Transmigrating into the Genius Cannon Fodder’s Aunt

Chapter 34.2 – Let Me Give Them a Nice Bullying! (II)

“Wow~ it’s so big!” Xia Mian’s eyes lit up as she looked around the courtyard. “So this is what a three-entry courtyard is like.”

Xiao Feng didn’t quite understand, but seeing his aunt’s amazement, he also opened his eyes wide and looked around in wonder.

Ning Shaobai was a bit speechless—it was quite a common occurrence by now, but he truly couldn’t quite figure out what was going on in this girl’s head. She acted unimpressed when she saw the mobile phone that everyone else marveled at, but when she saw the old courtyard, she was like Granny Liu visiting the Grand View Garden for the first time.

1

Then again, even Granny Liu wouldn’t dare to covet the Grand View Garden, but this Granny Xia enthusiastically asked, “How much does a courtyard like this cost? How many are available in this neighborhood?”

Ning Shaobai pressed down on her cap brim and answered plainly, “I bought it before I went abroad. It wasn’t expensive at the time, around fifty to sixty thousand.”

“But the renovations weren’t cheap. Installing the plumbing, electricity, and other modern fixtures cost around three hundred thousand in total.”

“The one Zhou Qianqian is living in is a two-entry and likely hasn’t had its plumbing and electrical systems updated. At current market prices, it would be about seventy to eighty thousand, but the renovation costs afterward would be higher…”

Xia Mian pushed her cap brim up, revealing a face beaming with delight, her eyes clearly expressing, “That cheap?!!”

Ning Shaobai chuckled. He now understood that, despite her carefree appearance, this girl was actually quite strategic and careful in her actions. Since Xia Mian was so bent on buying courtyard houses, she must really have the funds.

“But there aren’t many individual courtyards left. Many have become shared courtyards with multiple families living in them.”

It seemed like the one right across was indeed the most suitable, especially since it was owned by the Huos.

…

When Ning Shaobai saw the ‘Small One Dollar variety of the Red Revenue overprint’ and the ‘red landscape of China’ carefully enclosed within a black leather-bound album Xia Mian showed him, his first thought was: “These must be what Zhang Qiming lost.”

“These originally belonged to my sister,” Xia Mian shrugged. “She started collecting stamps in junior high and did so for ten years. Later, that bastard tricked them out of my mom…”

Ning Shaobai recalled the day Zhang Qiming was taken away by Huo Changsong, and how Xia Mian had mouthed something to Zhang Qiming, which made him suddenly break down as if he had gone mad.

He chuckled softly. Knowing that worthless bastard couldn’t find peace even in death, he had a newfound admiration for this girl.

Xia Mian didn’t notice his gaze, her mind was still focused on buying properties. “So, will this money be enough to buy a few of the Huo family’s courtyards?”

Ning Shaobai laughed, “I’m starting to believe that your luck actually is your strength.”

Xia Mian tilted her head, pondering for a moment—why did it feel like his words were not fully meant as a compliment?

Ning Shaobai continued, “Do you know why that Zhou Qianqian can be so arrogant?”

“Isn’t it because she has the Huo family’s old lady backing her? What’s the matter?” Xia Mian asked, surprised by Ning Shaobai’s expression. “Could it be that the old lady will come to trouble me because of her?”

“She will,” Ning Shaobai said, “and it’ll happen soon.”

Xia Mian was genuinely stunned. “No way! I’m just a nobody, and I even saved her grandson’s life. Is she really going to cause trouble over such trivial matters? Is Zhou Qianqian more important than her only grandson?”

“No, wait,” Xia Mian reconsidered. “She’s probably not after me, but Sister Ning…”

“Does the old lady have something wrong with her?” She was utterly baffled. “Anyone can see that Zhou Qianqian is leagues behind Sister Ning. The old lady actually wants to drive Sister Ning away and let Zhou Qianqian take over?”

“Or did Zhou Qianqian feed her some kind of magic potion?”

“Nothing of the sort,” Ning Shaobai’s expression turned complicated, hard to decipher. “Do you know why the old lady is so strict?”

“Why?”

