Mr. Tian said that Xia Zhi couldn't be recognized soon, with a somewhat unpleasant tone. Before Xia Zhi could speak, Xiao Hei Yu Er chuckled twice and said that Mr. Tian was absolutely right.

  "Sixteen looks great now. These days, she's been having fun with me and eating well, no one has bullied her or tried to sell her. Look at her now, so lively and spirited, much better than when you were here." Little Black Fish said with a proud expression.

  Tian was reminded by Xiao Hei Yu, and then she took a closer look at Xia Zhi. Then she found that, as Xiao Hei Yu said, Xia Zhi had become more beautiful. Xia Zhi's skin was originally white, and her facial features were very regular. After staying in the imperial city for these days, Xia Zhi's complexion became even better, it could be said that she was rosy. Her facial features seemed to be more delicate and more spirited.

  Apart from that, Xia Zhi seems to have grown taller. However, Tian Shi is not certain about this point. After all, she didn't pay much attention to Xia Zhi normally, and only felt that Xia Zhi had changed a lot when she saw him after some days.

  It seems that what has changed is not only her appearance, but also the aura around her. Xia Zhi stands there with a smile, looking gentle and docile. But for some reason, Tian feels that in front of this Xia Zhi, the sharp words and scolding she had been holding back seem difficult to utter.

  Tian's family didn't like this feeling. She snorted, "That's right, her elder sister's family lived a good life. When you went there, you didn't need to cook extra food for you, just followed them to eat some leftover rice, which was also delicious and spicy."

  "My elder brother earns a good income, and we have land at home. If you weren't always squandering the family's belongings, our Sixteen could live a life of luxury at home." Little Black was not one bit inferior to Tian in terms of sharp-tonguedness.

  Tian Shi deliberately ignored the little black fish, and beckoned to Xia Zhi with a wave of her hand, letting him come over. Tian Shi's gaze fell somewhere, and Xia Zhi knew it in his heart. But he still smiled and walked to Tian Shi's side.

  "Mother, I'm back. How are you?" Xia Zhi still very politely and respectfully asked after the Tian family.

  "This trip really paid off, I knew it was a good idea to ask you." Tian said, and then glanced at Xia Zhi's earlobe and temple again. "Where did these things come from?"

  "You don't need to ask where it came from." Little Black Fish immediately walked up and stood between Tian Shi and Xia Zhi again, "Anyway, it wasn't you who bought them. I'm telling you, Tian Laiji, I have an account of all the things on Sixteen's body. If you dare to take them away from Sixteen by force, I'll never end with you."

  Tian was thinking of this, she planned to mention it to Xia Zhi when they were alone together. But before she could even open her mouth, Xiao Hei Yu had already exposed her in front of everyone.

  Tian's face darkened another shade.

  Xiao Hei Yu still felt that what he said earlier was not secure, so he added another sentence: "Even if you say it's sixteen and you're willing to give it to me, that's not okay. Tian Lai Di, do you believe me? When the time comes, I'll go to Liangshan Po and ask your family for things."

  Such things others can't do, but Xiao Hei Yu Er really did it.

  Tian's family was furious with Xiao Hei, but they couldn't do anything about it. So she could only vent her anger at Xia Zhi. "What kind of identity do you have that you don't even know yourself? You're still learning from others to wear gold and silver. What has our family's life become like? You can bear to go on with these things on your head. Don't you ever think about your grandma and grandpa! How did I give birth to such a heartless wolf like you!"

  She originally wanted to ask who made the clothes on Xia Zhi's body and how much money was spent, but now she can't ask anymore.

  "What's wrong with her identity? She is from the Xia family of Daxing Village, and her father is a scholar. Whatever she wears or carries is what she should be wearing or carrying. You can't even bear to look at others, but you're already looking down on Sixteen! Is Sixteen not your own flesh and blood? You treat your own daughter so cruelly, yet you still say that others are heartless!"

  Xiao Hei Yu Er stood with his hands on his hips, facing off against Tian Shi. Tian Shi was actually no match for him in a shouting contest, and in front of Xiao Hei Yu Er, she couldn't even use her usual tricks to get the upper hand.

  Tian's face turned green with rage. She still didn't dare to quarrel with Xiao Hei Yu, but only trembled her fingers and pointed at Xia Zhi, then deliberately avoided looking at Xia Zhi, as if Xia Zhi could pierce her eyes.

  "I don't have this daughter of mine, you can go wherever you want. In this family, there is no me without you."

  Xia Xiuzai and Xia Qiao both hurriedly persuaded Tian Shi.

  Xiao Hei Yu'er sneered coldly: "Tian Laiji, you're really something. Let me hear, what did you say to Shi Liu? You still dare to say that there's no one like you, I've never seen anyone as shameless as you."

  Tian's shout almost made Xiao Hei fish jump out of the water.

  The little tree took advantage of the chaos to get close to Xia Zhi and whispered, "Sister, where are you going? Can you take me with you wherever you go?"

