Volume 1 Chapter 7: A Foul Mouth Deserves a Slap
As Shen He descended the stairs, she encountered a young boy dressed in a British-style suit in the second-floor hallway. He appeared to be around twelve or thirteen years old.
The boy bore a striking resemblance to Shen He in his eyes and brows.
But as soon as he saw Shen He, he opened his mouth with gleeful sarcasm: "Shen He, did you just get beaten upstairs?"
This kid was Shen He's biological younger brother, named Shen Yaozu. From the name alone, it wasn't hard to see the great hopes Ms. Zhou and Shen Guanghui had placed in him.
Shen He couldn't be bothered with him and tried to pass by to go downstairs.
Suddenly, Shen Yaozu spread his arms wide, blocking Shen He's path.
With a dissatisfied expression, he questioned Shen He: "Did you go ask Dad for money today? Let me tell you, Mom and Dad have already made a will—all their assets will be mine in the future!"
Hearing this, Shen He remained unmoved.
Seeing Shen He's indifference, the little boy shook his left hand.
Only then did Shen He notice the new watch on his wrist—an Audemars Piguet, retailing for over three hundred thousand yuan on the market.
That price was enough for someone from the countryside to buy a small apartment in the county town.
Shen Yaozu wore an exaggerated look of pride on his face. "See this? This was my birthday gift from Mom and Dad."
He mocked Shen He: "Shen He, you wag your tail like a lapdog begging Dad for money, and he still won't give it to you. But I don't even have to say a word—Dad gives me all the best things."
"Tell me, why did you even come back to the Shen family? Aren't you just asking for humiliation?"
Shen He called him by his full name: "Shen Yaozu."
Shen Yaozu lifted his chin like a haughty prince and snorted, "What?"
"How old are you this year?" Shen He asked him.
Without hesitation, Shen Yaozu replied, "Thirteen!"
Looking at the arrogant and domineering boy before her, Shen He's tone was inscrutable: "You're neither a cute two- or three-year-old, nor a mischievous five- or six-year-old. Hasn't anyone kindly told you that a foul mouth deserves to be slapped?"
"What?" Shen Yaozu had just begun to sense something was wrong when he saw Shen He tuck the clutch bag she was holding in her right hand under her left arm.
Freed up, Shen He raised her right hand and slapped Shen Yaozu squarely across the face.
Slap! Slap! Two strikes left Shen Yaozu bruised and swollen on the spot, dizzy and seeing stars.
After the slapping, Shen He grabbed Shen Yaozu's tie and dragged him into the second-floor public restroom.
She pumped a dollop of hand soap and roughly smeared it over Shen Yaozu's mouth, scrubbing vigorously.
Shen Yaozu tried to resist.
But Shen He was surprisingly strong, and the young boy couldn't find an opportunity to fight back.
Aiming the pull-out faucet at Shen Yaozu's face, she blasted him with water as her voice rang out: "If your mouth isn't clean, then wash it clean."
"If it doesn't get clean, I'll cut off the dirty, stinking bacteria with a knife!"
After doing all this, Shen He finally turned off the faucet and stared expressionlessly at Shen Yaozu, warning him: "If you dare disrespect me again, I'll have Mu Tingyun hire a minor to finish you off."
"You know, there are many young criminals on the run in this world—they're all villains who'll obey orders for money."
"For Mu Tingyun, finishing you off would be as easy as crushing an ant!"
Using Mu Tingyun as a shield came naturally to Shen He.
Hearing this, Shen Yaozu's face changed color.
He knew perfectly well how easy it would be for Mu Tingyun to destroy him, and he also knew that Shen He was telling the truth.
He was a minor, protected by the law, but Shen He could hire other minors—street thugs—to ruin him!
Shen Yaozu trembled so violently that even his calves shook.
Shen He glanced at his trembling legs, scoffed, and then calmly left the bathroom.
Among the Shen brothers, Shen Yaozu was the only coward.
In the previous life, after Shen Jinyan and the others mysteriously died one after another, Zhou Yulan sensed danger, packed up the Shen family assets overnight, and fled with Shen Yaozu.
The mother and son ran far away, leaving the Shen family as a shattered mess.
The Shen matriarch was deeply shocked, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage from anger, and died instantly. Shen’s second uncle and third uncle, after losing their children, had to endure grief while working to repay debts.
Shen Guanghui, that opportunist, surprisingly stayed with the Shen family and did not flee with them.
So in this life, Shen He not only intended to strip Zhou Yulan of everything she possessed but also to teach Shen Yaozu how to be a decent person.
If he refused to be human, then she would make him a stray dog!
Lost in thought, Shen He arrived at the first floor.
From a room in the east corridor came the old lady’s voice: “Is Shen He outside?”
Shen He hesitated for a moment before turning and walking toward the old lady’s room.
Upon entering, Shen He smelled the scent of sandalwood.
She looked toward the window and saw an elderly woman wearing a russet-red Tang suit sitting by a desk, preparing incense.
Her silver-white hair was coiled into a low bun, and her serene focus on the incense preparation brought a sense of calm.
White hair adorned with flowers, do not mock—time never defeats beauty.
Setting aside past grievances, Shen He still admired Madam Zhong.
Shen He stood silently watching until Madam Zhong successfully unmolded the incense, revealing a complex script character for “longevity” on the smooth pine ash.
Shen He walked to the storage shelf, took a stick incense, lit it with a lighter, bent down, and used the incense to ignite the ash.
Seeing her light the ash, Madam Zhong finally spoke: “I heard the Mu family child came with you today?”
Shen He: “Yes.”
“Shen He, have you considered this? The Mu family is vast and powerful, and Qingshi has many outstanding women. Why did he choose you?”
Such words seemed to have been spoken by Madam Zhong in the previous life as well.
But Shen He, blinded by love, not only ignored them but believed Madam Zhong was jealous of her marrying into wealth and deliberately belittling her.
Now, with a changed mindset, hearing similar words from the elder again, Shen He understood the old lady’s sincere concern.
Shen He humbly asked Madam Zhong: “Madam, from your perspective, what do I possess that Mu Tingyun might seek?”
Madam Zhong pondered for a moment before saying: “I am not familiar with the Mu family, nor do I know their specific circumstances, so naturally I cannot discern what the Mu boy is plotting from you.”
“But Shen He, fortune does not fall from the sky. Dating is fine, but when it comes to marriage, you must be cautious.”
After speaking, Madam Zhong noticed Shen He not only showed no annoyance but appeared thoughtful, which struck her as odd.
This girl was acting unusually today.
“You seem much more mature since returning this time.” She was even willing to patiently listen to reason.
Shen He had always resisted spending time with her before; often, as soon as Madam Zhong began speaking, Shen He would find excuses to slip away.
Upon hearing this, a flicker of sorrow passed through Shen He's eyes.
Because of her foolish infatuation, the Shen family had been torn apart. If she didn't mature soon, she would truly be as foolish as a pig.
"Madam, it's time for Shen He to grow up. I will keep your words in mind today."
After speaking, Shen He opened her clutch bag, took out a narrow wooden box, and handed it to Madam Zhong. "Madam, happy birthday."
Madam Zhong opened the box and saw a silver hairpin inside. Her eyes lit up, and she smiled with relief, telling Shen He, "Thank you, I really like the gift."
After presenting the gift, Shen He left first.
The Shen family villa had limited space, so there was no room to host a banquet. The celebration was instead held at a nearby five-star hotel.
When they set off for the hotel, Shen He noticed that Madam Zhong had changed into a green Xiangyunsha cheongsam and was wearing the hairpin she had given her.