Chapter 1:

My mother-in-law loves picking mushrooms. She says chicken mushroom stew is very nutritious,

and often uses it to keep my husband healthy,

but she never lets me eat it, not even a sip of the soup,

always finding an excuse to send me out to buy something.

If I refuse, what awaits me is my husband's fists and kicks.

This time, I obediently went, even though it's just five days after my miscarriage, and the sun is blazing outside.

1.

At 6 in the morning, my mother-in-law stormed into my room and scolded.

"Still not up yet? I told you on the phone yesterday that I was coming to make chicken soup for my son."

"Is it easy for my son to work hard to support you?"

"And here you are, sleeping in...."

In short, I only heard these few sentences amid a torrent of words.

At that moment, it was my fifth day after the miscarriage; it wasn't because something was wrong with the baby, but because my husband got drunk and beat me violently, causing me to lose my child.

This kind of thing hasn't happened just once or twice.

The first time, it was the same. I ran back to my parents' home, and he came to kneel and apologize, saying it wouldn't happen again.

I forgave him, only to endure even worse beatings.

This time, of course, I forgave him again, just like my mother-in-law said, I can't even carry a child, what a useless person.

I got up and went to the kitchen, seeing the mushrooms on the table.

With a smack, my mother-in-law slapped me on the back and cursed: "What are you looking at? Hurry up and wash them."

I asked puzzled, "Mom, why haven't I seen you bring this mushroom here before?"

"Could it be poisonous?"

Sure enough, my mother-in-law dismissively said, "Look at how ignorant you are, this is rare chicken mushroom, perfect for chicken soup."

"I went out before dawn to pick them, otherwise they would've been snatched by others already."

"Hurry up now, don't dawdle, your sister-in-law is coming over later to borrow your computer, don't be stingy like last time with your own family."

Thinking about my sister-in-law, an inexplicable anger rose in me.

Half a year ago, I was still working at the company, my newly written plan not yet saved, got deleted by my sister-in-law.

She claimed she didn't mean it, which infuriated me to slap her.

Without that plan, my career was ruined.

Without a word, my husband slapped me twice, knocked me to the ground, and kicked me in the stomach.

"How dare you hit my sister, who do you think you are?!"

My mother-in-law also shouted from the side, "Hit her! Teach her a lesson, for daring to hit my precious daughter."

It wasn't until I bled between my legs that my husband stopped kicking.

It was that time I lost my first child.

Having lost my job, I ran back to my parents, swearing to get a divorce, but my mom said that it's hard for divorcees to find a partner and it's disgraceful.

My husband then came to my parent's home sincerely apologizing, kneeling, and even hitting himself crazily.

It was then that I agreed to return, only to face even heavier beatings.

My husband hid my phone away, and for a whole month, I had no contact with the outside world.

Until he often stayed out all night, and when he came back, he'd lie on the sofa, chuckling at his phone.

My mother-in-law also often brought mushrooms over, sometimes specifically putting a bowl in a thermos.

I started to suspect, to take it away when she leaves.

As for who it was for,

I didn't pay attention to that, yet what filled me with complete despair was a call from the insurance company,

saying that my husband had purchased a personal accident insurance policy for me.

The beneficiary was listed as his name.

2.

Just as I was lost in thought, the doorbell rang. I opened the door to see my sister-in-law dressed like a cutesy little girl,

a hint of disdain in her eyes; she also looked down on me.

"Mom, your precious daughter is here."

"Sis-in-law, can you wash my clothes? I just got back from school."

With that, she walked into the living room, and outside the door was her big white suitcase.

Every time she gathers a month's worth of clothes and bottom garments, even her underwear, bringing it all here for me to wash.

I let out a soft hum, picking up the suitcase to head to the balcony.

Upon opening the suitcase, a foul odor hit, and I endured the discomfort to toss her clothes one by one into the washing bucket.

From the kitchen came the scattered sounds of conversation between my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, which I could fully hear.

"Mom, these mushrooms smell so good."

My mother-in-law laughed, "Of course, these are chicken mushrooms, specifically for making chicken soup, very nutritious."

In front of her family, my sister-in-law still maintained her sweet demeanor.

"Then I must eat more."

My mother-in-law said, "Don't worry, my little glutton."

