Chapter 121: Xie Anyi Suffers a Heavy Blow
“Is it settled?” While the rest of the Wen family were focused on the lantern festival, Wen Xiuyi quietly pulled Wen Yao aside to whisper to her.
Wen Yao made an OK gesture. “Don’t worry. When your daughter steps in, there’s nothing I can’t handle.”
Wen Xiuyi looked at his daughter, who was more than ten years younger than him in this lifetime, and smiled faintly. “Our Yaoyao is the capable one. Unlike your father, who can only farm the land.”
Wen Yao burst out laughing. “You used to be an expert people couldn’t hire even with money. Here, you have way more room to show your abilities than back then. Don’t belittle yourself. I’m just a cook—you’re the truly capable one.”
Praised like that, Wen Xiuyi felt a little embarrassed and shot her a glare. “Always teasing your old man.”
Thinking about the seeds she had bought in her space, Wen Yao leaned close and whispered a few words in his ear.
After listening, Wen Xiuyi frowned. “Will it work?”
“Just plant them. We’ll tell Grandpa and the others that Sister Qiu found them. They won’t really go ask. As for Sister Qiu, we’ll say we got them by accident. If she wants to buy them, she won’t ask too many questions. Don’t worry.”
What Wen Yao was referring to was planting chili peppers.
After some thought, Wen Xiuyi nodded. “All right. But we should take it step by step. Let’s plant a little in the plot behind our place first. After the New Year, when the house is built, I’ll clear a patch in the backyard just for these.”
“Thank you, Professor Wen.”
Wen Xiuyi laughed. “Smarty-mouth.”
Just then, the Wen family suggested going downstairs to stroll through the lantern festival, so the father and daughter ended their conversation and followed the others out.
It had to be said—the ancient lantern festival was far more fun than the one in their original world, without all the commercialization.
Perhaps enemies truly cross paths on narrow roads. Halfway through their stroll, they ran into the Xie family of three again. Coincidentally, they were guessing riddles—and it seemed they were stumped.
The Wen family had intended to avoid them, but they couldn’t resist stopping to watch.
Mainly because Xie Anyi’s brows were so tightly furrowed they nearly knotted together. Even Xie Yushan seemed unable to guess the answer, his expression dark. It looked like he wanted to take Xie Anyi away, but the boy refused to leave.
At some point, Datou had slipped away and was now standing beside Xie Anyi, tilting his head to look at him. “You can’t guess it?”
Xie Anyi jumped in fright.
Taller than Datou, he looked down at the smaller child. Remembering that this kid—shorter and younger than him—had once asked him to become his disciple, Xie Anyi’s competitive spirit flared up. Lifting his chin, he said stubbornly, “If I can’t guess it, you can’t either.”
Datou tilted his head and studied him for a moment, then turned to the stall owner. “Uncle, can I see the riddle he’s guessing?”
Seeing they were just two children, the vendor pointed to the lantern. A bamboo slip hung beneath it with the riddle written on it.
“Do you want me to read it to you?” the vendor asked.
“Thank you, no need. I can read it myself.” Datou shook his head and stood on tiptoe to look. There were only two characters on the slip: “圆寂” (to pass away while seated in meditation).
No other hints. No wonder Xie Anyi and Xie Yushan couldn’t guess it.
Since Datou had stepped forward, the Wen family had no choice but to move closer to watch.
The moment Wen Yao and Wen Jun saw the two characters, they had already guessed the answer. But since Datou wanted to show off, they let him have the chance.
Even if he couldn’t solve it, it didn’t matter—he was only four years old.
Datou seemed stumped too, his little brows knitted tightly. Seeing this, Xie Anyi felt an inexplicable sense of relief. Good. He couldn’t guess it either. Let’s see how he dares to ask me to be his disciple again.
However, his relief didn’t last long. Suddenly, Datou let out an “Ah!” of realization. “Uncle, is it ‘sitting and waiting for death’ (坐以待毙)?”
The lantern vendor froze, looking at Datou in surprise. Xie Anyi’s heart leapt into his throat.
When the vendor didn’t speak for a while, Datou frowned. Did I guess wrong?
The Wen family were on edge. Luo Shi couldn’t hold back and shouted, “Boss, did my little grandson get it right? Say something!”
Her loud voice drew everyone’s attention.
The vendor snapped out of his shock and took down the lantern, handing it to Datou. “Congratulations, young master. That’s correct.”
Xie Anyi was dumbfounded. “Why?”
Holding the lantern, Datou looked up at him. “‘圆寂’ means sitting and waiting to die, right? And ‘sitting and waiting for death’ is also sitting and waiting to die.”
Xie Anyi: “…” Why hadn’t he thought of that?
Like a victorious general, Datou held his head high and handed the lantern he had won to Wen Ying. “Third Sister, this is for you.”
Wen Ying accepted it happily, unable to put down the exquisite lantern.
Wen Xiuyi paid the vendor five copper coins.
Xie Anyi could only watch as the lantern he had wanted was taken by Wen Ying. He bit his lip hard, stubbornly refusing to admit that Datou was smarter than him.
When Datou turned around and saw his aggrieved expression, he remembered his sister saying the boy was pitiful. Compassion welled up in him instantly.
“Which one do you like? I’ll win another for you.” Datou patted his small chest confidently.
“…”
“I don’t want it. I’ll win it myself.” Xie Anyi refused to concede defeat.
“Oh.” Datou didn’t insist. He turned around. “Dad, let’s go.”
Xie Anyi held back his tears, feeling utterly crushed.
He could only watch as the Wen family, along with Doctor Jin and Shopkeeper Qiu, walked away.
His eyes reddened. Deeply shaken, he turned and left.
“Yi’er!” Xie Yushan and the servants hurried after him.
Qiao Yan glanced at Qiu Rongrong, who had been unusually silent the whole time, and finally couldn’t help asking, “Madam? Aren’t we going to do anything?”
Qiu Rongrong let out a long breath. For some reason, even though it was her own son who had been struck so hard, she felt an odd sense of satisfaction—Datou had done beautifully.
It was time Xie Anyi tasted some hardship.
Besides, she felt Xie Yushan might have suffered an even greater blow. He might not have always taught his son wholeheartedly, but his own learning wasn’t poor. Yet now his son had been outshone by a four-year-old child.
Heh. It seemed her husband’s self-proclaimed brilliance wasn’t all that impressive after all.
Thinking of how bright and clever Datou was, if Yi’er could have more contact with him because of this, it might not be a bad thing.
Didn’t she love Yi’er? He was flesh of her flesh—she loved him more than anyone. But she didn’t want him to grow up into someone like Xie Yushan: selfish, self-righteous, and self-important.
“Let’s go. We’ll enjoy ourselves.” Having figured it out, Qiu Rongrong suddenly found the lantern festival scenery much more pleasing.
“I remember—don’t we have an estate outside the city?” Qiu Rongrong suddenly asked Qiao Yan.
Qiao Yan nodded. “We do.”
Qiu Rongrong adjusted her hair. “We’ll go to the estate tomorrow.”
Qiao Yan immediately understood—most likely, Madam intended to meet the young lady of the Wen family there.
Seeing Qiu Rongrong like this, Qiao Yan felt happy inside. Her mistress should be like this—not trapped in that deep mansion day after day, bullied by that family.
