Back to Three Years Old: Crushing Scumbags on a Parenting Reality Show 257

Chapter 257

Older people shouldn’t eat too much late at night.

He Rongzheng slowly finished the small portion of wontons in his bowl and looked at Wei Maomao, who was still eating.

His granddaughter, coming over as soon as he called, it was good. She didn’t mention the password door, which meant she hadn’t seen it yet, she wasn’t completely obsessed with Yan Yan, also good.

But she had been lost in her thoughts since she sat down…

Was this what they called “a daughter’s heart is like flowing water”?

This wouldn’t do, that Yan Yan, leaving without a word all those years ago, leaving this little fool pretending to be happy.

And after returning, even living so close, she visited less often than Zhao Can, clearly more interested in the outside world, leaving this little fool making treats and sending gifts, even turning her little workshop into a small factory, clearly trying to show her care and concern.

Did Yan Yan even need those snacks?

Such a fool, doing good deeds without expecting anything in return.

He Rongzheng, despite his complaints, knew Maomao’s happiness was the most important.

But Yan Yan, coming and going as she pleased, treating their relationship so casually… it wasn’t fair.

If they got together now, this little fool would be completely smitten, no chance of escaping later!

As a good grandpa, he had to teach her a lesson.

He Rongzheng, his patience wearing thin as he watched Maomao slowly eat her wontons, started to regret making so much.

After all, this one had a history of… running away.

As Wei Maomao was finishing her wontons, He Rongzheng placed a small jade cabbage ornament on the table and said casually, “Little Maomao, what do you think of this jade cabbage I recently acquired?”

Yan Yan was reborn, she saved her family, she liked her… those three points alone were enough for Wei Maomao to process, and it had only been a few minutes… she was lost in her thoughts, replaying everything.

As He Rongzheng observed, her mind was elsewhere.

“It’s… nice.” Wei Maomao said, glancing at the jade cabbage, her voice absentminded.

“Right? The color is so natural, the translucence is also good, worth the five million, don’t you think?” He Rongzheng said, gently flicking the little cabbage.

“Mmm, good.” Wei Maomao said, taking another bite of her wonton.

He Rongzheng, getting to the point, said, “Valuable things, they have their price. This jade cabbage, it was very popular at the auction, so many people wanted it. I saw it in the catalogue and went to the auction myself, I even cleared my schedule for it. It took a lot of effort to win it. But good things are worth the effort, don’t you think, Maomao?”

“Mmm, right.” Wei Maomao said, her mind still elsewhere.

He Rongzheng, picking up the jade cabbage, glanced at his granddaughter and continued, “And such a precious thing, it requires careful maintenance, I even bought a sandalwood box for it, new velvet lining, special oil, and a yearly maintenance package, and I always make sure to wash my hands before handling it…”

He suddenly stopped, noticing that his granddaughter wasn’t even listening, she was… eating air.

Yes, she had finished her wontons, but she was still scooping and eating… air, just like she was eating real wontons!

Seriously!

From “love is enough,” to “air is enough” now?

That’s what those CEO novels Wei Chengli used to sneak into her room said!

He Rongzheng, recalling those novels, looked at his lovestruck granddaughter, feeling a sense of dread.

“Maomao! Maomao!” He Rongzheng said, rapping the jade cabbage against the table, forgetting his earlier lecture about careful handling.

The crisp sound, and his suddenly stern voice, snapped Wei Maomao out of her daze.

“Did you hear what I just said?” he asked.

“Cabbage?” Wei Maomao said, looking at the jade cabbage in his hand.

“And?” He Rongzheng asked, narrowing his eyes.

Wei Maomao: “…“ Mmm, something about washing hands?

He Rongzheng, seeing her struggling to remember, chuckled. “You weren’t listening at all. Tell me, what were you thinking about?”

Thinking about… things she couldn’t tell anyone…

“I was listening, you said something about washing hands, I wouldn’t touch your cabbage without washing my hands…” Wei Maomao said weakly.

“You weren’t listening at all.” He Rongzheng said, then, changing his tone, he asked gently, “Were the dumplings good? Peanut or black sesame filling?”

“Peanut.” Wei Maomao said, relieved that he had changed the subject.

He Rongzheng was truly amused now. “Seriously? You were eating wontons! You didn’t even know what you were eating! Tell me, what were you thinking about?”

Wontons?

Wei Maomao, looking down at the empty bowl, her mind screaming, tried to maintain a calm facade. “I was eating wontons, I just thought you were asking which kind of tangyuan I preferred.”

