Chapter 5: Leaving Without Consulting the Almanac

Shi Runrun felt as though she were on the verge of madness.

She had thought that being able to stay here, simply because she was carrying Xiao Xuezheng’s child and thus spared from wandering the streets, was already more than enough good fortune. She had also assumed that the elders of the Xiao family would be the sort who cared only for social standing and would insist on a marriage between equals.

Yet today, their kindness, gentleness, and the warmth they showed her utterly shattered her preconceptions. It turned out that among the wealthy, there were people who did not look down upon the poor. That there could still be people in the world, unrelated by blood, who would treat her with such genuine care...

Shi Runrun was so moved she was momentarily at a loss for words, standing there in a daze as her eyes grew moist with tears.

Grandma Xiao, noticing this, hurried over in alarm. “Good child, why are you crying? Did we frighten you?”

Shi Runrun quickly shook her head, wiping at the corners of her eyes. “No, Grandpa, Grandma, you’re both so good to me... I’m just overwhelmed...so touched...”

Hearing this, the elderly couple finally relaxed, their smiles returning.

At that moment, Grandma Xiao caught sight of the old clothes Shi Runrun was wearing and frowned. “Runrun, why don’t we go out and get you some new things?”

Shi Runrun shook her head at once. “Grandma, there’s no need. You’ve already given me such precious gifts. I don’t want you to spend any more on me. Besides, there’s everything I need here—I lack for nothing.”

Rebuffed, Grandma Xiao exchanged a glance with her grandson.

Xiao Xuezheng cleared his throat, stood up, and took Shi Runrun’s hand. “I was just thinking of going for a walk myself. Will you come with me?”

Shi Runrun looked up at him, taking in the sharp lines of his face. Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she did not refuse, nodding as she stood to follow.

Grandma Xiao, seeing her grandson actually holding a woman’s hand, broke into a delighted smile and muttered to Grandpa Xiao, “Old man, did you see that? Our grandson has finally figured things out! I told you those rumors out there were pure nonsense. How could he possibly have any issues with his orientation?”

Grandpa Xiao nodded, laughing heartily. “Exactly! And to think, this rascal even did things out of order—got his future wife pregnant first, then went to get the marriage license!”

Grandma Xiao giggled, covering her mouth. “He takes after you! After all, wasn’t that exactly how Xuezheng’s father came about...?”

And so it was that Xiao Xuezheng drove her and Grandma Xiao to the most upscale shopping mall in the area.

Upon arrival, Xiao Xuezheng went to park the car while Grandma Xiao led Shi Runrun inside.

Stepping onto the gleaming marble floors, Shi Runrun felt as if she were dreaming. She’d heard from her classmates that such luxury malls were not places for ordinary folk like them; that everything inside—from clothes to shoes—started at several thousand, even tens of thousands.

Walking through the halls, even the air she breathed felt wrong.

Grandma Xiao noticed Shi Runrun’s nervousness and comforted her, “Runrun, don’t be afraid. This mall belongs to Xuezheng’s company. Now that you’ve married Xuezheng, you’re essentially the lady of the house here yourself. There’s no need to feel anxious!”

Shi Runrun thought, Grandma, you’ve only made me more anxious by saying that...

But after browsing several boutiques in Grandma Xiao’s company, and seeing the price tags, Shi Runrun’s unease only grew.

How could a single dress cost over ten thousand? Was it woven from gold?

Each time Grandma Xiao picked out something for her, she would find a reason to decline—saying it didn’t fit, or she didn’t like it—insisting Grandma not buy it.

And so, after nearly two hours, not a single item had been purchased.

Grandma Xiao understood; this girl had lived frugally and simply wasn’t used to buying things at these prices. Her heart ached for her all the more. She wanted so much to tell her: Now that you’ve married my grandson, you’ll never have to endure those hard days again!

At last, Grandma Xiao thought of a solution. In the next boutique, she forbade Shi Runrun from looking at any price tags, only asking if she liked the clothes. If Shi Runrun said she liked something, Grandma Xiao immediately had it wrapped up.

In this way, several sets of high-end clothes were bought.

Shi Runrun finally said to Grandma Xiao, “Grandma, that’s enough. These are plenty for me—I don’t want you to spend any more.”

Grandma Xiao laughed heartily. Seeing how sensible and courteous her granddaughter-in-law was only made her like her even more.

Then, noticing the old cloth shoes on Shi Runrun’s feet, she took her to a luxury shoe store.

Perhaps tired from walking, Grandma Xiao sat down on the sofa inside and told Shi Runrun to pick out shoes herself.

Shi Runrun knew the shoes would surely be expensive as well, but not wanting to hurt the old lady’s feelings, she reluctantly began to browse.

As she wandered, suddenly a cold laugh from a young woman sounded behind her.

“What’s wrong with this store? The standards are slipping! Any riff-raff can just walk in now?”

A store clerk, seeing the newcomers, hurried forward. “Madam Shi, Miss Shi, welcome!”

At those words, a chill ran through Shi Runrun. Turning around, she saw her mother Lin Yun and her older sister Shi Qing glaring at her with cold sneers.

“Well, look who it is! Isn’t this little Runrun? What’s this, you haven’t gone back to the countryside?”

Shi Runrun bit her lip and pretended not to hear the mocking tone.

But even more hurtful were the words of her own mother, Lin Yun, who picked up where Shi Qing left off, cursing, “Shi Runrun! You wretched girl! How dare you leave without a word, run away from home, and even poison your sister!”

“I didn’t poison her!” Shi Runrun immediately raised her head in protest, but inside, her heart bled. What running away? She had been driven out by them...

They had thrown her out of the house while she was pregnant, leaving her to wander the streets with nowhere to go.

“Still denying it? The doctor found poison in Shi Qing’s milk! You’re getting bolder and bolder! I’m furious, and now you’ve shown up right in front of me! I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget!”

With that, Lin Yun strode forward, ready to slap her.

The pain in Shi Runrun’s heart turned to icy despair. She could never understand why her own mother would favor an adopted daughter so openly, while treating her own flesh and blood as if she didn’t exist...

“Stop!”

Just as Lin Yun was about to strike, a frail yet commanding voice rang out.

Both Lin Yun and Shi Runrun turned to see Grandma Xiao, who had somehow noticed the commotion and rushed in from the outer lounge to intervene.

Grandma Xiao strode over, pulled Shi Runrun to her side, and shielded her, glaring at Lin Yun and Shi Qing. “What do you think you’re doing? Striking someone in public? Do you have no respect for the law?”

Lin Yun and Shi Qing exchanged glances. Shi Qing’s eyes flicked over Grandma Xiao’s simple clothing, and she sneered, “Old woman, you must be Shi Runrun’s country grandmother, aren’t you? Dressed like that, you think you belong in a place like this? You think you can protect her? I think you’re risking your old hide for nothing!”