“That old lady was the wife Huo Pengyi married when he was sent to a labor camp on a farm. When the Huo family was rehabilitated and returned, she made quite a few blunders in the circle.”

Ning Shaobai wasn’t one to mock someone for their origin. Many men married rural women in those days, but the fact that the old lady from the Huo family kept making blunders suggested that she was someone who liked to assert herself. And someone like that…

“In short, she is someone with a strong insecurity, so the more she lacks something, the more she flaunts it… isn’t it?” Xia Mian clicked her tongue, “So, she becomes even more obsessed with so-called rules and tradition to cover up her humble origins?”

Ning Shaobai gave her a look of approval as if to say, “You’re a quick learner.”

Xia Mian was puzzled, “But what does this have to do with Sister Ning?”

Ning Shaobai replied, “Have you heard the phrase ‘drawing a tiger using a cat as a model’?”

2

“Aha! So she feels ashamed in front of Sister Ning because she didn’t grow up with a high-class upbringing?” Xia Mian was speechless. “So she seeks out someone who is equally out of place, or perhaps even more so, just to boost her own self-esteem?”

“No wonder I thought Zhou Qianqian a poor imitation of Sister Ning yesterday. Turns out it was truly the case.”

“Because her daughter-in-law is too outstanding, she wants to mess things up and replace her with someone who makes her feel superior!” Xia Mian was at a loss for words. “The logic isn’t entirely wrong. But why didn’t she just arrange the marriage in the first place? Zhou Qianqian isn’t exactly young anymore.”

“Zhou Qianqian is the same age as Huo Xuewen.” When Ning Shaobai said this, his expression was a bit peculiar—part mocking, part pity, though it was unclear towards whom his sympathy was directed. “But the old lady couldn’t control Huo Xuewen’s marriage.”

“So she resorts to underhanded tricks after he’s already married?” Xia Mian laughed at the absurdity, “There are indeed all sorts of strange people in the world. I’ve heard of men who cheat and bring in mistresses, but this is the first time I’ve heard of a mother trying to bring in a mistress for her son.”

“To put it simply, the old lady genuinely treats Zhou Qianqian as a beloved daughter-in-law and sees Sister Ning as a thorn in her side…” Xia Mian analyzed. “After Zhou Qianqian complains, the old lady will definitely come after us, using it as an excuse to humiliate Sister Ning, right?”

“And what does this have to do with my luck?”

Ning Shaobai laughed, “The Huo family’s old lady is obsessed with all sorts of ‘cultured’ hobbies. Whatever Old Master Huo likes, she likes too. In recent years, Old Master Huo has become obsessed with stamp collecting.”

Xia Mian grinned, “Are you suggesting I mess with the old lady?”

Ning Shaobai said, “Didn’t someone brag yesterday about wanting to get that courtyard first?”

“Huh?” Xia Mian said, “I only said that to annoy Zhou Qianqian. Of course, I know it’s not that easy.”

Ning Shaobai smiled, “What if I said it is easy?”

“Are you trying to trick me?” Xia Mian pretended to be annoyed, “I didn’t expect you to be like this, Dr. Ning.”

Ning Shaobai pressed her cap brim down again, “Just remember not to bully an elderly.”

“Of course not. This little angel is all about respecting the elderly and caring for the young,” Xia Mian replied. “Unless she comes after me first.”

If someone dares to bully her, they must pay the price—this is Xia Mian’s rule!

…

Right after Xia Mian made such a declaration to Ning Shaobai, the person in question really sent herself to receive ‘bullying’—but of course, this was not her fault.

Looking at the middle-aged man standing at the gate of Ning Shaoyun’s courtyard, Xia Mian had to admit that while Dr. Ning’s tongue had too many barbs, he certainly had a knack for predicting things.

From the novel Dream of Red Chamber, when a rustic old lady visits the estate of her much wealthier distant relative. The expression is used in modern Chinese to describe someone, usually a simple unsophisticated person, who is overwhelmed by new experiences and luxurious surroundings.

Idiom means to follow a model and get things more or less right but without capturing the spirit of the subject; uninspired imitation.