Chapter 111: Who in the Yu Family Doesn’t Treat Xingxing as Their Treasure?

Chapter 111: Who in the Yu Family Doesn't Treat Xingxing as Their Treasure?

Su Chengzong and Lady Qian were dumbfounded. Realizing the situation, they began to protest in a flurry of words: "No, no, Sir, you misunderstood! We're relatives!"

Yu Sanbao immediately said, "Sir, we are all simple folk. Even if we are related, we cannot deliberately disturb others' business like this."

The constable nodded in agreement and shooed Su Chengzong and Lady Qian away, saying, "Hurry up and leave! If you don't, don't blame us for being impolite and taking you to the yamen!"

Su Chengzong and Lady Qian could only leave in silence, suppressing their anger.

Before leaving, they shot Yu Sanbao a resentful glare.

Yu Sanbao paid them no heed at all.

Once Su Chengzong and Lady Qian were gone, Yu Sanbao smiled broadly and gave each of the two constables a small trinket from his shop: "Thank you, Sirs, for your hard work. I owe it all to you both."

The two constables looked at what they had been given and beamed with joy.

Yu Sanbao had given them some small ornaments from his shop, which he had personally bought back from the prefectural city.

These trinkets were not expensive to purchase, but because such novel and unique items were rare in the county, Yu Sanbao sold them for twice the price. Despite this, these trinkets were very popular in the county.

If the constables took these home to their wives, they would surely earn a compliment!

The two constables tucked the trinkets into their robes, their smiles deepening. "It's nothing, nothing. This is part of our duty patrolling the streets. Mr. Yu, you're too kind!"

Both sides exchanged pleasantries, bowing and patting each other on the shoulder.

Su Chengzong and Lady Qian, hiding in a corner nearby, gritted their teeth in frustration.

"Such ungratefulness!" Lady Qian spat on the ground, cursing, "I'll go find your sister right now and tell her everything!"

Su Chengzong agreed wholeheartedly: "Exactly, then we'll make Yu Sanbao kneel and beg us!"

After making their plans, Lady Qian rushed straight to the city gate.

On his way home, Su Chengzong passed by a gambling den, where the sign "Daily Profits" caught his eye, stirring a strong urge within him.

Thinking about the large sum of silver he was about to get from Yu Sanbao... Su Chengzong told himself that he would only play one round, just one. Even if he lost, it wouldn't matter much since a large amount of silver was coming his way soon!

If he won, it would be an added bonus!

With this thought, Su Chengzong turned and entered the gambling den!

...

Upon Lady Qian's arrival at Nantu Village, it so happened that Xingxing was playing tengball with Yameier at the village entrance.

Lady Qian, influenced by her preconceived notions, found Xingxing increasingly similar to Yu Sanbao, convinced she was his illegitimate child.

She called out to Xingxing, scrutinizing her up and down with a tsking sound: "So alike... Hasn't anyone in your family said anything?"

Xingxing was confused by Lady Qian's words.

She had seen Lady Qian causing trouble at home before and was somewhat afraid.

Xingxing hugged the vine ball and took a few steps back, looking at Lady Qian warily, her voice soft: "...What?"

Lady Qian thought to herself, who would bother talking to a little bastard like you.

She huffed, asking somewhat arrogantly, "Is Third Aunt at home?"

Xingxing pursed her lips, remembering that Third Aunt had taken a basin of clothes to wash by the stream earlier. She answered firmly, "Third Aunt isn't at home!"

Lady Qian's already sharp face furrowed even more, making her look even more intimidating.

Yamei'er was scared; Lady Qian's harsh appearance reminded her of the previous stepmother, Lady Mao, making her feel uncomfortable.

Yamei'er whispered to Xingxing, "She looks so scary. Let's ignore her and play somewhere else, okay?"

Xingxing nodded, and the two girls ran off quickly.

Lady Qian glared at Xingxing's retreating back, cursing, "Little bastard, running so fast!"

She continued to mutter to herself as she walked forward.

By chance, Su Rouer was carrying a basin of washed clothes from the stream back home when they met on the road.

Upon seeing Lady Qian, Su Rouer's expression changed, and she turned to leave.

However, Lady Qian was delighted and hurriedly grabbed Su Rouer, "Good sister, why run when you see your sister-in-law?"

Su Rouer, still holding the basin of clothes, tried to pull her arm free from Lady Qian's grip several times without success. Her expression turned sour, "What do you want here?"

Lady Qian moved closer to Su Rouer, deliberately tsking as she sized her up and down, "Oh, sister, isn't the Yu family too much? There are three daughters-in-law in the house, yet you're the only one washing clothes?"

Su Rouer was no longer the same Su Rouer she used to be.

She smiled slightly, with a hint of sarcasm, "Back at the Su family, I always did the laundry, and you never said anything. Why can't I do it now at my in-laws' place?"

Lady Qian was momentarily speechless.

But she quickly put on a smile, "How can it be the same..."

Before Lady Qian could finish, Su Rouer coldly laughed, "It's different, they say a daughter is a guest in her own family, but I haven't felt that way."

Mrs. Qian’s face fell. "When you see me now, it's as if you're seeing an enemy. I got some news and rushed over to tell you!"

Su Rouer didn’t take it seriously, pulling her arm free from Mrs. Qian’s grip and quickly walking toward the Yu family with the basin.

Mrs. Qian looked annoyed, quickening her steps and raising her voice slightly. "Don’t you want to know about your husband?!"

Su Rouer hesitated for a moment, then Mrs. Qian caught up with her again.

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Mrs. Qian’s eyes, feeling she had Su Rouer right where she wanted her. "...Sister, let me tell you, only your blood relatives will stand by you... Since I married into your family, I am naturally the closest to you."

Su Rouer didn’t believe a word of it, a flash of mockery in her eyes. "Fine, what about my husband?"

Mrs. Qian leaned in close to Su Rouer, adopting a mysterious air. "...Didn’t your mother-in-law adopt a little girl? Your husband is extremely fond of that little girl, treating her like the apple of his eye?"

Su Rouer’s lips twitched.

She assumed Mrs. Qian was just trying to sow discord.

Xingxing was innocent and kind, a little blessing to their Yu family. Without Xingxing, they might still be eating wild vegetables every day.

Who in the Yu family didn’t treat Xingxing like the apple of their eye?

Su Rouer grew impatient. "If that’s all you have to say, then hurry up..."

Mrs. Qian quickly interjected, "That little girl is your husband’s illegitimate child from another woman!"

What?!

Su Rouer almost doubted her own ears!

Her second reaction was to find the whole thing so absurd that it was almost laughable!

But Mrs. Qian’s confident demeanor made Su Rouer unsure.

...Xingxing, her husband’s child with another woman?

The idea was so outrageous that Su Rouer didn’t know what to say.