Chapter 246: Chapter 246: Becoming Greedy
246 Avarice Stirred
Sun Youcai smiled and explained, "The little girl hasn’t woken up yet. She’s a bit out of sorts."
Granny Zhou smiled and said, "It’s alright, it’s alright. This child is truly adorable; just looking at her makes one fond."
However, deep down, she was cursing this damn little girl for having no manners at all.
Sun Youcai glanced around and asked, "Aunt, where is Mei Niang? I brought her a plant."
Granny Zhou immediately laughed. "Mei Niang is in her room. I’ll call her."
After calling for Zhou Meiniang a few times, she chuckled and said, "She’s been chattering to me for a while now. She said your courtyard has many flowers and trees, and she loves them. She’ll definitely be thrilled when she finds out."
"Mother~, what did you call me for?" Zhou Meiniang’s delicate voice sounded at this moment.
Then, Zhou Meiniang emerged from her room. She wore a goose-yellow, cross-collared, buttoned short jacket and an apricot-yellow skirt, her steps light and graceful as a lotus.
Sun Youcai’s eyes were fixed on her.
Granny Zhou looked at Sun Youcai with satisfaction in her eyes, then approached and took Zhou Meiniang’s hand. "Ah, you’re here. Youcai has arrived, and he brought a flowering plant. Isn’t that your favorite?"
Zhou Meiniang was initially startled and didn’t react. Then, seeing Granny Zhou’s pointed gaze, she immediately smiled and said, "Ah, yes! I adore flowers. Where is it?"
Sun Youcai hurriedly showed the peony flower to Zhou Meiniang. After they exchanged a few words, Granny Zhou led Sun Youcai into the Main Hall. Inside, Mr. Zhou and Zhou Hai were sitting and conversing with Sun Youcai.
Granny Zhou called Zhou Meiniang to the kitchen, ostensibly to prepare tea, but actually to instruct her to ask Sun Youcai for money later.
Zhou Meiniang looked distressed. "Mother, how should I ask?"
Granny Zhou, exasperated, poked Zhou Meiniang’s forehead. "What’s so hard about it? Just pretend to be a little delicate, and that’ll do the trick."
"Let me tell you, his visit to our house today is a great opportunity. You must seize it for me."
Zhou Meiniang nodded and whispered, "Oh, I understand."
Upon hearing Zhou Meiniang agree, Granny Zhou changed the topic and began talking about Zhao Zhitong.
"That little girl today, she’s Sun Youcai’s niece, his sister’s daughter, right? She doesn’t look very bright, rather dull and foolish."
"And they claim a Teacher personally accepted her as a student? That must be boasting. Look at her, coming to our home without a shred of manners. In my opinion, she’s just a spoiled brat."
Zhou Meiniang nodded, a hint of sourness in her heart. "Yes, and the Sun Clan members all pamper her. They treat her even more affectionately than their own grandsons. It’s truly odd."
While they were talking, the water boiled. Granny Zhou handed the tea tray to Zhou Meiniang, and they both went to the Main Hall.
Zhou Meiniang handed a cup of tea to Sun Youcai and said softly, "Brother Sun, please have some tea."
Sun Youcai quickly reached out to take the teacup, nodding his head in thanks.
Zhou Meiniang offered a timely, shy smile then turned to serve tea to Mr. Zhou.
After serving the tea, Zhou Meiniang looked at Zhao Zhitong, who was nestled in Sun Youcai’s arms. She deliberately tried to seem friendly, saying, "You must be Tongtong. Come play with Big Sister, alright?"
Zhao Zhitong snorted, hugged Sun Youcai’s waist tightly, then turned and buried her face in his chest, ignoring Zhou Meiniang.
Zhou Meiniang felt a wave of embarrassment and silently cursed Zhao Zhitong.
Sun Youcai gently pinched Zhao Zhitong’s little cheek and reproached, "You mustn’t be so impolite to Big Sister, understand?"
