Reborn as the Villain's Wife, I Shine in 80s-Chapter 489 - 473 mother-in-law and daughter-in-law

She suppressed her emotions and spat out three words: "You don’t understand."

Though her expression suggested he didn’t understand, her heart felt as though a tiny bug had burrowed inside, crawling around and itching unbearably. She wanted to ask, "Do you still remember what I looked like when I was at my worst?" But she was afraid of stirring up his disgust toward her and the painful memories of being forced. After all, a man...

Then it hit her—this was her man, but he had slept with another woman. She felt utterly uncomfortable. Truly, asking would hurt, but not asking felt even worse.

Jiang Jinghuai could tell her tone was clearly dismissive, and there was an unmistakable weight on her mind. As a grown man, receiving those three words—"You don’t understand"—from his own wife, he felt as though he had just heard another set of three words: "You’re useless."

Damn it, useless?

He couldn’t tolerate being belittled like this.

And besides, wasn’t it just about milk? How could he not understand? He narrowed his eyes slightly, pulled her into his arms, and said, "Tell me what I don’t understand. Say it, and I’ll listen. Maybe I’ll prove I do understand."

Tian Sangsang glared at him, itching with irritation and wracked with pain: "You just don’t understand, period."

"How would I know I don’t understand if you don’t explain it?" Jiang Jinghuai pinched her rosy cheek.

Tian Sangsang: "..." What kind of twisted logic was this!

The whole way, all they talked about was whether he understood or not, endless questioning back and forth. Out of pride, no matter how much Jiang Jinghuai tried to coax her, Tian Sangsang refused to say how milk and her shameful past were connected.

But Jiang Jinghuai kept prying, which annoyed Tian Sangsang to the point where she finally shouted, "Don’t assume you understand everything! Let me ask you—do you even know what it feels like to give birth?!"

"I do." Jiang Jinghuai responded calmly, "And we’re already past that point."

Tian Sangsang internally sighed and then snorted, "Fine, you try giving birth. I’ll strap a twenty-pound watermelon to your stomach, and then let’s see if you still think you understand how to deliver it!"

Jiang Jinghuai couldn’t help but chuckle softly. His wife had always had a knack for humorous remarks. Twenty-pound watermelon, really?

He immediately rubbed his nose, but this was a topic he truly didn’t understand, so he remained silent for a while. Then he looked at her solemnly and said, "I don’t understand, but I’ll be there with you."

Mindful that she was pregnant, he followed her pace closely, making sure they both walked slowly. He stayed slightly behind her. Tian Sangsang turned her head to glance back at him, scanning his tall and upright frame. Her gaze moved upward, and her eyes curved into a faint smile.

When they arrived at the Jiang Family home, Jiang’s father and Ye Binyi were both present, along with Meng Shuyan in the living room.

Meng Shuyan saw his mom and dad show up together to pick him up, and his handsome, peach blossom-shaped eyes almost twisted into crescent moons with laughter.

He instinctively walked over to Tian Sangsang and stood by her side. Tian Sangsang stroked his head.

Seeing her grandson so happy made Ye Binyi just as joyful herself.

She smiled warmly at Jiang Jinghuai and said, "It’s good that you’re back. I’ll have Aunt Zhang prepare something nice so we can enjoy a proper family gathering at noon."

Then she turned her gaze to Tian Sangsang: "Sangsang, since you’re pregnant, you should stay home and rest quietly. Don’t go out to work anymore—it’ll be bad for your belly."

Tian Sangsang really didn’t want to hear any more preachy advice from Ye Binyi, nor did she want to eat with her again. From prior experiences of dining together, she had developed a psychological aversion.

She lowered her head indifferently, focusing on her son, pretending not to hear Ye Binyi’s words.

Ye Binyi caught on and immediately became irritated. What kind of attitude is this? What kind of daughter-in-law behaves so disrespectfully? Shouldn’t she at least respond?

"Mom." Jiang Jinghuai, sensing the tension building, interrupted with a helpless tone, "We’ll be staying outside for the next little while. We’re here now to pick up Yanyan. You and Dad can eat together at noon—you don’t need to worry about us."

From Jiang’s father’s perspective, he could detect something deeper in his son’s words. The boy had his own household now; it was time for him to make his own way in life. Ye Binyi was just keeping her son too tightly wound.

"What?" Ye Binyi’s smile faded, and her dissatisfaction was evident. "Why stay outside instead of at home? You’ve finally come back, and Yanyan hasn’t been here in ages either. I was hoping we could spend more time together."

She added with a faint scorn, "And as for Sangsang, living outside all the time—it’s hard to let my mind be at peace."

Tian Sangsang understood clearly that what Ye Binyi couldn’t be at peace with was her pregnancy. She’d come to realize, after enough interactions, that Ye Binyi only saw her as a vessel for producing heirs. Every time they were together—even just standing face-to-face—she felt suffocated and stifled. No woman wants to be treated as nothing more than a tool for childbirth!

Waves of exhaustion crept into her heart. How was this any different from before? Back then, she’d compromised again and again for Jiang Jinghuai’s sake, even coming close to divorce just for the chance to live separately. She’d thought she could coexist peacefully, each living their own lives. But why was she now back in this situation with Jiang Jinghuai?

Love wasn’t just about two people; it also involved their families. If someone like Ye Binyi made both of them feel drained, wouldn’t it be better to just part ways?

Still, now that she and Jiang Jinghuai were reconciled, she couldn’t exactly ignore his family. That meant the old issues hadn’t disappeared. Currently, Jiang Jinghuai was accommodating her because she was pregnant, but what about the future? After the baby was born, wouldn’t he eventually start thinking she was too distant, failing to fulfill her duties toward his family?

But if she let that possibility dictate their relationship and chose to give up on Jiang Jinghuai—how was that fair to him?

Tian Sangsang was utterly torn.

Jiang Jinghuai gently patted his mother’s shoulder to comfort her and said, "Don’t worry, Mom. We’ll come visit you often. Don’t concern yourself with Sangsang; I’ll take care of her."

Ye Binyi grew even more displeased. Her son worked so hard in the military—how could he come home and still be expected to take care of someone? What was that supposed to mean? What kind of arrangement was that? A grown man shouldn’t need to exert himself like this.

Since when did men take care of women? Tian Sangsang was even starting to grow arrogant because of this indulgence, wasn’t she? In all of history, wasn’t it the daughter-in-law’s job to care for the whole family? Did marrying into the household mean she was here to enjoy privilege?

"How can I truly be at ease with you staying outside?" Ye Binyi managed to swallow her anger out of consideration for the baby. "If you insist on staying at Sangsang’s place, the least you can do is join us for lunch at home. That’s my only request—I simply want the whole family together. Isn’t that something you can agree to?"

After all, this was his mother. Seeing her pale face, Jiang Jinghuai couldn’t bear to refuse her entirely. He softened his tone and said, "Mom, you go ahead inside with Yanyan. I’ll talk to Sangsang for a bit."

Ye Binyi led Meng Shuyan inside, leaving the atmosphere between them heavy and fraught with tension.

"Sangsang." Jiang Jinghuai reached out to pull her into his arms.

Tian Sangsang leaned slightly out of his reach.

He paused, looking at her. She remained the same as ever, with her round eyes and fair, delicate face—though now her lips were slightly pouted, her gaze downcast, as though she’d been wronged. Whatever intention he originally had of convincing her to stay for the meal vanished then and there. How could he be so cruel as to force her? After everything, coming back here with him was already asking too much of her—forcing her to stay for the meal would be downright heartless!