Chapter 178 Together they drove Song Zhaodi out.

Xie Wanying had a well-thought-out plan in mind.

Her words truly struck a chord with Ding Rumei.

Today, she also took the opportunity of buying groceries to visit the market. There are many large department stores in the capital, where the fabrics and other clothes are rarely seen in the countryside. Even the fabrics sold at the market are no longer fashionable in the capital.

She took a fancy to many things, including scented soap and lightly sweet face cream, both of which were much more refined in terms of workmanship and packaging than those in the countryside.

Ding Rumei didn't have much money and was reluctant to spend the salary Huang Meiling gave her, fearing that it would run out and she wouldn't have any left, so she didn't buy anything.

But considering she had come all the way to the capital, she figured she should at least dress herself up a bit. What if she looked beautiful and met a high-ranking official? Then she would become an official's wife.

Ding Rumei could imagine how beautiful she would look wearing those pretty clothes and skirts.

Although she didn't say a word, sometimes silence means agreement.

Xie Wanying saw through her thoughts at a glance. People with little knowledge are always tempted by such petty gains.

Xie Wanying beckoned, and although Ding Rumei looked unwilling, she still walked over as if possessed.

If Huang Meiling really does send her back tomorrow, she needs to think of a way out for herself.

"Cousin, I know it must have been tough for you to come all by yourself. Traveling from the countryside to Beijing, I don't know how long it must have taken. You must have had a long and tiring journey all by yourself."

Xie Wanying's words were loaded with meaning, but Ding Rumei didn't respond, waiting for her to get straight to the point and state her purpose.

Xie Wanying took the cheap jade bracelet that her mother-in-law had given her off her own hand and forcefully stuffed it into Ding Rumei's hand.

"I didn't expect to run into you today. I didn't have much money on me when I came out, but this bracelet might be able to be exchanged for something. Please take it and don't think it's too little."

Although she didn't know what Xie Wanying was up to, Ding Rumei's mood improved considerably upon seeing what she had in her hands.

"Just ask me what you want to say. After all, we're relatives. Why beat around the bush? If you don't tell me, I won't know what you want to know."

Xie Wanying glanced at the people around her with a smile on her face: "It's nothing important. I'm already married, and it's not good for me to keep going back to my parents' home. You've probably already met my sister-in-law. I just wanted to ask her if there's anything she likes?"

Ding Rumei put the jade bracelet on her wrist. Whenever Shu Ying was mentioned, she would not have a good look on her face. She had just been humiliated by Huang Meiling and said irritably, "I don't know about that. I think she likes to criticize people. Your sister-in-law is really something. I don't know what kind of bewitching potion she gave your mother. I think your whole family will be ruined by her sooner or later."

A glint flashed in Xie Wanying's eyes. It seemed that Ding Rumei didn't like Shu Ying either; the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

However, since she needed to use someone else to do her dirty work, she couldn't show her disgust too obviously.

"Huh? That can't be right. I think my parents like this daughter-in-law quite a bit. It's just that we two haven't had much contact. Cousin, do you think there might be some misunderstanding?"

Ding Rumei looked gloomy, as if she had finally found someone to confide in. Shu Ying, despite her icy attitude, talked on and on.

"I think it's because your family is too polite to her, to the point that she doesn't even know who she is anymore. In the end, isn't she still an outsider? If people didn't know better, they would think your brother is a live-in son-in-law. Your family is too easy to manipulate. Now she's raised the two children to be no good at anything. What will they become when they grow up? And I can't even say a word about it. I was thinking of reminding your parents, but who knew your mother would blame me instead."

She was seething with resentment: "They told me not to meddle, but Shu Ying just did whatever she said. If it weren't for the fact that we're family, why would I bother to be nice to them and offer them such a cold shoulder? I kindly reminded them, but in the end, I ended up being the one who didn't get the credit. I will never do this thankless thing again."

Xie Wanying's ears were practically perked up, afraid of missing a single word. Especially after learning how Huang Meiling had defended Shu Ying, she secretly clenched her fists.

Unexpectedly, the couple rushed to her place to confront her, demanding the money back so they could hire someone to help Shuying take care of the child.

What's so good about Shuying?

They were so confused that they couldn't tell friend from foe, and were even willing to offend her, their "own daughter," to stand on Shu Ying's side.

She has lived cautiously all these years, afraid that one wrong step would lead to another and plunge her into the abyss. But instead of not noticing her anxiety, they threatened to sever ties with her.

"Cousin, my parents weren't like this before. Why have they suddenly become so resolute this time?"

She deliberately tried to get more information out of her, and Ding Rumei seemed to have found a kindred spirit. She also thought of Song Zhaodi, who was of equal status to her at home but was superior to her in every way.

"I think your parents are just too simple-minded. They don't understand human relationships, and they don't know how complicated this daughter-in-law is. Her family's Song Zhaodi is also a lazy bum who can't do anything and still takes your family's money every month. Shu Ying treats her better than I treat her, her own cousin. It's like she doesn't know who her real sister is."

After she finished speaking, she sighed again: "I know in my heart that it was probably Shu Ying who came here on purpose to annoy me, her own cousin. But I did take your family's money, so I can only do what your mother tells me to do."

Xie Wanying was almost overwhelmed by the words. Ever since she learned about Song Zhaodi's identity, the word "older sister" was the one thing she couldn't stand the most.

She glanced to the side and asked casually, "How could this happen? You came all the way from the countryside to help out, and Shuying is still so disrespectful to you. It's really too much. It's just a pity that I'm like water spilled from a cup, once I'm married, I can't do anything for you."

Ding Rumei finally found someone willing to speak up for her, and instantly found Xie Wanying much more agreeable, not as annoying as she had been when they were children.

"You think so too, right? That Song Zhaodi has been here for so long, I don't know how much money she's made. I kindly reminded Shuying, but instead I got scolded by her. Who am I supposed to complain to? People who don't know better might think I'm nitpicking, but all I'm saying is for the good of your family, isn't it?"