't bully me."

Grandma Xia simply covered herself with the blanket and went to sleep. "But you're going to marry out of the family."

Chen Xianghong didn't know what to say. She knew her mother wanted her to come back and was worried about her going out alone. But she had endured the hardships of going to the countryside, so how could Shanghai be any worse than the countryside?

She asked the question, a question that left Grandma Xia speechless.

Grandma Xia was afraid because she knew that Chen Xianghong had died in that place in her previous life. She would feel bad even if someone said something bad about her.

The countryside was tough, so the first thing she wanted to do after her rebirth was to bring it back. She didn't know if life in Haishi was tough, nor did she know whether marrying Yu Hongzhen would bring her happiness or hardship.

However, Grandma Xia knew that if Xiang Hong came back and married a young man from this area, she could help her out if things went badly, stand up for her if she was bullied by her in-laws, and have the confidence to bring her back if her husband treated her badly.

However, even at the fastest speed, it would take a day or two to get there. By the time she arrived, they would be exhausted from beating her. She had no connections in Haishi, and Yu Hongzhen's family was powerful, as was he himself. She might not be able to do anything to them.

She didn't want to think the worst of people, but she didn't want to gamble.

Even if he has a good job and seems like a decent person, so what? He may be a good person to outsiders, but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll treat his closest family members the same way.

Some men act all high and mighty in public, but at home they boss their wives around. Before marriage, they weren't very filial, but once they're married, they suddenly start to dote on their parents, and they even feel that their wives aren't doing enough to take care of them.

Just like Old Chen, he's a highly praised master craftsman and skilled worker outside, even the factory manager has to give him some face. He's incredibly kind to his apprentices and colleagues, but at home, he's been bullying her for decades.

Old Mrs. Xia came here to work alone, having severed ties with her family. She knows best what it's like to face your in-laws alone, to have no one to support you and to bear all the consequences on your own, and to feel the fear of being driven away and the fear of not fitting in.

Otherwise, why would a feisty woman from the countryside who managed to get a job in a factory go to fawn over Old Chen's dog relatives?

If she hadn't died and come back, and hadn't held onto the mindset that if things couldn't go on, they would all die together, she wouldn't have been able to break free from this hellish environment, as Xiao Ma's wife described.

She didn't want Xiang Hong to become like she used to be; she didn't want to see her go through those tough times again.

Chen Xianghong also lay down inside. She wanted to persuade her mother to accept Brother Yu, but before she could speak, Old Mrs. Xia said sullenly, "I don't agree to you being with him!"

"Mom!" Chen Xianghong protested. "I think he's really good. He won't bully me, and his family won't bully me either."

Just as Grandma Xia was about to tell her about her life journey, Chen Xianghong shouted, and Grandma Xia knew that no matter what she said, Chen Xianghong wouldn't listen.

"Alright, it's probably difficult for you to break up with him now. Since you're so sure about him, I won't object for now. I don't know much about Battalion Commander Yu either. Let's talk to him and meet his parents when we have the chance."

Chen Xianghong was very confident. "Mom, once you meet them, you'll know they're all very nice. Then you'll see that I'm not the kind of person who talks nonsense. I know you were scared by Li Zhuang's family before, but Brother Yu and his family are different. They're all cultured people and very reasonable."

Grandma Xia, impatient with what she was hearing, said, "I know, I know, you're making my ears calloused. Shut up and go to sleep."

Chen Xianghong responded crisply, not forgetting to say something nice about Yu Hongzhen, "Mom, I won't say anything more, but Brother Yu is really nice. Let's have a meal together when we get home, and he can pay for it."

Grandma Xia: "Are you done yet? Even if I accept him, he can't treat us to dinner on our turf! Chen Xianghong, can't you speak like a human being? Doesn't what you're saying sound ridiculous to yourself?"