CHAPTER 166: CHAPTER 166: TRICKING AUNT

She let out a sigh and said worriedly, "Ah, your mother was really overreacting. You’re still just a child; how could she hit you like that yesterday? It must have hurt. Do you know your sisters, Yun’er and Cai’er? They also love hiding things, you know, but I never scold them. Mrs. Sun is really too much. How is your butt? Is it still hurting?"

As she spoke, Xiao Wang made a show of wanting to check Zhao Zhitong’s injuries with concern.

Xiao Wang is trying to create a rift between me and Mom! Zhao Zhitong thought. Fortunately, I’m sensible, and Mom’s beating was actually just a show. Otherwise, if I were any other four-and-a-half-year-old girl, I might really have been swayed by her words. This Xiao Wang is truly wicked!

Zhao Zhitong disliked Xiao Wang even more now. She pushed her hand away, saying, "Aunt, I’m fine. My mother didn’t hit me hard, and I don’t feel any pain anymore."

Only then did Xiao Wang withdraw her hand. She sighed, "You’re such a sensible child. If you were my child, I wouldn’t bear to hit you. Besides, you’re your parents’ only daughter. All of your family’s property will be yours in the future, right? So what if it’s an old house? It’ll be yours eventually anyway, so giving it to you a bit early wouldn’t matter, would it?"

After saying that, a calculating glint flashed in her eyes. She whispered, "Tongtong, right now, although Zhao Cheng, Zhao Yu, and Zhao Ya are living in your house, they are not your real siblings. In the future, they might try to take away the things your parents leave for you. So, it’s better for you to hide those things away quickly. You’re doing great! Listen to your Aunt; I would never harm you."

Zhao Zhitong naturally didn’t know Xiao Wang was trying to manipulate her with flattery, but Xiao Wang’s last words definitely made Zhao Zhitong feel that she was trying to sow discord between her and her siblings.

As a result, her already low opinion of Xiao Wang dropped even further.

But on the surface, she just snorted, her little mouth pouting, "Hmph! You think I needed you to tell me? I already knew that! I’m telling you, I hid it on purpose. Mom and Dad wanted to give the old courtyard to my brother, but I won’t let them! It’s mine. Why should I give it to my brother?!"

Xiao Wang was inwardly ecstatic and praised her with a beaming smile, "That’s right, Tongtong, that’s exactly right! You did great! That’s how you should do it!"

Then, her eyes darting shrewdly, she continued to coax, "But, Tongtong, just hiding it like this isn’t a permanent solution. Sooner or later, your mother will find it. In the end, this old house will still become your brother’s."

Zhao Zhitong appropriately feigned nervousness, asking, "I don’t want to give it to my brother! So, Aunt, what do you think I should do?"

Xiao Wang revealed a smile that showed she was about to succeed, patiently coaxing, "Hmm, how about this? Aunt has a great idea for you. You can sell this old house! That way, it will become money, and then you can use that money to buy lots and lots of delicious food and fun toys. Don’t you think that’s a great idea?"

Zhao Zhitong’s eyes sparkled, and she clapped her hands excitedly. "That’s wonderful, that’s wonderful! Aunt, your idea is brilliant!"

Then she looked troubled and said, "But... I don’t know who to sell it to."

Xiao Wang almost burst out laughing. She’s walking right into my trap! she thought. She quickly said, "Hmm, let me think... How about this? You can sell it to your Aunt. Your cousin Zhao Ji needs a courtyard to build a house. It just so happens I can help you out and, well, reluctantly buy it from you."

After hearing that, Zhao Zhitong’s eyes lit up, and she clapped her hands, exclaiming, "Aunt, you’re so kind! Are you really going to buy my old courtyard?"

Xiao Wang nodded immediately. "Of course."

Then she took out a piece of broken silver from her bosom and tempted her, "This is five taels of silver! You can buy lots and lots of candy with it. If you give the deed to Aunt, all of this will be yours!"

However, Zhao Zhitong’s face didn’t light up with happiness as Xiao Wang had expected. Instead, she frowned, pouting as she grumbled, "Aunt, are you trying to trick me?!"

Seeing the little girl change her tune faster than one could flip a book, Xiao Wang was stunned for a moment. She hurriedly replied, "How could I? Why would your Aunt ever deceive you?"

Zhao Zhitong crossed her little arms over her chest and huffed, "Aunt, you *are* trying to trick me! You think just because I’m small, you can fool me? I’m the smartest kid around! Uncle Wang from Guang Ju Restaurant offered fifty taels for it, you know! You’re only giving me five taels. I’m not a fool; I won’t be tricked by you!"

Xiao Wang was speechless.

I really want to strangle this brat! Xiao Wang thought, but she forced a smile and said, "No, of course not! Your Aunt is giving you a genuine price. Nowadays, it costs five taels of silver to buy a plot of residential land from the village chief. Aunt isn’t taking any advantage of you, you know! If you don’t believe me, I can take you to the village chief’s place to check."

Zhao Zhitong blinked, still looking skeptical. "Really? But then why would Uncle Wang offer fifty taels?"

She pondered for a moment, then her face suddenly lit up with excitement. "Oh, right! Uncle Wang is at my house right now! I can just go ask him, and then I’ll know! If Uncle Wang still wants it, I’ll just sell it to him directly. Oh my, I’m so clever! It was you who reminded me, Aunt. Thank you, Aunt, you’re the best!"

With that, she excitedly stood up, ready to run out and find Wang Fuhai.

Xiao Wang was dumbfounded.

I could just cough up blood from anger! Xiao Wang fumed internally. This little minx is just like her mother—neither is any good! Knowing how to rile people up at such a young age!

Still, she maintained her smile, reaching out to grab Zhao Zhitong. "Hey, Tongtong, wait! Aunt didn’t know your family’s courtyard was worth so much! Besides, if you go ask your Uncle Wang, won’t your parents find out?"

As she spoke, she took out another piece of broken silver from her bosom, saying with great reluctance, "Alright, I’ll add another five taels. That’s all Aunt has. If you don’t sell it now, that deed will surely be taken by your parents, you know."

Zhao Zhitong obviously wasn’t going to agree to that. Looking at the ten taels of silver, she shook her head. "No, that’s still too little."

Just then, her eyes landed on a silver hairpin in Xiao Wang’s hair. She immediately pointed to it and exclaimed, "Wow, Aunt, your hairpin is so pretty! I want it! You have to give me this hairpin too, or I won’t give you the deed!"

Xiao Wang was taken aback. That hairpin... my younger sister bought it for me when I last went to the county town. It cost a full twenty-five taels of silver! She was truly reluctant to part with it.

But seeing that Zhao Zhitong showed no signs of budging, and thinking about the valuable deed that was almost in her grasp, Xiao Wang clenched her jaw. She pulled the hairpin from her hair and, gritting her teeth, thrust it out. "Here!"

However, Zhao Zhitong still didn’t take it. Her eyes scanned Xiao Wang up and down, suddenly fixing on the jade bracelet on her wrist. "Wow, is that a jade bracelet? It’s so beautiful!"

Xiao Wang felt a sharp pang in her chest and instinctively tried to pull her sleeve down to cover it.

But Zhao Zhitong had already reached out and touched it. "Wow, it’s so smooth and shiny! So pretty!"

Then she blinked, looking up at Xiao Wang with an expression of pure innocence. "Aunt, I want this too."

This time, I *really* want to strangle Zhao Zhitong! Xiao Wang seethed.

Finally, clenching her teeth so hard they might break, she wrenched the bracelet from her wrist. Her face was so dark it looked like it could drip water. "There! Satisfied now?!"