TRANSMIGRATING TO THE 80S TO BECOME STEPMOM TO FIVE BIGWIGS

by Usui Takumii

not mine, news novel.

29. 161 to 170

Chapter 161: Ji Buwang, Haven't You Gone to Become a Live-In Son-In-Law?

Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan reported to the TV station. The TV station would arrange accommodation for them, so Mu Jingzhe didn't have to worry about it.

Ji Buwang finally decided not to stay in the hotel with them. Instead, he went home because Old Master Ji was also in the capital. If he didn't go back, his legs might get broken.

"Oh, you finally decided to come back." Old Master Ji's face was full of surprise when he saw Ji Buwang return. "I thought that you had completely become a married lady."

Ji Buwang: "Geez, Grandpa…"

"What did I say wrong? Other families say that a grown girl can't be kept at home, but as far as our family is concerned, a grown man can't be kept at home. Xiao Ling is like that, and so are you. If one didn't know better, they'd think you had gone to become a live-in son-in-law. I could only think that the two of you got married."

Ji Buwang: "Grandpa, if you continue, I will really return to my 'in-laws'."

Old Master Ji almost threw the teacup in his hand over. "I'm just lecturing you by saying a word or two, yet you're really playing along, huh."

"That's a must. Whatever you say, Grandfather."

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Old Master Ji looked behind him. "You have such a sweet mouth. Why didn't you bring her home?"

"Grandpa, there's no hurry. The timing is not right yet."

Jingzhe hadn't accepted him yet, so it wouldn't be appropriate to bring her home. Ji Buwang felt that Mu Jingzhe's mind was filled with business and the children and didn't include any other thoughts.

Ji Buwang was right. The next day, when the program officially started, Mu Jingzhe no longer had time to pay attention to him.

The top 100 contestants were competing on the same stage, and the program would proceed via elimination. One round after another, people would be eliminated. The one with the most comprehensive knowledge reserve would be crowned champion.

There was a total of ten episodes. The first two episodes were the preliminary rounds, and the finals would be recorded over three days. After three days, the champion would emerge. The three days of recording would be edited into eight episodes for the broadcast.

Amongst the top 100 contestants, the youngest was Shao Nan. The next youngest contestants were already in the sixth grade, so they were 11 to 12 years old. He was the only six-year-old there.

At first, the other participants thought that he had come to the wrong place or had followed his older brother in. They were surprised when they later found out that he was also a participant.

Upon discovering that he was participating in the competition, although the others didn't say it, they felt that the production team was being absurd. There was quite a number of audience members who also thought that Shao Nan was just there to be a mascot.

However, as the competition went on, after one day, when 1/3 of the contestants had been eliminated, everyone realized that Shao Nan was still around.

They all started to look at Shao Nan seriously and treat him as an opponent. They even went to inquire about his situation.

Everyone there was basically a genius that others spoke of. Even though Shao Nan was young, everyone was still willing to accept this.

However, on the second day, after 2/3 of the contestants were eliminated, only 30 or so people were left to proceed to the finals. Shao Nan was still there.

The questions set by the program were very difficult and required a lot of knowledge. Anyone who could enter the finals wasn't simple.

Everyone became even more vigilant around Shao Nan and started treating him as a powerful competitor.

However, the finals on the third day, especially the competition in the afternoon and evening, showed everyone that they had underestimated Shao Nan again.

The first few questions were set and answered by all the contestants. Those who got the answers right in the shortest amount of time would advance, whereas those who got the questions wrong or exceeded the time limit would be eliminated. Everyone was answering the questions. Shao Nan quietly answered the questions, and his speed wasn't too fast either, so he didn't attract much attention.

However, when more than half of the participants were eliminated in the afternoon and only the top ten began to charge into the top three, Shao Nan began to shine. This was also when they entered the toss-up question segment[1].

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. There seemed to be no questions that Shao Nan couldn't answer. There seemed to be nothing that Shao Nan didn't know. Especially when it came to legal knowledge, he appeared all the more outstanding.

Shao Nan, who was dressed in a refined manner and looked like a little prince, started his final attack.

The people present, the spectators, and even the host were all shocked by Shao Nan. Shao Nan answered the questions correctly all the way and directly advanced to the top three, starting to fight for first place.

As for the other two people who competed with him for first place, one of them was a girl in the third year of junior high school, and the other was a boy in the second year of senior high school. They were originally the most outstanding people there, but as they faced Shao Nan, they felt pressure for the first time.

Shao Nan repeatedly hit the buzzer and answered the questions, giving them a lot of pressure. They exchanged blows on the stage, and the audience below the stage became nervous.

Mu Jingzhe felt like she was on a rollercoaster ride for three days, especially in the finals. She was so nervous that her palms were sweating.

The audience on the side could tell that Mu Jingzhe was Shao Nan's mother. They were very curious and they asked her how she'd managed to nurture Shao Nan so well. In answer, Mu Jingzhe said helplessly, "Actually, I didn't nurture him much. He's outstanding himself."

In fact, Mu Jingzhe was also shocked by Shao Nan at first, but later, when she thought about it, it all made sense. In the original storyline, he was a top student, a future scientific researcher, and a self-taught genius who would become a medical expert.

Someone with this kind of learning ability definitely wouldn't fare badly, not to mention that he had a strong memory and worked really hard.

During this period, Shao Nan had basically finished reading all the books in the county library. He had even read the books that she had bought. He had also read a lot of books he had borrowed from Ji Buwang's home. It could be said that Shao Nan read the most among the five kids.

While Shao Dong was doing business, he read books and studied. While Shao Xi was reading books and writing, he was still studying. While Little Bei was acting and Xiao Wu was playing music, he was still studying and learning.

Learning and reading were pretty much what he did all day long. He read the most books and had a good memory. With his photographic memory, he could basically remember everything after reading it once. Hence, at such a young age, he had a shocking amount of knowledge, especially in the field of the law.

It just so happened that at this knowledge competition, besides competing, people also wanted to spread some crucial knowledge. There were more questions about the law, so Shao Nan had an advantage.

No one would have thought that at such a young age, Shao Nan would have seriously studied the law. In the end, Shao Nan became the champion of the show.

It was unbelievable but well deserved.

The other contestants, who were lauded as geniuses, were utterly convinced. They all said that Shao Nan was a genius and introduced themselves to him one after another. They even exchanged contact details and agreed to write letters to communicate with each other in the future.

Mu Jingzhe was extremely overwhelmed when she saw this, but this wasn't the end of it. Not only did the participants want to get to know Shao Nan, but even the judges were attracted to him.

The judges who had been invited to participate in this show were naturally not simple people. They were all top experts in their fields in the country. For example, the professors from the two best universities in the country wanted to get to know Shao Nan.

These two universities were well-known and prestigious in the country. Many people felt conflicted over which of the two they should (aspire to) attend when they were young.

Mu Jingzhe was stunned when she heard the names of these two people. At that moment, another professor came and said that he was from the Law School that was publicly acknowledged as the best in the country. He was also attracted by Shao Nan, so he joined the fight for him.

[1] The first contestant to buzz in and correctly answer the question wins a point

Chapter 162: The 'In This Lifetime' Series

Mu Jingzhe looked at the law professor, who spoke in a refined yet direct manner.

"What he's interested in is the law. He's the most knowledgeable in the law. If he wants to get into university in the future, he'll definitely apply to our university, right?"

The professor from Imperial University retorted, "Don't make it sound like our school doesn't have a legal major. Our school is famous for being a comprehensive school. We have all kinds of majors. It's not impossible to study the law over here."

The two of them argued for a while, but the professor from Tsing University, who had been observing Shao Nan silently, didn't participate in the argument. He only squatted down and asked Shao Nan amiably, "Actually, you like science very much. Especially physics, right? It's just that you haven't had the time to study it systematically?"

Shao Nan felt that he was right and nodded. "Mm."

"That's easy. Our school may not be good at other things, but we can teach. I'm not bad either. If you think it's okay, you can learn from me first and come to our school later."

This cultured teacher extended an olive branch and told Shao Nan and Mu Jingzhe about the school's youth class.

His general meaning was that he didn't want to miss out on a good seedling like Shao Nan. He wanted to nurture him and pave the way for him to enter the juvenile class in the future.

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Mu Jingzhe had naturally heard of the magical youth class. She just hadn't expected that she would encounter such a magical thing in her lifetime. Shao Nan had merely participated in a competition, and now universities that people were dying to enter were vying to recruit him.

Geniuses were indeed different.

Shao Nan was quite calm, but Mu Jingzhe, who had a normal IQ, was extremely excited. "This is like a dream."

The professor from Imperial University and the other professor hadn't expected that while they were fighting over there, the guy from Tsing University would actually be so cunning as to tempt this little student.

"That's not very honorable of you." The two of them went forward and pushed aside the Tsing University professor before they began to tell Shao Nan and Mu Jingzhe about the benefits of their schools.

Mu Jingzhe's heart swelled as she listened. She felt dizzy, as though she was floating amidst clouds of happiness.

After leaving their contact details and saying goodbye to the three professors, Mu Jingzhe was still floating in the clouds, unable to get down. "I didn't expect that I would have such a day. Fretting over which school you should go to. What a happy problem to have."

