Chapter 1: Better to Destroy Than Not to Get

The beginning..

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"Ailian, you know, you broke up with our family's Li Xinye more than twenty years ago. I originally wanted to keep you in the family, but now Li Xinye has returned with his wife. If you stay in our family, it won't reflect well on your status. It's better for you to return to your parents' home while you're still relatively young and find someone else to marry."

Mother-in-law Liu Meilan was trying to persuade Tang Ailian to leave the Li family once again.

Tang Ailian lay in bed, staring blankly at the mosquito net above. Her heart felt cold, and she didn't even hear what her mother-in-law had said to her.

Young? Tang Ailian was already in her fifties. She had married into the Li family at the age of eighteen and had worked tirelessly for over thirty years. She had initially supported her husband, Li Xinye, through college. After he found another love after college, she stayed in the Li family as her mother-in-law had advised. She raised her son, sent off Li's grandmother, raised Li Xinye's younger siblings, and even contributed to their weddings and dowries.

Not only that, she had worked tirelessly to build the agricultural business she now owned, all in the hope of making Li Xinye regret leaving her. However, her health had deteriorated greatly over the years.

Now, she was no longer of any use. The mother-in-law who had promised to treat her like her own daughter now wanted her to leave and remarry. She felt like an old ox, having spent her entire life in this family, and now she was about to be driven away.

Li Xinye also urged her in frustration, "Ailian, I know I've wronged you, but matters of the heart can't be forced. I have no feelings for you, and your presence here in our family is awkward for both you and me. I've told you before, we should part on good terms. You've always been reasonable and considerate. Don't you think it's better this way? You don't want to make things difficult for me or our son, do you?"

"Feelings?" Tang Ailian laughed bitterly, "What do you know about feelings? For all of you, feelings are just a means to an end, right? You used my feelings for you to make me willingly give up going to college and support the family for you while you pursued your education.

And your mother, after you abandoned me, used my feelings for you and our son, saying that you still cared for me, to make me stay in the Li family, taking care of your grandmother, raising your younger siblings, and providing for their education and weddings.

Now, my health has deteriorated, and I have no more value to you. So, you come to tell me that feelings can't be forced?

Haha, you have no feelings for me? When your family was poor and couldn't afford to send you to college, you knelt and begged me to give up college and marry into your family early to take responsibility and support your education. Why didn't you tell me then that you had no feelings for me?

When I helped take care of your grandmother and she passed away, why didn't you say you had no feelings for me?

When you found a new love and abandoned your family responsibilities, and your mother claimed that you still cared for me, only held back by difficulties in marrying Liu Qingyu, and asked me to stay in the Li family and work like a slave, why didn't you say you had no feelings for me?

Now, I'm old and drained by your family. You come to tell me that feelings can't be forced! And you do it while our son is abroad on business. Haha."

"How can you say you were used? Even if you were, you willingly allowed yourself to be used. Who can you blame for that? We originally wanted to save face for everyone, but you didn't show any restraint. It's better for us to part ways. I never expected you to be this kind of person, trying to stay in my family."

Li's mother-in-law, Liu Meilan, shouted angrily at Tang Ailian, pointing her finger at her, "Tang Ailian, I misjudged you! Let me tell you, I'm cutting ties with you now. Get out of my Li family!"

Tang Ailian felt a deep sense of sadness and anger. This was the same mother-in-law who had promised to treat her like a daughter. She had thought there was some affection between them, but now she realized she had been used like a fool.

Tang Ailian grew angry, "Yes, I willingly allowed myself to be used. I spent decades working like an ox for your family. I deserve it! But, Liu Meilan, people reap what they sow. It's not a matter of if, but when, for those who forget kindness and repay it with ingratitude. They won't escape divine retribution. It's not a matter of if, but when. Those who are ungrateful and seek revenge will eventually face their own downfall. Haha!"

Liu Qingyu had no biological children of her own, and Tang Ailian's son, Li Yinong, was Li Xinye's only son. If Tang Ailian left, she would undoubtedly take her son with her, which was the main reason Liu Meilan had insisted on keeping Tang Ailian around in the first place.

Tang Ailian smiled sadly and began to cough violently. Golden-tinged blood oozed from her mouth.

Li Xinye was alarmed, "Are you poisoned?"

Tang Ailian was not surprised at all by the blood tinged with gold; her blood had carried a golden hue since she was a child, sometimes even with strands of gold. But now, in the midst of the gold, there was also black.

At this moment, her heart grew colder. How could she have been poisoned? She had overexerted herself for so long, but was her rapid deterioration due to poison rather than her efforts?

Judging by Li Xinye's expression, it didn't seem like he was the one who had poisoned her. Liu Qingyu also didn't have the opportunity to poison her. Could it be that the poison was administered by Liu Meilan, who had always claimed to treat her like a daughter?

Of course, Li Xinye's younger brother, Li Xiao, was also a suspect. He had always coveted the management of the agricultural company and had once suggested that he take over the company, citing Tang Ailian's poor health as a reason. However, Tang Ailian had handed the company over to her son after he graduated from college and interned there for three years.

Perhaps he was the one who had poisoned her. After all, her son, Li Yinnong, was still young. If she died, the company could very well fall into Li Xiao's hands.

Tang Ailian felt even more despondent.

Suddenly, Li Xinye sniffed, "What's that smell? Oh no, is it gas?" He shouted in panic to Tang Ailian, "You, this poisoner! You actually released gas? If you can't have me, you want to go down with me? Quick, go!"

(End of chapter 1)