Chapter 267: I Am Unwilling
Hearing something secondhand versus hearing the party involved admit it with her own lips yielded entirely different levels of impact.
Even so, Lady Liu retained some doubts. “Yao Yao, ever since you were little, you didn’t even know how to cook a basic meal. How did you suddenly learn how to roast ducks?”
Wen Yao’s expression remained indifferent, but her words pierced Lady Liu straight through the heart: “After you left, my brother and I looked after Datou. Father was never home, and there was hardly anything to eat. In order to make things taste a bit better, we had no choice but to figure it out ourselves.”
Hearing this, Lady Liu’s tears began to flow once more.
This wasn’t Wen Yao fishing for sympathy; she was merely stating the truth, which doubled as a convenient excuse for herself.
Besides, she wasn’t lying. After Lady Liu left, the original owner and her brothers had indeed lived that kind of life—except they hadn’t spent their time researching delicious food, but rather figuring out how to get enough to eat every day.
Lady Liu shed a few tears. Seeing that Wen Yao showed no signs of comforting her, she stopped crying.
Dabbing away her tears, Lady Liu casually remarked, “It seems Mother misunderstood. Before, I wanted so desperately to take you away because I was worried you were living poorly. Now that my Yao Yao has become so capable, my heart is finally at ease.”
As she spoke, her face even bore a look of deep comfort.
Although Wen Yao knew the original storyline, the arrival of the three of them had altered the life trajectories of many people. Take Jin Xiuyi and Xie Anyi, for instance: in the original book, those two had been completely at odds with Datou, but now they were thick as thieves with him.
At this moment, Lady Liu truly looked like a mother who cared deeply for her children, causing a tiny crack to form in Wen Yao’s resolve.
Her tone softened slightly as well. “We’re living quite well—it’s not as bad as you think. From now on, just live your own life well, and that will be enough.”
Lady Liu felt a surge of joy and wiped the corners of her eyes. “I knew it—my Yao Yao still has her mother in her heart.”
Wen Yao let out a soft sigh, neither agreeing nor denying it.
This undoubtedly sent an encouraging signal to Lady Liu, who pressed on: “Yao Yao, have you ever considered expanding your roasted duck shop? For instance, opening a branch in the capital?”
In truth, Wen Yao had considered this before, though she had discussed it with Qiu Rongrong—such things couldn’t be rushed and had to be done step by step.
“We can talk about that later when the opportunity arises.” Perhaps once her father’s official career reached the capital, she could consider it. Or next time, she could discuss it with Li Yi; partnering with him seemed like a fine option as well.
Wen Yao’s thoughts unwittingly drifted toward Li Yi, but to Lady Liu, those words sounded like an invitation. She grabbed Wen Yao’s hand and said directly, “There’s an opportunity right now!”
Wen Yao snapped out of her thoughts and looked at her. “What?”
Lady Liu continued, “Look, Mother is returning to the capital shortly, and I happen to have a few storefronts in my possession. As long as you give me the secret recipe for the roasted duck, I can help you open a branch in the capital. Wouldn’t that bring your shop to the capital right away?”
Wen Yao stared at her in utter disbelief, suddenly feeling an overwhelming urge to mock her past self for holding onto foolish hopes. It seemed that not everyone’s nature could be changed by their arrival.
She looked at Lady Liu and asked, “So, what you really want is the secret recipe for the roasted duck in my hands?”
This had been Lady Liu’s ultimate goal all along, hadn’t it?
Seeing her reaction, Lady Liu instantly shifted her approach, putting on a grieved expression once more as she said, “How could that be? Yao Yao, is that the kind of person I am in your heart? Mother simply wants to help you save up a larger dowry. Selling it in the capital will surely bring in far better business than selling it in a place like this.”
Wen Yao chuckled.
She laughed at her own overflowing hypocritical kindness and misplaced sympathy—to think she had actually assumed this woman might differ from her description in the original book. Sure enough, their guesses had been spot-on: Lady Liu only showed interest in her daughter because there was something to gain from her.
“I don’t plan on expanding to other places for the time being, so let’s forget about it,” Wen Yao said flatly.
