047, Brother and Sister-in-law, Confrontation

Elder brother and sister-in-law? Jing Qinqin was a bit surprised. If Gao Shen’s relatives lived so close by, why did the Li family next door have to look after him? As she pondered, she realized there must be some complicated issues within Gao Shen’s family.

Jing Qinqin was about to reply, but when she saw Gao Shen cut off Su Juan’s words, she refrained, sitting calmly to the side, quietly listening to their conversation.

If these were truly Gao Shen’s family, Jing Qinqin would naturally have treated them warmly. However, from the moment they entered, she sensed the strained relationship. She noticed a fleeting, chilling change in Gao Shen’s demeanor—even if it was but for an instant, she was close enough to feel it.

“So what’s your point?” Gao Shen asked indifferently, his expression showing not a trace of familial affection, only a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

“Since you have relatives from the city visiting, why didn’t you let us know? That’s rather neglectful, isn’t it? Besides, I wonder which family this young lady belongs to. I don’t believe I’ve seen her before,” Gao Wei inquired stiffly, his manner as precise as a school disciplinarian.

Jing Qinqin studied the man beside Gao Shen. Though they were brothers, they couldn’t have felt more different. One was a scholar, the other a man of action.

Gao Wei was tall and slender, exuding a scholarly air that suggested he’d been educated from a young age. His expression was rigid and serious, truly reminiscent of a school administrator. Though his gaze was steady, from his tone, posture, and the way he looked at Su Juan, Jing Qinqin could see he was a man with little opinion of his own but a high sense of self-importance.

The woman standing next to him was dressed quite differently from the village women—her background was clearly better, untouched by hardship. Though her clothes were neat and simple, there was a calculating look in her eyes that made Jing Qinqin uncomfortable.

“Exactly, little brother, we only mean to be hospitable,” Su Juan chimed in immediately.

“My guest, my responsibility to host. If there’s nothing else, please leave,” Gao Shen said, his face still expressionless.

Su Juan’s face darkened, and she huffed, “I happen to know that quite a few things were brought here as gifts. Since she’s a relative of the Gao family, surely some of those are meant for our parents?”

Su Juan didn’t need to mention herself or her husband; just invoking their parents, she was certain Gao Shen wouldn’t dare refuse. Once things fell into her mother-in-law’s hands, she needn’t worry; they’d surely end up in her own pocket. After all, she’d managed this household for years—without her, they’d all have suffered!

Jing Qinqin, who had remained silent, frowned slightly at the woman’s words. How did she know that?

When she returned to the village at noon, it was lunchtime; she and Xiao Mei hadn’t encountered anyone on the way back, especially since they lived in a secluded spot and took a small side path. No one could possibly have known how many things she’d bought!

In just this short lunchtime, Gao Shen’s brother and sister-in-law had managed to track them down so clearly. From the woman’s words, it was clear they’d come for the items she’d bought that morning.

Jing Qinqin’s thoughts turned to the four women she’d ridden with on the ox cart. Could one of them be a neighbor of Su Juan and Gao Wei?

Suddenly, Jing Qinqin remembered a woman in a gray dress on the cart. When Xiao Mei mentioned the military and the surname Gao, that woman had looked oddly interested. Could she have known about Gao Shen’s family and guessed that Xiao Mei was referring to him? Perhaps she’d informed Gao Wei and Su Juan upon returning.

Jing Qinqin was surprised by her own deduction. So, they’d come to take advantage.

As for why Gao Shen lived with the Li family and not his own, Jing Qinqin still didn’t know the details or whether there were hidden reasons. Since Gao Shen hadn’t volunteered the information, she wouldn’t pry.

As for the current situation—this was Gao Shen’s family matter, and it was best to let him handle it. She had no place to interfere unless he truly needed her. After all, woman to woman, she might be more effective.

Gao Shen let out a cold laugh, his eyes full of open disdain and ridicule.

Then, in a chill voice, he said, “You certainly have some nerve.”

“Little brother, how can you say that? We’re only trying to help,” Gao Wei replied, frowning as if Gao Shen were the inconsiderate one.

“I’ll say it again. This is my guest. It has nothing to do with you,” Gao Shen said coldly.

Su Juan sensed a problem and put on a gentle smile. “Little brother, a visitor is a guest, no matter who they’re here to see. Isn’t that right, miss?”

Jing Qinqin couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. The most invincible people in this world are those with no sense of shame. No matter how you reason, they remain unfazed, playing dumb and refusing to give up until they get what they want.

Gao Shen’s attitude was clear and cold, but what else could he do? He couldn’t fight or curse at them—they were his brother and sister-in-law. In this era, filial piety and family ethics were taken extremely seriously; even a hint of rudeness would ignite a storm of public condemnation.

Jing Qinqin collected her thoughts and smiled gently: “I’m sorry, I don’t know you. And whether Gao Shen’s surname is Gao or Zhang, I’m here to look after him, not anyone else. What does that have to do with you?”

She felt no such constraints, especially since she didn’t belong to this time. Why should she care whether others liked her or not?

Besides, Gao Shen had clearly shown his indifference toward his brother and sister-in-law. Jing Qinqin believed he had his reasons. To her, Gao Shen was a very special person—the most important figure since she’d arrived here—so naturally, she would take his side.

Immediately, Gao Wei and Su Juan’s faces turned sour; they hadn’t expected this quiet, well-behaved woman to speak so bluntly and mercilessly.

Then, Jing Qinqin stood up, lips curved in a slight smile, her eyes sparkling with a lively light. She spoke softly: “Oh, but there is a connection. It’s precisely because I’m staying to look after Gao Shen that I bought those daily necessities. Since you’re his brother and sister-in-law, shouldn’t you do your part? After all, this place is so empty, there’s much we still lack. As for the cost of his care and medicine, why don’t you calculate and let me know how much you’ll pay me?”

--- End Note ---

Sorry, everyone, I took my mother out today so the update is late!

It’s Mother’s Day—how are you all celebrating?

Wishing every mother in the world beauty and health!

This book is exclusively published on Xiaoxiang Academy. Please do not repost!