Reborn as a Tough Army Wife-Chapter 808 - 803: This Time, It’s Over

Fang Pingying had noticed earlier that Xiutao had a peculiar expression when asking Luo Zhiyong about Zhou Yunmei. Now, seeing Xiutao mention Zhou Yunmei again, she had an intuitive feeling something was amiss and cautiously asked, "Aunt, why do you keep asking about her? Is there something we don’t know?"

Xiutao hesitated for a moment, then seemed 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 met her once before. Back then, she didn’t treat me as nicely as she did today. Instead, she outright tried to blackmail me 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 some 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 someone like Zhou Yunmei, she wouldn’t be surprised at anything she’d do. Didn’t she already suspect something was off about her?

So, she immediately 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 remembered the scene when Xiutao and Mrs. Liu came 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 time, 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 remembered something 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 something happens, she can be even more resourceful than Zhou Yunmei. 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, some 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 time you take a good look at it. Living off others isn’t a sustainable method, 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 become a pawn for Mrs. Liu, even if not this time, it will happen next time.

"You..." Hearing Fang Pingying mention her family matters, Xiutao grew uneasy, as it touched on a source of shame 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 mean."

"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 home.

Once back home, Fang Pingying started pondering over the situation with Zhou Yunmei.

Actually, things were quite clear now.

Mrs. Liu collaborated with Zhou Yunmei because she believed Zhou Yunmei had influence over Luo Zhiyong, so she paid her off.

And Zhou Yunmei 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 time she visited her house, she had already seen through her nature. She was a formidable woman who didn’t hesitate to use any means to achieve her goals; using money to buy off Zhou Yunmei was probably not beneath her.

This time, however, what made Fang Pingying resolute was Zhou Yunmei. She decided that this time, she must completely sever ties with Zhou Yunmei.

Zhou Yunmei, 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 Yunmei had done lately, even as they claimed to cut ties, they had never fully gone through with it, always considering her and Luo Zhiyong’s relationship. This had given Zhou Yunmei opportunities time 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 time, enough was enough, she couldn’t tolerate it any longer.

If Luo Dashan wasn’t willing to give up Zhou Yunmei, 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 Yunmei was intolerable, absolutely more than she could handle, and she couldn’t stand the thought of remaining family with her, even in name only.