“Okay, then tell me, were the wontons chives, or bok choy, or maybe shepherd’s purse filling?” He Rongzheng asked, smiling.

Wei Maomao, looking at the empty bowl, couldn’t remember the taste.

“Grandpa, let’s talk about your cabbage… it’s so beautiful, you have such good taste~~~” she said, giving up, she just wanted this conversation to end, so she could sort out her thoughts.

Hmph, unable to answer, she resorted to flattery.

But He Rongzheng, he bought it.

Fine, cabbage it was.

He had wanted to wait until tomorrow, but since she was here, he wouldn’t be polite.

Wei Maomao, trying to change the subject, saw her grandpa pick up the jade cabbage with one hand, and with the other… a bundle of… real Chinese cabbage?

“Five million for this one, I even cleared my schedule for it.” He Rongzheng pointed at the jade cabbage, then at the real one. “Four yuan for this one, two yuan during the evening sale.”

Wei Maomao: “…“

“They’re both cabbage, if I gave you a million yuan to throw one away, which one would you choose?” he asked seriously.

Wei Maomao, without hesitation, pointed at the jade cabbage.

He Rongzheng: “???”

“We can use the other one to make salted pork and cabbage porridge tomorrow.” She added, smiling.

Was she okay?! Not just lovestruck, but also… brainless?

“Let me rephrase…” He Rongzheng pointed at the jade cabbage. “This one, fake jade, five yuan. This one, organic, twenty yuan, now I give you one…”

“I choose the fake jade, it’s prettier.” Wei Maomao interrupted.

He Rongzheng, speechless, seeing her smug expression, asked, “Are you deliberately messing with me?”

Just the jade cabbage wasn’t enough, he even brought a real one… and that “choose one” question… considering his earlier behavior, Wei Maomao couldn’t help but think he was referring to her and Yan Yan.

Whatever his point was, she wouldn’t listen.

Her mind was already a mess because of Cheng Tingyan’s words; she didn’t need her grandpa’s interference.

“Grandpa, let’s not talk about cabbage, I have a few days off, is there anything you want to eat? I’ll make it for you~~~” she said, changing the subject again.

But He Rongzheng wasn’t falling for it this time.

He had wanted to be subtle, but…

“I’ll be blunt, you’re our precious little one, not some cheap cabbage, she can’t just have you as she pleases. If she wants to be with you, she has to show some sincerity, at least half the effort you’ve put in, no, I mean, double!”

“Grandpa! We’re not like that!” Wei Maomao exclaimed, startled by his sudden outburst.

He Rongzheng ignored her. “Something you worked hard for, and something you got for almost nothing, they’re different, both in value and how you treat them…”

“No… Grandpa, it’s not like that.” Wei Maomao interrupted, feeling helpless.

Regardless of their future, Yan Yan’s feelings for her weren’t effortless, if you included their past life, it was… more than just effort.

But she couldn’t explain it to her grandpa, she hadn’t even figured it out herself.

He Rongzheng, watching the live stream, seeing the way Yan Yan looked at his granddaughter, even if they weren’t together now, it was just a matter of time, he had to act now, to make it more difficult for Yan Yan.

But his granddaughter wasn’t cooperating.

“Little Maomao, relationships require effort from both sides, you’ve put in the effort, she hasn’t. Your mother should be the one talking to you about this, but she’s also a fool…” He Rongzheng sighed. “A good girl is sought after by many, we’re not saying we should set up obstacles, but she should at least show some effort, things you work hard for are more precious, she’ll cherish you more, think more carefully about her choices. Look at her, leaving for another country without a word…”

It wasn’t like that… Yan Yan didn’t just leave…

Wait!

A sudden realization, like a lightning bolt, struck Wei Maomao.

“I’m not finished.” He Rongzheng said, thinking she was going to run away again.

“I’ll be right back.” Wei Maomao said, rushing out, her mind racing.

From the dining table to her bedroom door, in a flash.

But her hand, on the doorknob, trembled.

Did she… see it?

No… was she… looking at it now?

Wei Maomao bit her lip, the slight pain calming her down, she opened the door.

The room was empty.

She rushed to her desk.

Good, everything was in place.

She leaned against the desk, relieved, she let out a long sigh.

But when you’re too nervous, you tend to forget things.

Like, some people were really good at solving Rubik’s cubes, even at six years old.

Cheng Tingyan, leaning against the secret door, heard the sigh and the sound of the lock clicking open.

Her eyes, which had been stinging with anger, regret, envy, and jealousy, now felt… better.

Hmph, she said she didn’t want to get married.

Why rush back?

And why the sigh of relief, if the diary hadn’t been touched?