BXBX NOVEL Chapter 4 - 4: Counterattack
Qiao Yin used to be somewhat afraid of this domineering mother-in-law, but now, as she faced divorce, what was there left to fear?
With neither humility nor arrogance, she said: “The case is still under trial. It’s a financial dispute, and it will take some time. But my father will handle it.”
Madam Lu scoffed dismissively: “Your family just owes tens of millions, can’t you pay it back? Do you have no asset at all? If you keep dragging this on, both you and your father will become notorious debtors – not quite a good reputation, is it?”
Qiao Yin knew this woman had always looked down upon her, resorting to verbal jabs whenever they conversed. She used to endure such snide remarks in the past but saw no need to oblige now. Ironically, this realization was somewhat liberating for her.
“No need to worry about it. It’s just tens of millions, my father will surely pay it back, we will not become debtors.”
A sarcastic chuckle escaped Madam Lu: “What grand words! Aren’t you afraid your tongue might sprain? Your father came to our Lu family early in the morning to borrow money, asking straight off for eighty million. He was all sniveling and pathetic, almost ready to kneel before me. And here you are pretending to stand on high morals? Pretending to be some tycoon?”
Did her father go to the Lu Family to borrow money?
The blood drained from Qiao Yin’s face.
Upon observing Qiao Yin’s sudden pallor, Madam Lu’s arrogance escalated, “What’s the matter? Not so defiant now?”
“Holding your head high requires some capital to begin with. You have nothing. Pretending otherwise will only get you struck by lightning. Our Lu Family can’t afford such a shameless daughter-in-law.”
“You were never worthy of our Lingche. Had it not been for your grandmother saving the Old Madam, it would have been impossible for you to marry into the Lu family even in another lifetime.”
“We had already thanked your grandmother previously, we don’t owe you anything. The fact that I allowed you into my house was purely out of respect for the Old Madam. But your Qiao family is insatiable, wanting the Lu family to fill your financial gaps. Eighty million? Do you take the Lu family for fools?”
“I can’t tolerate such shameless and ungrateful relatives. You’d better pack up your things and get out!”
As Qiao Yin listened to Madam Lu’s increasingly distasteful words, she kept her cool and retorted: “You’re so eager to get rid of me, is it because you want to make way for your future daughter-in-law? After all, she can’t keep the pregnancy under wraps for long.”
Madam Lu’s face changed, “What rubbish are you spouting?”
Qiao Yin shot back at her: “Whether I’m speaking nonsense or not, you would know it better than me. Acting ignorant? Pretending will only invite lightning.”
Madam Lu shot up from her chair: “You!”
Lingche, who had been silent all this while, suddenly spoke with a cold tone: “Qiao Yin, watch your mouth!”
Qiao Yin turned to look at him, claiming that she wasn’t disappointed or sad would be a lie.
But she knew better than to let these emotions show on her face.
She responded in a calm tone: “I’m just returning her own words. Is this disrespect? Then why did she say them? The two of you are quite the bullies. You can torment me but I can’t retaliate? What do I owe you?”
Madam Lu was outraged: “Just look at you, Qiao Yin! All this time, you had been pretending to be good, and now your true face is revealed! I am your mother-in-law, your elder. Is this how you talk to your elders? Such lack of manners!”
“You will soon no longer be my mother-in-law.”
Qiao Yin refused to back off: “Using your seniority to suppress me, one must first have the bearing of an elder, and should be upright and virtuous to earn respect!”
“The good son raised by Madam Lu, only three months into our marriage, and he has already sired an illegitimate child with another woman. What’s more, that woman is his elder brother’s fiancée!”
“This is the kind of twisted and shameless ‘family tradition’ of the Lu family. Disregarding ethics and morality. No matter how wealthy such a family is, I can’t continue living amongst them.”