The old lady and the others were stunned when they saw Xie Qiao. They were in disbelief.
"Pinggang, this is your sister by blood?"
Xie Pinggang was over the moon seeing them like that. "That's right. My sister by blood from the same mother!"
These people had said many times in private that his mother was an ugly woman!
So what if she was ugly?
Those beautiful women could not bear daughters who were as good-looking as Xie Qiao!
Also, his mother was not actually ugly. However, they thought his mother, Ms. Peng, was definitely as terrifying as a demon since she was born a bandit.
The old lady glanced at Xie Qiao and then the two granddaughters she had at home.
The eldest son and youngest son's daughters were older now. One was almost the same age as Xie Qiao, while the other was younger. However, they were only two or three years old apart.
She used to think that the two granddaughters were like angels and beautiful young ladies. But now that she looked at Xie Qiao, she felt something stuck in her chest.
She was feeling uneasy as the gap was just too big. The two girls could not compare with Xie Qiao's purity.
The two girls were rather dumbstruck at the moment.
Their parents had told them that a big sister would be coming today.
Since she was Ms. Peng's child, she must be ugly, right?
Was this ugly?
They turned into mud on the ground instantly when they stood with her. How could they lift their heads now!?
Xie Niushan caught up to them and pretended to look filial when he saw the old lady.
He was straightforward, and since he was a bandit before, dividing the loot was his expertise. Therefore, he rummaged through his clothes as soon as he went in, ready to give the money.
Seeing the present people's anticipation-filled gazes, Xie Qiao speculated that her father had been like that in the past.
He would give out money as soon as he came.
Xie Niushan placed the silver note on the table next to the old lady.
When the old lady glanced at it, she was stunned and then frowned. "Why is there only one?"
He usually gave silver notes in a box. There would be some ten silver notes of 100 taels!
Xie Niushan chuckled. "Mother, we're not doing well lately. Be thrifty with the money. It's less this time, but I'll make it up to you when I make money."
The old lady's face was gloomy, and she said in a grumpy manner, "You're a fourth-rank official, and you're only giving your mother this little money. Aren't you worried that you'll be humiliated if this goes out? People who have no idea will think that you look down on your brothers!"
Xie Niushan did not mind that. "Who dares to make fun of me? If they think it's too little, they can feed my mother on my behalf. Nobody's stopping them."
The old lady raised her brows.
The bandits had utterly ruined her son!
He had been a sensible and honest person at the age of ten. He had picked up the bandits' traits when that ugly woman Ms. Peng dragged him away!
Xie Pinggang smiled at Xie Qiao. His dumb father was most useful when he told the truth.
The old lady's two daughters-in-law faked a laugh upon seeing that. They looked like they saw their savior when they saw Ms. Lu. They stepped forward immediately and grabbed her hand.
"My dear sister-in-law…"
"My sweet sister-in-law…"
The duo spoke together, and the Eldest Son's wife, Ms. Jia, smiled awkwardly.
"Look, did Second Brother misunderstand? It's not that Mother thinks the money is too little. It's just that there are many mouths to feed at home. We've been expecting him to help us with that. The old lady's health is lacking lately. She needs medicine, so it's rather… tough. The money that Second Brother gives has suddenly dropped by so much, we thought… we did something wrong…"