Ye Tiao was taken aback.
Tang Jingming hurriedly said as if she’d been deceived, "Shi Mei, don’t be fooled by him, he just wants to use you..."
"You’re talking nonsense!" Shi Xuebai could no longer contain his anger, "I am Shi Mei’s father, and everything I’ve done is naturally for Shi Mei’s sake. How could I possibly use my own daughter!"
Tang Jingming’s face showed contempt, "Whether you’re using her or not, don’t you know in your heart?"
Shi Xuebai seemed to be angered, quickly explaining to Shi Mei, "Daddy is doing this all for your sake..."
"Enough," Ye Tiao interrupted Shi Xuebai, "Shi Mei said it’s okay, so it’s okay," then Ye Tiao looked at Shi Mei, "What’s that called, do you still remember? I taught you before."
Shi Mei tilted her head, her eyes curving into crescents, "A word once spoken cannot be caught by even a team of four horses!"
"That’s right," Ye Tiao said with a smile as she ruffled Shi Mei’s head, "We are gentlemen, and a gentleman must keep his word, okay!"
"Mm-hmm!" Shi Mei was like a child praised, happily nuzzling Ye Tiao’s palm with her head, "Then can Ye Bao still take me to watch the monkeys mate?"
Aunt Chen gave Ye Tiao a reproachful stare, "Why would you take her to see those things?"
Tang Jingming, taking pleasure in Ye Tiao’s discomfort, said, "It’s the instinct of animals in nature, Aunt Chen. This is Sister Ye’s education for Shi Mei."
Shi Xuebai achieved his goal and soon left in high spirits.
After going outside and speaking with his wife, Wang Quanxia looked skeptical, "How did things go so smoothly? Normally, that little dummy is as guarded against us as anything. How come she agreed so readily this time?"
Hearing this, Shi Xuebai replied gleefully, "What do you mean ’guarded against us’? The little dummy is guarding against you, to be precise. Don’t think that just because she’s slow-witted, she doesn’t hold a grudge. She knows it was you who unplugged her oxygen mask, so all her hatred is aimed at you. It’s different with me. After all, I was the one who brought her back. If it weren’t for me, she would have been frozen to death in the snow long ago..."
"Shut up," Wang Quanxia immediately cut him off, looking around, "Are you out of your mind? How dare you talk about what happened back then? If people find out we picked up that child and raised her, our family is ruined!"
Shi Xuebai immediately shut his mouth.
The more Wang Quanxia thought about it, the more she felt it was a bad omen, and she spat in disgust, "I should have known better than to meddle back then. Your brother was a jinx, his death was enough, but he had to make us pick up that child. In the end, him and his wife died without a complete corpse, making us also live in anxiety and fear!"
"Alright, alright," Shi Xuebai really got scared now, "At least now the little dummy could still be exchanged for some cash. If you and I don’t talk about it, who would know Shi Mei is that person’s child? Let’s go, let’s go, go back and tell Shi Yuanyuan the good news, and we’ll just wait to enjoy our easy money."
Wang Quanxia’s mood slightly improved, happily following Shi Xuebai as they left.
Shi Yuanyuan was the daughter of Third Uncle Shi, the elder sister of Shi Bingbing.
The family had spent a fortune on her dance lessons, all to nurture a talented and beautiful daughter, adding glory to the family.
Indeed, Shi Yuanyuan did not disappoint, growing more beautiful as she aged. Although she couldn’t compare to Shi Mei in terms of looks, she was more than a match for Shi Bingbing.
Upon hearing the good news, she was so happy she almost jumped for joy.
She had heard that Old Mrs. Shi loved the arts the most.
Whether it was music or dance, she had a very appreciative ability.
If she could win Old Lady Shi’s favor, why would she worry about not having the chance to catch a wealthy husband?