Chapter 117: Chapter 117: A Thief in the Family, A Difficult Choice

As soon as Xu Mingshan and Liu Guifang heard the commotion, they immediately understood what was going on. They thought to themselves, “That wretched girl, how embarrassing. Has she never eaten before or what?”

Da Cheng also realized that his wild eggs had been stolen by his aunt. It was always like this. Under Lin Xiaomeng’s influence, he now looked down on this aunt of his, glaring fiercely at Xu Meiling’s bedroom door.

Meanwhile, the culprit, Xu Meiling, was inside her room, sharing the freshly stolen wild eggs with her man, Chen Jianghe.

With a smug look, she said, “See? I treat you well, always thinking of you whenever I get something.”

Chen Jianghe didn’t reply, but at least he didn’t snap at her like he used to. These days, lying in bed, she had waited on him hand and foot, always giving him the best of what she had. Even a heart of stone would soften.

To be fair, aside from being a bit ugly, Xu Meiling really did treat him well. Now that she was pregnant, Chen Jianghe couldn’t help but feel a bit of tenderness toward her and the child in her belly.

The two of them were eating, one egg after another, when suddenly they heard a woman cursing and shouting outside.

Chen Jianghe almost choked, egg stuck in his throat, unable to go up or down.

Xu Meiling quickly patted his back to help him catch his breath, and finally, he managed to swallow.

Chen Jianghe glared at her angrily. “Didn’t you say you found these eggs?”

No matter how down and out he was, he wouldn’t allow himself to lose his dignity. Xu Meiling actually stole food—he couldn’t accept it.

Xu Meiling didn’t care at all. “Yeah, I found them—found them at home, what’s wrong with that? That sister-in-law of mine is always sneaking extra food to her son. Don’t think I don’t know! So what if I eat two of her eggs?”

Xu Meiling’s shameless justification for stealing completely shattered Chen Jianghe’s worldview. He wasn’t exactly a good person himself, but this was something he would never do, nor stoop to.

With a mother who’s a thief, what kind of child could she possibly raise? The thought made him want to strangle her. His eyes blazed with fury as he stared at her.

Xu Meiling was annoyed by his expression. “What are you looking at me like that for? I only stole for your health, and now you’re blaming me? If I didn’t steal, would you get to eat anything in this house? Let me tell you, everything I’ve given you lately was stolen. If you’re so disgusted, spit it out!”

Since getting pregnant, her temper had grown worse. Seeing Chen Jianghe’s open disdain, she couldn’t control herself.

Chen Jianghe hadn’t realized this wasn’t the first time. Thinking back to how touched he’d been by her “thoughtfulness,” he felt sick to his stomach.

He leaned over the bed, trying desperately to gag himself and vomit up what he’d just eaten.

Xu Meiling, furious, heard Lin Xiaomeng still cursing outside and stormed out the door.

“Lin Xiaomeng! You eat and drink from our house, so what if I take two of your eggs? I haven’t even reported you for stealing from the collective—count yourself lucky!”

Don’t think she didn’t know—Lin Xiaomeng was always going up the mountain to forage, and she must have kept plenty for herself.

Hadn’t the crazy Second Brother’s wife said before that Lin Xiaomeng once found a hundred-year-old wild ginseng and secretly sold it?

Lately, Xu Mingshan and Liu Guifang were also dissatisfied with Lin Xiaomeng, especially after she encouraged the eldest son to split the family. Seeing their daughter stand up to her, they just watched from the sidelines, secretly enjoying the show.

They hoped Meiling could teach that woman a lesson—see if she’d dare defy her elders again!

Lin Xiaomeng had never seen anyone so brazen after stealing—acting like the victim and even accusing others.

“You accuse me of stealing from the collective? Every time I bring something back, you eat the most! Go ahead and report me! If I can’t have peace, neither will you!” Lin Xiaomeng wasn’t easily intimidated.

In truth, when it came to wild goods or game from the mountains, the unspoken rule was: whoever found it, kept it. You just couldn’t be too blatant about it.

Da Cheng saw his aunt eat his eggs and then bully his mother, so he couldn’t take it anymore. In a burst of anger, he charged and rammed his head into Xu Meiling’s belly.

The whole family was startled.

Xu Mingshan and Liu Guifang, peeking through the door, nearly cried out—Meiling was pregnant, after all.

Lin Xiaomeng was also shocked, worried that if Xu Meiling got hurt, she’d be blamed for it. The thought disgusted her.

Luckily, Xu Meiling was a grown woman, sturdy and strong. She grabbed Da Cheng and tossed him to the ground, snarling, “You little brat, you’re just as bad as your mother!”

Da Cheng hit the ground hard, scraping his face and bursting into tears.

“Mama, it hurts!” The child, wronged and hurt, cried uncontrollably.

It wasn’t a serious injury, just a scrape, but his crying only fueled Lin Xiaomeng’s rage.

“Xu Meiling! I’ve had enough!” Lin Xiaomeng shouted, lunging at her.

Xu Mingshan and Liu Guifang, who had been enjoying the show, couldn’t sit still any longer, afraid Meiling might get hurt.

“What are you doing, eldest daughter-in-law? Meiling is pregnant!” Liu Guifang yelled, rushing over to help.

Lin Xiaomeng was no match for the two of them. Liu Guifang took the opportunity to pinch her several times, making Lin Xiaomeng’s eyes fill with tears—mostly from frustration.

