Chapter 282: Something’s Not Right

Chapter 282: Something's Not Right

Since she had just woken up from her nap, Xingxing's hair, which had grown thick and silky like satin over the years, was loosely tied into a bun, with the rest falling over her shoulders, resembling a layer of black satin.

Seeing Xingxing angry, Bang Geer didn't dare to cause any more trouble and obediently climbed down from the grapevine. His practiced movements clearly showed he had climbed the grapevine many times before.

Xingxing's eyebrows twitched in annoyance at the sight.

Last year, Bang Geer had fallen from the grapevine once and broken his leg. Fortunately, Xingxing had been studying medicine with Daxisipo for several years and was capable of treating a fracture without any problem.

Everyone thought Bang Geer would have learned his lesson and stayed away from the grapevine.

Who would have thought that this year, he would be even more reckless!

"Don't be angry, sister," Bang Geer pleaded, raising his little face towards Xingxing and offering the grapes he had tucked into his waistband. "Here, for you to eat, sister."

Xingxing tapped Bang Geer's head, not softening her stance. "You!... Have you forgotten how much you cried last year?"

Bang Geer puffed out his little chest. "Last year, my climbing skills weren't up to par. This year, I've been practicing hard to improve my climbing skills, so surely..."

His voice trailed off under his sister's wide, glaring eyes, growing quieter and more guilty.

Xingxing grabbed Bang Geer by the ear and pulled him into the shade under the eaves.

"No ice bowl for you today," Xingxing declared mercilessly.

Bang Geer let out a wail. "What? Sister! My beautiful, heavenly sister! How can you be so cruel to me?"

Xingxing smiled, revealing two shallow dimples. "If you don't like it, go complain to Grandpa and Grandma."

Bang Geer fell silent.

In the entire family, Xingxing was the only girl, treated like a precious jewel, adored and pampered by everyone. Even if she stopped his ice bowl or kicked him out of the house, his own parents would probably applaud.

Bang Geer was well aware of this.

Pouting, he stood in the shade with a dejected expression, hands behind his back, serving his punishment.

"Sister, sister, sister!"

A series of childish calls came from the entrance of the main courtyard. It was the youngest, Xu Geer, only two years old, still unsteady on his feet. With red eyes, he stumbled towards the courtyard, calling out for his sister.

Xu Geer's nanny followed closely behind, bending over to protect him, a slight sweat on her forehead. Seeing Xingxing in the courtyard, she smiled in relief. "Thank goodness the young mistress is here... Xu Geer had a nightmare and kept crying, insisting on finding his sister."

Xingxing stepped forward and skillfully picked up Xu Geer, praising him. "Oh, our Xu Geer has grown taller! You must have been eating well lately, right? So good!"

Xu Geer's little face flushed with excitement, and he puffed out his chest proudly, a sight that made Xingxing want to laugh.

Just moments ago, Bang Geer had been boasting about his climbing skills in the same manner.

The two brothers were exactly alike, cut from the same cloth.

Seeing Xingxing, Xu Geer stopped crying. After holding him for a while, Xingxing handed him back to the nanny.

The little boy was quite heavy, and Xingxing, after all, was just a young girl and couldn't hold him for too long.

Xu Geer was also well-behaved, not wanting to tire his sister out, and obediently rested his head on the nanny's shoulder.

The nanny gave Xingxing a grateful look.

The commotion got Wei Pozi and Yu Laotou out of bed.

Since Xu Geer usually eats after his nap, the wet nurse had the kitchen prepare snacks for him and brought them to the main courtyard.

Xingxing took Bang Geer, who was being punished, to wash his hands. Although Xingxing had punished Bang Geer by not allowing him to have the ice cream bowl, she still had the maid cut two pieces of watermelon that had been chilled in the well for him.

Xingxing leisurely ate her milk ice cream bowl, while Bang Geer buried his head and noisily chomped on the watermelon.

Seeing one sibling with an ice cream bowl and the other with just watermelon, Wei Pozi got the picture and asked with a smile, "Bang Geer, what trouble have you caused this time?"

Bang Geer wiped the watermelon juice off his mouth and said smoothly, "Grandma, don't ask. If sister punishes me, you'll just feel bad for her; if she spanks me, you'll just worry about her hand. You might even spank me more to make her feel better."

Wei Pozi and Yu Laotou were both amused and burst out laughing.

Even Xingxing shot Bang Geer a helpless look.

The family was enjoying a peaceful moment when Shuangxi came in from outside: "Old Madam, Old Master, young masters, there are people outside who say they're relatives of Zhao Youcai and have something to ask our family's head."

The name Zhao Youcai was a distant memory for the Yujia family.

Five years ago, Zhao Youcai passed away, leaving Zhao Meng and his mother Pan Shi on their own. Later, the Yujia family sent Ah Wu and Ju Geer to study together at the county school, and Pan Shi stayed in a small courtyard in the county town, working and taking care of the kids to cover Ah Wu's tuition.

But in the last couple of days, two families showed up at their door, claiming to be Zhao Youcai's cousins.

Since they lived far away, they'd only just heard about Zhao Youcai's death and came to pay their respects.

When Pan Shi first married, she had met these two cousins, and they were indeed genuine members of the Zhao family.

Pan Shi even took special leave from the Yujia family to clean out two rooms in their old place in Nantuo Village for these two families to stay.

Wei Pozi was aware of this.

But Wei Pozi had no idea what these two families could possibly want to ask them.

Yu Laotou said, "Maybe they know we've been looking after Ah Wu and his mom these past few years and have come to say thanks?"

Wei Pozi said, "Who knows. Let Shuangxi bring them in."

Since Wei Pozi and Yu Laotou were going to receive guests, the wet nurse took Xu Geer back, and Bang Geer slid off his stool and was about to bolt.

Xingxing grabbed Bang Geer by the collar: "If I catch you climbing the grape trellis again, you know what's coming, right?"

Her tone rising slightly at the end, Bang Geer quickly agreed.

Only then did Xingxing let go, and Bang Geer took off so fast he was gone in a flash.

Wei Pozi couldn't help but laugh and scold, "This little rascal!"

Normally, Xingxing should have left too, but she felt that the Zhao family's relatives' visit was a bit off.

If they had come to express gratitude, they should have come a couple of days ago.

Xingxing decided not to avoid them and, holding her unfinished ice cream bowl, said with a smile to Wei Pozi and Yu Laotou, "Grandma, Grandpa, I'll go behind the screen to finish my ice cream bowl."

Wei Pozi and Yu Laotou indulged her and naturally let her go.

The two relatives of Zhao Youcai were led in by Shuangxi.

They didn't come alone; each brought their wives and children.

The Yujia family's wealth was way beyond what they had imagined. When they walked in, their eyes kept darting around, letting out the occasional gasp of amazement.

Xingxing was sitting behind the screen, eating from her bowl of shaved ice while listening to the chatter up front.

"Wow, your place is really something! These shelves, ceramics, and decorations—must've set you back a bit, huh?"

"It's alright," Wei Pozi offered a polite smile, telling Shuangxi to prepare some tea, and then jumped right into it. "You said you had a question—what is it?"

Then, Zhao Youde, Youcai's older brother, lounged in the chair, but his words hit like a bombshell. "I just found out the other day after asking around—there's something fishy about Youcai's death."