Sheng Lanci hoped to sow discord among the siblings, but it did not work. Sheng Weiqiao said brusquely, “I was never kind to him! All I did was to drive him away from our family. It was very generous of him to save me on the sea. What else could I expect from him? If I were him, I would let him die in the hands of Young Master Han!”

Trembling in fear, Sheng Lanci tried to correct her thought, “Sweetheart, why would you think like that? You are my legitimate child, and he is a b.a.s.t.a.r.d. We've only taken him in for your future benefits. It was his duty to save you!”

It was a good thing for her daughter to be considerate, but it did not make Sheng Lanci happy seeing her showing consideration for others!

“Father, do you think I'm three years old?” Sheng Weiqiao said angrily, but in the meantime, she found what her father said was a bit ridiculous, “He was indeed your son, but over the years you have never cared whether he lived or died. Even if he makes returns to others' kindness, he will repay Gongsun Family, not us, right? Now you still treat him as a servant, do you want him to hate me or what?”

She rolled her eyes at her father, “Be it legitimate or not, we are both your children. You are kind to me and unkind to him, and what would he make of it? Experiencing this kind of differentiated treatment, he is nice enough not to vent his anger on me. You seriously expect him to perform the duty of an elder brother for me?! You think he is stupid or what?!”

That son of a mistress!

From now on, she decided not to call him that ever again. Sheng Shuihe was very loyal to Gongsun Family, or he would not have risked his life to go back to Daimao Island after hearing the news. However, how did he treat Gongsun Su's daughter?

He threw her into the sea in the middle of the night without hesitation!

He threw her into the sea and kept her in the sea for a while. Sheng Weiqiao knew that Sheng Lanci's kindness toward Sheng Shuihe was no match for the kindness shown to him by Gongsun Family. Besides, compared with Gongsun Yingjiang, she was mean to him!

Even if they were related by blood, it was generous of Sheng Shuihe for not throwing her into the sea. It was ridiculous to expect him to risk his life for her. One would not even dream of it!

Hearing what she said, Sheng Lanci was speechless and embarra.s.sed by himself. Before he left, he said, “I'll check on him.”

After he left, Lvjin and Lvqi remembered the advice of Mrs. Feng and said to Sheng Weiqiao, “If you feel sorry for the sufferings Childe has gone through, why not act kindly to him? He is still recovering from his injuries, and you can take this opportunity to look after him and show your bearing and grace.”

Sheng Weiqiao was spoiled by her parents since she was born. She had heard countless compliments and was not particularly interested in anything that could show her bearing or grace. Nevertheless, she had every sympathy for Sheng Shuihe and asked them, “In your opinion, what can I do for him?”

Lvjin and Lvqi thought about it, and they suggested that she could bring him some soup, “You don't have to cook it by yourself. The kitchen servants would get it ready, and we would carry it for you. You just need to say something nice to him!”

After all, Sheng Shuihe was not as honorable as Sheng Weiqiao; thus, Lvjin and Lvqi believed Miss Sheng didn't need to ingratiate herself with him, the outsider of this family. Besides, what if Sheng Shuihe was arrogant and flighty? In that case, wouldn't he hurt Miss Sheng's feelings?

Every time Sheng Weiqiao got ill, her mother, Madam Feng, would cook the soup for her in person. Thus, she thought it would be insincere if the soup taken to the ill were made by others. Anyways she had nothing to do, and she said, “I'll cook myself. My mother said once some soups are easy to prepare.”

She went to the kitchen with her maids. The kitchen servants knew their master treated members from Sheng Family as distinguished guests. Since Sheng Lanci was entrusted by Gongsun Su himself, which made him a half master, they would not dare to neglect her in the slightest.

Hearing that Sheng Weiqiao intended to make the soup by herself, a group of servants came around to offer tips. After a while, Sheng Weiqiao put down the spoon with a satisfied look, “I think the taste is not bad. What do you think?”

