Kong Lu looked at Qiao Mei and was about to retort when Xia Zhe stared at Kong Lu with a cold look in his eyes, a look that was as frosty as an ice blade in winter.

“Do you think that your mother has done well in any way?” Qiao Mei asked.

Kong Lu thought for a moment and said, “My mother did not do anything to hurt Xia He.”

“Then what do you think it means to hurt someone? Would you repent only if someone dies?” Qiao Mei looked at Kong Lu mockingly.

Kong Lu slowly stood up and said unsteadily, “Although my mother does not take very good care of Xia He and does not treat her like how my mother-in-law treats Xia He, she does tend to Xia He’s basic needs . Isn’t that enough? My mother is kind-hearted, although the way she speaks and behaves might not be the nicest.”

Inside the house, when Xia He heard what Kong Lu said, she felt utterly disheartened. For so many years, she had acted as if nothing had happened for the sake of family harmony and Kong Lu’s filial piety. In the end, all she received in return was a statement that it was all her fault and that she was immature.

“Oh, do you think your mother paid for all the basic necessities at home?” Qiao Mei asked Kong Lu in surprise.

Kong Lu was stunned.?Was that not the case?

In the past, Old Madam Kong had asked him numerous times to get Xia He to hand over her salary to the family because they did not have enough money at home. Old Madam Kong also said that the entire family depended solely on Kong Lu’s salary, and that Xia He squirreled away all her own money, did not contribute to the family and even relied on the family to provide for her.

“My mother said… said that she was the one who pays for all the food at home…” Kong Lu said hesitantly.

“The art troupe provides meals for their staff, and they’re always traveling around to perform. How much food can elder sister eat?” Xia Zhe said as he looked at Kong Lu coldly.

Kong Lu knew about this. When they first got married, he was still not doing well in his career, unlike now. He was always at home while Xia He always traveled, and they quarreled about it many times. It was only after Xia He compromised and applied for a transfer to a local art troupe that the issue was resolved.

Back in those days, Xia He was the principal performer of the capital’s art troupe. She need not take part in ordinary performances and would only be asked to participate in large-scale performances. Now, she was just a minor actress in a small county city, and it was all because of Kong Lu.

“But my mother also said that Xia He is domineering and spoiled. She only wants the best things, otherwise she will throw them away and replace them with new ones,” Kong Lu explained.

“My sister went away to boarding school when she was young. She grew up with basic necessities and items provided by the school. How can she be a person who leads an extravagant life?” Xia Zhe asked.

Qiao Mei suddenly thought of something and said, “Does your younger sister also say that her sister-in-law doesn’t dote on her at all and can’t bear to buy anything for her to eat?”

Kong Lu nodded repeatedly and said, “Yes, yes, yes. My younger sister says that often.”

“She’s really been living a good life in the Xia family these past few days. She only eats meat and even asks the family helper to go out and buy the most expensive and best food for her. Your younger sister says that the Xia family is rich and must feed her well, otherwise she’ll complain to you,” Qiao Mei said.

Kong Lu lowered his head in shame and said, “My younger sister… My younger sister is still young and immature. I hope you don’t take it to heart.”

“She’s already 22 years old and still considered young? I was already a mother of two when I was 22 years old,” Liu Fen muttered softly inside the house.

In the past, one could get engaged at the age of 16 or 17 years old and get married at the age of 18. At that time, most families would quickly marry their daughters off for the sake of the betrothal gifts. It was the only option for poorer families, especially if they did not even have money for food.

The more well-to-do families could afford to marry their daughters off later, but most girls would get married around the age of 20.

Xia He sobbed uncontrollably in the house and covered her mouth tightly to prevent herself from making any sound. She did not expect Qiao Mei to be the one to speak up for her about all the hardships she had gone through for so many years.

They had only met a few times, but Qiao Mei knew better than her own relatives how difficult it was for her to live with the Kong family.

Qiao Mei was so angry that she did not know what else to say. She looked at Kong Lu and really felt like giving him a kick to wake him up.

Xia Zhe looked at Kong Lu and shook his head. Back when Xia He said that she wanted to marry Kong Lu, he did not have any objections. He felt that this person seemed to have some potential and was also a filial person. He did not expect this “filial” part to be the reason for his elder sister’s sufferings.