This old fogey knows nothing

You might think this old man is shameless?

Actually, that’s not the case at all.

He never said those words—it was all Little Cao who spoke up and agreed to it himself.

Sure, afterward, anyone could brush it off with a line like, "He’s just a kid, you can’t take his words seriously."

The old man probably wouldn’t actually hold him to it.

But if the Tang family really tried to weasel out of it, they’d still have to offer some compensation, wouldn’t they?

Originally…

It was just a squabble between kids.

But because of one wrong sentence, things escalated to this point.

That’s why people in this circle understand one thing very well: you can eat whatever you want, but you really can’t say whatever you want.

However.

Little Cao is only about four years old.

Not even five yet.

This matter isn’t hard to handle. The simplest way is to casually agree and say something like, "Children will find their own way—let them figure it out when they grow up."

That’s all it takes.

……

……

Cao Cheng gave Old Cao a rough rundown of what happened in the capital.

The little girl isn’t very old, but she knows a lot.

After hearing it, she laughed so hard she nearly toppled over.

Cao Cheng chuckled too. "Laoliu, laugh all you want. Just wait till you get home—Ren's mother will teach you a lesson."

Cao Laoliu asked curiously, "How old is the other girl?"

"About three years older, I think?" Cao Cheng wasn’t entirely sure.

Cao Laoliu rolled her eyes. "So she’s the same age as me?"

"Heh—" Cao Cheng paused. "You’re right."

Cao Laoliu pouted. "That bratty nephew of mine, how could he hit a girl?"

Smack!

Cao Cheng gave her a light tap—not hard, just to make a point. "Cut the nonsense. What’s wrong with hitting girls? I’m the best at hitting girls. Your sister-in-law cries every time I do it."

"Huh?" Cao Laoliu looked utterly confused.

She still didn’t get it.

Seeing her expression, Cao Cheng decided to drop it. This wasn’t a topic for Little Six.

She’d understand when she grew up.

……

He told the driver to start the car.

The whole way back, Cao Laoliu chattered nonstop, asking all sorts of questions while also filling Cao Cheng in on her recent adventures.

She was super popular at school.

Class monitor, team leader—she had a whole entourage of little followers.

And so, they arrived home in high spirits.

Before going inside, they finished their McDonald’s.

As she got out of the car, Cao Laoliu took a few sips of water to mask the smell and brushed off the crumbs from her clothes.

Only then did she happily head inside.

Dinner was already prepared, the aroma of dishes filling the air.

The cook’s skills were impeccable—second only to Cao Cheng himself.

……

Ren's mother was back.

Old Cao was home too.

All the sisters were there, except for The Fourth.

These days, The Fourth was busier than anyone.

The entertainment industry was vast, and Miracle Media had its fingers in every pie—collaborations, investments, you name it.

While she didn’t need to handle everything personally,

some events required her presence.

Like major award ceremonies.

So, The Fourth occasionally traveled for work.

During dinner,

whether intentional or not, Ren's mother kept serving Little Six.

Little Six held out as long as she could, finishing half a bowl before admitting defeat.

"Mom, I—I’m full!"

Ren's mother looked surprised. "How? You’ve barely eaten anything. You usually have at least a bowl and a half… Did you eat something outside?"

"No! I didn’t eat anything outside," Little Six denied, instinctively glancing at Cao Cheng.

Cao Cheng ignored her, quietly munching on greens. The vegetables were excellent—simple but fragrant, clearly organic and fresh.

Ren's mother narrowed her eyes. "Don’t look at others. I’m asking you—what did you eat outside?"

"Nothing," Little Six insisted, chin raised.

Ren's mother’s voice turned icy. "If you ate something, I can forgive you. But if you’re lying, I won’t let it slide."

Little Six shrank in her seat, thoroughly cowed.

And honestly, it wasn’t just her.

Everyone at the table—Eldest Sister, The Third—all kept their heads down, pretending to be engrossed in their food.

Even Old Cao was no exception, feigning deep contemplation, deaf to the world.

But let’s be real—

When Ren's mother got angry, it was terrifying.

That aura of hers?

She’d never killed anyone, so there was no bloodlust, but she’d spent her childhood battling her father and later the cutthroat business world. That forged an unshakable dominance.

Without that iron will, Ren's mother could never have held the family together.

After all, a widow with five kids? Without her, who knows what would’ve become of them.

So,

while she usually seemed gentle, when Ren's mother got mad, it was spine-chilling.

Even now, when she wasn’t truly furious,

just the hint of that aura was enough to make anyone sweat.

"I… I had McDonald’s," Little Six finally cracked under the pressure, confessing everything.

Only then did Ren's mother’s aura recede.

As she’d said—

Kids get cravings. Eating junk food isn’t the issue. Lying is.

Sure, everyone lies. It’s human nature, tied to self-preservation.

Even saints aren’t exempt.

But—

You have to discipline it.

You can’t just praise a kid for lying, can you?

Ren's mother exhaled. "Next time you lie, you know what’ll happen. Since you’re full, go do your homework."

"Okay!" Little Six scrambled away, relieved.

Old Cao suddenly spoke up. "Sweetie, who bought you the McDonald’s?"

Cao Cheng shot him a look. Really, old man?

Couldn’t he see Ren's mother had dropped it? Wasn’t it obvious?

Little Six shook her head. "I won’t tell."

Old Cao grinned. "Tell me, and I’ll get you a gift next time."

Little Six hesitated for about three seconds before shaking her head again. "No! I’m going to do homework."

With that,

she bolted.

It wasn’t a lie—just a refusal to snitch.

Cao Cheng gave her a thumbs-up. "Good loyalty."

Little Six winked, looking smug, then dashed off.

Not bad, kid.

Next time he treated her to junk food, he wouldn’t post it in the group chat.

Once Little Six was gone,

Cao Cheng didn’t press the issue.

Teasing her was just for fun.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have shared it in the group in the first place.

Ren's mother knew that, so she wouldn’t actually punish Little Six over it.

At most, she’d teach her not to lie.

Honestly,

this was Cao Cheng protecting Little Six.

Because kids trying to fool adults? Nearly impossible.

One look at dinner would’ve revealed the truth.

So,

by "exposing" her first, Cao Cheng made it harder for the family to come down on her.

A roundabout way to shield her.

Most people wouldn’t get this—like Old Cao.

He was still cluelessly trying to get Little Six to rat out Cao Cheng.

Tch.

This old fool doesn't know a damn thing!