Chapter 22: The Stepmother Is Resentful

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Elderly Lady Qi soon grew tired of beating her. She flung the broom at Qi Moli. “Get lost. Don’t even think about eating before tomorrow.”

Right now, just looking at Qi Moli made her angry.

Everyone said that she favored her eldest son’s family, but she didn’t.

All three of her sons were good-for-nothings. Moreover, the second son had a cold temperament, while the third son was lazy. Only the eldest son was willing to get close to her and would come to her aid. She could only take care of this family first.

She sat down and began to make matchboxes. Her tears fell silently. It was so hard to get by these days.

She had so many children and grandchildren, but none of them could compare to Old Master Qi.

No, perhaps Qi Mianmian could.

When her husband was still alive, he had always praised Qi Mianmian for being smart. He even forced her to study medicine for a period of time.

It was a pity that the silly child had always clung towards that awful woman, Luo Qingwen. In the past, she was the one Elderly Lady Qi hated the most…

Now that Qi Mianmian had become clear-headed, perhaps she could bring their family to greater heights.

No, even if she could only bring the second branch of the Qi family to prosperity, Elderly Lady Qi could still die in peace.

At this thought, Elderly Lady Qi’s tears slowly stopped.

She looked up towards the kitchen in the west room.

Qi Mianmian was sitting on a small stool, knitting a sweater quickly and smiling as she directed Qi Fang and Qi Zhen on how to build the oven.

As for the sweater in her hand, which she had only begun knitting yesterday, only one sleeve was left undone…

An ordinary person certainly didn’t possess such skills…

It seemed that there was still some hope for the Qi family.

Elderly Lady Qi could not help but smile.

The oven was completed perfectly before dinner.

Elderly Lady Qi, Qi Shan, and Qi Jingzhong had all come to take a look.

Qi Jingzhong was in his thirties. He had delicate features, but he looked sloppy and lazy.

After seeing the oven, he said with a smile, “Mianmian, if you guys open for business, I’ll be your first customer.”

Qi Mianmian found herself speechless.

Huh. This Third Uncle was quite good with words.

At dinner, Qi Mianmian finally met her father, stepmother, and younger brother.

Indeed, Big Sister Qi Tian took after her father.

However, on Qi Tian, those features looked a little androgynous, while Qi Jingtang looked handsome.

Actually, Third Uncle Qi also looked a little like him.

However, Third Uncle Qi was quite short.

Qi Mianmian thought for a while and realized that their faces all resembled Old Master Qi’s.

Unfortunately, none of them were as capable as Old Master Qi.

Her half-brother, Qi Yang, looked like his stepmother, Wan Meiling. He had delicate features, and a small and dignified mouth. He was very good-looking too.

Unfortunately, Qi Yang’s body had always been weak. He looked sickly and lifeless.

Wan Meiling wasn’t frail at all. It was a pity that she always had a resentful expression on her face.

Where did her resentment stem from?

Was it because Qi Jingtang was usually not at home, or was it because Qi Yang had poor health, or was it because of the scar the size of a little fingernail on her face?

Qi Mianmian didn’t know, but she could tell that Wan Meiling had a kind heart.

This could be seen from the fact that she only picked out vegetables of poorer quality for herself. Although she clearly loved Qi Yang dearly, she only took a few pieces of good food for him.

Seeing this, Qi Mianmian was even more satisfied with this family.

From the looks of it, there was nothing wrong with their little family, apart from her father being a little cold and unsympathetic.

However, he was still a man with a job. He would not become a burden.

After the meal, Qi Mianmian quietly stuffed two pieces of White Rabbit Milk Candy into Qi Yang’s pocket.

The child was extremely surprised. He wanted to ask Wan Meiling for help, but Qi Mianmian skipped away in the blink of an eye.

She looked like a comical little rabbit.

“…”

Soon, Elderly Lady Qi and Qi Shan moved a small table into the bedroom shared by the three sisters, and began to make matchboxes as usual.

The dark green sweater in Qi Mianmian’s hand had already begun to take shape. Qi Shan was shocked to see it and regretted her decision. “Mianmian, the sweater you’re knitting is so pretty! I really want to own one of these soon! Why don’t I switch jobs with you? I’ll take over what you need to do for now, and you can knit one for me as soon as possible.”

It was almost September, and she would have to wear a jacket soon.

If Qi Mianmian knit a cardigan for her, she no longer had to worry about buying proper clothes for the autumn, especially the clothes she would need to wear as a guest.