It seemed that her nonchalant attitude really angered Father Cheng. He stood up and slapped her. Cheng Xiran could clearly feel the burning pain on her left cheek. She reached out and gently touched it, then let out a soft laugh. "Father is facing setbacks in everything, so he wants to take it out on me?"
Her words hit Father Cheng's sore spot. He was about to raise his hand to slap her again when the old lady stopped him. "What on earth are you doing!"
Father Cheng flung his sleeves and left. Liu followed him. Cheng Zhiyue stayed behind, crossing her arms in front of her chest, clearly waiting to see Cheng Xiran's joke. Cheng Xiran gave her a cold look. Cheng Zhiyue suddenly stood up and questioned her. "Cheng Xiran, what's that expression on your face!"
She didn't even care that the old lady was there.
Before Cheng Xiran could reply, the old lady growled at her. "You, such a rude girl! How can you talk to your elder sister like that?"
Cheng Zhiyue was so angry that she left without a word. Only then did Cheng Xiran put down her hand. Her cheek on that side was already swollen and red.
The old lady felt heart - ache for her. She quickly took her hand and led her towards the back yard. "Xiran, come back to my courtyard first and let's treat the wound."
But Cheng Xiran gently pulled her back to sit down. She looked at the table full of delicious dishes and said, "Grandmother, there are so many delicious dishes. How can we waste them? The weather is getting colder. If we wait any longer, they'll get cold."
As she said this, she started to put vegetables into the old lady's bowl. Seeing this, the old lady didn't try to persuade her anymore. Instead, she nodded with satisfaction and said, "Our Xiran has really grown up. She has taken great care of me since the other day."
"I only have one grandmother. Of course, I have to take good care of you. That's the right thing to do." Cheng Xiran smiled at her and kept putting vegetables into her bowl while smiling until the bowl in front of the old lady was piled up like a small mountain.
When they were almost done with dinner, the old lady finally brought up Father Cheng's matter. "There are some things I haven't asked your father about, but I've heard him mention them. Although the world is now at peace, the affairs in the court are extremely complicated. How can us women get involved?"
As the old lady was speaking, she gently placed her wrinkled hand on Cheng Xiran's hand and comforted her. "Your father's mention of the Regent's prestige today already says it all. I think you understand. I didn't want to tell you at first, but since things have come to this point, there's nothing you can't know."
Cheng Xiran's eyes flickered slightly, but she pretended to be stupid. "Grandmother, I don't want to know anything. I just want you to be well, my newspaper office to do well, and the newspapers to sell well. I don't want to think about anything else."
Seeing her determined look, the old lady didn't continue to ask. After all, what she wanted to say next was too gloomy and involved something very important. And Cheng Xiran was still young. If she really didn't know, it was better that way, so as not to get herself involved in an unnecessary dispute.
"Okay, then let's talk about your marriage..." The old lady said with a kind smile. After a pause, she continued, "Tell me first if there's anyone you like. If there is, I can check for you."
Hearing this, Cheng Xiran's mind flashed with Helian Duo's face. The old lady saw her slight hesitation and thought she had someone in mind, so she probed. "It seems that our Xiran really has someone she likes?"
"Of course not. I've been busy with the newspaper office recently. I don't have the time for romance."