"Wanwan," Xia Hai said to Xia Wan, "I saw your mother selling clothes just now. She made me realize something. When I was young, before I married your mother, she seemed to be just as beautiful."
As he spoke, Xia Hai seemed to be lost in his memories. "When did the smile on your mother's face disappear? I think it was after she married me. Your two aunts were more talkative than her. They were very good at pleasing your mother, but your mother was honest. She only knew how to work quietly behind the scenes.
"At that time, I thought that your mother and I were being filial. Your two aunts loved to take advantage of others and had bad personalities. I thought that your grandmother would understand who was the one who really treated her well.
"But time proved that we were wrong. The old saying is right. The kind will be bullied. Your mother and I have been too simple and honest."
Xia Wan didn't say anything. She didn't know how to comfort Xia Hai.