Although it was Shao Nan who had been invited, Mu Jingzhe felt that since she was Shao Nan's mother now, she also had to fret over which school he was going to go to.

When he saw how thrilled Mu Jingzhe looked, although Shao Nan's face was calm, his small chest was straight. "Mom, are you that happy?"

"Of course. You don't understand the mentality of ordinary people like us."

"If this makes you happy, then it's easy. I'll make you happy every day from now on. I'll go to whichever school you like and keep you happy."

Shao Nan didn't dare guarantee anything else, but studying wasn't difficult for him. It was similar to eating and sleeping. He just needed to spend some time and energy to learn.

Shao Nan had always thought that he was the most useless among the five of them, but now he had finally found confidence.

Mu Jingzhe was stunned for a moment when she heard Shao Nan's bold words. It wasn't because she thought he was exaggerating. If she were to say these words, it would be an exaggeration, but coming from Shao Nan, it most definitely was not.

It was her first time experiencing the feeling of raising a super-genius or a star student, so she was very curious.

If this wasn't her son, she would definitely be itching to slap this boy if she heard him say such boastful words.

However, it was completely different now that he was her son. She felt extremely proud of him, and her heart was filled with thoughts of how brilliant Little Nan was. Oh, the sweet frustration of having too many good schools to choose from!

"I'm very happy. However, Little Nan, I'm not the one who should choose. It's you who should be choosing what you like. When the time comes, just find the right direction and move forward."

"I'm fine with anything. I quite like the law, but I also enjoy mathematics and physics. Actually, studying medicine would be quite good too."

"Then you can take your time to consider this before choosing."

"Okay." Shao Nan tilted his head and asked seriously, "But can't I study all of them?"

Mu Jingzhe: "Yes, of course you can… I forgot that you're not an ordinary person. You can learn more if you want to."

Given Shao Nan's brain, he would do pretty well even if he just learned something casually.

Mu Jingzhe was still in a daze, but Shao Nan had already recovered from his excitement. "Mommy, we rarely come to the capital. Let's take a nice stroll tomorrow. I've received my prize money, so I can buy you a gift."

Since this was the first time he'd earned money, Shao Nan had to buy gifts for Mu Jingzhe and everyone else.

"Okay, okay, go ahead and buy me one." Mu Jingzhe immediately agreed.

As the mother and son were talking happily, they heard Ji Buwang's voice and saw him walking over. "Have you been alright in the past two days? I wasn't able to contact you."

"We're fine." Mu Jingzhe patted her head. "I've been so busy with the competition in the past three days that I forgot to contact you. Did you receive the letter I sent you?"

"I did." Ji Buwang nodded. "How was the competition?"

"He's the champion. Little Nan is the champion. The youngest champion at that. He's amazing." Mu Jingzhe started to get worked up as she spoke.

Ji Buwang knew that the children were all smart, but he was still impressed by how outstanding Shao Nan was. He gave Shao Nan a thumbs-up. "Impressive."

"Since Little Nan won the championship, let's celebrate tonight and eat well."

"Sure."

"What do you want to eat? How about roasted duck? I know a restaurant with an authentic taste."

"Okay." Since they were in the capital, they definitely had to try the local specialties. Mu Jingzhe started drooling. "Were things fine at home?"

"Pretty good. My grandfather is also in good health."

Grandpa was fine and all, but while Ji Buwang had been freshening up before going out, he'd teased him by saying that he was a peacock spreading his tail. Later on, as Ji Buwang had left the house, Grandpa had nagged and said that a grown grandson couldn't be kept at home.

As they spoke, Mu Han found them.

Mu Han was currently staying in the capital and doing the dirtiest work but was earning quite a bit of money.

After not seeing him for a few months, Mu Han seemed reborn. The childishness on his face had completely faded, and he had become mature and steady. Only when he saw Mu Jingzhe did he reveal a familiar look.

"Sister."

"Sigh… You've lost weight. Xiao Han, you look thinner."

Mu Han laughed. "Sister, why are you like Mom? I thought I just saw Mom."

Mu Jingzhe had said that subconsciously. The instant she had seen him, she'd felt that he had lost weight. Mu Han blinked and suppressed the heat in his eyes as he looked at Shao Nan.

Shao Nan greeted him obediently. "Uncle."

"Aye, Uncle will buy you some candy later."

"Thank you, Uncle." Because of Mu Jingzhe, Shao Nan was fond of this uncle too and had a filter when it came to Mu Han to begin with. Besides, he was the best at observing people's expressions and knew how to make an adult like him. Therefore, even though he wasn't familiar with Mu Han, he tugged at his clothes, appearing very close to him.

Mu Han was indeed happy. To be honest, he had felt unfamiliar with this nephew, who wasn't related to his sister by blood. However, Shao Nan's actions instantly closed the distance between the two of them. He felt that the distance between them had quickly disappeared and he felt happy about it.

"Little Nan is so obedient."

Chapter 163: Ji Buwang, How Can You Let Me Down?

After Mu Han praised him, he instinctively lowered his head and sniffed himself, afraid that his body would still stink.

Because he often collected rubbish, his body inevitably had a stench. When he went out and met people, everyone would subconsciously cover their noses or avoid him. And these were only the mildest reactions. There were even people who would spit and say harsh things to chase them away.

However, Mu Han was used to it now and felt that it didn't matter as long as he could earn money. Thus, he'd decided not to be calculative with those people. After all, he didn't earn as much as them, but it was still different when it came to his family. He didn't want his family to know about his experiences, not because he was afraid of losing face, but because he was afraid that they would feel heartache.

Hence, before Mu Han came out, he had taken a shower twice, smelled himself, and confirmed that there was no odor.

Seeing that Shao Nan hadn't shown any abnormalities, Mu Han finally heaved a sigh of relief.

When he looked at Ji Buwang, Mu Han's attitude and gaze changed.

This was the first time he saw Ji Buwang, and his eyes were filled with curiosity. Ji Buwang knew Mu Han's identity and was very polite.

Now that Mu Han had some experience working, he could tell that Ji Buwang was either rich or noble. However, Ji Buwang's attitude was very good, so he followed suit.

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Ji Buwang drove Mu Jingzhe, Shao Nan, and Mu Han away, and the car quickly merged into the traffic.

Shao Qihai, who had finally arrived at the capital by train and was waiting for Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan to come out through the entrance, was speechless.

"…"

Lowering his head to look at his two legs, Shao Qihai temporarily gave up on the idea of chasing after them. It was impossible for two legs to catch up to four wheels, and he couldn't attract too much attention.

Shao Qihai sat on the ground, grinding his teeth. He clenched and loosened his fists repeatedly.

What he hated was that Ji Buwang was his nemesis. Not only did Ji Buwang follow them everywhere, but he was also vigilant, making it difficult for him to follow his wife and kid closely.

Because of Ji Buwang, many of his plans had been messed up.

Originally, he'd also wanted to eat roasted duck with Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan. Although he couldn't eat with them face to face, he could eat with them from a distance. However, Ji Buwang had beaten him to it. Again.

Shao Qihai returned to the hotel where Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan were staying with a dejected face and entered the room next to theirs.

Meanwhile, Ji Buwang drove Mu Jingzhe and the others to their destination. Mu Jingzhe had originally thought that since they were eating roast duck, Ji Buwang would take them to a small but authentic restaurant. However, it turned out that this wasn't the case. The restaurant was very big and it was even a landmark restaurant in the capital.

"We'll eat here?" Mu Jingzhe asked for confirmation.

"Mm, they serve the most authentic roast duck here." This was the first reason. The second reason was that this restaurant was actually the Ji Family's property.

Before going there, he hadn't informed the staff that he'd be going, so he was visiting as a regular customer. However, not long after his arrival, someone recognized him.

Many of the waiters in the restaurant had been working there for several years and knew Ji Buwang. Besides, Ji Buwang's temperament and looks weren't easy to forget.

The news of Ji Buwang waking up miraculously and returning to the capital had spread in the past two days. It had also spread in the restaurant, but they hadn't expected to see him there.

The manager dropped her pen on the table when she heard the news. "Mr. Ji is here?"

As she spoke, her eyes suddenly turned red. Seeing that she had lost her composure, the other person, who spoke carefully, glanced at her and said, "Yes, Sister Lan. You know Mr. Ji, right?"

"Mm." Sister Lan acknowledged this in a low voice and rushed out, leaving behind a few waiters who looked at each other.

"What's going on? Why is Sister Lan so agitated?"

"You still don't know, right? Sister Lan likes Mr. Ji. I heard that it was Mr. Ji who recruited her in the first place. When Mr. Ji got into an accident, she cried a few times. She even went to the Ji Family and said that she didn't mind that Mr. Ji was unconscious and was willing to marry him, hoping that she could save his life by marrying him to counteract bad luck. However, Old Mr. Ji rejected her suggestion."

"There's actually such a thing? I really didn't know."

"There's much more that you don't know. In the past, Sister Lan cried whenever she was scolded by a guest. Now, she's trained. Because of Mr. Ji's accident, her parents tried to force her to get married, but she never did. Everyone is saying that she's been waiting for Mr. Ji."

