Chapter 908: A Million Times for You (270)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Fan s.h.i.+xin went to wait for An Xiaoning outside the door, after which An Xiaoning instructed her bodyguards, “Everything we have at home now is safe for consumption. There are detectors in the taps, you guys may read the instruction manuals. Do keep a lookout too. There’s plenty of food in the kitchen, eat to your heart’s fill and cook any food you want. Also, there are only seven of you left now. You must work together to keep things together at home. Since No. 13 and No. 14 are gone now, why don’t I hire a cook to take care of our meals?”
“I shall be in charge of cooking. I don’t have anything much to do at home anyway. Besides, my culinary skills are great too. Let’s not tire them out,” said s.h.i.+ Qingzhou.
“Mother, you won’t have to go through all that trouble with a cook,” said An Xiaoning.
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou frantically said, “No, there’s no need for that. I’m only in my fifties now. Cooking is a piece of cake for me. I’m very hygienic too. Just let me take care of our meals. It won’t be too tiring for me, there’s no need to hire a cook.”
“Yeah, Xiaoning, I can help your mother out in the kitchen too. We’re getting on in our years, and life would be too boring without having anything to do. Isn’t it great to let us spend some time cooking?” said Tuoba Shuo.
“That’s fine, too.”
She looked at the seven bodyguards standing in front of her and said, “No. 5 and No. 8 will continue to follow me around while No. 6 and No. 7 shall be in charge of guarding the house in the evening. You don’t have to be on duty in the day since everyone is around at home. I only need you to guard the living room and the main door. You two decide who takes which area. No. 10 and No. 11 shall be in charge of the household ch.o.r.es and tending to the house. You must check the detectors by the well and the taps twice every day, according to Chief Fan’s instruction. Make a list of the food items and beverages you need and hand it to Chief Fan, then go and bring the items back from Wei Ni Estate yourselves so we don’t have to trouble them to deliver it. Let’s go view some cars tomorrow, I’ll buy a car for you guys. That’ll make traveling and getting around much easier. Use the bank card I’ve given you guys to buy some clothes and shoes that you need. Don’t scrimp or save on necessities, but don’t splurge on unnecessary items.”
“Alright, Sis.”
They expressed a.s.sent in unison.
“Xiaoning, does Qingyan hire farmers to grow his own crops and vegetables?” s.h.i.+ Qingzhou asked curiously.
“The entire Wei Ni Estate belongs to him. There are only a few houses in the estate and an abundance of spare land. There are vegetable patches and ponds for fish to be reared. Apart from Qingyan, Yangyang also rears her own fish and grows her own crops. Well, now that we’re affluent, health is the most important. They don’t ever consume genetically-modified crops that have been stained with pesticide.”
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou said, “We’re practically having our food supplies specially catered to us. It’s good to have safe and edible food. Chief Fan is still waiting for you, isn’t he? Hurry along.”
“Alright, call me again if anything crops up.”
…
The refrigerators in the kitchen were all fully stocked with a wide variety of food supplies and fresh ingredients that they might need. Everyone took part in cooking dinner.
No one spoke a word throughout the meal.
Staring at the seven of them, s.h.i.+ Qingzhou said softly, “They may be gone now, but life still has to go on. We’re all devastated and grief-stricken, but we must turn our agony into power. I still remember how I felt like I was in a living h.e.l.l when I was imprisoned in the Autumn Palace. I was physically and mentally tortured every day for three whole decades. In hindsight, that was truly such a nightmare. I thought that I would never be able to make it out alive again. However, Heaven was kind to me and gave me hope for life. So, you guys must pick yourselves up and stay strong.”
Her words seemed to have given them great courage and power.
They managed to meet each other at the black market when they were bought by the trafficker.
They bonded over the many similarities they shared, especially in their backgrounds. They initially thought that they would have to part soon after forming a rapport with each other, when they were sold to different masters. However, to their surprise, An Xiaoning bought them all together in one go.
Although they had only lived with each other for a short amount of time, they had become much closer than before.
In fact, they had developed a strong brotherhood amongst themselves after spending time with each other and working together every day in a pleasant environment boasting of familial warmth.
Everyone was at a loss for what to do when half of their fellow brothers pa.s.sed away all of a sudden.
Their hearts were heavy and filled with misery.
“Auntie is right. We must get a grip on ourselves and witness the death of the mastermind who tried to kill us,” said No. 5.
Everyone began chatting after he broke the silence.
After dinner, No. 5 looked at No. 8 and asked, “Aren’t you going to look for Ms. Mo?”
“There’s still a long while to go before she comes home from work.”
“You probably aren’t tired anymore since you’ve already slept for so long in the afternoon. Go look for her and discuss things with her slowly. Buy her a gift too, she’s going to be elated.”
No. 8 stood up and said, “I’m going upstairs to take a shower and change into a fresh set of clothes.”
No. 9, No. 10, and No. 11 proceeded to do the dishes and tidy the house.
After discussing the s.h.i.+fts with each other, No. 6 and No. 7 headed to their respective positions to be on duty.
At this very moment, the telephone in the living room began to ring.
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou picked up the handset and answered, “h.e.l.lo.”
“How are you?” said s.h.i.+ Xiaoyu.
Upon hearing s.h.i.+ Xiaoyu’s voice, s.h.i.+ Qingzhou answered coldly in a hostile tone, “I’m doing very well. What did you call me for?”
“Well, we’re still sisters at the end of the day. Don’t be so formal with me. I gave you a call simply because I’m concerned about you.”
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou was speechless as her blood began to boil with fury. She knew clearly that s.h.i.+ Xiaoyu was simply trying to provoke her. Hence, she mustn’t let s.h.i.+ Xiaoyu’s wishes be fulfilled!
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou gibed, “I’m so happy to hear that, Sister. I remember how ruthless you were ever since you were a child. You gradually grew up to become an imbecile whose worse than a beast. You’re such a hypocrite even though you may seem to have a glib tongue. You forgot who you were after you a.s.sociated yourself with a powerful and authoritative figure. You actually know how to show your concern for me now that you’re old in years. I’m very heartened to see that. Actually, for a split second just now, I was wondering if you’ve decided to be kind for a while now that you’re on the brink of death. Well, after all, you’ve never done a single good deed in your life.”
Pursing her lips, s.h.i.+ Xiaoyu retorted, “You’re still as detestable as ever. Do you know how regretful I am for not stabbing you to death?”
s.h.i.+ Qingzhou chuckled sarcastically and said, “Since you said you’re regretful, it’s apparent that you won’t have a chance to do so again. So what if your son has become the president? You were still abandoned by your husband in the end, weren’t you? You’re just an old hag who bears a grudge against this world. Stop creating trouble for your son, Sister. Listen to me, alright?”
The mention of s.h.i.+ Xiaoyu’s divorce with Tuoba Rui struck a sour note within her.
Gritting her teeth in anger, s.h.i.+ Xiaoyu hollered, “You’re just a secondhand good, what right have you got to mock me? Shuo must be blind to be so devoted to you all his life. s.h.i.+ Qingzhou, I called you with the sole purpose of telling you this. Don’t think that the scores are settled between us. Don’t ever let me find you. Otherwise, I’m going to rip you to shreds with my bare hands. You’d better keep your mouth sealed.”
“Come and catch me if you can. Stop wasting time, hurry up. I’m waiting for you in A City.”