The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Grandma Fan sent her eldest daughter-in-law to cook, then closed the door and whispered with her son for a long time before finally agreeing to take her eldest daughter-in-law to the Gu family to pick up Gu Honglian.

When Sister-in-law Fan learned the news, she was so angry that she lashed out at her husband. She had never felt so humiliated since she married into the Fan family.

For her, as the eldest sister-in-law, to have to bow down to her brother's wife was unprecedented in the entire Buffalo Valley.

Fan's eldest sister-in-law lay in bed pretending to be sick and didn't want to go to the Gu family in Qinghewan. She was scolded by her mother-in-law, who said that she was petty and didn't care about Fan Tong's future. She said that if she, an old woman, could bow down to the Gu family, why couldn't her eldest daughter-in-law?

Sister-in-law Fan endured her anger and got up, then followed her mother-in-law to the Gu family home in Qinghewan.

Fan Tong went along too.

Lying on the cart, being pulled by his eldest brother, he was accompanied by uncles, aunts, and other influential figures in the clan.

The uncles were quite unhappy, as it was harvest season and everyone had wheat to harvest.

Fan Tong was terrified of being attacked, so he called on his clansmen to show respect for Gu Honglian.

He only hoped that Gu Honglian would stop holding a grudge and be willing to return to the Fan family for the sake of so many people.

The wheat in the yard is ripe; delaying it even for a day could ruin the entire year's harvest.

Tong Huaqiong saw a large group of people passing by the entrance of her weaving workshop early in the morning.

Seeing the figures of the old lady of the Fan family and the eldest sister-in-law of the Fan family, they knew that they had come to appease Gu Honglian.

"Sister-in-law Honglian." Old Mrs. Fan greeted Tong Huaqiong warmly.

Tong Huaqiong responded with a cold look.

Mrs. Fan, feeling embarrassed, went to the old house while suppressing her anger.

Tong Huaqiong, also eager to see what was going on, rushed to the old house.

Gu Honglian hadn't gotten up yet. Grandma Gu and Grandpa Gu thought that since things had already escalated to this point, there was no need to be overly enthusiastic towards the Fan family.

The fact that the Fan family still came to pick up Fan Tong, even though his buttocks were slashed so badly, shows that the eldest daughter-in-law's strategy was effective.

The Fan family is wary of the Gu family.

Using the excuse that Gu Honglian was still asleep and they couldn't wake her, they left her standing in the yard without even a cup of tea.

Grandma Fan's face fell.

During the wheat harvest season, which family doesn't rely on its daughters for labor? Yet Gu Honglian sleeps in her parents' home until the sun is high in the sky.

What's even more infuriating is that the Gu family justified themselves by ignoring Gu Honglian because she hadn't woken up.

It's no wonder that a daughter-in-law like that was beaten in the Fan family.

"Mother-in-law, do you have a problem with my daughter sleeping in late at her parents' house?" When Grandma Gu saw Grandma Fan, she wanted nothing more than to scratch her.

Thinking of her son's future, Old Mrs. Fan forced a smile and said, "How could I dare to have any objections?"

Grandma Gu said, "If you don't have any objections, don't keep that long face. My daughter doesn't usually sleep in, so why did she get up late this time when she came back to her parents' home? Isn't it because she's been tormented by you and your wonderful eldest daughter-in-law for the past two months since she married into your family?"

Grandma Gu's words were very impolite.

Grandma Fan said, "My daughter-in-law is young and sometimes doesn't know any better. How can it be torture for a mother-in-law and sister-in-law to teach her?"

It means that Gu Honglian is too spoiled.

Neither Grandma Gu nor Grandpa Gu liked to hear these words.

"No torture? If there was no torture, you scratched my daughter all over with bloody marks. I'm not angry that you, as her mother-in-law, disciplined her, but you shouldn't have hit her, and you shouldn't have let your eldest daughter-in-law hit her." The old lady Gu became angrier as she spoke.

Gu Honglian overheard her mother and mother-in-law's conversation inside the house, and slowly got up to wash and dress.

The sun rose higher and higher, and the early summer sun was scorching hot. After waiting for a long time without seeing Gu Honglian, the Fan family members couldn't sit still any longer because of the heat.

"Mother-in-law, please go and wake my daughter-in-law up." Old Mrs. Fan was furious. This was outrageous.

