Chapter 263: Chapter 259: Wen Ran: Hehe, Eavesdropping with My Future Mother-in-Law

Crawfish can be caught during the day, but it’s more troublesome.

But come night, when crawfish are out foraging, with a flashlight you can spot them along the riverbanks, amidst the aquatic grasses.

This excuse, logically, seems very reasonable. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

But Mr. Xiao still feels something is off.

Tsk.

Where exactly?

Suddenly, a realization hits him, "Is it just your mom and Sister Ran going?"

"Yeah," Xiao Chenxing is momentarily confused, not understanding why his dad is reacting so strongly to this.

"Why didn’t you go with them?" Mr. Xiao asks puzzledly, "Aren’t you always glued together?"

Xiao Chenxing: "..."

Her gaze turns mournful, and a feeling of resentment permeates the air around her.

Mr. Xiao: "?"

Huh?

Did he say something wrong?

Hongguo pops her head out from under Xiao Chenxing’s armpit, shyly saying, "Sister Star did a test today and nearly failed..."

"That’s right," Inside, Xiao Chenxing is tearful, "I can’t go out to play, I have to dutifully stay at home and take lessons from Hongguo."

Mentioning this, Xiao Chenxing’s face is filled with guilt.

If it weren’t for her almost failing, not only her but even Hongguo could have gone out to play.

Alas, in the end, she dragged Hongguo down.

Great, a very solid reason.

This time, Mr. Xiao is thoroughly convinced.

Any lingering doubts are completely dispelled by the duo’s banter.

He yawns, "You know, Hongguo started school later than you.

Look at you now, needing her to tutor you, isn’t it embarrassing to admit?

I say, your Sister Ran is right, study well! It’s getting late, finish studying and go to bed soon, there’s stuff to do tomorrow."

Xiao Chenxing: "..."

She grits her teeth, "What the heck! You’re talking too much! I’m annoyed enough not understanding the questions!"

"Bang!"

The door slams, startling Mr. Xiao.

He scratches his head and mutters quietly, "Good heavens, kids these days have such tempers."

Adjusting his clothes, Mr. Xiao yawns as he heads into the house, pondering on spring farming matters.

It’s coming to an end, and their family can finally get a break.

Tsk.

Yet somehow, there’s a sense of unease.

Ouch!

Mr. Xiao concludes it must be due to lack of sleep.

Wondering when his wife would return from catching crawfish, he yawns, shuts the door, lies on the kang, and falls asleep instantly.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Xiao is crouched on the roof tiles.

She shifted slightly, lowering her voice, "Ranran, you’ve gotten quite adept at this, haven’t you been doing this quite a bit?"

Wen Ran: "..."

Tsk, caught in action.

She responds in a similarly low voice, "Not really, I’m too lazy for that, unless someone ticks me off, I wouldn’t bother with this."

In other words, when someone ticks her off, she’d stoop to this?

Facing Mrs. Xiao’s questioning stare, Wen Ran opts to play dead.

"Shh~"

She removes a tile, "They’re about to talk."

"No rush," Mrs. Xiao shifts slightly, whispering, "By the way, don’t you find this a bit uncomfortable?"

Crouching, truly is not comfortable.

It’s unknown how this young girl manages to bear it.

It will just be this once, next time, if asked to join in on this nonsense again, she wouldn’t do it.

Wen Ran pulled out a cushion like a magic trick.

"Tsk, auntie, you come to eavesdrop without even bringing the right equipment."

Mrs. Xiao: "..."

Her idea of eavesdropping was just crouching nearby and catching a few words.

Who knew it required lying on the rooftop.

Oh, the thought of it troubles her, so impetuously brave coming up here.

But her limbs are old now, how is she going to get down quietly later?

Worried, yet Mrs. Xiao remains silent.

Because below, someone has started speaking.

"From the eldest family, looks like Xiao Li is about to settle on someone."

"What?"

Zhou Xiuying is displeased, she frowns, "I’ve already looked at Xiao Li, saying he’s most suitable for my niece.

Why suddenly speak of settling on someone?"

"Sigh," Mrs. Xiao Sr. glares at Zhou Xiuying, "You should be embarrassed, I’ve told you already.

Your niece isn’t straightforward, should’ve settled it sooner, isn’t that better!

You didn’t listen, and had ideas about that odd-ball family’s fifth, Song Shilan, now look, that fifth is getting married, Xiao Li is settled, what’s your niece going to do?"

The duo on the roof: "!!!"

The two exchange stunned glances.

Wen Ran recovers and silently gives Mrs. Xiao a thumbs-up.

Awesome.

She can predict the Xiao Family’s scheming.

Mrs. Xiao is both smug and annoyed, those two old ladies are truly despicable.

Zhou Xiuying is quite irritated, "At this point, speaking sarcastically, what’s the point?

Besides, don’t you know why I’ve set my eyes on Xiao Chenye?

The kid is handsome and has a decent job, what he brings home is either money or meat.

Anyway, my niece shall marry into the Xiao Family’s kid, I’m picking a good one, so what?

And Song Shilan, that little wench, oh no, that old wench, even though she’s against us, you can’t deny she’s a good mother-in-law.

My niece marries over, as long as she has a kid, she’s sure to treat her well."

"Hmph," Mrs. Xiao Sr. sneers, "You really have a fanciful notion.

As soon as it’s said the girl is from your family, Song Shilan would avoid her."

Zhou Xiuying: "..."

She takes a deep breath, "No need to jab at me, anyway, now that Xiao Chenye is off the table, I definitely have to ensure Xiao Li stays within my grip for my niece."

The more she thinks, the more Zhou Xiuying is frustrated.

Muttering complaints, "Who knew things would turn out like this?

I thought Xiao Li, that timid little guy, wouldn’t attract interest, didn’t pay him much mind.

Who knew he’d become sought-after too."

She turns, holding Mrs. Xiao Sr.’s hand, "Mother, we must be on the same side.

As long as my niece can marry Xiao Li smoothly, fortune will surely favor our family.

My niece eats the big chunks of meat, surely we can at least get some meat broth, right?"

Mrs. Xiao Sr. glances at Zhou Xiuying askew, "I’ve told you already, you didn’t listen."

This matter is indeed Zhou Xiuying’s mistake, she falls silent, "Who knew that worthless girl would be so disappointing, before, she could delay things, carefully pick one.

But now, not... it waits for no one.

Times have changed. Madam, this matter depends on you, best if Xiao Li can marry my niece this month and get things settled.

Only then can I breathe easy."