Meng Qingyun let out a snicker. To see Meng Huiyun put in her place today was incredibly satisfying! Her fifth brother truly was a character!
Turning to Meng Shuping, she said with a sincere expression, "Fifth Brother, you've misunderstood. At our estate, we also refrain from speaking during meals. Little sister is still young; she'll grow out of it."
Meng Shuping responded dryly, "Oh, I see."
Meng Wenxiu, already squirming with embarrassment, felt his face burn with shame when his own daughter seemed to undermine him. He snapped, "Must you talk so much?"
Though accustomed to it, Meng Qingyun still felt a pang of injustice at Meng Wenxiu's reprimand. She pouted, silently fixating on her bowl.
Meng Shuping couldn't help but inwardly scoff, "Oh ho, someone's getting angry out of embarrassment. What did she even do wrong? She just spoke the plain truth."
"Tsk, always picking on us younger ones. Has he forgotten how timid he is in front of Grandfather? If Grandfather were here, would this so-called father dare act so high and mighty? It's like when the tiger's away, the monkey claims the mountain—he's only tough within his own den."
Noticing Meng Shuping's mental taunts didn't interrupt his eating, Meng Wenxiu's eyebrows twitched with fury. But having no fresh reason to erupt, he abruptly stood up—he couldn't stomach another bite.
Seeing the bowls and chopsticks on the table rattle and some soup slosh over, Meng Shuping pursed his lips. "So rash! How undignified!"
Hearing Meng Shuping use his own words to mock him, Meng Wenxiu was seething. Feng Shi, suppressing a smile, quickly asked, "Master, what's wrong?"
Meng Shuping watched him with a flicker of hope. "Is he too ashamed to stay? Perfect. His face was ruining my appetite. With him gone, I could eat two more bowls of rice."
At that, Meng Wenxiu's steps towards leaving faltered. If he left now, wouldn't it be an admission that he had no face to remain?
No, he couldn't go. With that thought, he settled back into his seat.
Meng Shuping felt a pang of disappointment. "Strange, why isn't he leaving now?"
Noticing everyone's gaze on him, Meng Wenxiu cleared his throat and offered a casual excuse. "My legs were a bit numb just now; I stood up to stretch them."
Feng Shi asked with concern, "Are you all right now?"
Meng Wenxiu replied stiffly, "I'm fine."
Feng Shi said, "Then please continue eating, Master."
The rest of the meal passed in quiet. Meng Shuping found this perfectly agreeable—no more unwanted interruptions to his dinner.
When he was about seven or eight parts full, a maid suddenly announced, "Master, Mistress, Third Mistress is here."
Meng Shuping perked up. "Aha! No wonder 'cheap dad' suddenly decided not to leave—his sweetheart has arrived!"
Everyone at the table simultaneously choked on their food, breaking into a fit of coughs.
They had sensed something amiss in Meng Shuping's thoughts earlier, but now it clicked: he actually believed Sun Shi and Meng Wenxiu were romantically involved.
Of course, that was impossible. Meng Wenxiu would never look twice at someone like Sun Shi. Besides, Meng Shuping had just returned—how could he possibly know the ins and outs of such matters?
Still, they found it odd that Meng Shuping would think that.
Meng Shuping looked at the others, puzzled. "Wow, is Third Mistress that formidable? Everyone's reacting so strongly just hearing she's here."
Meng Wenxiu glared furiously at Meng Shuping. He now suspected others might be able to hear Meng Shuping's inner thoughts. If that were true, his dignity was utterly ruined.
Just then, the door curtain lifted, and Third Mistress Sun Shi entered.
Feng Shi had intended to rise earlier but was delayed by her coughing fit. Now composed, she stood to greet her. "Third Sister-in-Law, what brings you here at this hour?"
Sun Shi settled into a nearby chair, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. "Second Brother, Second Sister-in-Law, I didn't mean to come at this time, but after I took Yang Geer home earlier, he kept complaining of pain and even vomited blood. We called a doctor immediately, but the doctor said... the doctor said..."
Meng Wenxiu's heart sank. "What did the doctor say?"
Sun Shi touched the corner of her eye with her handkerchief, and her eyes reddened instantly. She said sorrowfully, "The doctor said Yang Geer was nearly fundamentally injured."
Meng Shuping was astonished. "What? Fundamentally injured? Yang Geer can't... perform anymore?"
He nearly doubted himself. "Did I hit him that hard?"
Meng Wenxiu sprang up from his chair, momentarily forgetting to blame Meng Shuping. He urgently asked Sun Shi, "What? Will Yang Geer still be able to have children?"
Feng Shi also looked worried. "Third Sister-in-Law, is it that serious? Should we call an imperial physician? Don't worry, this won't affect Yang Geer's chances of marrying."
Meng Shuchun and the others were shocked. Regardless of their private thoughts, they all expressed concern. "Third Aunt, how is Sixth Brother now?"
Sun Shi had just prepared her act when she realized things weren't going as planned—they had taken an unexpected turn.
Her face contorted with hatred for Meng Shuping. This wretched child dared curse her son's fertility.
