Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  “She’s trying to pretend to be a good daughter and improve her reputation by getting a caregiver for me. Does she think she’s fulfilled her duties as a daughter just like that? What a heartless thing!”

  In the past, Qiao Nan had not been as smart. But now that she had gotten smarter, she was using it all against her mother!

  For the hundredth time, Ding Jiayi regretted insisting on giving birth to a second child. If she had not had a second child, Qiao Dongliang would have been a battalion commander, at the very least. Then, she would be a battalion commander’s wife. She had been devoted to raising Qiao Zijin. Even if Qiao Zijin didn’t turn out to be outstanding or married someone as impressive as Zhai Sheng, their family would still have been living much better off and more blissful than they were now.

  It was Qiao Nan’s birth that had ruined that blissful life for their family.

  After snatching their happiness away, Qiao Nan had no gratitude and was even unfilial! If she had known that this would be the case, she would have strangled Qiao Nan to death the moment she was born. She would never have let a troublemaker like Qiao Nan live to see this day.

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  The more Ding Jiayi thought about it, the more warped her thoughts became. “I bet she’s happy that she’s become the chief’s wife now. I don’t believe that the Zhai family doesn’t have any enemies. Since she treats me this way and wants an outsider to torture me, I won’t let her off either. I want the whole country to see just what kind of daughter-in-law the Zhai family got for themselves. The Zhai family isn’t any good for accepting such an unfilial daughter either. Let’s just wait and see the Zhai family fall alongside Qiao Nan!”

  If she couldn’t live well, no one else would either. She would drag everyone down with her. Now, she was a piece of worthless metal while Qiao Nan and the Zhai family were gold. She would be the one winning if she managed to drag the Zhai family and Qiao Nan down.

  Qiao Zijin was stunned by Ding Jiayi’s resentful words.

  She had simply wanted to sow discord between her mom and Qiao Nan so that her mom’s attitude toward Qiao Nan would become stricter seeing that Qiao Nan was willing to spend money on her. She had not expected her mom to be so vicious. Even she had not had such a thought but her mom was intent on killing Qiao Nan and ruining the Zhai family! Was her mom crazy?

  After Qiao Nan’s marriage to Zhai Sheng, they had not benefited much from it. But that was not to say that they had not benefited at all!

  Just like how her mom had fallen ill this time. Their neighbors had been willing to send her mom to the hospital and pay for the admission fee because of Zhai Sheng and Qiao Nan. Without Zhai Sheng and Qiao Nan, their neighbors would have simply ignored them. Besides, if bad luck were to befall Qiao Nan and the Zhai family because of her mom, there was no way Qiao Nan would ever bother about her mom ever again, no matter how good-natured she was.

  Leaving aside her father, it would be worrying enough if Qiao Nan chose not to care about her mom. This incident had proved that her mom was truly not in the pink of health because of her age. All she had done was skip two meals and eat some food that was not so clean, and that had necessitated a visit to the hospital!

  She was not one who liked having a job. If her mom were to be hospitalized a few more times, her savings would immediately drop to half of what it was now! Then, what would she do for the remaining decades of her life? Was she going to need to beg for money?

  As long as Qiao Nan was around, Qiao Nan could carry the burden of taking care of their parents alone. She wouldn’t need to fork out any money, and even making efforts would depend on her mood.

  Knowing that Qiao Nan was the best shield for her, Qiao Zijin immediately tried to persuade Ding Jiayi off her frightening thoughts. “Mom, how could you think of doing that? Qiao Nan may be bad, but she isn’t that bad. Mom, don’t mind my words. Qiao Nan decided to not acknowledge you as her mom a long time ago. So, do you know why she was willing to pay for your hospitalization bills and hire a useless caregiver to take care of you?”

  “Why?”

  “Didn’t you say earlier that it was for her reputation? Whether it’s for her own sake or for the Zhai family’s, Qiao Nan can’t afford to abandon you even if she doesn’t see you as her mom. Once anything happens to you, she’ll have no choice but to fork out money for you. Otherwise, she’ll be lambasted. But if you really ruin the Zhai family, Qiao Nan will hate you and she’ll have the perfect excuse to ignore you in the future. What’s the point in that?”

  Qiao Zijin’s tone brightened. “Think about it. You were the one who gave birth to her and raised her. It’s only right for her to support you now. She’s simply returning the money that you spent on her all those years. If you fall out with her, she’ll get to save her money. Why should we give Qiao Nan a chance to shirk her responsibility? Just because people in Ping Cheng know a little about our situation, you must not make it known to the whole country. Mom, believe me. If Qiao Nan or the Zhai family loses anything, we’ll be at a loss too. We won’t be able to take advantage of Qiao Nan.”

  In short, if her mom dared to do such a vicious thing to Qiao Nan, even a saint wouldn’t let it go. It was impossible for Qiao Nan to bother about her mom ever again.

  Leaving Qiao Dongliang aside, once Qiao Nan decided not to support Ding Jiayi, that burden would naturally fall on her. Then, she would never have good days ahead with such a huge burden unless she chose to leave Ping Cheng.

  She wanted to have a share of benefits, but Qiao Nan had better carry this burden alone. After all, Qiao Nan was much better off than her. She had a capable husband and a huge inheritance.

  Ding Jiayi was not extremely determined, and she really had no intention of leaving Ping Cheng to another city unless she had no other choice. If it had been so easy to live alone, she wouldn’t have picked the lock of the Qiao family’s house to move back in. At the very least, she could save money on rent to spend on other things.

  As society developed, Ping Cheng’s property prices had risen dramatically in the past three years. Qiao Zijin had gotten news that the house she had sold for two million yuan three years ago was now going for three million!

  Because she was clear about how valuable houses were now, Qiao Zijin refused to leave the Qiao family’s courtyard to rent her own apartment. Thinking about how Qiao Dongliang had handed the property deed of the courtyard over to Qiao Nan a long time ago, Qiao Zijin was even more reluctant to let Ding Jiayi offend Qiao Nan.

  “…” Ding Jiayi was upset.