Xia Wan didn't take the troubles Xia Tao mentioned to heart, but she was quite looking forward to what would happen when she returned to the Xia family later!
To avoid communicating with the village aunties and grandmas, Xia Tao rode his bicycle very fast, so they quickly arrived at Old Xia's house.
At this moment, there was only one woman in the Xia family courtyard, washing clothes. When Xia Tao and the others pushed open the door and entered, they startled everyone in the courtyard.
"Tao...Taozi, you're back! Why were you so quiet? You scared me half to death! Is your grandma inside?" Li Cao deliberately raised her voice, as if to remind the people inside.
Sure enough, Old Mrs. Xia heard the commotion and hurriedly came out of the house. The old lady walked steadily, and before she even stepped out of the door, she was already cursing loudly.
"Wu Zhaodi, you lazy woman, you've been hiding away at the hospital these past few days! Now that you're back, just wait and see how I deal with you."
Xia Tao ignored the shouts and curses from inside the house, only calling out "Auntie" before going about his own business.
After parking the bicycle, he carried his father back into the house, and reminded Xia Wan, "Xia Wan, put your luggage down first, and Grandma will arrange a room for you later."
Xia Wan nodded, looking obedient and sensible, but in fact she had already surveyed the situation in the yard long ago.
But what she really wanted to know was, where did that brat who beat up her father go? Had she been saving up all these days just to come back and give that kid a beating?
Knowing that the boy was young, she didn't even think about reporting him to the police. She just thought that since the boy's parents couldn't control him, she would teach him a lesson.
Judging from the current situation, only Grandma Xia and the aunt who washes clothes are at home; the others should be gone. Xia Wan took her luggage off the bicycle and ignored Grandma Xia's scolding.
The old lady only realized that Wu Zhaodi hadn't come back with her after she left the main room, and her expression softened considerably the moment she saw Xia Tao.
"Taozi's back! See? I told you your dad was alright. You rushed to the hospital without even having a chance to rest. Did you wear yourself out?" Old Mrs. Xia's face was beaming with joy, her eyes filled with greed.
Xia Wan could almost immediately tell what she was thinking.
Xia Wan watched the old lady's expression change as if she were enjoying a good show. Finally, under her intense gaze, the old lady noticed her presence.
"Oh my, this must be Xia Wan. Grandma just heard you came home. Why didn't you come back sooner? You must have suffered a lot out there!"
Grandma Xia's gaze fell on the packages surrounding Xia Wan: "These are things you brought from the city, right? Oh my, so much stuff, how can our family possibly use it all?"
Xia Wan smiled, seemingly pleased with her enthusiasm, and asked innocently, "Yes, these are all things I brought from the city. If we don't use them all, we can use them slowly! Oh, by the way, has Grandma prepared a room for me? I need to go back to my room to rest."
Grandma Xia's smile froze; she then realized that Xia Wan actually wanted to stay at the Xia family home.
Of course she didn't want to, but she coveted the packages; they contained all sorts of good stuff that she had to find a way to keep them.
“It’s over there, it’s all prepared for you. Grandma will take you there.” Grandma Xia said, reaching out to take Xia Wan’s hand.
Anyway, Qiao Qiao's things haven't been touched yet, so it's a good opportunity to let this brat stay here. At least we should get the things from her first.
"Oh, then I'll go take a look now." Xia Wan subtly dodged her hand.
Grandma Xia didn't notice her resistance and instructed Li Cao, who was still washing clothes, "Eldest daughter-in-law, quickly take Xia Wan to their room. Oh dear, put those clothes aside for now! Let Xiao Wan rest first!"
"Okay, here comes Mom."
Li Cao's face lit up with a fawning smile, it was hard to tell whether it was for Old Lady Xia or Xia Wan.
She took Xia Wan to see the room where the girls in the Xia family lived. Since it was a family that favored sons over daughters, the room was naturally not very nice.
The room was located in a corner of the courtyard and was very damp; when Xia Wan entered, she could smell a musty odor.
"This room is for me? Is this a room for a human to live in? I'm not staying here!" Xia Wan covered her nose in disgust, looking arrogant and speaking without any reservation.
She really didn't like the room. Let alone three people living together, she wouldn't even want to live alone.
Grandma Xia and Li Cao's faces stiffened, and their ingratiating smiles gradually disappeared.
“Xia Wan, our rural conditions can’t compare to those in the city. This room may be small, but it’s only for you and your two cousins. It’s much better than the educated youth’s place where five or six people live in one room.”
Aunt Li Cao couldn't help but make a few sarcastic remarks. If it weren't for the fact that she was carrying so many packages and could benefit herself, she wouldn't have tolerated the brat complaining about everything.
That's a good saying, it's like an educated youth returning from the countryside to find their biological parents.
Actually, they were driven back by city people. If they hadn't been driven back, who would give up a good life in the city to suffer in the countryside?
Xia Wan exclaimed in surprise upon hearing her words, "What? You have to share this shabby room with someone else? No way! I have to live by myself! I sleepwalk at night and can't sleep if I live with someone else, and I also like to hit people. It would be terrible if something really happened to them!"
In the short time it took them to exchange those few words, Xia Tao had already settled his father in and come out. When he heard his younger sister say she wanted to live alone, he naturally had to grant her request.
“Grandma, Xiaowan is used to living alone in the city. Now that she’s home, I, as her older brother, can’t let her suffer. Let’s make room for her and let her live alone.”
Upon hearing this, Xia Wan gave her adopted brother an approving look!
That's right, she wanted to live alone. She had inquired a lot about the Xia family while at the hospital. Old Xia had told her that, apart from the two mud-brick rooms at the back, the rest of the house was built with money earned by Old Xia.
Since it was built by her own father, it's not unreasonable for her to choose a better room, right?
Xia Wan was happy, but Old Lady Xia and Li Cao looked extremely unhappy. What did they mean by giving this brat a separate room?
A young girl like her will get married sooner or later; what does she need a separate room for? Does she deserve it?
However, since it was Xia Tao who brought this up, they couldn't directly refute it!
Xia Cao tugged at her mother-in-law's sleeve, signaling her to say a few words.
Old Mrs. Xia muttered "useless" to herself, glared at her eldest daughter-in-law, and then said with a troubled expression, "Oh dear, Taozi, you know our family's situation. Where can we find an empty room to vacate now?"
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