Read Novel Full Chapter 145 Part 1 – She Grows up for the Sake of Her Child (I)
Chapter 145 Part 1 – She Grows up for the Sake of Her Child (I)
The sound of a car engine shutting off came from outside. That must be Xia Wenyue. This year, she finally purchased a car for convenience.
When she entered and saw unfamiliar faces, Xia Wenyue instinctively put on a smile. “Oh? Guests?”
She clearly didn’t recognize Xia Li or Wang Tao. As for Xia Bao, she’d never even seen him before.
“Second Aunt,” Xia Li greeted, clearly feeling a bit awkward. “It’s me, Xia Li.”
Wang Tao quickly added with enthusiasm, “Second Aunt, I’m Lili’s husband, Wang Tao. You just got back?”
Xia Wenyue paused for a moment. It wasn’t until she caught Xia Hai and the others giving the subtle looks that she realized who they were. “How did you find this place?” Her smile faded.
Wang Tao chuckled cheerfully. “Second Aunt, your business is booming—everyone’s talking about you. I happened to overhear some folks praising a boss lady named Xia Wenyue.”
“They mentioned three daughters, all surnamed Mao. I figured, it had to be you. So I thought I’d come and take a look.”
As he spoke, his tone grew more excited. “And to think it really is you!”
“It’s our first time visiting. Nothing fancy, just a small token.” He held out the gifts in his hands. It was several boxes of premium cigarettes and liquor, along with a high-end gift box of sea cucumbers. “I heard Eldest Uncle is here too—these sea cucumbers are great for your health.”
The eldest uncle politely replied, “That’s very thoughtful of you.”
Wang Tao smiled even more warmly. “If we’d known Second Aunt was in Yan City too, we would’ve visited sooner. We’re family, after all.”
As the saying goes, you can’t slap a smiling face. No matter how uncomfortable Xia Wenyue felt inside, Wang Tao’s flattering words and friendly demeanor left her with no room to object. Seeing Xia Li holding a child, she politely said, “Sit down and rest a bit. Huilan, go get our guests some water.”
Xia Li finally let go of her tension. Wang Tao’s grin deepened as he said enthusiastically, “I heard Sister Huimei is getting married. If there’s anything you need help with, just say the word.”
“I’m just a rough guy, but I’ve got plenty of workers under me. Anything physical or any errands, you can leave it all to me.”
“If you need cars for the wedding, I’ve got a few nice ones too.”
Xia Wenyue responded politely, “That won’t be necessary. Everything’s pretty much arranged. Just come to the wedding—we are holding it at Victoria Grand Hotel.”
Just then, another car pulled up outside. Moments later, the kids’ excited voices rang out.
“Uncle!”
“What’s that?”
“Uncle Ning!”
The moment Xiao Feng shouted that name, Wang Tao immediately stood up, rubbing his hands nervously and looking toward the door.
Xia Bao was even more obvious—he stood up, craning his neck to look outside, and even started walking out, as if he couldn’t wait to see the incoming person.
Seeing this, Xia Mian narrowed her eyes…
Ning Shaobai entered the courtyard surrounded by the children. It was the weekend, and he was dressed casually—cotton T-shirt, shorts, and sneakers, carrying a sizable foam box in his arms.
Xia Mian walked up to him. “What’s this?”
Ning Shaobai nodded politely toward the crowd by way of greeting, then headed toward the kitchen carrying the box. “Lychees.”
The kids immediately let out cheers and chased after him into the kitchen.
Lychees were still a rarity in the north at this time. Even Chenchen had only tasted them a few times. A few days ago, Mao Zhishan had brought some back, but with so many people, two or three per person was all they got. No one had had their fill, but then Ning Shaobai showed up with an entire box!
Wang Tao watched Ning Shaobai’s figure disappear behind the curtain to the kitchen, then turned to Xia Wenyue with a puzzled look. “That’s Xia Mian’s boyfriend? Young Master Ning?”
Xia Wenyue narrowed her eyes. From the moment they’d arrived, no one had mentioned anything about Xia Mian having a boyfriend.
And besides…
“Young Master Ning?”
That was what people in certain circles called him. They themselves always referred to him as Dr. Ning, and people at the hospital sometimes called him Professor Ning. Only the people in his original family circles would call him Young Master Ning. Wang Tao might have made some money, but he was still miles away from that level. How could he possibly know that address?
Xia Bao was already sneering. “Brother-in-law, your friend must’ve been messing with you. He doesn’t look like some filthy-rich guy who makes a hundred million a year.”
“He doesn’t even have as much swagger as you do.”
So that’s it.
Xia Wenyue narrowed her eyes. “Who said he was some rich young master?”
Xia Bao looked at Wang Tao.
Wang Tao clearly felt like he’d been duped, too. His face full of disappointment, he turned to Xia Wenyue and explained, “That’s just what I heard. Said Second Aunt, you were incredible, but Xia Mian was even more amazing—found herself a rich young master for a boyfriend.”
