HBWMA -Chapter 42 Alliance Failure

“Pah, pah, pah!” Fu Sui’er spat out a mouthful of mud. “Shen Guiling, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

Shen Guiling replied gently, “No. Just a coincidence.”

Fu Sui’er turned angrily to Jiang Huashan on the side. “Say something! You saw it too just now—he bullied me!”

Jiang Huashan looked at Fu Sui’er, who now had a mouth full of blackened teeth showing through the mud, and felt at a loss for words.

A few minutes later, the three of them appeared in front of Shen Zhuang carrying a seven-jin blue lobster covered in mud and sand. Shen Zhuang burst into laughter, rising from his bamboo chair.

“Oh, you found the treasure Grandpa prepared for you? How was it? Did you have fun?”

Fu Sui’er wriggled over like a mudfish and tried to climb onto Shen Zhuang. “Grandpa, I found it first.”

Shen Zhuang’s eyelid twitched. He tried to stop her, but it was already too late—his white T-shirt was covered in muddy handprints from Fu Sui’er.

With a tearful face, Fu Sui’er pointed at Shen Guiling to complain. “Grandpa, he bullied me! Look at my face—he did this to me! If you don’t believe me, ask Jiang Huashan.”

Jiang Huashan nodded in agreement. “Yes, Grandpa. He’s not a good person.”

Shen Guiling raised an eyebrow, calmly observing Jiang Huashan on the side. Fu Sui’er was from the third branch, so her dislike of him was understandable—but why was this little shorty also against him?

Shen Zhuang naturally didn’t take the childish complaints seriously. To placate Fu Sui’er and Jiang Huashan, he deliberately glared at Shen Guiling.

“A-Ling, both your little sisters have turned into mudfish. That means you didn’t take good care of them. As punishment, you’ll be responsible for our dinner tonight. This blue lobster is yours.”

It was a punishment in name only—barely more than a formality.

Shen Guiling nodded in acceptance.

“Grandpa…” Fu Sui’er still wanted to say something, but Shen Zhuang waved her off.

“You two go with the maid to change your clothes. Come back later and eat the grilled shrimp A-Ling makes.”

Jiang Huashan pulled Fu Sui’er and gave her a look. Fu Sui’er took the hint and obediently followed Jiang Huashan to a small nearby house.

Shen Zhuang watched them with satisfaction and patted Shen Guiling on the shoulder.

“Strong arms you’ve got there. In a couple of days, Grandpa will take you to the hunting grounds. Let Zheng Song take you around.”

The old man had once said that as long as he let go of his hatred, the Shen family would fully cultivate him. It seemed that promise was now being fulfilled.

Shen Guiling nodded, his gaze harmless. “Thank you, Grandpa.”

“What’s there to thank me for?” Shen Zhuang waved his hand, then pointed at the blue lobster at his feet and at the two muddy figures in the distance.

“Did you figure anything out from today’s little arrangement?”

Shen Guiling answered without hesitation, “Grandpa was trying to matchmake them?”

A smile appeared in Shen Zhuang’s eyes. “How did you guess it was matchmaking, and not just improving the relationship between the three of you?”

“To make two people who already dislike each other put aside their resentment and form an alliance, the best way is to create a common enemy for them.”

Shen Guiling tilted his head slightly, looking at the two short muddy figures standing side by side in the distance. A gentle smile appeared in his eyes.

“Looks like your plan was very successful, Grandpa.”

At this moment, Shen Zhuang could no longer describe his feelings toward Shen Guiling as mere satisfaction. He knew the boy was intelligent, so he wasn’t surprised that he had seen through the intention behind the arrangement. What he appreciated was Shen Guiling’s calmness and gentleness.

No matter who it was, being used as a “common enemy” would normally leave one feeling uncomfortable. Yet Shen Guiling not only cooperated with his plan but also remained understanding and composed.

Shen Zhuang burst into hearty laughter and gave him a few firm pats on the shoulder. “Good! Good! Good!”

