“It’s almost New Year. Your grandmother keeps talking about wanting to see you, so I plan to take you to visit her. Change into something nicer. I’ll take Yan Ci there myself.”
Song Hanmei had already made up her mind to stop the marriage between Ying Sisi and Qin Yanci. Before Qin Yanci could even speak, she put on a fake smile and arranged everything for Ying Sisi.
As soon as she stepped out, she said to Qin Yanci:
“Sisi is the daughter my husband had with a local woman when he was sent down to the countryside. She never went to school, doesn’t understand anything—she can’t even tell one from ten, and she knows nothing about city manners.
Unlike Yuwei. She graduated from high school and has a proper job. Originally, it was Yuwei who was engaged to you. But Yuwei insisted that since Sisi suffered in the countryside as her elder sister, she should give the good match to her sister. So, what do you think about this?”
Qin Yanci sneered directly:
“Is your daughter so undesirable that you have to push her around like this? Since that’s the case, then let Ying Sisi be the main wife, and your mean stepmother’s daughter be the concubine.”
Song Hanmei’s smile slowly disappeared, and overwhelming anger surged up.
“You—” she almost blurted out “ungrateful,” but was interrupted.
A voice came from the side.
“Auntie Yuwei’s mom, who is this young man?” A neighbor looked at Qin Yanci in amazement.
“Hello, auntie. I’m Sisi’s fiancé, Qin Yanci. I have something to do, so I’ll leave first. Please excuse me.”
He walked away immediately.
The neighbor clicked her tongue:
“No wonder people say you’re generous. Such a handsome and polite fiancé, and you give him away to an outsider instead of your own daughter? You’re truly a living Bodhisattva.”
Song Hanmei clutched her chest, almost unable to breathe from anger.
When she got home, she vented all her anger on Ying Sisi:
“I told you to wash clothes—so you only washed the top and not the pants? The dishes used in the kitchen are just left soaking in the basin for who to clean? You can’t even handle small things properly, yet you’re better than anyone at seducing men. You only met him once and already sat so close to him—what, are you trying to act like a beetle pretending to be a decorative nail on a door? Don’t you know your place?”
In her eyes, Ying Sisi was just the daughter of a “cheap woman.” Allowing her into the family was already a great mercy.
What right did she have to steal her daughter’s fiancé?
She would never allow the fox-spirit’s daughter to marry better than her own daughter.
A sharp glint flashed in her eyes as she ordered coldly:
“Take the gifts and come with me to your grandmother’s house to deliver New Year presents!”
Ying Sisi’s eyes turned red with grievance.
Since coming to this household, she hadn’t had a single peaceful moment. Yet this woman still wasn’t satisfied.
She really wanted to resist—but thinking of how she was dependent on others, she could only swallow her tears and respond softly:
“…Mm.”
Song Hanmei glanced at her with disgust.
Weak, timid, and petty.
She really couldn’t understand what Qin Yanci saw in her.
If he dared make her daughter a concubine, she would make sure he got cheated on before marriage—and then see if he still wanted Ying Sisi.
Ying Sisi followed Song Hanmei to the Song family home.
From afar, they could already hear Li Yuwei’s coquettish voice:
“Grandma, I want to spend the New Year with you this year~”
“You’re already so big and still acting spoiled.”
As soon as Ying Sisi entered, she saw Li Yuwei holding the old lady’s arm and shaking it, a hint of envy rising in her heart.
“Yuwei, why are you here?” Song Hanmei asked in surprise.
“What do you mean by that? Can’t Yuwei come here?” Old Madam Song’s face darkened.
Song Hanmei hurriedly explained, “I was just afraid she’d chatter too much and disturb your rest.”
The old lady sneered and looked Ying Sisi up and down:
“So this is that Sisi girl?”
Ying Sisi disliked the way she was being looked at—like she was an object waiting to be priced and sold.
“Yes, this is Sisi. Call her Grandma,” Song Hanmei said.