"How old is Sister Lan?"

"25 or 26. Her family is really anxious for her."

Sister Lan, who they were gossiping about, rushed over quickly. She had heard that Ji Buwang had woken up, but because she hadn't seen him with her own eyes, she didn't dare confirm it. She had still been trying to think of a way to meet him, when he'd shown up unexpectedly.

Was he there to see her? Was he there because he had found out that she had been waiting for him?

Tears welled up in Sister Lan's eyes, and she didn't stop until she reached the private room. She took a deep breath and spruced herself up. Coincidentally, a dish was about to be served. She took it and said, "I'll serve it myself."

Sister Lan knocked on the door and heard a familiar voice come from inside. She pushed the door open with trembling hands and saw the face that she had been dreaming about day and night.

He was smiling as he spoke. He had really woken up.

Sister Lan was so delighted that she forgot what she was doing until Ji Buwang frowned and reminded her. "Serve the dish."

Sister Lan came back to her senses and quickly served the dish. Just as she put it down, she heard Ji Buwang's gentle voice say, "Jingzhe, try it and see if you like it."

Sister Lan looked over and saw Mu Jingzhe. It was at that moment that she realized that Ji Buwang also had other guests. Besides, Ji Buwang had not looked at her from start to end. He was only looking at the woman beside him.

Sister Lan clenched her fists and glared at that woman called Jingzhe.

Noticing that the waitress had not left after serving the dish, Ji Buwang was about to frown and say something when there was another knock on the door. "Mr. Ji?"

"Who's that?"

"It's me, Mr. Ji. I heard that you were here, so I came to greet you."

"Please come in." Ji Buwang held himself back as he spoke. The door was pushed open, revealing a middle-aged man in a leather vest, his wife, as well as a young girl outside.

"I didn't think the rumor was true. I didn't expect it to really be you, Mr. Ji. It's great that you've woken up."

Ji Buwang gave them a polite yet distant smile. "Thank you."

The middle-aged man and Ji Buwang exchanged pleasantries. His wife and daughter noticed Mu Jingzhe at first glance. They were more well-informed than Sister Lan and they'd vaguely heard that Ji Buwang had a woman he liked, a widow with kids from her first marriage.

They then looked at Shao Nan and instantly understood.

Their gazes were really obvious, and Ji Buwang could feel them too. He couldn't help but frown. He was purely there to eat today and hadn't expected to meet someone like this.

"Jingzhe, I'm sorry." Ji Buwang apologized to Mu Jingzhe in a low voice. Mu Jingzhe shook her head, indicating that she was fine. She thought to herself that this was expected of a domineering CEO's uncle. He'd even been greeted while eating.

Mu Jingzhe didn't have much of a reaction, but the mother and daughter who had come to greet him widened their eyes. Jingzhe was indeed her name. The rumors were actually true!

Mu Jingzhe didn't know that she had become a legend in this circle, but when she saw their astonished gazes, she felt strange. "Why are they looking at me like that?"

"It's nothing," Ji Buwang said softly. He then politely asked the whole family to head out. In the end, he realized that there was still an outrageous waiter in the room. "Why haven't you left yet?"

Sister Lan's heart sank when she saw the coldness between Ji Buwang's brows. He had brought a new woman with him and he was looking at her as though she was a stranger. Had he completely forgotten about her?

How could he! How could he let her down!

Chapter 164: Trapped in the Bathroom

Sister Lan couldn't take the blow and ran out.

Ji Buwang looked at her back and felt that he had to do something about the restaurant's service quality. The service staff was a little outrageous.

After being in a coma for four years, Ji Buwang had forgotten most of the characteristics of many people. Or rather, they had all changed. Furthermore, Sister Lan hadn't spoken, so Ji Buwang hadn't recognized her.

Sister Lan was extremely sad. She felt that her four years of waiting had been a joke. She covered her mouth and ran to the washroom. In the end, she heard the mother and daughter who had gone to greet Ji Buwang earlier.

The mother-daughter pair was gossiping. "Mom, the rumors are true. Mr. Ji actually fell in love with a widow with kids. The name matches the rumors too."

"I didn't think it was true. Ugh, what a shame. I thought I'd take you to meet him. If only he liked you. But I never thought…"

"Mom." Her daughter was a little shy. It would be great if she could marry Ji Buwang. After all, he was very handsome and came from a really good family.

"Sigh. Luckily, I didn't hold out much hope. Otherwise, I would have been very disappointed. Who would have thought that the famous Ji Buwang would want to be someone's stepfather? I heard that the woman has five children."

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The daughter was disappointed, but her attention was quickly diverted. "Really? Isn't it only one child? I forgot to look at the child just now."

The girl pursed her lips and thought that she was better than Jingzhe in this aspect.

Her mother was thinking the same thing. "I didn't notice, but apparently, there are five of them. I was so focused on looking at Jingzhe just now because I wanted to see in what regard she is better than you."

The mother didn't continue speaking because she couldn't describe the feeling Mu Jingzhe gave others. She just felt that she was different from ordinary girls and was very special, so they shouldn't belittle her.

Her daughter felt the same way. "Mom, what do you think she's thinking? Since they aren't even related to her by blood, why would she want to raise those five children?" If it were her, she wouldn't even dare think about it.

"I don't know either, but now that you mentioned it, I kind of admire her."

"Mom, do you think that if she marries Mr. Ji, her five children will follow her into the Ji Family? Even if they are adopted children, they will stand to benefit greatly from the marriage. Will they not acknowledge their status and fight for the Ji Family's inheritance?"

"If they really follow their mother when she actually marries into the Ji Family, that's entirely possible. However, it's not that easy to marry into the Ji Family. The Ji Family can't afford to lose face…"

The two of them left while talking, leaving behind Sister Lan, who was eavesdropping. She hadn't expected Mu Jingzhe's identity to be so terrible.

Meanwhile, in the private room, Mu Jingzhe felt her ears burning. "I think someone is badmouthing me."

Ji Buwang felt guilty. "I don't think so. Who would say bad things about you?"

It was only after he returned that he found out that news of him had already spread, including the fact that he had fallen in love with Mu Jingzhe. After his return, he didn't want to face an endless number of young ladies. In addition, he had genuinely fallen in love with Mu Jingzhe, so he hadn't denied it. He even thought that if the rumors about him and Mu Jingzhe were to spread, Tang Moling wouldn't be able to interfere in the future. It would be akin to killing two birds with one stone.

However, while facing Mu Jingzhe, Ji Buwang felt a little guilty. He hadn't thought too much about it and had only brought them here because he believed that his restaurant's food was healthy and tasted good. Now, he regretted it a little.

However, upon seeing that Mu Jingzhe and the child were eating well, he felt quite glad.

After the meal, Mu Jingzhe went to the washroom. When she did, Sister Lan happened to see her. Sister Lan's eyes were red. After some thought, she chased after her because she couldn't take this lying down.

When Mu Jingzhe was done, she wanted to open the door. However, she realized that it couldn't be opened. "Eh? Why can't I open it? Is there anyone around?"

No one responded. Mu Jingzhe hesitated, not sure whether she should kick down the door violently or wait for someone to arrive. "Is there anyone outside? I'm locked inside."

As she asked this, Mu Jingzhe tried to pull again, not daring to use too much strength. While she was pulling, she suddenly heard a voice come from outside.

"Stop pulling. You can't pull it open, and no one will come in anytime soon."

"You locked the door?" Mu Jingzhe frowned. "What do you want? This prank isn't funny at all."

"Who's playing a prank on you? I just wanted to give you some advice. You're not worthy of Ji Buwang. If you know what's good for you, stay away from him. A woman who's been married before like you isn't fit to be with him."

Mu Jingzhe raised her brows, surprised to encounter such a situation. "Then who do you think is worthy of him? You?"

Unexpectedly, Ji Buwang also had admirers… This wasn't right. Ji Buwang was outstanding appearance-wise and came from a good background, so it was normal for him to have admirers.

Hearing Mu Jingzhe's nonchalant words, Sister Lan became even angrier. She felt that Mu Jingzhe was displaying such an attitude because she looked down on her. She said angrily, "I waited for him for four years. While he was unconscious, I was waiting for him. I didn't even mind marrying him while he was unconscious. Who the heck are you?"

Mu Jingzhe raised her brows. "It sounds quite touching, but why are you telling me this? You should tell Ji Buwang. It's useless telling me." It would only be useful if the main character heard this.

These words sounded a little touching, but in reality, if the other person didn't like you, you'd be taking advantage of them. Since Ji Buwang had been able to hear the commotion outside while being unconscious, she wondered if he knew this.

Mu Jingzhe's suggestion was sincere. After all, she and Ji Buwang weren't a couple. However, it sounded entirely different in Sister Lan's ears.

"Don't think that I don't dare? I'll tell him. If I say it, he'll be moved. I'm better than you anyway. I've never married anyone and I don't have a son!"

Mu Jingzhe said, "You're right. Go tell him, but let me out first."

