819 Helping Relatives
“Why are you sitting at the door of my family’s house?” Qiao Mei asked gently.
The Tan family members looked at one another. This was completely different from what they had imagined Qiao Mei to be. Tan Jing had told them that Qiao Mei was good at bewitching people and was a petty person, that she had a bad temper and would throw a tantrum easily.
Could it be that Tan Jing had lied to them? Qiao Mei looked so gentle and it was obvious that she was easy to bully!
“You must be Qiao Mei. We’re your in-laws! You’ve never met us before, but we’ve long wanted to come and visit you!” Jiang Yi went forward excitedly to hold Qiao Mei’s hands as she spoke in a friendly manner.
Xia He frowned and slapped Jiang Yi’s hand away. She finally remembered who these people were. The Tan family was still as shameless as ever.
She used to rarely return to the capital and only met the Tan family members when Xia Wen got married. Later on, the Tan family members even came to look for her a few times. After so many years, the Tan family still seemed to be stuck in a rut.
“If you want to talk, just talk. Don’t grab her. If anything happens, you won’t be able to bear the responsibility,” Xia He said coldly.
Jiang Yi said unhappily, “You’re Xia He, aren’t you? I’m your sister-in-law’s mother after all. Why don’t you have any manners! How can a woman be so fragile just because she’s pregnant? I’ve given birth to so many children, but I still can work!”
Qiao Qiang’s expression was also quite unhappy. He did not expect Xia Wen’s wife to have this type of maternal family. He really did not know how Xia Jun allowed Xia Wen to become related to such a family.
Qiao Mei also stopped pretending to be gentle. Nowadays, she could not bear to hear anything bad about her babies.
“I’m unable to help you. Go and talk to my eldest brother,” Qiao Mei said with a sullen expression.
“Hey, hey, hey! We have something to discuss!” Jiang Yi said as she blocked Qiao Mei.
Tan Yue looked at the increasing number of onlookers and whispered, “Um… can we talk inside?”
Qiao Mei did not want to blow this matter up. After all, Xia Wen treated her very well.
“Come in,” Qiao Mei said coldly.
As soon as the Tan family members entered the courtyard, they could no longer hold back their feelings. This was the first time they had seen such a luxurious courtyard and they thought it was decorated like a palace. When they entered the main hall, it was as if they had never been out of their own house before. They looked around everywhere and touched everything, and even wanted to enter Qiao Mei’s bedroom to take a look.
“Hey! Where do you think you’re going!” Xia He said as she pointed at Jiang Yi.
Jiang Yi walked back embarrassedly and looked longingly in the direction of Qiao Mei’s bedroom. She had heard that Qiao Mei liked to collect antiques and she could tell that the jade bangle on Qiao Mei’s wrist was worth a lot of money. If only she could go into the room and steal something, she would be rich.
“Alright, sit down. Just say what you want to say,” Xia He said.
Since Jiang Yi still had a favor to ask, she did not mind Xia He’s attitude. She turned around and said to Qiao Mei obsequiously, “I’m your sister-in-law’s mother. I’m here to visit you and see how you’re doing.”
Xia He snorted disdainfully. How could so many people come to pay someone a visit without bringing anything? It would already be a blessing if they did not steal anything on their way out.
“As you can see, I’m in good health. You can leave now,” Qiao Mei said in a direct manner.
The smile on Jiang Yi’s face froze. She did not expect Qiao Mei’s attitude to be so cold. Tan Bai coughed twice and said, “Erm, we’re here because we have a favor to ask of you. I wonder if you can help us.”
Without thinking, Qiao Mei blurted out, “No, I don’t have the ability to help you.”
“How can you reject us when you haven’t even heard our request! Don’t you have any manners!” Tan Yue said unhappily.
Xia He could not take it anymore and snapped, “You’re the ones begging us now, not the other way round. Not only do you have such a bad attitude when you come to ask for help, but you also don’t bring anything with you. Do you visit someone empty-handed just because you think that you’re an elder?”
“You! We’re not doing well so we have no choice,” Jiang Yi said pitifully.
“We’re here this time to ask if you’re going to live in the house you bought some time back? If you’re not, can you help us out?” Tan Bai said.
Qiao Mei and Xia He looked at each other and smiled. Trouble had come as they expected. The house would definitely attract people who eyed it covetously.