Chapter 275: Liang Qian Flatters Mother Gu
Sheng Wanyan finally understood the appeal of the quiet courtyard life that people in later generations so eagerly pursued. Sitting under the shade of the trees, enjoying the cool breeze while the dog bounded happily around the yard—everyone was occupied with their own little tasks, content and at peace.
Once dinner was finished, Mother Gu called her inside. After a long, productive day, both mother-in-law and daughter-in-law retired to bed early.
Mother Gu had struck up a wonderful friendship with Auntie Xie. Whenever she found herself with a bit of free time, she would slip next door to chat.
The next morning, after tidying up from breakfast and watering the vegetable garden, Mother Gu grabbed a handful of roasted melon seeds and headed out the door. “Wanyan, I’m going over to visit your Auntie Xie.”
“Alright, Mom.” Sheng Wanyan munched on her fruit, watching her mother-in-law step out into the lane.
The moment Mother Gu crossed the threshold, she ran straight into Liang Qian. Liang Qian had been released from her solitary confinement two weeks ago, but she had been hiding inside her house ever since, stripped of her position in the art troupe and terrified to show her face. She was deeply afraid that the neighbors would whisper, point fingers, and take turns kicking her while she was down.
She had desperately gone to her parents’ home to beg for forgiveness, only for Chief of Staff Liang to personally throw her out. He raged that her stupidity had ruined the advancements of her own brothers—especially her eldest brother, whose imminent promotion had been completely frozen because of the scandal. Both Liang Qian and Captain Du had been chased away, with her father vowing that he would never acknowledge her as his daughter for the rest of his days.
Ever since she had been disowned, her mother-in-law’s behavior toward her had grown utterly disrespectful. Mrs. Du constantly berated her for being lazy and gluttonous, snapping that she was a useless burden waiting around for her husband’s salary. Sick of the relentless lecturing, and sensing that the neighborhood gossip had finally begun to cool after two weeks, Liang Qian had finally ventured out to catch her breath.
Spotting Mother Gu coming out of Sheng Wanyan’s gate, Liang Qian’s mind raced. Word had already spread through the compound that Gu Tingxiao’s mother had arrived at the base, so she easily deduced this woman’s identity.
If Sheng Wanyan hadn’t wormed her way in, this sophisticated woman would be my mother-in-law, Liang Qian thought bitterly. She had heard how fiercely Mother Gu doted on and protected Sheng Wanyan. If it weren’t for that thief, such an exceptional mother-in-law would belong to me, not that unpresentable country bumpkin, Mrs. Du.
In her twisted logic, Sheng Wanyan had stolen the life meant for her, causing her to lose everything while Sheng Wanyan lounged in absolute comfort. How could she allow that woman to live so easily? Meeting Mother Gu today, she was absolutely determined to expose Sheng Wanyan’s true, selfish nature.
Mother Gu had never actually seen Liang Qian in person, given the girl’s recent reclusiveness.
“Excuse me, are you Auntie Gu?” Liang Qian approached with a gentle, polite smile, projecting the image of a well-mannered young woman. She was naturally attractive, and despite her month in detention, she certainly hadn’t been starved.
Mother Gu offered a polite nod, her eyes studying the young wife. Who is this? Why haven’t I run into her around the lane? “And you are?” While Mother Gu maintained her smile, her tone carried a distinct, cool detachment.
Liang Qian smiled widely and reached out to loop her arm familiarly through Mother Gu’s, acting like a sweet, dutiful daughter.
Mother Gu’s brow furrowed tightly. Who on earth is this girl, and why is she acting so forward? She smoothly but firmly pulled her arm away, denying her the chance to cling to her.
Feeling the sharp rejection, Liang Qian’s smile stiffened for a fraction of a second, but she quickly forced her pleasant expression back into place. “Auntie, let me help you carry those.” She reached down to take the melon seeds from Mother Gu’s hands, but Mother Gu politely stepped back.
“No need, thank you. I can manage.”
“Oh, Auntie, Tingxiao and I have known each other for years,” Liang Qian pressed on, her voice sweet. “We’re practically family, there’s no need to stand on ceremony with me.”
Hearing those words, Mother Gu’s eyes narrowed as she instantly realized who was standing before her. “Oh? You’ve known my third son for a long time?”
“Yes, Captain Gu and I share a very deep connection,” Liang Qian lied smoothly. “In fact, the department originally intended to arrange a formal blind date between us, but I never imagined that later on…”
As she listened, Mother Gu’s face turned incredibly dark, a stormy, furious look clouding her features as she stared at the girl. So this is the exact lunatic who tried to assault my pregnant daughter-in-law? The very same Liang Qian who tried to force a match with Tingxiao? What a spectacular coincidence that she would deliver herself right to her door.
