Chapter 442: Chapter 442 - 436: A Six-Year-Old’s World Turned Upside Down

Mr. Jing was obviously hinting at Shi Su to quickly take sides and help out.

These two old folks have quarreled all their lives, and even Jing Jihan couldn’t be bothered to intervene, so there’s no way Shi Su would step in to take sides recklessly.

Just then, Hui came over from the side room. She had already heard quite a bit from there and asked, "Madam, will you be staying for dinner? Are your tastes still the same as before?"

Mrs. Jing looked at Hui, seemingly surprised to see so many familiar faces in the Jing Family, was momentarily dazed, and nodded, agreeing to stay for dinner.

Hui smiled and quickly retreated.

Shi Su swiftly grabbed Hui’s hand and said she was going to slice some fruit for Mianmian, planning to go to the kitchen with Hui and seize the chance to temporarily escape the battlefield.

Seeing Shi Su sneaking away, Mr. Jing snorted, "Holding grudges like this won’t do!"

"Shi Su is already magnanimous enough; it’s great she hasn’t refused to step back into your Jing Family, and she’s brought the child back too," Mrs. Jing chimed in. "Shi Su is a sensible girl, unlike you as an elder."

Mr. Jing rolled his eyes at her, "Would it kill you to stop criticizing me for a moment?"

Mrs. Jing chuckled, "We already live as if we don’t know each other, what good words do you expect from me?"

Mr. Jing ignored her and looked down at Mianmian in his arms. To show he could also support his little great-granddaughter, he suddenly asked, "Mianmian, has it been hard for Mommy to take care of you alone? Have you ever been short of food or clothes? If you lack anything, you must tell Great-grandpa!"

Mianmian first tilted her head, looking at her great-grandma and great-grandpa, her big eyes blinking, and said, "Nope, Mommy is super amazing. Whatever other kids have, Mianmian also has. Mommy earns a lot of money, and Mianmian is not wronged at all."

"Shi Su certainly is a good mother." Mrs. Jing heard the child being so understanding and said sincerely, "Shi Su seems like a pretty and gentle girl, but as a mother, she’s strong. Raising a child alone for so many years and teaching her so well must mean she’s sensible and responsible. This child is much better than those so-called well-matched young ladies raised in wealthy families. Those wooden young misses, forced with all sorts of upbringing and manners from birth, can’t compare to a genuinely good girl like Shi Su."

Mianmian heard that her great-grandmother was praising her mom, but didn’t quite understand, except for the first part, and couldn’t help but whisper, "Mommy is the best mommy, but she’s not gentle at all..."

Mrs. Jing was amused, and even Mr. Jing’s eyes couldn’t help but crinkle in amusement.

Mommy is the best mommy, but not gentle at all.

Indeed.

Soft and tough outside, cockroach slayer inside, certainly not on the gentle side.

Jing Jihan deeply agreed.

While diligently cutting fruit with Hui in the kitchen, Shi Su suddenly sneezed.

When she personally carried the fruit plate out and returned to the main hall, as soon as she walked in, three pairs of eyes instantly looked at her.

Shi Su remained calm and said, "Mianmian, don’t just cling to Great-grandpa. Come over here and sit, have some fruit, and let Great-grandpa and Great-grandma chat properly."

Speaking, she gracefully placed the fruit plate down, turning to see Jing Jihan looking at her, the man’s lips almost smiling like a gentle breeze, a softness on his cold-colored trench coat that was hard to conceal.

Perhaps never having experienced such a warm and joyful scene, at dinner gathered in the main hall of the Jing Family’s old house, Mianmian excitedly jumped into Mr. Jing’s arms, acting cute and calling out for Great-grandpa. Then she turned to cuddle in Mrs. Jing’s lap, calling Great-grandma, keeping the two elders delighted and even too busy to argue.

Mianmian’s eyes sparkled, occasionally giving the two elders kisses.

The little one quickly entered her storytelling mode, recounting all the interesting things between her and her friends and teachers at kindergarten. Mr. Jing and Mrs. Jing listened while laughing, unintentionally exchanging smiles but promptly turning away in mock disdain.

Apparently, Jing Jihan deliberately brought Mrs. Jing back.

This man truly adhered to a style of subtle discretion yet deep cunning. Never would one expect him to subtly orchestrate the reconciliation of the old couple.

After dinner, Mr. Jing finally had a rough understanding of Mianmian’s situation. Shi Su hadn’t shared many specific details, only mentioning some accidental twists, but it was enough to evoke Mr. Jing’s endless sighs, lamenting that the child he longed for over the years had wandered outside for so long.

But Mianmian is very well-mannered, cute, sensible, polite, and particularly helpful, enjoying being the peacemaker between Great-grandpa and Great-grandma, playfully mediating when they squabble at the dining table.

Truly a clever and endearing child.

Finally, Mr. Jing took the opportunity while Mrs. Jing took the child outside to play, quietly said to Shi Su, "Shi Su, I’m sorry."

Just those five words, just like the "the Jing Family is the Jing Family" he once said two years ago, were plain and brief but carrying deep meaning.

Unexpectedly, Mrs. Jing, standing at the entrance of the main hall watching Mianmian for a while, suddenly turned back and asked, "When’s the wedding? Where will it be held? Chinese or Western? I see Chinese weddings are popular now, so why not have a Chinese one?"

The old man instantly shot her a glare, "What wedding has anything to do with you? We’ve been divorced for years, you’re not part of the Jing Family, what right do you have to decide?"

"I’m Jihan and Shi Su’s grandmother! Mianmian’s great-grandmother! Why don’t I have the right? I think your decrepit legs won’t even hold you up at the wedding!"

"Who says I can’t stand?" Mr. Jing abruptly stood up, "See? Steady as a pine!"

Mrs. Jing looked meaningfully at the cane in his hand.

"What are you looking at? The price of this cane could buy your crappy apartment abroad! What’s so impressive about that?"

Jing Jihan decisively led Shi Su out of the main hall, temporarily leaving little Mianmian to act as the "communication" bridge between great-grandpa and great-grandma, standing at the main door with a shocked face as she witnessed the bickering old couple, utterly amazed the world of a six-year-old.

Shi Su followed Jing Jihan out of the main hall, unable to help but glance back towards that direction, unsure, and quietly asked, "Are you sure having Mianmian around will turn their swords into plowshares?"

"No."

"?"

"At least it won’t expand the battlefield."

"You’re really good at selling your daughter..."

Jing Jihan: "She’s six years old. It’s time she made some contributions to this family."

"..."