"Quick, go call your brother and ask how much longer he'll be."

I let out a cold laugh, "Eat, eat more."

I squatted down, closed the suitcase, and placed it in the corner of the balcony, then looked outside.

My home is just at the entrance of the community, on the 7th floor, so I can see clearly.

Sure enough, I saw my husband dragging a suitcase, with a young woman on his arm.

I silently took out my phone, zoomed in, and took a few pictures.

When did I find out?

I really have to thank my mother-in-law for often packing chicken soup to go; father-in-law died early, so I thought she found a new lover.

It was just three months ago when I unintentionally saw her carrying a thermos box towards another building.

I saw her walk into the door on the third floor, and a woman opened the door.

While my husband was on a business trip, I quietly kept watch outside, and a young woman came out of the third floor, already showing a belly, looking about 5 or 6 months along.

My mother-in-law was carefully supporting and caring for her.

At that moment, my eyes turned red.

Wasn't I once young too? From eating instant noodles with my husband to now having a car and a house, for seven whole years, during which, for the stability of both our careers, I chose not to have children. Originally, I planned to resign this year and focus on nurturing a pregnancy, but I never expected him to hit me hard.

Half a year ago during that miscarriage, the doctor said my chances of conceiving were very low.

My mother-in-law started complaining about this and that, and just as I managed to get pregnant, my husband found an excuse to make me abort.

Turns out, it was because of her.

I returned to the room from the balcony and saw myself in the mirror, no longer resembling a 30-year-old woman.

A face full of wrinkles, sallow skin....

The aroma of chicken soup wafts through the room, and I hear the sound of the door opening outside.

"Mom, it smells so good."

I hurried to greet them, took the luggage and coat, and said happily, "Honey, you're finally back."

Robert looked at me, feigning concern.

"Why aren't you lying in bed to rest well? You just had a miscarriage."

Talking about this, my eyes filled with tears.

Robert gently comforted me, saying, "Don't cry, it makes my heart ache."

My mother-in-law took out the thermos box, placed it on the table, and scolded, "Why are you so pretentious? Who told you to be so useless?"

"Mom, say a few words less."

Robert supported me back into the room, telling me to lie in bed and rest well.

Watching his retreating figure, I kept laughing coldly inside.

Every time he hit me, he would be nice for a while, particularly caring.

As long as I went along with him, I wouldn't get beaten.

3.

"Emily, go out and throw away this trash."

My mother-in-law's voice was loud, as if afraid it wouldn't be heard.

I got up from the bed, came to the door, and gently opened a crack to clearly see the entrance.

I saw Sister-in-law holding a trash bag in one hand and a thermos box in the other,

I knew she was going to take it to that woman.

I couldn't help but laugh, then gently closed the door.

I wonder if that woman, after eating the chicken soup filled with 'love', would end up with a double tragedy?

At this moment, I was in a great mood.

I suppressed my inner excitement, restoring a melancholic face, and opened the door to go out.

"Mom, let me help you."

Seeing my mother-in-law busy with other dishes in the kitchen, Robert sat on the sofa, unmoved, playing with his phone.

My mother-in-law looked at me coldly, "Look at you, if you collapse again, your mom will come and make trouble for me."

Robert, at this point, glanced at me sideways. I knew, if I clashed with my mother-in-law, he would mercilessly throw his phone at me.

I shook my head with a smile, "Mom, I've already rested enough."

"I'll just help you chop and wash the vegetables, I don't even need to exert myself."

My mother-in-law's tone softened, "Then hurry up, I can't manage by myself."

I walked into the kitchen and began to help my mother-in-law with the chores.

She picked a lot of 'chicken mushrooms', there was still a basket left, and she said they were to be used for making oil.

Stir-fried dishes will taste amazingly fragrant then.

Half an hour later, the door opened, and Sister-in-law returned.

At this moment, I was a bit worried. If that woman ate it first, she would definitely call my husband.

Wouldn't my plan to take them down all at once be ruined?

My mind kept swirling with ideas.

Then I thought, taking out one would be fine too, it's just that the rest would have to wait a bit longer.

At this time, my husband's phone rang, and he answered it.

"Hmm, I got it."

My heart skipped a beat, could it be that the woman ate it already?