Free Web NovelChapter 24: Chapter 24: Unexpected Protection
Su Dan was two years older than Su Li, making him twenty this year. Having been spoiled rotten by Miao Fenghua, he was lazy, irresponsible, and full of malicious schemes. Although he looked fair and clean-cut, his true nature was plain to see. His frivolous air made it clear he was no good, leaving a very bad impression.
Snatching the letter from Su Li, his normally dull, murky eyes lit up for a rare moment as he shrewdly scanned to the end and quickly located the sum Tang Yuanxiao mentioned he was sending home.
The sight of this "huge sum" made a greedy glint flash in his eyes, and he couldn’t help but gulp. ’I was right to come today. The long walk was definitely worth it!’
Su Dan was already treating the money Tang Yuanxiao sent home as if it were already in his own pocket.
Miao Fenghua couldn’t read, but she could tell from Su Dan’s expression that it was a significant amount of money. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes, and a look of greedy calculation crept across her face.
The mother and son had come specifically for the money Tang Yuanxiao sent. They had snuck in quietly and happened to overhear Mrs. Tang telling Su Li to go withdraw the money. Miao Fenghua shot her son a look, and Su Dan knew exactly what to do.
Su Dan’s first move was to grab the letter. Seeing the exact amount first would ensure they could snatch every last cent.
They put their plan into action in an instant and were already halfway successful.
Su Li knew exactly what Miao Fenghua and Su Dan were like, and she didn’t miss the expressions on their faces. A flash of rage crossed her eyes as she reached out and snatched the letter back from Su Dan’s hand.
Fire blazed in Su Dan’s eyes. "Su Li, what do you think you’re doing?!"
"I should be asking *you* what you’re doing," Su Li said coldly, her face full of mockery. "You barge in and immediately snatch someone’s letter. Don’t you know it’s illegal to read someone’s mail without their permission? It’s an invasion of privacy! Sneaking into the Tang Family home like this and grabbing things... anyone who didn’t know better would think you were thieves, or even robbers!"
Su Li’s voice was filled with scorn and resentment. ’Miao Fenghua and Su Dan are nothing but thieves and robbers. No, they’re even more vile and disgusting than that!’
Miao Fenghua and Su Dan stared at Su Li, stunned for a moment. Then, mother and son erupted simultaneously.
"How dare you call me a thief and a robber! Su Li, have you completely lost your mind?!"
"Su Li, you’re asking for it!"
Su Li had been brainwashed by Miao Fenghua since she was a child. Her personality was somewhat simple and naive, and she had always been completely obedient to Miao Fenghua and Su Dan, waiting on her brother as if he were an emperor. Su Li was normally terrified of them; no one could have imagined she would ever have the guts to curse them.
They were incredulous and seething with rage. Cursing loudly, they rushed forward to hit Su Li without a second thought.
"That’s enough!" Snapping out of her shock, Mrs. Tang cried out from the side. Her sharp voice successfully halted the mother and son’s raised hands, which were poised to strike.
"Don’t!" In that split second, Little Tang Mo, who had been quiet until now, saw the scene and rushed in front of Su Li. He spread his little arms to shield her with his body, completely unaware of how small he was and how little protection he could offer.
The actions of Mrs. Tang and Little Tang Mo took Su Li completely by surprise.
Miao Fenghua and Su Dan grudgingly lowered their arms. After shooting Su Li a vicious, warning glare, Miao Fenghua turned to Mrs. Tang, her face suddenly wreathed in smiles. "Ah, Mrs. Tang... This child, Su Li, she’s being so disobedient. Please excuse the scene."
Mrs. Tang’s expression was grim. She forced a smile. "Su Li is quite obedient. If there’s something you need to teach her, I’m sure words will suffice."
Mrs. Tang was furious about Su Dan snatching the letter.
She had a gentle temperament, completely unlike the shameless shrew Miao Fenghua. She had never liked her son’s mother-in-law, nor did she care for Su Dan.
