bookbashuk Chapter 248 Being stingy is explained so confidently
Chapter 248 Being stingy is explained so confidently
When Wang Ma recognized who it was, she quickly greeted them with a smile, "Third Aunt is back."
"Hmm, Aunt Wang, where's my mom?" Aunt San asked as she led her two daughters into the courtyard.
As soon as she stepped into the courtyard, she caught sight of Shen Li drinking tea at the stone table. Her tone was tinged with sarcasm: "Oh dear, what a wonderful day it is today? After receiving so many good things from your grandmother, you finally remember to come and visit her?"
Shen Li put down her teacup, a faint smile on her face. Looking at them empty-handed, she retorted unhurriedly, "Auntie, are you saying I'm unfilial? This is the first time I've ever seen someone visit their elders empty-handed. I've really learned something new."
Third Aunt didn't expect Shen Li to show no mercy at all. Although there were no outsiders in the courtyard, how could she, as an elder, tolerate such a junior's disrespect?
His face immediately darkened: "What? You're good at talking nicely, but I don't think you gave the old lady anything valuable!"
Wang Ma, who was standing nearby, couldn't stand it any longer and spoke up at the right time: "Third Aunt, when the Third Miss came, she brought two boxes of donkey-hide gelatin, two boxes of bird's nest, and some other tonics. She didn't come empty-handed."
Wang Ma's words were fair and reasonable. Anyone with eyes could see that she was not very satisfied with this third aunt, otherwise she would not have made a special effort to clarify things for Shen Li.
After being exposed, Auntie San remained unfazed and instead argued, "Mom's life here is much better than mine. My eldest brother takes care of her, so even if I bring her food, she can't finish it all by herself. It would be a waste."
Shen Li gave a sarcastic smile: "This is the first time I've ever seen someone talk about being stingy so confidently."
Auntie San felt utterly humiliated by Shen Li's taunts in front of the servants, and her anger flared instantly: "No wonder you grew up in the countryside, you don't understand any manners! You've been back in the capital for so long, but you haven't learned much about manners. Perfect, today I, as your aunt, will teach you a lesson in etiquette..."
"Who are you going to teach manners to?" A hoarse but powerful voice suddenly rang out, interrupting Third Aunt's words.
Auntie San turned around and saw Grandma Shen standing on the porch, leaning against the door frame. She quickly put on a wronged expression and said, "Mom, you're awake? You were born into a scholarly family and were a well-bred young lady, but look at my eldest brother's youngest daughter. She has no manners at all. You have to discipline her properly, or outsiders will say that you have failed in your parenting."
Grandma Shen glanced at her daughter sideways, her tone utterly blunt: "With such a clueless person like you in the family, why should I care what others say? If we were going to embarrass ourselves, we would have done so long ago."
The third aunt was speechless for a moment, her face turning bright red—her own mother actually spoke of her like that in front of her juniors!
She felt both angry and bitter: her older brother had become successful, and the family was no longer short of money, so her mother was looking down on her more and more.
These people are all snobs!
Unlike her, she never judges people based on their social status or family background.
Grandma Shen ignored her daughter's grievances, quickly walked to Shen Li's side, took her hand and said gently, "Your third aunt is not thinking straight, don't take it to heart."
Shen Li was stunned—this was a "precise吐槽" (tu cao, a Chinese internet slang term for sarcastic or witty remarks) from her own mother.
The aunt became anxious: "Mom, why are you saying that about me?"
Grandma Shen completely ignored her and only asked Shen Li, "Xiao Li, why did you suddenly come over today?"
"It's nothing, I just realized I haven't visited you in person before, and since I have some free time recently, I was thinking of inviting you to stay at my place for a few days. You must be feeling a bit bored being home alone," Shen Li said with a smile.
Grandma Shen's eyes warmed, and she gently patted her hand: "I appreciate your filial piety. I'm getting old, so I won't bother you young people anymore."
Nuannuan quickly tugged at Grandma Shen's sleeve, tilting her little face up and pleading, "Grandma, please go ahead! I'm at Auntie's house too. Auntie's yard is huge, I can play with you!"
Grandma Shen chuckled and playfully pinched her little nose: "Are you keeping your great-grandmother company, or is your great-grandmother keeping you company?"
Nuannuan tilted her head, thought seriously for a few seconds, and said in a very serious tone, "That's not important. What's important is that we can be together!"
Grandma Shen's smile widened, her eyes filled with love: "Our Nuannuan is such a kind and loving child."
Seeing the three of them chatting so enthusiastically and unable to join in, the third aunt reluctantly spoke up: "This child is still young, and Qingbei is the same, he's completely focused on his work. I think we should find Nuannuan a stepmother as soon as possible, so that someone can take good care of her."
She paused, then complained, "Last time I mentioned to Lan Ying that my boss Luo's daughter is quite nice. She's getting married for the first time and doesn't mind that Qing Bei is a widow. But Lan Ying is still unhappy. She really doesn't know what's good for her."
"Your future is something you have to earn yourself. Don't think about using Qingbei's marriage as a stepping stone for your husband's promotion." Grandma Shen's words saw right through her.
Shen Li was secretly amazed: Everyone says that people get confused when they get old, but Grandma is almost seventy years old, and she sees things more and more clearly, and can see through the essence at a glance.
Auntie San was taken aback, but still wouldn't give up: "Qingbei's previous wife was just a country bumpkin, wasn't she? The one he's found now is definitely better than that one!"
"Shut up! You're going too far!"
Grandma Shen suddenly raised her voice, her face darkening. "Our Shen family's affairs are none of your business! If it weren't for Nuannuan's mother's support back then, it's hard to say whether our family could have survived in those difficult circumstances! If I ever hear you say another bad word about her, don't blame me for disowning you as my daughter!"
The third aunt was so frightened by the old lady's roar that she trembled and dared not utter another sound.
Shen Li later learned from her mother that the Shen family had indeed suffered a great disaster a few years ago, and they only survived thanks to Nuan Nuan's mother's financial assistance.
So when Nuannuan's aunt wanted to develop her career in Beijing, the Shen family specially helped her find a good job.
At first, they let her live at home—Shen's mother also felt that the Shen family owed them a favor, and if her son was willing, it would be more reliable to let Nuannuan's aunt be her stepmother than an outsider.
But Shen Qingbei had no such intention, and the matter eventually came to nothing.
Once Nuannuan's aunt's job was stable, the Shen family let her move out, but they also said that she could come to see Nuannuan anytime.
Of course, she wasn't really willing, but it wouldn't be right for an unmarried girl like her to live at home.
I had no choice but to move it reluctantly.
The Shen family had treated her quite well before.
Until the day Nuannuan was lost in her hands.
The Shen family then became indifferent to her.
The Shen family has taken good care of her over the years.
Nuannuan's maternal grandparents are simple and honest people in the village, and Shen Qingbei sends them things every year.
I go back to visit occasionally.
But Nuannuan's aunt is a very thoughtful person.
She doesn't look like her sister at all.
It's true that the dragon has nine sons, each different from the other.