“Fine.” Li Jingran looked away. “We shouldn’t rush this and we need to talk about it at length.”
“Don’t blame Xixi. She used to be such a good girl when she was at home. Let her do whatever she wants and she’ll warm up to us. She’s just been hurt too much and with the Shen couple meddling in between, they are just sowing a seed of discord between us.”
“She’s just a child. What does she know? She’s going to believe whatever the adults tell her,” Su Yi added. “Her adoptive parents got into her head. We are her biological parents, and as long as we speak to her nicely, she will know who her real family is and who she can rely on.”
The Shen couple were cruel to drive a wedge between them and their flesh and blood. Su Yi was not going to forgive them easily.
“Fine.” Li Jingran nodded. “Shen Zhangqing and his wife are evil.”
Their daughter was such a good girl and listened to their every word. In mere months, she became rebellious and uncultured with a foul mouth that just got on Li Jingran’s nerves. It was all the Shen couple’s doing.
The pair took the time to discuss it and agreed that their daughter gave them an attitude because she was led astray. All problems would be solved once they took the Shen couple out of the equation. Their daughter would once again return to their side and be their good girl who listened to their every word.
Since then, Su Yi and Li Jingran would look for Shen Xi every chance they got. However, for some reason, they were unable to see her each time. Hence, their only choice was to meet the Shen couple and request them to let go of their daughter.
To intimidate Shen Zhangqing and his wife, Su Yi even brought along the police and his attorney to the Shen residence in hopes the couple would give in and hand over their daughter. Otherwise, they shall meet in court.
It never occurred to Su Yi that Shen Zhangqing would not go along with it. He countersued them for trespassing and called the cops on them. They were so close to bringing the feud to the police station.
Su Yi flipped his top. Not only did he fail to see his daughter, but it was also a dead-end with the Shen couple. Since he was occupied with his usual busy year-end work, the situation remained at a stalemate.
…
Following the finals, the school term was finally over, and thus the holidays began.
Shen Zhangqing was busy at work right up to the end of the year.
Yun Jinping planned to take Shen Xi back to their hometown a few days earlier. Since she had not returned for the Ancestral Remembrance Day, the elders at home must be missing her.
Shen Xi was packing up the night before the trip when she received a call from Jiang Yin. Shen Xi was informed that the successor of the Bian Embroidery[1], Mr. Huo Yuping, was located and he had agreed to teach her this needlework.
Shen Xi had been asking around for this special embroidery technique called Bian Embroidery as her creations would require it. It never crossed her mind that Jiang Yin would have found her one.
Concerned about letting Shen Xi go alone, Yu Jinping wanted to keep her company.
Shen Xi did not concur with the idea. She wanted Yun Jinping to either wait at home for Old Shen or to leave for their hometown. Shen Xi would only be gone for a week and would return before the Lunar New Year.
“Call me once you’re there and have settled down, all right?” Yun Jinping longingly pulled her hand and enjoined her, “You have to take good care of yourself and keep yourself out of harm’s way over there. Remember to take your meals and rest on time when I’m not around.”
“Mom, I got it. I’m not a child.” Shen Xi cheerfully gazed at her and reached out to wipe away her tears. “I’m going there to learn a new skill, not gearing up for battle. Why are you crying?”
[1] Bian Embroidery originated from Kaifeng, Henan Province of China