Chapter 537: Chapter 537 Keep a Promise Chapter 537: Chapter 537 Keep a Promise Xuexue repeated the conversation she had with Madam Xie to Mo Xiaoqiang, and at the end, added, “Back when I was with the Mo family, I hardly ever left the house, and when I finished my chores and had nothing to do, I’d pick up Hengjian’s books to read. Gradually, I figured them out.”
“Really?”
Mo Xiaoqiang looked at her skeptically. He certainly wasn’t as easy to fool as Madam Xie, “You understand the characters without a Teacher teaching you?”
Xuexue’s heart skipped a beat, and she hastily replied, “Of course not. Usually, when I saw Hengjian reading, I’d just memorize it in my heart, and over time I became familiar with them.”
“Oh, so that’s how it is!” Mo Xiaoqiang nodded, thinking to himself that it made sense. Xuexue loved to clean Hengjian’s study when he was reading, and because of that, Old Lady Mo scolded her countless times for disturbing him during his studies.
“My daughter is so clever. If only she were a boy,” Mo Xiaoqiang said with some regret. His greatest wish in life had always been to have a son, but it remained unfulfilled, which was the deepest pain in his heart.
Xuexue secretly breathed a sigh of relief, having successfully fooled Mo Xiaoqiang.
“Dad, talking about this in front of me is one thing, but you shouldn’t say it in front of mother if you want to reconcile with her,” Xuexue knew that Madam Xie, who had been scolded by Old Lady Mo for years as a hen that couldn’t lay eggs, was very sensitive about this issue. She didn’t want Madam Xie to be upset, so she reminded Mo Xiaoqiang.
Mo Xiaoqiang was moved. It wasn’t just Madam Xie; he felt the same way. Not having a son was a lifelong regret for the both of them.
Indeed, over the years, they had constantly been subjected to scorn for not continuing the family line. Even if they initially didn’t care, being talked about enough times by others would make anyone care, as it’s only human nature.
Mo Xiaoqiang, “Dad knows. I’m just venting a little.”
Xuexue, “Dad, do you have time tomorrow?”
“Yes, what’s up?”
“I have to go to town tomorrow for some errands. Could you help me pick some watermelons and then wait for Shopkeeper Fan to come and load them up?”
Mo Xiaoqiang looked at Xuexue with a face full of surprise, “Daughter, you still trust your dad?”
Xuexue was planning to visit the town’s shop tomorrow to prepare for opening the flower store in a few days. Since it was her own business, having Nanny Sun, a procuress from the Brothel, always going in and out of the flower store wasn’t ideal. The flower store’s clientele was wealthy people; after all, those who were poor could barely afford food, let alone have the luxury to spend on flowers. Therefore, Xuexue worried that some rich ladies and young misses might be put off from visiting the store if they saw Nanny Sun there.
Of course, Xuexue didn’t mean any disrespect to Nanny Sun.
However, the reputation of a procuress wasn’t good, and the wealthy were particularly concerned about their reputation. In this respect, it was better to be cautious. She didn’t want her flower store to attract flies as soon as it opened.
“That’ll depend on how you perform,” Xuexue said with a semi-smile, her face full of meaning.
“Don’t worry, daughter, your dad will take care of it properly,” the way Mo Xiaoqiang addressed Xuexue grew more affectionate.
The next day
At the crack of dawn, Xuexue rode a bullock cart to town, ready to take care of everything needed to open the flower store.
Mo Xiaoqiang kept his promise and went to the Xie Residence early in the morning. After greeting them, he proceeded to the watermelon field to help pick watermelons.
The villagers saw this and began to gossip.
“Wow, could it be that Mo Xiaoqiang and Madam Xie made up? Otherwise, why would he rush to help pick watermelons in the fields so early in the morning?”
“Xuexue is notorious for being difficult, and Mo Xiaoqiang dares to help? Isn’t he afraid for his life?”
Someone laughed upon hearing this, “You people must be silly! Mo Xiaoqiang is Xuexue’s biological father. We villagers might be afraid of her, but he surely isn’t.”
Everyone suddenly realized, “Right, right, they’ve been separated for so long that we forgot they are father and daughter.”