The Prime Minister’s Little Wife

Chapter 80: Unwarranted Flattery

While eating, Xie Jia’an was lost in thought about these matters. Without paying attention, she picked up a piece of meat.

“Jia’an, you eat meat every day at home. Can’t you let Honghua have the last piece?” Xie Jiaqi said unhappily.

He had noticed the last piece of meat in the bowl and wanted to give it to his beloved. But just as he reached for it, Xie Jia’an’s chopsticks swooped in and took it, leaving his chopsticks empty.

Xie Jia’an looked at her indignant brother, surprised that he would make such a fuss over a single piece of meat. She hadn’t even intended to take it—it was just a random grab.

She quickly placed the piece of meat into her brother’s bowl and was about to explain when she heard:

“Brother Jiaqi, I’m already full. Let Jia’an have it,” Xu Honghua said in a sweet and delicate voice.

Xie Jiaqi added, “Honghua, you eat it. Jia’an, see how considerate Honghua is?”

Xie Jia’an, watching Xu Honghua’s affected and pretentious behavior, flushed with anger. Xie Jiajing, sitting beside her, tugged at her hand under the table and shook her head.

Xie Jia’an could only quietly continue eating without further explanation.

After the meal, Xie Jia’an and Xie Jiajing cleared the table and washed the dishes, while Xu Honghua stayed with Mother Xie, chatting.

As the two sisters cleaned up in the kitchen, Xie Jiajing said, “Sister, don’t be angry. Cousin Honghua is always acting. You can’t win against her!”

Hearing her sister’s words, Xie Jia’an felt slightly better. “Jiajing, why do you think she came to our house this time?”

“I think she must have some ulterior motive and needs Brother Jiaqi’s help.”

Xie Jia’an thought the same, but she couldn’t figure out what Xu Honghua needed help with. Based on what Xu Xiaohua had seen, Xu Honghua shouldn’t have any feelings for her brother anymore.

“Then what do you think she needs Brother Jiaqi’s help for?”

Xie Jiajing, only eleven years old, didn’t know either. “Didn’t you notice how extraordinarily attentive she was to Brother Jiaqi this time? She doesn’t like him anymore! Unwarranted flattery always hides ill intentions.”

Xie Jia’an agreed wholeheartedly. “Let’s keep an eye on Brother Jiaqi and make sure he doesn’t get used by her.”

When the two sisters finished cleaning and came out, they heard Xu Honghua saying, “Auntie, did you know? Zhizhi is really good at making money now.”

“That’s good. My brother’s family has suffered too much,” Mother Xie said with emotion.

Back then, when she saw her brother’s two sons so thin they were skin and bones, Mother Xie had given them money, clothes, and food. But the clothes never seemed to reach her nephews, and they remained just as thin.

When she inquired, she found out that the money wasn’t used to buy food for her nephews. Instead, her sister-in-law had sent it all to the Li family. She had been furious.

Her money didn’t grow on trees!

She had her own family to support! She had saved up to help her starving nephews, only to see her efforts wasted.

How could she possibly support the Li family, who were barely related to them?

From then on, Mother Xie hardened her heart and stopped sending anything to her brother’s family.

Every time she visited and saw her kitten-like nieces and nephews, she felt both angry and helpless.

Now, she could finally rest easy. The last time she visited, she saw the large courtyard her brother’s family had built—something even Qingshi Town couldn’t match.

“Honghua, you’re also very talented. You’re literate, skilled at embroidery, and beautiful.”

Mother Xie thought her niece was envious of Xu Zhizhi and tried to comfort her.

“Auntie, how can I compare to Zhizhi? She not only makes money but has also become much kinder. And her fiancé is so handsome. I think only Zhizhi is worthy of him,” Xu Honghua said softly.

Xie Jia’an and Xie Jiajing finally understood!

They exchanged glances:

【See? This is her goal.】

【It can’t be what I’m thinking, right?】

【She’s trying to dump our brother.】

【Yes, it seems that way.】

【But Brother Jiaqi never showed interest in her. She was the one who started being attentive!】

【So what?】

Mother Xie was taken aback by Xu Honghua’s words. “Zhizhi is already engaged, Honghua. Don’t say such things in the future.”

“Auntie, good things shouldn’t go to outsiders. Engagements can be broken. Zhizhi has already broken one before.”

Xu Honghua thought her aunt would also want a daughter-in-law who could make money.

Mother Xie’s face darkened. She had always thought her sister-in-law spoiled this youngest daughter, but now she realized how unlikable she was.

“Honghua, Zhizhi and Young Master Xiao already have a marriage contract. They’re just waiting for the house to be finished before marrying. Your words could harm Zhizhi’s reputation.”

“A marriage contract? When did that happen? How come I didn’t know?” Xu Honghua’s voice suddenly rose, sharp and urgent.

Mother Xie was surprised. “Honghua, what’s wrong?”

“Cousin Honghua, why are you so excited? Are you happy for Big Cousin? Big Cousin’s fiancé is so handsome! You’re so worked up about their marriage contract… Could it be you have other intentions?”

Xie Jia’an said calmly.

“What other intentions could I have? I was just surprised, that’s all!”

Xu Honghua looked up at Xie Jia’an, meeting her bright eyes that seemed to see through her schemes.

Her heart sank, and tears rolled down her cheeks. “Jia’an, I really don’t have any other intentions. You’ve always looked down on me… What have I done to offend you…”

“Cousin Honghua, my sister just thought you were too excited and might have taken a liking to Big Cousin’s fiancé,” Xie Jiajing said innocently.

“Jiajing, what nonsense are you spouting?”

At that moment, Xie Jiaqi, who had been working in the front shop, came in to check on them and heard his sister’s words. He roared in anger.

“Wuwu… Brother Jiaqi, take me home. I want to go home… Wuwu…” Xu Honghua cried pitifully.

Xu Honghua had hoped to convince her aunt to propose to Xu Zhizhi’s family, but her aunt had outright refused.

And why had her two supposedly foolish cousins suddenly become so clever? How had they guessed her intentions?

Well, she wouldn’t hold back now. She’d first trick her eldest cousin into helping her.

Mother Xie, seeing her niece crying like a pear blossom bathed in rain, worried that her brother would blame her if he saw Xu Honghua in this state.

“Honghua, let Auntie take you to Fumanlou to pick out some jewelry. You can go home tomorrow.”

“Wuwu… I want to go home now.”

Xu Honghua wasn’t uninterested in jewelry, but if she waited until tomorrow, her eldest cousin might not be the one to take her home. And then, how would she ruin Xu Zhizhi?

She was desperate to destroy Xu Zhizhi.

She was jealous. She was resentful!

The old Xu Zhizhi wasn’t even fit to carry her shoes. How could she suddenly have a grand brick house and a handsome, dashing fiancé?

Seeing Xu Honghua’s insistence, Mother Xie had no choice but to agree to let Xie Jiaqi take her home by carriage.

(End of Chapter)