The Huo Family resided in Qi Li Town, their living conditions were considered the best in the neighbouring areas. They lived in a two-story building with a courtyard, equipped with tap water and solar power. The courtyard was filled with a variety of flowers planted by Granny Huo; the outer walls of their house were decked with crimson red tiles, which lent it an exceptionally grand appearance.
Huo Jinlan was always proud of the superior living conditions of her family home; there were no more than five households in the town that could match theirs. But today, she stood petrified at the door, refusing to enter as if the house were a vicious beast.
"Hurry in! Everyone's waiting inside!" said Mr. Huo, parking his bicycle in the courtyard, and urging her to go in.
"Dad." Huo Jinlan looked plaintively at her father, "Dad, I have been so ruthlessly bullied today, you must help me."
"How can I help you?" Mr. Huo sighed, "You, this girl..."
Before he could finish, a middle-aged woman stormed out of the door, staring fiercely at Jinlan's disheveled appearance and the tears in her tattered clothes.
Scared, Jinlan hid behind Mr. Huo, "Mom…" she whimpered, her voice filled with grievance and remorse. Crystal clear teardrops hung from her eyelashes, refusing to fall.
"Didn't I tell you not to work! Can't our family afford your little expenses? If you hadn't gone, you wouldn't have lost face like this. You have disgraced the Huo family!"
"Mom, it's not my fault, not my fault. I didn't do anything; they intentionally framed me. It was all orchestrated by Jiang Nanfei. You have to believe me."
Moved by her daughter's plea, Yuan Xueshan softened, "Come in first." she said, setting aside her firm exterior.
"Stop crying," Mr. Huo cooed softly, "We believe you. You wouldn't do such a thing; it's all a misunderstanding." He trusted the girl they had raised themselves, regardless of her not being their biological child.
Jinlan was clever and sensible ever since she was young; she excelled acadically and even wanted to work during the summer vacation to lessen the burden on her family.
Jinlan's pounding heart finally softened; she dropped her gaze, her eyes nearly turning scarlet red. All the humiliation she had faced today would be paid back by Jiang Nanfei.
She dreamt of marrying brother and becoming her sister-in-law!
Jinlan remembered her childhood well, despite others assuming otherwise. She could still recall the memory from when she was first brought to the Huo's home, her brother's charming and protective features. He belonged to her and only her, why should he marry that penniless Jiang Nanfei?
*****
"You're saying that all of this was done by Jiang Nanfei?" Yuan Xueshan slammed the table, standing up vehemently, her fury three feet high, "You've been so good to her, and she turns out to be so wicked. No, such a person must not marry into our family."
Mr. Huo stared at his wife, "You need to calm down, I believe that Nan Fei is not such a person." He trusted his mother's judgement.
"So, you mean my daughter is framing her?" Yuan Xueshan glared back, raising her voice.
"Lower your voice, don't disturb mom." The elderly lady lived in the room below, and could easily be disturbed by their loud arguing. "That's not what I meant. Could there have been some misunderstanding?"
Jinlan chimed in quickly: "No, everything I said is the truth." She straightened her torn sleeve and said pitifully: "The boss' wife tore my clothes... She thought our family was poor comparing to the boss' wealth. Hence... Hence... "
Jinlan stuttered and stopped short of completing her sentence. But Yuan Xueshan was already highly agitated. In her eyes, her precious son was the best in the world. Anyone who dared to belittle him was asking for trouble.