Meng Mu's eyes flickered, and she gritted her teeth, her voice cold, "Do you know what you're saying?"
The warm atmosphere of mother and son reuniting moments ago vanished without a trace.
"I know," Meng Fanyue said softly.
In a world where survival was a struggle, naturally, no one had the time to care about innocent people, but now, the war was over.
Perhaps it wasn't much at first, but as the economy recovered, there would be many gossips.
She would be seen as an anomaly, she knew, but she was even more acutely aware that she lacked the courage to leave him.
Xing Yuan was shielded by Meng Fanyue's not-so-strong body, a warm light flashed in her eyes, and her gaze was slightly dazed, as if no matter what, she would always protect her like this.
But clearly, she had come to protect her.
Xing Yuan steadied herself and looked at Meng Mu opposite her, saying sincerely, "Auntie, please rest assured, although I am a woman, I promise I will treat her well, at least no worse than any man.
What they can do, I can do, and I will do it better."
Girls understood girls, so of course, she was confident she could do better than those men.
Meng Mu's face remained cold.
It sounded good now, but if something really happened in the future, who knew what would happen.
But...
Looking at her daughter's anxious eyes, Meng Mu, for some reason, couldn't utter the cruel words of refusal.
Her reason told her that this was wrong.
But as a mother, she only wanted her daughter to be happy.
Especially after the war, when Meng Fu passed away leaving Meng Mu alone, it made her realize many things.
"Xiao Yue, have you thought it through?" Meng Mu looked at Meng Fanyue and asked in a deep voice.
Her eyes were full of pain, and she earnestly persuaded, "Xiao Yue, you are still young, and there are still things you can change.
There are so many excellent young people in the world! Why hang yourself on such a tree?"
Meng Mu sized up Xing Yuan with the eyes of a mother-in-law appraising a son-in-law, her gaze full of dissatisfaction.
How could such a delicate young girl endure hardship?
Xing Yuan's skin was fair and delicate, looking nothing like a warrior, but more like a young lady raised in a wealthy household since childhood.
Meng Mu muttered to herself, it was fine if she was a woman, but she should at least find someone who could endure hardship, but this one, wouldn't her own daughter have to support her? This looked like a losing deal!
Sensing Meng Mu's disdain, Xing Yuan felt like... "I really want to curse."
One day in the future, when Xing Yuan learned the reason for being disliked by her future mother-in-law, she couldn't help but feel a little helpless.
Having a good physique wasn't always a good thing, as it could leave a bad impression on elders.
"I've thought about it, we've been together for several years, please agree! At worst, at worst, we won't live with you anymore." As she spoke, Meng Fanyue's eyes began to redden.
Meng Mu also froze. Dislike her or not, her daughter was her own flesh and blood, and her only relative now. She couldn't lose sight of the bigger picture.
Meng Mu pondered for a moment, a kind smile appearing on her face, "What is Xiao Yue saying? We are all family. Don't you like what I like?
However, it's the first time, can't I examine her? Xiao Yue, don't be too protective."
Meng Mu's gentle tone made Meng Fanyue feel a little dazed, thinking that the previous hostility seemed to be just an illusion.
She subconsciously asked, "Mother, do you really not mind that she's a girl?"
Even though Meng Fanyue had prepared herself for the world's malice, she was still confused by Meng Mu's reaction. The script seemed to be a little off.
Meng Mu smiled gently, "Silly child, you are my only daughter. My only request is that you be happy. How can I care about the gender of the person you love? That's not important at all."
If Meng Fanyue could ignore the emphasis on Meng Mu's last sentence, she might have believed it, but Meng Mu's reaction was already a pleasant surprise to Meng Fanyue. The rest could only be left to time, no need to rush.
Meng Fanyue hugged Meng Mu affectionately, "Mother, you're so good."
Meng Mu smiled and nodded, then turned to give Xing Yuan a sinister look.
Xing Yuan: "...I have a bad feeling!"
She smiled at Meng Mu, but received a glare in return.
Xing Yuan fell silent.
As Xing Yuan had predicted, her good days were over.
When Meng Fanyue was around, Meng Mu was a caring elder, extremely gentle to Xing Yuan, even urging her to eat more at meals.
But when Meng Fanyue was not present, Meng Mu would put on a show of changing her face on the spot for Xing Yuan.
Before Meng Mu's approval, the two naturally couldn't live together.
Every day before dawn, she would call Xing Yuan out to work in the fields under the guise of exercising.
Xing Yuan, wanting to gain approval as soon as possible, cooperated and went with half-closed eyes.
After working for more than half a month, Xing Yuan's skin remained fair and delicate, while Meng Mu visibly darkened.
Now Meng Mu was unhappy.
"How do you take care of yourself? Why don't you get tanned?" Meng Mu was also puzzled.
Her own daughter took after her, she couldn't resist beautiful people.
However, this was normal. Beauty was human nature, and Meng Mu naturally supported it.
So she thought that once this delicate young lady got tired and showed her temper, or got tanned and became ugly, perhaps her daughter could temporarily break free from her obsession with appearance and rationally consider if they were suitable.
But she never expected that Xing Yuan wouldn't get tanned, but she herself did.
Meng Mu looked at the oblivious Xing Yuan with a melancholic gaze and finally asked.
She had never seen Xing Yuan use any skincare products, so why was there no change?
Xing Yuan smiled humbly and explained, "Auntie, it's a matter of constitution."
Meng Mu's gaze became even more melancholic, but with a hint of envy, "Why don't I have such a good constitution as you?"
It seemed that getting tanned wouldn't work, she had to think of something else.
She couldn't be too harsh, or her daughter would become distant, but if she was too lenient, she couldn't persuade her to leave.
After thinking for a long time, Meng Mu couldn't come up with a foolproof plan, but she didn't call Xing Yuan to work in the fields the next day.
Xing Yuan, who had developed a habit, was a little surprised, "Auntie, is there no more work in the fields? I'm quite strong, I should be able to help a little."
"No need, that family is back, no need to help," Meng Mu replied dejectedly, her expression extremely disappointed.
Looking at Xing Yuan's beautiful face, Meng Mu's eyes lit up, and she suddenly thought of an idea.