Tang Heping had two reasons for doing this.
First, she found the young girl quite sensible—having just moved in, she had bought so much food. Second, she resembled her brother-in-law, and her mother-in-law had just told her about the girl’s background.
Her thoughts aligned with her mother-in-law’s.
She also suspected the Dai Family had switched their daughter with her niece.
In her previous life, Wen Zhile often had her pulse checked by Tang Heping.
Her aunt cared deeply about her family’s health and would frequently check their pulses. If any issues were detected, she would immediately prescribe remedies.
Thinking this, Wen Zhile deliberately showed surprise on her face: “Check my pulse?”
“Come sit over here.”
There was a stone table in the courtyard.
Wen Zhile walked over and sat down, extending her arm: “Aunt Tang, are you a doctor?”
She rolled up her sleeve, revealing only a small section of her wrist.
Further up were scars.
“I practice traditional Chinese medicine.”
Tang Heping had a round face that made her look young and approachable, but she became very serious during pulse readings.
Wen Zhile was accustomed to staying quiet during her aunt’s pulse checks and instinctively fell silent.
After a while, she noticed her aunt’s expression growing even more serious.
She knew her physical condition in this life was certainly worse than in her previous one, but such seriousness… how difficult would it be to treat?
A few minutes later, Tang Heping checked her other wrist: “Xiao Dai, your condition is somewhat complicated. I have Chinese medicine at home. Let me prepare a course of treatment for you and bring it over tomorrow.”
Wen Zhile pulled down her sleeve and took out money: “Thank you, Aunt Tang. This is…”
“Put it away, put it away,” Tang Heping refused before she could finish, walking over to Qu Jinghong and helping her back to the shade with a smile, “Mom, look at this child, she’s quite adorable.”
Qu Jinghong nodded cheerfully: “Xiao Dai, no need to pay.”
Tang Heping added: “You call me Aunt, and you’re living in your grandmother’s house. We’re family—no need to be so formal.”
While checking Xiao Dai’s other wrist, she had pushed up her sleeve slightly and clearly saw the scars.
Tang Heping turned back to Wen Zhile: “It’s too hot today—Xiao Dai is sweating. Mom, is there hot water in the bathroom? Let Xiao Dai take a shower to cool off.”
“Yes, go wash up, Xiao Dai.”
One of the three side rooms in the Siheyuan served as a bathroom, equipped with a water heater, making bathing much more convenient than in previous years.
Wen Zhile indeed wanted to shower. It was already late June, and she had been wearing the burgundy sweatshirt she bought a few days ago all afternoon, sweating profusely.
“Then let me stew the fish first.”
Tang Heping wouldn’t allow it: “With adults here, there’s no need for you to cook. Go take your shower.”
Wen Zhile stopped in her tracks, unsure why her eyes suddenly stung.
Those words were precious to her in this life.
The young girl paused, then went to her room to fetch a towel, body wash, and shampoo.
Her cooking was average—in her previous life, she had never entered the kitchen, and in this life, her meals at the Dai Family were merely edible. It was just as well she wasn’t allowed to cook, lest she waste food.
The bathroom had a direct exhaust water heater. Wen Zhile remembered reading many news reports about accidents involving such heaters, so after entering the bathroom, she first cracked open the window.
The sound of running water gradually filled the bathroom, drifting out through the window.
Tang Heping quietly approached the window and peeked inside.
With just one glance, she forgot all about embarrassment.
Wen Zhile took after her mother Shu Ying with fair pinkish skin. Though her face appeared sallow, the skin concealed by her clothing was smooth and rosy—a hint of which could be seen from her hands, which were paler than her face.
This made the scars on her body all the more conspicuous.
Tang Heping trembled with rage, her fingers shaking. Returning to the kitchen, she grabbed a cleaver and began vigorously chopping the dumpling filling.
Qu Jinghong, hearing the commotion, expressed surprise: “Heping?”
“Oh, Mom, I’m just mincing the filling finer for better flavor.” Tang Heping didn’t turn around. If this girl truly was her sister and brother-in-law’s child, she couldn’t bear to imagine how heartbroken they would be upon learning about her numerous scars.
No, she needed to discuss this matter quickly with Cheng’an’s father.
Once the dumplings were cooked, Tang Heping found an excuse to return home.
Before leaving, she took two plates of dumplings with her, and Wen Zhile also filled a large bowl with fish and fish soup using a newly bought lunchbox.
Tang Heping hurried home and called out for Shu Ye as soon as she entered.
“I have something to tell you—it’s about our niece!” She set down the lunchbox and dumplings and rushed to the living room.
Shu Ye didn’t respond. Pacing back and forth in the living room with visible anger, each step he took was heavy and forceful.
Tang Heping spotted her son: “When did you get back?”
“Twenty minutes before you.” Shu Cheng’an handed a notebook to Tang Heping. “Mom, take a look at this.”
His expression was no better than Shu Ye’s.
Tang Heping took it: “What happened to make both of you so angry?”
“No wonder we’re a family—even getting angry on the same day. This afternoon at Mom’s place, I met a little girl who looked…” As she spoke, she flipped open the notebook and abruptly fell silent.