Shao Yin's elder sister, Shao Le, frowned and said, "How big a house do you want? Don't tell me you want the Xia family to build a castle for you? I think this house is not too bad. It's much better than where we live in the county city. Can't you just be down-to-earth and live here? Why do you have to keep comparing yourself with others?"
"Say, Shao Le, why are you siding with outsiders? She is your younger sister. How can you not pity her when even I find her pitiful! Girl, listen to me. We must fight for whatever belongs to us! We can't let others bully us!" Shao Yin's cousin, Bian Jiu, said.
Xia He almost wanted to rush in to teach the three women inside the house a lesson so that they would know that the Xia family was no pushover! Qiao Mei hurriedly held her back. It was not a good idea to rush in now. They still had to show Xia Xing some respect.
"Don't be rash!" Qiao Mei whispered.
"Are we just going to watch them slander us like this?" Xia He said angrily in a low voice.
"Don't be anxious. Let's see what else they can say," Qiao Mei said as she leaned against the wall.
This was a rare opportunity to hear about the Shao family's attitude towards the Xia family. It sounded like Shao Yin's elder sister, Shao Le, had a good character and at least knew how to be grateful to them. The other woman was not such a nice person.
"The house! The money! Nothing less! Shao Yin, you're our Shao family's treasure. You're the last unmarried girl in our family. You must get married in a grand manner! I definitely won't let the Xia family bully you like this!" Bian Jiu said.
In the end, the things they said became more and more outrageous and they even wanted to target Xia Fang. They wanted to ask Xia Fang to give all the Shao family's relatives free full-body checkups. As Qiao Mei and Xia He listened at the door, they could not stand it anymore. They coughed twice and walked into the courtyard.
The three people in the courtyard were stunned for a moment. Shao Yin thought that she was imagining things and only confirmed that it was really Qiao Mei and Xia He after taking a closer look.
"Who are you! This is the Xia family's courtyard! How can you barge in like this! Aren't you afraid that the Xia family will come after you! Are you tired of living!" Bian Jiu said as she looked at Qiao Mei and Xia He arrogantly. Those who did not know better would think that she was the Xia family's daughter-in-law.
"Oh, is this person part of the Xia family? Why don't I know about this?" Xia He looked at Bian Jiu mockingly.
"Who do you think you are! How dare you talk to me like that! Be careful or I'll get the Xia family to teach you a lesson! When the time comes, you'll have to kneel down and beg me!" Bian Jiu pointed at Xia He angrily.
Shao Yin hurriedly held Bian Jiu back and said to Xia He, "I'm sorry, Second Cousin. My maternal cousin doesn't mean it. Please don't take it to heart."
"Let me tell you who I think I am." Xia He walked up to Bian Jiu and said slowly, "I am Xia Mao's only daughter, the young lady of the Xia family!"
Qiao Mei turned her head and snickered. She had never seen Xia He behaving in such a lofty manner before. It was like watching elementary school students having an argument. However, the phrase "young lady of the Xia family" held so much weight that even she felt a little tempted. She wanted to try telling others that she was the Third Young Madam of the Xia family.
No, no, no! Forget it. It would be too awkward. The last time she went to Xia Jun's house, that was how the butler addressed her and she instantly had goosebumps all over her body. She was not suitable for such dramatics.
Bian Jiu looked at Xia He awkwardly. She had said something wrong in a moment of agitation and she wondered if Xia He would find trouble with her.
"I'm sorry... I have no idea who you are... But even if you're from the Xia family, you can't just enter the courtyard without knocking," Bian Jiu quibbled.
"When we arrived, the door wasn't closed. Shao Yin is about to marry Brother Xing. We thought that since we are family, there's no need for such formal etiquette. We don't know that we need to observe such proper etiquette even when entering our family members' house," Qiao Mei said as she looked at Bian Jiu and Shao Yin.
After such a long time here, Shao Yin had already found out everything about everyone in the Xia family. In the eldest son's family, although Xu Lan had the final say, Qiao Mei was right next in line. Sometimes, Xu Lan might not even have as much say as Qiao Mei. This is because Qiao Mei could always find solutions to issues which had stumped everyone else.
She could not afford to offend Qiao Mei. She must build a good relationship with Qiao Mei as she might need help in the future!
"Third Cousin-in-law, that's not what my maternal cousin meant. Please don't misunderstand," Shao Yin said quickly.