"Okay," Shen Mianmian nodded, glancing over at Shen Jianhua’s position, just in time to see Li Chunhua whispering something to Shen Jianhua.
"Jianhua, don’t be as confused as Lanfang. Whether Mianmian does well in her studies or not, she is the daughter you raised. Siyu may be a good student, but her surname is Zhou after all. Even if she’s willing to be filial to you in the future, would her husband’s family accept it? She has to care for her own father on one side and you on the other; how can one manage both?"
When it comes to comparison, which side to give up is obvious, isn’t it?
No matter how bad parents are, they are still her real parents in Zhou Siyu’s eyes. Even if it were just for show, one couldn’t treat their own parents badly.
What do uncle and aunt count for?
The ideas that Zhou Lanfang had instilled in him were all punctured by Li Chunhua, leaving Shen Jianhua struggling to save face, his cheeks flushing with shame.
"Sister Li, I understand what you’re saying. I love both children equally. As for school, we really had no other choice. If Mianmian truly had the ability, I would go broke to send her to school," he said.
"Treating them equally is not right," Li Chunhua felt that Shen Jianhua was stubborn. She said so much, but he just didn’t get it.
Shen Jianhua indeed did not grasp Li Chunhua’s point. Opening his mouth, he asked, "Sister Li, what do you mean by that?" The rıghtful source is 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅✦𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾✦𝗇𝖾𝗍
"Siyu has her parents to love her, her aunt to love her, you to love her, and her siblings to love her. Think about who loves Mianmian?"
Whether she’s biologically related or not, since you brought her home, you should love her as if she were your own.
Why should Mianmian share everything with Siyu?
If there was no Zhou Siyu, even if Shen Mianmian was not a good student, Shen Jianhua wouldn’t stop her from going to school, right?
"..."Shen Jianhua was left speechless by Li Chunhua’s words.
"Mianmian is a sensible child. If you treat her sincerely, even if she finds out something in the future, she won’t neglect you. Lanfang is beyond persuasion, but if you remain confused, forget I said anything!"
Li Chunhua really couldn’t bear to watch any longer, which was why she meddled in this matter. She had just arrived at the courtyard entrance when she heard Zhou Lanfang loudly talking about Shen Mianmian.
Mrs. Liu then commented, "Poor Mianmian, she’s been beaten quite a lot over the years." A simple sentence, yet it revealed Shen Mianmian’s usual living conditions.
Recalling the injuries on Shen Mianmian’s body, Li Chunhua could not help but say what she said.
"Sister Li, you’re absolutely right," Shen Jianhua admitted shamefully, "I, as a father, have not fulfilled my responsibilities and haven’t paid enough attention to the child."
Although it was embarrassing to hear what Li Chunhua had to say, the truth was just that. If Zhou Siyu really became successful, it seemed like it wouldn’t have much to do with him.
But he had treated Zhou Siyu like his own daughter as she grew up; he couldn’t bring himself to not care for her.
Moreover, if Zhou Siyu really became successful, it would reflect well on him too. Even if she didn’t provide for him, he would still have Mianmian.
With these thoughts, he added, "I will pay more attention to Mianmian from now on."
As for her studies, if Mianmian really couldn’t make it, he could only find her a trade to learn. The child would understand his good intentions when she grew up.
"As long as you understand," Li Chunhua replied.
Having said her part, she turned her head to watch TV.
Actually, she quite enjoyed watching TV but had previously felt awkward about coming over every day. She would come at most two or three times a month and didn’t stay long each time.
She started coming to watch TV more comfortably after she had paid the electricity bill, like Zhao Xianlai, she didn’t like to take advantage of others.
Even after paying the electricity bill, she would watch for only about an hour in the evening and then go back home, not like others who would stay until midnight.