Chapter Twenty-Eight: Mother, Xu Peiwen

A flicker of heartache crossed Ruan Tang’s eyes, followed by a complex surge of emotions. She took a deep breath and looked at Huo Yanshu with earnest intensity. "Whatever you do, I will support you." This was something she could do, and she would certainly see it through.

Huo Yanshu was touched by her words, his grip on Ruan Tang’s hand tightening. They exchanged silent glances, a shared understanding passing between them that needed no words.

Huo Qingqing, caught in the middle, looked from one to the other, her face filled with curiosity. "What are Mommy and Daddy talking about? Qingqing wants to support Daddy too!"

Huo Yanshu could not help but chuckle, the beauty mark at the corner of his eye crinkling with his smile. He reached out to stroke Qingqing’s small nose, his deep eyes brimming with doting affection. "Alright, Daddy thanks you, Qingqing."

Qingqing’s soft, delicate face turned serious. "You're welcome, Daddy."

Nie Rong, who had come out to retrieve something, saw the family of three sharing such a harmonious moment, a faint smile touching her eyes. This was the life she had dreamed of.

The next day, an unexpected guest arrived early in the morning. Huo Yanshu had already left, leaving only Ruan Tang, Qingqing, and Nie Rong at home. A knock sounded at the door, and Nie Rong rose to answer it.

When Nie Rong opened the door to find a plain-looking, middle-aged woman she did not recognize, she furrowed her brow slightly. "May I ask who you are looking for?"

The woman, surprised to find a stranger answering the door, hesitated for a moment before asking, "I am looking for Ruan Tang." She wondered to herself if this was a relative of the Huo family.

Hearing that the visitor was looking for Ruan Tang, Nie Rong turned and called out, "Madam, someone is here to see you."

Ruan Tang, who had been helping Qingqing with her drawing, responded and rose from her side, hurrying to the door. Seeing the woman, Ruan Tang paused, startled. "Mom?"

The woman, Ruan Tang’s mother, Xu Peiwen, saw her daughter and her eyes instantly turned red. She reached out and pulled Ruan Tang into a hug, choking back sobs. "My sweet girl, why didn't you tell me you were being bullied?"

She had heard gossip from her sister-in-law, and once she caught wind of the rumors, she could not sit still. For a married woman, if such rumors were taken as truth, there would be no way to go on living!

Ruan Tang felt her heart soften. She comforted Xu Peiwen, stroking her back and whispering, "Don't worry, Mom, I'm fine."

Xu Peiwen pulled away, her eyes tearful as she brushed Ruan Tang’s cheek. "As long as you are safe, that's all that matters. I’m just worried about your husband—is he going to treat you poorly because of this?"

Ruan Tang immediately interrupted her, her expression grave. "Mom, don't overthink it. Huo Yanshu is very good to me. He is already investigating who spread these rumors, and we should have answers in a couple of days." She wondered how things were going with Village Chief Ruan. But who could be so malicious that even her mother, who had married into a town far away, had heard of it?

Ruan Tang felt a wave of frustration. She consoled Xu Peiwen and invited her inside. Nie Rong stood to the side, glancing outside. She seemed to notice something, her brow knitting slightly, but she showed no outward reaction and quietly closed the door.

Huo’s mother, who had been lurking near the entrance, saw the door close. She poked her head out to look, saw nothing, and curled her lip. Muttering an insult under her breath, she slunk away. It was broad daylight, and she did not want to draw attention to herself, so she decided to return that night.

Inside, Nie Rong naturally served tea to the two women. Xu Peiwen was taken aback by the gesture, thanked Nie Rong, and, noticing her elegant manners, could not help but take a closer look at her.

Ruan Tang sat at the table and studied her mother, frowning. "Are you being mistreated at your new home?" Her clothes were much too thin; although it was the turn of the seasons, it was not warm enough to dress so lightly. Furthermore, her complexion looked sickly—a pale, sallow shade that suggested long-term malnutrition. Ruan Tang was not a doctor, but it was concerning.

Xu Peiwen’s eyes flickered, and she quickly pulled her hand away from Ruan Tang’s, holding her daughter’s hand instead. She forced a smile. "No, Mom is doing well at Uncle Fang’s house. It’s just that the weather has been unpredictable, and I’m getting older, so my body isn't what it used to be. Look at you, you’ve lost weight. Is Yanshu not treating you well?"

Her words were full of concern, every sentence an excuse for the Fang family, never once mentioning her own hardships. Nie Rong, having seen through it all, shook her head almost imperceptibly.

Ruan Tang understood. A lump formed in her throat, and her voice trembled as she said, "Mom, don't try to hold up a front. I’m doing well now; I am fully capable of supporting you." If the Fang family was mistreating her mother, she would find a way to get her out, no matter what.

Xu Peiwen smiled weakly. "I know you’re capable, unlike that cowardly father of yours. I’m truly fine."

At the mention of Ruan Datong, Ruan Tang realized he hadn't been causing trouble lately. She wondered if he had truly turned over a new leaf or if he was brewing some new scheme. But this was not the time for such thoughts. Ruan Tang blinked back her tears and looked at her mother with a smile. "Alright, but if you are ever wronged, you must tell me, do you hear?"

She understood her mother’s heart. Now that she had seen her, she would not ignore the situation. She would visit her mother often to make sure she was not being bullied.

Ruan Tang puffed out her cheeks and led Xu Peiwen over to Qingqing, smiling as she introduced them. "Mom, this is Huo Yanshu’s daughter, Huo Qingqing."

Xu Peiwen sat in her chair, looking at Qingqing with wide-eyed wonder and affection. Ruan Tang smiled and patted Qingqing’s head. "Qingqing, this is Grandma. Say hello to Grandma."

Qingqing looked up at Xu Peiwen and said coldly, "Grandma." She then lowered her head and went back to her drawing.

Ruan Tang felt embarrassed and scratched her head. "Don't mind her, Mom. That’s just how she is. Even I have to be careful when I talk to her."

Xu Peiwen shook her head, her face full of tenderness. "It’s alright. You were much more difficult than her when you were little. You gave me plenty of headaches."

Ruan Tang stuck out her tongue, a flush of embarrassment coloring her cheeks. Nie Rong smiled from the sidelines. Xu Peiwen looked at her curiously. "I heard her call you 'employer' earlier. Is she someone you hired?"

Ruan Tang nodded. "Yes, she is a bodyguard I hired to protect Qingqing."

It was the first time Xu Peiwen had heard the term "bodyguard," and she found it quite fascinating. Nie Rong smiled and reached out a hand. "Nice to meet you, I’m Nie Rong."

Xu Peiwen became visibly nervous. She glanced at Ruan Tang, who gave her an encouraging look. Summoning her courage, Xu Peiwen awkwardly reached out her calloused hand to shake Nie Rong’s, her voice tight. "I... I am Xu Peiwen."

She was a woman from the countryside, and even after marrying a man from a small town, life had remained much the same. Her perspective was limited, and she naturally felt intimidated by someone as poised and refined as Nie Rong. Ruan Tang knew this, so she didn't force them apart. Curiosity, after all, was the most important prerequisite for taking that first step. And now, she had succeeded.