Chapter 96: The Beloved Little Cousin 13
Compared with high school students, college students not only have more autonomy in allocating their personal time, but also have longer holidays than high school seniors.
So while Nan Qiao was still going to school every day regardless of the weather, Xu Huizhou and Xu Mengran, who were in college, had already started their winter vacation and returned to the Xu residence.
Nan Qiao was doing homework upstairs. When it was time for dinner, she noticed Xu Huizhou and Xu Mengran sitting on one side of the dining table and was a little surprised.
"Fifth cousin, are you back?"
Xu Huizhou was whispering to Xu Mu beside him. When he saw her coming, he quickly turned around and said with a smile, "I'm already on winter vacation."
Winter vacation starts so early?
He is indeed a college student.
There was a glint of envy in the girl's eyes. As a senior high school student who was oppressed by schoolwork, her desire for the free and easy university life was obvious.
The girl who had lived in the Xu family for nearly a year had completely lost her initial uneasiness and caution. The emotions on her pink and white face were so clean and pure that almost everyone could notice the change in her mood.
Xu Huizhou, who had become an adult for a few months, seemed to have grown a little taller. He raised his eyebrows and his eyes fell lightly on the girl's pink and white face.
"Why, are you jealous of me?" Xu Huizhou said with a smile, "If you envy me, I will study hard and get into a good university so that I can live a life like mine."
Nan Qiao had a tense face and nodded repeatedly.
That's right, she has to study hard. I heard that the better the university, the more autonomy it gives to students. As long as she studies hard and gets into a good university, she will be able to live a free and easy university life.
The girl's serious little face made everyone else at the table laugh. Even Xu Mu, who had the most rebellious personality, had a hint of smile in his eyes, which added a bit of laughter to the originally quiet Xu family table.
Xu Jie was still sitting opposite his mother, now much taller than his mother. He picked up a piece of pasta and stuffed it into his mouth out of boredom. When he saw his cousin's serious look, a smile gradually appeared on his face.
But when he looked away, he inadvertently glanced at his mother in front of him who looked angry, frowned, and his appetite, which was not very good to begin with, became even worse.
He knew what his mother was angry about.
I heard that my eldest cousin recently cleared out a lot of people in the Xu family, including his two uncles.
As the wife of the third wife of the Xu family, she also received some inheritance after the old man passed away, including a small portion of the shares of the Xu Group.
Xu's is a family business, and most of the shares of Xu's Group are held by the Xu family. After Mr. Xu's death, according to his will, the shares of Xu's Group were also divided into several parts.
As the eldest grandson of the eldest son, Xu Congnan holds the lion's share of the profits, ensuring his position as the leader of the group.
The other two families have equal shares, but have no decision-making power and can only receive dividends every year.
However, as a shareholder of Xu's group, it was not difficult for Wang Man to insert a few people into the group. So after Mr. Xu died, she quickly put her two brothers into Xu's group.
Although his position was not at the decision-making level, he was still a manager, and was considered very prestigious by Wang Man's family. So much so that every time Wang Man returned to her family's home, she was met with almost nothing but flattery.
But these beautiful scenes soon disappeared.
Xu Congnan cleaned out the group's parasites, clearing out all those who were just sitting there doing nothing and those who were using backdoors, including Wang Man's two brothers.
Xu Jie had a neither-good-nor-bad relationship with his uncles, so he didn't feel anything when they were cleaned out. He quickly withdrew his gaze, stopped thinking about these complicated things, and dejectedly picked up a piece of vegetable and put it in his mouth.
Xu Mengran's face had become much rosier, and it was obvious that Yi Jian's university life was pretty good. Seeing that everyone was laughing, she also smiled slightly.
"My cousin has always had good grades. She will definitely be able to get into a good university. Come on."
Nan Qiao pursed her lips, her clear eyes curved into crescents, and she said solemnly, "I'll do my best."
"But studying isn't just about working hard, Qiao Qiao." Wang Man, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up: "You have to be smart, just like your second cousin. She's been smart since she was young and always gets first place in her exams."
"Even the university he got into was the best among our families."
"It's winter vacation now, so you can ask your second cousin to teach you. Maybe you can get a few more points on the exam. Although people like us don't rely on academic qualifications to make a living, having a good academic degree is also glorious..."
The tone was gentle and soft, but it was filled with deliberate condescending pity. If Nan Qiao was still the sensitive girl with a little inferiority complex, she would have been ashamed.
Wang Man naturally wouldn't be willing to let her daughter tutor Nan Qiao. She made this suggestion just to isolate the other party.
Didn't his cheap nephew Xu Congnan always treat this girl like a treasure?
Since he made him unhappy, don't blame her for making this girl unhappy!
The harmonious atmosphere at the dinner table suddenly cooled down. Xu Hong's smile gradually faded. He was about to yell but was interrupted by a soft female voice.
Xu Mengran frowned disapprovingly: "Mom, what are you talking about."
"My cousin has excellent grades and will definitely be able to get into a good school. She doesn't need my tutoring at all..."
A lazy male voice interrupted Xu Mengran: "I think Aunt Wang's suggestion is not bad."
Xu lazily lifted his eyelids and pulled the corners of his mouth, but the smile did not reach his eyes.
