Merely to fulfill Qing Muye’s request, and to keep their relationship from being publicized, Madam Qing had to bear immense pressure.
Meng Jingwei couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt.
“What’s all the noise about? Can’t you read the word ‘urgent’ on this sign?”
She berated them, pointing to the four characters “No Loud Noises” on the wall, and glared at them.
Everyone turned to see Meng Jingwei standing at the doorway. Their eyes were filled with disdain and contempt.
“Heh, such authority. Since when did it become your place to speak in the Qing family?”
“Do you really think you can become a Qing family member by charming the old lady?”
“What a joke.”
“This is ridiculous.”
…
The people jeered at Meng Jingwei, rolling their eyes and smirking sarcastically.
Meng Jingwei paid no heed to their dismissive gazes, and simply said coldly, “I was the one who brought Grandma Qing to the hospital, and I arranged her room. No matter what you say now, today, I call the shots here!”
What a joke, with her present, how could she let these people bully Madam Qing?
Meng Jingwei’s words were sharp, provoking their dissatisfaction. The fifth son’s wife, Li Fangzi, feeling extremely displeased, waddled forward, pointing her chubby hand at Meng Jingwei’s face. “Who do you think you are, to point fingers at us?”
“I’ll say it again, this is a hospital, and it needs to be quiet. If you have something to discuss, do it after Grandma is discharged.”
She paused, then added, “If you wish to stay and take care of Grandma, then stay. If you are here to bother Grandma about Qing Muye’s affairs, then I’m sorry, you are not needed here.”
“Oh, impressive.”
Li Fangzi snorted, her round face contorting into a ferocious smile. “You really think you can become a phoenix by clinging to a finger? You’re just a country bumpkin from a remote village, wearing cheap clothes from a street stall. Who are you trying to impress? It’s just that the old lady likes you, and you’ve really gotten a big head.”
“Exactly. Sigh, I say, fifth daughter-in-law, your status at home is declining. Even an outsider dares to boss you around.”
“Haha, fifth brother, your wife is being bullied, and you dare not intervene.”
“In our Qing family, when did it become acceptable for an outsider to point fingers? It’s truly unacceptable.”
“Alas, misfortune in the family.”
…
Those people were adept at fanning the flames at every opportunity.
Listening to her sons and daughters-in-law, Madam Qing was both angry and helpless, but mostly disappointed.
They were her closest kin, yet in the end, they bared their fangs for profit, which truly chilled her to the bone.
She turned her head to look out the window, too weary to speak.
The fifth son of the Qing family, Qing Dongkui, feeling his face lost under their taunts, walked up to Meng Jingwei and pointed at her face. “Get out! You have no right to speak here.”
“If I leave just because you tell me to, won’t that make me lose face?”
Meng Jingwei rolled her eyes at him, her expression calm and composed.
“Hey, does my word mean nothing anymore? If you don’t leave, believe it or not, I’ll slap you!” Qing Dongkui was furious, feeling embarrassed by the mockery of his brothers’ wives.
Even his wife, Li Fangzi, was angered and reached out to push Meng Jingwei.
However, before her hand could touch Meng Jingwei, her wrist was firmly grasped. “Trying to hit someone? This is a hospital. Believe it or not, I’ll call security?”
With her fingers tightly gripping hers, Li Fangzi struggled. “You country bumpkin, don’t touch me, let go.”
“Damn it, you dare touch my wife? If I don’t teach you a lesson, you won’t know who I am!”
Qing Dongkui, in a fit of rage, unceremoniously slapped at Meng Jingwei.
The people around watched like spectators, but Meng Jingwei was completely unafraid. She directly flung Li Fangzi away, grabbed Qing Dongkui’s hand, and pressed her thumb against his, pushing it backward with force.
Despite Qing Dongkui’s paunchy belly, dark complexion, and sturdy build, he was powerless against Meng Jingwei’s move. He felt his thumb being pressed backward painfully, forcing him to grit his teeth, yet he dared not make a sound, fearing ridicule.
So, he kicked at Meng Jingwei. However, Meng Jingwei had no intention of fighting him and simply sidestepped, evading his attack.
Seeing her sons and daughters-in-law standing by, Madam Qing shook her head and scolded, “Fifth, what nonsense are you playing at? You’re not even a hundred years old yet, and you’re arguing with a young girl? Have you no shame?”
Her angry reprimand made Meng Jingwei release Qing Dongkui.
After all, they were family. If she had hit Qing Dongkui, it would have put the old lady in a difficult position.
Shaken off, Qing Dongkui staggered back a few steps, shaking his hand in pain and taking sharp breaths.
But the resentment festered, making his face flush and his neck bulge. He glanced around, then grabbed a thermos by his side and hurled it at Meng Jingwei, “You little wench, I’ll kill you!”
Judging by his throwing posture, the thermos was still full of water.
As the thermos flew towards her face, Meng Jingwei executed a backbend, narrowly avoiding it. The thermos flew past her, about five centimeters above her head, and crashed to the ground with a bang, shattering into pieces.
Hot water splattered everywhere, emitting wisps of steam in the cool bedroom.
What would be the consequences if a thermos of hot water had been splashed on Meng Jingwei’s face?
Meng Jingwei’s heart pounded with lingering fear.
Madam Qing, also startled, tightened her grip, then stood up. Barefoot, she didn’t care about her appearance, grabbed her shoe from the ground, walked up to Qing Dongkui, and swatted him on the backside with the shoe. “You insolent brat, what are you doing? Do you have no respect for me? I’m not dead yet, and you already disregard me. I fear you’re getting too big for your britches!”
The old lady’s true anger flared, her voice booming as she berated him.
Instantly, everyone in the ward fell silent, no one daring to utter a word.
After all, Madam Qing was in charge of the household. While they dared to complain, they were still somewhat afraid when Madam Qing became enraged.
After speaking, Madam Qing pointed at them with the shoe, “Listen to me, all of you. As long as I am alive, this house is under my command. You are not allowed to cause trouble here. Muye will handle his own affairs. If he cannot, I will hold him accountable. But during this time, if you dare to cause any more chaos, then get out of the Qing family!”
With that, she slammed the shoe onto the ground. While putting on her shoe, she continued to reprimand them, “How much sense do you all have in your heads? Don’t you have any self-awareness? Especially third, fifth, and second brothers. Before Muye, you were all carrying the company on your shoulders. After so many years, what achievements have you made?”
“The company is run in a mess, filled with parasites, and riddled with problems inside and out. If it weren’t for Qing Muye taking over later and resolving all the issues for you, it would have gone bankrupt long ago.”
“Hmph, he’s just a young man, but his capabilities are more than five of yours combined. And you still have the nerve to make noise here. What are you shouting about? Huh?!”