Shuzhen’s mouth twitched slightly: "Hehe, preparing for a rainy day, preventing problems before they happen, little sister, you’re quite skilled with these fancy phrases!"
"Well, you see, to effectively stop you from being silly, Jianshe specially made up this phrase for me to remember carefully..." Lian Yue covered her mouth, the remaining smug satisfaction solidifying on her stunned face. Her round eyes were filled with an accusation of ’Sister-in-law, you’re setting me up, that’s not nice.’
Ning Jianshe, who was being stared at by the brother-in-law’s icy glare, smiled wryly: With a wife this adorably dumb, what can a husband do?
Can’t you consider your husband’s dignity even a little when you’re getting caught in conversations ?
"Oh~" Shuzhen nodded knowingly and stepped back into the house: "I was just saying, why did everyone seem to agree as if it was pre-arranged, with such consistent objections coming up? Thank you all for being so considerate of me and being on my side, thinking things through for me. However, this time you really are overthinking. I believe, I believe in Lianshan’s character, and I believe in the feelings between us.
Two years can seem both long and short.
But if these two years apart can make the path ahead smoother and more beautiful, then why not do it?
Separating and working hard on our own, there will definitely be hardships. But I still have my brother, sister-in-law, sister, brother-in-law, and younger siblings supporting me, right? And every winter and summer break, Lianshan can come back to see me and the child. Calculating carefully, a semester is only about eight months, and sixteen months of university will be over. But the positive changes these sixteen months bring to Lianshan and our family will be endlessly beneficial for a lifetime.
We’ve discussed it and decided that we want him to go to this university. We also hope my brother, sister-in-law, sister, brother-in-law, younger siblings, and their spouses will support, encourage, and bless us, okay?"
At this point, what else could everyone do but support?
After all, being able to sit and discuss is all due to Shuzhen/sister-in-law’s respect for them. Deciding whether the brother-in-law/elder brother should go to school is something the couple could decide after discussing it themselves.
Liu Shouren, who secretly gathered everyone, was the first to surrender: "Alright, since you’re insistent, as the elder brother, I can only give my blessings. Later, let’s discuss how to minimize the negative public opinion in the village while he goes to university. Don’t let my sister’s well-cultivated righteous image be ruined because of brother-in-law attending university."
"Since little sister insists Lianshan be this lousy student, why not count me in too? Whatever major he applies for, I’ll apply for it too. I’ll watch him 24/7. If the boy dares to have any unacceptable thoughts, as the second brother, I’ll help you knock some sense into his head!" Shouyi waved his fist in Lianshan’s direction, looking ready to beat up a scoundrel.
"Go stand over there. If it really comes to that, shouldn’t I also enroll to keep an eye on you? To prevent the brother-in-law from being perfectly fine, but instead, you get distracted by some wildflowers outside!" Su Hongying laughed, giving her unruly husband a hard elbow.
Amidst the uproarious laughter, Ning Jianshe clapped his hands: "Second sister-in-law, that’s a great idea, if the elder brother must go to school, then the couple can go together too! Hehe, learning together, progressing together, that way we can all be assured!"
"Wow, kids’ dad, that’s a good idea!" Lian Yue’s eyes lit up: "Balancing family and study, there’s no better idea than this."
"Hmm, two of the three slots are thanks to little sister’s ’Earthworm Breeding Technology Manual’. It’s reasonable for the couple to take them, no one can say otherwise. But if both of them go to school, what about little Lian’en?" Liu Shouren pondered, starting to think about the feasibility of little sister and brother-in-law going to school together.
"The child is not an issue, by the time school starts, little Lian’en will be around six months old, able to wean and eat some solid food. If the elder brother and sister-in-law are okay with it, the child can stay with us. I guarantee to take care of him thoroughly, just like my own." Qiu Fang quietly replied, her eyes full of sincerity.
Lian Yue waved her hand: "Such a tiny kid, what’s there to wean? Just stay at my place, it’s just right our little Ning Kang has a small appetite, I can feed my nephew and son together."
Shuzhen glared, she hadn’t even considered going to university with them and yet everyone was talking so much that it seemed like it was already happening?
But Lianshan’s eyes were flickering, full of anticipation.
Originally, he wasn’t very happy to leave his lovely, soft wife and son to go north for some darn school alone. It was to cover for his wife and support her that he reluctantly agreed.
If he could go with his wife, then this academic journey would genuinely be something to look forward to.
Hehe, no need to endure the pain of separation, no need to worry about insensible people trying to steal his treasure from afar. Most importantly, with his wife alongside, he wouldn’t have to face those silly fools scrutinizing him with cautionary eyes, as if once he goes to study, he’d become like Chen Shimei, being fickle and unfaithful.
With a wife having good looks, figure, temperament, talents, and godly skills, why on earth would he trade in a watermelon for a sesame seed?
He’s not like that silly Dai Weiguo!
Lianshan’s mind raced, starting to strategize on how to convince his wife to accompany him to university.
But his relentless efforts only left his wife limp, exhausted, without the strength even to get up, and all he received were looks of utter disdain, with no softening or signs of agreement.
As more and more people inquired about the slots, Lianshan couldn’t help but grit his teeth: "Wife, just tell me, to what extent must I ’conquer’ you before you’ll agree to go to school with me?"
The emphasis on ’conquer’ made Shuzhen blush furiously, promptly throwing a pillow at his mischievous handsome face: "Hmph, beast! If you want me to go with you, fine, but we have to rent a place off-campus and take little Lian’en along. Most importantly, from now till school starts, you have to behave and not be driven by lust. Once we’re at school, focus on studying, and except for winter and summer breaks, we’ll just be classmates!!!"
Bringing his son was not a problem, after all, from the beginning, Lianshan hadn’t planned to leave the little guy to fend for himself at home. Otherwise, after two years away at university, if his son didn’t recognize him, whom could he cry to?
But being just plain classmates with his wife...
That’s like placing a deliciously fragrant braised pork in front of a starving person, only allowing them to drool but not eat, it couldn’t be more cruel, could it!