Chapter 47

Lin Nannan Gets Mad

The last sentence made Lu Lin instinctively glance at her daughter, only to see the usually stubborn girl now with reddened eyes, on the verge of tears, her gaze full of grievance, leaving Lu Lin flustered.

"Xiao Li, Mom... Mom doesn’t hate you, it’s just that..." When it came time to explain, Lu Lin realized how absurd her previous justifications sounded—nothing she said would make a difference now.

"I know, I was being naughty and didn’t behave well!" Xiao Li instinctively replied, making the mood even more tense.

Lu Lin was stuck in awkward silence at her child’s words.

"No one likes being scolded for no reason, Auntie Lin. Xiao Li may be the older sister, but she’s still a child. You can’t take away her right to be a child just because your son is younger. Don’t spoil and coddle him while pinning all the blame on Xiao Li." Nannan spoke with such seriousness that it made everyone uncomfortable.

The Lus figured Nan Nan’s strong reaction stemmed from her own past mistreatment by the Lins, making her empathize deeply with Xiao Li’s plight.

"That’s right, A-Lin, Xiao Li is your daughter. If you keep yelling at her, of course she’ll feel wronged!" Granny Lu had to speak up.

Lu Lin wanted to argue about how disobedient her daughter was, but Nan Nan had no interest in listening. In the end, Granny Lu stepped in, scolding Lu Lin harshly and warning her that if she ever acted this way again, she wouldn’t be welcome in the house.

Someone with more pride, especially with so many younger relatives watching, might have stormed off in anger.

But Lu Lin didn’t. She didn’t want to risk being barred from visiting her family in the future, so she gave in reluctantly.

The meal was tense for everyone—except Nan Nan, who chowed down, not caring if anyone disliked her.

After dinner, the adults cleaned up while Nan Nan was dragged aside by Lu Yuan for a whispered conversation...

"Sis-in-law, Auntie Lin can be really fierce. Aren’t you afraid she’ll hold a grudge against you?" Lu Yuan whispered.

Nannan just shrugged. "Weren’t you upset when she was shouting like that in the yard earlier?"

Lu Yuan opened her mouth, about to say she wasn’t bothered, but the words died in her throat.

"Your brother was furious. He even wanted me to talk to Granny so she’d scold Auntie Lin again. But I knew Granny’s scolding wouldn’t change anything, so I deliberately provoked Auntie Lin to see if she could take it!" Nan Nan sighed. "And look—she couldn’t even handle a few words. If she can’t, how could Xiao Li? Didn’t you notice how Xiao Li got scolded even while eating? She didn’t even dare to pick up food..."

Lu Yuan hadn’t noticed that and was surprised.

"Auntie Lin... crossed the line!"

"Exactly. As her own mother, she bullies Xiao Li worse than anyone else." Nan Nan couldn’t understand why a mother would treat her own child like that.

Now, Lu Yuan, who had initially been worried, changed sides right then, standing firmly with her sister-in-law.

"Don’t worry. If Auntie Lin gets mad at you, we’ll just have Granny scold her again!"

Nan Nan smiled. "Thanks in advance, then."

Lu Yuan grinned back, grinning like a kid...

While they chatted, the others kept at it too—especially Lu Lin, who, with everyone ganging up on her, finally realized she was wrong. After all, she had never been treated this way in her own parents’ home.

"I know your in-laws don’t treat Xiao Li well, but you’re her mother. If even you treat her like this, who else will be kind to her?" Zhang Xiaofeng sighed. "We don’t approve of how you act, but usually, a little reminder would do. I never expected Nan Nan to go to bat for Xiao Li like that—she was truly angry."