Shen’s father dragged Shen’s mother out as well, leaving the Xi family members behind with gloomy faces as they went after Shen Jiaojiao.
The atmosphere in the Xi household was frighteningly tense. Xi Zihua hugged his head, shrinking into himself, looking pitiful and meek. Zhang Jingui was in more agony than if her own parents had died, her heart aching fiercely.
“Brother, 48,000 yuan—I saved for years, and now it’s all gone.”
Zhang Jingui cried tears of pain, and Xi Yuhua was equally distressed, because that 48,000 yuan was supposed to be hers in the future.
Uncle Xi’s expression was terrifyingly dark. He sneered coldly, “The Xi family’s money isn’t so easy to take. Don’t worry, let the money stay with Shen Jiaojiao for a while. After Shuhua gets married, I’ll find a way to get it back.”
“Brother, what if Shen Jiaojiao spends all the money?”
Zhang Jingui was overjoyed but also worried.
“Shuhua is getting married in October. How much can she spend in three months?”
Uncle Xi stood up, annoyed. “Before Shuhua’s wedding, none of you are to cause any trouble. Shen Jiaojiao can’t turn the world upside down. As long as she’s in Yangcheng, I have ways to deal with her.”
“Yes, yes, Brother is truly capable,” the others flattered.
Uncle Xi was quite pleased, his expression softening a little. He shot a warning glance at Zhang Jingui and threatened, “If anyone ruins Shuhua’s wedding, don’t blame me for disregarding family ties.”
If it weren’t for his daughter’s wedding, how could he let that bitch Shen Jiaojiao have the upper hand?
“No, no, Brother, don’t worry,” Xi’s father hurriedly assured him.
“Brother, what if Shen Jiaojiao takes the money and runs?” Zhang Jingui was still worried.
The 48,000 yuan was saved penny by penny through years of frugality. Only she truly felt the pain of losing it. She felt the others were just talking without understanding her suffering.
Uncle Xi looked disdainful. “She has no job and is raising a child. Where could she run to?”
“Exactly. Shen Jiaojiao has always been a pushover. If Zihua hadn’t gone too far, she wouldn’t have made a fuss. Weren’t the past eight years quite peaceful?”
“To be fair, Zihua really went too far this time. Even if there’s something wrong with his… parts, he shouldn’t mess around like that. It’s truly disgraceful!”
“Jingui, you need to keep a tighter rein on Zihua from now on. Find him a tough wife—looks don’t matter, the key is being able to control Zihua!”
The relatives chimed in one after another, their tones full of reproach. They all shared the Xi surname, and Xi Zihua’s disgrace reflected poorly on them too.
Fortunately, Shen Jiaojiao had been placated, but Xi Zihua also needed to be kept in check. They almost said it outright—
“Find Xi Zihua a tigress of a wife. Ugly is fine, as long as she can keep his lustful urges in check!”
Xi Zihua clutched his head tightly, but the relatives’ voices still drilled into his ears, more annoying than a power drill. He had no desire to marry at all, let alone marry a tigress. He just wanted to be with Brother Jianjun, and no one could separate them.
Shen Jiaojiao held Xiao Yueyue’s hand and walked quickly, but she still couldn’t shake off Shen’s father and mother, who caught up with her.
“Jiaojiao, why are you walking so fast?” Shen’s father chided.
“Is a ghost chasing you?”
Shen’s mother was sweating profusely from the chase, her tone unfriendly.
“What is it?”
Shen Jiaojiao’s tone was indifferent. These two were practically shouting their schemes in her face. She didn’t need to ask to know what they wanted.
“Jiaojiao, come home and stay. Your room has always been kept for you,” Shen’s father said with a fatherly expression.
Shen Jiaojiao sneered inwardly. A weasel paying New Year’s greetings to a chicken—this was anything but well-intentioned.”I don’t dare go back. Shen Qiang said I’m like spilled water—not allowed to return home. Even Xiao Bao called me an outsider and wanted to chase me away.”
Shen Qiang was the original body’s elder brother, and Xiao Bao was Shen Qiang’s son. Father and son were cut from the same cloth. Back then, Shen Qiang had only been able to marry thanks to the original body’s five-thousand-yuan bride price.
Yet when the original body was bullied by Xi Zihua and returned to her parents’ home in tears, Shen Qiang said she was like spilled water. Even her nephew cursed her, forbidding her from entering the house.
Shen’s father and Shen’s mother were clearly at home but did nothing to stop it, letting it happen.
