Chapter 11 Cousin Xiu

Shen Yunfang clicked her tongue twice in her heart, no matter when, having power and money was just different.

Despite being just a production team leader, in the village, this little leader was also an emperor in his own right.

She looked around, familiarizing herself with the environment. There was nobody in the courtyard or the main hall, so she pushed the door open and entered the west room, then paused for a moment. The Shen family was considered a large family with twelve members from old to young, and they normally had to split into two tables to fit everyone for meals. Today, the second eldest and his family of four had returned to their maternal home, so the remaining people were all squeezed together at one table. When Shen Yunfang entered, the entire family stopped eating and looked at her.

"Yunfang is here, it's already this late, I was thinking you wouldn't come, come on, Yunxiu, get Sister Yunfang a pair of chopsticks," Shen Yeqing's words explained why they had started eating without waiting for Shen Yunfang.

But this did not put Shen Yunfang's mind at ease. Even though she knew like the back of her hand that the uncle's family was annoyed with her, it was the uncle who had invited her over for a meal. If you invite someone, you should show some decency; how could they start eating before the guest arrived? This clearly showed they didn't take her seriously.

Shen Yunfang had always known she was a petty woman, and now she felt just that, petty.

"Humph, does she not have hands or feet of her own, coming to my house to eat and drink for free, yet I'm expected to wait on her?" The speaker was a young girl with jet-black hair tied into a thick plait that swung from her shoulder to her chest, exuding a youthful vibrancy.

This was Shen Yeqing's daughter, Shen Yunxiu, and Shen Yunfang's cousin. She was the princess of the Shen family, showered with love and affection, just eighteen this year and at the age of a blossoming flower.

She herself had good prospects as well, tall and straight in stature. Although her beauty wasn't dazzling, her appearance was pleasing, especially given her youth, good skin, and healthy complexion, all of which made her very attractive. The only downside was her personality. Royalty often came with 'princess syndrome,' which was understandable.

The Shen family had two sons and one daughter. Because of their good financial situation, the couple had always doted on their only daughter from a young age, resulting in a pampered miss who wouldn't lower herself to menial tasks.

Unfortunately, this pampered young lady of the Shen family did not get along with the 'ugly duckling' of the same family, causing Shen Yunfang to be met with a few stinging remarks from Shen Yunxiu every time she visited her uncle's house, even before anyone else had said anything.

Shen Yunxiu, who was casting disdainful glances at the newcomer, was displeased when she heard her father ordering her to work. She thought it was enough that she hadn't driven Shen Yunfang out, and she certainly didn't intend to serve her.

The smile on Shen Yunfang's face became formulaic, but she still smiled. After all, everyone in the house was watching her. She tried hard not to let her face heat up and to appear as natural as possible. However, her gaze sharpened when she looked at her cousin, who was inept at speaking pleasantly.

Being contradicted by his own daughter in front of so many people, Shen Yeqing felt he was losing face. The chopsticks in his hand snapped down onto the table with a slap. "Do what you're told to do, without so much backtalk. Am I, as your father, unable to give you orders now?"

Shen Yeqing had been the one whose word was law in Gaijiatun for several decades, and it was rare for him to be challenged like this, especially in front of his daughters-in-law and nieces.

The children seated at the table jerked in fright at the sound of Grandpa's slap on the table. The eldest daughter-in-law by his side hurriedly soothed her own children, lacking the courage to blame the instigator, she could only throw displeased glances toward her cousin at the doorway, expressing her dissatisfaction. Of course, she wouldn't dare be disgruntled with Shen Yunxiu, who was the darling of her in-laws, and the Shen Family had not yet divided the family property.

"Hey, look at you, at your age, you should really take better care of yourself. What are you shouting for? Besides, Yunxiu didn't say anything wrong," the only older woman at the table gently chided Shen Yeqing.

Shen Yunfang knew that this was her aunt, who was generally a good person, but she always sided with her own children when it came to conflicts with outsiders—a common human trait, a common human trait.

"Exactly, Dad, calm down. I'll just go get Yunfang some chopsticks and bowls, and that'll be the end of it," the eldest sister-in-law said with a fake smile.

She was the eldest sister-in-law, a typical sycophant who never got involved in anything. But when it came to reaping the benefits, she wouldn't be left out. She was somewhat of a character in the Shen Family.

The eldest sister-in-law just spoke but didn't move; indeed, she didn't have to. No sooner had she finished speaking than her mother-in-law held her back, whispering, "Eat your food." The eldest sister-in-law shrugged her shoulders and remained quiet.

"Yunfang, don't take it to heart. You know how your sister Yunxiu is; she doesn't consider you an outsider. We're all family here, why would your uncle need to be so formal? It's embarrassing. You're familiar with everything in our home, just go get your own bowls and chopsticks," her aunt comforted Shen Yunfang, then turned her head and scolded her own daughter with a glare.

"Yunxiu, you too. You're grown up now; should know how to speak properly. When you manage to twist good words into a mess, luckily it's just family here and no one picks on you for it. But in the future, when you're married, you can't behave like this," she chastised.

Nowadays, the aunt was busy trying to arrange a satisfactory match for her older daughter, which was why every third sentence she uttered was about the in-laws.

Shen Yunxiu glanced at her father's face and didn't retort to her mother's words. She just looked at Shen Yunfang at the doorway and huffed through her nose, still obviously unsatisfied.

There stood Shen Yunfang awkwardly at the entrance, unsure whether to enter or leave. "Before you go on about your daughter, couldn't you have said something to invite me to sit down? Here I am standing, and you're just talking about your daughter. Are you implying that I'm not welcome to dine with you?"

The eldest sister-in-law gave her an apologetic look, and beside her were the eldest brother and several nephews, all busy stuffing their faces with food, leaving her with no one to ease her plight.

"Yunfang, your aunt is right; you're not an outsider. Help yourself to some bowls and chopsticks and come over to eat quickly," Shen Yeqing's temper had cooled off after being spoken to by his wife, and he called out again to the person at the door.

Shen Yunfang sighed. She wanted to leave with her dignity intact, but she was still hungry. It was okay to bear a grudge against anyone but herself; being petty with herself, particularly with her own stomach, was just foolish, and besides, she had some unclear matters she needed to clarify with others. So, she turned around, took some bowls and chopsticks from the rack in the main room, and came back inside to sit on the kang bed.

"Yunfang, your uncle mentioned at noon that you were ill, and instructed me to make you something nourishing for dinner. It's been quite the effort for your aunt; nowadays, it's hard to find anything that's truly beneficial for health. In the end, with no other option, I stewed the last piece of cured pork we had. Come on, extend your chopsticks a bit longer and have some more," said the aunt. She was very adept at managing her social graces. Although she too was annoyed by this niece who didn't work and always came over for meals, she always said and did the right things in front of others, especially in front of her father-in-law and daughters-in-law.