"No way. This is the punishment you deserve. You still don't know, right? Everyone knows that you have a son and they're waiting to watch a show. They're saying that after those kids marry into the Ji Family along with you, they won't be able to acknowledge their status and will want to fight for the Ji Family's assets. You and your children are just a joke in everyone's eyes. If you don't want Buwang to become a joke, you'd better stay away from him."

The young lady's voice was filled with hatred, and Mu Jingzhe couldn't bear it anymore. "First of all, young lady, my first marriage doesn't hinder you in any way, right? It's not a crime that I've been married before. Don't make it sound like an unpardonable crime, as though I've killed someone.

"Secondly, I can tell you very firmly that my five children are all very promising. They will definitely not vie for the Ji Family's assets. They are too busy with their own careers. None of what you have imagined will happen."

"Pfft, you make them sound so impressive." Sister Lan didn't believe a word of what she'd said.

"They really are impressive. You just need to find out more about them. Also, Ji Buwang and I are just friends. We do not have the kind of relationship you think we do. I don't want to ruin the facilities of this restaurant. Open the door."

Sister Lan was delighted, but she quickly became alert. "You want to coax me into opening the door for you? No way. If you can, open it yourself."

"Sure I can, but it won't be nice if I damage this door. I'll give you one last chance. Open the door." Mu Jingzhe's tone was filled with danger.

However, Sister Lan was completely oblivious to that. "I'm not opening it. I'm already being polite by not pouring a bucket of water over you. If you can open it yourself, then open it."

Sister Lan turned around and left. She wanted to lock Mu Jingzhe in the bathroom and teach her a lesson.

However, Sister Lan had only taken two steps when she heard a bang behind her. She jumped in fright and turned around, only to see the door being kicked open and Mu Jingzhe walking out.

Chapter 165: What Gave You the Confidence to Cause Me Trouble?

"You… You…" Sister Lan looked at the broken door and then at Mu Jingzhe, feeling completely stunned.

"What about me? I told you I could open it." Mu Jingzhe sized Sister Lan up. "It's all you. I was wondering who you were. You're a waitress, so how could you do something like this?"

Panic appeared in Sister Lan's eyes. "You… You're a monster."

"What gave you the confidence to cause me trouble?" Mu Jingzhe grabbed Sister Lan's neck from behind. "Let's go. We'll meet your boss together. I don't mind you talking tough in front of me, but I mind you being unprofessional and using your position to take revenge."

An ordinary person would be at a disadvantage.

"Let go of me." Sister Lan was finally afraid, but how could she escape from Mu Jingzhe's hand? She was quickly pushed outside.

Ji Buwang, Mu Han, and Shao Nan had noticed that she had not returned and had come looking for her. They saw her immediately. "Sister, what's wrong?"

"This girl locked me in the bathroom and wouldn't let me out. I tore down the door, but I'm not going to pay for it. I plan to make her take responsibility for this. I was just about to look for the person in charge of this restaurant."

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Ji Buwang's eyes darkened as he looked at Sister Lan. "What gave you the guts to do that?"

Sister Lan broke down when she saw Ji Buwang's cold expression. "Ji Buwang, how could you do this to me? I waited for you for four years. I waited here for you for four years."

Ji Buwang: "?"

He instantly felt many gazes on him, especially those of Mu Han and Shao Nan, which were filled with infinite coldness.

Ji Buwang quickly explained, "No, don't get the wrong idea. It's not what you think. You… I remember you. There's nothing between us. Don't talk nonsense."

Upon hearing Sister Lan's words, Ji Buwang finally remembered this person.

He had originally thought that it would be safer to eat in his own restaurant, but now, he had been slapped in the face. He wanted to explain, but Mu Han had already pulled Mu Jingzhe away.

"Mr. Ji, you handle these matters yourself. My sister and I will leave first. Don't worry; I'll take them back."

Mu Han hadn't expected such a thing to happen. His attitude toward Ji Buwang instantly changed.

His sister had already gotten married once and ended up being a widow. It was already easy for people to criticize her to begin with. Besides, now, he was a scavenger. He didn't think there was anything wrong with working in this industry, but there were many people who despised him for picking up rubbish.

In the future, he only wanted to work hard to earn money and support his sister. Since his sister was also capable herself, why did she have to find a rich husband? Men were too much trouble, so it would be better for her to be free.

Ji Buwang watched helplessly as Mu Han pulled Mu Jingzhe away. When he looked at Sister Lan again, his gaze had changed and become extremely icy.

Meanwhile, Shao Qihai waited and waited until the flowers wilted. Just as he started suspecting that Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan wouldn't be returning, they finally got back.

When they got out of the car, both mother and son were holding something in their hands. Ji Buwang was also holding something. The blissful look of the family of three deeply hurt Shao Qihai, who was peeking out of the window.

Not only that, but Ji Buwang actually followed them up.

Shao Qihai felt wretched. Why was he following them upstairs? Could he even want to stick around and sleep with them? Many bloody, violent scenes flashed through Shao Qihai's mind as he leaned against the door to listen for any movements.

"Sis, if there's anything else, you can look for me again. I'll head back first today."

"Okay. Be safe."

Shao Qihai froze in surprise. Sis?

Thinking carefully about the figure he had seen just now, Shao Qihai finally realized that the person who had followed them back wasn't Ji Buwang, but Mu Han.

Shao Qihai had also heard about Mu Han. However, Mu Han had changed too much in the past year, and it was a little dark downstairs. He had been too agitated just now and had misjudged the situation.

Shao Qihai heaved a sigh of relief and silently praised his brother-in-law in his heart as he listened to him leave.

By eavesdropping, Shao Qihai realized that the thing Mu Jingzhe and the others were holding was candied hawthorn.

Shao Qihai listened as the mother and son entered the room, then leaned against the window and listened again for a moment. In the end, he couldn't hold back and went downstairs to buy a stick of candied hawthorn himself.

He wanted to pretend they were having candied hawthorn together.

Shao Qihai took a bite. The first bite was sweet, but as he chewed, his expression froze.

The hawthorn was so sour that he felt like his teeth were going to fall out.

In the meantime, Ji Buwang was swift and decisive. He fired Sister Lan without any hesitation. "Now that I saw you treat a customer that way, I believe we can't afford to have a manager like you."

Sister Lan was heartbroken. "You're going to treat me like this just because of her? I waited for you for four years…"

Ji Buwang was speechless. He remembered Sister Lan a little. Before the incident, he had been able to tell that she seemed to have that kind of intention, so he'd wanted to stay away from her. He hadn't expected that something would happen later.

He hadn't expected her to create such a mess. After returning home, he couldn't help but ask Old Master Ji if anyone had wanted to marry him while he had been unconscious.

Old Master Ji nodded. "Yes, but I didn't let any of them."

Perhaps some people might think that his grandfather should be very grateful that a girl had been willing to marry Ji Buwang while he was unconscious. However, that wasn't the case.

He hadn't acted foolishly. Regardless of whether the girls were sincere or not, he'd rejected all of them. Firstly, Ji Buwang might not necessarily be willing. What if he woke up with a wife he didn't like? Secondly, to put it bluntly, considering the benefits that one could reap by marrying into the Ji Family, some people would never be able to earn that amount of money in their entire lifetime.

He wasn't old and muddle-headed.

Ji Buwang hadn't expected it to be true and found it ridiculous.

The next day, Ji Buwang wanted to look for Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan, but he was stopped by someone the moment he stepped out. It was none other than Sister Lan.

After Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan got up, they went shopping.

"Mommy, I'll buy you a woolen sweater and a coat. When you wear it, you'll be like the girls in the capital."

The last time they had gone to Ocean City, Little Bei had bought her a dress to dress her up like a lady of Ocean City. Now, Shao Nan had said that he wanted to help her transform into a lady of the capital.

Mu Jingzhe couldn't help but reflect on herself. Was she sponging off her kids? This child was still very young, yet he was already buying her things.

"Little Nan, save the money for yourself. I'll shop by myself." Mu Jingzhe, who was deeply reflecting on herself, discussed this with Shao Nan.

Shao Nan refused. "Why don't you want me to buy stuff for you? Little Bei and my older brothers can buy you things, but I can't? Mommy, do you feel that I'm not able to make a lot of money? I'll make a lot of money in the future."

"No, that's not what I meant. I just think you kids are still young. As an adult, it's not a good idea for me to keep accepting gifts from you."

"What's wrong with that? In any case, you have to accept it. Otherwise, I'll be angry." Shao Nan wasn't joking. The reason he worked hard to earn money was because he didn't want to be a burden. Also, he wanted to buy things for his mother, maternal grandparents, and siblings.

If she didn't let him buy these things, he would really get angry.

"Alright then, but you can only buy two things. Any more than that and I won't accept them."

"Alright then. Mommy, you can pick what you want."

"Mm."

This big city was indeed different. According to a wise old saying, fashion trends were repeated every few decades. When she looked at these coats and woolen shirts, she felt that they were quite vintage and fashionable.

When Mu Jingzhe put on the woolen coat, it felt a bit like she had gone back to the modern age.

Chapter 166: The Mother-Child Matching Outfits of the Five Children

"Just buy another scarf and change into a different pair of shoes. This outfit will look good with your sneakers."

