Chapter 234: Request

"Sister Wang, are you saying the little girl next door was taken away by her grandmother—the one who so clearly favors boys?"

Wang Xiang nodded. "That’s right. They took her away first thing this morning."

"I think they were supposed to be on yesterday’s train, but they ended up taking the five o’clock one this morning."

"Hao Rong went to see her off himself, and he didn’t even realize his own daughter was gone."

"By the time his wife, Cui Meihong, found out, she rushed after them—but of course, she couldn’t catch up. The train had left long ago."

Fu Mingxue was speechless. "But doesn’t that old woman hate her granddaughter? Why would she take the child away?"

Wang Xiang pursed her lips. "Who knows! I bet she’s up to no good."

Just then, Mrs. Fu spoke up. "She definitely took her granddaughter back so she could have some leverage over the couple. Without the granddaughter, how could she control her son and daughter-in-law?"

Wang Xiang nodded quickly. "Right, right, right, that’s what I think too. She’s just awful. That poor little girl is going to have a rough time in her hands."

"So what’s the plan now?" Fu Mingxue asked curiously. "Are they going back to their village to find her?"

"I don’t know. Hao Rong can’t, though. I saw him rush back only to leave for a mission right away. Cui Meihong is heading to the school now, but I don’t know if she’s going to work or to ask for time off."

"I heard she just passed the exam to become a teacher! If she has to ask for time off right after getting the job, it could put her position in jeopardy."

The school was only hiring because they were short on teachers in the first place.

If she takes leave, they’d just have to find someone else, wouldn’t they? They can’t let the students’ classes be delayed, after all.

Fu Mingxue was a little surprised by this.

’Becoming a teacher at the school is a great opportunity, though.’

’But this really puts her in a tough spot.’

"Mom, I’m going to get some breakfast." She had slept in and woken up late; it was already past seven.

Mrs. Fu said quickly, "Go on, hurry up and eat."

Just as Fu Mingxue was eating her breakfast, a knock came from the door outside.

Fu Mingxue didn’t get up, since her mother was still in the yard chatting with Wang Xiang and would surely answer it.

Mrs. Fu went to open the door and saw the young wife from next door, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

"What... what is it?" Seeing how pitiful the woman looked, Mrs. Fu’s tone softened considerably.

"Aunty, it’s like this... I have to go back to my village to get my daughter, but there’s no one to look after my son. Could I possibly leave him with you for a few days?"

Mrs. Fu was dumbfounded.

"I’m afraid that’s not possible. My son-in-law is in the hospital, my daughter has to work, and we already have Sister Wang helping us watch our two children for a little while. We simply don’t have the capacity to look after your child as well."

Any trace of pity she’d felt just moments before vanished completely.

’What on earth is this woman thinking?’ The fact that her son-in-law was injured was common knowledge throughout the entire family compound.

’There’s no way Cui Meihong doesn’t know about it.’

’So why would she try to leave her son with our family?’

’And if I remember correctly, Cui Meihong’s son is a real handful!’

Wang Xiang was also taken aback by Cui Meihong’s request.

When she snapped out of it, she quickly chimed in, "Little Cui! I don’t think Mrs. Fu can do it. Qin Tuan is injured and there’s no one to look after him as it is."

Tears started to fall from Cui Meihong’s eyes.

"I know I’m putting Mrs. Fu in a difficult position. How about this... I’ll leave him here at her place, but Sister Wang, you have some time, don’t you? Aren’t you helping watch the twins for the next two days? Could you help me watch my son, too?"

Wang Xiang could only stare. ’...?’

’How did I get dragged into this?’

"Th-that’s not possible! I have two of my own at home! I’m only helping Mrs. Fu watch hers temporarily."

She’d had run-ins with Hao Rong’s son before. He was young, but he was an incredibly bossy child.