  His voice was low, but Tian Shi, who had been paying attention to the movements on Xia Zhi's side at all times, still heard it. This time, Tian Shi's temper was different from before. Her most beloved youngest son not only had a big fight with her just now, but also wanted to leave her and follow Xia Zhi wherever he went!

  "Get out, all of you! Get out! I've had a hard life, raising these kids for nothing."

  "You say, what's the point of living if you can't even sell yourself for money? If you could just be sold and exchanged for cash, then your life wouldn't be in vain." Little Black Fish immediately retorted.

  Mrs. Tian was so choked with rage that she could not utter a word, and fell backwards in a pretended faint. Xia Xiuren and Xia Qiao hurried forward to support her. Meanwhile, Xia Zhi led out Xiao Hei Yu and Xiao Shu from the house.

  They didn't go to the backyard at first, but passed through the front yard, went out of the fence gate and sat down on the lower slope to rest and talk.

  "Sixteen, you can just stay in the backyard from now on." Little Black Fish looked at the river bend not far away and thought to himself that after dinner he should still have time to play with water. Of course, he also had to arrange for Xia Zhi first. "I think your mother is like that, she must be looking for trouble with you again."

  "Old uncle, then I'll go with my sister too." Little Shu immediately said.

  Xiao Hei Yu'er gave Xiao Shu Er a white eye, sometimes he looked down on Xiao Shu Er's dog leg-like appearance. But Xia Zhi saw Xiao Shu Er's face and it was much better.

  Today's events, Xiao Shu'er has made great contributions. If Tian Shi finally compromises, to a certain extent it is because of Xiao Shu'er. In the past, Tian Shi favored his daughter-in-law and moved all the family belongings to Kao Shan Tun. Xia Xiucan doesn't need to be mentioned, no matter what Tian Shi does, he won't oppose him. The eldest son in the family, namely Xia Qiao, has a similar temperament to Xia Xiucan.

  Xiaqiao is very filial to the Tians, no matter what they do, he almost always goes along with them. Even if he's not entirely willing in his heart, he won't say it out loud. He'll even think of ways to convince himself that whatever the Tians do is right.

  Xiao Shu was still young and had only grown a little, with a small appetite. Tian Shi would occasionally give him an egg that his older brother and sister couldn't eat, or sometimes bring back a package of mixed goods from the market to satisfy his cravings, which made Xiao Shu feel content. As for Tian Shi's actions towards Gu Niang's family, Xiao Shu had never said anything about it before.

  But now Xiao Shu has grown up and been subdued by Xia Zhi. His heart is towards Xia Zhi, and his temperament is different from that of Xia Qiao. Xiao Shu is not as foolishly filial as Xia Qiao. He will think of his own interests and those of his family. He will play tricks on Tian Shi and make trouble with him, and the weight of his grandparents in his heart is not heavy.

  This little tree began to oppose Tian Shi, and later Tian Shi would no longer be able to visit his wife's family as easily as before.

  "Little Shu, aren't you afraid of your mother beating you?" Xia Zhi asked with a smile.

  "Don't worry." Little Shu giggled, "If she hits me, I'll just run. Sister, I'm counting on you."

  Summer solstice is a subtle and sentimental feeling, Xiaoshu is a clever child, especially good at reading facial expressions, and particularly knows how to behave. When Xiaoshu grows up in the future, he will definitely be a shrewd person.

  Xia Xiuzai and Xia Qiao were both good at reading, but neither of them was clever. The Tian family was meticulous in small matters, but confused in big ones, especially when it came to the issue of not considering the daughter-in-law's family.

  The little black fish looked at the little tree with a cool gaze: "Yes, sixteen will buy you clothes and food. In the future, he'll even send you to school to study. What can your mother give you? He's already given the money for your future dowry to your older brother."

  Little Tree had never really thought about getting a wife in the future. Of course, Little Black Fish didn't understand the true meaning of getting a wife either. The only thing Little Tree understood was that following Xia Zhi meant having meat to eat.

  This child has been particularly aware of the times since he was very young, which is also why he leaned towards Xia Zhi so quickly. If it were another child, due to their attachment to their mother, Xia Zhi might have had to put in more effort to make him completely lean towards himself.

  Little Black Fish looked down on Little Tree, but still acknowledged his actions today. "Little Tree is okay, Big Bridge is silly." Little Black Fish sighed and said that Xia Bridge was spoiled by the Tian family. "He listens to whatever his mother says."

  "Big brother is quite pitiful." Xiaoshu suddenly said. He told Xiazhi and Xiaoheiyu that sometimes when he followed Xiaqiao down to the ground, he would see Xiaqiao hiding alone and sighing.

  Xiao Hei Yu and Xia Zhi both fell silent. Why Xia Qiao sighed, they all knew. Although Xia Qiao was foolishly filial, he wasn't stupid. If the Tian family continued like this, what would become of this household, and what about his future? At his age, he should be able to see things clearly.

