Chapter 160 - You have to learn from your stepmother
After Old Madam Wen’s departure, Ning Shuqian’s eyes flashed with fear. “Haowen, that’s not very nice! Mom and dad are old, if we move out alone, won’t people start talking about us…”
Happiness was actually blooming in her heart. Moving out of the Wen Mansion meant that she would no longer have to be wary of Old Mr. Wen and Old Madam Wen and would not be under the same roof as Wen Xinya. In another house, she would be the female master—this kind of life was more than what she wanted.
Wen Haowen refuted. “What is not good about it, dad only has eyes for his granddaughter and doesn’t have space of us. Moving out means that we don’t have to suffer under her rule.”
In all these years, he had thought of moving out many times, but he could not leave behind his responsibility as the old man’s only child, and people would gossip about him if he just left like that. Taking this chance to leave meant that he could establish and build his own reputation.
Outsiders would definitely pick up on his awkward relationship with Wen Xinya, this was between their father-daughter duo. As the older one, and as the parent, no one would talk about him, they would only speculate on Wen Xinya and would not scold him for being unfilial!
Ning Shuqian glanced at Wen Xinya and tried to talk him out of it. “Wen Xinya just returned from the Mo Family, if we just move out like this, outsiders will gossip. Won’t this cause the Wen Family’s reputation to be affected?”
Wen Haowen’s face hardened, watching her speak cautiously with a careful expression, and his gaze turned cold. “You don’t have to be afraid of her. You are her stepmother, her the elder, she should respect you instead.”
Ning Shuqian lowered her head quietly as if she were hiding something.
Wen Haowen’s expression darkened, and then he channeled his angry gaze at Wen Xinya. “You, come here!”
Wen Xinya lifted up her head in surprise to look at Wen Haowen. “Dad, you called me?”
Wen Haowen looked annoyed. He was reaching the limits of his patience. “I told you to come here, why do you have so much to say?”
Wen Xinya’s eyes turned black, and her breathing weakened. Although she disliked Wen Haowen a lot, she couldn’t go against his orders openly. She could only obey and walk over.
Ning Shuqian looked at her smugly.
Wen Xinya looked over at Ning Shuqian. Her eyes were cold with glory, sly and cunning. When Wen Haowen looked over, her eyes fretted.
Wen Haowen regarded her coldly with a dark gaze. “Your stepmother and I are moving out. From now on, Grandpa and Grandma will be left in your care. You must take care of them well. God forbid anything should happen, but I will hold you accountable for any incidents.”
Wen Xinya realized that Wen Haowen was purposely using his authority and power in front of Ning Shuqian, showing her who was boss. Her eyes glazed over. “Father, don’t worry. I will do everything I can for Grandpa and Grandma.”
That was the duty of the descendants.
Wen Haowen couldn’t find any fault with her words, yet he did not have a good feeling about it, as if there was a catch somewhere. He felt frustrated.
Ning Shuqian could hear the underlying meaning though and looked at Wen Xinya. “Your father and I cannot support your Grandpa and Grandma. As your father’s child, you have to help him do his duty and take care of them, lessening your father’s burden so that he can focus on work.”
Daughters taking over the duties of fathers had always been an undebatable traditional rule. Wen Haowen nodded in agreement. “Your stepmother is right. She is full of wisdom, you should learn from her. After all, you had been wandering the street for 15 years and was adopted by such unruly parents. Luckily for you, you have your stepmother. I feel at ease knowing that you can learn from her.”
Ning Shuqian was obviously happy. “If you don’t know anything, just ask me.”
Wen Xinya looked at the two of them collaborating well with each other and knew that Wen Haowen was trying to give Ning Shuqian some authority over her. Her heart froze over. “I have my own mother. Although she is no longer here, I also have Grampy and Grandpa. Moral education is not something you have to worry about. I’m also the Big Miss Wen of the Wen Family, not everyone has the right to educate me.”
Ning Shuqian’s face turned stiff. She thought that Wen Xinya wouldn’t dare to go against Haowen and would obey her and accept her position. However, she didn’t buy into her trick and even embarrassed her openly. “Xinya, what do you mean by this? I’m the official wife of your father! Even if you refuse to give me face, you should give your father face. You sound like you don’t respect your father, how could you do this!”
Indeed, Wen Haowen, who was not angered by Wen Xinya’s words previously, turned furious upon hearing Ning Shuqian’s words. “You wretch, how dare you not listen to me?”
Wen Xinya replied, “Dad, of course, I don’t dare to obey you. But, Grandpa is the eldest in the family, I have to listen to him.”
Wen Haowen was beyond speechless. “You b*tch!”
Wen Xinya continued to stand straight and tall in front of him, her facial expression remained calm, unchanging despite his anger.
Wen Haowen felt like he was fighting with cotton, there was no impact no matter how much force he put in. He stormed angrily up the stairs. “Mom! I’m leaving! I’m afraid that if I stay any longer, someone will climb all over me and build a nest on my head.”
He left in large strides.
Wen Haowen’s eyes turned as dark as the forest outside. Even if he left the Wen Family, he was not going to let the uncultured Wen Xinya have it easy.
Old Madam Wen ran down, chasing after him. “Haowen, Haowen, Haowen, if you just leave like this, your father will definitely not be pleased and will only be madder at you. Furthermore, if you guys move away, won’t this old mansion become somebody’s playground, her belonging? Don’t act rashly…”
“Mom… say no more. Wen Xinya my daughter, after all. Although I looked down on her barbaric nature and have some judgments against her, she still is my flesh and blood. However, she completely disregards me and ignores my words, I don’t have the face to stay in the Wen Family anymore.” Wen Haowen’s angry voice traveled into the living room.
Slowly, the noises faded away.
Ning Shuqian did not manage to gain any benefit from Wen Xinya and felt indignant, but she dared not make things with her worse. She turned to her room to pack her things instead.