When her things were stolen and she was wronged, no one stood up for her. But the moment Meiling got hit, the two elders rushed out to scold and beat her.

Truly, a daughter-in-law is like a weed—free to be trampled. If you’re not their own flesh and blood, they’ll never care.

Thankfully, Da Cheng saw his mother being hit and rushed over, hugging his grandmother’s leg. “Grandma, don’t hit my mom! Grandma, don’t hit my mom!”

In her previous life, this child had been spoiled by Liu Guifang, always siding with his grandmother, believing everything she said.

Thinking of this, Lin Xiaomeng found new strength. She suddenly flung Liu Guifang aside, knocking her to the floor.

Mother and son clung tightly to each other.

“You little wretch, you even dare hit your mother-in-law! Oh, my aching back!” wailed Liu Guifang.

Xu Meiling immediately put on a show of filial piety, rushing to help her mother up. The two of them glared at Lin Xiaomeng, united in their anger.

Xu Mingshan knew if he didn’t step in now, the family would fall apart.

“All right! Enough! It’s not that big a deal. Both of you, stop arguing.

Meiling, you shouldn’t take your sister-in-law’s things without asking.

And you, eldest daughter-in-law, you shouldn’t hit Meiling. What if she gets hurt? People would laugh at us.”

This was his usual way of handling things—scold both sides and call it done. Of course, deep down, he still favored his daughter.

But Lin Xiaomeng wasn’t about to let him sweep things under the rug.

“Dad, so you’re saying my things are just gone for good? This isn’t the first time!

And the food I cook isn’t just for myself—it’s for your eldest grandson. Imagine how disappointed Huaizhi would be if he knew about this. He used to dote on Xu Meiling.

And this is how Xu Meiling treats her nephew—stealing his food, pushing him to the ground. Just look at the scratch on his face!”

Xu Meiling snapped, “He’s the one who rammed into me! I’m pregnant—if something happened, could you take responsibility?”

“You’re the one playing the victim! If you hadn’t stolen, none of this would have happened!”

“Who says it’s stealing? This is my own home! I can eat whatever I want—why should I report to you?”

That hit Lin Xiaomeng’s sore spot. She retorted, “Your own home? You’re a married woman, yet you and your husband live here with your parents—what a joke!

You’re married, but still living off your parents. What, did you marry a live-in son-in-law?

You laze around all day, never lifting a finger, but you’re always first to eat. Everything you eat was earned by your big brother, and you bully your nephew too. Have you no conscience?

I want an answer today—when are you moving out? And return everything you’ve stolen from me!”

Saying this, Lin Xiaomeng felt a huge weight lift from her shoulders. She’d been holding it in for so long.

Back when she was a girl, she was always the peacemaker, wanting to be the good person, never knowing how to say no, always suffering in silence.

But motherhood had made her stronger. She was finally breaking free from her old habits, finally standing up for herself.

Xu Mingshan sighed. What was bound to happen had happened. There was nothing wrong with what Lin Xiaomeng said, and he couldn’t argue.

After all, daughters were always meant to marry out and live with their husbands. Besides, they already had a house, and his wife had secretly given their daughter some money for her dowry. She could easily live on her own.

But Liu Guifang was shameless. To her, all her children were treasures, and she wouldn’t stand for her daughter being bullied by her daughter-in-law.

“Lin Xiaomeng, what did you say? I’m not dead yet! You have no right to run this house!

Meiling can live here as long as she wants—this is her home!”

Xu Meiling shot Lin Xiaomeng a triumphant look.

“Oh my god! This is too much! What kind of family lets the married daughter live off her brother and sister-in-law?” Lin Xiaomeng was on the verge of collapse, tears streaming down her face. It was like a scholar arguing with a soldier—reason was useless.

No wonder the elders always said, “Poor mountains, wicked people.” Life here was truly unbearable.

She’d thought that, given a second chance at life, she could escape these shackles. But it turned out she couldn’t. The sadness overwhelmed her.

A mother and son’s hearts are connected. Da Cheng hugged his mother’s leg, glaring fiercely at his grandmother and aunt. “You’re all bullying my mom! I hate you! When I grow up, I won’t give you a single cent of my money!”

These words stunned Xu Mingshan and Liu Guifang. They wanted to take care of their daughter, but never intended to lose the hearts of their son and grandson.

Children learn by example—what a terrifying thing. The careless words and actions of adults only bring harm to children.

Xu Meiling didn’t realize the seriousness of it, dismissing it with a sneer. “Who wants your money? My own son will take care of me in the future.”

Xu Mingshan was actually very traditional and valued family legacy. That’s why he’d always refused to split the family and insisted on living with his eldest son.

But now, hearing his grandson say such things, he and his wife had to take it seriously.

Xu Meiling might have her own son to rely on in the future, but the old couple would still need their son and grandson to support them in their old age.

With that comparison, their hearts naturally shifted.

Even Liu Guifang didn’t dare say another word in favor of Xu Meiling, shrinking back in silence.

“Meiling, your sister-in-law is right. You’re married now—it’s not appropriate for you to keep living here. You and your husband should move out in the next couple of days,” Xu Mingshan said, taking a long drag on his pipe.

“Dad! Are you crazy? You’d rather help that wicked woman than your own daughter? Are you even my father?” Xu Meiling cried out in shock."