Mu Jingzhe became interested. While Shao Nan was buying these things for her, she looked for something for the children. She imagined the family of six going out wearing woolen shirts and coats. It would be really cool.

"Little Nan, let's buy them all. They'll be matching outfits then."

Other people's parent-child attire just consisted of one parent matching with at most one or two children. As for her, she had five children. The lineup was completely different.

Although this was the first time Shao Nan had heard the words "parent-child matching outfit", he instantly understood. He thought for a while and immediately nodded. "Okay."

After discussing it, the two of them immediately started shopping for woolen shirts, coats, matching scarves, and shoes. Scarves were also a fashionable element.

They were so focused on picking that they didn't notice Shao Qihai, who had his back facing them.

Shao Qihai had overheard a small part of their conversation. Although he hadn't heard about the parent-child attire, he had heard them say that they were putting together an outfit and that the six of them needed to wear similar clothes.

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Shao Qihai was shamelessly tempted. He also wanted to wear the same clothes as them. If nothing went wrong, he would only need to capture the last two culprits before he could go home for good.

When that time came, he would be able to wear the exact same clothes as them. One look and anyone would be able to tell that they were a family.

Shao Qihai quickly picked out a woolen shirt and coat for himself before following her.

Mu Jingzhe looked at the leather shoes and tried them on with Shao Nan but she didn't buy them, as she felt that they had an average matching effect with the rest of the outfit. She only bought them for Li Zhaodi and Mu Teng, feeling that she and the children should go buy sports shoes instead.

Shao Qihai, who was following them, saw that they had tried the shoes on but didn't buy them. When he looked at the price again, he thought that it was because of the steep price tag. His heart ached. He thought for a while and asked the shop assistant to sell him the shoes that Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan had tried. He also bought them for himself and the other four kids, bringing all the pairs with him.

He imagined the delighted looks on the faces of Mu Jingzhe and the kids when he brought them back. With this thought in mind, he felt happy to be carrying so many shoes.

After Mu Jingzhe bought the sports shoes, Shao Qihai looked at the price and felt that his guess had been right. He didn't regret buying the leather shoes either. However, he also bought a pair of sports shoes for himself that was very similar to Mu Jingzhe's. He felt that since they were a married couple—ahem, a family—they should wear identical outfits.

Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan went to buy scarves. Shao Qihai looked around and bought a similar one for himself. He bought all of them.

Later on, when Mu Jingzhe passed by other shops, she would subconsciously observe shops that sold hair ornaments. Upon coming across particularly good-looking or ugly ones, she would try them on to see the effect. Wherever she went, she would observe the market, working hard for her hair ornament business.

When Shao Qihai saw that Mu Jingzhe only looked at things and didn't buy them, he thought that she couldn't bear to part with the money. Later on, he asked the shop owner about the items Mu Jingzhe had tried and bought them all. He planned to give Mu Jingzhe a surprise when he returned.

Of course, he didn't forget to buy the same things for Little Bei.

Just like that, Shao Qihai followed Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan around. Although he couldn't go up to them and reunite with them, this still felt like a family shopping trip to him.

He was extremely glad that Ji Buwang wasn't around. Shopping like this was very extravagant for him.

In the end, because Shao Qihai had bought too many things, he wound up carrying a large bag and it got a little heavy. However, to Shao Qihai, this was a sweet burden. When he thought about Mu Jingzhe and the children being pleasantly surprised when he returned to bring these things back, he didn't feel that the bag was heavy at all.

However, while looking at Mu Jingzhe, who had been shopping along the way, who was carrying bags bigger than his own, and whom even Shao Nan was helping out, Shao Qihai also felt a certain amount of pressure. Or rather, the pressure of raising a family.

He had to work hard to earn money in the future. Otherwise, he definitely wouldn't have the chance to go on a shopping spree like this.

Now, Mu Jingzhe was capable and could earn money herself. The children were also capable, but as a man, he couldn't spend his wife and children's money, let alone be inferior to them.

He still had to support his family when he returned.

While Mu Jingzhe enthusiastically went on her shopping spree, she didn't notice Shao Qihai behind her at all, nor was she aware that he was thinking so much.

In the past, whenever she saw parent-child outfits on the streets, she would look at them enviously. Now that she could wear them too, she felt pleased just thinking about it.

In the end, Mu Jingzhe almost couldn't carry all the things she had bought. Luckily, Mu Han came looking for her.

Mu Han helped her carry her things back to her place. Mu Jingzhe took out the woolen shirt she had bought for Mu Han and had him change into it. "Try it on and see if it suits you. If it suits you, you can wear it. I've bought one for Mom and Dad too."

"Sister, why are you still buying things for me? I'm grown up now and I can earn my own money."

"But you're still my younger brother. Just accept it since I've already bought it for you. Stop nagging."

After Mu Han put it on, Mu Jingzhe forbade him to take it off. "Just wear it and go eat. We're heading back after eating."

Ji Buwang hadn't been coming over. Mu Jingzhe thought that he might be busy, so she called to get someone to inform him that they were going back first. She then embarked on the journey back with Shao Nan.

It wasn't easy to buy a plane ticket at this time, so she took the train instead of the plane. Then, her retribution for going on that shopping spree came. Thanks to that enormous bag of things, she almost got stuck at the train door.

Shao Qihai experienced a similar frustration. It wasn't easy for him to make it back on the same train as Mu Jingzhe, as he was carrying a conspicuous large bag.

One should know that in the past, he'd basically gone everywhere with the bare minimum luggage. This was the first time he was carrying such a big bag, but it was impossible for him to throw all those things away.

Mu Jingzhe wanted to buy sleeper tickets, but she couldn't. She only managed to buy a seat. The journey was long and a little difficult.

"Are you tired? I'll help you massage your legs. You can't let your legs swell." Mu Jingzhe massaged Shao Nan's legs.

"I'm not tired. Is Mommy tired?" Shao Nan was actually fine. He quite liked the feeling of being alone with his mother.

"I'm fine, but it's not easy to sleep at night. Little Nan, if you're tired, go to sleep. I'll carry you."

"I'll just lie on the small table." Shao Nan didn't want to tire Mu Jingzhe out.

Fortunately, when Shao Nan started to doze off, a sleeper bunk became available, so they could go over.

Mu Jingzhe quickly carried Shao Nan there. Although there was only one sleeper bunk and it was quite cramped with the two of them, it was still better than sitting down.

It was late at night, and Mu Jingzhe quickly fell asleep with Shao Nan.

Shao Qihai waited for them to fall asleep before keeping guard at the door for them for a while. A satisfied smile appeared on his face.

This sleeper bunk naturally hadn't appeared out of nowhere. Instead, Shao Qihai had felt sorry for them and had tried his best to get it for them. He'd only managed to buy a seat ticket for himself, but it didn't matter to him. After all, he had been in all kinds of arduous environments.

However, that wouldn't do for Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan. For the first time, Shao Qihai used his connections and favors to think of a way to get them sleeper tickets.

Shao Qihai was sitting on the ground outside. Amid the rumbling sounds of the train, he had closed his eyes to rest and was guarding them to prevent ignorant people from sneaking in.

Shao Qihai's worries weren't unfounded. At present, there were some people around who specialized in stealing on trains, and a widow-and-child pair like Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan was more likely to be targeted by them.

Besides, Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan were dressed quite well and had large parcels with them. It was obvious at a glance that they had come back after making a major purchase. Someone had been eyeing these fat sheep since they'd boarded the train.

Chapter 167: You Adulterous Pair

Although Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan's sudden switch to a sleeper caught the pickpockets off guard, they didn't give up.

In the dead of the night, when the entire car had quietened down, two people arrived at the sleeper carriage one after another. Along the way, while no one was looking, they skillfully stole two bags.

They walked all the way to Mu Jingzhe's sleeper carriage and looked at the big bag placed under the bed. Then, the guy clad in a leather coat who walked ahead picked it up without saying a word.

In the end, he didn't manage to lift it. His friend behind him even let out a muffled groan. When Leather Coat turned around, his friend was already fighting with someone.

It was Shao Qihai, who had made a move. Although they were swift and good at disguising themselves, they couldn't escape Shao Qihai's eyes.

Since there were really clueless people who wanted to attack Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan, Shao Qihai naturally couldn't stand by and watch.

However, he hadn't expected that he would encounter a tough nut this time. Shao Qihai didn't manage to take him down with one move.

Leather Coat made a sound and, ignoring everything, tried to pick up the bundle and run. However, this pull directly pulled Mu Jingzhe up.

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Before falling asleep, Mu Jingzhe had tied the bag to her hand with a rope. Using the same method as before, although it was a little exaggerated, she'd even tied Shao Nan's hands and her hands together to prevent any accidents.

Leather Coat's not-so-stealthy actions had woken Mu Jingzhe up. Although she had just woken up, when she saw Leather Coat holding her bag, her reaction was fast. Before her eyes even fully opened, her fist moved first.

"Ah…" Her fist landed heavily on the left side of Leather Coat's face. Leather Coat was in intense pain and felt something fly out of his mouth.

