Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s-Chapter 126 - 122 crashed into me, can’t afford to compensate

Yao Fangfang stared at the backs of the two leaving, standing still, and stomped her foot angrily.

Damn Tian Sangsang, always trying to flirt with her cousin...

Xu’s mother stood behind her: "Fangfang, what’s wrong with you? Standing there not moving, come inside and sit, it’s hot outside."

"Auntie." Yao Fangfang bit her lip and said unhappily, "That girl named Tian Sangsang, I just saw Cousin walking and laughing with her. It’s really worrying!"

"Who’s Tian Sangsang?" Xu’s mother asked, puzzled.

"Auntie." Yao Fangfang held onto Xu’s mother’s arm, turned, and sat on the chair in the living room, "These days, hasn’t a new pastry shop opened in our town? The owner of that shop is Tian Sangsang."

Xu’s mother thought for a moment, then realized, "I saw her when I went out. That girl... Well, her pastries are pretty good. I remember we often buy her stuff. But why was she walking with Yiyuan today?"

"That’s exactly what I’m worried about. Auntie, you wouldn’t know this, but I have no issue with buying things from her shop. Yesterday she wanted to borrow a gramophone, and Cousin lent it to her without hesitation. Just now, she came to return it. But yesterday Qianqian didn’t want him to lend it to her. Cousin, being kind-hearted, lent it anyway. Qianqian cried so hard because of Tian Sangsang yesterday. She’s never cried like that since she was little—it broke my heart."

Xu’s mother frowned with disapproval and said, "Yiyuan really needs to think. In this house, Qianqian comes first. How could he make Qianqian cry over an outsider? I’m not against helping others, but he needs to take Qianqian into account. Honestly, what kind of father behaves like that?"

"Cousin and Qianqian hardly see each other, so it’s inevitable that they’re a bit distant," Yao Fangfang said self-righteously. "I’m just worried about Tian Sangsang. Lately, there have been some rumors in town that Cousin is getting too close to her."

Xu’s mother’s heart skipped a beat. "There’s such talk?"

"Of course! I’m afraid it’ll ruin Cousin’s reputation. If it were an ordinary girl, that would still be fine, or someone like Xiaolian with a good temperament, that’d be okay. But that Tian Sangsang, she... she..." Yao Fangfang hesitated, shaking her head.

"What about her..." Xu’s mother asked anxiously.

"She’s been sleeping around, hasn’t even married, and already has a son. Everyone in her village knows about it."

"What!?" Xu’s mother was furious. Her well-maintained face tightened with anger.

Yao Fangfang’s words undoubtedly struck a nerve with Xu’s mother.

In her life, Xu’s mother had the least tolerance for those unruly, shameless women. If someone was unattractive, that was fine. But being unruly signaled a lack of character. Someone like that getting close to her son—who knew what schemes she might have? Absolutely not! She could not allow her son to continue associating with someone like that! And besides, Qianqian was her most treasured granddaughter. Anyone Qianqian didn’t like, she didn’t like either.

Just thinking about how Qianqian cried yesterday because of Tian Sangsang made Xu’s mother’s impression of her hit rock bottom.

When Xu Yiyuan returned and was barely at the living room door, Xu’s mother called out to him.

"Ah Yuan," Xu’s mother said directly, "Who are you associating with these days? That person—Qianqian doesn’t like her at all and was even brought to tears because of her! From now on, you are not to have any contact with her. Our family cannot afford this disgrace."

Xu Yiyuan glanced faintly at Yao Fangfang standing to the side.

Yao Fangfang felt her heart sink and lowered her head guiltily.

"I merely buy some things from her shop; there’s nothing special between us."

"Nothing special?" Xu’s mother frowned. "Then why did you lend her the gramophone?"

Xu Yiyuan’s jet-black eyes darkened as he sighed in frustration. "The matter is already over, Mom. Must you keep harping on it?"

His mother was the one who had raised him. His father had died on the battlefield when he was young. His mother didn’t want him to follow his father’s path and instead guided him into academia. From a young age, he had dutifully obeyed her—in studying, teaching, getting married. He had always been the obedient one. But now, he was starting to feel like he was at his limit.

Filial piety had always been his guiding principle, but when filial piety clashed with his convictions, time and time again, he chose filial piety.

"I’m doing this for your own good. Our family has come so far—it wasn’t easy. Ah Yuan, that kind of person isn’t someone you should associate with, understand? When have I ever harmed you?" Usually, when Xu’s mother scolded him, Xu Yiyuan would say yes and comply. She thought today would be no different, but instead, Xu Yiyuan retorted, "That kind of person? What kind of person?"

Xu’s mother froze for a moment. "Someone uneducated, uncultured, of low status—someone not meant for people like us."

Xu Yiyuan laughed bitterly. "And yet Xiaowei—wasn’t she the one you introduced me to back then?"

"At least Xiaowei is Qianqian’s mother, and our families go way back. We know everything about them," Xu’s mother said, her voice trembling as she suddenly looked at Xu Yiyuan with suspicion. "Are you blaming me now? Is that it?"

Xu Yiyuan pressed his lips together, saying nothing.

"You’re blaming me? You’re really blaming me? Then tell me, what’s wrong with Xiaowei? What about her don’t you like?"

After a long silence, Xu Yiyuan finally looked up and said, "Mom, don’t overthink it. I won’t do anything inappropriate. I thought you knew me better than that." Ultimately, he couldn’t bear to go against his mother.

After speaking, he walked silently into his study.

"Auntie, so... what about this..." Yao Fangfang timidly asked from the side.

"He knows his limits—hopefully." Xu’s mother’s mood improved significantly but her dislike for Tian Sangsang deepened. That woman could make her son lose his composure.

"Daddy, did you fight with Grandma?" Little Xu Xixi peeked through a crack in the door, tilting her little head as she softly asked.

"Not at all." Xu Yiyuan reached out and pulled the little girl into his arms. His gaze grew distant. "In this life, Daddy might argue with anyone but never with Grandma."

Xu Xixi didn’t understand. She blinked her round almond-shaped eyes in confusion.

Yao Fangfang stormed out of the house, getting angrier as she thought about it. She couldn’t understand why her aunt and cousin were being so vague and cryptic. Why couldn’t they just cut contact with Tian Sangsang? Why did they have to make things so unclear?

Suddenly, the sharp honk of a horn sounded ahead. Dust kicked up as a truck screeched to a heavy halt just in front of her.

Chen Ming hurriedly got out of the truck, worried. This girl wasn’t even looking where she was going and had nearly gotten herself hit. Before he could say anything, Yao Fangfang lost her temper and began scolding him without looking up: "Hey, do you even know how to drive? If you can’t, go back to the countryside and play in the mud! You’re embarrassing yourself! Do you know who I am? If you hit and hurt me, you couldn’t afford it! Seriously, how can people like you even be allowed to drive?"

[Chapters 121 and 122 haven’t been posted yet; Chapter 123 accidentally went up yesterday. The order will be adjusted, and the correct content will replace it at 8 PM. For those who subscribed—whether through Dianmei, Brother Yun, or Xiaoyue—please refresh. Apologies again and thank you!]