Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Scheming and Calculating

The swaddling clothes were very soft to the touch, quite comfortable.

Xia Lan had never seen this fabric before and couldn’t determine its quality, incapable of making heads or tails of it.

However, at the bottom of the swaddling clothes, a simple “Ou” character was embroidered.

After fiddling with the swaddling clothes for a moment, she handed them back to Mother Xia.

But in her heart, she silently noted down the character.

If she ever got the chance and found people who seemed like Xia Chuyi’s biological parents–poor, mischievous scoundrels–she would definitely make Xia Chuyi return to her roots and claim her inheritance!

But if the family turned out to be decent, then she, ha, would certainly never let Xia Chuyi learn the truth.

Her gaze flickered, and she stepped forward to grab Mother Xia’s hand, comforting her, “Second Aunt, it’s okay, it’s all in the past. Rest assured, I will definitely keep this secret for you!”

“You, you mustn’t talk to anyone else about it again, otherwise, if it reaches grandma and grandpa’s ears, you know…”

She deliberately made it sound alarming.

Sure enough, Mother Xia became frantic with panic.

“But don’t worry, you have me,” Xia Lan continued to pacify Mother Xia, saying, “Chuyi isn’t our Xia Family’s child, but I am!”

“In the future, I will definitely be filial to you!”

With this hoodwinking, Mother Xia couldn’t help but to hug her and cry, and in the end, she agreed to give Xia Lan all her saved-up wealth.

On the other hand, Xia Chuyi at home was totally unaware that the mystery of her birth had just been concealed by Xia Lan.

When Xia Chuyi saw Aunt Xia return home in a huff without Uncle Xia’s company, she curiously asked, “Where’s uncle? Why aren’t you together with Aunt?”

Aunt Xia was also infuriated and snapped, “Why should he be with me? I’m an outsider! Isn’t it enough for him to be with that pack of ungrateful Xia Family wolves?”

After saying this, she realized that Xia Chuyi was also a Xia Family member and quickly added, “Chuyi, don’t take it to heart, you know I’m talking about those people.”

Xia Chuyi smiled faintly and said, “Aunt, you’re talking about my mom, aren’t you?”

Aunt Xia looked at her, shook her head after a while, and said, “You, child, are so sensible it’s heartbreaking!”

“And your mother, she’s not as sensible as you are.”

“What good will that Xia Family pack give her? Clearly, you are her biological daughter!”

Her tone was filled with indignation.

Xia Chuyi stepped forward and hugged Aunt Xia, saying, “Aunt, don’t be angry, I stopped caring a long time ago.”

“If mom doesn’t love me, isn’t it enough that you all care for me? Only if mom doesn’t want me anymore, and neither do you, would I be truly devastated!”

After a bout of pretend crying, she successfully made Aunt Xia burst into laughter.

“You child!” Aunt Xia tapped her forehead and said,

“You know, your mom and dad both saved your uncle.”

“Your mom might be foolish and clueless, but your uncle sees things clearly.”

“The debt of gratitude your uncle owes should be repaid to you, not to the Xia Family.”

Xia Chuyi put on a pitiable face and said, “Oh, so uncle and aunt are nice to me because they want to repay a debt of gratitude.”

“Have you been learning bad habits from that mischievous Xiao Gui?” She was gently knocked on the head.

She stuck out her tongue and blinked, unable to hold back her laughter first.

Aunt Xia also laughed, shaking her head and saying, “Affection between people grows through interaction. Even if your parents hadn’t saved Ming Lang, would we just ignore you?”

“Hmph, if it weren’t for that debt, your uncle would have been able to make more decisive choices.”

Both fell silent.

Xia Chuyi understood Aunt Xia’s implication: had it not been for those two added debts of gratitude, Uncle Xia wouldn’t have compromised so endlessly with her mom, would he?