How could Lady Liu possibly give up? In her mind, they were mother and daughter, and there shouldn’t be such clear-cut boundaries between families. It was merely a secret recipe for roasted duck—since she was asking for it, the girl ought to hand it over to her.
“Yao Yao, I am your mother. Would I ever harm you? If you give me the secret recipe and I open a roasted duck shop in the capital, won’t all the money earned still be saved up for your dowry?” Lady Liu coaxed.
Wen Yao replied directly, “I’m not getting married, so I don’t need a dowry.”
Lady Liu’s expression darkened, and she scolded, “What utter nonsense! What woman doesn’t get married? What on earth has your father been teaching you?”
“At the very least, my father never taught me to covet other people’s belongings,” Wen Yao shot right back.
This single sentence left Lady Liu utterly humiliated and unable to back down. She glared at Wen Yao, her voice rising several notches higher than before: “I am your mother! I only offered to help you expand the roasted duck shop to the capital for your own good! You should know that an opportunity like this doesn’t come by for just anyone! If not for…”
Wen Yao raised an eyebrow. “If not for what?”
Lady Liu almost stumbled over her words, suddenly realizing the shift in Wen Yao’s attitude. She didn’t know who this girl had inherited her short temper from—turning hostile at the slightest disagreement. She couldn’t afford to burn bridges right now, so Lady Liu quickly softened her tone and said, “Look at you, child. Mother was merely making a suggestion. If you are unwilling…”
Wen Yao cut her off cleanly: “I am unwilling, nor will I give you the secret recipe for the roasted duck, so don’t even think about it.”
This had been Lady Liu’s entire purpose today; how could she possibly abandon it?
“Yao Yao, do you really distrust your mother that much?”
Wen Yao cast a glance at her. “Yes, I don’t trust you.”
Lady Liu: “…”
Lady Liu was almost thrown into a fit of rage. Since things had come to this, why bother pretending to be a loving mother any longer?
Lady Liu slammed her hand on the table. “I am your mother! I gave birth to you and raised you, yet you dare speak to me like this!”
Immediately after, the door to the private room was kicked open with a loud thud.
Xun Feng stood at the doorway, looking at them coldly, though his words were directed at her: “Miss, is someone bullying you?”
Wen Yao almost failed to hold back a burst of laughter. She quickly maintained a calm composure and spoke up, “It’s nothing. You can wait outside.”
Xun Feng cast a warning glance at Lady Liu, then shifted his gaze to the old housekeeper and maidservants behind her, surveying them one by one before pulling the door shut again and resuming his guard outside.
Lady Liu wanted to continue shouting at Wen Yao, but remembering the murderous look in that man’s eyes just now, her courage instantly evaporated.
She looked at Wen Yao and said directly, “Then Mother will buy it from you. How about that?”
Wen Yao raised an eyebrow. “What? Mrs. Meng isn’t dropping the act anymore?”
Lady Liu ground her teeth in frustration, yet still insisted, “I am your mother! Whether you acknowledge it or not, I am still your mother! Since you aren’t willing to give it for free, then surely I can pay money to buy it? Can years of mother-daughter affection not even compare to a single secret recipe?”
Wen Yao answered her directly: “Silver is the one thing I do not lack, so I won’t sell it either. If you truly still care for that bit of mother-daughter sentiment, let this matter end right here. We can still share a peaceful meal as my farewell to you.”
Lady Liu’s eyes turned red, and this time she wept for real, choking out, “Can’t you show some understanding for your mother’s hardships? Everyone thinks I live a glamorous life in the capital, but my days aren’t easy either!”
Lady Liu was just about to launch into a full sob story when, unexpectedly, Wen Yao refused to play by her rules entirely. To her, filial piety applied strictly to her loving father, grandfather, grandmother, and the rest of the Wen family. As for Lady Liu, she simply wasn’t worthy.
Without a moment’s hesitation, she stood up, opened the door, and walked out alongside Nanny Shi, Nanny Du, and Xun Feng. On her way out, she casually mentioned to Manager Lu that the dishes should be served as usual—consider it a farewell meal she was treating Mrs. Meng to. Whatever she couldn’t finish, he could pack up for Mrs. Meng to take with her.