She had already humbled herself and come to the Gu family to pick her up in person, yet the Gu family was still acting so arrogant.

Is Gu Honglian really that delicate?
Even a princess should not treat her mother-in-law like this.

She refused to believe that the Gu family would feel comfortable letting Gu Honglian stay in bed so long in front of so many people.

Grandma Gu said, "Are you instructing me? Honglian will wake up when she's awake. My poor Honglian, she hasn't even had a good night's sleep in less than two months since she married into the Fan family."

Then, in front of the Fan family members and the people of Qinghewan, he told them about Luogu Honglian's experiences in the Fan family.

Since things have escalated to this point, there's no need to hide anything.

The eldest daughter-in-law is right; being too proud will ultimately hurt Gu Honglian.

She should make sure to publicize what the Fan family has done.

The Fan family members looked embarrassed.

Although a mother-in-law can control her daughter-in-law with the word "filial piety," it is still embarrassing to be publicly accused of mistreating her. If word gets out, which girl would dare to marry into the Fan family?

The daughter-in-law of the Fan family patriarch couldn't help but advise, "Every family has to work things out. My dear in-law, your aunt was a bit too hasty in disciplining your daughter-in-law, which caused a misunderstanding, but she doesn't mean any harm. How can there be no friction in life? Once Honglian gives birth to her son, she will understand my aunt's good intentions."

These words further enraged Old Madam Gu, who raised her voice and said, "Listen to this, everyone! So you think you can understand this old hag's good intentions once you have a son? My Honglian does want a son, but with this old hag around, I'm afraid the Fan family will be childless."

Everyone looked at each other.

The Fan family was even more furious, believing it to be a curse.

Grandma Gu pointed at Grandma Fan and said, "What mother-in-law is like you? What son will die out sooner or later? You, as a mother-in-law, are shameless enough to eavesdrop on your son and daughter-in-law. You are a widow and want a man, so you should remarry. I think the laws of Dasheng don't stop widows from remarrying. What kind of behavior is it to eavesdrop on your son?"

The onlookers were stunned.

Every village has mothers-in-law who torment their daughters-in-law, but there are none like the mothers-in-law in Qinghewan who listen to their sons and daughters-in-law in the corner.

Not to mention there aren't any left in Qinghewan, I'm afraid there aren't many left in the entire Dasheng.

Everyone has never seen anything like this before.

Even Tong Huaqiong, who has seen many bizarre and outrageous events in modern times, was astonished. It seemed that the old matriarch of the Fan family was trying to create an ancient version of the story of "The Softening of Time".

"Is this how all mothers-in-law in the Fan family are? No wonder a group of people followed this old hag to my house. So you consider eavesdropping on your sons to be normal."

The clan chief's daughter-in-law was dumbfounded, regretting that she had spoken up earlier.

The other women in the Fan family were even more ashamed.

They really didn't expect Old Mrs. Fan to do such a thing; otherwise, they would never have come to Qinghewan to embarrass themselves.

They still need to find daughters-in-law.

Grandma Fan blushed at Grandma Gu's words and retorted, "I'm just worried that they are young and don't know what's important. My son needs to study, and if he ruins his health, it will delay his chances of passing the imperial examinations."

The old woman spat in his face and scolded, "Stop talking nonsense! If you want a man, just say so, it's not shameful. You're ruining your son's health. Your eldest daughter-in-law has chest pains and you make your younger brother-in-law take care of her all night, aren't you afraid of ruining your youngest son's health?"

Grandma Gu then pointed at Fan's eldest sister-in-law and said, "No wonder you and your mother-in-law ganged up on my daughter. Did you and your mother-in-law sleep together and think everyone is as shameless as you? Like father, like son. When the elders are crooked, the younger ones are crooked too. The sister-in-law has a heart ache and the younger brother has to take care of her. Do you have no man or son? Why are you clinging to your younger brother? It turns out that chaos is a common occurrence in your Fan family. I just feel sorry for my Honglian."

The crowd erupted in even greater uproar.

That was already explosive enough, and now here comes another explosive piece of news.

Of course, the Fan family's story wasn't that dramatic, but Old Mrs. Gu insisted on saying it that way.

Sister-in-law Fan, her secret exposed, angrily retorted, "Don't talk nonsense."

A figure swiftly attacked, and a sharp "slap" resounded across Sister-in-law Fan's face. (End of Chapter)