He hadn't expected that the frail and refined-looking Mu Jingzhe, who was so gentle to her son, would deliver such a punch.

Before he could see what had flown out, another fist came over and hit his right cheek. Leather Coat felt something fly out of his mouth once more.

The pain slowed down Leather Coat's reaction. It hadn't occurred to him what had flown out, but he did suddenly feel like his mouth was a little empty.

Before he could recover, another fist came, this time striking his stomach. As the fist landed on him, Leather Coat saw Mu Jingzhe's face grow farther and farther away. Then, he realized that he had been sent flying away.

Flying away? Before Leather Coat could react, he slammed against the wall and fell to the ground.

At that moment, his young friend was also being pressed down by Shao Qihai and was unable to move. He was right opposite him.

There was something else in the middle of their faces. It was blood and it looked a little familiar and a little unfamiliar at the same time.

Leather Coat looked at it and finally saw that it looked like a tooth.

Leather Coat was stunned. His slow brain finally reacted, and he slowly moved his tongue. Then, he felt an empty sensation.

The left side was empty, as was the right one. It took Leather Coat a moment to realize that he had lost several teeth.

Recalling that something had flown out when he had been hit, at long last, he realized what it was. It was his teeth.

"Ah!" Leather Coat let out a belated cry of agony.

The other perpetrator, who was pinned to the ground by Shao Qihai, watched all of this with his own eyes. He looked at his companion and suddenly felt that although he was in pain, he was also quite lucky. After all, the person hitting him had used conventional methods, whereas that woman totally didn't care about her virtue.

Who would beat someone up like that? That was too much of a bully.

Mu Jingzhe didn't know what the pickpocket was thinking at all. She felt that there was nothing wrong with what she was doing. She had been paying attention since earlier. Knowing that she was strong, in order to prevent any accidents from killing someone, she always avoided hitting important parts of someone's body, such as the nose, the eyes, and the temples.

As for the fact that she had knocked out a few teeth, it hadn't been done on purpose. She was really strong after all. It couldn't be helped.

After sending that fellow flying, Mu Jingzhe was completely awake, and Shao Nan had also woken up during the commotion.

"Mommy, what's wrong?"

"Nothing. Mom beat up a thief. It's fine now."

Mu Jingzhe sat up and scooped Shao Nan up. She carefully went over to take a look and saw the other pickpocket and Shao Qihai, who was pressing him down.

Shao Qihai was wearing a hat with the brim pressed very low. He also had a beard. Although it wasn't a full beard, it covered most of his facial features.

Mu Jingzhe didn't recognize Shao Qihai. As far as she was concerned, Shao Qihai was dead. She would never have guessed that it was him.

Seeing that he was helping her catch the thief, Mu Jingzhe quickly thanked him. "Thank you, thank you so much."

When Shao Qihai heard her words, he came back to his senses and shook his head without saying anything. Upon looking at the person who was still lying on the ground beside him, he had to admit that, even without his help, Mu Jingzhe would probably have been able to handle this.

However, that was only because these two people weren't carrying any weapons to begin with. Otherwise, they would still have been in danger.

For example, the fellow he was pressing down had a blade between his fingers, as well as a folding fruit knife hidden in his bag. The blade had been particularly sharpened, allowing him to easily slice a bag open while stealing things regardless of the material it was made of. If it was used as a weapon, one could imagine how dangerous it would be.

Therefore, if one encountered a pickpocket, the best thing to do wouldn't be to take on the pickpocket by oneself but to call the professionals. Safety was more important.

However, Mu Jingzhe didn't seem to understand this concept. She'd attacked without hesitation at a very fast speed.

Although she was very strong, Shao Qihai was still worried about her safety. As he couldn't help but say a few words, he saw Shao Nan, who was in Mu Jingzhe's arms, staring at him. His gaze was indescribable, and Shao Qihai instantly froze.

Could he have been recognized?

He reflexively lowered his head and didn't say another word. At that moment, the train attendant and a police officer arrived.

When Leather Coat recovered, he looked at the train attendant and complained. "You should arrest her and interrogate her. She must be a boxer. How can a boxer like her do that to a normal person? My teeth… Boohoo…"

Due to the fact that he was missing some teeth, his words were a little slurred. In combination with his wretched appearance, he somehow appeared a little comical.

The officers had to hold themselves back. "Don't move!" They maintained their dignity and brought him down.

The pickpocket beside him also complained about Shao Qihai from behind. "You have to investigate the two of them properly. This man isn't easy to deal with either. Is he an undercover police officer? You adulterous pair, you gang up to bully ordinary people like us…"

Shao Qihai: "…"

Mu Jingzhe: "…"

Adulterous pair? Mu Jingzhe glanced at Shao Qihai, but the latter merely lowered his head and didn't look at her.

"Don't spout nonsense." After the train attendant finished speaking, he accidentally kicked one of the teeth on the ground. Instantly, his gaze on Mu Jingzhe became a little subtle.

"I'm not spouting nonsense. They deliberately tricked us into coming here to steal things and then beat us up."

Mu Jingzhe felt wronged. "I don't know him."

"Who the heck are you lying to? If you don't know him, why would he guard this place? I just started to make a move, and he was already here to hit people. You guys are big bullies!"

Shao Qihai: "…"

'Tsk, why is this person so talkative?'

Mu Jinghe: "…"

She glanced at Shao Qihai in suspicion. Had this person been guarding her?

Chapter 168: Since He's Dead, He Should Be Completely Dead

Shao Qihai coughed and explained in a low voice, "I just happened to see this."

"Oh." Mu Jingzhe heard the train attendant explain things amid the pickpocket's rant.

These two people were habitual criminals who ran around a few familiar routes. They had been paying attention to these two, but there were too many people on the train, and they weren't sure when they would get on or off. They were very cunning. This time, it was thanks to Mu Jingzhe and that guy that they had been able to catch them.

After he finished explaining this, they realized that Shao Qihai had disappeared.

"Where is he? Why is he gone?"

Shao Nan pointed to the corridor. "While you were talking just now, he walked over there. He seemed to be afraid of something."

No one doubted Shao Nan's words because he was a kid. They were a little suspicious when they heard this, though. Why would he flee? Could he be an accomplice too? That shouldn't be the case, right?

"Little Nan, did you see him leave? Why didn't you say anything? We hadn't thanked him yet."

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"I saw that you were talking, so I didn't say anything."

While Shao Nan was held by Mu Jingzhe, he couldn't help but keep his attention focused on Shao Qihai. For some reason, he felt a sense of familiarity. That man even felt like the father who had abandoned them.

That was why Shao Nan had kept staring at him. He wasn't sure, so he hadn't said anything. Of course, even if he had been sure, he wouldn't have said anything, much less been grateful.

They were living well now and didn't need him anymore, so it didn't matter if he was their father or not.

Of course, Shao Nan deliberately didn't say that he'd left because of selfish motives. He didn't want that person to attract his mother's attention, nor did he want his mother to be grateful to him.

Even if there was just a 1% chance, he didn't want his mother to be related to Shao Qihai in any way.

Since he was already dead, he might as well stay completely dead.

Mu Jingzhe had no idea what Shao Nan was thinking about, but she felt that he was a little nervous and unusually clingy.

"Don't be afraid. I'll protect you. No more pickpockets will come."

Mu Jingzhe thought that Shao Nan was scared and quickly comforted him.

When this commotion was over, the sun rose after Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan took a nap. Just as Mu Jingzhe had said, they didn't encounter any more thieves and successfully returned home.

On the other hand, because Ji Buwang had missed the opportunity to go back with Mu Jingzhe, he decided to stay in the capital and deal with more matters.

Ji Buwang dealt with Sister Lan, who had offended Mu Jingzhe, and it became a topic of discussion after dinner. Everyone said that Ji Buwang was serious about her.

Even now that Sister Lan's heart had been broken by Ji Buwang, she still couldn't take this lying down. Just in what way was Mu Jingzhe better than her? Thinking of what Mu Jingzhe had said before, she really did inquire about the Shao kids to see how capable they were.

She wasn't the first to ask around. There had already been others before her, so it took her no time to find out. What she heard shocked her.

She realized that Mu Jingzhe hadn't been lying at all. The children really did have their own abilities.

Sister Lan herself wasn't very capable, and her information was lagging behind, but the people she asked were quite well-informed. While Mu Jingzhe and Shao Nan were in the capital, some people took this chance to contact Shao Dong. They wanted to hear his thoughts and see what he thought about the Ji Family's businesses.

Shao Dong shook his head firmly in reaction to this. "Never mind the fact that there is nothing between Mommy and Teacher Ji now. Even if there really was something between them, we wouldn't have anything to do with Teacher Ji, much less the Ji Family. We have too many things to attend to and don't have the time or energy to snatch any of the Ji Family's businesses. We can earn money ourselves and build our own empire."

These words were as unyielding as Mu Jingzhe's statement but weren't boastful.

Shao Dong had already shown his talent at a really young age, and the other four children weren't inferior to him. As for Mu Jingzhe, although she wasn't rich, she was quite well-off herself. She didn't need to covet Ji Buwang's riches and she could live well without having to rely on anyone.