“Children don’t know any better; they just talk nonsense. How can you, an adult, hold a grudge against a child?” Shen’s mother’s face darkened. Xiao Bao was her precious grandson; no one was allowed to speak ill of him.
“Children don’t know better, but they learn from adults.” Shen Jiaojiao retorted bluntly.
“It’s all your brother and sister-in-law’s fault for not teaching him properly. I’ll go back and scold them. Jiaojiao, come home with your father. Your parents’ home will always be your home.”
Shen’s father glared at Shen’s mother, then coaxed his daughter gently, his face full of paternal kindness.
Shen Jiaojiao pretended to think it over. After a long while, she finally said, “Alright then, I’ll go back. But if anyone treats me rudely, I’ll leave immediately.”
“How dare they? Your father still has the final say at home!”
Shen’s father was overjoyed. As long as his daughter moved back home, the forty-eight thousand yuan would be within his grasp.
“You go ahead first. I need to check out of the hotel.”
“Then come back soon. Tonight, your mother will make your favorite braised fish.”
Shen’s father glanced at the bag in her hand and couldn’t help saying, “It’s too dangerous for you to carry that much money. Why not let your father keep it safe for you?”
“I’m going to deposit it in the bank right now. Dad, you’re not trying to take my money, are you?”
Shen Jiaojiao looked wary and immediately moved the bag behind her back.
“Of course not. Your father is just worried. Go deposit it in the bank. I’ll wait for you at home.”
Shen’s father didn’t dare push too hard, afraid of scaring her off. He needed to coax this stubborn girl home first. Once she was inside, she wouldn’t have a say anymore.
“I want steamed pomfret, white cut chicken, soy-braised beef, and braised pork with dried bamboo shoots. It’s been so long since I’ve had them.” Shen Jiaojiao shamelessly started ordering dishes. This was what the Shen family owed the original body.
Shen’s mother’s expression changed, and she opened her mouth to curse, but Shen’s father stopped her. “Alright, I’ll go buy the ingredients now.”
“Thank you, Dad.”
Shen Jiaojiao smiled sweetly, took Xiao Yueyue’s hand, and left.
“Have you lost your mind? Why should we make so many good dishes for her?”
Shen’s mother was furious. What right did that wretched girl have to eat chicken, duck, and fish? Even her own son hadn’t had such treats.
“Why? Because that girl has forty-eight thousand yuan! For the next few days, you better coax her properly, serve her good food and drink. If you dare ruin my plans, don’t blame me for being harsh!”
Shen’s father glared coldly. Shen’s mother shrank back and muttered quietly, “That wretched girl isn’t that obedient.”
“She won’t have a choice!”
Shen’s father smiled sinisterly. He was confident he could control his daughter.
Moreover, he had noticed that Xiao Yueyue was his daughter’s weakness. As long as his daughter obediently handed over the money, he, as her grandfather, couldn’t bear to harm a child.
But if his daughter refused to cooperate, then she shouldn’t blame him for being ruthless and sending Xiao Yueyue off to some remote mountain village.
Shen Jiaojiao deposited all her money into a bank card—seventy-eight thousand yuan in total. Currently, housing prices in Shanghai were around two thousand yuan per square meter, with no purchase restrictions. She could buy a small apartment first so she and her daughter could settle down.
Then she could figure out ways to earn money. With her knowledge of the city’s development over the next eleven years, she was sure she could make a fortune.
“Mom, I don’t want to go to Grandpa’s house.”Xiao Yueyue had been feeling down all along. On the way to the hotel, she finally couldn’t hold back and said that her grandparents, uncle, and aunt didn’t like her, and her cousin even bullied her. She didn’t want to go.
If it were before, Xiao Yueyue wouldn’t have spoken up because it would have been useless anyway.
But now, Xiao Yueyue had grown a bit bolder and dared to express her true feelings.
Shen Jiaojiao crouched down, meeting Xiao Yueyue at eye level, and said gently, “Didn’t Mother teach you that if anyone bullies you, you should fight back? Are you afraid of them?”
“I’m not afraid at all! I’ll poke them with needles!”
Xiao Yueyue immediately straightened her back—she refused to be a coward.
“Then remember, no matter where you are or who bullies you, fight back fiercely. If you can’t win, just run!”
Shen Jiaojiao wasn’t sure if this approach to parenting was right—she wasn’t an education expert—but she knew she had to let Xiao Yueyue release the resentment in her heart. The Shen family was just another one of the many dark abysses.
That was why she was taking Yueyue back to stay for a few days—to settle some old debts.