The Reborn Sidekick Rejected The Male Lead
Chapter 165 - 162: Xia Lin Causes Trouble at the Gao Family

Chapter 165: Chapter 162: Xia Lin Causes Trouble at the Gao Family

Lu Jingqiu visited Luo Xinyue’s house early the next morning, telling her about the television.

Luo Xinyue’s parents just happened to not have work that day, and when they heard about the television, the whole family came over.

"Uncle and Auntie, my second cousin had something come up, so he left two TVs at my house for you to choose from. They usually sell for four to five hundred, but for known friends, it’s four hundred thirty. Xinyue is my good friend, so naturally, I can’t charge that price. You can just give four hundred twenty when the time comes. There’s a manual inside, and if you can’t get it set up, my brother will stop by in a few days to help out."

Luo’s father and mother felt that Lu Jingqiu was a sincere child and were very pleased. They were well-connected in the city, knew people in various positions, and would often trade favors and goods with each other.

The prices were always straightforward; there were no discounts involved. Just look at Xiao Lu, her cousin, giving them a direct discount of thirty yuan out of consideration for his cousin’s family, setting aside even the price for acquaintances. This was the price that one’s own family would pay for goods.

Luo Xinyue didn’t understand these things; she just grinned non-stop at the sight of the TV, wishing she could move it to her house right then.

Luo’s father and mother deeply scrutinized the TVs for quality and eventually chose one. They gave Lu Jingqiu four hundred and twenty yuan on the spot.

Lu Jingqiu borrowed Grandpa Wang’s handcart to deliver the TV to their courtyard gate, where she found a tricyclist to haul it, and then waved goodbye to Luo Xinyue.

As she turned around, she saw Gao Shu carrying a vegetable basket, his eyes holding a trace of disapproval.

Lu Jingqiu didn’t mind and greeted him, ready to leave: "Out buying groceries?

"Jingqiu, are you and Gao Da dealing in goods together?"

Lu Jingqiu didn’t explain but replied with a question, "What about it?"

"Was it because Auntie spent a lot of money last year? I heard you also asked Xue Jianian to sell grains. If you don’t have enough money for the wedding, I have some here."

Lu Jingqiu was inwardly astonished and looked at Gao Shu with a scrutinizing gaze, thinking how naive she must have been in her previous life to have finally seen his true colors only towards the end.

Putting up a facade of having her best interests at heart without even asking whether she liked or wanted his intervention.

Always so presumptuous, not allowing others to do what he personally deemed wrong.

Oh, that’s right, in her previous life when Gao Da and her second cousin had to make a business decision in the end, Gao Shu’s advice to Gao Da was to stay in the transport team.

He fundamentally looked down on those in business.

"Gao Shu, you’re thinking too much. I’m doing quite well, I don’t need your charity, nor would I resort to using it. I have my father, a fiancé, and relatives. I’m not living poorly."

"If you’re not living poorly, why are you still dealing in these goods? You got into college with difficulty, just focus on your studies. Instead of wasting time on this, you should go back and do more painting. Everyone acknowledges your skills in painting. Don’t lose sight of what’s important for a little bit of profit."

"I really... thank you," Jingqiu said with sarcasm.

In her previous life, when she stayed in her room painting, what had he said to her? That she’d be better off seeing a psychologist more often, huh.

Lu Jingqiu didn’t care whether Gao Shu heard the sarcasm in her voice or not, she pushed the handcart and headed back.

Passing by the Gao family’s place, she saw Xia Lin at the door, who smilingly remarked, "Jingqiu, helping people move TVs, huh?"

Lu Jingqiu acted as though she were thin air, flipped her hair, and walked past her with pride, eventually disappearing into the distance.

Xia Lin didn’t mind and turned to Gao Shu who was coming back, laughing, "Look, you try to give her good advice, and she doesn’t appreciate it. What’s the point? When I’m not here, you’re not to speak with her alone."

Gao Shu chuckled, "Are you getting jealous?"

"Hmph."

"She’s about to get married. I just see her as a little sister from the courtyard."

"She couldn’t care less about that, and neither should you. You control me enough, let alone others."

Xia Lin deliberately said this because she wanted Gao Shu to know that Lu Jingqiu was engaged in the very activities he despised the most. She hoped he would grow weary of Lu Jingqiu and continue to look down on her—that would be for the best.

She could tell that ever since Lu Jingqiu returned to West City, with a job at the publishing house and studying for college, people behind her back had been praising her nonstop. This ever-improving impression of Jingqiu made her feel uneasy.

"Alright, enough, let’s not worry about this and go inside quickly. Today the whole family is gathering for a meal, you should showcase your cooking skills a bit more."

"Hmph, I’ve been the one cooking since yesterday noon until now."

"My aunt has been busy, you know, with three kids at home, one over a year old and another just a couple of months, she’s overwhelmed."

