Chương 35: The Advice
Xiu Ling froze and her back straightened. Before she craned her neck around, Mrs. Lin's chilling voice began, "Xiu Ling, did you not see me… Or you think your mother-in-law is not worth your respect anymore?" Mrs. Lin wanted to continue with, 'Where is your manners and why did you not greet me?' but she felt that might be pushing it too far, she did not want to end up as a stereotypical hard to please mother-in-law. Furthermore, this was only the beginning, she had plenty more things she wanted to say.
"Of… of course, not, mother!" Xiu Ling stammered out in a hurry before continuing to pile on the explanation, "I simply did not want to disturb mother who was watching the television."
"Is that so? Then I thank you for your consideration," Mrs. Lin said in a voice dripping with sarcasm.
To be perfectly honest, Xiu Ling's patience was running thin with this woman. She still had not forgotten the scorn on her mother-in-law's face when she begged her for help yesterday night. Afraid that she might blurt out something disrespectful, Xiu Ling hurried to leave. She could say no wrong when there was no conversation, right?
So, she quickly turned back to the front door and as she did so, she said, "Mother, if there is nothing else, I am going to go first."
"Why? Can't wait to get away from your mother-in-law?" Mrs. Lin challenged in a sing-songy voice. It felt like the old woman was trying every arsenal available to her to get a reaction out of Xiu Ling.
Thankfully, Xiu Ling did not rise to the bait. She turned back slowly and smiled kindly before adding, "Of course not, mother. I am merely in a hurry to get somewhere."
"What is the emergency? Where are you going?"
"I am going to Joann's place. I have a date with her. It would be rude to be late," Xiu Ling explained, the smile still hanging on her face.
"Naturally," Mrs. Lin agreed before adding with a cruel smirk, "But… here is an advice, do not bring back any trash that has been tossed out of this house. Understand that we do not welcome them here."
Xiu Ling frowned imperceptibly and before she could take offense to what she believed Mrs. Lin was implying, the latter added the following to confirm Xiu Ling's suspicion, "Of course, if you wish to bundle yourself off to follow the trash, be my guest…" Here, Mrs. Lin lowered her voice as if to stress the threat and warning, "But, know that the Lin household will not allow its future heir to associate themselves with societal refuse so do not get any bright ideas."
What Mrs. Lin was hinting at was very clear, do not bring Mrs. Xiu back to the Lin household; she would be glad if Xiu Ling decided to leave alongside her mother; and they would never allow Lin Xi follow her if she did.
As insulted as Xiu Ling was, as an obedient daughter-in-law, there was nothing else she could have done but reply smilingly, "Of course, mother. Thank you for your kind advice."
Mrs. Lin nodded satisfactorily before turning back to enjoy her television series. Xiu Ling sighed and exited the front door. She asked the driver to send her to Joann's house.
…
As the car neared its destination, Xiu Ling's mind was a mess. To be honest, she had not figured out what she was going to say to her mother. Of course, the best scenario was she was able to convince Mrs. Xiu to come back to the Lin household with her but even if she could convince her mother, how was she going to convince Lin Kang and her mother-in-law? Especially after the series of words Mrs. Lin had given her before she left the Lin family mansion.
If that was not doable, what other solution was there? Listen to her mother-in-law's advice and leave with Mrs. Xiu? To be fair, Xiu Ling did feel like she did not belong in the Lin household, she would feel more at home with her mother, perhaps settling down with a modest work at the countryside. However, how could she leave Lin Xi behind?
Ask Mrs. Xiu to come back with her to beg Lin Kang for forgiveness? Even if her mother was willing to do that, Xiu Ling could not do that to her mother. Hadn't she suffered enough humiliation?
None of the options worked in Xiu Ling's mind and she was getting increasingly frustrated. However, time could not be stopped and soon she found herself at the front door to Xu Jing and Joann's house.
After dropping her off, the driver departed. Before leaving, he told Xiu Ling to give her a call when she needed to go back home.
With a solution still absent in her mind, Xiu Ling felt weirdly nervous as she knocked on the front door. Perhaps she could talk it out with Mrs. Xiu first and who knows? Maybe their combined brain power could come up with a useable solution.
After all, Mrs. Xiu was far more experienced than she was and they would have Joann to contribute to the discussion too.
"Good morning, Auntie Xiu Ling. Please come in," A young female voice said after the door was pulled open. It was Sylvia who answered the door. The young woman smiled at her but the smile quickly disappeared like Sylvia had forced it away. It was quite obvious that she also did not know how to deal with this situation.
"Good morning, Sylvia. It is nice to see you." Xiu Ling did mean it, she was glad to meet the young woman. If this was any other time, she would have been more enthusiastic but it was not a celebratory occasion.
To avoid an awkward situation, Xiu Ling said, "Where is your mother?" trying to get to the point as soon as possible.
The expression on Sylvia's pretty face froze and Xiu Ling felt a bad feeling burgeoning in her heart.
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