Liu E merely curled the corners of her mouth slightly, saying nothing.

Soon enough, Liu grandmother ran into a wall with both Liu Qinxin and Ming Shuo… Oh—perhaps it was more than just hitting a wall.

Ming Shuo seemed to be swamped with something and simply didn’t have time to listen to Liu grandmother; he hurriedly replied, “We can talk about it later,” without even calling her “Mom.”

As for Liu Qinxin, she was in an awful mood.

She’d already grown impatient upon hearing that Liu Fan had been hospitalized because of that affair, and now, faced with such demands from her own mother, her bad feelings instantly found an outlet.

On the phone, she snapped at her mother for the first time in her life: “Mom, will you ever stop? Brother… brother… brother… Is there only my brother in your eyes?”

“He’s a grown man, always doing nothing worthwhile—wandering here and there, spending all his money on eating, drinking, gambling, and womanizing. Now he’s gotten himself into the hospital by fooling around and playing the field—doesn’t he deserve it?

And you’re coming to me over this petty matter? What do you think I am—a deity who eats incense at the temple, or a turtle in the wishing well whose every wish can be granted just by tossing in two coins?

Are you saying I have to handle every single mess and problem in the family? Do I not have my own life? Do I not have my own worries?”

“Qinxin…” Liu grandmother sounded aggrieved.

But Liu Qinxin wasn’t done venting yet. She kept roaring down the line, “Mom! Do you even know what kind of situation I’m in? I’m the ‘third’! The ‘third’ everyone in the outside world despises! For over twenty years, I’ve had no name, no status, and I’ve never been allowed to step into the light!”

“Qinxin, please…” Liu grandmother tried to say something.

Yet Liu Qinxin’s anger still hadn’t subsided. She continued to shout into the phone, her voice even tinged with tears, growing louder and louder: “Please what? Please don’t say that? Or please don’t speak to me like that?

Mom, among the three children, I’m supposed to be the most filial, right? Over the years, haven’t I been the one to shoulder all the household chores? Haven’t I been the one to provide everything? Haven’t I been the one to smooth out every single trouble?

When you have a headache or fever and need to go to the hospital, it’s me who takes care of you; when you want to go out for some fresh air or travel, it’s still me; even when you get hurt or bump into something, it’s me running around to take care of everything!

As for my brother, how many problems has he caused for the family over the years? He’s good for nothing but making things worse—how many times have I had to clean up after him?

And then there’s my sister. When she got married, I didn’t rest; when she got divorced, I still had to suffer; when she was beaten up and retaliated against for stealing someone else’s husband, it was still me who stood up for her; even her daughter’s schooling from childhood to adulthood, it was always me who footed the bill.

For over twenty years, haven’t I, Liu Qinxin, done enough for this family? Haven’t I, Liu Qinxin, given enough to you all? What more do you want from me? What exactly do you need to be satisfied?”

“Qinxin, Mom didn’t mean it that way—Mom just wants to save your brother…” Liu grandmother’s voice was very soft, no longer the forceful tone she’d used before; instead, it had taken on a faint, mosquito-like quality.

But Liu Qinxin’s anger was far from spent. She blurted out, “If he’s going to be ruined, let him be ruined—that’s just as well! At least we’ll have a child, and being ruined means he won’t go off chasing after all sorts of disreputable women anymore. Then he can finally settle down and live a proper life with his Sao Zi!”

“Qinxin…”

“Stop calling me! Aren’t I troubled enough already? Mom, as fellow children, have you ever really cared about me and my kids?”

“No…”

“What ‘no’? Are you trying to deny your favoritism, or are you refusing to admit your double standards? Mom! My child got sick because of that bastard you and my brother brought into our lives!

What about you? Have you ever stood up for me, for your granddaughter?”

End of Chapter 140: Counterattack 66