After Mu Jingzhe brought Shao Nan back, besides bringing back a pile of clothes, she heard from Shao Dong that the electricity in their house had been turned on, so she directly carried a television back from the city.

Coincidentally, Little Bei's drama was finally going to air, as was Shao Nan's gameshow. They definitely had to tune in.

The timing was just right. As soon as the television was brought, the television drama started playing. Besides, although Little Bei only had a few scenes, she appeared quite early.

After the addition of a television and electricity to Mu Jingzhe's house, many people in the village came over to watch television. Some simply watched television, while some women even held needles and thread to sew and chat while watching television.

When they saw Little Bei on TV, all of them were extremely fascinated.

In their eyes, anyone who appeared on television was a bigshot with real ability. They even looked at Little Bei differently now.

The others in the village also found out. The children even started mimicking Little Nezha. Little Bei immediately became extremely famous.

Then, the gameshow that Shao Nan had participated in also began to be broadcast. This wasn't a local channel but a direct broadcast on the People's Television Station. Although it wasn't Channel 1, it was still very impressive.

The competition had already reached its end. Knowing that Shao Nan was the champion, the film editor showed many scenes of Shao Nan right from the beginning. Even in the first episode, there was a highlight moment of him.

Even more people watched Shao Nan's gameshow than Little Bei's TV drama. Instantly, many people memorized Shao Nan's name.

The way the villagers looked at Shao Nan changed accordingly. In their eyes, he was another incredible Shao child who had appeared on television.

When Mu Jingzhe, Shao Dong, Shao Dong, Shao Nan, Little Dong, and Xiao Wu appeared in their parent-child outfits, they became the most beautiful sight in the village.

The five children liked the parent-child outfits very much. They even said that they would wear matching outfits like this in the future. For example, rather than twin outfits, they preferred parent-child outfits.

Li Zhaodi and Mu Teng started a new round of showing off. Other than showing off their woolen shirts and leather shoes, now, they were also showing off the children. Little Bei and Shao Nan became another thing for them to show off.

"Both of them are on TV. Little Bei even has an upcoming movie. I'll invite the villagers to watch the screening with us."

With a wave of her hand, Li Zhaodi decided that when Little Bei's movie was released, she was going to invite the movie company to screen the movie in their village. She would treat everyone to the movie.

Mu Jingzhe had originally intended to do so, but Li Zhaodi took action before her.

While watching Li Zhaodi and Mu Teng showing off everywhere, Old Lady Mu was furious.

Ever since she'd found out that Tang Moling wasn't that rich anymore and was no longer worthy of Mu Xue, she'd been waiting for Mu Xue to find a rich husband, but no matter how much she waited, Mu Xue hadn't found one.

On the other hand, Mu Jingzhe's life was getting more and more glamorous, as was Li Zhaodi's life.

She was the one who should be basking in glory. How had Li Zhaodi ended up basking in glory instead? Was she even worthy? Old Lady Mu was extremely displeased. Seeing that she was in a bad mood, Mu Xue finally perked up and said that she would take her to the county city to shop and buy some clothes for the new year.

Previously, when Tang Moling had broken off the engagement, he had given Mu Xue a house and a car in the county city. As Mu Xue didn't know how to drive, she hadn't even touched the car once. She had not wanted to accept the house either, but Old Lady Mu had accepted it on her behalf.

He had delayed Mu Xue for so long and even broken off the engagement. This had affected Mu Xue's reputation, so it was only right that they accepted this compensation.

Chapter 169: Xiao Xue, Here Comes Another Wealthy Husband

Although Old Lady Mu had accepted them, Mu Xue had originally planned on holding on to her pride and not touching those things. However, because she couldn't stand the gazes of the people in the village, Mu Xue couldn't help but go to the county city to seek peace.

She had originally thought that Tang Moling would regret it and come back to look for her, but he hadn't come at all. Her mood became even worse. It wasn't easy for her to come back to Great Eastern Village, and now that she had seen the glamorous Mu Jingzhe, she felt uncomfortable. Thus, she decided to bring her grandmother along to buy clothes.

Old Lady Mu also mentioned that she wanted a woolen shirt and leather shoes to compete with Li Zhaodi. After she bought them, she came out of the department store and saw a familiar car.

Old Lady Mu and Mu Xue looked over at the same time and saw Tang Moling getting out of the car. Tang Moling, who didn't see them, walked reluctantly to another car and knocked on the glass.

Then, a man in a black coat got out of the car. He was tall and slender and looked indescribably elegant.

He was wearing a suit and a tie under his coat. His hair was very long and curly, which complemented his fair skin. He looked like a prince from a fairy tale.

He was completely different from Tang Moling. Tang Moling, who was the center of attention no matter where he went, had dimmed a lot as he stood beside him.

This was the first time Mu Xue had seen such a person, and she was stunned. Beside her, Old Lady Mu wasn't that different. She had a nagging feeling that this person looked like someone who had walked out of a movie, or perhaps, he was the kind of wealthy young master she had seen when she was young.

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The two of them stood rooted to the ground. It wasn't until that person got in the car that Tang Moling's shout brought them back to their senses.

"Uncle, you're doing this on purpose again!"

Tang Moling had thought that since his uncle had woken up, he wouldn't be so busy anymore. After all, he was no longer the heir. In the end, things hadn't gone according to his wishes. His uncle had arranged even more work for him, and he was even busier than before.

In the past, he used to have a lot of time. Now, he even had to squeeze out some time to sleep, but because everything he was tasked with was important, he couldn't be willful.

He had at last had some free time today and he'd wanted to look for Mu Jingzhe. In the end, his uncle had come back from the capital and given him a pile of work.

If Tang Moling still didn't realize what his uncle was up to, he would be a fool.

His uncle was doing this on purpose. He was deliberately keeping him busy so that he wouldn't have time to look for Mu Jingzhe. He was delaying his actions. This was simply despicable.

Tang Moling clung to the car and refused to let go, glaring at Ji Buwang, who was in the car. "Uncle, don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You can't do this. You're the heir. Don't even think about slacking off."

"I have my own business. Stop fooling around." Ji Buwang didn't feel guilty at all about being exposed. He pushed Tang Moling's hand instead. "Let go, I'm busy."

"What can you possibly be busy with after pushing all the work on me? You just want to find Mu Jingzhe. Don't think that I don't know. Uncle, don't go overboard. If you push me over the edge, I'm not going to…"

"Don't you dare." Ji Buwang removed Tang Moling's hand from his car. "Be good and listen to me. Uncle will give you a big red packet during the New Year."

"I don't want a big red packet. I'm an adult now!" Tang Moling felt like he was going crazy every time he faced his uncle.

"I can tell that you still want a big red packet just by looking at how angry you are. Uncle has been in a coma for four years. Don't you feel sorry for me? Can you bear to see Uncle tired? You're young and strong, so you should work harder."

Ji Buwang coughed, as if to make a point, causing Tang Moling to feel a trace of heartache and guilt.

His uncle had been in a coma for four years. In the last year, he had only visited his uncle twice and he had even stolen his uncle's identity as the heir…

While Tang Moling was still in a daze, Ji Buwang drove off.

When Tang Moling came back to his senses, he called out for his uncle, but the car didn't stop at all. Then, Tang Moling got in his car and left angrily.

Old Lady Mu looked at Mu Xue. "I didn't expect Tang Moling's uncle to be so young. I thought he would be in his thirties or forties. I didn't expect him to be this young at all."

Mu Xue nodded gently. "Mm."

"He's really young. Look at that noble aura he exudes. He's indeed the successor of a large family." Old Lady Mu looked at Mu Xue with a glint in her eyes. She felt that this uncle must be the true successor. He was a good match for Xiao Xue.

Mu Xue didn't reply. She lowered her head and seemed to be thinking about something. "Grandma, let's go back first."

She wasn't worthy of such a person. Besides, she had been engaged to Tang Moling before, so it would be inappropriate.

In the past, Mu Xue wouldn't have thought about these things. She didn't care about family background or stuff like that. As long as they were in love, nothing was more important. However, after what had happened with Tang Moling, she had started to take such things into consideration.

Now that Tang Moling had broken off the engagement, she obviously hated him, but because of the disparity in their backgrounds, there was nothing she could do.

Mu Xue was rational and didn't think too much about it. However, on the way back with her grandmother, she bumped into Tang Moling's uncle again.

His car was parked by the road, and he was leaning against it. He was holding a pager and looking at something.

Old Lady Mu also saw him and quickly patted Mu Xue's hand. "Xiao Xue, stop the bicycle!"

Old Lady Mu was thrilled. She had been thinking it was a pity that her granddaughter hadn't had a chance to get acquainted with this man and she hadn't expected this opportunity to present itself.

During this period of time, she had been waiting for Little Xue's wealthy husband to come for real. She had been waiting anxiously. The heavens must have heard her prayers, and here was the opportunity!

Due to the fact that Mu Xue had taken a few more glances at Ji Buwang, when Old Lady Mu patted her, the bicycle became a little unstable. Afraid of falling, she quickly stopped.

Coincidentally, she stopped in front of Ji Buwang and saw him look over. Amid Old Lady Mu's continuous urging, Mu Xue asked warmly, "Do you need help?"