But faced with everyone's concern, she could only say through gritted teeth, "Yang Geer... that area is fine. It's elsewhere that's injured."
"Oh," everyone sighed in relief. Feng Shi placed a hand over her heart. "That's good, then."
Sun Shi: "..."
Wait, what's wrong with you all? An injury elsewhere isn't a big deal?
Half-relieved, Feng Shi remembered Sun Shi was still there and put on a worried expression again. "How is Yang Geer now?"
Sun Shi dabbed her eyes again with her handkerchief, working up her emotions. "The doctor said if he doesn't rest and recover properly this time, it might leave lasting damage."
Feng Shi feigned alarm. "What should we do? Third Sister-in-Law, perhaps this doctor isn't skilled enough. Maybe we should call for an imperial physician after all."
Sun Shi quickly said, "That won't be necessary. This doctor is quite competent. He said as long as Yang Geer rests well, he'll be fine..."
Watching Sun Shi's dramatic performance, Meng Shuping couldn't help but admire it. "Tsk tsk, what great acting. If I weren't one of the involved parties, I'd almost believe it."
"Next, she'll try to extort money, right? Let me see how she does it. Is she going to ask for money to buy tonics?"
"...It's just that this recovery process is quite costly..."
Sun Shi almost choked on her words, almost losing control of her expression. But she was shameless and quickly recovered. She continued, "As you know, Second Sister-in-Law, our household spends more than it earns. We don't have much spare money. So I came to ask if Second Brother and Second Sister-in-Law could lend us a hand, so Yang Geer's whole life isn't ruined."
Meng Shuping was utterly impressed with Sun Shi. "Whoa, so if we don't give money, we're ruining his life? Third Aunt really knows how to make money. After that, who would dare refuse?"
"No wonder Yang Geer acts so arrogantly. Honestly, if they pull this a few more times, they could strike it rich and reach the pinnacle of life!"
Damn "pinnacle of life." Feng Shi felt like she'd run out of thigh to pinch herself. The others also covered their mouths, struggling to suppress their laughter.
Seeing that Meng Shuping showed no remorse for beating someone so severely—instead gloating and mocking inwardly without any familial respect—Meng Wenxiu was furious. But with no fresh reason to lecture Meng Shuping, he suppressed his anger and said, "Since Yang Geer was beaten so badly, we can't ignore it. How much money will you need, Third Sister-in-Law?"
Watching Meng Wenxiu ready to hand over money without question, Meng Shuping was exasperated. "He falls for such an obvious scam? Is he stupid or blind? Or is it Third Aunt's feminine charms?"
"Pfft—" Several others couldn't hold back, trembling with suppressed laughter.
Meng Shuping didn't know what everyone was laughing about. He sighed. "Ugh, I really don't want to admit he's my biological father. I'm afraid people will look at me funny and think I'm as dumb as he is."
"Argh, my intolerance for stupidity is kicking in!"
Not bothering to dwell on Meng Shuping's jab at her, Sun Shi was delighted and quickly suppressed a smile, "The physician said five hundred taels will surely cure him."
Meng Wenxiu froze. What? Five hundred taels? That much?
Seeing Meng Wenxiu's stiff expression, Meng Shuping almost burst out laughing. He scoffed, "Hahaha, could it be he can't afford it? Then why was he boasting? Trying to show off his 'boyfriend power' in front of Third Aunt? Hilarious. Does he even have any?"
Feng Shi gave her thigh another hard pinch. No, she really couldn't hold it in any longer.
Meng Wenxiu clenched his fists tightly, afraid he might accidentally punch Meng Shuping in the face. He struggled to calm himself and said to Feng Shi, "Madam, please trouble yourself to retrieve five hundred taels of silver."
Meng Shuping remarked, "No way? He's actually going to give it? Has he lost his mind from being beaten? Well, it must be true love. Ah, the most pitiful is Second Mistress, stuck with such a scoundrel."
Meng Wenxiu shot him an angry glare, suspecting that if this continued, he would sooner or later die of rage.
Feng Shi, who had initially been genuinely worried about Meng Shuyang, no longer felt concerned. She put on a troubled expression and said, "Third Sister-in-law, I naturally support giving Yang Geer what he needs to recover. Unfortunately, my shop from my dowry recently suffered a loss, and I had to use all the silver on hand to keep it running. It won't be possible today, but could I give it to you the day after tomorrow?"
Sun Shi had been worried Feng Shi would refuse outright. Hearing it was only a delay of a day or two, though she feared complications might arise, she knew she couldn't rush it. So she reluctantly agreed, "Alright then, but don't forget, Second Sister-in-law."
Feng Shi smiled sincerely, "Of course not. We can't let Yang Geer's future be ruined."
With promises from both Meng Wenxiu and Feng Shi, Sun Shi left satisfied. Meng Qingyun grumbled unhappily, "Mother, are you really planning to give her the silver?"
This Sun Shi, coming to their home again and again for money, was utterly annoying. The worst part was her father—how could he still agree? How much money did he even have? In the end, wasn't it always her mother who ended up paying?