CMWKSD -Chapter 155 Really Treating Yourself as My Senior?

Jiu Yue listened carefully as Shao Qing finished speaking.

In fact, Shao Qing had already mentioned this matter to Ji Yiqing. Back then, Jiu Yue was still in the palace.

Now that Jiu Yue, the one in charge of the household, had returned, Shao Qing naturally spoke primarily to her.

Jiu Yue nodded. This was actually a good place to go.

Life in ancient times could be quite troublesome, with matters like mourning periods and filial customs. Moreover, if misfortunes kept happening to the Ji family, it would inevitably draw the attention of others.

Thinking about it, setting up a manor would also work: it could allow the Ji family to be looked after, while also letting Jiu Yue plant some vegetables she liked and some grains.

Although Jiu Yue had no real experience in farming, it was ingrained in the Chinese people: whenever they saw land, they instinctively felt they could grow something on it.

Even though Jiu Yue herself couldn’t farm, the Ji family made their living from farming anyway. There was nothing wrong with them doing so.

Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian didn’t object either. Compared to staying in the city where they might be schemed against at any moment, it was better for them to live far away. Jiu Yue made the decision.

Once Shao Qing arranged the manor, the few adult men of the Ji family would go there.

Meanwhile, Ji Zhouye and the others intentionally returned to the Ji residence.

There was no choice; Jiu Yue had personally instructed the three to study diligently.

Although they were smart, there were always people smarter than them. They would need to give extra effort to rank among the top at the academy. There was no room for slacking off.

Therefore, they rarely came home. Today they returned because the Ji family members had arrived—their own father and mother, grandparents. Even Jiu Yue, who was usually so pragmatic, would reward them this small favor.

Shao Qing had specially sent people to the academy to fetch them.

In fact, this was the first time the three had entered this residence. They also learned that Jiu Yue had bought it—and not just one house, but two.

Ji Zhouye and the others gained a completely new understanding of Jiu Yue’s capabilities.

That evening, Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian returned home from the office. Rarely, the Ji family had a reunion dinner.

Su Ruo glanced at Jiu Yue. There were no rigid “eat without speaking, sleep without speaking” rules in the Ji household.

Jiu Yue sat in the main seat, with even Ji Yiqing only able to sit beside her, let alone the others.

“Jiu Yue…” Su Ruo murmured, hesitating with her chopsticks, unsure if she should speak.

Finally getting to eat the dishes made by Shen Mei, Jiu Yue answered cheerfully, “Mother, what is it?”

Shen Mei sat next to Su Ruo, already knowing what she wanted to say from her expression. She tugged at Su Ruo’s sleeve, but Su Ruo began speaking on her own.

“Your Third Aunt…”

Jiu Yue gave Su Ruo a cool glance, and Su Ruo immediately fell silent.

Ji Yiqing frowned and, with a soft clack, put down his chopsticks. Silence fell over the table.

Ji Chaomian looked at Su Ruo, his eyes full of disapproval.

“Mother, you’ve forgotten—we no longer have a Third Aunt. After signing the severance document, not only do we no longer have a Third Aunt, even Weizhou and Xiaoya don’t have a mother.”

Ji Yiqing continued after Ji Chaomian: “It’s best if you keep this in your heart.”

Setting aside how Ji Dajiang had treated them in the past, Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian didn’t harbor overflowing sympathy.

The reason they accepted Ji Dahu’s family was simply because of Jiu Yue’s wishes—uncle and his family were useful and obedient.

Otherwise, with Jiu Yue’s temper, Ji Dahu’s fate would not have differed from Ji Dajiang’s.

They already knew that Li Xiaocao was living poorly, but what could they do about it? That was the path she had chosen herself.

She could have chosen her own path but insisted on a dead-end. If she didn’t strive to improve or try to change, who could save her?

Back when she managed to make Jiu Yue paralyze and mute Ji Dajiang, it was only because Jiu Yue had taken the first step and pushed her along.

But Jiu Yue wouldn’t push forever. On the day of signing the severance document, if Jiu Yue had said a word, Li Xiaocao would have obediently returned. But why bother? Everything had already been done for her—Jiu Yue must have been exhausted.

Su Ruo stammered a few times before Ji Dahai tugged at her, finally silencing her. The good days now were brought by Jiu Yue. They didn’t have the right to decide who should stay or go, nor should they harbor such excessive sympathy.

Moreover, Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian had never intended to repay evil with kindness. They had suffered at the hands of others in the past, but Su Ruo still acted like such a good-hearted person.

Jiu Yue couldn’t help but laugh from anger: “Mother, I call you ‘Mother,’ and you really think of yourself as my senior?”

Frankly, Jiu Yue’s words were somewhat disrespectful, especially since Su Ruo was Ji Yiqing’s mother.

But Ji Chaomian, Ji Yiqing, and even Ji Youqin remained silent, merely watching.

Ji Dahai and Su Ruo were too timid, too generous, always catering to the Ji family. This was why the three children had suffered so much growing up.

To put it bluntly, both of them had people-pleasing personalities, always afraid of displeasing others but never considering their own discomfort.

Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian were destined to go further in life. If Ji Dahai and Su Ruo continued with their excessive goodwill, for the sake of the future of the Ji family, Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian wouldn’t mind keeping their father and mother at home. Other than that, nothing else mattered.

If Jiu Yue could truly change their temperament, the three siblings would welcome it.

Ji Youqin pursed her lips, avoiding looking at Su Ruo. Honestly, Su Ruo cared for her, but only when there was no conflict. The moment conflict arose, Su Ruo would not hesitate to use the three siblings as bargaining chips.

Like this time—if Jiu Yue hadn’t stayed to watch over them, Su Ruo might have married her off to the village chief’s son.

When two promising young men emerged from the Ji village, who wouldn’t try to form connections? Marriage was the easiest way. The village chief had indeed helped them slightly in the past.

But mostly, he watched the siblings struggle from the sidelines. That small favor wasn’t enough for Ji Youqin to repay with a lifetime of happiness.

Yet, hearing a few words from the village chief brought Su Ruo to tears.

If Ji Youqin hadn’t been clever enough to seek out the shopkeeper of Dark Moon Pavilion, she might have been stuck in Ji village. How young was she?

When Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian found out, they were nearly furious to the point of spitting blood.

The three siblings had worked so hard to reach where they were today. Honestly, whether it was Su Ruo or Ji Dahai, their care was superficial. Half of the siblings’ suffering came from their parents.

If their parents had been slightly more assertive, just a little, the siblings wouldn’t have suffered so much.

Jiu Yue gave Su Ruo a cool glance: “Mother, you must be tired. From now on, stay at home when there’s nothing to do. Don’t wander outside for no reason.”

Su Ruo froze: “I…I am your mother!”

Jiu Yue sneered: “So what?”

Su Ruo didn’t understand that Jiu Yue was just speaking for Li Xiaocao—why would that mean she had to be confined at home?

She quickly glanced at Ji Dahai, but he had no strong opinion either.

The two immediately looked at Ji Youqin, Ji Chaomian, and Ji Yiqing.

But the three siblings simply ate in silence.