I'm dressed up as the timid eldest daughter, and the whole family has to listen to me!

Upon hearing Qin's words, Aunt Zhang immediately said anxiously:

“Mother-in-law, what are you saying? Su Tao is our daughter-in-law, and now she's pregnant with our Zhang family’s child. If she goes back with you tonight, the villagers will laugh at us.”

Qin ignored what Aunt Zhang was saying and turned to Su Tao, who was sitting to the side, and asked:

"Su Tao, would you rather come back with me to rest during your pregnancy, or stay at your in-laws' house and be bullied?"

Upon hearing this, Su Tao's eyes immediately reddened.

"Mother, I want to go back with you. I can't eat or sleep well here, and I feel uneasy. I'm always afraid that someone will do something to me."

Aunt Zhang was immediately displeased when she heard Qin speak like that.

“Mother-in-law, that’s not how it works. How can you say Su Tao is being bullied at her husband’s house? Who would dare bully her? Everyone dotes on her these days. I’m already so old, and I feel I’ve done my best to take care of her. How come you say I’m nothing?”

Qin frowned.

"Alright, stop talking nonsense to me. We're all doing this for Su Tao's own good, for the sake of the baby in her belly. The baby will take your surname Zhang after it's born anyway, so let's not worry about it. Since Su Tao wants to come back with me, it'll save you the trouble. But Su Tao and Liu Shi really don't get along, and I'm not comfortable with that. Su Tao will stay here."

Then Qin turned to Zhang Guang, who looked anxious, and said:

“Zhang Guang, I’m doing this to help you take care of your wife and children. From now on, you just need to send me some money every month and visit Su Tao every month. I won’t hold it against you.”

Qin seemed to have thought of something, and her gaze darkened as she continued:

"You'd better keep your promises to me today, or I will never let you off the hook."

Zhang Guangxia shuddered at the thought of what had happened at Muxiangzhai that day, and nodded repeatedly.

"Okay, mother-in-law, don't worry, I promise I'll keep my word. Here's what I'll do: I'll talk to my mother first, and then I'll go out and find your car to take you home later."

At this point, Zhang Guang dared not try to persuade Su Tao to stay any longer. After all, it was true that Su Tao and Liu Shi didn't get along, and his mother-in-law had discovered his affair with Liu Qing'er today. Zhang Guang had been restless all day since returning home, afraid that Qin Shi might accidentally let something slip, which would cause another big scene at home.

So Zhang Guang couldn't wait to send Su Tao back to her parents' home, so that his mother wouldn't have to worry about her and he wouldn't be caught in the middle.

Zhang Guang pulled Aunt Zhang, who looked displeased, into the inner room and whispered, "I'm trying to persuade you."

“Mother, you saw what my brother was like just now. If we really leave Su Tao at home, and she starts arguing with my sister-in-law again, my brother won’t care. If he does something bad to Su Tao, it will be too late for us to regret it.”

Aunt Zhang spoke up unhappily:

"With me here, would your older brother dare to do anything outrageous?"

Zhang Guang frowned.

“Mother, you know my eldest brother's personality. He's so impulsive. If he really makes a scene, how can you stop him? Besides, you're already so old. You still have to take care of Su Tao and the family every day. I'm not happy about it. Now that my mother-in-law wants to take over the matter, let's send Su Tao to her. That way, you won't have to worry about it and get tired.”

Aunt Zhang's expression softened slightly after hearing this.

"I didn't realize you still care about your mother. You even know to worry about me suffering when it matters. Since you've said that, I won't force Su Tao to stay in our yard anymore. After all, I've grown tired of her. Let her mother take her back if she wants. Just send her some money every month for food and other expenses."

Seeing that he had finally convinced his mother, Zhang Guang immediately exclaimed "Hey!" and ran out to find an oxcart.

Aunt Zhang also came out from the inner room.

“Mother-in-law, since you insist on taking Su Tao back, then Su Tao will be entrusted to you. It just means you will have to suffer in the future. I will go and pack Su Tao’s clothes now. Zhang Guang will call an oxcart to take you away in a little while. I’m really sorry.”

When Qin saw that Aunt Zhang had agreed to go back with Su Tao, she was overjoyed. After all, Qin was worried about leaving Su Tao alone in the courtyard.

Furthermore, Madam Qin also thought that since Su Tao was living in her courtyard, Zhang Guang, as her son-in-law, would have to send her some money every month to supplement her household expenses. In this way, she would have some spare money, and she would feel more at ease in the future.

So Qin said to Aunt Zhang:

“We are all elders, so we naturally know how hard it is for elders. There’s no need for you to say these things, Mother-in-law. As long as it’s for the good of the two children, whatever we do is what we should do. Su Tao is our only child, so it’s only right that we help her with some things.”

When Aunt Zhang saw that Qin had said that, she didn't stand on ceremony with Qin anymore. She just nodded and went to Su Tao's room to pack her clothes.

Su Tao was overjoyed that she could finally go back to her mother's home with her mother for a while. She had had enough of living at Old Zhang's house; the place was very oppressive. Not only was her mother-in-law bossing her around every day, but Liu Shi would also make sarcastic remarks to her from time to time.

She and Liu had never gotten along; just seeing her made her feel depressed. Now that she could leave the Zhang family compound and go back to her parents' home to protect her pregnancy, Su Tao was naturally more than willing.

A short while later, Zhang Guang summoned an oxcart.

"Mother-in-law, Su Tao, you two get on the oxcart first, I'll go and move the things out."

After saying this, Zhang Guang helped Su Tao onto the oxcart, then ran to the inner room to retrieve the bundle that Aunt Zhang had packed. Aunt Zhang, seeing this, hurriedly came out to see them off.

“Mother-in-law, please drive carefully on your way back. Whenever Su Tao wants to come back, please send her back. I will take care of her at home. I can’t always trouble you to do all the work.”

Madam Qin smiled and waved her hand.

"Alright, we understand. You should go back now, my dear mother-in-law. Don't worry, you've had a long day. It's getting late, so get some rest."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the oxcart, with its lanterns lit, headed towards Sujia Village. Logically, Su Tao, being pregnant, shouldn't have been made to travel at night, but she truly didn't want to stay at Old Zhang's house for another second. Being able to return to Sujia Village with her mother filled her with joy…