CHAPTER 695: CHAPTER 688: STRUGGLE

Xu Suqiu was enraged and embarrassed by Tang Qiubai’s words, so much so that she swung her hand in anger, intending to slap Tang Qiubai. At that moment, Tang Qiubai, weakened by chemotherapy, really couldn’t withstand such a blow.

Just as Xu Suqiu’s hand was about to hit Tang Qiubai’s face, Song Mengshi rushed out from the kitchen like a mother lion and knocked Xu Suqiu to the ground, landing her on her backside.

"What do you think you’re doing? Bullying us because we have no one at home? I’m telling you, as long as I’m breathing, don’t even think about causing havoc in my house!"

Song Mengshi, with disheveled hair and a palm mark on her face, clearly had already been involved in a previous altercation.

Yet the current Song Mengshi astonished Sisi once again. She held a shiny kitchen knife, trembling, revealing her inherent nature as a delicate girl from Shanghai. Asking her to wield a knife, instead of a brush, genuinely put her at a disadvantage.

But even an unsteady kitchen knife was enough to intimidate Xu Suqiu and her two daughters-in-law from daring to advance. They wanted the house, but they certainly weren’t here to risk their lives!

"Hmph, I’ll be the bigger person and not stoop to your level. You future widow, who do you think you are?"

Xu Suqiu cursed a few harsh words, then left, pulling her two daughters-in-law along with her. As they passed by Sisi and Granny Zhao, Sisi discreetly flicked a coin (couldn’t bear to part with one yuan) at the back of Xu Suqiu’s knee.

"Ouch!"

Xu Suqiu fell to her knees with a cry, prompting onlookers to burst into laughter. The crowd had no sympathy for such opportunistic relatives, pointing and sneering at the trio. Xu Suqiu’s face burned with embarrassment as her daughters-in-law helped her up, and they left in disgrace.

Granny Zhao noticed the smile on Sisi’s face and immediately knew her granddaughter was up to something, playfully chiding her as a ’little rascal.’

Sisi didn’t specifically intend to help Tang Qiubai but couldn’t stand Xu Suqiu’s audacity anymore, and her mischief got the better of her.

In the courtyard, Tang Qiubai looked at his thin, feeble hands and murmured, "Mengshi, maybe we should sell this house? To avoid further trouble from them!"

At that moment, Tang Qiubai was completely demoralized, lacking his former vigor. The still-trembling Song Mengshi suddenly scolded, "Sell what? Tang Qiubai, if you’re still a man, you’ll work hard to survive and get better. Don’t let them see me truly left a widow!"

Upon finishing, Song Mengshi burst into tears, feeling extremely wronged. She had never imagined finding herself brandishing a kitchen knife like a shrew. How did it come to this?

Sisi stood awkwardly at the doorway, unsure whether to enter or not.

Granny Zhao, less concerned with such details, walked in first, loudly stating, "Qiubai, your wife is right. You need to be strong now, hasn’t Anping said that the chances of curing your illness are quite high? Why the gloom?"

Tang Qiubai looked up in surprise, seeing Sisi and Granny Zhao, stirring mixed feelings within him. Since his illness, relatives who once clung to him had distanced themselves, fearing they’d be asked for money, including his own brother and sister.

Both his parents were easily swayed and couldn’t be counted on. Plus, due to past incidents, they weren’t very close to him, their eldest son, which is why he worried that if he died, Song Mengshi and the two children would truly have no one to rely on.

Sisi: Your Tang Family is just a haven for ingrates!

Sisi took the items from the cart and handed them to Song Mengshi to put away, while Granny Zhao led Tang Qiubai inside to educate him.

Song Mengshi wiped her eyes, tidied and tied her hair, making the palm mark on her face even more obvious. She forced a smile, seemingly feeling ashamed, and said to Sisi, "I must look quite the spectacle to you!"

Sisi wasn’t sure what to say, as she currently lived a happy life while Song Mengshi was in disarray. Anything Sisi could say would sound insincere, especially since Song Mengshi wasn’t the most open-minded person.

She could only offer a few dry phrases and handed two red envelopes to the two children, who appeared frightened and hesitant to accept them. Only after Song Mengshi nodded did they take the red envelopes, their faces finally showing a trace of a smile.

"This jar of medicinal wine is a specialty from our family. It’s quite effective. Let Tang Qiubai drink a small cup every day; it will be beneficial to his health," Sisi advised, pointing to the wine jar.

Song Mengshi knew about this medicinal wine, often mentioned by her husband regarding the He Family, claiming that her grandfather died early because he had no medicinal wine to drink. Unexpectedly, He Sisi had willingly brought the wine over this time.

With mixed emotions, she thanked Sisi. Compared to relatives like Xu Suqiu who kicked her when she was down, He Sisi’s help during difficult times moved her deeply.

"You can also drink some of that wine. You need to take care of your health too. If you collapse, the two kids will truly have no one to rely on," Sisi urged, noticing Song Mengshi’s increasingly haggard appearance.

Song Mengshi smiled, "Don’t worry, I can endure. For the sake of the two kids, I have to grit my teeth and hold on, or else those people would devour us to the bone."

Sisi wholeheartedly agreed. People like Xu Suqiu, if only left with two naive children, wouldn’t even spare their bones.

Granny Zhao was still having a heart-to-heart with Tang Qiubai in the inner room, leaving Sisi to continue the conversation with Song Mengshi, leading to a fairly pleasant reminiscence of their university days.

"To be honest, you’ve really surprised me. I never expected you to be this strong. If it were me, I might not have done as well," Sisi sincerely remarked.

Song Mengshi gave a bitter smile, "What’s strong? People are forced by circumstances. I might as well tell you, initially when I found out about Qiubai’s illness, I considered leaving with the kids. But after three sleepless nights of contemplation, I chose to stay."

"Seems like you really love Tang Qiubai!" Sisi exclaimed, feeling Tang Qiubai was fortunate to have a woman who truly loved him.

Song Mengshi, perhaps holding it in for too long, had an urge to confide. After hearing Sisi’s remark, she shook her head and said sarcastically, "Love? I stopped loving him when he got his third mistress."

Sisi was puzzled. If she no longer loved him, why did she still fulfill her duties as a devoted wife?

Without waiting for Sisi to ask, Song Mengshi continued on her own, "I don’t even know what’s gotten into me. Clearly I don’t like this man anymore, but I can’t bring myself to abandon him. Maybe it’s because I don’t want the kids to be without a father. After all, he treats them well, and they adore him. I just didn’t want to see them sad."

"Perhaps it’s also about overcoming my own mental hurdle? If I really left with the kids, I’d likely live easier than now, but I’m afraid I’d regret it. I’m also terrified they’ll blame me when they’re older. In the end, I stayed. Sometimes I think I’m foolish, really. I once wished this man would just die, yet now I’m desperately trying to save him."

Song Mengshi’s expression grew increasingly pained, her self-talk unending, revealing her inner conflict and struggle, her simultaneous hate for and pity towards Tang Qiubai, as she cried heartbreakingly.

It was only now that Sisi understood why Song Mengshi appeared so worn out. Enduring such immense psychological pressure, while still forcing herself to care for Tang Qiubai, it was lucky she hadn’t gone mad.