“Miss Sheng is talented and smart. It goes without saying the soup you made tastes delicious!” Everyone said so. In fact, they were right about that. The soup tasted good because so many cooks stood around her and taught her step by step. The cooks had to conspire on purpose for her to cook a pot of lousy soup.

By the time she made the soup ready, Sheng Lanci had entered inside the kitchen silently, grabbed a bowl without a sound, joined the crowd quietly, and said with a smile, “I must have a taste of the soup made by my daughter!”

Although he put a bright smile on his face, he had grievances against the fact that her baby girl cooked for the first time in her life neither for her father nor for her mother, but for her brother, who just joined the family for a few days!!!

Sheng Lanci could not bear it at all!

So, he set aside the business and came over to sabotage the plan. Sheng Weiqiao was not aware of the devious plots his father was planning right now, and she was pleased to serve him some soup, “Dad, please have a try. Is it good?”

Sheng Lanci finished the soup in one shot, expressing his support for his daughter with action, “Some more!”

Sheng Weiqiao scooped up the soup, “It's hot. Be careful!”

“It's okay, sweetheart. Please fill it for me!” Sheng Lanci swallowed the last drop of the soup neatly and said with pride, “The soup you made is so delicious. The more I drink, the tastier I find!”

Sheng Weiqiao scooped the soup up happily for the third time.

Then Sheng Lanci resumed the imposing manner which he used when boozing and negotiating business at a younger age. He emptied more than half the pot. If people came across the scene, they might think he joined a drinking contest. Sheng Weiqiao took back the empty bowl again, and then she realized something, “Father! That's all for now! The soup is almost finished. I made it especially for that person!”

She did not resent Sheng Shuihe anymore and even felt pity for him. However, she needed time to fully accept him as her brother, and that was why she referred to him as “that person” at the moment.

Hearing this, Sheng Lanci got so jealous that his eyes almost turned red!

“Especially”!

Especially!

Sheng Lanci asked himself how many things did his daughter do especially for him since she was born?!

Why did the boy who was just accepted as a member of the family get this kind of treatment?

Sheng Lanci believed that he had brought disaster upon himself, and this thought made his heart ache. He realized that he should teach Sheng Shuihe a lesson so that he would know how dire the consequences could be to vie for the attention of his daughter!

Sheng Lanci said lovingly, “Aw! The soup you made is so delicious that I forgot to save some for Shuihe. There is not much left. If you take the rest to him, he probably will think you give him the leftover! The boy suffered a lot. His past sufferings, coupled with this misunderstanding, will probably worsen his conditions! What should we do?”

Sheng Weiqiao's response went as planned, “Then I'll make another one! Anyways I got all I need here.”

“Pack the rest, so I can have it at night!” Sheng Lanci ordered the servants to take away the pot happily, and then he rolled up his sleeves, “Sweetheart, let me be your kitchen helper!”

He threw two live fishes, one moray and three sh.e.l.ls into the soup when Sheng Weiqiao was not looking!

He was still not sure whether his plan worked or not. When the soup was almost ready with steam blocking the view, Sheng Lanci sprinkled three spoons of salt, five spoons of sugar, and a whole pack of cinnamon into the pot!

“I don't think that boy can drink it!” He thought viciously but possessed a mild and benevolent countenance. He splashed water on Sheng Weiqiao's dress as if by accident and said to her, “Your dress is stained. Why don't you go back and change? I'll stay here to watch it simmer.”

When Sheng Weiqiao changed her dress and came back, her considerate father already packed the soup into the basket for the maid to carry it away!

“Dad, why did you pack it? I haven't tried it yet!” Sheng Weiqiao said worriedly.

“It's fine. I have already tasted the soup!” Sheng Lanci smirked, “I also added a pack of herbs which is beneficial to men. It's very nouris.h.i.+ng, but girls cannot have such herbs. Don't taste the soup on the sly, sweetheart!”