Then he said to Zhou Meiniang, "This little one didn’t sleep well and is a bit grumpy. She’s usually very well-behaved."
Zhou Meiniang could only smile and say it was okay.
Sun Youcai called out to Zhao Zhitong in his arms, "Tongtong, come down and play for a bit, alright? Playing will cheer you up. Your Younger Uncle needs to help out with some chores here."
Zhao Zhitong remained still in Sun Youcai’s arms. But then she remembered she was here to help her Younger Uncle vet his future wife. So, she lifted her head and said with a wronged expression, "Okay."
Sun Youcai said, "That’s a good girl."
With that, he put Zhao Zhitong down on the ground. "Go on, play in the courtyard for a while."
As Sun Youcai set Zhao Zhitong down, the bell on her Longevity Lock necklace jingled crisply.
Zhou Hai’s head snapped towards the sound, his eyes immediately latching onto her necklace, his gaze thick with greed.
Zhao Zhitong rubbed her eyes and followed Sun Youcai into the courtyard. Sun Youcai proactively offered to help the Zhou Clan by chopping firewood.
Zhao Zhitong squatted nearby, watching him. The breeze in the courtyard gradually blew away her sleepiness, and she slowly became more alert.
At that moment, she heard the joyful sounds of children playing outside the gate. Zhao Zhitong stood up and ran to the entrance to see.
She saw two or three children playing near the Zhou Clan’s doorstep. When Zhao Zhitong saw them, they also noticed her.
Today, Zhao Zhitong was dressed in a red cross-collared top and a green long skirt. The tiny girl just stood there, looking exceptionally lively.
To the children, Zhao Zhitong was an unfamiliar face, so they didn’t recognize her.
One child asked her, "Who are you?"
Zhao Zhitong walked over to them. Seeing them squatting on the ground playing with mud, she replied, "My name is Zhao Zhitong. What are you playing?"
They didn’t answer her. Instead, one of the children asked, "Are you a relative of their family?"
As he spoke, he pointed to Zhou Meiniang’s home behind him.
When Zhao Zhitong shook her head, the child continued, "I saw you come out of their house. You must be their relative, so we won’t play with you."
Zhao Zhitong, now shunned, asked in confusion, "Why not?"
Just then, the children glanced behind her, then abruptly scrambled to their feet and scattered.
Before Zhao Zhitong could even wonder why, she sensed someone staring at her from behind. Turning around, she saw Zhou Hai standing right there.
Zhou Hai scrutinized Zhao Zhitong from head to toe, his gaze finally locking onto the necklace she wore, his eyes practically bulging with greed.
That necklace must be worth a fortune!
And Zhou Hai’s guess was spot on. The necklace was indeed a New Year’s gift from Prince Liang the previous year.
How could something gifted by Prince Liang not be valuable?
So, Zhou Hai plastered a smile on his face and cooed in a voice meant for a child, "You’re Tongtong, right? So adorable! They won’t play with you? How about Big Brother plays with you instead, okay?"
He considered himself perfectly harmless, but in Zhao Zhitong’s eyes, he was clearly a big villain.
Thus, Zhao Zhitong shook her head firmly. "No."
Zhou Hai was taken aback. "Why not?"
Zhao Zhitong declared, "You gamble! Teacher says gamblers are not good people. So, you’re a big villain, and I don’t play with villains!"
With that, she turned and bolted into the courtyard to find Sun Youcai.
"Hey, you little brat!" Zhou Hai exploded in anger, dropping his pretense of harmlessness. His true nature exposed, he stood outside, cursing vehemently.
After spewing curses, he returned home and pulled Zhou Meiniang aside. He whispered, "Sister, did you see the necklace that little girl is wearing? That thing is absolutely worth a fortune! She’s just a child; she doesn’t understand anything. Help me trick her out of it later."
Zhou Meiniang’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you insane? How could we trick her out of it? When she goes home, her family will find out and they’ll definitely come looking for it!"