After Boss Xiong left, San Chi Niang called her daughter to her side:
“Xin Xin, what did she say to you just now?”
The female child named Xin Xin stammered, thinking her mother wanted the extra money back.
“Mother, no, nothing.”
San Chi Niang tugged at the child’s pigtail and said:
“Goodness! You won’t even tell your old mother the truth now?”
Xin Xin aggrievedly covered her pigtails, her eyes filling with tears as she looked at San Chi Niang.
To her surprise, San Chi Niang was not moved by this act at all and directly stated:
“Fine! Your wings have grown hard, haven’t they? No dinner for you tonight.”
Seeing her mother turn to leave, Xin Xin quickly stepped forward and clung to San Chi Niang’s leg like a pendant.
“Let go!” San Chi Niang said expressionlessly.
Xin Xin’s eyes brimming with tears, said:
“I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you, *wuwuwu*~”
“Silence! Stand properly!”
San Chi Niang berated with a frown. Seeing the child standing obediently under her gaze, she continued to lecture:
“We have such fine daughters, why must you learn from young boys, acting coy and putting on a show? If you continue like this, don’t you dare say you are San Chi Niang’s daughter when you go out!”
Xin Xin quickly held back her tears and whispered:
“Yes…”
“Louder!”
“Yes! Mother!!”
Only then did San Chi Niang show a look of satisfaction. She looked at her daughter and said:
“Now, tell me, what did she want with you?”
Xin Xin recounted everything truthfully.
After listening, San Chi Niang became angry:
“Hmph! I knew that woman had ill intentions, unable to stand seeing anything good happen to our bookshop, she immediately set her sights on me!”
Fortunately, when Nian Niangzi came, there was no one else present except for herself and a few customers who hadn’t paid much attention to Nian Niangzi. No matter how much Boss Xiong schemed, it would be in vain.
Thinking this, San Chi Niang felt relieved.
Xin Xin cautiously watched her mother. Seeing her mother’s unpredictable expression, she was frightened and quickly took out her ill-gotten gains from her embrace.
“Mother, this is the money that that auntie gave me.”
San Chi Niang glanced at it nonchalantly:
“If she gave it to you, take it. Go, go, quickly help me entertain customers, it’s so busy today.”
Upon hearing that her mother wasn’t coveting her extra earnings, Xin Xin’s face lit up with joy. After putting the money back into her embrace, she immediately scampered off to the stall to continue greeting customers.
…
Bai Family.
Bai Qingqing sat before the dressing table, holding a book and repeatedly studying it:
“Not together in life, but together in death, traveling companion on the road to the Yellow Springs.
Together we transform into butterflies, dancing gracefully, love everlasting.”
His gaze was distant. Then, he took out a white handkerchief embroidered with hibiscus from his embrace and wiped away tears from the corners of his eyes.
“I never imagined that our Shanshui Town would have such a talented novelist. I wonder which scholar or lady scholar wrote it?”
He then thought of Nian Da Bao’s public “confession” that day and showed disdain on his face.
Hmph, what a deluded wish.
He, Bai Qingqing, could only be worthy of a talented woman who could write such a masterpiece!
Bai Qingqing, in a daze, stroked the “Qinglian Jushi” on the cover and gently brought his face close to the book.
As soon as Bai Yingjun entered, she saw Bai Qingqing’s infatuated demeanor and couldn’t help but mock him:
“Hahahaha, Bai Qingqing, what are you being so horny for in broad daylight!”
Seeing that he had been caught, Bai Qingqing flushed with embarrassment and retorted:
“Bai Yingjun, why did you come in without knocking!”
Bai Yingjun walked in directly and plopped down on Bai Qingqing’s bed:
“I’m your elder sister! Where are all these rules coming from?”
Seeing the other person sitting on his bed in such sloppy clothes, Bai Qingqing’s small face turned green with anger. He pointed at her nose and said:
“You, you, you, get out!”
Bai Yingjun pouted, then slowly stood up and walked to Bai Qingqing, extending her right hand:
“Give me some money and I’ll leave.”
Bai Qingqing looked at her in disbelief:
“Didn’t I give you money just a while ago?”
Bai Yingjun scoffed:
“Heh, that little bit of money is long gone. Besides, I’m about to get married, how can I be so stingy!”
Seeing Bai Yingjun ask her younger brother for money so brazenly, Bai Qingqing felt like vomiting blood. His face turned ugly:
“I have no money, I gave it all to you.”
Upon hearing there was no money, Bai Yingjun’s face turned somewhat ferocious:
“No money? If you have no money, why did you buy novels!? That book must have cost dozens of coins, right?”
Bai Qingqing dared not say that this book cost one tael and twenty coins, only stating:
“I bought novels with money I earned myself. If you have the ability, go earn it yourself!?”
These words, implying he relied on selling his looks for money, instantly angered Bai Yingjun. She quickly snatched the novel from Bai Qingqing’s hand.
“Heh, you earned your money by selling your looks, and you have the nerve to flaunt it in front of me? Ptooey! … This book is new, it should still be worth some money. I’ll sell it!”
Bai Yingjun’s words stimulated Bai Qingqing’s nerves. Coupled with his beloved book being snatched, the tightly strung chord in his mind snapped.
He let out a scream and lunged at Bai Yingjun with flailing limbs.
“Ah!! I’ll fight you to the death!!!”
The commotion in the room attracted the Bai family members in the courtyard.
Seeing them fighting fiercely, Mother Bai’s face darkened, and she was about to scold them. Father Bai quickly called his other children:
“Quick, quick, quick! Go separate them!”
Several people hurriedly pulled apart the two who were fighting.
Seeing that the situation was under control, Mother Bai said coldly:
“Both of you, come to the main hall!”
…
Bai Yingjun clutched her cheek, scratched by Bai Qingqing’s nails, in pain. Father Bai stood by, comforting her with a heartache.
Bai Qingqing knelt on the ground, his expression indifferent.
Mother Bai rubbed her forehead:
“Speak! What were you fighting about? Don’t you know that family members should live in harmony?”
Bai Yingjun, the villain crying first, accused:
“Mother, Bai Qingqing went too far. I just went in to chat with him, who knew he’d despise my dirty clothes, sit on his bed, and hit me without saying a word.”
As she spoke, she touched her scratched cheek and gasped:
“Hiss~ We’re family, is there any need for this?”
Father Bai also chimed in:
“That’s right, this child is about to get married. What will happen if his face is scratched? Wife, Bai Qingqing should be punished!”
Mother Bai frowned and looked at Bai Qingqing:
“What do you say?”
Bai Qingqing remained silent, only clutching the now tattered novel he had snatched back.
…
The three came out. Bai Yingjun, like a victorious hen, puffed out her chest and said to Bai Qingqing with her head held high:
“Hmph, I am your sister, and a generous person doesn’t bother with a petty one. I won’t argue with you further. You will listen to mother these past few days and reflect in your room!”
Father Nian also said:
“Qingqing, you have disappointed your father too much. These past few days, stay in your room and think carefully about how you will treat your sister in the future!”
Bai Qingqing always acted like an outsider. He didn’t argue with them further and turned to walk back into his room.
“Father! Look at him!” Bai Yingjun was displeased with Bai Qingqing’s attitude.
Father Bai could only comfort her:
“I’ll talk to him later! Come, I’ll take you to get medicine. It would be bad if there’s a scar!”