Sheng Weiqiao opened the lid suspiciously and took a step back due to the pungent cinnamon flavor. She was shocked, “The herbs…?”

“It was prescribed by a renowned doctor on the sh.o.r.e. I spent quite a fortune on it!” Sheng Lanci maintained his composure and said, “Okay then. It's windy outside. Please bring him the soup and hurry back, or the efficacy of the herbs will be reduced when the soup cools down!”

He knew his daughter well. Sheng Weiqiao usually would ask the maid to pick out the thorns when eating fish. He knew that she had never seen cinnamon, so how could she tell it was just an ordinary spice?

Sheng Weiqiao left with her maid. Sheng Lanci glanced smilingly at the kitchen servants who had a queer expression, “Keep your mouth shut, and you will be safe. Understood?”

Those were the servants who watched him add things into the soup pot. They nodded their heads silently.

They were not disloyal to Sheng Shuihe. Considering the fact that even Gongsun Su ingratiated himself with Sheng Lanci, they dared not to disobey him.

They tried to comfort each other, “Chief is a tough guy. He'll be okay!”

In fact, Sheng Shuihe was very smart. When he saw Sheng Weiqiao bring him the soup, his first reaction was not feeling moved but asking questions in a roundabout way to figure out who made the soup.

When he heard it was Sheng Weiqiao who made the soup in person for the first time, he called out Gongsun Xi, Zheng Sen, and Xu Lianshan to have a taste. He said that he could not bear to eat alone and that the more, the merrier. Since his sister cooked the soup, he insisted that all of them should share it so that they would acknowledge he had the cutest, kindest, and the most tenderhearted sister in the world!

Sheng Weiqiao blushed at the compliments, but she tried to act like she did not care. Taking a deep breath, Sheng Shuihe plucked up the courage he demonstrated in killings and lifted the bowl. He drained the bowl in one zealous gulp with eyes closed and head up!

Then he gave her the thumbs up without hesitation and smiled brightly, “Your culinary skill is absolutely incredible!”

Sheng Weiqiao was a bit nervous at first. Hearing this, she was relieved and refilled the bowl by herself and said happily, “Have some more if you like it!”

“….” Sheng Shuihe was reluctant, but he gave a joyful smile, “Great!”

Everyone was pleased this day, or at least they seemed to be happy.

Taking the hint from Sheng Shuihe, Gongsun Xi and Zheng Sen apologized to Sheng Weiqiao for suspecting her of disrespecting Chief. Sheng Shuihe took the opportunity and poured the soup out of the window into the cliff. Sheng Weiqiao also expressed her understanding and compunction sincerely. Anyways, they parted with each other in harmony.

The minute Sheng Weiqiao left the house, Gongsun Xi and the others threw away the soup along with the bowl. They opened the window in haste, “Chief, are you sure your sister is here to visit you not to kill you?”

The taste of the soup was horrible, but it was understandable. Anyways, they did not expect Miss Sheng, who cooked for the first time in her life, to present a delicacy.

Both Sheng Shuihe and Gongsun Xi had seen worse when they were young. At that time, they had no luxury to be picky and were merely content with having enough food to eat.

But the thing was the fish were not scaled. They were probably thrown into the soup alive, and fish guts were not removed. Besides, there was other seafood such as moray in the pot. It was so outrageous!

Nevertheless, those difficult times were behind them for almost a decade. They became pirates in recent years, but they were high ranking ones, having enjoyed a luxurious lifestyle for a long time. The sudden flashbacks to the hards.h.i.+ps in the past and reflections on the present joyful life were simply too much to bear!

“You should have faith in her!” Sheng Shuihe put his arm behind his head, looking at the roof of the tent. Then he said in a faint voice, “If you think she had been insincere to me, then why would she have degraded herself and talked to you guys?”

Gongsun Xi and the others looked at each other for a while and left in silence.

For the first life in their lives, they realized the una.s.suming Miss Sheng could be this terrible!

What was more terrifying was that Sheng Weiqiao came back the next day!