Nan Guang furrowed his brows.
Xiao Yi was only a lowly adoptive son from unknown origins but he sat there with a terrifying aura, looking more powerful than an official. He was a little afraid…
On the stretcher, Nan Yan looked at him coldly.
Two days ago, Nan Baoyi must have said something to Nan Xiaoqian and instigated those poor relatives to go to her house and vandalize. Her house was a huge mess, anything that was of a little value was all stolen away!
Nan Xiaoqian who used to be inferior to her last time actually dared to bring people over and beat her up!
Today if she did not revenge for this, she, Nan Yan, vowed not to be human!
She supported herself up, her face weak and soft, "Father, if you are afraid then we should just go home. Only our house is so pitiful and messy now, Mother has been crying all day, daughter is beaten up like this…"
The cry of grievance overflowed Nan Guang with love.
He stuck out his chest and pointed a stick at Xiao Yi, "This is our Nan residence family affair, why is an outsider like you getting involved? If you don't hand over Nan Baoyi I will order people to rush in!"
Xiao Yi's thin lips curled up, "Third Uncle can try."
"You ―"
Nan Guang was so angry his chest was heaving.
He pointed at the study and shouted again, "Nan Baoyi, why are you hiding inside, get out here now! You made a mess in the clan academy and put the blame on your sister, are you still considered humane?! Your mother passed away young and the residence spoilt you too much, you really are a person given birth by a mother but not raised by a mother ―"
"Third Uncle!"
Xiao Yi fiercely interrupted him.
"Am I wrong to scold?!" Nan Guang raised his head and chest, "Today, not only do I want to scold her, I want to beat her! Is it appropriate to have such evilness in a girl's heart?! Nan Baoyi, if you have half your sister's kindness, do I need to be left stranded outside?!"
The room was filled with the spring sun, shining shadows of flower patterns on the window to the floor.
Nan Baoyi hugged her book and quietly squatted among the light and shadow.
It was clearly a warm sunny day but her heart had a kind of coldness that had never appeared before.
A teardrop dripped to the floor.
Gradually, more teardrops dripped on the floor.
She raised her hand and wiped her eyes, but the more she wiped, the more tears came about.
Finally, she stopped crying. She put down the book and magnanimously walked out of the room.
She stood under the eave and smiled towards Nan Guang, "You want to beat me?"
Nan Guang was stunned and did not expect her to walk out so easily.
He held his stick and felt guilty without reason. He whispered, "That…"
Nan Baoyi raised her eyebrows, "You listened to Nan Yan's one-sided story and thought I made trouble, causing your family distress. But there were so many people in the clan academy, why didn't you ask other people what actually happened at that time?"
"This…"
Nan Guang hesitated.
Nan Baoyi calmly recounted everything that happened in the clan academy that day.
After listening, Nan Guang hesitated even more, "Yan'er, you clearly knew Jiaojiao's identity, why didn't you tell Nan Xiaoqian and let her bully Jiaojiao?"
"Father, I was terrified at that time and couldn't care too much." Nan Yan's face was full of tears as she lowered her voice again, "Also, it's all in the past, you don't forget what is our purpose of coming over today."
Nan Guang thought of something and immediately pretended to cough, "Jiaojiao, what happened in the clan academy was a misunderstanding. Father blamed you wrongly, don't take it to heart."
Nan Baoyi's face was as usual, "If there's nothing else, I'm going in to study."
"Your father is going to die and you are still studying? What does it say in the books, parents' life, parents…"
Nan Guang scratched his head and secretly glanced at Nan Yan.
Nan Yan was unhappy.
Before going out, she instructed her father to recite those words repeatedly and yet he still could not recite it in the end.
She could only recite it herself, "Jiaojiao, Discipline Regulations has a saying, 'When my parents instruct me, I will listen respectfully. When my parents reprimand me, I must obey and accept it.' We are from a noble family, we should understand even more what is respect and filial piety. Today Father is angry mostly because you are unfilial."
"How am I unfilial?"
"Father is stranded outside, living in a rented small yard, eating simple food, and wearing rough garments. You, however, are enjoying good food and clothing in the residence. If this is not unfilial then what is this?"
Nan Baoyi smiled, "Then what do you mean…"
"As a daughter, you have the responsibility of supporting your father. You should take out your dowry and let Father enjoy and use."
Nan Baoyi looked at her.
She spoke with eloquence as if standing on high moral ground and could simply give instructions around.
But after much talking, it was still for wealth and glory.
She slanted her head, "But I feel that sister is more unfilial."
Nan Yan furrowed her brows, "What did you say?!"
Nan Baoyi said loudly, "Father is stranded outside all because of you and Aunt Liu. If you are really filial, you should advise him to return to the residence and he could also be filial to Grandmother. You purposely drive a wedge between Grandmother and Father's relationship and spoiled Father's reputation as a filial son. You are the one who is the most unfilial person!"
Nan Yan could not believe it. Nan Baoyi could actually say such a reasonable statement!
She clutched her handkerchief with both hands and shivered uncontrollably.
For the first time, she felt oppressed in front of Nan Baoyi.
She was now at an age to discuss marriage and still hoped to marry a dignitary in Shu County. If she was considered "unfilial", how could she hope to discuss marriage?
No outsider could hear these words!
With tears in her eyes, she argued, "I only want Father's love, I never thought of ruining Father's reputation!"
Nan Baoyi did not want to comment.
Nan Yan anxiously grabbed at Nan Guang's sleeves and cried, "Father, Jiaojiao is too much...she has wronged me!"
"Be good, don't cry, don't cry!" Nan Guang could not bear to see his daughter crying and wiped her small face in a hurry. He stared fiercely at Nan Baoyi again, "Jiaojiao, how could you bully your big sister? She is your only sister!"
"Which sister in the world would instigate father to snatch away her own sister's dowry?"
Nan Guang's face turned red, "Yan'er is only doing it for my own good!"
Nan Baoyi looked like she had just heard a big joke, "Good Father, do you know that snatching away a daughter's dowry would be laughed at by others? At that time, when Nan Yan and Liu Xiaomeng are living a rich life, you have to bear the insults of everyone. Is Nan Yan really thinking of your own good?"
Nan Guang's brows tightened.
Nan Baoyi pointed at Songhe Yard, "If you still see us as a family, you should go and find Grandmother and apologize. If you still think of Liu Xiaomeng and Nan Yan, then you should leave now and never return to the residence to make a fuss!"
She knew that her father was soft-hearted and had no principles. If she did not force him, he would still live his life in confusion.
So, she must make things clear today!
Nan Guang stammered, "Jiaojiao, why do you have to force me, how should I choose…"
Nan Baoyi wanted to wait for an answer but her eyes went dark.
She had not eaten for two meals and spent all her energy studying and arguing. Her body could not take it anymore and she swayed and fell to the ground ―
Xiao Yi grabbed her without any expression.
The little girl's eyebrows had a hint of stubbornness but her eyes were red and there were even small tears on her eyelashes.
She was like a young and tough seedling that struggled hard to break through the seed coat and soil, growing courageously.
The spoiled bossy little girl actually had a moment that made people felt heartbroken.