Fang Pingying had noticed earlier that Xiutao had a peculiar expression when asking Luo Zhiyong about Zhou Yuni. Now, seeing Xiutao ntion Zhou Yuni again, she had an intuitive feeling sothing was amiss and cautiously asked, "Aunt, why do you keep asking about her? Is there sothing we don’t know?"
Xiutao hesitated for a mont, then seed to make a decision and spoke her mind, "Pingying, I didn’t want to say this before, but after thinking about it, I feel I should tell you."
Fang Pingying nodded, signaling her to continue.
Xiutao said, "Based on my intuition, I don’t think your mother-in-law is a good person. Actually, I t her once before. Back then, she didn’t treat as nicely as she did today. Instead, she outright tried to blackmail for US$ 3,000. She said if I didn’t give her the money, she’d spread Luo Zhiyong’s identity at his workplace, making it impossible for him to hold his head high. And for so reason, she insisted on not revealing anything about her identity, but today she showed up personally at my door."
What Xiutao said surprised Fang Pingying, but then she thought it over. Considering soone like Zhou Yuni, she wouldn’t be surprised at anything she’d do. Didn’t she already suspect sothing was off about her?
So, she imdiately asked Xiutao, "When did this happen?"
Xiutao recalled and then said, "It was just a few days ago. During those days, I was fretting over how to gather enough money. In the end, with no other option, I had to ask my brother and sister-in-law for help."
"Did your brother and sister-in-law agree to lend the money? It’s quite a large sum, after all," Fang Pingying rembered the scene when Xiutao and Mrs. Liu ca to her house. Under normal circumstances, Mrs. Liu wouldn’t easily give a few thousand dollars to help Xiutao.
Hearing this, Xiutao looked puzzled and perhaps because of Fang Pingying’s easygoing nature, she didn’t consider her an outsider and spoke honestly, "Strange thing is, I thought even if my brother agreed, my sister-in-law wouldn’t. But this ti, she wasn’t difficult at all. After asking the reason, she promptly agreed and even suggested coming to get the money together this morning. Whereas, I had already told her I’d go to her place tomorrow to get it."
Fang Pingying had a rough idea by now, but to be sure, she pressed further, "Did Mrs. Liu set any conditions or say anything else when she agreed to lend you the money?"
Xiutao thought for a bit and shook her head. But then she rembered sothing else and added, "Only after learning about my relationship with Zhiyong, she insisted I should reconnect with him. Nothing more than that."
Sensing Fang Pingying didn’t have a good impression of Mrs. Liu, Xiutao couldn’t help defending her, "But Pingying, despite my sister-in-law being a bit opportunistic, she’s not a bad person. Over the years, we’ve managed to get by with their support. Yet, with your foster mother, you need to be cautious."
"I understand, don’t worry," Fang Pingying definitely didn’t think Mrs. Liu was a good person. Contrary to others, when sothing happens, she can be even more resourceful than Zhou Yuni. It’s just that Mrs. Liu has been living in luxury and never needed to resort to her tricks, thus masking her true nature.
So she subtly reminded Xiutao, "Aunt Xiutao, so people might seem alright on the surface, but they might not be good at all. You need to be careful too. When there’s no apparent benefit, everyone seems nice."
Thinking about Xiutao’s situation, Fang Pingying advised her, "And about your family matters, I think it’s about ti you take a good look at it. Living off others isn’t a sustainable thod, it leaves you vulnerable to manipulation. Look for ways to help your family stand on their own and live a better life."
For anyone constantly relying on others, it’s inevitable that they’ll be used against their will. If Xiutao continues relying on the Liu family, sooner or later, she’ll beco a pawn for Mrs. Liu, even if not this ti, it will happen next ti.
"You..." Hearing Fang Pingying ntion her family matters, Xiutao grew uneasy, as it touched on a source of sha she couldn’t share with outsiders.
Fang Pingying gave her a reassuring smile, "I have a rough idea of your family’s situation. Every family has its issues that are difficult to discuss with outsiders."
Hearing this, Xiutao felt a bit better and agreed, "Okay, I understand what you an."
"Alright, let’s leave it at that. I’ll visit you when I get the chance."
After Fang Pingying finished speaking, she walked Xiutao to the entrance of their alley and then left, heading back ho.
Once back ho, Fang Pingying started pondering over the situation with Zhou Yuni.
Actually, things were quite clear now.
Mrs. Liu collaborated with Zhou Yuni because she believed Zhou Yuni had influence over Luo Zhiyong, so she paid her off.
And Zhou Yuni did it for the thousands of dollars, of course.
Initially, she intended to extort Xiutao, but after connecting with Mrs. Liu, she naturally turned to her for money instead.
As for Mrs. Liu, Fang Pingying had nothing to say, since the last ti she visited her house, she had already seen through her nature. She was a formidable woman who didn’t hesitate to use any ans to achieve her goals; using money to buy off Zhou Yuni was probably not beneath her.
This ti, however, what made Fang Pingying resolute was Zhou Yuni. She decided that this ti, she must completely sever ties with Zhou Yuni.
Zhou Yuni, regardless of the situation, always chose to betray them. Such a person, even a slight association, made her feel disgusted.
Thinking back on all the despicable things Zhou Yuni had done lately, even as they claid to cut ties, they had never fully gone through with it, always considering her and Luo Zhiyong’s relationship. This had given Zhou Yuni opportunities ti and again.
Originally, she thought if she behaved herself, they’d just live separately, she and Luo Dashan with their own lives, while they with theirs, leaving each other alone.
But this ti, enough was enough, she couldn’t tolerate it any longer.
If Luo Dashan wasn’t willing to give up Zhou Yuni, then she’d give up Luo Dashan. And if Luo Zhiyong wasn’t ready to give up on Luo Dashan, then she’d completely give up on Luo Zhiyong.
To Fang Pingying, Zhou Yuni was intolerable, absolutely more than she could handle, and she couldn’t stand the thought of remaining family with her, even in na only.
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