Chapter 28 Part 2

Facing the children, he tried to smile kindly, but the more he tried, the more forced and awkward it looked.

Of course, the children didn’t fully understand what “greasy” meant, but Ying Shishuang still blurted out, “Uncle, stop laughing. Your smile is so ugly, like a big frog.”

Ao Liangjun followed up, shouting, “Yeah, it’s ugly.”

[Hahaha, Shuangshuang said exactly what we were all thinking!]

[Xu Xiang’s face turned green, hahaha.]

[Kids are brutally honest. Xu Xiang is bald, his eyes stick out a bit, and he’s losing hair—doesn’t he kind of look like a big frog?]

Xu Xiang’s smile froze instantly, but since they were just little kids, he couldn’t get angry. He reminded himself that children speak without restraint. Still, deep down, he was already planning how to make these brats flatter him later.

He finally dropped the fake smile and became serious. “Kids, let me remind you: we’ll reveal one item at a time, and you won’t know what’s coming next. It might be something you like or something you need even more. So think carefully before bidding.”

“There are 20 items in total, and the starting bid for each is 100 yuan. You can raise the price freely, and the highest bidder wins.”

[I already thought letting the kids bid for themselves was bold, but this just took it to another level.]

[This is really a test of human nature. Even adults might struggle against the production team.]

When the mothers heard the rules in the conference room, their expressions turned serious. Since they couldn’t predict the next item, their judgment would be key.

Even if they were the ones bidding, they might not win, let alone five-year-olds.

Xie Bing sighed, “My little rascal can’t resist snacks, and he doesn’t know how to plan. I’m not expecting him to win much food, I just hope he won’t throw a tantrum if he misses out on his favorites.”

Shen Linyan, wanting to appear generous, said, “It’s okay. If Xiaoyi gets snacks that Junjun likes, we can trade later.”

Shen Qingqing usually ignored Shen Linyan, but after the whole issue with the online trolls last night, she felt it was time to stir things up.

She casually said, “Sister Lin Yan, Xiaoyi is already very obedient. He and Junjun are both kids, so why should Xiaoyi give way to Junjun?”

Shen Linyan felt a little uneasy. Shen Qingqing always seemed to pick at her words.

She smiled and explained, “Qingqing, I’m not making Xiaoyi give up his things. I just want him to be friendly with his brothers, take care of the younger ones, and be a good, well-mannered child.”

Shen Qingqing blinked, looking puzzled. “But isn’t Xiaoyi already kind and well-mannered? For a naturally obedient child like him, you should let him be himself and learn how to protect himself. If he always gives in, the other kids might feel bad too.”

As she spoke, Shen Qingqing turned to Xie Bing.

Xie Bing had already felt something was off when Shen Linyan suggested Xiaoyi should give in. She nodded and said, “Lin Yan, it’s normal for kids to compete. There’s no need for anyone to always back down.”

Shen Linyan’s heart tightened. She knew Liang Tianyi was naturally kind and well-behaved. From the first time she met him, she had realized it.

Kids who are too obedient often make it seem like their parents’ efforts don’t matter much. That’s why she focused on his studies, acting like a dedicated mother who sacrificed everything for her child. That way, she appeared valuable to the Liang family.

She also believed that pushing Liang Tianyi to improve academically proved she was a good mother.

Not willing to back down, Shen Linyan said, “Qingqing, you misunderstood. Maybe I’m a little strict, but it’s for Xiaoyi’s own good. If he works hard now, he’ll have an easier time in the future. I’m afraid that if I relax too much, he might blame me later. Boys can be a little mischievous, and if I don’t discipline him properly, it could be a problem.”

Many viewers agreed with her.

[Yeah, I don’t think Shen Linyan is wrong.]

[Once you become a parent, you’ll understand. The competition is fierce, and it’s not that we don’t want our kids to have a childhood.]

[The kid might be unhappy now, but it’s better than him blaming his parents later.]

Shen Qingqing found this amusing. If parents keep pressuring their children even when they’re already hardworking, it does more harm than good.

She looked at Shen Linyan with cold eyes. “Sister Linyan, have you ever heard the saying that a string pulled too tight will easily break? I think Xiaoyi’s personality is not naughty at all. In fact, he is even quieter and more obedient than many girls. For example, his schedule is already packed. Have you ever asked Xiaoyi if his current classes are too much for him?”

Shen Linyan was momentarily stunned and felt a pang of guilt.

She had never asked Liang Tianyi these questions. Even when he seemed reluctant, she would either change the subject or give him a long lecture to make him accept her decisions.

Watching the argument unfold, the others hadn’t expected things to turn out this way.

