When there were only Bai Shuyu, Lu Zhenping, and Shen Meng in the ward, it was quiet for a moment. Without Bai Yan to mediate, none of the three knew what to say.

Bai Shuyu looked at Lu Zhenping and then at Shen Meng, hesitated for a moment, and finally set her gaze back on Shen Meng.

"Xiao Meng, have a look at the gift. See if you like it. My health isn't great, so I had Nian Nian pick it out for you. The red envelope is ten thousand, a once-in-a-million good omen."

"This is too much. Zhenping and I have been married for so many years, a small token would suffice."

"How could that be? This is what... my heartfelt intention. You and Zhenping are about to celebrate your tenth wedding anniversary. I should contribute this money. Please accept it!"

Shen Meng smiled, thinking about using the money to buy a house in Shangjing and listing it under Lu Mingkai's name, as a gift from his grandmother.

She opened the gift box. Inside was a thirty-gram gold necklace with a peony flower. She also opened the red envelope and glanced at it, but her eyebrows furrowed momentarily, which did not escape Lu Zhenping's notice.

"What's wrong..."

"It's beautiful, I really like it. Thank you. Zhenping, don't you think this necklace is nice?"

"Yes, as long as you like it. Thank you, Miss Bai, but this is too valuable. As for the red envelope, Shen Meng and I came to Shangjing not for this, but at Commander Bai's request to visit you. Please, you should take them back!"

As soon as Lu Zhenping finished speaking, Bai Shuyu started crying.

Shen Meng: "...."

Lu Zhenping: "..."

He said nothing more. How suddenly she was crying; the tears came so quickly, without any warning!!!

Shen Meng noticed a few apples in the fruit basket. She placed the gift and red envelope on the table, picked up a fruit plate and two apples, and stood up. After all, they were the real mother and son; they could talk about whatever they wanted, and she didn't want to get involved.

"You and Zhenping talk for a while. I'll go wash some fruit and be right back."

Lu Zhenping wanted to take it from her, but Shen Meng pressed him back into his seat.

Kidding, she didn't want to stay with Bai Shuyu in this awkward atmosphere.

After stepping out, she headed straight for the washroom. After washing the apples, she sat directly on the bench by the door, slowly peeling the apples with a knife. Once done, she cut them into small pieces, placing the apple peels in the trash can by the door.

"So thoughtful, huh? My mom, though older, is still straightforward. You've seen the red envelope and the gift she gave you, right? Must be overjoyed inside. Frankly, I think you don't deserve my Brother Zhenping. He's so outstanding, so capable; so many in the military admire and pursue him, but he always dismisses them. If it weren't for Mingyang needing someone to adopt those kids back then, he wouldn't have randomly married a woman like you. What do you have? A country woman, no knowledge, no presence, always mingling with a bunch of men, disgracing Brother Zhenping. If not for those brats tying him down, Brother Zhenping would have come to Shangjing long ago, and his prospects would be entirely different. Shen Meng, if I were you, I wouldn't shamelessly follow to Shangjing; it's truly degrading."

Shen Meng: "....."

Giving you face, aren't you? Dare to teach me a lesson???

"No need to look at me like that. Isn't your behavior now just trying to please my mom to solidify your status? What economic support of a county, what university graduate? All because of Brother Zhenping's face, giving you the title. Unfortunately, with me here, I won't let you succeed. You vixen, don't even think about stepping into the Yuan Family's door."

"Idiot!"

After Shen Meng spoke, she shoved a piece of apple cut from the plate into her mouth, biting it with a loud crunch.

Yuan Niannian listened to her, incredulously widening her eyes, then chuckled softly.

"Indeed, coming from a small place, no manners... ah!"

"Slap!"

Shen Meng rubbed her wrist, having used her full strength with no mercy.

"Cackle, cackle, are you a chicken needing to nest? Continually clucking. Even from a small place, it's still one of the country's top ten counties. The way you keep talking, what are you questioning? I seriously doubt your awareness and standpoint. Also, who said I want to enter your Yuan family's door? What a joke, as if Lu Zhenping had no option but to marry just anyone. What do you want to say? Either that he's noble and unattainable, or you couldn't reach him, still waiting after all these years, an old bones making trouble for whom? Better spend your time looking in the mirror; even makeup can't cover your wrinkles. How could you stand next to someone naturally beautiful like me?"

"You!"

"What about me? Lu Zhenping and I came to Shangjing because you asked us to, not because we wanted to. If not for Commander Bai, Lu Zhenping and I wouldn't have left our kids and come to Shangjing, nor would we have to deal with your attitude, ha! You are just an adopted daughter, showing attitude, are you out of your mind?"

"Shen Meng, you are simply..."

"Shut up, who allowed you to speak to Nian Nian like that? If you don't want to be here, you can leave; nobody is begging you to stay. If you weren't Lu Zhenping's wife or Mingkai's mother, how could you even be here? I even heard you greatly improved Ning County's economy before, but I didn't expect you to be like this, humph, ridiculous."

Shen Meng squinted at the tall man behind Yuan Niannian, guessing he must be from the Yuan family, acting so pompous as if this place were so extraordinary.

"Brother, why are you here?"

"Nian Nian, if I hadn't come, who knows how you would be bullied by now. You, you've always been like this since childhood, too soft-hearted, thinking everyone is a good person. You must understand not everyone in this world listens to reason or has dignity."

"Brother, it's okay. Mr. Shen is Brother Zhenping's wife, so it's fine if she says a few words to me. I don't mind. All that matters is that mom and Brother Zhenping get along well, and a little grievance is no big deal."

Shen Meng sneered, turned around, and went back into the ward, simultaneously pressing a button on her watch, which had a recording function. A whole set from the small commodity market, though the craftsmanship was lacking, imitations were durable.

When Lu Zhenping saw her return, he reached out to take the fruit plate from her hand.

"Why so long? I think I heard some arguing outside. Was it you?"

"You heard wrong, not me. The fruit is sliced; try some. Zhenping and I got it early; they're quite sweet."

"Okay, okay, Xiao Meng, have a seat, and thank you for your hard work."

Shen Meng smiled. Before she could say anything, the ward door was pushed open, and indeed, a crowd of a dozen or so people bustled in. Some looked at Shen Meng with very unfriendly eyes, while Yuan Niannian started crying, with faint sobs heard.