"How did they manage when we were not around? Your second sister-in-law never learns."

When Second Sister-in-law Gao was in her postpartum confinement, Xia Lin did pay her a visit, bringing deliberately chosen cold-natured crabs to embarrass her and avoid any impoliteness.

Naturally, upon arriving, she could see the embarrassment on Second Sister-in-law Gao’s face—it had taken her a great deal of effort to get those two crabs.

Unable to express her displeasure directly, Xia Lin put her heart into it, and of course, she didn’t forget to apply some topical pain relief to Second Sister-in-law Gao’s eyes.

Comments such as how small the house was, not even comparable to the Gao Family’s small building, whether they would care for the child themselves or hire a nanny in the future, as Eldest Sister-in-law Gao’s two kids had nannies and never used their own money, etc.

As expected, Second Sister-in-law Gao regretted her impulsive decision to move out. Now they lived in a tiny one-and-a-half-room house; her mother went to work, and she had to work too. The plan was to leave the child with the Gao Family.

But the child was so young, she really couldn’t bear weaning him.

Being far away, she could only visit once a week in the future, unlike the eldest sister-in-law who, even though she split from the family, lived in the same courtyard, reaping all sorts of benefits from being close.

Therefore, taking advantage of the holiday these past two days, she brought up the matter with Mr. and Mrs. Gao and moved back in. Xia Lin refused to believe that Second Sister-in-law Gao moving back wouldn’t bother Eldest Sister-in-law Gao.

Now that Gao Yi and Gao Qing were off to school and without Gao Qing, the troublemaker, around, and Gao Da not coming back often, it was Second Sister-in-law Gao who benefited.

Once the two of them entered the room and saw a few women leisurely playing with the children in the living room, looking harmonious and happy, she became irked.

If she didn’t have matters to discuss with Gao Da, she would truly have had no desire to come back and see this family.

"Aunt Gao, I’ve bought the things. Ah Shu even got a fish today. How about we have meatball soup and braised fish? I saw there’s still oil at home, just right for frying meatballs, and we can fry the fish too."

Upon hearing the mention of frying meatballs, Aunt Gao immediately got up and said, "There’s no special occasion; why bother frying meatballs?"

"How can you say there’s no occasion? It’s National Day."

"Today we’re having stir-fries and steaming a pot of mixed grains rice."

Saying this, she headed towards the kitchen, not assigning Xia Lin to cook anymore, afraid that she might ruin all the household goods with her cooking.

Mother Gao indeed looked down on Xia Lin, who came from a rural background; even after attending college, she couldn’t shed her rural roots.

She acted as if she had never experienced good things at home, causing trouble at every turn here; Gao Shu’s savings were all squandered by her.

Xia Lin wanted exactly this effect. She didn’t even enter the kitchen, but instead went straight upstairs.

Gao Shu thought Aunt Gao was showing displeasure towards her and mistakenly felt that Xia Lin was upset, so he quickly followed her upstairs.

Downstairs, Second Sister-in-law Gao watched the two leave and huffed quietly, whispering to Eldest Sister-in-law Gao, "Lao Wu really can’t see clearly. I don’t know what’s so good about Xia Lin, sticking around like glue."

Eldest Sister-in-law Gao gave a faint smile, not too fond of gossiping about others, and said, "As long as they think it’s good, and it doesn’t bother us, that’s fine. After all, we don’t live together. Why are you upset?"

"How can I not be upset? When I was in confinement, she brought me two crabs. On the surface, that seems like a good thing, but would someone in my condition eat those? It was deliberate." Saying this, Second Sister-in-law Gao’s eyes shifted as she added, "Eldest sister-in-law, although we’ve separated from the family, my baby is still so young and I have to work. I moved back because I truly couldn’t manage on my own. My husband and I do pay living expenses to the elders."

Eldest Sister-in-law Gao wasn’t clear about Second Sister-in-law Gao’s intentions—was she bringing up the topic of living expenses? After all, she lived in the same courtyard as her father-in-law and mother-in-law, and the two kids stayed there from Monday to Friday, only being taken home at night, sparing her so much trouble. With a turn of her head and a smile, she replied, "It’s right to contribute. The nanny’s payment comes from the eldest brother, and our mother-in-law finishes work early and can help look after the kids a bit. Adding yours, there are three little ones, all so young. I was just saying to the eldest brother the day before yesterday, one nanny can’t cover all the care needed. Sister-in-law, it looks like the third child might need someone to watch over him separately. Maybe we should find another nanny, right?"

"Another one?" Who’s going to pay for the nanny’s fee? She felt like she was getting the better end of the deal initially and wanted Eldest Sister-in-law Gao not to overthink it. But this conversation felt like it was suggesting that she should hire her own nanny, and she felt somewhat displeased inside.