"Mr. Xie! You come and explain! What exactly is going on here?"
To brazenly bully his daughter right in his own home!
Ye Guoqiang was so angry his face was almost twisted, even his usually weak personality couldn't tolerate it this time.
He glared at Xie Fengmian, who was now completely sober.
When Xie was caught and dressed to sit in the main hall, he was initially still a bit dazed, but upon realizing he had just bullied someone he liked, he immediately solemnly promised.
"I'm sorry, today I was indeed confused from drinking. Rest assured, I will take responsibility for Xiaotong! I'll come to propose in a few days!"
He secretly glanced at the shy little woman hiding in her mother's embrace, his eyes full of tenderness.
Ye Xiaotong sensed his gaze and also blushed with shyness, then she thought about Ye Manman marrying Xie Fengmian in her past life, living a prosperous life, and realized she too would have all of that in this life. She could barely suppress the rising corners of her mouth.
Then she sneaked a glance at Ye Manman sitting beside her, hoping to see her devastated, but surprisingly Ye Manman's expression was one of amusement, as if entirely unconcerned.
Ye Xiaotong laughed disdainfully to herself, "Are you furious? Keep pretending."
After Xie Fengmian made his promise and left, the stepmother's face, initially filled with bitterness and hatred, immediately blossomed into a smile, her headache instantly vanished.
"Xie Fengmian is really a good kid, managing to bring up a hundred yuan bride price on his own, truly promising. Xiaotong will live a blessed life with him, and I can be at ease."
Thinking about Xie's promises made her involuntarily happy, but looking up she saw Ye Guoqiang wasn't very pleased.
She said indignantly.
"What's wrong, are you not happy your daughter is marrying well? Why, is such a good son-in-law meant for your own biological daughter? I knew you had ill-intentions getting Xie Fengmian drunk earlier, even having Manman take him to rest. Tell me, did you originally plan to match him with Manman? Ye Guoqiang! Speak up!"
She pinched Ye Guoqiang's arm hard, prompting him to retract his hand, pursing his lips.
"I didn't have those thoughts, but you, your daughter gets bullied at home and you laugh. Just this incident today makes me feel he's not doing the right thing. What if he doesn't take responsibility..."
Before Ye Guoqiang could finish, the stepmother slapped him.
"Oh, you, you're still dissatisfied with someone like Xie Fengmian? Where will you find anyone better in this ten-mile radius? Huh? Try finding someone. He's from the town, his dad's the factory director. If he dares not take responsibility, I'll go to town and report him."
"He has his eyes on Xiaotong, so don't put on airs and ruin things, understood?"
Every time the stepmother caused a scene like this, Ye Guoqiang would stay silent, essentially agreeing with her decision.
Ye Xiaotong had already composed herself emotionally, looking at Ye Manman, intentionally asking.
"Manman, you don't blame me, do you? Although you did help Fengmian avoid the rain once before, we are genuinely fond of each other..."
Seeing Ye Manman look over, she quickly bowed her head pretending to be aggrieved.
"I'm sorry, though I know you must feel bad inside, you treated Fengmian so well before, I... why don't you hit me, I..."
As she spoke, Ye Xiaotong's shoulders started to shake, crying as if she were the one being bullied.
Ye Manman glanced sideways at her, disdainful of her crude acting, but recalling how the original owner of her body in the novel was tormented so badly by her, she was furious.
"Since you insist so strongly, I can reluctantly agree."
Ye Manman got up, picked up a random vine from the yard, and struck her hard.
Ye Xiaotong obviously didn't expect her to actually hit her and screamed out loud, this time genuinely crying.
From the pain.
Neither the stepmother nor Ye Guoqiang expected Ye Manman to suddenly strike.
"Oh, Ye Manman, you dare hit my daughter! I'll fight you!"
The stepmother immediately erupted, intending to snatch the vine from her and give her a proper lesson.
However, Ye Manman, though seemingly thin and small, was quite agile, dodging left and right, even hitting her several times in the process.
Soon, there were two people crying out loud in the house.
Ye Guoqiang wanted to get involved as well but, seeing Ye Manman's cold eyes looking at him, seemingly devoid of any affection, he was suddenly startled and urged.
"Alright Manman, stop causing a scene, quickly apologize to them, you can't just hit someone no matter what."
"Didn't she ask me to hit her? Why should I apologize?"
Ye Manman feigned confusion, frowned.
"Was it something you said deliberately? Simply joking about me hitting you? You know my feelings for Xie..."
Her cold eyes suddenly filled with moisture, her lips trembling slightly as if overwhelmed with grievance, looking at Ye Xiaotong with an expression of being terribly hurt.
Acting? Who can't do that, hmph.
Ye Xiaotong was in pain from the strike on her shoulder, initially wanting to scold Ye Manman, but upon seeing Ye Guoqiang's expression, held back.
No, now is not the time to make Ye Guoqiang think she's too aggressive. Ye Guoqiang still seems sympathetic towards Ye Manman, and if he feels she's purposely stealing Ye Manman's sweetheart, he might intervene.
So Ye Xiaotong held back her tears, forcefully forgiving.
"Of course not joking, Manman, hitting sister makes sister feel better too, as long as you forgive sister."
Stepmother was tugged at by Ye Xiaotong's sleeve, a mother-daughter bond, she immediately understood and stayed silent.
Ye Guoqiang indeed felt pity.
"Alright, alright, since the hitting's been done, Manman, causing more trouble any further puts you in the wrong. Besides, you weren't officially engaged with Xie, Xiaotong and Xie truly being fond of each other is not a bad outcome."
Ye Manman disdainfully glanced at her unclear-headed cheap father without speaking, instead changing the topic.
"Then, shouldn't sister wash the sheets in my room?"
Ye Xiaotong reflexively retorted, "Why should I wash them?"
"Not washing?"
Ye Manman raised an eyebrow, stood up to walk outside.
"Then I'll have to properly discuss this outside. Getting involved in improper male-female relations at home and still expecting me to wash the sheets, such a thing doesn't exist in this world. I'll go find the team leader to judge."
In these times, improper male-female relations aren't trivial matters, they still weren't engaged, even if she wants to report them, she's justified.
The stepmother hurriedly stopped her as soon as she heard her plan to speak to the team, forcing a stiff smile.
"You silly child, of course, as a mom, I'll wash those sheets for you. It's late, no need to wander outside, I'll give you fresh bedding. It's not appropriate to involve outsiders in family matters."
Saying so, she signaled to Ye Xiaotong, "Xiaotong you really should understand, as an elder sister, you ought to know better, today you acted inconsiderately, quickly apologize to Manman."
Ye Xiaotong gritted her teeth in hatred, internally blaming herself for being a bit too eager and overlooking the situation, originally wanting them to notice so she could properly marry Xie Fengmian, but unexpectedly being caught by this little wench...
"Manman, don't be angry, today it was I who was wrong, I'll surely compensate you afterward, alright?"
Ye Xiaotong was furious but had to force a smile, fearing Ye Manman would report to the team leader. She didn't want this affair to spread out making her marriage look unrefined, she was going to marry into the town with dignity!
Hearing her, Ye Manman's lips slightly curved.
The fish has bitten the bait.
"Alright then, how do you plan to compensate me, sister?"