Xu Kang stood helplessly beside Shao Yin and looked at the women quietly. She waited for them to finish exploring the courtyard before she led them to the living room.
The moment Shao Yin saw Qiao Mei, she immediately put on a troubled expression, as if she had suffered a huge grievance. She looked completely different from the person who was chatting and laughing in the courtyard just now.
"What's wrong with you, Sister Shao Yin? Why do you look so sad in broad daylight? Can it be that something has happened at home?" Xia He said sarcastically.
If one of the Shao family's elders passed away, then the Shao family would have to observe a mourning period of three years and none of the family members would be able to get married in those three years! If so, then Xia Xing could find another person who was more pleasing to the eye. That would be great news. Since Xia Xing was not interested in anyone, then it did not matter who he was forced to marry in the end.
It would be good if Shao Le were to marry Xia Xing instead of Shao Yin. Shao Le looked like a gentle and quiet person and she seemed to have a good heart. She was a hundred times better than Shao Yin.
"Second Cousin, you said the last time that we're all family, so I won't hide anything from you. My parents have come to the capital and I don't know where they can stay during this period of time, so I have come to discuss this issue with Second Cousin and Third Sister-in-law," Shao Yin said softly.
It was Qiao Mei who had passed that remark. Xia He would never treat Shao Yin as part of her family! All this while, the third son's family had always behaved very selfishly towards the eldest son's family and did a lot of plotting behind everyone's backs. It was wishful thinking if they thought that she would treat the third son's family as one family!
Shao Yin seemed to have remembered a lot of the pleasantries which they said to her, but conveniently forgot that they had also told her not to have designs on Qiao Mei's house!
Xia He turned to look at Qiao Mei. It was just like she had guessed. Shao Yin and the others were here because of the house. They knew that it was useless to waste their breath on the Xia family members, so they had come round to target the soft-hearted Qiao Mei. They were really too much!
"Is the house that my eldest brother rents for you not enough to house all of you? I seem to recall that it won't be a problem to house another four or five people there," Xia He said.
"But it's not just my parents who are here... There are also other relatives and friends..." Shao Yin said cautiously.
"Then just let them stay in a guest house for the time being. Go to the best and most expensive guest house in the capital," Xia He said indifferently.
Firstly, she was not the one paying for it. Secondly, she just wanted to get rid of Shao Yin as soon as possible so that Shao Yin could not cause trouble for Qiao Mei and her. As long as the matter was resolved, she could leave the rest to Xia Xing.
"I... There are more than 40 people from my family here. I wonder if the best guest house in the capital can accommodate so many people..." Shao Yin said embarrassedly.
Qiao Mei and Xia He looked at Shao Yin in shock. Xia He asked again in disbelief, "How many people?"
"More than 40 people..." Shao Yin said.
Just as Xia He was about to flare up, Qiao Mei patted her hand and said, "Elder Sister, have a drink first. You must be thirsty after talking so much."
Shao Yin could not tell what Qiao Mei was trying to do and thought that Qiao Mei wanted to help her. She quickly said, "Third Cousin-in-law, you have to save me! Only you can save me now."
"Me? What can a woman who doesn't have a job and only takes care of her children at home do for you?" Qiao Mei said.
"Before I came to the capital, I already heard that Third Cousin-in-law is the most capable person in the entire Xia family! Third Cousin-in-law, you don't have to be so humble. Please save me. I'll definitely repay you in the future!" Shao Yin said firmly.
"You're really flattering me. I don't have any good ideas. You can go and look for Third Uncle. After all, he's your father-in-law and he knows the people who run the best guest houses in the capital. Don't worry about the money. The Xia family will pay for it of course," Qiao Mei said gently.
Shao Yin said all that in the hope that Qiao Mei would let them stay in the corn courtyard house for the time being. Qiao Mei would not fall for it. If she really lent the place to Shao Yin, Xia Jun would get so angry that he might even fall sick. It had not been easy for him to reject helping his third son. If Qiao Mei indiscriminately helped them right on the heels of that, then Xia Jun would have wasted all his efforts!
Qiao Mei was not a fool. A mere Shao Yin was not her match.
"But... can that place really accommodate everyone in our family?" Shao Yin said worriedly.
"I think so. Go and talk to Third Uncle. I still have to take care of the two children, so I won't keep you here any longer," Qiao Mei said.
"What's the meaning of this? We haven't been here for long and you're already chasing us away. You haven't even served us any food," Bian Jiu muttered softly.