MGASC -Chapter 43 She Likes Smart and Shrewd Kids

“Aunt Qiao, are bad people coming to our house again?” Lin Xun hurried up to Zhang Qiao, eyes wary as he looked at the elderly woman in front of him.

Lin Ran and Lin Jin were even more dramatic: “Hurry, go get a stick right now!”

In this era, filial piety was still valued, even if sometimes blindly. At the very least, you couldn’t let others speak ill of you openly.

Seeing this, Zhang Qiao lightly scolded, “Second, Third, don’t get carried away! This is your grandmother; she came here specially to see you.”

The three kids froze. “What… grandmother?”

Zhang Qiao shot Lin Ran a sly look. “Yes, Second, see? Grandma is holding something, it’s pretty heavy. Go take it and see what she brought us.”

Lin Ran was the cleverest at home and immediately caught on. Grinning, he rushed forward to grab the vegetable basket from Chen Guilan’s hands.

“Hey, you little brat… let go!”

“Grandma, the basket is heavy, let me help! Wow, Aunt Qiao, Grandma brought us big pig trotters! Awesome! Does that mean we get to eat pig trotters tonight? Thank you, Grandma! You worked hard!”

Chen Guilan was shocked. These pig trotters were carefully exchanged with meat coupons at the market, meant to nourish her son. She had even covered them with a cloth when coming to Zhang Qiao’s house, but these kids were so fast.

Panicked, Chen Guilan tried to grab the basket: “Give it back! It’s not for you!”

Aunt Liu stepped in again: “Oh, Zhang Qiao’s mom, it turns out both Xiao Qiao and I misjudged you. Look at this mess! I told you, a mother can’t help but care for her daughter and eldest grandson. Pig trotters are good stuff; they’re said to improve the skin. If Xiao Qiao eats them, she’ll surely have a fair, chubby baby in the future!”

Aunt Liu’s family was in business. She could immediately see the little game between mother and daughter.

When Zhang Qiao signaled Lin Ran to grab the basket, it all made sense.

Zhang Qiao’s innocence was fake; her scheming toward her mom was real.

Sure enough, Zhang Qiao smoothly played along: “Thank you, Mom! I really thought you were going to grab our chicken. Lin Xun, quickly, go call your dad; let’s have stewed pig trotters with Grandma for lunch!”

Lin Xun was a bit dazed, but catching Zhang Qiao’s eye signal, he understood.

“Okay, I’ll go now!”

Seeing him leave, Chen Guilan’s legs shook: “Don’t go… I’m not eating at your house!”

Lin Tianyue was a notorious tyrant in the area. Last time Zhang Song came, he was beaten half to death by his brother-in-law. Chen Guilan dared to come to ask Zhang Qiao for money, but she didn’t dare provoke Lin Tianyue.

Just hearing he might come back made her heart pound, and she hurriedly left, making an excuse about needing to cook at home.

Zhang Qiao, of course, didn’t stop her—she wanted her scared off!

Chen Guilan sped away, getting angrier the more she thought about it.

Not only did she fail to get the money, she even ended up giving away four pig trotters.

And her daughter Zhang Qiao—how could she suddenly be so cunning? Her little mouth jabbered non-stop, turning everything around, saying exactly what needed to be said.

The old Zhang Qiao was stubborn but easily manipulated with coaxing and scaring. Now, it was the opposite—she got tricked twice and her sons suffered.

Chen Guilan even wondered if the old Zhang Qiao was possessed or needed to see a spiritual healer.

…

Back at Zhang Qiao’s, after Chen Guilan left, Zhang Qiao blushed.

With tears in her eyes, she shyly held Aunt Liu’s hand: “Aunt Liu, thank you so much for protecting me just now. I feel embarrassed letting you see such an unseemly scene. My mom… I just can’t… Last time Zhang Song came for money, he demanded hundreds, threatening to hit me with a shovel if I didn’t pay. Luckily, Tianyue came back in time, or else…”

Zhang Qiao sniffled sadly. “I’m really scared of them now. There are so many boys at home ready to jump into a fight. Even if there’s food, we can’t just let them take it all.”

Aunt Liu, always soft-hearted, saw how delicate and beautiful Zhang Qiao was, having to go through such hardship, and felt even more sympathy: “Xiao Qiao, I understand. You have a greedy mom always coming to take advantage, and if you’re not careful, your whole family could be schemed against! Don’t worry, I have kids too, I get it. That’s how you handle her! Show her a few lessons, and she’ll learn to restrain herself.”

Zhang Qiao smiled wryly. “I hope so. Luckily, Aunt Liu understands, or else people might think I’m unfilial.”

“Not at all. People used to misunderstand you, but I’m not naive. I can tell good from bad at a glance.”

Aunt Liu really had insight. She could see Zhang Qiao was naturally kind but had to use little tricks to protect herself and her family. These strategies were simply self-defense—nothing wrong with that. In fact, it made Aunt Liu admire Zhang Qiao even more.

After all, she liked kids who were smart and shrewd.

They chatted and bonded more, with Zhang Qiao inviting Aunt Liu inside for some water, sweetly noting it was the first time her new home had guests since she and Lin Tianyue moved in.

Zhang Qiao offered sunflower seeds and candies.

Aunt Liu, always helpful, saw Zhang Qiao sketching clothing patterns for the children. She flipped through them, praising her skills and offering to help sew if she didn’t have time.

Zhang Qiao was delighted: “Aunt Liu, if you help me, I’d be so grateful. I’m clumsy and really can’t do these crafts myself.”

“Young people these days rarely know this kind of handiwork. I’m different—when my kids were young, I sewed every piece of clothing by hand. But your patterns are special; you’ll need to explain carefully how to adjust them. Xiao Qiao, it’s not easy taking care of three kids alone. If you ever need anything in the neighborhood, just ask.”

“Sure! Aunt Liu, you’re such a kind person. I feel so close to you, like family!”

Zhang Qiao’s charm made Aunt Liu feel overjoyed. As she left, Zhang Qiao even forced a box of pastries into her hands to take home.

Lin Ran came out to see her off. Once the gate was closed, he asked belatedly: “Aunt Qiao, yesterday you bought so many pastries… it wasn’t for yourself, it was to give to others, right?”

Zhang Qiao closed the door, seeing the woman already gone, then took Lin Ran inside, explaining: “Yes. More precisely, this is about social etiquette. You know, relationships between people are maintained through mutual exchange of favors.”

Lin Ran frowned: “But Dad said, relationships maintained by gifts are shallow.”