Becoming the Cannon Fodder Wife of Crazy and Powerful Official - Chapter 10

Xin Yueying’s gaze lifted. Ah, so it’s Bai Lan’er—Meng Ruxin’s confidante, indeed.

Meticulous to a fault, this woman served as Meng Ruxin’s unofficial strategist. Rumour had it she’d even been granted the title of Madame of Honor by the story’s end.

“Did she go to my husband’s place?” Xin Yueying asked Madam Song.

“No, still holed up in her room. That wretched girl Bai Lan’er—orphaned young, scrabbling a living by selling firewood. Once twisted her ankle, and Meng Ruxin treated her for free. Since then, she’s latched on like a leech, always dragging over rotten branches before holing up in there whispering for hours.” Madam Song shot a glare at the house.

Xin Yueying tilted her head, “So, you have to feed her, too?”

“Ugh!” Madam Song slapped her palms together, the two fish dangling from her wrist swaying violently, “You hit the nail on the head! Is that worthless firewood worth anything? Yet I lose a meal feeding her, and Meng Ruxin slips her extra buns when she leaves! I’m the one losing at both ends!”

“Exactly,” Xin Yueying grinned, “And while they’re whispering in there, eight times out of ten they’re badmouthing you. Meng Ruxin plays the saint, leaving you as the villain every time.”

Madam Song froze, then stared at Xin Yueying as if seeing a divine revelation, “Heavens have mercy—finally, someone who understands!”

She drew a shuddering breath, shaking her head.

“Back when the Meng family had means, I never said a word against her charity—tossing coins at every beggar in sight. But those days are gone! How can we live like this now? Her father does nothing but sigh in his room. When I bring up finances, he calls me a ‘hag from the gutter’! The injustice I’ve swallowed—I couldn’t tell you half of it in three days…”

Her voice broke. Waving a hand as if to dismiss her own outburst, she grabbed her apron to wipe sudden tears.

“Don’t cry!” Xin Yueying swooped in, small hands steadying Madam Song’s shoulders with solemn intensity, “Auntie Song, save your strength. Right now, we need to focus—what if Bai Lan’er’s poisoning Meng Ruxin against you as we speak? Meng Ruxin might be gullible, but who knows if Bai Lan’er is…”

She deliberately trailed off—an artistic pause for effect.

Madam Song’s eyes sharpened. Clutching the fish, she scooped up Xin Yueying’s gifts and marched toward the house, “Let’s eavesdrop.”

Xin Yueying scurried after her.

After stashing the gifts by the wall, Madam Song led the way to the rear window, left slightly ajar. Pressing their ears to the crack—Madam Song above, Xin Yueying below—they peered inside like mismatched spies.

Meng Ruxin lay pale on the bed, eyes swollen from crying.

“This is outrageous!” Bai Lan’er shot up from her chair, fists clenched, “What kind of mother acts this way?”

Meng Ruxin’s lips trembled, tears plopping onto the sheets, “I was cursed with misfortune—lost my mother too young. Had she lived… I’d never suffer such cruelty.”

Her missing front tooth lent a faint lisp to her words.

Bai Lan’er paced, brow furrowed, “Something feels… off about all this.”

Meng Ruxin said, “I can’t make sense of it either.”

Bai Lan’er said after thinking something, “Someone must’ve put her up to it.” Her eyes narrowed as she studied Meng Ruxin. “Think—have you crossed anyone recently?”

Xin Yueying watched coldly as Meng Ruxin’s gaze took on a distinctly vacant quality. After a long pause, the woman shook her head.

“No? I’ve always been kind to everyone, never made any enemies. Why would anyone target me?”

Xin Yueying’s inner voice, Hah! “Kind”? So yesterday’s finger-pointing tirade was… what, a dog’s doing?

No—dogs are adorable.

This was pure hypocritical sanctimony.

Meng Ruxin’s eyes suddenly lit up, “Unless… It’s her ?”

Bai Lan’er, “Who?”

Meng Ruxin (lowering her voice), “Elder Brother Shen’s so-called ‘wife.’ Though he treats her like dirt under his boot. Before I left, I merely… gently advised her. Nothing extreme—just well-intentioned guidance.”

Xin Yueying’s teeth ground silently.

Hah……..Well-intentioned guidance.

Of course.

She was realizing something: Meng Ruxin wasn’t just a martyr—she was a martyr-tea hybrid.

A steaming cup of sanctimonious green tea.

Bai Lan’er continued with her grim expression, “Your ‘guidance’ may not have been appreciated.” She paused, then whispered, “Wasn’t that Xin woman the one who once argued with Uncle Meng ?”

Meng Ruxin nodded, “Yes.”

Bai Lan’er said coldly, “Then she’s the instigator. That old hag Song is too stupid to scheme alone—she and Xin must’ve joined forces. That wretched crone will get her karma.”

Xin Yueying’s gaze flicked to Madam Song’s hands gripping the windowsill—her knuckles had gone bone-white.

Does’nt matter.

Auntie Song would handle this.

Meng Ruxin said with a worried face, “But how would Xin know about the man I’ve been hiding?”

Bai Lan’er continued,  “Maybe she didn’t. Maybe she just warned the old hag to watch you. Or perhaps your nightly lantern checks on his injuries made the hag suspicious, and Xin stoked those doubts. Either way…” She grabbed her medicine kit, “I’ll go ‘greet’ this Xin woman myself.”

Meng Ruxin said urgently, “Be careful!”

Madam Song stormed out, face thunderous, scanning the yard for weaponry.

Xin Yueying, ever helpful, picked up a laundry bat and handed it over.

Madam Song with nodding, gestures :

• Points at Bai Lan’er’s retreating back, “You deal with her.”
• Points at herself, then the house, “I’ll handle this one.”

Xin Yueying cheerfully hopped onto her donkey cart, whistling as she rode off to intercept Bai Lan’er.

Behind her, Madam Song kicked down the door with a roar,

“I HEARD EVERY WORD! I RAISED A VIPER IN MY OWN HOME! I’LL BEAT YOU TO—”

Meng Ruxin started screaming, “MOTHER, STOP—AAHH!”