Chapter 447
“Mom, where’s Yexun?” Su Xiaoxiao asked as she placed the bags of goods in the small kitchen, while calling out to the large kitchen.
Aunt Guo wiped her hands and walked out. “Isn’t Yexun with you?”
“No, he said he was going to find Xingzhi and would be back soon, so I went to the Chinese medicine shop,” Su Xiaoxiao replied, pouting.
When Aunt Guo heard He Xingzhi’s name, her brows furrowed tightly. “I’ll go over and check on him.”
“I’ll go.” Su Xiaoxiao placed everything in the kitchen, handed the three bags of fruit to Aunt Guo, and hurriedly left.
She knew where He Xingzhi lived, though she hadn’t visited in a while. As soon as she arrived outside the courtyard, she heard the cries and tantrums of a little girl from inside.
Su Xiaoxiao immediately felt like, “Just as I thought.”
She didn’t bother knocking and pushed open the half-closed wooden door, stepping into the courtyard to see the scene unfolding.
He Xingzhi’s face looked bad, and Jiang Yexun wore an indifferent expression. Meanwhile, He Hongni was throwing herself on the ground, crying and rolling around.
“Brother, you clearly said that you love me the most. Why didn’t you put my name on the house, but instead put yours? Brother Yexun…”
“I told you to call me ’Uncle’!” Jiang Yexun snapped coldly.
Though Jiang Yexun was only six years older than He Xingzhi, and He Xingzhi was twelve years older than He Hongni, in the family dynamic, He Hongni should have called Jiang Yexun “Uncle.”
More importantly, Jiang Yexun was only willing to let his wife address him as “Brother”—he didn’t want any other women calling him that.
He Hongni shuddered from the scolding, pouting pitifully. “I just feel like you took me away from my adoptive parents, but you won’t even give me any security. Back when I was at Hong Feng Production Team, I was tossed aside without a care. Now that I’ve finally settled down, you pull me back. What if one day you just throw me away again? I’m just a child, without any protection. I’m like an object that others can take or discard at will. Yexun Uncle, you care about your wife so much that you bought her the house and gave everything to her. You’re not even related by blood, yet you’re willing to do that. But my own brother, who shares blood with me, won’t do the same. How can I trust that you really care about me? You won’t even spend a little money on me…”
“Talk to her.” Jiang Yexun frowned and impatiently patted He Xingzhi’s shoulder.
He Xingzhi trembled slightly and sighed, speaking in a tired voice, “When a man gets married, he has to prepare a house. We’re family, so it’s normal for the house to be in whoever’s name. There’s no rule that says a brother has to buy a house for his sister. As for what you mentioned about being abandoned, I’ve explained it to you many times. You were sold by your stepmother. She’s already received her retribution. Every week she has to go through criticism and education. What else are you dissatisfied with?”
“Brother, I’m not dissatisfied with you. I’m just really worried and scared. Is it too much to ask you to promise me just this small thing?” He Hongni’s eyes were red, and she continued to speak in an increasingly pitiful tone.
Although He Xingzhi felt sorry for her, after spending some time with his sister, he knew exactly what kind of person she was. And because he understood her so well, he was reluctant to buy the house for her, even though he continued to feel sorry for her.
“I can’t do that! Don’t bring it up again! As your big brother, my responsibility is to make sure you have enough to eat, warm clothes, and schooling. I’m not going to buy you a house,” He Xingzhi said sternly.
“You’re a bad person! You’re not my brother! Let me go! I want to find my adoptive parents!” He Hongni suddenly cried out, rolling on the ground.
“Let her go find her adoptive parents,” Su Xiaoxiao suddenly spoke up.
Everyone in the yard jumped at the sound of her voice.
When Jiang Yexun’s gaze landed on Su Xiaoxiao, the clouded look in his eyes instantly brightened, turning to sunshine. He quickly walked over to her, grabbing her hand and intertwining their fingers.
“Sorry, there’s been a bit of a situation here, and I ended up taking longer than expected,” Jiang Yexun apologized softly.
“It’s fine,” Su Xiaoxiao smiled and shook her head, then looked toward He Hongni.
He Hongni was trying to put on an innocent act, but the hatred in her eyes was impossible to conceal. She quickly lowered her head, continuing to sob pathetically.
He Xingzhi, seeing Su Xiaoxiao, felt embarrassed, especially since he had already let her down in front of her. “Sister-in-law, I’m sorry. It’s just that things have been a bit chaotic here, and I’ve taken up Brother Ye’s time.”
“It’s alright. He doesn’t have anything important going on right now. Since he’s here, he must have time to help with your situation,” Su Xiaoxiao said with a faint smile.
He Xingzhi clenched his clothes in frustration, unsure how to explain the situation.
Su Xiaoxiao continued, “If she really thinks her adoptive parents are better, she can go back to them.”
“Really?” He Hongni immediately looked up, her eyes full of excitement.
He Xingzhi looked at her in disbelief, feeling his heart sink. Despite all the effort he had put into nurturing their sibling relationship, he had already agreed to transfer the house to her name. He had bought her pretty clothes, delicious candies, and toys. He had given her everything he could afford. Yet she still only cared about her adoptive parents.
“Yes, after the Lantern Festival, your adoptive parents will be executed. I can send you to prison now to join them, where you’ll eat boiled cabbage, boiled carrots, and brown rice every day. Then, after 20 days, you can die with them,” Su Xiaoxiao said with cold precision, causing He Hongni’s face to contort in fear.
Su Xiaoxiao didn’t wait for her reply but walked directly toward He Hongni, grabbing her by the arm and lifting her up.
He Hongni screamed in fright but quickly retorted, “You’re lying to me! I’m still a child! I haven’t done anything wrong, and the government won’t execute me!”
“You were raised by your adoptive parents as a spy. They think you are still young, and your brother took you away, so they didn’t pursue it further. But if you continue to insist on following your spy parents, we’ll have to inform the police and have you reclassified as a spy. You should know how China deals with spies. Regardless of age or gender, once it’s confirmed, there’s no way out,” Su Xiaoxiao said, yanking He Hongni as she dragged her toward the door.
He Hongni was still dazed, but after being dragged a few steps and realizing Su Xiaoxiao wasn’t joking, she immediately sat down on the ground and screamed, “You have no right to interfere with my family matters! My brother didn’t say he wanted to send me away! Who are you to decide for me?”
“I agree to send you away,” He Xingzhi said in a heavy voice.
He Hongni froze for a moment, then looked at him in disbelief. “What did you say?!”
“I said, go! Go find your adoptive parents! I’ll consider this the time I didn’t find my sister,” He Xingzhi said firmly, locking eyes with He Hongni.