When Xiao Ming saw his wife losing her temper at his mother for the first time, he immediately stepped forward.
"Hua Hua," he said in a low but firm voice, "she is my mother… and your mother-in-law. You shouldn't speak to her in such a loud tone."
After saying that, Xiao Ming glanced at his parents. Surprisingly, neither of them looked offended or angry at their daughter-in-law's outburst.
Their expressions remained calm—almost unreadable.
Taking a quiet breath, Xiao Ming continued. His gaze stayed fixed on his parents as he spoke.
"Mom. Dad. What Hua Hua said just now… none of it was wrong."
"I hope you're not upset by her words. She only wants the best for our son."
There was a pause before he went on, his voice growing heavier.
"But I have a question for you."
"Don't you think that before choosing a life partner for our son, you should have talked to us at least once?"
"At the very least, you could have asked for our opinion—whether we would even like that girl as our son's wife or not."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"You didn't even ask Zhang about his own likes or dislikes."
Xiao Ming sounded a little angry now, but his anger was controlled.
Even while questioning them, he never forgot that the two people standing in front of him were still his parents. His tone remained respectful, restrained, yet firm' carrying the weight of a son who felt ignored in a decision that would change his child's entire life.
On the other side,, Stopped by her husband, Xiao Hua finally fell silent. She still had so much more she wanted to say, but when she saw that her husband didn't remain quiet and instead stepped forward to question his parents himself, a strange sense of satisfaction settled in her chest.
So she chose not to speak further. She simply stood there, silent, waiting for her mother-in-law's response.
Truth be told, Xiao Hua had never disliked her mother-in-law. Nor did she resent her father-in-law. To her, they were no different from her own parents.
They had never restricted her, never tried to cage her life. She was a hardworking woman" someone who never wanted to confine herself to being just a housewife.
She wanted to stand on her own feet.
And after marrying Xiao Ming, she didn't retreat into the shadows of this wealthy household. Instead, she worked alongside her husband in the family company, supporting him shoulder to shoulder.
Even before marriage, she had always worked, always carried responsibility, especially toward her own parents. She was their only daughter, born into a middle-class family, and she had been their pillar.
Yet even after marrying into such an influential and wealthy family, she never once felt like an outsider.
In this mansion, she had been given warmth. Respect. A sense of belonging. Every person here had treated her with affection, as if she truly belonged.
That was why she held no bitterness toward her mother-in-law.
But today—
Today was different.
This was her son's life.
A decision that would define his entire future.
How could her mother-in-law take such a massive decision alone?
When both she and her husband had the greatest right to be consulted.
When they were the ones who would have to watch their child live with the consequences of this choice.
And that was something Xiao Hua simply could not accept.
Xiao Lajiao could clearly understand the anger of her son and daughter-in-law.
Yet her faith in her own decision remained unshaken—she firmly believed she could never be wrong.
Breaking the heavy silence, the old woman lifted her head and spoke, her voice calm but carrying unquestionable authority as she addressed her son and daughter-in-law.
"Hua Hua, have you forgotten?" she said slowly.
"I am the woman who chose you for my son. That is why you entered this house as his wife."
Her gaze sharpened, unwavering.
"After that, have I ever disappointed you? Have I ever treated you as anything less than my own daughter?"
She paused, then continued, her tone turning firmer, colder.
"But since you have dared to question me today, let me make one thing very clear. This old woman has spent her entire life reading people. I know how to judge a human heart. And I would never choose the wrong girl for my grandson."
The room felt heavier with every word she spoke.
"You speak of beautiful, rich girls with impressive family backgrounds—girls who are lining up by the thousands to marry my grandson."
A faint scoff escaped her lips.
"Even together, they are not worth the dust beneath the feet of the girl I have chosen."
Her eyes hardened with conviction.
"The girl I chose may not be beautiful in your eyes, but in mine, she is no less than a princess."
Just like that, she declared it—without hesitation.
"As I once accepted you as my daughter, I have now accepted her as my granddaughter as well. She is the one who will protect my grandson with her life. She is not like those spoiled daughters of wealthy fathers who wish to marry him only for our family's fortune."
Her gaze pierced straight through Xiao Hua.
"You have worked beside your husband in the business world for years," Xiao Lajiao continued, her voice cutting deeper,
"yet today I can say this without doubt, you still do not know how to recognize people."
Then, after a brief pause, her tone softened just slightly—but her words did not.
"And as for background…"
She looked at Xiao Hua meaningfully.
"You, too, came from a middle-class family. I never brought this up before—except today."
A sharp silence followed.
"I hope that in the future," she added coldly,
"you will never raise such matters in front of your own daughter-in-law. At the very least, as a mother, I expect you to possess that much decency."
With that, Xiao Lajiao fell silent" her words heavy enough to leave wounds no one dared to touch.
On the other side, Xiao Zhadan already knew one thing very well" once his wife decided to speak, everyone in this house would only listen.
She was that kind of woman.
Even at her age, she alone was enough to overpower a hundred people. Time may have passed, but her presence was still unshakable, her aura still commanding. Just as he had expected, the moment she spoke, there was no longer any need for him to intervene.
After all, she wasn't just the lady of the Xiao family, she was the woman who had the capability to single-handedly control a vast empire like the Xiao Corporation.
Even today, whenever she attended board meetings, everyone only listened. No one dared to interrupt her. No one dared to talk back.
Xiao Zhadan then turned his gaze toward his son and daughter-in-law, who were standing silently, still staring at his wife in shock.
A gentle smile appeared on his face as he spoke to them.
"Xiao Hua," he said calmly,
"I hope you didn't feel hurt by your mother's words. Everything she does is for the good of this family."
He paused briefly, then continued in an almost casual tone—one that carried far more weight than it seemed.
"And anyway, once that girl marries into our house, you'll see her for yourself. You'll know whether she is good or not. If, later on, you truly find her unsuitable… the final decision will be yours."
His eyes were steady, unreadable.
"If necessary, you can even have your son divorce her. We will not interfere."
Those words landed heavily in the air.
After saying this, Xiao Zhadan placed his hand gently on his wife's shoulder and walked away with her toward their room.
Despite their age, the two of them still looked sharp, powerful, not weak in the slightest.
On the other side, Xiao Ming and Xiao Hua stood frozen in place, stunned by their parents' words. Neither of them had the courage to say anything further.
Xiao Ming closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.
His wife was already looking at him.
With anger burning in her voice, Xiao Hua said,
"Your son is exactly like your mother. That's why he never listens to us."
With that, she turned away and stormed toward her room.
Xiao Ming remained standing there, stunned, silently thinking,, If my son is like my mother, how is that my fault?
Why are you taking your anger out on me?
He wanted to say it.
But the words never left his mouth.
In the end, he said nothing" and simply followed his wife back to their room.
From the second floor, Zhang Xiao sat silently in his wheelchair, watching the entire scene unfold below.
His eyes grew darker—cold, bottomless.
Even after two days, he still couldn't forget what had happened in the hospital…
the conversation between his family and that girl's family replayed endlessly in his mind, each word sharper than the last.
A bitter, mocking thought crossed his mind.
If that woman is truly so desperate to marry me…
then I'll make sure she learns her real place.