In fact, they also felt that what Shen Linyan said earlier was a bit strange, but since she always appeared kind, and the atmosphere had been pleasant, no one had dared to contradict her.

However, after hearing Shen Qingqing’s words, they began to notice the difference between Liang Tianyi and other children. He was too obedient and quiet—not playful or mischievous like other kids. While this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, an overly sensible and mature child often had to endure stricter discipline than others.

Of course, how a family raises their child is their personal matter, and others couldn’t say much about it.

Since they were still recording the show, they thought it best to smooth things over rather than let the argument escalate.

Mo Man smiled and said, “Alright, alright, there’s no absolute right or wrong when it comes to parenting. We should communicate more in the future. No one can claim to be perfect.”

Xie Bing, although careless, always took responsibility and tried to calm things down. She added, “Yes, among the five moms here, I think I’m the worst at teaching children. But it’s okay. I’ll learn along the way. After all, we’re all first-time mothers, right? No one can be perfect.”

Shen Linyan was frustrated with Shen Qingqing but also felt guilty. She knew it wasn’t the right time to argue, so she decided to back down.

Forcing a smile, she said, “Sister Qingqing, I’ll reflect on what you said. Let’s continue watching the auction.”

Shen Qingqing knew she couldn’t change Shen Linyan’s mind with just a few words, but as long as she planted the seed of doubt, people would start questioning things whenever incidents arose in the future.

With that thought, Shen Qingqing turned her attention to the big screen.

Xie Bing and the others cracked a few jokes, restoring harmony in the room. However, they quietly started to wonder if Shen Linyan’s approach to parenting was too extreme.

Meanwhile, the live broadcast chat was in chaos, with Shen Linyan’s supporters taking the opportunity to attack Shen Qingqing.

[Shen Qingqing is overstepping. Why does she care about how others raise their kids?]

[Exactly! She’s just jealous of Shen Linyan, who’s widely praised for being a dedicated mother.]

[Some people who are lazy want hardworking parents to slack off too, just so they don’t feel bad about themselves.]

But many viewers who had been following the show disagreed.

[Am I the only one who thinks Shen Qingqing is right? Have you noticed Xiaoyi’s behavior? He’s way too quiet and obedient.]

[I agree. Shen Linyan might have gone too far. It’s good to push children, but love should have limits. Remember when Xiaoyi had to wake up early to run even though he hadn’t gotten enough sleep?]

[And he’s filming the show all day and still has to catch up on schoolwork at night. Isn’t that too much for a kid?]

With netizens divided on the issue, neither side could claim victory. Some peacekeepers in the chat tried to calm things down.

[Okay, okay. We’ve been arguing about parenting for years without a conclusion. Let’s move on.]

[I think both Shen Linyan and Shen Qingqing have valid points, and both kids are doing well.]

[Every child is different, so parenting methods shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all.]

[Most of you probably don’t even have kids, so stop arguing over imaginary parenting theories!]

Most viewers of parenting variety shows were young and single, primarily watching to see adorable children. They weren’t too keen on debating child-rearing philosophies and quickly shifted focus back to the kids.

The five children had different reactions to the situation.

Ao Liangjun and Ying Shishuang were naturally carefree, and Song Yiyi was still too young to fully grasp what was happening, so the three of them simply looked confused.

Liang Tianyi, however, had a serious expression, clearly aware of the situation’s implications.

As for Zhou Jiayan, he was staring at Xu Xiang with unwavering focus. He remembered what his stepmother had told him before. Sure enough, the show’s production team was setting a trap! And that bald middle-aged man? He was particularly devious! He was skilled at tricking children.

His stepmother had warned him to break free from the program’s scripted patterns and find loopholes in their rules. Zhou Jiayan’s young mind raced. The production team had set up a rule that, if followed blindly, would make the children compete against each other.

The five kids had a total of about 2,500 yuan among them. There were 20 items up for auction, each starting at 100 yuan. If no one raised their bids, they could get everything. But if they started bidding against each other, they wouldn’t have enough money in the end.

Zhou Jiayan looked at the 1,500 yuan in his hands. He could sit back and watch the other four kids outbid each other until they ran out of money, then sweep up the remaining items effortlessly.

However, if he did that, some of his friends wouldn’t get enough food and might go hungry. That wasn’t something he wanted.

Thinking about this, Zhou Jiayan decided he needed a plan. He had the most money, and if he used it strategically, his friends would likely trust him.

At this moment, Xu Xiang continued, “Do you understand, kids? If so, we’ll officially start. The first item up for auction is…”

However, Zhou Jiayan raised his little hand and said, “Uncle, I have something to say to my friends. Can you give us a minute?”

