Chapter - 100 - What is the Truth?

Tang Li found herself grappling with a bold conjecture as she delved into the mysteries surrounding her little aunt.

An idea that was bold and audacious, took root in her mind –

'what if Minghuan was the child of her little aunt?!'

Their visit to the cemetery had stirred this suspicion. Minghuan had recounted a peculiar childhood memory – his grandfather insisting on kowtowing to his little aunt's grave during every visit.

The strangeness of it lingered in Tang Li's thoughts.

Minghuan had never met this aunt, making the repeated insistence on paying respects even more perplexing.

When they were at the cemetery just now she felt a little weird but now after she thought about it a little more, a flash of inspiration appeared and such an idea took root in her mind.

This speculation, however, was no more than a daring guess, fraught with ethical complexities and potential harm to her aunt's as well as her husband's reputation.

Tang Li recognized the need for concrete evidence before voicing such a sensitive theory.

To piece together the puzzle, Tang Li sought proof, starting with a discreet inquiry.

However, she couldn't shake the feeling that her elder sister, Yi Xue, was defensively evasive. 

'She had feeling that her elder sister knew the truth but was either scared to say it out loud or someone had told her not to say anything on this matter.'

Attempting to divert any suspicions, Tang Li crafted a pretext, "I'm curious because Minghuan said that our grandfather wanted him to kowtow to my aunt's grave every time he visits. I thought our grandfather must have liked our aunt very much, so I wanted to know more about her. I also feel that our aunt's early departure was truly distressing..."

Observing Yi Xue's reaction closely, Tang Li couldn't glean much from her furrowed expression.

Undeterred, she pressed on, "Hey, Sister, when our grandfather was still there, was my mother-in-law afraid of him? Did our grandfather wield the authority and make all the decisions in the house or was he like my father-in-law?"

When she heard her words, she shook her head with a smile, and responded:

"How is that possible! Our grandfather was a soldier! He had been on the battlefield, carrying a gun and fighting devils! He was the one in charge at home, and our mother respected and feared him. When our grandfather was alive, Xiao Ming always followed him and was safe from our mother. Things changed after our grandfather's death..."

Tang Li found confirmation in Yi Xue's words. Minghuan had shared that since his grandfather's passing, his mother, her mother-in-law, had undergone a transformation, turning harsh and abusive.

"Hey! Sister, I've always been puzzled. Why does my mother-in-law harbor such animosity towards Minghuan? It's as if she sees him as an enemy. Do you know the reason?" Tang Li probed further.

"Mother isn't good to me either. She favors second brother and younger sister more than us," Yi Xue admitted, lowering her head.

After a thoughtful pause, she added in a complex tone, "She dislikes Minghuan, maybe because he resembles my aunt and not her."

Taken aback, Tang Li felt a surge of excitement.

It seemed her speculative guess was gaining traction. Suppressing her elation, she jokingly remarked, "Sister, why would you say that? Could it be that Minghuan is my aunt's child and not my mother-in-law's?"

"Snapped!"

Yi Xue abruptly placed the kitchen knife on the table, turning to glare at Tang Li, her expression darkening.

In a stern and cold voice, she admonished her, "Who told you to talk such nonsense! My little aunt was not married and was such a good person. How can you slander her like that!"

Startled by the vehement response, Tang Li quickly apologized, "Sister, I just said it casually..."

"You can't talk nonsense! By saying this you can ruin Xiao Ming and my little aunt! If this matter spreads, how can Xiaoming live in this village in the future? How can he find work outside? You're his wife, not someone else. Don't you care about him?"

Yi Xue's anger flared, and she admonished Tang Li with a trembling voice.