MGASC -Chapter 125 Fiercely Protecting Family

Zhou Junlin had originally come just to drop off Xiaoxiao and to congratulate Lin Tianyue and Zhang Qiao on their housewarming. After staying a short while, he left.

No sooner had he left than Xu Liang arrived, riding his bicycle and coming straight to the door.

At that moment, Lin Tianyue hadn’t even closed the door yet. He saw Xu Liang’s face darkened like thunder, obviously seething with anger.

“Tianyue, your new place is really hard to find. Tell me—was Zhang Ling at your house last night?”

“Yes. So?”

“So?!” Xu Liang furiously threw his bicycle to the roadside. “Why does she get to stay there without saying a word? Zhang Ling, you get out here! My mom isn’t well—she had a leg problem yesterday—and she had nobody to take care of her at home. She didn’t eat all day and now her stomach hurts! And Zhang Ling, she goes off to enjoy herself here? Does she even have a heart?!”

Seeing Xu Liang storm toward the door in a blind rage, Lin Tianyue still blocked his way. “Hey, let’s talk calmly.”

“Move, Lin Tianyue!” Xu Liang shouted at the door again. “Zhang Ling, come out here!”

Upstairs, Zhang Ling was learning flower arranging from Zhang Qiao.

Zhang Qiao had trimmed and adjusted the sunflowers, adding small flowers picked from the yard, and casually arranged them in a glass vase. After a few adjustments, it looked incredibly pleasing to the eye.

Outside the glass vase, Zhang Qiao had made some decorations, wrapping a few strands of rope around it, turning it into something resembling an art piece.

Zhang Ling found it interesting and wanted to try. She had just placed one flower when she heard Xu Liang’s voice downstairs.

Her heart suddenly tightened.

“Qiao Qiao, your brother-in-law is here, and he sounds angry. I’ll go see!”

She quickly handed the flower back to Zhang Qiao and ran downstairs in a panic.

By now, Lin Tianyue had already let Xu Liang in and closed the front door.

Having just moved in, he didn’t want neighbors to see a scene.

But he didn’t let Xu Liang go upstairs, not until Zhang Ling came down in a flustered panic. Seeing Xu Liang, she realized he was absolutely livid, his face distorted with rage.

“Xu Liang, no school today?” she asked tentatively.

“Zhang Ling, you still have the nerve to ask me that? Why didn’t you come home yesterday? Mom was sick and didn’t eat all day, and you’re out here enjoying yourself visiting relatives! Leaving an old lady home alone—do you even have a heart? I work hard outside to earn money, and this is how you treat my family!”

“You’re coming home with me now to apologize to Mom!”

Xu Liang stormed forward and grabbed Zhang Ling’s wrist to drag her away.

Zhang Ling hadn’t realized her mother-in-law was ill and felt guilty at first. But being scolded like this by her husband made her feel even more humiliated.

“Xu Liang, let go! Qiao Qiao is my sister. I came to check on her!”

“I said you’re not looking! I’m talking about your staying out all night! What, jealous of her living in a small villa? You don’t have that fate! You can’t even give me a son, you’re unfilial—if I haven’t divorced you yet, it’s only because you were lucky in your past life!”

Hearing him publicly mention her most painful secret, Zhang Ling felt a sharp sting in her nose. Grief surged up, and she forcefully shook off Xu Liang’s hand.

She wanted to scold him, but before she could, tears welled up, and her body shook uncontrollably.

Lin Tianyue couldn’t bear it any longer. He turned his face cold. “Xu Liang, that’s enough! Whose family doesn’t have relatives drop by? What, has your sister sold off Zhang Qiao? Your mom is sick, and you’re just standing around? You could have taken her to the hospital already—she might even be better by now if you had!”

“I…” Xu Liang met Lin Tianyue’s dark gaze and immediately felt diminished—not just in stature but in presence. “How do you know I didn’t send her? Besides, I manage my own wife; who are you to talk?”

“This is my house! Not only do I have the right to speak, I have the right to tell you to leave! Want to try me?”

Lin Tianyue wasn’t easy to deal with in the first place; a single icy glance silenced anyone nearby.

Especially Xu Liang—a scholar—probably couldn’t withstand one punch from Lin Tianyue, who had fists like bowls.

Zhang Ling’s grief only intensified, and tears streamed down her face.

At that moment, Xu Liang angrily demanded, “Zhang Ling, I’m asking you! Mom’s sick—are you coming home with me or not?!”

Zhang Ling replied, sniffling, “What illness? When I’m working in the fields, she secretly cooks at home. If I’m not there all day, she can’t move. Xu Liang, you can blame me for not giving you children, but don’t say I’m unfilial! Ask the neighbors—you’ll see I’ve never mistreated your parents!”

Xu Liang hadn’t expected her to argue back. Usually, she stayed silent because of her uncooperative body. Today, however, she spoke more.

She had a point about leaving her parents alone at home.

“You didn’t even ask, and you’re blaming me for everything. Xu Liang, do you have a conscience? Whenever there’s good food at home, isn’t it always shared with your parents and you? At holidays, who buys new clothes? Isn’t it for you? My sister’s house was burned; I came to see her from afar, and the people were kind enough to host me. I just wanted to talk to my sister—why can’t I? I was gone for just one day, and they got sick. Ask your mom—was she really ill, or just upset she had nobody to serve her and decided to make trouble for me?”

Though Zhang Ling spoke through tears, her reasoned argument left Xu Liang speechless.

Blushing, he finally muttered after a long pause, “Zhang Ling… why are you saying this in front of others? And mom… she can’t be faking it.”

“Yes, I don’t think Aunt would fake it either. The elderly can’t delay treatment—let’s take her to the hospital for a proper checkup, so both you and your brother-in-law can be at ease.”

Zhang Qiao, holding her belly, slowly descended the stairs.

Compared to her sister’s tears, her tone was calm and unhurried, a gentle smile on her lips, like a spring breeze that made everyone feel at ease.

Lin Tianyue, afraid Xu Liang would hurt his wife, strode toward her. He looked ready to shield her firmly. “Qiao Qiao, don’t be angry—I’m here.”

Zhang Qiao smiled confidently at him, then reached past Lin Tianyue to use her handkerchief to wipe Zhang Ling’s tears.

She asked Xu Liang, “Brother-in-law, have you taken your Mom to the hospital?”

Xu Liang hesitated. “She’s stubborn with money. I wanted to, but she refused to go.”

“Tsk! Brother-in-law, don’t be stingy because of your Mom! Otherwise, the neighbors will say you’re unfilial. Take her to the hospital immediately. Only after a checkup can we be at ease.”

Xu Liang muttered, “She’s a bit better now…”

“That doesn’t mean we can be careless! How will we know what illness she has if we don’t check?”

Zhang Ling, still sniffling from the huge grievance, added, “Exactly! A proper check—see if Mom is really sick or just pretending!”

Xu Liang, fuming, exclaimed, “Zhang Ling, what are you talking about? How much money is in the house? You’ve become a millionaire now, just check, check, check!”

Zhang Ling shot back, “You’re stingy about Mom’s medical care—so tell me, who’s really unfilial here?”