"Be gentle, sweetheart," Zhou Lanfang said with concern, quickly picking up the bowl and chopsticks to inspect them. Seeing that the bowl was intact, she let out a sigh of relief, poked Zhou Siyu’s forehead, and chided, "Silly girl, do you think I’d ask you to go if there wasn’t something important?"
"What good could come from going back?" Zhou Siyu pouted unhappily.
"I’m taking you to the city the day after tomorrow to buy you some new clothes," Zhou Lanfang whispered with a laugh. "Now, do you want to go back?" The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⟡𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕥⟡𝕟𝕖𝕥
Originally, Zhou Lanfang only planned to take Zhou Siyu for a stroll in the city and buy some snacks, without intending to buy her clothes. But after hearing that Zhou Siyu had received a progress award, she instantly decided to get her a new outfit.
The more intelligent and capable the child, the more she should be willing to indulge her—so that Siyu would always remember her kindness.
"New clothes?" Zhou Siyu’s eyes lit up, but then dimmed again as something crossed her mind. "What about Sister? If we buy for her too, how much will it cost? And if we don’t, Uncle Jianhua will surely be unhappy."
Had it been before, Zhou Lanfang wouldn’t buy for Shen Mianmian and Shen Jianhua wouldn’t have said a word.
But now Shen Mianmian would complain, and whatever she said, Shen Jianhua listened to. If Lanfang didn’t buy for her, trouble would soon follow.
After all, Shen Jianhua was the breadwinner in the family, and she couldn’t afford to offend him.
"Why buy for her? Doesn’t she have the military coat?" Zhou Lanfang’s expression changed at the mention of Shen Mianmian. "Just say it’s a gift from your mom, and your Uncle Jianhua can’t say anything."
"Auntie, I love you the most; I knew you cared about me the most," Zhou Siyu said.
Zhou Siyu hugged Zhou Lanfang’s shoulders, jumping excitedly.
"Of course," Zhou Lanfang’s heart swelled with maternal love. "Even though you are not my own daughter, I treat you as if you were my own. I can guarantee that not even your mom spoils you like I do."
Indeed, spoiling Zhou Siyu was based on the hope that she would lead a better life, yet her kindness towards Zhou Siyu was genuine.
After Zhou’s mother passed away, the only one Zhou Lanfang sincerely treated well was Zhou Siyu, even putting Shen Jianhua second.
Zhou Siyu was somewhat moved. She rolled up her sleeves as if to help, but Zhou Lanfang stopped her.
"The water’s cold; there’s no need for you. Your delicate little hands are meant for holding pens, not for doing these things."
Since Zhou Siyu had been brought back home, Zhou Lanfang had been treating her like a precious deity, not willing to have her do any work. By contrast, Shen Mianmian was like a servant, handling everything.
"Auntie, when I make money in the future, I’ll bring you to the city and hire a maid to take care of you," promised Zhou Siyu, enticing Zhou Lanfang with visions of the future. "Whatever you want to eat then, you can have the maid make it for you; you won’t even have to get out of bed to drink water."
"Isn’t that like a noble consort in the palace?" Zhou Lanfang giggled, flattered by the image. "I’m just a poor woman; I couldn’t enjoy such luxury."
But even fantasizing about such a life was genuinely comforting. She would gladly live a few years less for that.
"In my eyes, you’re even more precious than any noble consort," Siyu said.
Zhou Siyu then spent some time flattering Zhou Lanfang, and before long, Shen Jianhua came over. Siyu quickly pretended to wipe the cutting board with a cloth.
"Are you done cleaning?" Shen Jianhua stood at the kitchen door, seeing them still tidying up, and urged, "Hurry up. It’s still early; we can go watch TV."
"What’s the point of watching TV?" Zhou Lanfang snorted. "They’re charging for it now, two dimes a month."
Having a TV wasn’t a big deal. Even if Siyu got into university and invited her to stay, she wouldn’t go.