Chapter 268: Under the Feather Duster: To Speak or Not to Speak

Bangeng and Xiao Dang each held a steamed bun in their hands, chewing it slowly with unnatural expressions; to Qin Huairu it seemed they were forcing the buns into their own mouths, chewing for a long time without swallowing.

The fact is there.

Qin Huairu's conflicted feelings grew increasingly anxious and uneasy.

The happy thing.

It's that if she messes up, she might take this portion of money; even if she can't take all of it, at least she could take half.

The worrying thing.

It's that she worries the money will fall into Bangeng's hands and be squandered by him.

Think again.

Bangeng didn't dare hide the money at home, nor on his person, so he could only hide it outside; if someone saw it, the money would truly be gone.

"Bangeng, did you eat something tonight?"

Bangeng looked up at Qin Huairu, swallowed the bun in his mouth as if it were dog feces, and replied.

"I didn't eat, I didn't eat anything."

What he said was a lie.

This Bangeng kid took his sister tonight to eat Peking duck at Quanjude.

A whole big duck.

Was completely devoured by Bangeng and Xiao Dang.

Their stomachs are full of duck meat—how could they be hungry?

Now, not to mention steamed buns, even if mountain delicacies and sea flavors were placed before Bangeng, he would have no appetite.

The reason they force themselves to eat steamed buns is merely to put on a show.

In order not to be exposed, Bangeng also instructed Xiao Dang not to tell Qin Huairu the truth.

Both of them were pretending.

But the act they put on was really stiff; their acting not only failed to fool Qin Huairu, but was seen through at a glance by Jia Zhangshi.

"Really, you didn't eat anything?"

The expression on Qin Huairu's face.

Gradually became stern.

"Qin Huairu, if the kids didn't eat, they didn't eat; as a mother, how can you not believe your own children?"

"Mom, I'm talking to Bangeng; can you not butt in?"

That "Mom" from Qin Huairu.

The tone was very stiff.

This also made Jia Zhangshi more firmly believe that Bangeng would take the blame, and that no matter what she said, she couldn't admit it.

"I won't butt in; you talk to Bangeng."

Jia Zhangshi, out of spite, turned her head to the side.

Only this way.

Only then could she appear guiltless.

"Bangeng, Xiao Dang, why aren't you two hungry today? You've been chewing a steamed bun for so long—did you sneak something to eat outside?"

Qin Huairu looked at Bangeng and Xiao Dang.

Her tone was a bit stricter than before.

"Speak the truth, I want to hear your truth."

Bangeng felt a bit guilty, shaking his head repeatedly.

Xiao Dang, who had been instructed by Bangeng, likewise immediately denied.

The two of them had colluded, firmly refusing to admit they had eaten roast duck outside and come back.

But because they are just children, their ability to pretend is really poor, their acting not very good, so they basically incriminate themselves.

Qin Huairu and Jia Zhangshi both keenly saw the oil stains on the front of Xiao Dang and Huaihua's clothes.

In a year when they hardly ate any meat and had little oil, what these oil stains signify goes without saying.

Like lice on a monk's head.

It's obvious.

"You're acting a bit like an older brother, a bit like a younger sister, and have learned not to tell the truth." Qin Huairu raised her voice, "Bangeng, Xiao Dang, you think that if you say nothing, we won't know anything? Your grandmother saw it, and you're still lying? Do I have to beat you before you'll tell the truth?"

Qin Huairu casually picked up a feather duster.

She used the feather duster to hard‑hit the edge of the kang.

Applying pressure.

The sound of the feather duster striking the kang's edge made Bangeng inexplicably shiver; from his memory, he had never seen such a ferocious‑looking mother.

As for Xiao Dang.

He started crying right then.

"Qin Huairu, why are you being so fierce? Look, you've scared Xiao Dang into crying."

Qin Huairu looked at Jia Zhangshi, who was guarding the calf, then turned her gaze to Xiao Dang.

This matter.

We should still start from Xiao Dang.

As for Bangeng.

A stubborn child.

No matter what Qin Huairu says, Bangeng will not admit it.

She originally wanted to directly ask Xiao Dang, but considering Jia Zhangshi's various oddities, she deliberately staged this scheme to lure the snake out of its hole.

Based on Qin Huairu's understanding of Jia Zhangshi, Laoqianpo has never really liked Xiao Dang.

Favoring males over females, she believes that no matter how good a daughter is, she belongs to another family.

Today, however, she unusually protected Xiao Dang a bit.

No.

This is diverting trouble eastward.

She wants Qin Huairu to hit Xiao Dang, then cover for Bangeng.

Qin Huairu let out a cold snort, then asked Xiao Dang: "Xiao Dang, Mom gives you one last chance—tell the truth, has anyone in our courtyard seen you buying food to eat?"

Xiao Dang glanced at Bangeng.

She hesitated a bit.

"Speak!"

The feather duster in Qin Huairu's hand pointed at Xiao Dang.

Facing the feather duster that could be called a childhood nightmare, Xiao Dang no longer remembered Bangeng's instructions; the offensive-defensive alliance had long been forgotten, and she said to Qin Huairu: "Mom, just stop asking—my brother and I agreed we wouldn't tell; if I did, he wouldn't take me to eat good food. If I don't, he'll take me again to buy meat to eat."

Good partner, that amounts to a confession.

Qin Huairu's expression calmed, and she turned her head toward the innocently pretending Bangeng nearby.

Xiao Dang's words alone are enough to prove they stole money.

Not eaten—Xiao Dang would say she didn't eat, but she instead said something we cannot say.

Think about it carefully.

Isn't it just that they ate?

There's still an oil stain on the clothing.

Sniff hard.

He can still smell the meat.

Upon hearing this, Qin Huairu felt a headache and nearly fainted from anger.

She's really damn bold, daring to steal anything, even bringing her sister along, then afterwards warning her sister not to speak—you're harming your sister.

"Where is the remaining money?"

Bangeng shivered as he looked at Qin Huairu, "Nothing left, it's all spent."

"Really?"

"If you don't believe me, ask Xiao Dang."

"Xiao Dang?"

"Brother won't let me speak."

Another self-incrimination without being struck.

Qin Huairu laughed.

She laughed from anger.

"Bangeng, the more you steal, the bolder you get—you'd dare steal anything." Qin Huairu scolded the two children, especially Bangeng, with hatred for iron that won't become steel: "You wear a chicken-stealing, dog-snatching hat on your head, and you want to put a thief's hat on your sister's head too—what will outsiders say? They say the Jia family has a tradition of thievery."

This needs no explanation—it's definitely Bangeng who led the way.

Xiao Dang doesn't have that much courage.

Jia Zhangshi's most beloved is her grandson Bangeng; Qin Huairu scolding her granddaughter draws no complaint, but scolding Bangeng makes her unhappy.

"What's with the fierceness? If there's a mistake, just correct it—why are you making a fuss to scare the kids? Bangeng is the mainstay of our Jia family."

Jia Zhangshi is very protective of her young; no matter whether Bangeng's deeds are right or wrong, she fully shields him.

Bangeng could evolve into the ultimate white-eyed wolf, driving the immobile old Shazhu out of the siheyuan; Jia Zhangshi is indeed a great help.

Not teaching well.

Specifically teaching bad.