“They called him Young Master Ning, said he was an investor in Mohe or something, making a hundred million a year.”
Realizing the situation wasn’t what he imagined, Wang Tao dropped the act and spoke more openly. “I was just curious, really. The most successful boss I’ve ever met made a few dozen million a year, the absolute top-tier. Even then, they’d go out with a whole entourage: housekeepers, bodyguards, secretaries… very grand.”
“I’ve never seen anyone making a hundred million a year. Well, I was curious, so I figured I had to come and take a look.”
To speak it bluntly, he was here to cozy up and get in on some connections.
But after that brief moment of disappointment, Wang Tao adjusted to reality quickly. In fact, the idea of Xia Mian dating some ultra-rich young master had always sounded like a lottery win to someone like him. Now that the guy just looked like a handsome, regular man, it felt more believable.
And so, he no longer acted as cautious or deferential as before. After all, compared to Xia Wenyue, his own status wasn’t exactly low. Among the nouveau riche of the ’90s, being a construction contractor was practically the most common path to wealth.
Wang Tao pulled a pack of premium cigarettes from his pocket and, while offering them, laughed as he said, “That guy was clearly full of nonsense. No matter how pretty Xia Mian is, there’s no way she landed some kind of rich young master!”
Xia Li also visibly relaxed, her whole demeanor loosening up, and she started speaking more freely. “Those rich families have so many strict rules, don’t you know? It’s better to be with an ordinary person.”
She clearly still remembered Ning Shaobai’s highly distinctive face. “Isn’t he the one from the family Xia Mian helped when she saved that kid? The guy who drove to pick her and Xiao Feng up that time?”
“I remember he was a doctor—maybe even had a PhD?”
“That’s great. A doctor’s way better than some spoiled young master.”
Wang Tao agreed with a smile. “Exactly, doctors are great. Every family has health issues at some point—it’s good to know someone in a hospital.”
With that, he casually sat down and began chatting with Xia Hai and the others. The chubby toddler in Hong Juan’s arms had been eyeing Junjun for a while now, and now that Xia Li had also taken a seat, the two little ones locked eyes and quickly started playing together, reaching out their tiny hands.
Meanwhile, Xia Bao, who had managed to behave up until now, lost all patience the moment he realized there was no benefit to be had. “So when are we leaving?”
Xia Li frowned. “What are you going on about? We are just here.”
Xia Bao scoffed. “There’s no young master here. What are we even staying for? I’d rather go home and play my game. I’m leaving.”
Wang Tao was clearly fed up with him too. “Fine, go then.”
Xia Bao said, “Then give me money—I’m taking a taxi.”
Without pausing, Wang Tao pulled out a 100 yuan bill and handed it over. “Go on, be careful on the road. We’ll probably be back late—just eat out somewhere.”
Satisfied, Xia Bao got up. Just as Xia Mian came out with a tray of lychees and set them on the table, he suddenly reached out with both hands and grabbed two full fistfuls before heading for the door.
A good half-basin of lychees disappeared in an instant. Xiao Feng and Chenchen, who had run over excitedly, froze in shock. These two had never seen an adult behave so rudely.
Qiangqiang, on the other hand, was well-versed in dealing with Xia Bao. He picked up a little stick and chased after Xia Bao, catching him off guard and giving him a sharp smack on the wrist. Xia Bao yelped in pain and dropped the lychees, which scattered all over the ground.
Holding his wrist, Xia Bao roared, “Qiangqiang! You little brat!”
Qiangqiang made a face at him. “Fatty! Shameless! I’d rather throw them away than let you eat them!”
Xia Bao raised a foot to chase him, but Wang Tao shouted, “Xia Bao!”
“If you keep this up, I’ll send you straight back to Mingxi County tomorrow!”
Xia Bao sneered, “Try me! Send me back, and I’ll tell the Mao family all about Mao Huimei’s wedding!”
Wang Tao and Xia Li’s faces instantly changed.
Wang Tao snapped, “Fine! Then don’t even think about getting that five thousand!”
Xia Bao paused, then gave a cold snort, stomped on a few lychees under his feet, and stormed off.
The kids were fuming as they stared at the lychees crushed underfoot. Qiangqiang told Mao Huizhu and the others to pick them up while he chased after Xia Bao. Not long after, they heard Xia Bao’s angry curses mixed with pained yelps.
The children giggled quietly.
Wang Tao clearly found him unbearably embarrassing and said angrily, “I don’t know what my father-in-law was doing, raising a brat like Xia Bao! Wherever he goes, he’s a walking disaster.”
Xia Li sat nearby with a blank expression, as if he weren’t talking about her own brother.
But Xia Wenyue wasn’t interested in that. “What did he mean when he said he’d tell the Mao family about Huimei’s wedding?”
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