Chapter 30: Utterly Overwhelmed

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Liu Zhuyin felt frustrated, but Madam Liu was visibly triumphant.

“You insolent girl, just wait and see how I’m going to put you in your place these days!”

Though she said this harshly, Madam Liu didn’t truly intend to make things difficult for Liu Zhuyin. Her main goal was to make her realize who was the better partner—whether it was Madam Liu herself or Ning Yuanzhou.

So, over the next few days, Madam Liu pulled out all the stops.

“Are you even capable? What kind of breakfast is this supposed to be?”

“I’m your own mother! You think you can just serve me this nonsense?”

“I’m still able to walk and run, and you’re fooling me like this! What about when I’m old and can’t move? Will you just throw me out on the street then?”

Madam Liu pointed angrily at the half-cooked porridge and the egg, which was half burnt. She was genuinely upset.

Is this even a woman?

Even though she was a lady from a wealthy family, she couldn’t be this incompetent.

“I... I’ll make another one.”

Liu Zhuyin sighed deeply. She had never thought cooking could be so difficult until she actually tried.

“Look at you! How old are you?”

“You’re no child anymore. You’ve been married, divorced—if I may be blunt, you’re a middle-aged woman!”

“If you can’t even cook, just waiting to be served, what kind of man would want a woman like you?”

Madam Liu went all out in belittling her.

She didn’t care how ruthless her methods were, as long as Liu Zhuyin and she could reconcile.

“Enough, Mom. Stop criticizing me. I... I’ll just buy some food.”

Liu Zhuyin was at her wit’s end, only able to call someone to buy food.

“I won’t eat that!”

“Food from outside isn’t clean; homemade is better.”

“You, you... you’ve been spoiled rotten by Xiao Chen and you’re good for nothing!”

Madam Liu kept scolding her, leaving her truly at a loss.

But she didn’t dare lose her temper—after all, the doctor had warned not to upset her.

“So, what do you think... I should do?”

Madam Liu blinked but didn’t directly reveal her intention.

“You’re asking me?”

“Should I serve you, or should you serve me?”

“This meal doesn’t suit my taste, so I’m not eating!”

Madam Liu sat on the sofa, fuming and scowling.

Liu Zhuyin gave a bitter smile and pondered for a long time before thinking of me.

I had cooked dinner last night, and since her mother liked it...

After some hesitation, she finally called my phone.

“Um... could you come over to my mom’s place?”

“She... she won’t eat what I cook or what’s bought outside.”

“Could you come help me?”

Her voice carried a trace of pleading and exhaustion.

I understood perfectly—this was Madam Liu’s subtle request.

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Actually, I should have refused.

But health came first. Since Liu Zhuyin and I were divorced, she really fell ill because of the argument, which would be a loss for everyone.

“I’m not helping you.”

“I’m doing it for Madam Liu.”

“There’s nothing between us.”

Liu Zhuyin was so frustrated by my retort that she couldn’t reply before I hung up.

When I arrived at the old Liu family residence, I immediately heard Madam Liu scolding Liu Zhuyin.

“I’m starving! You’re good for nothing!”

“I raised you with so much hardship, and you can’t even make me a decent meal!”

“What can I even say about you!”

Seeing me, Madam Liu’s expression brightened instantly.

“Oh, my good son-in-law! Come in quickly.”

“Mom, you must be hungry. I’ll make you something to eat.”

Without a word, I headed straight to the kitchen.

“What are you looking at? Hurry up and learn!”

Madam Liu urged, and Liu Zhuyin had no choice but to follow along.

“Um... can I help you with anything?”

She looked at me shyly, her tone much more polite.

“No need. Just watch and learn as much as you can.”

I didn’t want to talk much, so I busied myself cooking.

Liu Zhuyin kept watching me, her expression gradually changing.

I had been busy in the kitchen for five years without fail.

Yet this was the first time she watched me so earnestly.

She felt that making one meal took forever, while I had persisted for five years.

The guilt in my heart deepened.

Soon the dishes were ready, full of color, aroma, and flavor, filling the entire room.

“Look! This is what real food looks like!”

“Now look at what you made!”

The contrast made Liu Zhuyin blush.

“This was made by my son-in-law; you’re not allowed to eat it!”

Madam Liu pushed Liu Zhuyin’s food aside and pulled me to sit next to her.

“We’ll eat ours.”

Liu Zhuyin looked at what I had made, then at her own, bitterness swelling.

When she tasted it, the bitterness hit her immediately; it was so bad she nearly spit it out.

I watched everything quietly, surprised by Liu Zhuyin’s change but also amused by her expression.

Still, I said nothing.

After the meal, I left.

Once I was gone, Madam Liu rubbed her belly and, satisfied, began scolding Liu Zhuyin again.

“Hmph, you’re just a useless fool.”

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“See how good my son-in-law is? You marrying him is you reaching way above yourself! Understand?”

Liu Zhuyin was hungry and angry but also dissatisfied.

“It’s just cooking a meal... what’s the big deal?”

Madam Liu sneered but said no more.

Because this was just the beginning—the real drama was yet to come!

That afternoon, the company called. There were problems with the project.

Several contracts had loopholes.

“Miss, it’s because of the new regulations... so our old contracts are void.”

“But these can be contested, though if we fail, the project might suffer significant losses.”

Liu Zhuyin’s head ached. “Then try to appeal, right?”

Sun Tao looked embarrassed. “We can’t intervene directly. Miss, this kind of face-to-face politicking is mostly handled by Madam Liu. Why don’t you talk to her?”

So Liu Zhuyin called Madam Liu to explain.

“What do you want me for?”

“You’re the acting chairwoman!”

“Ever since Xiao Chen took over the company, I’ve been hands-off.”

“What, as a member of the Liu family, you can’t even manage your own company?”

“Are you even better than my son-in-law?”

That hit hard—she had no comeback.

She could only grit her teeth and figure out a way.

But then Ning Yuanzhou started bothering her.

“Ayin, are you busy?”

“I’m not feeling well. Can you come see me?”

His pleading made her unable to refuse, so she rushed to the hospital.

However, her mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with company matters.

“Ayin, what’s wrong?”

“Are you very busy?”

Liu Zhuyin nodded. “It’s company stuff. Don’t worry about me.”

Ning Yuanzhou responded with an “Oh,” not paying much attention—just glad it wasn’t about me.

But by evening, Madam Liu called.

“You insolent girl, where have you been?”

“I’m hungry!”

“I want fish for dinner!”

Liu Zhuyin dared not refuse but didn’t know how to cook fish.

“Mom, I can’t even make a fried egg properly. You want me to cook fish? That’s asking too much...”

“What did you say? How dare you talk like that! Since you were little, I fed you every meal! I never complained, and now you say I’m making things difficult by asking you to cook?”

“Fine! I don’t want a daughter like you!”

The words struck hard.