Chapter 1839 - 1835: Wayward Conduct
She smiled. "Then I’m satisfied enough as it is."
A few of them flared their nostrils, and their expressions changed along with it.
One of the women let out a cold snort from the back and said, "Sure, that’s what you say now. Just think about it: one day your son gets himself a wife, and the minute he does he starts treating you like an outsider. He just stands there watching his wife nitpick and tear you down all day long, never listens to a word you say. Right or wrong, it’s all your fault, she’s always right. And if that wife’s got a bit of a mind of her own, she’ll just live exactly how she wants every single day. Gets married but still acts like she’s single, doesn’t think things through at all, doesn’t even remember she’s married now. When that day comes, then you’ll know just how bitter it feels."
So this is what Sui Qinglan has been saying about her behind her back all along.
Isn’t she deliberately trashing Ye Ning’s reputation?
Ye Ning finally understood. Now she’d probably already become the "vicious daughter-in-law" in all their eyes.
"Once you’re married, your life stops being just yours alone," that woman went on. "When people outside see you like that, who wouldn’t be stabbing you in the back and pointing fingers? After you’re married, you should at least look like a married woman."
"Exactly. It’s not just about you; you have to think about Yeli too. You might not care how you act, but people outside will talk, and they’ll drag Yeli into it too."
"Of all virtues, filial piety comes first—that’s a traditional virtue. If you don’t even have that, how would anyone dare trust Yeli? His business will suffer because of it."
Sui Qinglan watched from behind. Seeing Ye Ning standing there without saying a word, she felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
She’d long known just how vicious these people’s tongues could be. Anyone who came through here, without exception, would be picked apart until they felt utterly inferior.
Back in the day, she herself had taken plenty of hits from them. So when she first married into the Mu Family, she still had a bit of pride, imagining she’d become the mistress of the house. But in the end she also came to understand that in a wealthy family like this, there is no such thing as a real mistress. Everything depends on your husband. Your husband—that is your greatest support. If his status is high, then yours rises with his.
If not, you can only watch other people’s faces and gauge their moods.
Because no one really looks at you; they’re all looking at your husband.
Especially in a big family like the Mu Family.
She looked at Ye Ning, thinking, Let’s see just how capable you really are.
Why aren’t you talking now? Why don’t you dare go up against them anymore?
Hmph. A few spits of saliva are enough to drown someone.
Anyone with a shred of dignity will end up changing as soon as they’re talked about like this, otherwise how would they ever have the right to speak in front of these people in the future?
Her thought was, Ye Ning still has to move around in this family. Does she really dare offend every last one of them?
Now that she knows her reputation has gotten this bad, isn’t she going to hurry up and fix it?
Seeing Ye Ning stay silent, Sui Qinglan stepped in on the side, playing the benevolent one.
"Alright, that’s enough. She’s young, she doesn’t understand things yet. You don’t need to go at her like this. She’s still just a girl. They’re all like my children. I’m already this old—do you really think I’d stay mad at her? We’re all one family. Once the doors are closed, say whatever you want to me, I don’t mind. I just don’t want people outside the Mu Family laughing at us."
Ye Ning narrowed her eyes, watching. Before she could say anything, the old master’s butler hurried over from the back.
Seeing Ye Ning, he quickly and carefully said, "Young Madam, so you’re here. There’s an important guest outside. They’re asking for you."
Only then did Ye Ning look as if she’d just come back to herself. She turned around and said, "Oh. Okay."
Without looking back, she picked up the child first and walked out.