"Surprised?"
Ma Xingxiang's voice brought the four sisters back to reality.
"Very surprised. The Li family must be extremely wealthy."
"More than that," Ma Xingxiang looked at her eldest daughter. "You still haven't told me what Kshan represents?"
Shen Xiaohui was truly impressed with her mother: "Mom, do you remember the designated seeds for the national poverty alleviation plan?"
"You even asked Dad to get you a batch to show off at Grandma's."
"But you don't know that only designated regions can receive those seeds under the poverty alleviation plan."
"Or, each village has to purchase those seeds with their own money."
"The seeds themselves aren't very expensive, but they can't be saved for future planting. The saved seeds are no different from ordinary ones."
"You asked Dad to get them for you. Did he pay himself or use his influence?"
"Whether he paid or used his influence, it would require an annual contribution."
"Because even if you only provided it once, your maternal grandmother and uncles would sell you out for face and pressure you to continue donating seeds to their village."
"Who is the bigger fool, you or Dad?"
Ma Xingxiang glared at her eldest daughter. "Why didn't you tell me these principles earlier?"
"Would you have listened?" Shen Xiaohui felt wronged. "The moment Dad shook his head, you'd start yelling, throwing tantrums, and rolling on the floor."
Ma Xingxiang glared fiercely at her eldest daughter, feeling her face was lost. "Then aren't you afraid of me scolding you now?"
"Heh heh." Shen Xiaohui chuckled foolishly. "Because I can see you've changed. Your entire demeanor has transformed."
"That prickly exterior, ready to prick others and yourself, is gone. You've put it away."
"This is the kind of mother we want."
"Mom, we are truly happy that you can change, both Xiao Juan and I."
Shen Xiaojuan also chimed in, "Yes, Big Sister is right."
"Mom, this is really good. If you change, we won't be mocked by our in-laws anymore."
"Xiaojuan!" Shen Xiaohui reprimanded her second sister.
Ma Xingxiang was stunned. She recalled her father-in-law mentioning how her behavior had embarrassed her grandson in front of his classmates.
Her father-in-law must also know about Xiaohui and Xiaojuan's difficult situations with their in-laws; it was her fault.
"I'm sorry, Xiaohui, Xiaojuan. Mom has embarrassed you."
"It won't happen again. Mom won't live for your father anymore, nor will she live for the identity of the eldest daughter-in-law of the Shen family. Mom will live for you, and for Hongsong and the others."
"Thank you, Mom."
As Shen Xiaohui and Shen Xiaojuan hugged their mother, they heard a voice from the courtyard exclaim, "Who said I couldn't come?" followed by a man striding into the living room.
The father's and eldest uncle's surprised shouts of "Captain Zeng!" echoed from the living room.
Shen Xiaohui pondered for a moment, then a jolt of realization struck her. "Mom, I think I know who my eldest uncle's mention of Aunt Tian refers to, that it's Captain Tian."
"Who is it?"
Not only Ma Xingxiang but also those in the kitchen, including the housekeeper Aunt Yuan and Xiao Wang, and Xiao Xia, who had driven the old leader's car back with the Shen family this morning, all stared at her.
Shen Xiaohui lowered her voice. "I heard there's a mysterious deputy captain in the special operations team. Captain Zeng is the captain of the special operations team. He's here..."
"Damn!" Shen Xiaohui immediately covered her mouth. Xiao Bo was definitely a member of the special operations team.
Oh my goodness, thank goodness she covered her mouth in time! If she had revealed Xiao Bo's identity to so many people in the kitchen...
The identities of special operations team members were classified. It was said they used codenames on missions, that everyone had masterful disguise skills, and that...
And that her second aunt always instigated her mother to take the lead...
Shen Xiaoqin nudged her eldest cousin. "What? Why aren't you saying more?"
Shen Xiaohui removed her hand from her mouth. "That Captain Tian must be the deputy captain of the special operations team."
"No wonder my paternal aunt fancied her son..."