After changing clothes, Jiang Huashan and Fu Sui’er came out. From a distance, they saw the old master and Shen Guiling standing by the grill, chatting and laughing. Shen Guiling said something, and the old master suddenly picked up the fishing rod beside the bamboo chair and swung his arm, demonstrating how to cast the line.

Fu Sui’er felt a bit jealous and twisted the hem of her clothes with her fingers. “Grandpa really is something… why is he being so nice even to an illegitimate son? When is Brother Lanxi even coming back? If this keeps going on, Grandpa’s going to be taken away by these outsiders.”

Jiang Huashan glanced at her. “These outsiders?”

Fu Sui’er snapped back irritably, attacking indiscriminately. “Don’t get too pleased with yourselves. I’m telling you, the person Grandpa spoils the most in this family is Brother Lanxi. He’ll be back soon. When he returns, all of you will have to stand aside.”

“Mm-hm, mm-hm.”

Fu Sui’er’s anger flared instantly. “Jiang Huashan, what do you mean by that? I’m warning you, you and your annoying mother had better stay away from Brother Lanxi. He’s the future head of the Shen family—he would never look at people like you, poor and low-class.”

Jiang Huashan stopped walking and glanced sideways at her. Her eyes curved slightly like a crescent fan; when she smiled, she looked like rippling spring water, and when she didn’t, she carried a cold, proud elegance.

“Don’t worry. I will never have anything to do with Shen Lanxi in this lifetime.”

Fu Sui’er froze for a moment. By the time she reacted, Jiang Huashan had already turned and walked away.

But… what was that look just now? She actually felt intimidated by Jiang Huashan for a split second. Realizing this belatedly made her even more unconvinced, so she rushed forward again.

“You’d better keep your word. Don’t go acting all obedient if your mother tells you to do something later.”

Jiang Huashan frowned and stopped again. “Fu Sui’er, what exactly are you trying to say?”

Fu Sui’er lifted her chin. “What? You dare do it but not admit it? Your mother has been secretly asking around about Brother Lanxi’s preferences—she just wants you to please him. Jiang Huashan, you and your mother are truly shameless. Your mother likes messing around with random men, so of course she taught you cheap tricks too. You think just because you’re pretty you can cling onto Brother Lanxi and stay in the Shen family forever? I’m telling you, Brother Lanxi would never look at someone like you.”

“Fu Sui’er.” Jiang Huashan crossed her arms. “Go on then. Tell me—what kind of person am I?”

Fu Sui’er was momentarily speechless. She had always spoken without thinking and had insulted people like this many times before, but for some reason this time she felt unusually guilty.

Jiang Huashan slowly walked closer. Her eyes were still smiling, but her gaze had turned as cold as ice. “Can’t answer? If you don’t know how to show respect, then forget everything I said before. Just go ahead and be stupid on your own.”

Fu Sui’er froze. She opened her mouth to explain but couldn’t bring herself to lower her pride. The atmosphere instantly turned icy.

Shen Zhuang had just finished casting a few rods and was panting as he leaned on his waist to rest when he saw Jiang Huashan and Fu Sui’er walking over one after the other. He raised his hand and greeted them.

“Come over. The shrimp is going to get cold.”

Fu Sui’er couldn’t hide her feelings and turned her face away unhappily. She didn’t want to eat with that annoying Jiang Huashan. Jiang Huashan must be thinking the same thing too, right?

“Grandpa!”

Clearly, the person in front of her was not thinking that at all.

Jiang Huashan skipped over happily onto the wooden corridor, linking her arm with the old master’s while waving enthusiastically at Fu Sui’er.

“Sui’er~ come on! Don’t be upset anymore! This shrimp is thicker than your leg—it’s going to be so plump and delicious.”

The old master, pleased at how sensible she was being, nodded in agreement. “Yes, yes!”

“…”

Fu Sui’er looked utterly horrified. What?! How does this little beggar have two faces?!

Shen Guiling’s gaze lingered briefly on Jiang Huashan’s face. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

It seemed his so-called “public enemy” still wasn’t disliked enough—so the old master’s efforts had been wasted.