Chapter 188: No love is better than an enemy.

Chapter 188

Zhao's Mother, no matter how capable she was, could not overpower two mouths by herself. Besides, her skills in subtle defiance were nothing to boast about either.

Not to mention, she didn't really care about that little bit of food.

The moment Zi Xia had just left, Zhao's Mother looked at Pei Meng dissatisfiedly, "Mengmeng, do you think I haven't treated you well enough? I've been treating you like my own daughter, it's just that the weather here has been too hard on me these past few days. You said... "

She had broadcast this matter to everyone. I thought dealing with her aunt wouldn't be difficult since she was quite young, I didn't expect her to be so slick-tongued.

She had rendered both hard and soft tactics useless. It seemed I was the only one to be made a fool of.

The Zhao family was well off, but couldn't compare with the Pei's. Zhao's Mother wanted to take this chance to suppress Pei Meng's aggression, while also not letting the Pei family know that she was bullying Pei Meng behind their backs.

"Mother, I know you are in poor health. Haven't I not asked you to do anything? These days, whatever I could do myself I did. Whatever I couldn't, Zhao Xin came back to do it. Even when the baby cried, I carried him myself. What more do you want?" Pei Meng was not as sarcastic as Zi Xia. She asked directly.

Anyway, Zhao Xin was not around. It was just the two of them. Might as well speak frankly instead of beating around the bush.

Before Zhao's Mother came, she was actually doing quite well and her body felt much better too. But after working hard these past few days, especially carrying the baby till her arms ached, her body felt even worse than before.

Seeing her aggressive manner, Zhao's mother was taken aback. She sighed, "There's a saying 'Don't air your dirty laundry in public'. Your aunt isn't even surnamed Pei. I was just afraid others would laugh at our family..."

When Zhao Xin came back that night, Zhao's Mother was cooking dinner. Pei Meng had wrapped a headscarf around her head, leaving only her face exposed. She brought over the boiling hot water from the stove and poured it into the basin, taking out the diapers to wash.

He quickly went over to carry Pei Meng into the room. "You're still in your confinement period. What are you doing with those things? Aren't mom and I around to do them? Just leave those chores for us."

Zhao's Mother had been listening at the door. She knew best what she had and hadn't done these days here. Hearing Pei Meng actually tattle made her instantly nervous.

When Zhao Xin exited the room, he saw Zhao's Mother busy cooking in the kitchen while tearing up, completely laid bare of grievances.

"Mother, why are you crying?" Zhao Xin still remembered he was the most doted on child at home when he was little. He had run off to join the army at 14. After that he seldom returned home.

"I'm upset that my body has failed me. I came to serve Mengmeng and the baby, but the weather here is just too cold for me. I'm not used to it either. Doing a little work makes me uncomfortable, let alone today when I had a headache. I just went to sleep and forgot to get up again. I didn't expect...Meng Meng to harbor so many grievances against me. I haven't been helpful, rather I've created more trouble for you!"

Zhao Xin felt even more troubled. He pulled Zhao's Mother into the room. "Mom, you should have told me earlier if your body couldn't adapt to the weather here. Mengmeng didn't mean to resent you on purpose either. You know she can't move around during confinement and still has to care for the child. It's normal for her to feel frustrated if things get too overwhelming. You should have told me sooner and I could have figured something out instead of letting you two come to disagreement."

"What could you have figured out?" Zhao's Mother did feel somewhat guilty. It was true she couldn't tolerate the weather here, but saying she couldn't do any work at all was an exaggeration.

She wanted to show some authority over her daughter-in-law and make her docile earlier on so there wouldn't be problems of filial disobedience later.

Zhao Xin said, "Mengmeng is my wife. My heart aches seeing her bear my child. You are also my mother. I ache just as much seeing you suffering. Since you can't tolerate the weather here, I can't watch you persevering painfully either. Mom, I'm going to buy you train tickets to go back tomorrow, okay?"

Zhao's Mother couldn't believe her ears. "How can that be allowed? If I leave, what about Mengmeng? I came to serve her confinement period. Leaving after just a few days would make us a laughing stock!"

What would she say when she returned home and the old man asked why she came back so quickly?

She had left enthusiastically but would now return sullen-faced. Wouldn't that let her two daughters-in-law at home laugh at her?

But Zhao Xin had made up his mind, seizing on one crucial point - the wife came first, then the mother. Since she couldn't tolerate the weather, he absolutely couldn't make her persevere painfully here.

Zhao Xin was very open-minded about this. He would be happiest if his mother and wife could get along living together, but if they couldn't he wouldn't force things either. They lived far apart anyway. It was best to resolve issues early on. Even without affection between them, at least it was better than becoming enemies.