Chapter 824: Mother Song Disciplines Her Daughter

Candlelight flickered inside the inn that night.

Tea sat on the table alongside a small plate of roasted beans. The beans still carried the faint, charred fragrance of a fresh roasting.

The Tabby Cat batted at the dish with a paw. Just as it was about to snag a bean, Mister Qingshan snatched it away.

Infuriated, Mao'er let out an angry huff.

Meanwhile, over by the wall, two figures—one tall, one short—stood facing the wood, each balancing a porcelain bowl of water on her head.

Song Bao did not dare to move, and neither did Yu Hongjin.

If the water spilled, they would be beaten.

Mother Song already held a bamboo switch in her hand, while Yunxiang stood by with folded arms, watching.

Father Song sighed repeatedly off to the side, muttering, "Never up to any good, never up to any good!"

Song Bao pursed her lips and whispered, "We're done for."

Yu Hongjin whispered back, "You're done for. I'm just standing here for a bit. It doesn't matter if I spill the water, but your mother will really hit you."

Song Bao was suddenly at a loss for words.

"Still talking!"

Mother Song scolded, lightly lashing out with the switch. It looked forceful, but it barely hurt when it landed.

It only tickled, but the tickle made Song Bao twitch. When the water spilled, the next strike landed just a bit harder.

Seeing Mother Song raise the switch again, Yunxiang quickly sighed and said, "Auntie Song, please forgive the embarrassment. My younger sister simply doesn't know any better."

Mother Song lowered the switch and hurriedly replied, "What are you saying? I'm the one who should apologize for my foolish girl making a scene. Sigh, it's because my husband and I failed to discipline her properly that she took your sister out drinking. This... sigh..."

Yu Hongjin froze upon hearing this, glancing from the corner of her eye at Song Bao.

Song Bao also froze.

What was going on?

How had she become the ringleader?

Yunxiang paused slightly, then quickly said, "Auntie Song, you might have misunderstood..."

Before Yunxiang could finish, Yu Hongjin interrupted, "Elder Sister Song didn't take me drinking. I was the one messing around. I wanted Elder Sister Song to taste what wine was like."

Song Bao pressed her lips together, unsure of what to say.

She bowed her head slightly. A few drops of water sloshed from the bowl, rolling down her brow to drip from her chin.

"You don't need to make excuses for my girl. I know how she is..."

Mother Song sighed, glaring at Song Bao again.

"Hurry up and admit your mistake!" Mother Song snapped.

Song Bao pursed her lips and said, "Mother..."

She hadn't cried when she was hit, but now a wave of grievance involuntarily swelled in her chest.

Song Bao said, "I didn't take the Yun family's little sister out drinking. I didn't..."

She tried to defend herself.

"You're still arguing!" Mother Song stood up in anger. "If not you, then who? How old is she? Could a little girl really lead you to drink? She's just covering for you, and you're actually going along with it?"

With that, she swung the switch down.

Seeing this, Chen Changsheng quickly stepped forward and blocked it.

Thus, the switch didn't land on Song Bao.

A tear fell from Song Bao's eye. Her voice choked with sobs as she said, "Mother, am I truly that awful? No matter how much I mess around, how could I take the Yun family's little sister out drinking?"

"About this matter..." Chen Changsheng was just about to speak.

But Mother Song beat him to it, snapping, "You're still talking! You've caused nothing but trouble since you were little. Whose child in this neighborhood haven't you beaten up? You were like that back then, and you're even worse now!"

From the corner of her eye, Yu Hongjin saw tears falling from Song Bao's eyes. It wasn't water from the bowl; it was real tears.

They pattered onto the ground like raindrops.

Yu Hongjin felt awful. She reached up, took the bowl off her head, and turned around. "Elder Sister Song didn't take me drinking. I made her drink. Auntie, don't misunderstand, and please don't scold Elder Sister Song anymore."

"It was me! I brought the wine for Elder Sister Song! You can't blame her!"

Mother Song panted, taking a long while to calm down. She sat in her chair, her hands trembling slightly. "Good-for-nothing, utterly good-for-nothing! It's one thing to fool around yourself, but to drag their little sister into it! Look at how well-behaved she is, still making excuses for you even now. Have you no shame?"

Song Bao trembled, sobbing continuously.

The trembling sent the bowl tumbling from her head.

Crash.

The porcelain bowl shattered, splashing a large puddle of water across the floor.

Song Bao wept softly and said, "In your eyes... am I really that awful?"

Crying, she turned and ran out.

Mother Song's heart skipped a beat, leaving her momentarily dazed.

Father Song was also startled and quickly shouted, "Where are you running off to!"

But Song Bao ran fast, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.

Father Song chased after her, but after only a few steps, there was no sign of her.

"Elder Sister Song!"

Yu Hongjin chased after her.

Anxiety filled her face, and her worry only deepened when she couldn't spot Song Bao anywhere.

"Oh no..."

Father Song couldn't help but grow frantic.

Mother Song ran out as well, looking panicked. "Where is she? Where did she run off to?"

Father Song said, "I'll go after her right now. Right now."

A sudden wave of dizziness hit Mother Song, and she nearly collapsed to the ground.

Fortunately, Yunxiang was quick and caught her arm.

"Really... truly..." Mother Song let out a long sigh, her eyes full of disappointment.

Even now, she still placed all the blame squarely on Song Bao's shoulders.

Yunxiang sighed softly and said, "Auntie Song, you've misunderstood. This time, it really isn't Song Bao's fault. I neglected Hong Jin's discipline in her early years, and she picked up a bit of an addiction to wine at a young age. Hong Jin wasn't making excuses for her. Auntie Song, you wrongly accused her."

Hearing this, Mother Song froze, unable to process it for a moment.

She opened her mouth, hesitating, but ultimately said nothing.

Instead of speaking, she fell deep into thought.

Seeing this, Yunxiang let out a helpless sigh.

Yunxiang could more or less guess what Mother Song was thinking at that moment.

Yunxiang looked at the Mister beside her and said, "Please bring that child back, Mister. It's pitch black out tonight, and it's hard not to worry."

Chen Changsheng nodded in agreement. "Alright."

He then headed out into the street.

With a minor spell, he tracked the trail Song Bao had left behind.

Meanwhile, Yunxiang helped Mother Song back into the inn.

Worry covered Yu Hongjin's face. She looked at Sister Yun, truly panicking now.

Yunxiang sighed. Looking at Yu Hongjin, she said, "You really caused a disaster this time."

Yu Hongjin stepped forward, tugged at the corner of Yunxiang's clothes, and lowered her head.

She truly knew she was in the wrong.

Lihua crouched off to the side, blinking as it stared at the silent Mother Song.

It seemed to be pondering something, as if puzzled by certain matters.

Yunxiang patted Yu Hongjin's head and said, "Take Lihua upstairs first."

Yu Hongjin glanced at Sister Yun, wanting to say something, but ultimately holding her tongue.

She lowered her head, then led Lihua up the stairs.