“May I ask your name?” Mother Gu asked, her voice dropping to a dangerous chill.
Liang Qian, completely misreading the tension, smiled obediently. “Auntie, my name is Liang Qian. I’m Chief of Staff Liang’s daughter. You can just call me Xiaoqian. Since Captain Gu and I are so familiar with one another, we’re basically family.”
Mother Gu let out a cold, silent sneer. She had been stationed at this base for over a month, waiting for the right moment to settle this exact debt. She truly hadn’t expected the culprit to march right up and hand herself over.
“Auntie, are you heading over to Auntie Xie’s place to chat?” Liang Qian asked, seamlessly pivoting to drop a bit of venom. “It really is a shame about Captain Gu’s wife. She just lounges at home all day, not even bothering to introduce her own mother-in-law to the neighborhood.”
Liang Qian peeked at Mother Gu’s face, and seeing the profound darkness in the older woman’s expression, she assumed her subtle manipulation was working beautifully. “Then again, I suppose I can understand. Even before she was pregnant, Captain Gu’s wife preferred to isolate herself from the community. Now that she’s expecting, she’s even less sociable. It’s just… leaving you to wander out alone without making introductions is a bit much. I’ll certainly have a serious talk with Comrade Sheng Wanyan about her manners when I see her.”
Mother Gu found the girl’s transparent attempts to sow discord almost comical. “Oh? Are you truly that close with my daughter-in-law?”
The corners of Liang Qian’s mouth twitched. She and Sheng Wanyan were sworn enemies; how could they possibly be close? “Well… we chat quite often. After all, we’re the same age…” she stammered, trying to untangle her own lie.
Mother Gu watched her pathetic performance with absolute disdain. She had navigated the highest echelons of society in the capital for decades; she had sat across tables from the most powerful leaders of the nation! For a disgraced, petty criminal to try and play psychological games with her was an insult to her intelligence. Did this girl think her father’s fading title gave her immunity?
“Is that so?” Mother Gu remarked smoothly. “I wonder if Comrade Liang Qian has ever heard the classic proverb?”
Liang Qian blinked, adopting a look of patient, sweet innocence. “Auntie, what proverb do you mean?”
Mother Gu let out a harsh, freezing scoff. “No matter how beautiful a villain paints their face, the moment they expose their malice, they deserve to be skinned alive!”
Liang Qian reeled back two steps, her face printing a mask of pure confusion and shock.
“What? Did you genuinely take me for a fool?” Mother Gu stepped closer, her voice slicing through the air. “Why exactly were you thrown into a military cell? How precisely did you terrorize my daughter-in-law? Did you think I was completely blind to your record?”
Panic seized Liang Qian. How did Gu Tingxiao’s mother know every single detail of the incident? By the time Mother Gu had arrived at the base, she had already been locked away in solitary confinement. How could she be this well-informed? She realized, with a chill, that the older woman had known exactly who she was from the start and had simply been playing along to humiliate her.
“Auntie… I… I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Liang Qian stammered, looking around wildly.
Seeing her pathetic attempt to dodge accountability, Mother Gu didn’t waste another breath. Stepping forward, she delivered a fierce, ringing slap squarely across Liang Qian’s face.
Slap!
Liang Qian clutched her burning cheek, staring at her in absolute, horrified disbelief, her eyes welling with aggrieved tears.
“My daughter-in-law might have let you off with a light reprimand, but I have zero intention of letting you slide!” Mother Gu snarled, her grace completely hardening into righteous fury. “Today, I am personally collecting the debt you owe this family! You had the absolute audacity to try and assault my pregnant daughter-in-law. Even if the Emperor of Heaven himself comes down to protect you, I will have your blood!”
Before Liang Qian could recover, Mother Gu stepped in and delivered a second thunderous slap across her other cheek.
The two consecutive blows left Liang Qian completely disoriented. They had been speaking politely just a moment ago; how had she suddenly ended up being violently thrashed in the middle of the lane?
Screaming in rage, Liang Qian tried to hurl herself forward to fight back, but she quickly discovered she was completely outmatched. Mother Gu possessed a staggering amount of physical strength from her years of tilling land in her youth, and her strikes precisely targeted Liang Qian’s most painful pressure points—proving she knew exactly how to inflict maximum damage.
“Ahhhh! You crazy old woman!” Liang Qian shrieked, ducking in terror. “Help! Murder! Someone help me!”
After delivering a thoroughly satisfying, systematic beating, Mother Gu finally stepped back, entirely refreshed as she adjusted her sleeves.