Xu Xiang glanced at Zhou Jiayan. He knew the boy was smart, but what could a 15-year-old do? There was no way he could outsmart him. Shaking off his concerns, Xu Xiang nodded, wanting to appear generous and kind. “Alright, I’ll give you three minutes.”

Everyone watched as Zhou Jiayan gathered a group of children and whispered to them. He spoke so softly that only the five kids could hear him, while the adults could only make out some murmuring.

Xu Xiang scoffed at the sight of their secret discussion. Kids were greedy—once the bidding started, he would ultimately win. Even if Zhou Jiayan was smart, there was no way he could convince so many children.

Three minutes later, the five children dispersed, their faces showing determination.

Only the chubby boy, Ao Liangjun, looked hesitant and said, “You better not trick me. If you do, I won’t play with you again!”

Zhou Jiayan nodded firmly. “Don’t worry, I won’t cheat you. I already gave you the money.”

Xu Xiang’s eyes widened. What? The other children’s money had increased, except for Zhou Jiayan’s. Had he given his own money to them? What was his plan?

Could these kids actually steal his auction from under him?

Despite his concerns, the event had already started. With no way to back out, he proceeded. “Alright then, our auction officially begins! The first item is…” He dramatically lifted the lid. “Ta-da! A can of Coke! Summer is almost here, and nothing is more refreshing than an ice-cold Coke. Which kid wants to bid for this?”

As he spoke, he raised the can and shook it enticingly.

Ao Liangjun’s eyes lit up. “I want to drink it! I want it!”

But before he could continue, Zhou Jiayan shot him a sharp look. He immediately shrank back and muttered, “I just got a little excited…”

Xu Xiang frowned. Since when did Zhou Jiayan have such authority over the children?

Still, he had no choice but to move forward. “Alright, kids, let’s start the bidding!”

But the expected scene of eager bidding didn’t happen. Only Song Yiyi raised her hand and said, “I bid 100!”

The other children remained calm and showed no interest in competing.

Xu Xiang suddenly realized what was happening. These kids had planned this! Zhou Jiayan must have divided his money among them so that when it was their turn to bid, they would each offer exactly 100 yuan, while the others stayed silent. That way, they could win all the snacks and ingredients at a bargain price.

The moment he understood, the five mothers watching in the conference room also figured it out, and smiles spread across their faces.

Mo Man chuckled. “Qingqing, your son is just as clever as you. At such a young age, he already knows how to outwit the system.”

Xie Bing laughed. “Qingqing, you and your son are amazing at defeating the show’s tricks. I’m sticking with you from now on!”

Shen Qingqing beamed with pride. That little brat was making her proud! Maybe she could go easy on him tonight.

Trying to appear humble, she said, “Hahaha, the other kids are smart too. They’re all great. As for Yanyan, I don’t usually pay him much attention, but he likes to observe and think. Maybe he’s been around me too long and learned to go against the norm.”

The others: That’s not just humility, that’s bragging!

Meanwhile, the live-stream audience exploded with praise:

[Oh my god, Yanyan is a little genius! How did a five-year-old come up with this strategy?]

[I officially declare that Yanyan has a higher IQ than me, an internet mom.]

[+1! I wouldn’t have figured this out myself!]

[Well, what do you expect from Shen Qingqing’s child?]

Xu Xiang started to panic but quickly calmed down. There was no way these kids could resist temptation forever. So, he continued to persuade them. “Kids, are you sure you don’t want the Coke? Just imagine the fizzy bubbles bursting in your mouth. So refreshing!”

Ao Liangjun licked his lips involuntarily.

Seeing this, Xu Xiang smirked. “Junjun, don’t you want the Coke?”

The chubby boy looked torn, making everyone nervous.

Especially his mother, who knew just how much her son loved food. If anyone was going to break the plan, it would be him. She held her breath, worried he would give in.

Shen Linyan watched the scene with amusement. If Zhou Jiayan won again, the show would be in chaos.

Shen Qingqing wasn’t too concerned about winning or losing. The program had plenty of tricks, and the children were still young—it was natural for them to slip up. However, if Junjun failed to keep his promise to Zhou Jiayan, he would be sad. If that happened, she would give him some extra comfort when he came back.

Meanwhile, netizens in the live chat grew anxious:

[Junjun really loves to eat. It’s normal for a kid his age to struggle with temptation. Hope people won’t be too hard on him.]

[Xu Xiang is so mean, trying to tempt such a young child!]

[I didn’t expect Yanyan’s plan to fail at the first step. Yanyan is very smart, but he still underestimated human desires.]

Everyone was nervous and looked at Ao Liangjun.

The chubby little boy was staring at the Coke, licking his dry lips, and sighing, “I really want to drink it.”

Seeing this, everyone felt a chill in their hearts. It seemed like the little guy wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation.