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Chapter 562: Chapter 552: Just Not Letting In
Shen Yunfang was chatting and laughing with the kids, on their way home, when she noticed a group of old ladies talking animatedly about something.
As she got closer, her brows furrowed immediately—she recognized Qiu Shuping’s voice.
"Oh, look, Yunfang is back," Someone with sharp eyes turned around and spotted Shen Yunfang riding up with the kids and called out, "Yunfang, someone’s looking for you. They say it’s your mother-in-law and your younger brother-in-law’s family. Come and see if it’s true."
Everyone responded to the call, and no sooner had she finished speaking than the crowd parted, revealing Qiu Shuping and a few others sitting on the edge of the roadside.
Shen Yunfang glanced at the group surrounded by onlookers, her face indifferent as she pushed her bike down to the building, lifted the kids down, then locked her bike securely.
"Yunfang, do you recognize these people or not? Come on, give us an answer," Sun Fengzhen understood as soon as she saw them—Yunfang definitely knew these people. She felt a twinge of excitement because she absolutely relished the thought of Yunfang getting a comeuppance.
People always harbor jealousy towards the wealthy. Being an old resident of the Capital, seeing how well Shen Yunfang had been living since moving here a few years ago, better and more comfortably than her own life, how could she not feel annoyed? And with annoyance comes a need for an outlet—if she could witness some drama involving Yunfang, that would be quite satisfying.
"Sister-in-law, although we might have some misunderstandings, surely you haven’t forgotten your own mother," Li Hongqi said with a hint of melancholy.
"If you don’t acknowledge it, that’s fine by me. I don’t even fancy you as a daughter-in-law for our Li Family," Qiu Shuping snapped, having been there all afternoon, hearing all kinds of rumors, she instantly felt she had done nothing wrong—this daughter-in-law was simply promiscuous. With her younger son rarely at home, why couldn’t she as a mother-in-law chastise an unfaithful daughter-in-law? Even divorcing her would be justified.
"In-laws, don’t say things in anger. The kids are still young. If they really did something wrong, we, the elders, could just say a few words to make them realize their mistakes—that’s it. How could we do as you suggest?" Zheng Guilin seemed to speak reasonably, persuading from the side.
After locking her bike, Shen Yunfang turned to look at them without anger, speaking calmly, "I married Li Hongjun, not the entire Li Family. If you have any dissatisfaction with me, or if you want Li Hongjun and me to divorce, that’s fine. All Li Hongjun needs to do is tell me so to my face. There’s no need for you to be so endlessly troublesome. Also, I want you to understand clearly that Li Hongjun and I are still legally married, and whatever money we have is earned through our own hard work. You elders don’t worry about food or clothes back in your hometown, so why not just live a peaceful life there? Why must you travel such a long way to make life difficult for us on their behalf? If they want to buy a house, they should earn their own money. If they can’t afford it, then they should wait. When they’ve saved enough, they can buy it. What’s the point of endlessly hounding us like this? Even though we now live in the city, every penny we have is earned through our sweat. I can barely support my own children, so this time I really can’t give you any money."
"Oh, so they’ve come asking for money. No wonder there wasn’t a single nice word from them," an old lady said, her eyes shifting as she realized their reason for coming was to ask for money.
Her in-laws had a bunch of poor relatives who cried poor at her home every year, never ending unless they took back two months of her husband’s salary. She had put up with it all these years to live a quiet life, but she thoroughly despised these relatives who were always asking for money.
"This is unheard of, asking for money and yet not a single kind word in their mouth, as if the money rightfully belongs to them," another old lady with similar experiences also supported Shen Yunfang.
"No, it’s not like what you think. She really did something wrong. It’s all because of her that I lost my three children," Zheng Guilin couldn’t handle the quick shift in people’s sympathies and cried out defensively.
The crowd looked suspiciously at Zheng Guilin and her group, then back at Shen Yunfang, uncertain whom to believe.
Shen Yunfang lowered her head to speak with Pangpang, then handed her house keys to Pangpang, instructing Pangpang to take her sister home first. It was best to keep the children away from such scenes, as it could affect their mental health.
"Did you see that? She didn’t dare to say a word because she feels guilty," Zheng Guilin said, seizing the moment Shen Yunfang remained silent to add another accusation. "She is the murderer who caused the death of my three children."
"Xiaolan, let’s not talk about this anymore. Haven’t we agreed not to mention this matter again?" Li Hongqi hurried to his wife’s side, leaning in to whisper in her ear. Those who were sober knew exactly whose fault the incident truly was, and it was only the Zheng Family who remained oblivious, persistently pinning the blame on Shen Yunfang since the beginning. Li Hongqi didn’t want Zheng Guilin to bring it up now; with everyone already not stupid, where the wind blows after hearing this was far from certain.
"Why can’t I talk about it? She was so cruel to harm our kids. My heart aches as their mother, wu wu..." Zheng Guilin started to cry as she spoke.
And with her crying, indeed, two of the grandmas started to feel pity for her. As women, their children are their hearts’ flesh, and anything can be lost, but no one can live if their heart’s flesh is gouged out.
Shen Yunfang saw Pang Pang leading Manman into the building and then turned around, scoffing twice before speaking, "Since you’re so pitiable and I am so malevolent, why don’t you tell everyone exactly how I caused the death of your three children?"
Shen Yunfang was not afraid of her accusations; it took logic like hers to blame such errors on herself.
"Xiaolan, let it go, we’re here to reconcile today. Let’s not talk about these things anymore. Haven’t we already agreed?" Li Hongqi tried to stop his wife from continuing, his voice now lacking its previous gentleness, tinged with annoyance, but it clearly wasn’t effective.
"I want to say it, I must say it. She’s such a vicious woman, and I will expose her sinful and ugly deeds to let everyone despise her!" Zheng Guilin lacked the capacity to understand and failed to catch on to her husband’s hint, dead set on revealing Shen Yunfang’s vile nature.
The crowd watched with concealed excitement, hoping to hear some juicy gossip from her.
"Xiaolan, listen to Hongqi and stop talking about this," Zheng’s mother also came out to stop her daughter.
But in the end, no one could influence her, and Zheng Guilin stubbornly recounted her grievances and Shen Yunfang’s alleged malice.
Everyone listened in stunned silence. Did this woman have no sense? She failed to keep her children safe and ended up blaming someone entirely uninvolved.
The onlookers looked at Zheng Guilin as if she were insane, and then shifted sympathetic gazes toward Shen Yunfang.
Inside, Shen Yunfang scoffed. With a teammate as foolish as a pig, they were destined to be despised, "Are you finished? Then I won’t keep you company."
"Sister-in-law, our mother is here too. Are you saying you won’t even let our mother enter the house now?" Li Hongjun called out quickly as she began to leave.
He wasn’t necessarily eager to move into his sister-in-law’s place but had come with the intention of tarnishing Shen Yunfang’s reputation. Saying these things, if they served his purpose, that was good enough.
"No entry. If you’re not satisfied, then wait for your elder brother to come back and talk to him," Shen Yunfang said and, without looking back, went upstairs.