  And Xiao Shu could say that Xia Qiao was pitiful, which also proved that this child, although clever and aware of the situation, was not a heartless child.

  That's good.

  Xiao Hei Yu's heart was also quite regretful for Xia Qiao, but he disliked Xia Qiao's weakness and lack of competitiveness even more. "He is the eldest in the family. If he could make up his mind, Tian Lai Kui wouldn't be able to do whatever she wants."

  This sentence is also correct. As the eldest son of Xia Xiuzai and Tian Shi, in the face of Tian Shi's obvious wrongdoing, what he should do is not to follow Tian Shi, but to take charge of this family and stop Tian Shi.

  In the end, Xiaohu's view is that Xiaqiao was spoiled by Tian.

  "I heard your grandfather and grandmother say that originally your family lived in the backyard, and at that time the big bridge was not like it is now." Some words were left unspoken by Little Black Fish.

  Mr. and Mrs. Xia talked about Xiaqiao's childhood. When Xiaqiao was young, she was plump and white, very likable, and could be said to be Mr. Xia's heart treasure. However, Xiaqiao had been biased towards her mother, Tian Shi, since childhood. Tian Shi was estranged from Mr. and Mrs. Xia, always telling Xiaqiao how poor and good her natal family was, while Mr. Xia was not only wealthy but also cruel to her, looking down on her and her natal family.

  When living in the backyard, Xia Qiao was still young and had been instilled with these things by Tian Shi. Although he maintained Tian Shi everywhere, he was still respectful to Old Master Xia and Old Madam Xia, and at that time, Xia Qiao was still very lively.

  Ever since they moved to the front yard, Tian's family forbade Xiaqiao from going to the backyard. Xiaqiao was gradually brainwashed by Tian's family and not only became estranged from the people in the backyard but also became more and more silent as he grew older.

  Whenever this matter is mentioned, Old Man Xia becomes heartbroken and indignant. At the beginning, Tian's family forbade Xia Qiao from visiting Old Man Xia in the backyard, which made Old Man Xia think that something was wrong with him. According to what Old Lady Xia said, in the first year, Old Man Xia almost couldn't sleep well every night because he missed his eldest grandson so much.

  Xia Lao Ye Zi also secretly went to see Xia Bridge and was seen by Tian Shi, Xia Lao Ye Zi also received a lot of white eyes.

  Xia Zhi could only sigh. What do children know, it was all Tian Shi who harmed Xia Qiao. But Xia Qiao was still so foolishly filial to Tian Shi. On the contrary, it was Tian Shi's somewhat spoiled youngest son Xiao Shu Er who dared to stand up and oppose Tian Shi.

  They were talking when they heard someone shouting "Summer has arrived".

  Xia Zhi turned her head and saw Sun Lan standing at the door of the neighboring room, looking at her with a mixture of surprise and delight. "Sixteen, it's really you! You're back?!"

  "Lan Zi Jie, I'm back!" Xia Zhi smiled and responded.

  Sun Lan'er took a glance at her own courtyard before quickly running over and warmly grasping Xia Zhi's hand, sizing him up from head to toe.

  "Sixteen, you've been doing pretty well these days." Sun Lan'er said with a smile.

  It seems like everyone can tell she's been living well in Fucheng these days.

  Xia Zhi smiled and nodded. "I'm fine. Lanzi sister, how are you?"

  Sun Lan'er glanced quickly in the direction of her own courtyard, then smiled and said: "I'm doing all right. I just miss you a lot, Sixteen. It'll be great when you come back."

  Sun Lan's smile was tinged with a hint of bitterness. Xia Zhi knew that she must have been having a tough time lately. The two girls sat down on the same large bluestone.

  Xia Zhi didn't ask about Sun Lan's situation first, she only said to Sun Lan: "Lan Zi sister, I just came back, tell your mother that I want you to come and stay at my place tonight."

  "That's all right." Sun Lan'er happily agreed. Xia Zhi had spoken, and only said to let her stay overnight, so Sun Wang Shi would definitely agree.

  "At sixteen, you're so radiant. This outfit looks great on you. At sixteen, you've grown even more handsome. You were already handsome before, but now you're even more so." Sun Lan'er gazed at Xia Zhi with envy. The young girl's own life had been tough, her heart steeped in bitter waters, yet it hadn't become warped as a result. Seeing others living well made her genuinely happy."

  Sun Lan'er likes Xia Zhi. To some extent, she regards Xia Zhi as another self, a happy self. Sun Lan'er can even empathize with Xia Zhi's happiness.

  Xia Zhi also likes Sun Lan'er because she is kind and because of her own pain. She wants to help Sun Lan'er.

  …………

  Oh my, it seems like there's a bit of yuri taste at the end. Don't be suspicious, between kind and innocent girls, this kind of feeling does exist, not yuri, but very touching.