Chapter 12: Zhou Erqin Approaches

The next day, Zhou Erqin came to visit. Everyone knew she was Ning Chu’s mother, so no one stopped her. She arrived early at the Chaoyang Villa.

“Where is your lady? Where is she? Tell her to come out and see me,” Zhou Erqin demanded harshly. Ah Hua frowned upon hearing this. This wasn’t the Ning family’s home; it was Chaoyang Villa. Yet, she used the word “get out” when referring to the lady. But since this was the lady’s mother, Ah Hua didn’t say anything.

“The lady hasn’t gotten up yet. I’ll go wake her now,” Ah Hua replied.

“What!” Zhou Erqin was even angrier upon hearing that Ning Chu was still in bed. “Why hasn’t she gotten up? Doesn’t she get up to serve her son-in-law to work? It’s unreasonable for her to still be in bed now.”

Ah Hua thought the lady could sleep in if she wished; the housemaster hadn’t said anything about it. Ning Chu was so beautiful, she couldn’t understand why her mother wouldn’t even allow her to sleep late.

“The housemaster has no objection to this,” Ah Hua said on Ning Chu’s behalf. “Madam Ning, please wait a moment. I’ll go call the lady.”

Ah Hua quickly went upstairs, leaving Zhou Erqin waiting below.

In truth, Ning Chu was already awake. Having risen early for so many years, her biological clock was well established. Although she had been staying up late watching TV before, she hadn’t done so these past couple of days—desires had to be restrained.

But even though she was awake, Ning Chu didn’t get up immediately. She sat on the bed playing on her phone. Recently, she had taken a liking to a small game called “Match and Clear,” which she found quite enjoyable, so she began playing it early in the morning.

At that moment, there was a knock on the door. “Madam, are you awake? Your mother, Madam Ning, is here to see you.”

Ning Chu hadn’t expected Madam Zhou to come so early. “I know. Ask her to wait for a moment.”

“Yes.”

Ah Hua quickly went down and told Zhou Erqin, “Madam says please wait a moment.” After that, she stepped aside.

Zhou Erqin replied coldly, “Understood.”

Ning Chu got up, freshened herself, changed into more comfortable clothes, slipped on a pair of slippers, and went downstairs. She wasn’t wearing makeup today. Though her lips weren’t vividly red, she still looked lovely.

As soon as she came downstairs, Zhou Erqin, already growing impatient, stood up. “Ning Chu! How did I teach you to behave back then?”

Ning Chu paused at the foot of the stairs, looking at Zhou Erqin. Honestly, Madam Zhou was quite attractive; otherwise, she wouldn’t have given birth to such a beautiful daughter.

It was just that her possessiveness was a bit overwhelming. Ning Chu had met her grandparents and thought they were quite decent people. She didn’t understand why Zhou Erqin was the way she was.

She wasn’t sure if it was because of the world in the book or just that Zhou Erqin was truly such a person.

Ning Chu sympathized with the sudden visit of a mistress’s daughter, but understanding didn’t mean she had to obey everything.

She told the servants to leave first and then suddenly asked Zhou Erqin, “Do you want to divorce my father?”

Zhou Erqin exploded upon hearing this. “What do you mean? Did your father tell you to say this? Ning Chu, I’m your mother, the one who gave birth to you. You should listen to me, not your father.”

“Why are you just standing there? Come down here! What’s going on with you lately? And your nails—why haven’t you washed them? What are you wearing today? What about your manners? Have you forgotten what your etiquette teacher taught you?”

Zhou Erqin suspected that Ning Xingxian might have said something to Ning Chu, causing her change in attitude.

Ning Chu didn’t move, just stared at her. “Why not divorce?”

Zhou Erqin said, “Ning Chu, for families like ours, divorce isn’t just words; it involves many interests. Besides, it’s not your father’s fault, but that woman’s. Your father asked her to have an abortion, but she just wanted to use the child to gain status. Who knew she gave birth to a daughter?”

