Si Linna pulled Anning aside to a relatively quiet place before answering the phone.

"Mom."

She spoke first.

Mrs. Yan’s voice sounded as gentle and cheerful as before, as if nothing had ever happened: "Nana, where are you? You didn’t tell us yesterday that you weren’t coming home, do you know how worried I was? Xiao Nan was so worried he couldn’t sleep..."

Talking about her son, Si Linna was somewhat touched: "Mom, where are you now? I’ll come to find you."

Mrs. Yan mentioned a location, a private restaurant.

Si Linna hung up and wanted to go find Mrs. Yan.

Anning knew there was no goodwill at this banquet, fearing Mrs. Yan wasn’t there to support Si Linna nor to give her a voice, but rather to suppress her.

"Sister-in-law, I’ll go with you."

Si Linna nodded and took Anning by car to that restaurant.

The two sisters-in-law arrived at the private room mentioned by Mrs. Yan and pushed the door open, seeing Mrs. Yan smiling as she ordered dishes with Yan Zhengnan.

Seeing Si Linna and Anning arrive, Mrs. Yan pointed to a nearby seat: "Sit down, choose what you like and order."

Si Linna and Anning sat down, and Si Linna said, "Ningning and I had dinner before coming, so mom and Xiao Nan can order."

Mrs. Yan leaned with Yan Zhengnan to order a few dishes.

Once the dishes arrived, Mrs. Yan told Yan Zhengnan to eat, while she spoke earnestly to Si Linna: "Nana, last night Anhua talked to me about your situation, I know you’re angry, but no matter how angry you are, you have to solve the problem, right? It’s not that I’m siding with my own child; Anhua has truly been good to you over the years. You married into the Yan Family, where have you been treated unfairly? Whatever you want, don’t we buy it for you? Every month you get enough pocket money, jewelry isn’t lacking compared to Ningning, and during New Year we also give you some shares; you look at the whole Hai City, whose daughter-in-law lives as freely and well as you do."

Yan Zhengnan pushed his bowl aside, looked up at Si Linna, and said: "Mom, you’re not young anymore, why fuss around? You have food and drink now, no one is treating you badly, isn’t that good? Besides, my dad and my uncle together aren’t outsiders; in the future, my uncle won’t treat you badly. They won’t have an illegitimate child, which is much better than others; in the Yan Family, it’s just me, who will have the final say in the future? You’re my mother, how could I treat you badly?"

Mrs. Yan smiled and touched Yan Zhengnan’s head: "Xiao Nan is right, Nana, think about it: is Anhua being with Shi Ye better than having an outside mistress? At least he won’t have an illegitimate child. Besides, Shi Ye is Xiao Nan’s uncle, Xiao Nan was raised by him from childhood, he’s partial to Xiao Nan, and won’t forget Xiao Nan when benefits come; one way or another, you don’t lose from this."

Anning listened on the side and was truly impressed.

She had never seen people so shameless.

She wanted to speak, but Si Linna stopped her: "Mom, Xiao Nan, I’ve been married to the Yan Family for many years and gave birth to Xiao Nan; have I ever wronged you during these years? You all say my life is good; I’d like to ask in what way is my life good? Giving me food and pocket money means treating me well? Before marrying into the Yan Family, for many years, I supported Shi Ye alone without starving, still funded Shi Ye’s schooling without depriving him of pocket money; marrying just for food, am I seen as a pig?"

Si Linna was infuriated but didn’t cry, her face smiled: "Mom, you’re a mother-in-law, siding with your own son, I can understand you; after all, sons are your own, daughters-in-law can be replaced anytime, but Xiao Nan is my biological son, I never thought he would see me this way as a mother."

Si Linna stared at Yan Zhengnan, speaking word by word: "You’re young and don’t understand many things; you don’t know how deeply your mother is hurt and bleeding. Do you know how much I hurt? Yet, you still stab knives into my heart; others hurting me is one thing, but you are my biological son, the son I raised myself, and yet..."

She laughed and cried at the same time.

Her lips curled up, her head slightly raised, not wanting to cry, but unable to control the tears streaming down: "You all say nice things, it’s effortless to speak, but none of you are me; who can understand how sad I am, how disgusted I feel? Haha, my husband and my brother deceived me together; now my son tells me I’m not losing, urging me to endure and live humbly; none of you treat me as human."

Mrs. Yan frowned: "What do you mean by that, Lina, you’re not right; every family faces similar issues, why can’t you?"

Yan Zhengnan frowned too; when he did, he resembled Mrs. Yan, showing some harshness: "Mom, you say you love me; if you consider me your son, truly care for me, then endure this. Otherwise, if the scandal spreads, I don’t know about dad and uncle, but what about my reputation? I’m still in school, how will others see me? What will my classmates think of me? Mom, can you bear to see me live so hard?"

Si Linna couldn’t hold it anymore and started sobbing.

Anning was also amused.

What kind of people are these, twisting the truth as facts.

She handed a tissue to Si Linna and coldly looked at Mrs. Yan and Yan Zhengnan: "Enough, have you said enough? You guys are unbelievable, bullying her because she’s kind? She is indeed kind, but her kindness isn’t an excuse for your nonsense. Mom, let me ask, who is at fault in this whole matter? Is it sister-in-law? And Xiao Nan, you also speak from your heart, is your mom the victim?"

Anning’s words rendered Mrs. Yan and Yan Zhengnan speechless.

Anning laughed: "See, you all know, don’t you? It’s not sister-in-law who is wrong, but Yan Anhua and Shi Ye; it’s their fault from beginning to end. They tricked sister-in-law back then, and now, having been caught, instead of repenting, they sent you here as mediators. And what about you? I’m genuinely impressed; instead of blaming those at fault, you reprimand sister-in-law, as if not forgiving those scumbags is against the heavens. Let me ask, if it were you, when someone nearly kills you with betrayal, could you laugh and forgive them?"

"That’s different."

Mrs. Yan wanted to argue.

Anning sternly interrupted her: "How is it different? It’s all stabbing, isn’t it? You speak so nobly, so Holy Mother-like; but if it were you, wouldn’t you want to tear apart those who hurt you? I don’t understand, what grudge or hatred does sister-in-law have with you, for you all to push her like this? She only found out yesterday that her husband cheated, and her marriage was a scam; she was betrayed by her own brother, how heartbroken is she? Her wounds haven’t even dried, yet her family comes talking sweetly about everyone’s good, no loss, forgiveness; when troubles aren’t your own, who can’t speak sweetly?"