Shen Congjun looked up, agreeing with Shen Qi’s words.
“Shen Jinan, let me catch you disrespecting your sister again and see what happens?”
Shen Congjun believed in keeping family shame private. When Shen Qi had threatened to jump off a building a few days ago, he had already been thoroughly embarrassed.
If Old Mrs. He hadn’t been protecting Shen Qi, he would have beaten her to death.
Having one Shen Qi was enough for him. If Shen Jinan dared to embarrass him like that too, he would definitely beat Shen Jinan to death.
Shen Jinan’s protest of “why” stuck in his throat, not daring to speak it aloud.
If he angered his father, his father truly dared to strike lethally.
Watching Shen Qi’s smug smile, Xu Ailian found she couldn’t eat another bite.
Not being a particularly scheming person, she decided to ask directly.
“You said you’re apprenticing outside—what exactly are you learning? Shen Qi, don’t tell me you’re using tuition fees as an excuse to scam money from the family?”
“Mom, you suspect me?” Shen Qi sounded wronged. “And you put it so harshly. In your heart, am I really that kind of person?”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“Haircutting. I’m learning haircutting.”
“I don’t agree.” Xu Ailian replied without hesitation. “That kind of low-class profession is unlucky!”
Shen Qi shot to her feet, expression grave and serious: “Mom, I must seriously criticize you now. You’re a teacher—how can your ideological awareness be so low?!”
“How is being a barber a low-class profession? All professions are equal! Any occupation that serves the people is a good one!”
“You must never say such things in front of outsiders. If someone with ill intentions hears, it could create negative consequences for Dad.”
“As Dad’s supportive wife, I hope you won’t make such elementary mistakes again, okay?”
“You!” Xu Ailian stared in astonishment. Was she being lectured by Shen Qi?
Shen Congjun swallowed his last noodle and delivered the final verdict.
“Study hard.”
This amounted to taking Shen Qi’s side.
Xu Ailian was so angry she nearly rolled her eyes, but in their household, Shen Congjun was supreme. No one could overturn his decisions.
The thought that she would soon have a daughter engaged in such a low-class profession made Xu Ailian wish she could stuff Shen Qi back into her womb.
What barber—just a haircutter!
In the old society, such people couldn’t even show their faces in decent company!
But Shen Congjun didn’t understand these things. He’d only learned to read in literacy classes, coming from a poor family background that never considered such distinctions.
Xu Ailian felt throbbing pains in her temples.
Shen Qi had eaten her fill too. Setting down her chopsticks, she announced she was tired and needed to lie down in her room.
Since she’d cooked, she certainly wasn’t going to wash dishes.
In the south-facing bedroom on the second floor, Shen Baozhu lay face down on the bed, her pillowcase soaked through with tears.
She had been truly terrified today.
After getting lost in the alleyways, the more urgently she tried to find her way out, the more she failed to locate the correct route.
She accidentally stumbled into someone’s courtyard just as a man was openly relieving himself.
Shen Baozhu screamed. The man flew into a rage, grabbing her and cursing.
“Where did you crazy bitch come from, peeping at a man taking a leak?”
“Get out, get out! Ruining my good mood first thing in the morning.”
Hearing the commotion, someone came out from inside the house.
“Second Son, wait—let me have a look.”
The man dragged Shen Baozhu over, his filthy, stinking hand gripping her face.
“Well now, quite a pretty thing!”
His eyes flashed with wicked light, his hands beginning to wander improperly.
Shen Baozhu was terrified into tears, screaming and pushing him away.
“Let go! My father is an Army Commander! If you dare touch me, he’ll kill you!”
The man called Erzi intervened.
“Don’t cause trouble!”
The man reluctantly released her, but still gave Shen Baozhu’s buttock a vicious pinch before letting go.
“Consider yourself lucky. Get lost now, or I might change my mind!”
Shen Baozhu scrambled away in panic. This time, fortune favored her as she accidentally found her way out of the maze-like alleyways.
Not daring to linger outside, she hailed a rickshaw back to the Compound.
She locked herself in her room and cried the entire day.
So terrifying!
Absolutely horrifying!
She had nearly…
She couldn’t bear to imagine what would have happened if she hadn’t mentioned her father being an Army Commander. Would those two men have truly violated her?
It’s all Shen Qi’s fault!
Biting down on her pillowcase, Shen Baozhu thought with bitter resentment.
It’s all her fault.
If Shen Qi hadn’t saved Grandpa Fang, she wouldn’t have come to the Compound, and the baby-swapping incident would never have been discovered.
She could have remained the Shen Family’s only daughter, naturally dating Fang Yi, getting engaged and married when the time came, living a blissful life forever.
But Shen Qi appeared.
She made Shen Baozhu’s existence in the Shen Family awkward, she stole Fang Yi away, and now she nearly cost Shen Baozhu her virtue.
But why should this happen?!
Back then, she was just an infant too—it wasn’t her fault they were swapped. Why should she have to surrender everything she possessed to someone else?
If only Shen Qi didn’t exist.
Without Shen Qi, everything would return to normal…
Shen Baozhu’s gaze gradually turned sinister, finally transforming into a bottomless vortex.
…
Meanwhile, Shen Qi, who unfortunately hadn’t witnessed Shen Baozhu’s miserable state, slept soundly.
She thought to herself that the current Shen Baozhu was still too naive.
Merely getting lost made her act as if she’d been violated.
Facing such a fragile opponent made Shen Qi feel like using a cannon to kill a mosquito.
For now, the entire Shen Family was dancing in the palm of her hand.
Even the most authoritative, stern, and tyrannical Shen Congjun obediently followed the script she had envisioned.
Excellent.
She was very satisfied.
Before going out, Shen Qi deliberately glanced toward the second floor.
Would Shen Baozhu follow her again today?
She was quite looking forward to Shen Baozhu continuing her stalking.
That way, she could toy with her once more.
While riding in the vehicle, Shen Qi carefully checked behind her. Confirming there were no suspicious individuals, she felt somewhat disappointed.
As usual, she bought breakfast and greeted Chen Li, who was opening the door at Lili Hair Salon.
“Good morning, Sister Li.”
Today, Chen Li was wearing a mask that covered most of her face, revealing only her eyes.
Chen Li unlocked the door and entered, with Shen Qi following closely behind.
“Sister Li, here’s today’s breakfast. You eat first. I’ll start the stove before having mine.”
“I have no appetite.”
Chen Li’s voice was low and somewhat hoarse.
Shen Qi looked up at her: “Caught a cold?”
Chen Li gave an indistinct affirmative grunt.
After sitting for a while, Chen Li went outside to smoke.
When Shen Qi went out to dispose of the coal ashes, she happened to catch a glimpse of Chen Li hurriedly pulling down her mask, covering a bruised area.
“Sister Li?”
Chen Li ignored Shen Qi and went back into the shop, pretending to be busy.
Shen Qi followed her inside. “Sister Li, were you beaten? Who hit you?”
Chen Li changed the subject: “You should read these newspapers and magazines more often to develop your aesthetic sense.”
“Was it your husband?”
“Just start mopping the floor. Customers will be here soon.”
“Sister Li, let’s report this to the police. Domestic violence is wrong.”
Something in these words seemed to trigger Chen Li, who suddenly glared fiercely at Shen Qi.
“Call the police? Do you think the police would handle such matters?”
“They would classify this as a domestic dispute. As long as Wang Yong apologizes, nothing will come of it.”
“After going back, I’ll be beaten again, until I can’t even stand up!”