Ning Chu nodded. “I understand; it’s about interests. You really can’t divorce easily, otherwise, it would indeed benefit someone else.”

Zhou Erqin nodded. “You’re old enough now to understand. Only by holding the interests in your own hands can you protect yourself best.”

Ning Chu descended the stairs and sat beside her. “For interests, can everything be used?”

Zhou Erqin said, “Of course. So, you must conceive a child of the Dantai family quickly and bear an heir. That will secure your position firmly. As for those other women outside, you must learn to turn a blind eye. But for some major threats, you must strike decisively.”

Ning Chu leisurely took a sip of tea. “Can a daughter be used too?”

Zhou Erqin frowned. “Do you think your mother is using you? Chu Chu, your mother is doing this for your own good. I’ve cultivated you to be a socialite so you can marry into the Dantai family. You should be grateful to me.”

Ning Chu said, “I remember that year, I seduced Dantai Chao twice, and he agreed.”

Zhou Erqin replied, “Those two times really benefited the Ning family greatly. But Chu Chu, although our family advanced a step, it’s still not enough. You haven’t forgotten that people once said your background wasn’t good enough, right? As for our family standing shoulder to shoulder with the Dantai family in the future, then no one will dare mock you.”

Ning Chu thought Zhou Erqin’s hopes were truly naive. Standing shoulder to shoulder with a giant like the Dantai family? How could she even dare dream of that?

She stayed calm. “I’ve already repaid you. Those two times elevated the Ning family. Don’t come to me again; I can’t help you. If I were you, I’d try to seize the Ning family’s shares. If it’s about that, I might help you.”

If she were truly clear-headed.

Zhou Erqin thought she was crazy. “You’re crazy! You want me to fight with your father?”

Ning Chu said, “He already has a mistress’s daughter. You should think about yourself. What if one day he gives shares to that mistress’s daughter?” In the original story, Ning’s father did give some shares to An Sheng, which allowed her to eventually gain control of the Ning family’s assets.

Zhou Erqin said, “He wouldn’t dare! Half of these shares belong to me. I absolutely won’t allow him to give shares to that little wretch.”

Ning Chu said, “What if he does? Life is unpredictable. You said it yourself—holding the interests in your own hands is most important.”

Zhou Erqin suddenly fell silent, thinking about how recently Ning Xingxian had agreed to fund that little wretch’s education. Originally, they planned to drive them out of Shengjing. Now they had compromised? Who knows what else they might compromise on in the future.

Zhou Erqin stood up. “I absolutely won’t allow it!”

“Oh, you said you wanted to give me a gift? What about the matter you asked me to tell my son-in-law?”

Ning Chu said, “The gift will come in a few days.” It wasn’t about her seducing him. Right now, she just wanted to trick Zhou Erqin into confronting her father. That way, after she divorced, perhaps they wouldn’t have time to focus so much on her.

Marrying a domestic abuser was absolutely impossible. She had already planned that after the divorce, she would go abroad to have some fun.

“Don’t listen to your father. And why have you stopped wearing makeup? Luckily, your son-in-law isn’t here. Your household servants aren’t very capable either. You should train them when you have time. If you don’t know how, I can come help.”

Ning Chu said, “They’re from the Dantai family. The steward handles their training.”

She didn’t think the servants were bad; each of them was quite good and respectful to her.

Zhou Erqin began nagging again about having children, and Ning Chu grew tired. She stood up. “Mother, I have something to do. I’ll leave now. Ah Hua, please see my mother out.”

Ah Hua came in from outside. Ning Chu turned and went upstairs. Zhou Erqin frowned, wanting to curse Ning Chu, but at that moment the old steward came in.

“Madam Ning, you are here.”

Ah Hua immediately said, “The lady says please see Madam Ning out.”

Zhou Erqin saw the steward and said no more. This steward was different from ordinary servants. She swallowed her anger and left.