She spoke in an open manner. If it were anyone else, she would have asked the same question.

"Thank you, but you might not be able to help. My car tire got punctured," Ji Buwang replied politely without looking at Mu Xue.

Mu Xue was a little disappointed, but she replied, "There's a car repair shop up ahead. Do you want me to ride over and help you call them?"

Ji Buwang looked at the presents in the car and thought for a while. "Sorry to trouble you."

"You're welcome. It's nothing. In that case, wait here for a while. I'll get them to come over quickly." Mu Xue didn't care that Old Madam Mu was holding her hand. Without saying anything, she hopped onto the bicycle and left.

Old Lady Mu anxiously said, "It's such a rare opportunity. Xiao Xue, why didn't you chat more with him? You didn't even ask for his name." This was such a scarce opportunity!

Mu Xue pursed her lips. "Grandma, don't think too much. We'll meet again if we're fated to. Otherwise, we can't force it."

In the past, Grandma wouldn't have been like this. Ever since her engagement had been broken off, Grandma's attitude had changed and she'd started to panic.

Old Lady Mu thought for a moment and didn't say anything else. When they arrived at the car repair shop, Mu Xue asked the auto mechanic to go over. Worried that they would be indifferent, she even paid the deposit beforehand to make sure they went there quickly.

She only left after she saw that the auto mechanic had left.

When the sun set, Mu Xue brought Old Lady Mu back to the village entrance. Just as they alighted, Old Lady Mu and Mu Xue realized that a car had arrived behind them. Surprisingly, it was Tang Moling's uncle's car, which they had seen before.

Mu Xue stared at the approaching car in a daze. As for Old Lady Mu, she was so excited that she said, "Xiao Xue, isn't that the car we saw before? Don't tell me he followed us here?"

Chapter 170: Rejoiced Too Soon

Old Lady Mu was giddy with joy as she looked at the car. She then realized what Mu Xue had meant when she'd said that there was no need to hurry. As it turned out, they had met again.

Mu Xue listened to Old Lady Mu's hushed, excited voice as she looked at the figure walking over under the setting sun. She bit her lips as her heart beat faster.

While his back was facing the setting sun, she felt that his body was basking in golden light. When he reached her, Mu Xue hurriedly asked, "Why are you here?"

Ji Buwang was also very surprised. "I didn't expect to meet you again, but it's very nice."

He took his wallet out of his bag and said, "I've got to thank you for paying for the cost of replacing the tire. Since I ran into you here, I'll return the money to you now. Thank you."

Mu Xue saw that he was polite, and her gaze fell on his slender hand. She hesitated for a moment before taking the money. "It's nothing. I was just afraid that they wouldn't come. It's not much money, but I'll take it since you're returning it."

After saying that, Mu Xue laughed heartily and looked up at Ji Buwang. "Why are you here?"

"I'm looking for someone." Ji Buwang tapped his fingers on his wallet before asking, "Do you know where Mu Jingzhe lives? I have some business dealings with her. It's the New Year, so I came to visit her and give her a New Year's gift."

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This was Ji Buwang's first time there, and he had made ample inquiries. He knew that there were many people doing business with Mu Jingzhe now, so he had come up with this excuse. This way, he wouldn't cause Mu Jingzhe any trouble and he could also show his stance.

After parting with her on an unpleasant note in the capital previously, Ji Buwang couldn't wait for Mu Jingzhe to come to the county city.

Ji Buwang didn't notice that Mu Xue's expression changed slightly when he mentioned Mu Jingzhe. The smile on her face froze, and even the light in her eyes dimmed greatly.

Behind Mu Xue, Old Lady Mu, who had been pretending to be invisible as she listened secretly, pulled a long face.

Mu Jingzhe? Why was he looking for Mu Jingzhe? Wasn't this Tang Moling's uncle? How did he know Mu Jingzhe?

Mu Xue didn't speak for a while, but Old Lady Mu couldn't help but jump out. "How do you know Mu Jingzhe? Do you also know Tang Moling?"

When Ji Buwang heard Tang Moling's name, he raised his eyebrows and looked at Mu Xue. Suddenly, he seemed to understand something. "Are you the Miss Mu who was previously engaged to Xiao Ling?"

Ji Buwang nodded at Mu Xue and Old Lady Mu. "Hello, I'm Ji Buwang, Xiao Ling's uncle. Xiao Ling has a childish temper and he troubled you guys. I'm sorry."

Old Lady Mu hadn't expected him to really be Tang Moling's uncle. Ignoring his apology, she just tried to discover more. "You haven't answered yet. How do you know Mu Jingzhe?"

"I've known Jingzhe for a long time. I have some business dealings with her now." Considering that Old Lady Mu was fuming, Ji Buwang didn't expect her to tell him Mu Jingzhe's address. He calmly explained, nodded, and left.

He went to ask someone else instead.

Old Lady Mu looked at Ji Buwang's back with a dark expression. "What did he mean by business dealings? Mu Jingzhe only sells hair ornaments. Don't tell me he's involved in selling hair ornaments?"

Old Lady Mu immediately saw through this excuse. This guy was there to look for Mu Jingzhe. Look at the things he was carrying. This was very similar to how Tang Moling had looked when he'd previously gone to the Mu Residence to look for Mu Xue. It was obvious that he was there to please Mu Jingzhe.

Old Lady Mu hadn't expected Tang Moling's uncle to like Mu Jingzhe. No wonder Mu Jingzhe had said that she didn't like Tang Moling. It turned out that there was someone better.

Since she had the uncle who had snatched Tang Moling's successor status, what would she need Tang Moling for?

Old Lady Mu's face turned green from anger. "She sure can hold things in. She didn't even say a word."

When Mu Xue heard Old Lady Mu's words, she didn't show anything on her face. However, the money that she had just taken from Ji Buwang was crushed into a ball.

Her thoughts were a mess, and she held her breath. She had just told her grandmother that they weren't from the same world. She felt that she wasn't worthy of such a person, but in the end, he'd turned around to look for Mu Jingzhe. Not anyone else, but her old enemy, Mu Jingzhe, who had been married before and had five children.

If even Mu Jingzhe was worthy of him, then she…

As she was thinking about this, she heard Old Lady Mu say, "What's wrong with all of them? First, there was Tang Moling, and now, there's his uncle. Besides, it's Mu Jingzhe. What kind of drug did she use on them to make them so obsessed?"

When Mu Xue heard the words 'Tang Moling' and then 'Uncle', she suddenly laughed out loud.

At that moment, Mu Xue knew very well that the possibility of Tang Moling getting together with Mu Jingzhe after breaking off his engagement to her was almost zero.

Tang Moling had been willing to abandon her for Mu Jingzhe, but he would never get his wish in this lifetime. With such an uncle, why would Mu Jingzhe choose him?

Upon thinking that Tang Moling loved a woman he couldn't have and he would be forced to call the woman he loved 'Aunt', Mu Xue laughed even harder.

"Ha ha… This is retribution. Retribution."

Seeing the person he liked be in a loving relationship with his uncle had to cause him a lot of pain. He would now understand the pain she'd gone through when she couldn't accept him and Mu Jingzhe being together.

Old Lady Mu was startled by Mu Xue's reaction. "Xiao Xue, what's wrong with you? Don't be so angry. If you're really angry, we can snatch that uncle for you. They're not married anyway. You're really good. As long as he has eyes, he will definitely choose you…"

As Mu Xue listened to Old Lady Mu's words, she felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity. After thinking for a while, she suddenly remembered that this seemed to be what Li Zhaodi had told Mu Jingzhe before.

She had accidentally heard Li Zhaodi comfort Mu Jingzhe this way once.

When she'd heard that, she had sneered. At the time, she had been angry and had felt that the two of them were pitiful and unredeemable. How could they have led such a life?

She hadn't expected to hear this from Old Lady Mu one day, from the Old Lady Mu who thought of her as her treasure and Mu Jingzhe as grass.

Was she going to end up like the old Mu Jingzhe in the future? No, no, definitely not!

Mu Xue felt a chill down her spine and interrupted Old Lady Mu sternly. "Grandma, how can you say such things? I've never thought of snatching Mu Jingzhe's things. How can I possibly snatch her things?"

This was a form of humiliation to her, a rejection of sorts. She definitely couldn't take this path of no return.

If she snatched this, she would completely switch places with Mu Jingzhe. She couldn't do that. She would never allow herself to become such a pitiful person, nor would she allow herself to become such a joke.

"Grandma, don't say such things in the future. No matter who Mu Jingzhe marries or how her life is, I just want to live well. I've never lived my life according to how others live theirs."

Mu Xue spoke firmly, and Old Lady Mu didn't dare continue.

However, there were some things that couldn't be ignored just because one didn't want to look at them, especially when that person's life was getting better and better, and it was becoming increasingly impossible to ignore these things.

When Ji Buwang arrived, it was just as everyone was about to get off work. Many people saw him and even heard Old Lady Mu's conversation with them. Soon, everyone in the village knew that Mu Jingzhe was acquainted with Mu Xue's ex-fiancé's uncle.