Chapter 28: Mama’s Girl 11

The Ren family was so enraged they almost passed out, while Ren Xin casually picked at the dishes. “This food is poorly arranged, seriously. Dog meat shouldn’t be on the table. It’s not right—dogs are so cute, how can you demean them? Sometimes, people are worse than beasts…”

The birthday banquet ended quietly. Ren Xin stood in a conspicuous spot, smiling and sending everyone off.

She then turned her gaze toward the mistress offering a warm smile. “Concubine, it’s true that meeting in person is nothing like hearing about you. Your son complains every day at school, like a eunuch. Are you sure he can have children? This family line might just end here. You should try harder—have a few more kids. Don’t hang all your hopes on just one kid. No need to thank me. This is my friendly advice, and it’s free!”

Ren Xin swept through the scene with her sharp tongue, leaving the mistress in ruins. The Ren family had finally had enough, and Grandpa and Grandma Ren angrily shouted for Ren Xin to leave!

Ren Xin rolled her eyes and impatiently replied, “I’ll stay if I want to! If your family didn’t have such a foolish concubine, you wouldn’t have shattered my focus. I was working on self-cultivation, but you guys just had to act like this…”

Back home, Ren Yi was still there, and Zheng Xiujuan looked at her anxiously, unsure of what to ask.

Ren Xin cheerfully explained, “Everything went smoothly, and everyone was happy…”

As she spoke, Zheng Xiujuan’s phone rang. Ren Xin peeked at it and saw that it was Ren Pengfei calling. Oh, so he was still looking for someone to bully.

Ren Xin grabbed the phone and handed it to Ren Yi. “Uncle Ren, do me a favor! I’ll help you out next time.”

Ren Yi raised an eyebrow, took the phone, and gently looked at the worried Zheng Xiujuan.

“Hello?” Ren Yi put the phone on speaker.

The furious voice on the other end started ranting but immediately stopped when it heard a male voice.

“Who are you? How did you get this phone? Where is Zheng Xiujuan? I’m looking for her.”

Ren Yi replied politely, “She’s in the kitchen making dinner for me and Ren Xin. Ren Xin said she didn’t eat well at the birthday banquet, so Xiujuan is a little worried. I’m also concerned. The child’s growing, after all…”

Ren Xin gave a thumbs up, impressed. She didn’t dislike green tea—she just disliked others trying to be green tea in front of her. The way Ren Yi handled this was perfect, striking the right balance between offense and defense.

Zheng Xiujuan’s face turned red from hearing herself being called by name.

Ren Yi smiled at her, but his words were merciless. “Ex-husband, even if you hadn’t made this call, I would’ve eventually contacted you. I was planning to invite you for a meal, but Ren Xin isn’t too fond of me interacting with you too much. A daughter’s wishes should be respected. What a pity. Thank you, though, for giving me such a wonderful wife and daughter…”

Ren Pengfei was furious to the point of almost having a heart attack. Before he could respond, Ren Yi ended the call.

Then, Ren Yi turned to Zheng Xiujuan and apologized, “That was just a temporary measure. Please don’t take offense.”

Zheng Xiujuan couldn’t say anything to complain. He had meant well.

Ren Xin laughed heartily. “Today was so satisfying!”

She noticed the time and stood up. “I still have some homework to do, so you two continue chatting. Uncle Ren, if you haven’t eaten yet, let my mom take you out. Don’t worry about me, I’ll put myself to bed tonight.”

Zheng Xiujuan didn’t return home until late, and Ren Xin didn’t know exactly when she came back. The next morning, when she woke up, she found her mother sitting alone on the sofa, lost in thought.

Ren Xin snuggled up to her. “Mom, it’s so rare to see you at home in the morning. I’m really happy, Mom, Mom…”

“Stop being clingy and shut up!”

————

—In Chinese internet slang, “green tea” (绿茶, lǜchá) refers to a type of person, often a woman, who acts innocent and pure but is actually manipulative or scheming behind the scenes. The term is derived from the idea that green tea, while looking light and refreshing, can have a bitter aftertaste, symbolizing someone who appears harmless but has ulterior motives.

A “green tea bitch” (绿茶婊, lǜchá biǎo) is a more derogatory expression used to describe someone who pretends to be sweet and innocent while actually being calculating or deceitful. This term has gained popularity in Chinese social media and online discussions to criticize individuals who use a false facade of purity to manipulate others.