Su Li was different. She was obedient and didn’t need disciplining. More importantly, Su Li was a daughter-in-law of the Tang Family. If anyone were to discipline her, it certainly wouldn’t be Miao Fenghua.
This was what Mrs. Tang was thinking. In the past, even if she felt this way, she would never have interfered in matters between Miao Fenghua and Su Li. Today, however, she had done the unprecedented and spoken up for Su Li.
Miao Fenghua was taken aback for a moment, then an awkward smile appeared on her face. "Yes, of course. You’re right, Mrs. Tang."
As she spoke, she shot a vicious glare at Little Tang Mo, who was watching her with wary hostility. ’Little brat,’ she cursed inwardly. Out loud, she said, "Tang Mo, don’t you recognize your grandma and uncle? Why aren’t you greeting us?" ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Little Tang Mo pursed his lips, his small face tight, and mumbled, "Grandma. Uncle."
"This kid doesn’t even crack a smile. So reluctant just to greet someone," Miao Fenghua muttered. The malice in her eyes made Little Tang Mo even more wary.
Little Tang Mo’s hand, which was clutching Su Li’s pant leg, tightened with tension. Su Li finally snapped back to her senses. She looked down at Little Tang Mo, then over at Mrs. Tang, her expression a little strange.
It was strange. Unbelievable. She was at a complete loss.
’Mrs. Tang and Little Tang Mo... were protecting her? Why were they protecting her? It was just... bizarre.’
Just as Su Li was fumbling to describe the feeling, she heard Miao Fenghua say, "Su Li, you should teach Tang Mo some manners. He’s so impolite. In the future, people will say it’s because you’re an unfit mother..."
"The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Mom, before you criticize Little Mo, maybe you should take a look at yourself," Su Li cut in bluntly.
’Miao Fenghua has no right to lecture Little Tang Mo!’
"Su Li, you unfilial girl! How could you say that to me? I’m your mother! How am I ’crooked’? What have I done wrong?!" Miao Fenghua, like a lit firecracker, instantly exploded into a tirade. She propped her hands on her hips, jumped to her feet, and began cursing while pointing at Su Li’s nose.
Miao Fenghua... really didn’t look like Su Li’s mother.
She was short and fat. In her youth, she had merely been plump, which was passable thanks to her age. But when she married Mr. Su, everyone who saw them thought of the saying, "a beautiful flower stuck in a pile of cow dung."
She was the cow dung; Mr. Su was the beautiful flower.
Mr. Su was dashingly handsome. Although he’d been in poor health since he was a child and appeared somewhat frail, he was still the undisputed village heartthrob. Plenty of girls in the village admired him or had secret crushes on him.
In the end, however, Mr. Su fell into the hands of a vulgar woman like Miao Fenghua. His marriage to her was arranged by his parents. No matter how mismatched they seemed to others, the two started a life together and even had three children. freeωebnovēl.c૦m
As Mr. Su aged, his handsome charm remained, while Miao Fenghua seemed less and less a match for him. She grew increasingly fat, especially after having three children and getting older, until she had become a complete blob.
When Miao Fenghua walked beside Mr. Su, people’s assumptions about her relationship to him changed over the years—from a relative to, later, his aunt. But never once was she mistaken for his wife. Not even once.
Su Li, Su Dan, and their older sister, Su Xing, had all inherited their looks from Mr. Su. They were each a full head taller than Miao Fenghua.
Whenever Miao Fenghua scolded Mr. Su or the children, she always had to hop up and down. As she jumped now, the rolls of fat on her stomach jiggled. "You really are a worthless girl! A daughter married off is like water thrown out! How dare you deadbeat girl say I’m ’crooked’! How am I crooked?!"
"Mrs. Tang, you really ought to control your daughter-in-law. A wife acting like this is just outrageous." Though Miao Fenghua’s words sounded like advice, her posture was aggressive. She stood with her hands on her hips, chest puffed out, trying to intimidate Mrs. Tang.
