Chapter 55: Begging for Food!
She made so much sense that Chi Fengxiao almost believed her.
“And what will you do once all the money’s gone?”
“Uncle, I still have you.” Chi Qian blinked innocently. “And if we both run out of money, I’ll take you to the bridge.”
Chi Fengxiao: “…To polish phone screens for money?”
Chi Qian: “No, to beg. I’ll hold the bowl, you kneel and shout: Begging, begging!”
“?? Why am I the one shouting?”
“I’ve even drafted your lines,” Chi Qian said with meticulous planning. “You’ll say, ‘My poor niece has something wrong with her head and needs money for treatment. Kindhearted uncles and aunties, please help!’”
Chi Fengxiao: “……”
Chi Lisen, watching the livestream: “……”
Why on earth had the Chi family produced such a girl—someone who would rather daydream about begging under a bridge than make an honest effort?
Push her about homework, and she won’t write a single word.
But when it came to begging, she could rattle off lines instantly, and with expertise!
Had his entire method of raising her gone wrong?
The man who could rake in billions in minutes, the business world’s number one strategist, was facing the trickiest problem of his life.
The next morning.
Still shaken by Chi Qian’s “begging plan,” Chi Fengxiao put his foot down—no way was she staying a salted fish.
At dawn he dragged her out of bed, shoved her outside to pick up trash, and made her finish her daily quota of tasks.
He even had Shen Jiashu keep an eye on her, just to make sure she didn’t slack off.
For her, idleness always meant trouble. Left to laze around, she’d truly believe she’d marinated into a salted fish.
By noon, Chi Fengxiao and Shen Jing finally finished building the bamboo hut.
Using the leftover materials, Shen Jing even made a simple bamboo bed for Chi Qian.
Chi Fengxiao muttered that the bed didn’t need to be too good anyway—she wouldn’t be using it for long. Pampering her would only make her lazier.
He turned and headed into the forest.
When he came back, his arms were full of reeds and palm leaves.
He actually managed to pad the stiff bamboo bed until it was soft and comfortable—short of looks, it could rival a Simmons mattress.
Shen Jing, watching the whole thing: I really don’t want to say it, but who exactly is spoiling Qian Qian like this?
On the other side, Chi Qian was yawning nonstop from exhaustion.
Shen Jiashu worked extra hard at picking up trash, determined to do more himself so Sister Qian would do less—ideally, nothing at all!
Clearly, he had adapted quite well to his self-proclaimed role as Chi Qian’s “Chief Steward No.1.”
Chi Qian toyed with the fish for a bit before grabbing the tongs to pick up trash in the grass.
That’s when she heard crying.
Circling around, she found a familiar face.
Tang Xin had hidden herself away to cry, but now that she was caught, her red-rimmed eyes looked painfully awkward.
“S-sorry, did I disturb you?”
Chi Qian shook her head. “This place isn’t mine, you don’t need to apologize.”
Tang Xin thought she was being hated, and stood up nervously. “I’m really sorry about yesterday. We shouldn’t have tried to take your stuff.”
“It’s fine. You wouldn’t have been able to take it anyway.”
The atmosphere froze.
Chi Qian wasn’t good at comforting people. Not being close, she had nothing more to say and simply turned to leave.
But she heard faint footsteps following behind.
When she looked back, Tang Xin instantly ducked behind a tree like a frightened rabbit.
“Why are you following me?”
Tang Xin twisted her fingers, then pulled a handful of fruits from her pocket. “I… I wanted to give you these…”
They were sweet fruits she’d picked along the way. She’d been saving them to share with her mother.
But upon seeing Chi Qian, she changed her mind.
Chi Qian accepted the fruit and handed her a chocolate in return.
“Thanks.”
Tang Xin’s tense heart eased a little, and she trailed after Chi Qian, not too close but not too far either.
“Big Sis Qian, I’ve already finished picking up all the trash over here!”
Shen Jiashu came running over with a goofy grin. When he noticed Tang Xin behind Chi Qian, his guard instantly went up.
Tang Xin bit her lip, whispered, “Hello.”
Shen Jiashu ignored her, leaning close to Chi Qian and muttering, “Big Sis Qian, why are you with her? She’s from the enemy camp!”
“Just happened to run into her.” Chi Qian stuffed her hands in her pockets. “I’m hungry.”
Her eyes scanned the woods. “Let’s catch a chicken to eat.”
Ten minutes later…
The three of them were roasting a wild chicken on the spot, the smell drifting far into the forest.
Shen Jiashu, well-versed in herbs, was an expert at foraging seasonings.
“If only we had lemon juice,” Chi Qian mused as she tended the spit.
Tang Xin timidly pulled out two green lemons from her pocket. “I just picked these from a tree… they’re really sour.”
Chi Qian’s eyes lit up. “Perfect.”
She squeezed a few drops of juice over the golden-crisp chicken skin, making the aroma even more irresistible.
Two chickens for three people—just enough.
Tang Xin was stiff at first, but seeing how happily Chi Qian ate, she gradually relaxed.
After eating their fill, the three of them leaned against the trees to rest.
Chi Qian was about to nap when Wen Li’s voice rang out, loudly calling Tang Xin’s name.
Tang Xin’s face turned pale; she immediately stood and ran toward it.
“Mom, I’m here—”
Smack!
Wen Li’s hand came down hard across her face, leaving one cheek instantly red and swollen.
“Didn’t I tell you not to wander off? Why don’t you ever listen?” Wen Li’s eyes were red, her voice trembling.
Tang Xin’s eyes reddened too, staring at her blankly.
[Oh my god! If she hadn’t scolded Tang Xin herself, would the kid have run off alone to cry?]
[Sure, Tang Xin being gone for so long was wrong, but Wen Yinghou’s not blameless either.]
[You guys don’t get it—Li Li was just too worried about her kid, that’s all. Didn’t you see she was nearly crying while searching?]
[Still doesn’t mean she should hit her child…]
“Mom, I…” Tang Xin tried to hold back tears, wanting to explain.
But Wen Li cut her off sharply: “Don’t call me Mom! If you like them so much, then go with them! Don’t come back!”
She turned on her heel and stormed off.
Tang Xin stumbled after her, only to be shoved away.
Shen Jiashu was dumbfounded. “Big Sis Qian, Actress Wen is so fierce…”
Lucky for him, his own father was gentle.
Chi Qian went over, helped Tang Xin up, and brushed the dirt from her clothes.
“Come on, let’s go back.”
Tang Xin looked at her—and finally, tears spilled down.
In the end, she followed Chi Qian and the others back to camp.
Chi Fengxiao raised his brows, pulling Chi Qian aside. “I told you to go pick up trash, so how did you end up bringing back a whole person?”
Chi Qian relayed what had happened.
“Wen Li’s that harsh with her own kid? That’s not the personality she shows to the public. Don’t tell me the girl isn’t actually hers?”
Chi Qian replied seriously, “She is. But maybe Wen Li doesn’t know it.”
Chi Fengxiao blinked. What on earth does that mean?
Not that he cared about other people’s business. He just dragged Chi Qian over to look at the bamboo hut and her new bed.
“Well? How is it?”
Chi Qian flopped onto it, rolling around. “So comfy! You’re the best, Uncle!”
“‘Uncle this, Uncle that,’ but when I tell you to work hard you ignore me.” Chi Fengxiao tapped her forehead. “I made you the bed you wanted, so now it’s your turn to work harder, isn’t it?”
Chi Qian put on a solemn face. “Uncle, success comes from hard work after rest. So I’ve decided to rest for the next two days straight.”
Chi Fengxiao: “…” In other words, she just planned to stay lazy.