Zhao Qilan walked into the kitchen. "Xiaohui, everyone says you're smart. I didn't expect you still haven't figured it out."
"Captain Tian's son is a member of the special operations team. Captain Zeng was acting as a matchmaker and intended to take him on a mission, but Captain Tian kept him for lunch."
Shen Xiaohui was speechless.
"Second Aunt, do you know that you can't casually spread the identity of special operations team members?"
"Aren't these all our own people?" Zhao Qilan gestured around the kitchen.
"Second Aunt, keeping it secret is the right thing to do. If you announce it so openly, the responsibility for any investigation will fall on you."
"My mother has changed. Don't think of using her to take the lead anymore."
"If anything happens to a special operations team member due to the leakage of their identity, then, heh heh..."
"You?" Zhao Qilan pointed at Shen Xiaohui. "You knew just now, but you deliberately didn't say it, waiting for me to say it, didn't you?"
Shen Xiaohui shook her head. "I had no idea you had come in. I also don't know what you were saying in the living room."
"You little brat, you're so cunning. You mentioned Captain Tian's identity just to lure others to finish the sentence?" Zhao Qilan's finger was almost touching Shen Xiaohui's forehead.
"Zhao Qilan!" Ma Xingxiang slapped her finger away with a palm strike.
"How dare you bully my daughter in front of me? Behind my back, I don't know what else you've done to her."
"Ask Xiaoping and Xiaoqin how I treated them?"
"In the past, I also wanted to strive for things, and you'd instigate me, so I'd naturally make a scene."
"Now what? I'm not your pawn anymore, and you're showing your true colors?"
Zhao Qilan's hand stung from the slap. She looked at Ma Xingxiang, who had shed her sharp tongue and was now radiating maternal warmth. This woman had truly changed.
"Forget it, Eldest Sister-in-law, I won't argue with you."
"Bullshit!" Ma Xingxiang was furious. "You bully my daughter, and then say you won't argue with me? I... *sob sob*."
Shen Xiaohui covered her mother's mouth. "Second Aunt, don't you understand the principle of 'when the rabbit dies, the fox feels sad'?"
"If you cause my mother to be kicked out of the Shen family, you'll be next."
"Second Uncle has always been watching how my father does things."
Zhao Qilan was momentarily speechless. Earlier, if their father-in-law hadn't stopped him, her elder brother would have divorced his wife.
And just now, her husband's tone towards her...
Seeing Zhao Qilan fall silent, Shen Xiaohui released her mother's mouth. "Mom, don't bother with some people in the future."
"You are not an ordinary person. You are the eldest daughter-in-law of the Shen family. So many people are watching your every word and action."
"Didn't you say you want to live for us sisters and for Hongsong and the others? We all need the Shen family's good reputation."
"Okay." Ma Xingxiang looked at her eldest daughter with relief. Her eldest daughter was intelligent.
"In the future, you'll guide Mom more, especially when Mom loses her mind. You can cover Mom's mouth like this. Mom won't blame you."
"Mm." Shen Xiaohui gave her mother a sweet smile. If Mom could change, the family wouldn't fall apart.
...
Lunch had two and a half tables.
The so-called half table was for two orderlies and Aunt Yuan accompanying the four children at the coffee table.
There wasn't enough space for three tables in the living room, nor was it necessary.
Zeng Jingrong raised his glass first. "To my nephew Xiao Bo and Yu Jiaziyu's engagement!"
"Additionally, I want to remind everyone present to keep the matter of the special operations team in their hearts and not to bring trouble upon yourselves."
Captain Zeng had issued a gag order. Shen Xiaohui looked at her second aunt.
Her second aunt was too cunning, having hidden the fact that Xiao Bo was Captain Zeng's nephew and Captain Tian was Captain Zeng's sister.
Old Master Shen scanned the living room. "The special operations team has never involved families. Carry your own burdens."
Everyone in the living room raised their wine glasses and said that they were only here for the engagement banquet today.