Chapter 4: Third Aunt is Biased
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Chi Shuyan didn’t get up despite hearing the banging on the door – her eyes turned cold. Gao Lingxue had always been one to bully the weak, but feared the strong, and only dared to search prestige before the weak. Her former self indeed feared her, more so because she lived in her home. She felt like she was a parasite under their roof and so tolerated her in fear of offending her.
Never did she realize that some people could be even worse. Gao Lingxue was definitely the kind who would want a foot when they won an inch. She robbed Chi Shuyan of her things several times and after tasting a little bit of sweetness, the more she spurned her young cousin. As soon as she ran out of pocket money or fancied Chi Shuyan’s stuff, she would circle around and try every means to rob her.
Besides, Chi Guihua was extremely patriarchal and regarded her daughter as worthless. Although not as abusive as she was towards Chi Shuyan, her treatment of her daughter and two younger sons were poles apart. Chi Lingyan, on the other hand, lavished his only daughter, Chi Shuyan, with loving care. Because of this, Gao Lingxue fell far short and became even more jealous and disgusted with Chi Shuyan.
Gao Lingxue kicked the door outside for a long time, but seeing that Chi Shuyan had yet to come and open the door, she was already a bit enraged. She’d recently taken a fancy to the piece of white jade around Chi Shuyan’s neck and tried to get Chi Shuyan to give it to her. However, Chi Shuyan, who has always been meek and obedient, refused. She wasn’t in a hurry either. She would get whatever she wanted anyway. But her uncle’s visit at home today had stimulated her again.
She had just dropped a bowl clumsily, yet her mother poked her on the forehead and scolded her. Then, her uncle dropped Chi Shuyan to their door and even bought turtles for her health, wanting them to take care of her again. Her rage earlier surged up just looking at the love and care overflowing in his eyes, triggering her envy once more. Why did Chi Shuyan always get the good stuff? She wished she could reincarnate as her. Her heart was filled with resentment, wondering why her uncle wasn’t her real father. It would have been nice if he was her own father.
She was so upset that she wanted to come and find trouble with Chi Shuyan, but looking at the closed door, her anger shot higher. She actually dared to ignore her now that her father was here to back her up. She slammed the door hard and cursed loudly, “Chi Shuyan, you b*tch, wait till your father is gone, I’ll make you sorry!”
The soundproof wasn’t actually good for the commotion here. The two busy adults downstairs just pretended that nothing was happening.
“Elder Sister, what are you doing? What are you playing?” Instead, it was 7-year-old Gao Yuanxin playing below, who was drawn up by the banging.
Seeing his sister’s angry face, he immediately patted his chest, pointed inside and said, “Is that bad woman inside bullying you? Sister, I’ll help you hit her with my small car.” He controlled his car to hit someone, only to find that the door wasn’t open. He pounded the door unhappily, “Hey, open the door for us! You, bad woman, are a coward.”
Although Gao Yuanxin was still young, his mother and his sister kept on whispering in his ear that Chi Shuyan was an outsider. They had spent a lot of money on her, but she was truly worthless. Especially when he wanted to buy toys, his mother would tell him she couldn’t afford it because all the money in their house had been spent on this unprofitable girl. He was curious at that start, then grew to hate this cousin.
The table was full of five dishes, two meat and three vegetables, and most importantly the large bowl of aromatic turtle soup in the middle, which made the evening’s dinner very sumptuous. The meat dishes and turtle soup, however, were all tilted on the side of Gao Yuanxin and Gao Yuanyang’s family, and only two plates of vegetarian dishes, with practically no oil and water placed a bit far away, were in front of Chi Shuyan.
Chi Shuyan surveyed the table with no interest.
“Mom, it smells good, so yummy, I want meat!” As soon as 7-year-old Gao Yuanxin smelled the aromatic turtle soup, he started pointing and making a scene.
“Okay, okay, sweetheart, Mom is going to serve you this.” Chi Guihua picked up a spoon and began to serve the soup lovingly. First, she gave her second and third son, who were at the apex of her heart, a full load of meat and soup until their bowls were almost overflowing. By the time it was her and her husband, Gao Han’s turn, all the meat was served. Even Gao Lingxue, who she’d always picked on, got a piece or two of meat. The meat in the turtle soup had already been divided cleanly by the time it reached Chi Shuyan’s turn.
All that was left was a thin layer of soup with a clear bottom.
Chi Guihua even feigned surprise before saying, “Yan Yan, the soup is the most essential part. You are a bit weak, so you should make up more. The rest of the turtle soup will be all yours.”
Chi Guihua didn’t feel that there was anything wrong with her behavior, but rather thought that she didn’t have such good things to eat when she was a child. This little girl should be satisfied with having soup to drink. She gave the impression that Chi Shuyan was advantaged.
Chi Shuyan almost laughed out loud. But everything that Chi Guihua did was all within her expectations, and she snorted, “Aunt, you’re really generous. My dad bought me turtle soup, and you left me a pot of clear soup.”
“Yan Yan, how can you think of your aunt like that? Your body is too weak and your aunt is just afraid that your body will suffer if you eat too much meat.” Gao Han frowned, feeling a bit uncomfortable with Chi Shuyan’s sarcasm of her elders.
“That’s right, Yan Yan, don’t think too much. I consider you my own daughter.” Chi Guihua’s eyes flashed with a hint of smugness, but on her face was an earnest and well-meaning appearance. She didn’t wish to get a bad rap from this little girl, but even if she did complain to her brother, she wouldn’t be afraid. Words alone were no proof. By then, she’d just assume the wronged role and be silent. Then, her brother would only say that Chi Shuyan was being deliberate and was dissatisfied with her strict teaching.
“Okay, Yan Yan, stop thinking about it and eat.” Gao Han knocked on the rice bowl to signal everyone to say nothing more and eat their food properly.
Chi Shuyan watched as Chi Guihua, Gao Han and the rest wolfed down their food, leaving grease on their mouths. She suddenly stomped off the table, took her bowl of clear soup and ran towards the door.
Chi Guihua was a bit dazed, not quite realizing what she meant. Was this wretched girl trying to stage a fit of pique?
“What are you doing?” Chi Guihua snapped indignantly.
“Dad.” Chi Shuyan opened the door, and when she saw the person who arrived, her eyes reddened. Beautiful apricot eyes blinked with teardrops in them.
Chi Shuyan’s shout startled the people around the dining table and Gao Han almost choked on the soup. Chi Guihua, whose mouth was full of grease, almost fell off her chair as well. Gao Lingxue also put down her bowl and chopsticks in surprise. Only Gao Yuanyang and Gao Yuanxin were still holding their bowls and eating happily, while the others stared stumped at the door.