My Wife, So Fierce! - Chapter 10

“Aunt Liu.”

She greeted her crisply, her expression unchanged.

Aunt Liu hurried over, her face full of concern. “What were you talking to Old Xu about just now? He’s no good stay away from him!”

“I know, Auntie.”

Shen Baiyi nodded, looking utterly obedient.

Aunt Liu still didn’t seem entirely reassured. She pulled Shen Baiyi back into the Shen family courtyard and asked her seriously, “Baiyi, what are your plans for the future? You’re taking the college entrance exams in June going back to school is what really matters!”

Aunt Liu didn’t bother lowering her voice, and the house had little soundproofing. Whatever was said in the courtyard could be heard clearly inside.

Shen Baiyi sighed softly. “Going to school would be best, but my uncle’s family won’t let me leave. If I really can’t go, there’s nothing I can do.”

Aunt Liu grew agitated at this. “What do you mean, nothing you can do? You’re the most promising one in our village, always ranking first in exams. How can you just give up like that?”

“My uncle’s family won’t let me go.”

As she spoke, Shen Baiyi’s eyes reddened.

The pitiful sight made Aunt Liu’s heart ache. She was well aware of the Shen family’s situation and pressed on, “What about that girl from your Aunt Bai’s family? Isn’t she going back? Her mother has already drained your family dry now it’s just a matter of convenience. How can there be no way? Call her out here! You’re family, how can she not help you?”

With that, she made to storm inside.

Shen Baiyi hastily grabbed her. “Auntie! Auntie!”

Her face was frantic, but inwardly, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Her goal had been achieved. Aunt Liu had said everything that needed to be said, and Zheng Yao would surely have heard. She couldn’t let Aunt Liu barge in and make a scene in front of Zheng Yao.

Zheng Yao!

She couldn’t quite figure out what kind of person Zheng Yao was, but one thing was certain her moods were unpredictable. If she provoked her and things escalated, alerting the Tan family would only backfire.

Finally managing to see Aunt Liu off, she turned around only to freeze in her tracks. Zheng Yao had emerged from the house at some point and was now leaning against the living room door, staring straight at her, unreadable thoughts in her eyes.

Shen Baiyi’s mind worked quickly. She plastered an apologetic look on her face and approached Zheng Yao. “I’m really sorry. Auntie was just worried about me. If she said anything offensive, please don’t take it to heart.”

Zheng Yao asked, “What do you think?”

Shen Baiyi was momentarily confused. “About what?”

Then her heart sank. Zheng Yao didn’t seem like a patient person.

But compared to earlier, Zheng Yao’s mood seemed to have improved significantly. Now, she asked patiently, “Do you think that just because Bai Yuanzhu married your father, I should help you?”

Her whole demeanor seemed less harsh.

Shen Baiyi’s heart settled back into place.

As expected, Zheng Yao liked hearing bad things about Bai Yuanzhu.

In truth, Shen Baiyi had only guessed half right.

Zheng Yao didn’t enjoy hearing Bai Yuanzhu slandered she just wanted to hear that Shen Sanguang hadn’t gained anything from taking Bai Yuanzhu away.

Like that earlier line: Bai Yuanzhu drained the Shen family dry.

So, naturally, she was in a better mood now.

“Of course not,” Shen Baiyi denied, shaking her head. She seemed flustered, her address shifting again. “I wouldn’t impose on you, Sister!”

She spoke with such heartfelt sincerity, her hands moving swiftly. Before Zheng Yao could dodge, those hands grabbed at her again, quickly clutching the hem of her clothes. Her eyes were already red-rimmed, and now she looked even more pitiful.

“Who’s your sister?”

A moment later, Zheng Yao pulled her hem back. Just as she was about to utter some cutting remark, she noticed the girl’s eyes were as red as a rabbit’s, and her voice faltered slightly.

Soon, she felt a surge of irritation.

Why did she always soften at the sight of Shen Baiyi’s pitiful expression? Had she really been ensnared by this girl?

But she was in a good mood today and didn’t want to see Shen Baiyi’s tearful, pitiful face anymore, so she relented: “Taking you along isn’t impossible, but I don’t do business at a loss.”

No sooner had she spoken than Shen Baiyi’s face lit up with a radiant smile. She responded eagerly, “Thank you, sister!”

Zheng Yao was taken aback.

This was the first time she’d seen Shen Baiyi smile like this tears still clinging to her lashes, yet her eyes already curved into crescents.

She couldn’t quite describe the feeling. It was unfamiliar, as if something had knocked against her heart.

Pursing her lips, Zheng Yao felt oddly unsettled seeing Shen Baiyi so delighted, as though she’d lost some unspoken battle. She stiffened her expression and added, “I haven’t even stated my conditions, and you’re already agreeing?”

Shen Baiyi nodded quickly. “Anything is fine.”

Zheng Yao’s lips curled mockingly. “You’re young, but your promises are bold.”

Anything? What if she demanded all the compensation money?

“Enough.” Zheng Yao, still in high spirits, didn’t press further. She turned her head away and said sternly, “I don’t want your money or your life. Just make sure to pay respects to Bai Yuanzhu during festivals when you honor your father. I won’t bother with her affairs anymore.”

From the day Bai Yuanzhu severed ties with her, Zheng Yao was no longer her daughter and naturally wouldn’t come to pay respects. This duty could fall to Shen Sanguang’s daughter.

“Okay.” Shen Baiyi nodded solemnly, her tone earnest. “From now on, I’ll treat Aunt Bai with the same reverence as my own mother. Whatever my father receives, she’ll never lack.”

Hah, she hadn’t asked for that.

Zheng Yao couldn’t be bothered to respond. Feeling firmly in control, she didn’t want to dwell on the matter of meals and added firmly, “I want meat for lunch.”

Shen Baiyi hadn’t expected this request. Before her brain could process it, her mouth had already chirped, “Okay!”

A flicker of joy darted through her.

When she calmed down slightly, Shen Baiyi found it all rather absurd.

Why was she acting like Zheng Yao’s obedient dog? Getting this excited over a simple request?

Like some spineless fool.

Her eyes cooled.

But Zheng Yao rarely made demands, and she needed her favor. Regardless of her inner thoughts, she had to maintain appearances.

After agreeing, she immediately went out to buy meat. The pigs had been slaughtered that morning, so she could still get fresh cuts.

Along the way, she encountered many people, all offering their sympathies. A few who had their eyes on the compensation money also approached her.

She neither engaged nor put on an act, simply staring at them until their guilt made them retreat awkwardly.

As was her habit, she would keep a mental tally of every debt, saving them for the right moment to settle each one. But now, having resolved a major nuisance, she was in a good mood and didn’t dwell on it.

Maintaining her cheerful demeanor, she pushed open the gate to her courtyard, only for the smile on her face to fade slowly as she took in the scene before her.

Uninvited guests had arrived.

“Baiyi-jie.”

Seeing Shen Baiyi return, the children who had been massaging Zheng Yao’s shoulders and legs immediately stood up, greeting her obediently.

Meanwhile, Zheng Yao had dragged a recliner out of Bai Yuanzhu’s room and was now lounging in the courtyard, surrounded by a group of children like some pampered matriarch.

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