"Senior year students have a lot of homework. Although Qiao Qiao has a tutor, the situation is special. It's better to let Meng Ran tutor Qiao Qiao. Then the time comes..." The gaze under his eyelids pierced Wang Man like an arrow.
"I will pay according to the market price of tutoring."
He smiled playfully, and even emphasized the last four words, multiplying the sarcasm buff several times.
To pay wages.
What he meant was that he wanted to treat Xu Mengran as his personal tutor for Nan Qiao.
Wang Man was completely stunned when he proposed his agreement, and was furious after hearing it.
How could she tolerate her daughter being treated as a governess!
And he is the private tutor of the girl whom I always look down upon!
Unfortunately, before she could say anything, Xu Mu had already turned to look at Nan Qiao and admonished her gently:
"But Qiao Qiao, being studious is a good thing. If you want to learn, your cousin will definitely support you. Just make sure you get enough rest. Don't ruin your health just studying, okay?"
When Xu Mu saw the girl nod, the smile in his eyes became more genuine. He turned to look at Xu Mengran, who was a few seats away from him, and said:
"Then I'll trouble you, Mengran. I'll have someone transfer your salary to your card. But Qiaoqiao is weak, so I hope the tutoring time won't be too long every day."
His words were like a torrential downpour, quickly arranging everything, as if Xu Mengran was about to become the girl's tutor.
Wang Man's eyes were red, and her hands, which were well-maintained and had beautiful manicures, were pinched until bloodshot appeared on the palms. But before she could say anything, Xu Hong, who had been silent for a long time, spoke.
"Quiet." Xu Hong threw down his chopsticks.
Although most of the shares of Xu Group are now held by Xu Congnan, as the head of the Xu family, he still has the dignity of the patriarch.
Wang Man suppressed her anger and glared hatefully at her stepson who became more and more hostile to her as he grew older. The third son of the Xu family was not at the dinner table today, and the old man's inheritance had been divided long ago, so she naturally didn't need to pretend to be a loving mother.
Xu Hong's face was as gloomy as water: "Third sister-in-law, the third brother is not here tonight, you should go back after dinner."
"As for Qiaoqiao's winter vacation tutor, Congnan has already found one for Qiaoqiao, so there's no need to trouble Mengran."
Knowing that he was chasing her away, Wang Man didn't want to stay in this old house and suffer, so she stood up and walked out directly.
The farce at the dinner table was a headache to watch. Xu Hong, feeling a little headache, also stood up and left. Liu Lian, who was beside him, was about to leave as well. But she saw her little niece holding the empty soup bowl in a daze, her eyes wide, obviously frightened, which made her feel pity.
He became even more dissatisfied with his third brother's wife.
How could anyone not like a girl like this?
She ruffled her niece's soft hair and said softly, "Qiao Qiao, stop looking and eat first. If you don't eat seriously, I'll tell your eldest cousin when he comes back later."
This trick is indeed effective for girls. Nan Qiao came back to her senses and looked at her third aunt, lowered her eyes, and started eating carefully again.
She has been staying in the Xu family for almost a year. She gets along well with other members of the Xu family and they talk and laugh with each other on weekdays, except for her third aunt.
Third aunt's dislike for her was obvious.
Nan Qiao lowered her eyes while eating. Although she was used to it, she still felt a little sad.
She bit her chopsticks.
She just didn't understand.
Why does my third aunt hate me so much?
Soon only a few young people were left in the living room.
"Qiao Qiao, I'm sorry. My mother has been in a bad mood these days. She didn't mean to target you." Xu Mengran apologized to Nan Qiao with an apologetic look in her eyes.
Nan Qiao, who had no idea how many times she had been targeted, looked at her cousin's sincere apology, pursed her lips, and rarely said a word.
How could it not be intentional?
How many times has this happened?
And compared to an apology, she wanted to know more about why her third aunt hated her so much.
She raised her eyes, looked at her cousin in front of her with clear eyes, and asked sincerely: "Cousin, can you help me ask my third aunt..."
The girl hesitated for a moment, bit her lip, and finally said, "...Ask my third aunt if I did something wrong..."
That's why my third aunt hates me so much.
The girl was a little confused and spoke in a very low voice, but in the quiet restaurant, it was loud enough for everyone present to hear.
Everyone heard the girl's hidden meaning.
Xu Mengran's pretty face stiffened slightly, and there was a rare hint of panic in her eyes that could not be concealed.
Yes, there must be a reason to hate someone.
Why does Wang Man hate Nan Qiao so much?
Of course it was because Xu Mengran fell into the water that year...
No!
Don’t think about it anymore!
Xu Mengran clenched her hands, forcing herself to forget that memory.
It's fine.
It's fine!
As long as no one mentions this matter, the truth about how he fell into the water will never be revealed.
And she doesn't remember it anymore, does she?
The girl in front of me has completely forgotten about that incident, right?
So what if someone brings it up?
There is no evidence.
Xu Nengran kept comforting herself, and soon, a smile appeared on her face again.
"Qiao Qiao, you're worrying too much. You didn't do anything wrong. My mother hasn't been feeling well recently, so she lost her temper."
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