In the fiery red era of the heavens, refrigerators are refreshed daily.

Chapter 52. A Cloud of Sorrow and Despair
Yang Guangming patted his older sister's arm, "My sister-in-law is honest; once she speaks her mind, she'll always remember it."

Your mother-in-law is a bit shrewd, but since you're a strong person, she won't dare to go too far.

In the future, if anything happens, be sure to tell your family; don't try to handle it all on your own.

Yang Xianglan nodded vigorously, and in the moonlight, you could see the glistening tears in her eyes.

She sniffed, then suddenly smiled, a smile tinged with relief and pride:

“We’ve really grown up, become successful, and acted like adults. We know how to protect our older sister.”

Don't worry, my sister isn't someone to be trifled with; she won't find it easy to bully her!
"Just focus on being a good cadre and don't worry about me."

She raised her hand and gently straightened her younger brother's collar, which was actually quite neat. Her movements were gentle and full of elder sisterly love. "This outfit looks impressive and makes you look smart."

"Alright, that's enough for now. Honghong is looking for her mother." Yang Guangming looked at his older sister's face, which appeared much softer in the moonlight, and felt a warmth in his heart.

"Okay. Be careful on the road."

Yang Guangming waved his hand and said, "Come back and visit Mom and Dad more often when you have time."

Yang Xianglan watched her younger brother's tall and upright figure gradually disappear into the moonlight deep in the alley until he was out of sight, then she slowly turned around.

On the way back, my steps seemed much lighter than when I came.

Her younger brother's seemingly casual yet weighty words at the dinner table were like reassuring pills, settling firmly in her heart.

For the first time, she felt so clearly how powerful the support from her brothers was.

It wasn't just a pound of ham or a few pounds of sugar; it was a weighty sense of confidence that allowed her to stand taller under this sometimes suffocating roof.

The moonlight was cool and the stone path was slightly chilly, but Yang Xianglan's heart felt as warm as if she were holding Hong Hong's warm candy box.

She straightened her back and walked towards the living room, which was lit by a dim yellow light.

Her daughter is there; perhaps, life isn't entirely without light after all.

The moonlight was cold and clear, and the bluestone slabs of the Shikumen courtyard seemed to be covered with a thin layer of silver frost.

Yang Guangming pushed open the heavy black lacquered door, stepped lightly across the threshold, his face still warm from the "supportive meal" he had eaten at his older sister's house.

However, what greeted him inside was not the warm glow of lights he had expected, but rather a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.

The room was lit only by a dim, yellow incandescent light.

Father Yang Yongkang sat hunched over in his special bamboo chair, puffing on his pipe. His expression was obscured by the swirling smoke, but his silence was heavier than ever.

The eldest brother, Yang Guanghui, squatted in the corner, silently wiping his precious old rubber shoes. His sister-in-law, Li Guihua, sat on a small stool next to the chest of drawers, mending an old garment in her hands, but the stitches were messy, and she seemed absent-minded, her brows furrowed in worry.

Even Zhuangzhuang, who is usually the most active, was unusually quiet, lying on Zhang Xiuying's lap, his chubby little hands unconsciously tugging at his grandmother's clothes.

Zhang Xiuying sat in a rattan chair by the window, her face unusually solemn, her eyes vacant as she gazed into the dark alleyway outside, unconsciously patting Zhuangzhuang's back.

The pride he had previously felt from his son's success and the glory of ham had vanished without a trace.

"Ara is back." Yang Guangming's voice broke the silence.

"Oh, Mingming's back?" Zhang Xiuying snapped out of her reverie, her worried expression instantly replaced by suppressed concern. "Come sit down. Xianglan... how's Xianglan doing? Her mother-in-law... hasn't given her a hard time again, has she?"

She pressed him almost urgently, her gaze fixed on her son's face, as if trying to find any clue as to whether her daughter had been wronged.

Yang Guangming put down the empty net bag that had contained the ham and drunken chicken, sat down on the small stool next to his mother, deliberately softening his tone and speaking with a reassuring smile:
"Mom, don't worry. When we went there, we ran into Wang Shi picking on my sister, complaining that the diapers weren't clean enough and that the food was too salty or too bland."

He clearly saw his mother and sister-in-law, Li Guihua, both prick up their ears, their faces showing indignation.

"Hmph! That old woman!" Li Guihua couldn't help but spit, her needlework completely stopping. "Have you ever washed diapers yourself? She's clearly just picking a fight! Xianglan has such a good temper, if it were us..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but her fierce spirit was already evident.

"And then?" Zhang Xiuying pressed, her hand unconsciously gripping the armrest of the rattan chair.

"Later I went inside and took out the ham and the milk candy for Honghong."

Yang Guangming spoke calmly, but with a hint of barely perceptible force, "Wang's face changed so quickly, like she was performing in an opera! She immediately became incredibly polite. I stayed for dinner to wait for my brother-in-law to come back."

“At the dinner table, I said a few words.” He glanced at his family members and said, “I said that my sister works hard inside and outside the home, taking care of Honghong, serving the elders, and doing odd jobs to supplement the family income. She is really capable. I also told my brother-in-law that we are at ease leaving my sister in his care and hope that he will treat her well.”

He paused, looking at his mother and sister-in-law: "My brother-in-law immediately expressed his willingness to treat my sister well. Wang Shi was standing next to him, her face beaming with smiles, not daring to utter a single word of complaint. When I left, my sister saw me out and said... Little brother, thank you, she understands."

After listening to her son's words, Zhang Xiuying let out a long, slow sigh. Her grip on the rattan chair loosened slightly. There was still heartache in her eyes, but more than that, there was relief and a sense of triumphant satisfaction.

"Good! Good! You did the right thing! That's how it should be! We need to let them know that Xianglan isn't without her family's support!"

She turned to Li Guihua, her tone filled with emotion and lingering fear, "Guihua, look at this kind of mother-in-law! She's truly clueless! Her own daughter-in-law works so hard, and instead of being considerate, she makes things difficult for her at every turn! It's infuriating just thinking about it!"

Li Guihua immediately chimed in, her voice rising a few decibels, filled with shared indignation and... a barely perceptible hint of relief:

"That's right! Mom! Look at Wang Shi! And think about our own family! You're the best mother-in-law in the world to me!"

She put down her needlework and started counting on her fingers, her tone sincere yet slightly ingratiating:
"First, you only charge us for our living expenses. You never ask about our wages; I manage them myself. We can add whatever we want, how carefree!"
Secondly, you absolutely do not discriminate against girls! You said it a long time ago: even if I have a daughter in the future, you will cherish her like a treasure, just like you cherish Zhuangzhuang!
How many mothers-in-law would actually say something like that?

(End of this chapter)